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Finding a unique niche is important to developing a successful company. Everyone has a purpose but finding what differentiates yours from everyone else’s will only boost your success. Purpose is the foundation and heart of every individual and company and is vital for building any brand. Nick Craig is the president and founder of Core Leadership and helps executives of major companies discover how to lead with purpose and is on this weeks’ episode to teach you how to do the same. Tune into this episode of The 1% Edge to discover the heart of your company and learn how to find your purpose with your host, Susan Solovic.    Show Highlights: Dealing with ethical dilemmas and getting involved in leadership  Finding purpose  Finding what unique gifts you bring to the table  The impact of social activism  Creating original ideas  How a company redevelops purpose after a fallback  Following trends and trying to keep up with other companies  Differentiating your company from others  Small & nimble companies  The impact leading from purpose has  Good stress    Resources: Coreleader.com/survey  Leading from Purpose by Nick Craig 

Comparison is human nature and it’s easy to want what we don’t have. When things aren’t going our way and everyone around us looks happy with their lives, many of us throw in the towel and simply give up. Anne Grady has triumphed over adversity in ways many people couldn’t even fathom and she recently published her new book Strong Enough to show you how you can too. Tune into this episode of The 1% Edge with Susan Solovic to see how you can turn your tragedy into triumph and overcome your grief.    Show Highlights: Facing tragedy  52 strategies to help survive  Dealing with a series of unfortunate events  Ways to overcome adversity and become resilient  Comparing you suffering and joy to others  Using adversity as a catalyst  Identify your triggers  Not letting circumstances dictate your response  Reassessing our habits  Victimizing yourself Learning how to replace the old habits with new ones  Giving yourself permission to feel your emotions  Thriving as a result of suffering  Figuring out how to be okay with you  Gratitude and mindfulness  Taking time to enjoy delicious moments  Being content with the present    Resources: Getstrongenough.com  https://www.annegradygroup.com/books/ TEDTALK: Strong Enough 

Business is about connecting and improving people’s lives. If this isn’t your goal, you’re not doing business right. If you come from a place of genuine desire to improve lives, you’re bound to be successful, but you also have to market your brand right. The key is to constantly be improving your company, be innovative, and stay relevant. Ryan Holmes, the author of 4 Billion Dollar Tweet and founder of the app Hootsuite, provides resources and advice on how to modernize your company and sustain success. Tune into this weeks’ episode to learn how to authentically engage with your target market.    Show Highlights: Giving people an idea on what they need to tackle  Taking advantage of social media  Rewards and risks of social activism  The importance of catering to millennials  Having a seamless flow through your organization  Building a social DNA  Using social media as a tool  Paying attention to analytics  Leaders who use social media well  Adding humor and entertainment to business Being authentic and reflecting individuality through your company  Having a connection with your audience  Biggest mistakes companies and leaders make  Putting out content that adds value  Steps and resources to get started in business    Resources: The 4 Billion Dollar Tweet by Ryan Holmes  www.hootsuite.com

Coachability is vital to growth and adaptability. Personal change is a monumental step in taking your company to the next level but requires asking self-evaluating questions. It is often difficult to make those observations and critique ourselves. This is why hiring a coach can be effective for any individual or company looking to improve. Cort Dial is a professional coach and author with extensive leadership experience and in this interview, he will share impactful advice he has acquired over the years. Tune into this episode of The One Percent Edge to see how you can improve your company and if hiring a coach would be a good fit for you.    Show Highlights:   Personal experiences becoming a coach  Being coached and coaching leaders  Approaching with dynamic dialogue  Making your book unique  Most common mistake leaders make in a professional setting  How to park your ego at the door  Reinventing yourself  Making organizational change in a company  Baby Boomer versus millennials coachability  Realizing you’re a heretic  How to determine if someone is the right fit for your organization Determining who needs a coach  Trends emerging in leadership  Knowing what you stand for  Drifting through life or being intentional    Resources:   cortdial.com  Available on Amazon and Audible: From Heretics to Heroes 

