Dear Business Coach Podcast

Elizabeth Walker, producer and host of the Dear Business Coach podcast, shared several exciting updates during her exclusive Substack live session, including a major new partnership announcement: "The Dear Business Coach podcast is now officially partnered with NordVPN." She explained how affiliate partnerships work for podcast monetization, noting that "when you buy the service through my deals page, you actually are giving a percentage a percentage of your purchase is paid directly to me for the Dear Business Coach podcast show." Walker also discussed her use of AI tools for podcast production, revealing "I actually use a couple of different AI tools to get summaries and to pull quotes and to do things like that for the technical things" and specifically mentioned her preference: "So, I actually right now prefer Claude." She emphasized her commitment to authenticity in representing her guests, explaining "I don't want to reinterpret. It's really hard not to do that even when I even when I go to my AI tool. Um, I don't want to get involved in reinterpreting what the guest said or meant in their interview. I just want to provide to you the actual quotes and phrases that they used." The session covered recent episodes including Chris Fawrop's "The Pine Cone Principle" and the current streaming episode "What is Page Health?" featuring social media expert Minakshi Dogra Bansaw, while encouraging listeners to "find one thing today to move your business forward."NEW: Early Access for email subcribers

"An assumption is a belief or a way of looking at things that you think is true. But you do that without proof, without checking it, and without contextualizing it," Fawthrop explains, emphasizing how these mental shortcuts can limit our leadership potential. His philosophy centers on the belief that "everybody deserves good leadership," which he defines as leadership that makes growth feel attainable and understands the full context of team members' lives. Drawing from his diverse background across multiple industries, Fawthrop has developed an approach he calls "cultivar leadership"—inspired by the botanical term for plants intentionally selected and cultivated for specific qualities. "You can draw from [leadership examples], you know, look at all the self-management gurus, the people in your life that have been inspirations, you can draw from them, right? Fawthrop offers workshops and ongoing guidance through his Substack newsletter, where readers can connect with his leadership insights, or reach out directly via LinkedIn or email at cultivarleadership.com.Email subscribers, look for your VIP page password:)

Andrew Frazier, CFA and author of "Running Your Small Business Like a Pro," recently shared his insights on the Dear Business Coach podcast about the critical elements that separate struggling entrepreneurs from successful business owners. With over 15 years of experience working one-on-one with more than a thousand business owners, Frazier emphasized three fundamental areas where most businesses fail: understanding their most important job, managing numbers effectively, and positioning for growth financing. "Many business owners don't know their most important job," Frazier explained, stressing that "their most important job is sales and marketing" and recommending "at least two hours a day you need to spend doing sales and marketing." He noted that fear of numbers often becomes an entrepreneur's "Achilles heel," stating, "If you don't have numbers, how are you going to measure how you're doing? How are you going to improve?" Through his "masterpreneur playbook," Frazier guides business owners through five critical steps from startup to scale, addressing the sobering reality that "one out of a thousand businesses ever does that successfully" and "maybe 5% of businesses ever work on their business successfully." His approach goes beyond traditional bookkeeping services, offering what he describes as a "coach-sultant" relationship that helps entrepreneurs develop "the knowledge or the leadership skills" necessary to create businesses "that can run without you and that can be scalable."Email subscribers! Look for the VIP page for content only for you!

In a world where burnout plagues high-performing environments, energy coach Adam Barney offers a refreshing perspective on leadership that focuses on internal motivation rather than external competition. "I help emerging and executive leaders take all of the natural energy rhythms that we have inside of ourselves, the energy boosts and the drains and optimize that to higher efficiency," explains Barney, author of "Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Empowered Path to Optimism and Autonomy." Drawing from his over 20-year nonlinear corporate marketing career, Barney emphasizes that true leadership isn't about working alone but working aligned. "Autonomy from my perspective isn't about working alone. It's about working aligned. Knowing where your energy flows best and having the confidence to choose your own path," he notes. This approach has proven effective, as Barney shares that "leaders who recharge see an upwards of at least 25% in their engagement as leaders" through simple tools like deep breathing, taking walks, and finding personal recharge rituals. For leaders seeking sustainable success, Barney's philosophy centers on building systems that support your vision rather than chasing someone else's version of success, ultimately creating that ripple effect of positive energy that transforms not just individual careers but entire organizations.Email subscribers! Look for your new issue of the Dear Business Coach Podcast Magazinedearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe

