No BS Agency Podcast

What happens if the client hates the work you bring to their Intensive?Presenting your work to a client is always a little nerve wracking. You’ve put time and effort and love into it and it’s hard not to take it personally when the client isn’t excited about it.So of course when I tell people that we do entire branding projects in one-to-three day intensives, their biggest question is, “What happens when the client hates the work?”Let’s break this down.Tune into this episode to hear:What it really means when the client accepts or rejects your workThe key process that minimizes (and practically eliminates) the risk that clients will reject your workThe magic of the Magic HourWhy you shouldn’t ask your clients, “What do you think?” and what you need to do insteadResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Can you actually do quality work, bespoke custom brands and websites and amazing copy in an intensive? For real?Today I’m going to break down the three major assumptions behind that question. Because absolutely yes, you can do quality, custom work in an intensive, and I wouldn’t do it any other way.Tune into this episode to hear:Why the time your clients pay for is not the hours you put into each projectHow intensives allow you to immerse yourself in one project at a time and lead to better workWhy you don’t want to give clients a ton of time to consider the workWhy laboring over a project doesn’t always make the end result betterResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

How do we put a stop to dragging project timelines and scope creep? Intensives.Intensives are a core piece of the No BS model that I talk about on this podcast and inside our No BS Agency Mastery program. But a lot of people have preconceived notions about what intensives are and what they aren't.So today I want to tell you exactly what intensives are and how they can help your business. Tune into this episode to hear:How intensives stop scope creep, client indecision, and dragging timelinesWhat 1-3 days means on the client side and on your side of the equationWhy the lead product to intensive model makes clients actually excited to say yes to your workHow we deliver intensivesResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Chris Do is a major name in the industry with a massive following across social media and YouTube.And while we have very different philosophies about scale and how we work with clients, there actually is a lot of overlap between Chris’s methodology and the No BS way. So we had plenty to talk about during this conversation that I’m so excited to share with you today.Chris Do is an Emmy award-winning designer, director, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur—an online education platform with the mission of teaching 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love.Tune into this episode to hear:The difference between being a soloist and a conductor in your businessChris’ recommended hiring approach as your first hireHow to go from being an order-taker to developing strategy Why designers need to become aware of their cognitive biasesHow to overcome clients seeing hiring you as a riskHow to build real clout Learn more about Chris Do:The FuturTikTok: @thechrisdoYouTube: @thefuturInstagram: @thechrisdoResources:The Win Without Pitching Manifesto, Blair EnnsNo BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Picture this: You get all dressed up and drag yourself to a networking event. You spend a couple of hours meeting people. Maybe you have a few nice conversations. You leave at the end of the night exhausted and wondering why you even went to the event and if there was any value in it. Last week I talked about how connecting with people in real life and building your network is the go-to strategy for finding new leads for your business, especially in the first couple of years.But maybe you’ve tried it and you felt like it just didn’t work and wasn’t worth the effort.Today, I want to talk about why it didn’t work for you and what you can do to change your approach so that when you make the effort to connect with people, it really will translate into prospects and sales.Tune into this episode to hear:Setting the right expectations for meeting people who are the right fit for you in any given eventAll the things you need to be crystal clear about to be “memorableWhy you need a clear, specific ask and a commitment to following upHow to make the most of the connections you madeResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

“How do I get leads?”It’s the million dollar question. When you have a business, you need sales. To make sales, you need leads. And finding them is probably the biggest challenge that small business owners face.Maybe right now you’re taking whatever work you can get and relying on referrals to bring in new business. But when you rely on referrals, you have no idea when the next one is going to show up and you have  no control over your business or how much money you make. Which means you’re stressed out all the time.So how do you stop relying on referrals and start finding leads? That’s what I’m talking about today.Tune into this episode to hear:Why different lead generation tactics are required at different stages of your businessWhy you have to get comfortable building your network and letting people know you exist, sorry introvertsThe key to closing more salesThe right time to start your authority machine (and why jumping the gun doesn’t usually work)Resources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Back by popular demand, here's an episode that answers a question I get asked all the time. Tune into this episode to hear:How to use a lead product to stop doing proposals and start getting paidHow to create a lead product that is clear, actionable and valuable for your clientsWhy a lead product sets you apart as the expert even in a sea of free proposalsWhy signaling that your time is valuable from the outset means less client sticker shock and more free time to really develop your businessResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