It is easy to get caught up in the act of swiping your card and not really knowing why only to end up with a product you’ll realize later you didn’t even want. Marketing and pretty packaging can be deceiving, but bad marketing can make or break a good product. Whether you want to be selling your products, or simply being certain you’re spending your money wisely, Derek Champagne, author of “Don’t Buy a Duck”, has two decades of marketing experience that will help you learn how to properly identify and implement good marketing techniques for your business. Tune into this episode of The 1% Edge with your host Susan Solovic if you want to stop wasting money and see how you can avoid buying a duck.    Show Highlights: Inspiration for the book  Avoiding pitfalls of improper marketing  Understanding your environment  Understanding why you’re doing it  Free resources that provide data  Finding your target customer  Watching for engagement  Commitment  Brands Bermuda triangle  Building a brand personality  Making an emotional connection with the customer  Keeping customers engaged    Resources: LINKEDIN: Derek Champagne  champagnemarketingcourses.com  assessmymarketing.com  http://www.dontbuyaduck.com

Women are slowly but surely moving up in the business world. While progress is increasing, many women are still struggling to continue to grow their business without reaching a plateau. There are many examples of women who have defied this cycle, such as Sally Helgeson. Sally Helgesen is a female entrepreneur and the co-author of “How Women Rise” and she wants to help other women unlock and master their potential. Tune into this episode of The One Percent Edge with your host, Susan Solovic, to learn how you can become a strong deliberate leader and build your career as a female entrepreneur.    Show Highlights:   Why women aren’t rising in business  Improvements that are in your control  Minimizing or maximizing your ideas  Reluctance to acknowledge our accomplishments Letting go of investment in our own expertise  Separating friendship from business  Having allies and using allies  Women helping other women  The perfection trap  Finding mentors and sponsors  Women presidency    Resources:   SallyHelgesen.com  Sally@sallyhelgesen.com  Linkedin: Sally Helgeson  How Women Rise Book 

The biggest mistake people make in their business is getting comfortable; reaching their goals and remaining stagnant, only waiting for someone else to catch up and for them to fall behind.  Mark Sanborn is an international best-selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker who has extensive knowledge about how to stay ahead in your business and continue to exponentially grow. Tune into this episode of The 1% Edge with your host Susan Solovic to hear more on Mark’s book, The Potential Principle, and how to build your competitive business.  Show Highlights: Inspiration to write a book  Innovation and persistence  Staying ahead  Defying mediocrity  Applying books to our lives  Education versus entertainment  Dedication and discipline  Putting in the work and time necessary to accomplish your goals  Getting feedback from trusted people  Dealing with audience evaluations  Where and how to get better  4 simple and powerful tools to use in your life  Positively disrupting relationships  Real-time feedback    Resources: marksanborn.com  Quiz: potentialprinciple.com 

If you've read my book, The One Percent Edge, you know that I talk about having your competitive edge be your marketing edge. The same marketing messages that worked for companies in the past, don’t work anymore. Don’t be left behind by the digital marketing age!   No one knows digital marketing changes better than my guest today, Shama Hyder. Shama is the CEO of Zen Media.  Shama Hyder is a visionary strategist for the digital age, a web and TV personality, a bestselling author, and the award-winning CEO of Zen Media (formerly the Marketing Zen Group) – a global online marketing and digital PR company. She has aptly been dubbed the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by FastCompany.com. Shama has also been honored at both the White House and The United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in the country.   Show Highlights:   Consistency is the key to developing an audience. Should you outsource your social media and marketing engagement? We are so used to friction-less transactions, so when they experience friction, it repels them. Knowing what you are trying to accomplish with marketing There’s more than one way to do everything you need to do Don’t let lack of equipment hold you back. Why Sharma wrote a new book     Resources:   Momentum Zen of Social Media Marketing LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Facebook YouTube www.shamahyder.com  