Harvard graduate and Goldman Sachs alum Injil Muhammad Jr. is revolutionizing how Gen Z professionals navigate early career challenges through his company Buddle. After experiencing firsthand the disconnect between academic preparation and workplace reality, Muhammad recognized that "there's so many aspects that just have nothing to do with your academic preparation or expertise because it's just a different environment." His solution addresses three critical soft skills often overlooked in traditional education: self-advocacy ("You have to actually advocate for yourself and make sure that you have the visibility"), strategic networking, and time management. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z entered the workforce during unprecedented times—experiencing remote work as the norm rather than a perk, and facing AI automation of traditional entry-level tasks. Muhammad's framework distinguishes between coaches (peers 2-4 years ahead), mentors (advisory relationships), and sponsors (advocates who "speak for you when you're not in the room"), providing a systematic approach to professional relationship building. For Gen Z professionals struggling with workplace transition or companies looking to better engage their junior talent, Muhammad's active LinkedIn presence offers valuable insights five times per week, and comprehensive resources are available at buddleplatform.com.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe

Allen Evitts, a seasoned project manager with nearly three decades in technology, recently shared insights from his extensive career spanning telecommunications, business analysis, and education on the Dear Business Coach podcast. "I'm a project manager have been a project manager for nearly 30 years in technology," Evitts explained, describing his journey from theater production to corporate project management. His unique background includes working on groundbreaking projects like the original iPhone launch, which he revealed "was originally launched by AT&T... we called it Project Bob." Drawing parallels between his early theater work and project management, Evitts noted that "when you're producing directing theater live theater it's very close to the same skill set as a project manager because you have a concrete deliverable that you're trying to accomplish you have a time frame and a deadline." Now transitioning into education and instruction, Evitts emphasizes a fundamental principle for project professionals: "every day when I get up... as a project manager trying to get things done you look at it as you know am I organizing more... or is it communicate... or is it leadership." His philosophy centers on embracing the process rather than just focusing on outcomes, stating "you have to find the small victories along the way and if you're trying to do something you really do have to enjoy getting up in the morning and doing the work." With a book in development focusing on his "organization communication leadership kind of triad," Evitts encourages interested professionals to connect with him, saying "if you reach out and say that you saw me here um I will definitely take your call and call you back and or text you back."dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe

Scott Jacobson of Onward Equity has transformed his approach to real estate investing by discovering the power of passive investment strategies. "I discovered that I could essentially hire someone else to do all the work and still get almost the same financial returns," explains Jacobson, who evolved from managing individual rental properties to leading commercial real estate syndications. Through his experience, he realized that traditional real estate ownership often becomes "almost like another job," but passive investing allows investors to diversify away from the day-to-day management while remaining in real estate as an investment class. "I really feel like an educated investor is the best type of investor," Jacobson notes, emphasizing his commitment to transparency by providing monthly newsletters and quarterly financial updates to keep investors informed about their investment performance. His philosophy centers on the belief that "most people don't even know that this kind of opportunity exists" in alternative asset classes beyond traditional stocks and bonds. To learn more about passive real estate investment opportunities, visit onward-equity.com and download Jacobson's free ebook "The Top 10 Reasons to Be a Passive Real Estate Investor" by entering your email when the popup appears on the website.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsEmail subscribers, look for the article on Scott Jacobson's episode in the next Dear Business Coach Podcast Magazine release!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe

Bonus EpisodeFrom Live Audio with Elizabeth Producer's Notes SessionDear Business Coach podcast host Elizabeth Walker opened up about her ongoing struggle with writer's block, offering fellow content creators and podcasters a vulnerable glimpse into the creative challenges that even seasoned hosts face. Drawing from her recent comedy coaching sessions with guest speaker Clayton Fletcher, Walker explored the fundamental differences between speaking and writing, revealing how her comfort with verbal storytelling doesn't always translate to putting pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard. Her personal journey through therapy-recommended journaling, digital voice recording, and the preparation for a potential standup comedy debut in New York City this fall illustrates a universal truth for many podcasters and speakers: sometimes our greatest strengths in one medium can become unexpected obstacles in another. Walker's willingness to share her own creative blocks, complete with a workplace story involving a toupee-wearing manager that she's still refining for comedic timing, demonstrates that the path from spoken word to written content isn't always linear, and that embracing alternative methods—like using transcription tools to capture spoken stories—can unlock new creative possibilities for those who think better out loud than on paper.