If the idea of selling and asking people to buy from you makes you nervous, this one’s for you. My guest today is going to explain how storytelling takes the ick out of making sales, through what she calls “ethical persuasion.” No tricks, no gimmicks, no bait and switch. Just connecting with your clients over the issues they’re facing and how you can help.Marsha Shandur believes that storytelling is the KEY to ethically persuasive communication. A Storytelling and Persuasive Communication Coach and Trainer, she has taught thousands of individuals and groups of executives, entrepreneurs and professionals across the world, and has received rave reviews from clients like Meta, Royal Bank of Canada, HelloFresh, and Shopify.Before launching Yes Yes Marsha and her career as a Storytelling Coach, Marsha spent 15 years working as a Radio DJ, where she gained a powerful understanding of how to tell stories in a way that fosters connection, trust, engagement and loyalty. Her work has been featured in Forbes, BBC and Mashable. Tune into this episode to hear:How storytelling and ethical persuasion help you make sales and build solid relationships with your clientsHow to connect deeper and make people feel like they’re not alone. How to find clients who are the right fit using more “human” languageThe difference between telling an effective story and chatting with your friendsHow to make prospective clients feel like you really heard and understood themLearn more about Marsha Shandur:Yes Yes MarshaInstagram: @yesyesmarshaConnect with Marsha on LinkedInResources:Get FREE resources from MarshaBrass Ring DailyTalking ShrimpThe MothThis American LifeTrue Stories (Told Live)Kendrick ShopeGood Life ProjectThe Power of Habit, Charles DuhiggNo BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

For our final episode of love month, I want to switch gears from talking about client love to a different kind of love: self-love.Building a business is freaking hard. Why else would there be so much content geared towards making it easier?As you’re growing a business, it’s so easy to feel like you’re never doing enough, you’re never doing it right. And that can take a toll on your self-esteem.Today, I want to talk about how to show yourself some love, even when things aren’t perfect.Tune into this episode to hear:Why constantly nitpicking and criticizing your work doesn’t help your businessWhy you have to accept that there will always be new challenges–and new failuresWhy unhooking your self-worth from your business is so importantResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

In honor of February, the month of love and Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about generating love and goodwill with your clients.In the first episode of this series, I introduced the love bank, or as I call it, the trust bank — that is the bank of goodwill that you build with anyone that you’re in a relationship with, clients included. Last week, I talked about different ways you can make deposits into that bank to strengthen your relationship with your clients so that they love and trust you.In this episode, I’m diving into the other side of that coin: withdrawals.Let’s dig into what they are, especially the ones that aren’t so obvious, and why you need to avoid them whenever humanly possible.Tune into this episode to hear:How communication can build your love bank up, or draw it downHow boundaries can set you up for deposits or withdrawalsThe importance of making it super easy for potential clients to connect with youHow to set your deadlines to ensure you don’t inadvertently make a withdrawalSimple things to strengthen your relationship with your clientsResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Who doesn't want their client to love them and all the work that they do?This month we are talking about client love.Last week I explained the concept of the love bank and how it applies to how we build relationships with our clients so that they absolutely love and trust us. Because love and trust go hand in hand.In this episode, I talk about what it looks like to make deposits and give you some ideas of the easiest ways to make deposits into your client's love bank so that they are overflowing with trust and your clients love working with you.Tune into this episode to hear:How setting, communicating, and meeting specific expectations builds up your love bankThe right time to deliver anythingHow to build trust during and after any client calls Two ways to build authentic connection with your clientsWhy it’s important to create opportunities to build trust as early as possibleResources:E. 112: Dan Gingiss on What Makes a Memorable Customer Experience (Which Does Not Mean Expensive)No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