As technology progresses, the trivialities of staying relevant in the small business world gradually become more arduous. Many people lose their purpose and no longer enjoy the business they one started out of their passion. If you’re a small business owner looking to get your life back, or simply improve your small business, in this episode Melinda Emerson provides professional advice on how to improve and progress your business. Tune into this episode of The One Percent Edge with your host, Susan Solovic, to fix your business instantaneously.    Show Highlights: Representing small businesses before Congress The inspiration for writing Fix your Business  Reasons businesses fail  How to know where your customers are  Using listening strategies  Developing job descriptions and a hiring process  Defining your purpose of the business  Building a brand online  Staying relevant while technology changes  Building trust over the internet    Resources: Connect on All Social Platforms: @Small Biz Lady  FIxyourbusiness.com  Linkedin: Melinda Emerson 

Do you want to have employees who want more from their jobs than just a paycheck? Having purpose in your organization gives meaning to the work your business accomplishes. It really gives your business heart and soul.    Louis Efron is the author of Purpose Meets Execution and he’s here today to share how you can take your business to the next level through purpose. Most employees don’t come to work everyday to accomplish the key metrics you want the company to achieve. Employees come to work to accomplish a greater purpose, and it gives them a bigger mission that is the foundation driving great organizations.   Show Highlights:     Disengaged employees cost businesses millions You want to find people who want more out of a job than just a paycheck. Helping employees understand the purpose of your business will give you better results. The balance between purpose and a good business strategy keeps a business on track. Leaders have to be authentic when communicating the mission and purpose of the company. A results oriented work environment can be facilitated by technology Remote workers and technology contribute to work/life harmony Running remote teams requires excellent communication and better leadership skills.     Resources:   louisefron.com

Do you feel like you are spending a lot of time on activity for your business, but you aren’t really accomplishing anything? If so, you’re going to love today’s guest, Todd Palmer. Todd Palmer is the collaborative business advisor and CEO of  Extraordinary Advisors (EA). Simply put, EA helps business leaders Get. Shit. Done. Todd has appeared on the Inc 5000 list an impressive 6 times. Todd says this accomplishment was a team effort. He’s here today to talk about the way he changed how he related to his team, in order to have more business success Show Highlights: Having somebody on your team isn’t always better than having nobody on your team. Why Todd fired his entire company in one day, so he could start over. Todd shares his rock bottom experience in his business. Hire for DNA, not for resume! Employees will respect what the boss inspects. If you have the creativity, the opportunities are currently endless. The different lenses Millennials see the world through. Normally a bottleneck in the organization is caused from the top. Resources: www.exraordinaryadviers.com - mention the show and get a free 30-minute consultation.    

Social media has become the largest platform for communication, and along with that, it is the largest platform for marketing. For any entrepreneur, it is important to understand how to use this new foundation to launch and advertise your business. In order to be successful in marketing online, it is advised for any individual to become well educated on the most influential ways to market your organization or business. One entrepreneur who has mastered this skill is Jay Baer; Jay is a digital data expert, writes top blog content, podcast host, and a New York Times best-selling author. If you want to learn how to make your business grow through a social media platform, or through word of mouth, tune into this episode of The 1% Edge with your host, Susan Solovic.    Show Highlights:   What digital transformation means  How to humanize online business  Prioritizing your time in business  How to define the importance of your customer worth  How a company can digitally stay consistent  Improving the employee experience to improve the customer experience  The importance of speed in customer service  Creating customers by word of mouth  How to implement a strategy for talk triggers  Tips for growing organizations and businesses  Not compromising your values to succeed  Why you shouldn’t be too broad in your business    Resources: Hug Your Haters: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hug-your-haters-jay-baer/1122087403?ean=9781101980675 Talk Triggers: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talk-triggers-jay-baer/1128003960?ean=9780525537274 http://www.convinceandconvert.com