In an era where AI and automation are reshaping industries, Liam O'Neill, Managing Director of BPMD, advocates for a fundamental shift in how businesses approach process improvement. "A company being able to understand what it does and then improve it, it's not a nice to have capability. It's absolutely essential," O'Neill explains, emphasizing that traditional consulting models often create unhealthy dependencies. His philosophy centers on empowering organizations from within: "What we try to do is set up an internal process excellence team. That's a team internally who can almost act as their own consultants. We don't want them to rely on us long-term." This approach recognizes that sustainable transformation requires more than external expertise—it demands respect for existing institutional knowledge while building capacity for continuous improvement. As O'Neill notes from his experience with complex industries like offshore oil drilling, "There's some things that really do need a human touch," and successful transformation means "taking what they're doing, finding how we can do that a little bit better" rather than imposing generic solutions. For businesses of all sizes navigating today's rapidly changing landscape, O'Neill's message is clear: "The ability to adapt the way you work isn't something that's optional. It's something that's really critical."Connect with Liam O'Neill: Follow him on LinkedIn where he shares weekly videos and content covering "intricacies of the process excellence space from process modeling to process mining" with "tips and tricks that I hope are useful" for making your business "as excellent as is possible." As O'Neill puts it, LinkedIn is "absolutely the best place to find me."Email Subscribers! Get your coupon codes and freebies and the Magazine!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe-1

Publisher Scott Perry shared profound insights on aligning entrepreneurship with personal values. "Play your game on your terms without compromise," Perry advises, emphasizing that "if you're playing someone else's game, it's a game you can never win." Perry, whose book "Close the Gap" was released in November 2024, challenges solopreneurs to move beyond societal expectations and explore their uniqueness. "Work is one of the primary ways that we build identity and forge meaning in our lives," he explains, encouraging entrepreneurs to create businesses that align with "who they are, what they're good at, where they belong, that brings them a sense of fulfillment and flourishing and prosperity." Rather than following conventional business advice that leads to overwhelm, Perry advocates for a first principles approach: "All you really need is an offer, an audience, and a way of putting that offer in front of that audience." This simplified perspective helps entrepreneurs focus on what truly matters—creating meaningful work that reflects their core values and serves others authentically.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsSubscribers! Get your Freebies and Coupon codes Update your email address here;)dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe-1

Art collector and podcast host Deneen L. Garrett is on a mission to create generational wealth through art accessibility while highlighting Black artists. "I do want more Black people collecting Black art," Garrett explains, emphasizing that "you can own a piece of original art for only twenty five dollars." Her podcast "Women of Color in Intimate Conversation" recently expanded to include group discussions, requiring her to "pivot in how I manage the conversations." Garrett's approach to building connections is refreshingly direct: "I believe a closed mouth doesn't get fed... I don't have a problem with reaching out to anyone." As the founder of curated art events in Detroit and beyond, she's currently in what she calls her "build, connect, and learn phase," focusing on sustainable revenue streams while maintaining her mission to inspire 100 new collectors. https://www.youtube.com/@DeneensDreamLifehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/deneenlgarrett/Follow Deneen L. Garrett on LinkedIn and YouTube to witness her journey connecting artists with new audiences and discover how you can begin your own collection of original artwork today!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsSubscribe to email for Freebies, the Magazine, Live Events and More!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe

Former healthcare professional Arndreya Price transformed her life and career after a health scare led to an important realization. "I had an incident where I knew something was wrong with me," she recalls of the day her doctor discovered her dangerously high blood pressure and panic attacks. This wake-up call prompted her bold decision to launch Like No Other Greek, an apparel brand serving women in Divine Nine organizations. Despite tempting counteroffers from her employer, Price trusted her instincts: "When you learn to trust yourself, that's when the magic happens." Her business philosophy centers on authenticity and precise audience targeting: "You have to pick a niche... if you're marketing to everybody, nobody's buying." Having built an email list of 20,000 subscribers and quadrupled her event sales in just one year, Price emphasizes the importance of consistent visibility: "You have to make noise... how are you going to stand out and why would somebody want to buy from you?" She's now expanding her entrepreneurial journey to coach six-figure earning women seeking to leave traditional employment while maintaining their lifestyle.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsFreebies, the Magazine, and Live Events with Elizabeth!Subscribe to email here:dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe

Poet and fashion consultant Normia Vazquez Scales is breathing new life into her styling service "Rags to Runway," offering personalized fashion guidance for those seeking reinvention. "I'm completely enamored with fashion as another art form," Scales explains. "I'm a creative at heart—a teacher, a healer, and this is just another artistic avenue." Her approach prioritizes client preferences while suggesting complementary styles. "I believe in client-centered work," she emphasizes. "Whatever the 'it' trend is may not serve you well... I'm about what serves the client well." Scales particularly encourages exploring ethnic fashion traditions, noting, "I believe in a fusion" of styles. Her passion for transformation is evident when discussing her own cowgirl boots: "When I step into the cowgirl boots, it's another alter ego. It creates a vibe for me... there's a confidence that is off the charts." Fashion enthusiasts can contact Scales at manifest@recalibratingthescales.com and watch for upcoming popup events where she'll offer on-the-spot styling, with particular emphasis on prom season, which she describes as "loading" for teen girls seeking the perfect look.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsSubscribe for Live Audio, In Person Events, Episodes, and Freebies!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribeSupport the Show!Visit the Buy Now and One on One sessions with Elizabeth:dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/buynow

Mindset coach Erin Newman believes that entrepreneurial success comes from developing deep conviction in your work rather than relying solely on self-esteem. "You can have really low self-esteem but high conviction in your work, and that conviction is still going to translate to people," Newman explains in a recent Dear Business Coach podcast interview. She helps service-based entrepreneurs overcome limiting beliefs, noting that "business is such a personal journey" where outdated programming often holds women back. "We still carry programming from our mother's generations," Newman observes, encouraging entrepreneurs to "unravel and deprogram all those messages" that keep them small. Her approach focuses on helping clients develop "that deeper conviction of who they are in the world," which enables them to confidently raise prices and achieve better results. For immediate mindset improvement, Newman surprisingly recommends dancing: "The research is really showing lately the best thing we can do for our mental health is dancing." Visit ErinNewman.com to download a free abundance meditation or purchase her new book "Mind Body Bank," a somatic approach to releasing money blocks.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsSubscribe to email for Events and Free Magazine!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribeAnd join on Mondays for live audio sessions!dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/live

Financial Freedom with a Virtual Twist: John Ensley's Path to Retiring WellJohn Ensley, a Chartered Financial Consultant who runs a 100% virtual practice, believes financial planning should start with understanding what you truly want from life. "The very first question I would begin with is what do you want your assets to do for you? What's the vision? What's the design?" says Ensley, who discovered the possibilities of remote work during a sailing trip to Mexico. "I did this whole call, we negotiated this contract... from a sailboat in Mazatlan. And when I hung up the phone, it was like, okay, I need to change some things because this is totally possible." Ensley's approach goes beyond traditional financial advice, focusing on psychological factors that influence decision-making. "My job isn't to tell people what to do. My job is to get them to think," he explains. Through his free Retirement Pathways Analysis at retirewellwithjohn.com, clients can complete the RESA Survey and MyRisk IQ 3D assessment, which analyzes "willingness, ability, and need, the three different levels of risks." This culminates in a one-hour consultation with Ensley. "If someone's a good fit, then maybe they become a client," he says, emphasizing that "if you don't become a client, you still walk away with very valuable information that you can go use however you want to use."dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsdearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribeAnd join Elizabeth for live audio sessions each Monday morning at 8:30 Am Estdearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/live

Marketing maverick John Dwyer- call him JD - is revolutionizing how small businesses attract customers through what he calls "wow factor marketing". The founder of the Institute of Wow (instituteofwow.com) believes most businesses mistakenly rely on price discounting, when they should instead create unique, attention-grabbing offers. "If you're a small business owner, you're probably great at your technical skill, but no one taught you how to get a customer," Dwyer explains. His innovative approach includes strategies like Facebook contest formulas, where businesses give away their own product as a prize, instantly generating high-quality leads. Whether you're a dentist seeking patients or a salon owner looking to expand your client base, Dwyer's direct response marketing techniques offer a fresh alternative to traditional advertising. Want to learn more about creating marketing magic? Visit fbcontestformula.com and discover how to transform your business's customer acquisition strategy today.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsRoanoke VA!Elizabeth is Live IN PERSON on April 4dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/roanokeva