What is the secret to being successful in sales? There would probably be many different answers to that question, and many people will claim to have it all figured out.  In today’s competitive business environment, you can’t be satisfied with the status quo. Your sales strategy must be updated and ever-evolving to keep up with your competition. Today’s show will give you valuable tips on how to do it right! Jill Harrington is a sales expert. She’s the president of Sales Shift and the author of Uncommon Sense: Shift Your Thinking, Take New Action, Boost Your Sales. She’s here to give us insights into how YOU can compete in today’s business market.   What you’ll hear in this episode:   Salespeople today: doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons The biggest issue in sales today: the Blind Spot Why 90% of senior executives say the meetings they have with salespeople are unproductive and a waste of time Why it takes more effort today to be more effective in selling There is a huge difference between being a telemarketer and a sales professional The encouragement to salespeople to NOT give way on their price Why you need to be the most relevant in the customer’s eyes. Period. Learning to embrace the word NO--- A refusal is NOT a rejection How to engage the client, follow up, and convert the NO to a YES in the future,  4% of buyers appreciate persistence and 70% find it irritating (It’s all about HOW you persist!) Why smart salespeople do NOT treat everyone as equal Jill explains “The Blind Spot: (doing what you THINK is working) and sales management shortcomings How buyers and businesses evolve---Who is our VIP? How to incentivize your salespeople and “Find the WHY behind the WHAT”   Resources:   www.salesshift.ca   Find Jill on Twitter, Linked In, and Facebook

Millennials often get criticized for many of the current circumstances they are experiencing as a generation. While statistics have shifted since baby boomers, it is difficult to comprehend all of these changes from both sides without listening and being well informed on the severity of the situation. Jennifer Eckhart is a journalist for FOX news, has worked for ESPN radio, and has received local and national recognition for her work. Not only is she highly regarded in her field, but she is very passionate about millennials, and has proceeded to defy pre-established stereotypes of her generation. Tune into this episode of The 1% Edge with Susan Solovic to acquire more knowledge on the current circumstances for millennial and baby boomers and how we can work together to find a solution.    Show Highlights: Countering the idea that millennials are disengaged in their work  Financial crises that millennial are experiencing  Working and going to college  Millennials are driven by passion  Educating students on finances and saving for retirement  The difficulties of saving when living paycheck to paycheck  The age of Donald Trump  The importance of learning to listen  Millennials who are making a difference  Becoming a kinder country  The importance of being financially dependent for yourself    Resources: Twitter: @Jennifereckhart Instagram: @Jennifereckhart   The crisis of disengagement by Andrew Sherman:   

Do you ever look at the world around you and wonder what is going on? It seems that no one can agree with anyone else--take Washington, DC for instance! A business can implode on itself simply because people can’t agree. How can you protect your business?   My guest today, Bob Burg, has written several books with John David Mann called the Go-Giver series. Previous books in the series include The Go-Giver, Go-Givers Sell More, and The Go-Giver Leader. The latest book is The Go-Giver Influencer: A Little Story About a Most Persuasive Idea. The books feature a unique format of storytelling as parables, which connect with people and get the point across in a meaningful way.   What you’ll hear in this episode:   The focus on influence in the latest book when it drills deep to define “influence” as “the ability to move a person to desired action” Bob explains some of the fascinating characters in the book Important questions asked of one character: “What do you want? What do you love?” The roles of mentors in the book, including a retired judge and a coach The “winning strategy” for getting on track What it means to “master your emotions” One character’s advice: “Step into another’s shoes” (Why this is so hard to do!) The value of asking questions and listening--NOT with your ears You’ll be more knowledgeable The other person will feel listened to and understood Why compromise is defined as “when nobody really gets what they want” Specific tips and advice from the book: Influencing others is PULLING, not PUSHING Influence without benevolence becomes manipulation Value collaboration over compromise and persuasion over manipulation Set the frame and be ready to reset Communicate with tact (the language of strength) and empathy Let go of “having to be right” Resources:   www.thegogiver.com   Find Bob on Facebook and Twitter

What does it take to stay competitive and relevant in the world of business? Today’s show will reveal some of the secrets of someone who is “figuring it out.” She has insights to help your business not achieve the “status quo,” but to achieve “status grow.”   Rana Florida is the author of Upgrade and the CEO of The Creative Class Group. She has worked with major brands like IBM, Disney, Cirque Du Soleil, and Zappos. Let’s find out more!   What you’ll hear in this episode:   Before the book, when Rana was miserable in the grind and not happy with what she was doing How she took a risk and regained control of her time and schedule while leading her business into a revenue model that has proved successful How she launched a business advice column with the Huffington Post, Your Start-Up LIfe, learning from entrepreneurs and celebrities about how they created their success She found seven key steps that each person took to find success----and those became her book! How the division of labor “works” for her and her husband Common themes in the book: Lead by serving and Don’t be afraid of failure Why it’s good to have “stupid ideas” and encourage curiosity and risk The fear of failure and risk-taking cause emotional distress and discomfort How humans learn through trial and error --just watch a toddler! The Creative Class Group: a global advisory services firm based on research and data-driven insights that help with competitiveness and economic growth Examples of companies they work with and how they help Interesting trends in the world of competitive business:”30% of the workforce create 50% of the wages, but control 70% of discretionary spending and income” How to nurture creativity and engagement: “Foster a culture of YES” Why business leaders have to let go of some control for the sake of growth Key elements of leadership, the right team, and the right partners Why diversity is important in creativity and moving an idea forward with different viewpoints and collaboration The CCG’s work with companies and organizations large and small, each with a custom-tailored project--No cookie-cutter strategies here! The need to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market with the key factors of being open and innovative How artificial intelligence may change the whole business dynamic and how it’s already changing our lives   Resources:   Find Rana’s book on Amazon, find her on Twitter, and visit her website: www.ranaflorida.com   Little Bets by Peter Sims

Why are so many of us afraid to simply say what we think? The answer is that we’ve been told that every word we speak should be politically correct and not be offensive to ANYONE. Today’s show introduces you to my friend and mentor who says we shouldn’t mince words in speaking the truth, and sometimes--let’s face it--the truth hurts. Before you start judging him, please note that he also encourages kindness, gratefulness, good manners, charity, integrity, punctuality, responsible parenting, and a return to other good old-fashioned core values. Larry Winget is a NY Times bestselling author, six times over. He is a TV personality, social commentator, and internationally-acclaimed motivational speaker. His books say it like it is, and you can see that by the titles: Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life, You’re Broke Because You Want To Be, It’s Called Work for a Reason!, Your Kids Are Your Own Fault and Grow a Pair. His latest book is What’s Wrong With Damn Near Everything: How the Collapse of Core Values is Destroying Us, and How to Fix It, and was just released in 2017.    Show Highlights:   Larry’s unique brand as a writer and speaker and how he deals with the backlash of NOT being politically correct: “To hell with ‘em” No matter how nice you try to be in your opinions, SOMEONE will hate you for it, so why try to please everyone?? Why political correctness is destroying our society The premise of Larry’s latest book: “The external application of success doesn’t work; it’s what’s inside you. We’ve lost integrity, work ethic, kindness, appreciation, and responsibility.” Larry’s recent Fox & Friends appearance in which he places the onus on a mother for not parenting her unruly 17-year-old son How today’s children are being reared with the “participation trophy” mentality, entitlement, and the “prince/princess” mentality Why your child will not be valued by society if they haven’t been taught to contribute The crisis in today’s workforce with millennials and how they expect to be treated Why millennials need a purpose and look to a job to fulfill them How do we work with millennials? It starts with a conversation that business leaders need to have with them, understanding that they are becoming our workforce The difference in baby boomers and millennials Why good communication and respect will solve many of society’s current problems Why socialism is NOT the answer and why we need to teach our kids the value of capitalism Can we fix what’s wrong? (Larry offers his opinion) What Larry thinks about President Trump and his tweets   Resources:   www.larrywinget.com   Find Larry on Facebook at Larry Winget Fan Page and at other social media sites   Find Larry’s books a www.larrywinget.com   What’s Wrong With Damn Near Everything Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life You’re Broke Because You Want To Be It’s Called Work For A Reason Your Kids Are Your Own Fault Grow A Pair     Other books mentioned in the episode:   The Crisis of Disengagement by Andrew Sherman Win Bigly by Scott Adams