Neil Twa, CEO and co-founder of Voltage Holdings, is revolutionizing the e-commerce landscape with his data-driven approach to Amazon FBA selling. With over 15 years of experience in private label products, Twa has perfected a system that takes the guesswork out of product selection and market validation. His company specializes in launching, consulting, selling, and acquiring brands focused on e-commerce channels. Rather than relying on emotional attachment to products or extensive R&D, Twa advocates for a methodical approach using real market data to identify profitable opportunities. "We don't marry products until they've proven themselves," he explains, emphasizing the importance of testing and validation before scaling. Interested entrepreneurs can download Twa's book by visiting voltagedm.com/freebook, where the first 10 readers can claim a free copy using the podcast's exclusive coupon code. For those who miss the free offer, digital copies are available for $4.99.voltagedm.com/freebookEXCLUSIVE COUPON CODE: DEARBCdearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsElizabeth Live IN PERSONRoanoke VAApril 4 2025!https://www.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/roanokeva

Francine Binns, corporate social worker and entrepreneur, transformed her struggling franchise into a regional top performer by prioritizing employee wellbeing. "For the customers to love the company, the employees have to love it first," Binns quoted from Simon Sinek, explaining the philosophy behind her success. Despite being positioned in a challenging location where she "had to pass at least two other franchises that were doing the exact same thing," Binns found a competitive edge by implementing flexible six-hour shifts that employees could choose. "Freedom of time is extremely important," she emphasized, noting that this flexibility allowed her team members to balance work with family responsibilities and even start their own businesses. The results were dramatic: "It increased by about more than 500%. It was crazy," Binns revealed about her sales growth. Her employees developed such strong camaraderie that they managed schedule changes among themselves, creating what the company called "a cult following" of loyal customers. Binns now helps businesses with 10-500 employees implement similar strategies, believing that "when you allow people to do what they do best, then it's natural that productivity is going to increase."www.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/credits Get updates and links to upcoming live in person events with Elizabeth Walker:www.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe NYC/QueensQED Astoria TheaterSunday March 16, 2025Podcasting for Young Women Leaders Who Speak$14www.dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/nyc-queens

In a revealing conversation on the Dear Business Coach podcast, diversity advocate Denine shares how she transformed corporate representation by creating space for LGBTQ+ women of color. "I looked around and saw who was missing," she explains, describing her initiative to launch a groundbreaking panel that became one of the most popular sessions for three consecutive years. Her approach emphasizes more than mere inclusion: "When you invite people to the table, don't just invite them there, engage them, make them feel like they're welcome." This philosophy extends to her podcast "Women of Color in Intimate Conversation," which she launched in April 2020. When asked about building audiences for diverse voices, Denine focuses on authenticity over marketing: "I wasn't focused on the audience per se. I was focused on providing the women who I knew were missing a platform to use their voices." Her success was evident when, by the second year of her corporate panel, "there were people who were lined up against the walls, sitting on a floor because all the seats were full," demonstrating the profound impact of creating platforms for underrepresented voices.

In this intimate literary session at the June Bug Center in Floyd, VA, American author Normia Vazquez Scales demonstrates her mastery of both prose and poetry, sharing works that celebrate the complexity of modern American life. Her autobiographical piece "Until Further Notice" captures the quintessentially American journey of reinvention, as she moves from engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology to communications at DePaul University, ultimately forging her own entrepreneurial path. Scales' vivid imagery shines in pieces like "The Portal," where she describes navigating career transitions as "swinging from project line to project line like a female Tarzan." Her poem "Perseverance," a moving tribute to her father, showcases her gift for metaphor: "the pinnacle of success bearing the guise of a man glazed in resilience." Drawing from her diverse heritage and experiences across the American landscape - from Chicago's Englewood to Miami's vibrancy to the tranquil confines of Chapel Hill - Scales crafts prose that pulses with life and authenticity. In "Recalibrating the Scales," she paints an evocative portrait of American diversity, describing "the countenance of Egyptians meshed, mated, and mingled with fraternizing Cherokee." Through her powerful command of language and deep understanding of transformation, Scales emerges as a distinctive American voice, offering wisdom through her formula for success: "rendering times sound intention times incessant gratitude times benevolence times infinity."dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/creditsSubscribing to email gives you exclusive updates and access! www. dearbusinesscoachpodcast.com/subscribe