As a business leader, how do you stay creative, innovative, and relevant? That may sound like an impossible task, but we know it’s important to constantly change your business products and operations. “What’s hot today is dead tomorrow.” Today’s show will help you break this kind of success down into achievable steps around your leadership values. David Lapin is a true futurist. He’s gained the highest respect among international business leaders for his unique ability to understand and unravel the complex dynamics of the human spirit, and at the same time, to identify a business’ most strategic opportunities and operational challenges. This ability, combined with an uncompromising position on growing revenue and maximizing profit, places him in the mastery category amongst international speakers, thought leaders, and organizational advisors.   What you’ll hear in this episode:   David’s book, Lead by Greatness, was born out of the idea that people are maxed out on time and resources and yet the demands are ever-increasing What we can do if we bring the full power of character and personality into our leadership The importance of innovation today to keep us from becoming irrelevant “The sweet spot” of collective creativity balanced with pursuing personal purpose David’s South African background and his work with US businesses The challenges of working through transformation and with diverse people David’s unique and unconventional approach Why we still structure and manage corporations like we did 120 years ago Examples of companies who are implementing his strategies and finding success Phenomenal results with leadership philosophy, values, and development The biggest issues facing businesses today: Convergence and sameness Refusal to reinvent themselves Artificial intelligence and machine learning What business leaders can do to promote engagement “The inspiration deficit” and how it plays into businesses today How businesses can protect themselves from being “uber-ized” David’s best advice for business leaders: Don’t be a follower of the data Probe your own purpose and make sure you’re living it Know your philosophy of values   Resources: www.lapininternational.com Email David:  david@lapininternational.com Find David on LinkedIn Get David's book, Lead by Greatness.

What are employees looking for in compensation packages? Is it really ALL about the money? What we’re finding in today’s business world is that many employees are looking for a more holistic approach from employers. They want benefits packages that include flexibility, gym memberships, and more than the standard benefits of old. Don’t miss our conversation today where we take a look at compensation from businesses large and small.   Kevin D. Monaghan is an expert at helping businesses of all sizes create benefit plans that are the best fit for your employee AND your business. Kevin is the founder of Intuitive Compensation Group, where he not only focuses on retaining key employees, but he also develops buyout strategies and helps manage the dynamics of working in a family business. Join me for advice from Kevin on attracting AND retaining top talent for your company!   What you’ll hear in this episode:   Kevin’s job as a production assistant for The Office: “It was a minimum wage job but it was great fun in a great environment.” Why the biggest mistakes that business leaders make center around the promises they make to employees Options for benefit programs: Higher pay Commissions Equity in the company Health insurance Retirement plans Profit/Revenue sharing Leverage bonus plan The nuances of family-owned businesses and how to position yourself to hand it off to a family member What business owners care most about: control and taxes Advanced processes are needed to make tough decisions The importance of awareness Why some partnerships work and some don’t What Kevin sees “down the road”---”Phantom equity” as the new #1 compensation package   Resources: www.intuitivecompensation.com Find Kevin on Linked In and Facebook: Kevin D. Monaghan Call Kevin: 877-70-LEARN

I’m so excited to have today’s guest on the show! Jill Konrath is a sales expert and a dear friend. Jill’s newest book is More Sale, Less Time. The book was written out of Jill’s personal struggles to be productive and function at her highest level and quite frankly because she felt like her life was consumed by her work. She set about to get her life back so she could include more than just work in her life.   Jill Konrath’s career is defined by her relentless search for fresh sales strategies that actually work in today’s business environment. Jill is a frequent speaker at sales conferences and kick-off meetings. Sharing her fresh sales strategies, she helps salespeople to speed up new customer acquisition and win bigger contracts.       70% of emails are attended to in 6 seconds. Time management is irrelevant until you deal with distraction management. Sales success depends on about piquing the prospect’s curiosity right away. First thing for each day is to figure out your most important thing to accomplish. Turn off all notifications on your computer. Then used planned times to check emails. The distractions are your biggest enemy. Do you want to run your life or do you want your distractions to run your life? Figure out how to maximize every customer interaction. Make your pitch customized by talking about how you solve the pain points in their role. When your compensation drives new business, you may be neglecting existing clients.   Get Jill’s Books on Amazon - More Sales, Less Time   www.jillkonrath.com