 February is the month of red hearts and candy and chocolates and showering the people you love with affection.On that note, I wanted to talk this month about something called the “love bank”. The love bank is a concept that actually came from a book on romantic relationships, but it can be applied to any of the relationships in your life, including with your clients.Today I’m laying out what the love bank is, how it works, and how it applies to your relationships with your clients.Tune into this episode to hear:What makes us deposits and withdrawals with our clients, and why these two aren’t equalHow we make deposits and withdrawals with our clientsHow building up deposits in the love bank contributes to client trustResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

I’m excited to introduce you to an incredible addition to the No BS Mastery community and a shining example of what’s possible for any small branding agency.When she started with the program, Kelly had barely started with her agency. She’s made amazing leaps and bounds since then, and we’re going to dig into her journey today.Kelly O’Connell is the Founder of the Kind & Funny Brand Shop, where she builds dope-ass brands and iconic marketing for small businesses ready to grow. Her superpower is combining empathy and design excellence to showcase the unique brilliance of her clients. Embracing the No BS approach has allowed her to transform her life and own her mission of making the world a better place through authenticity and kindness.Tune into this episode to hear:Kelly’s journey from leaving her museum job through building a sustainable business in 18 monthsHow Kelly made a niche out of the kind of people she wants to work with, not the industry they’re inHow having developed confidence in the LP process and the creation of the brief helped Kelly land a big new clientWhy Kelly believes in really celebrating the wins along the wayLearn more about Kelly O’Connell:Kind and FunnyInstagram: @bekindandfunny Resources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Being seen and hired as an expert is the holy grail. It's how you get paid top dollar. It's how you work with clients in a way where the project is easy, where they trust you, where they go along with your work.A client hires you to rebrand their business, to build them a website, and they let you take the lead. They listen to what you say. They say yes to the work you show them.That’s the dream, right? But it's the opposite of what we've all experienced when we first started our businesses.So what does it take to be seen as an expert, a trusted advisor, to really be seen as a professional so that clients really listen to you and take your direction?Tune in to find out! Tune into this episode to hear:The importance of playing the long game of building social proof and your authority machineThe role your process plays in helping clients see you as an expertHow to develop trust by asking the right questionsHow to use the “fit call” to demonstrate expertiseResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

I see so much content out there telling people to charge more. "You're worth more! Charge what you're worth! Raise your prices!"But what if your clients are unlikely to have the budget for a higher price? How can you charge more if you’re already having a hard time closing clients at your current prices?What are you really supposed to do?I get these questions all the time, and the answer isn’t as simple as you think.Tune into this episode to hear:Why the advice to raise your prices isn’t for everyone, and can actually hurt your businessWhat factors impact how much you can or should be chargingWhat really matters when it comes to how much your clients will be willing to payKey steps towards confidently and successfully raising your pricesResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

At any moment, we can change direction. But we don't often think about it because we’re busy or consumed by what we’re doing. January is a great time to consider what we're doing and where we're headed, and where we may need to make a change. Today, I want to take a minute to reflect on what we’ve done, how far we’ve come, and where we want to go next. I’m going to share things I do every year to make sure that my years keep getting better and better.So much possibility and opportunity is in front of us as we step into 2024. What are you going to do with it?Tune into this episode to hear:The 2-day process that Steve and I follow every year to reflect and set goals for the year aheadThe start, stop, keep exercise that helps us shape how we’re spending our timeHow we set freedom goals How I set intentions for every aspect of my life, not just my businessResources:Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One, Joe DispenzaNo BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

I’m thrilled to share a conversation I had recently with returning guest, Philip Morgan.Philip Morgan's work on specialization, cultivating expertise, and monetizing IP helps independent consultants thrive. His Expertise Incubator program helps indie consultants cultivate expertise, a point of view, and IP. His book, The Positioning Manual for Indie Consultants has helped thousands transform their businesses.In this episode, we dove into what it means to be a category of one, the risks involved, and why service businesses struggle with this common advice.Tune into this episode to hear:The risks of creating a whole new category for yourselfThe unique challenges for service businesses versus product businessesThe difference between positioning and differentiation, and why you need bothWhy true expertise requires balancing confidence, uncertainty, and communicationLearn more about Philip Morgan:WebsiteTwitter: @Philip_MorganThe Positioning Manual for Indie Consultants80/20 Agency MarketingThe Point of View GuideResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

A couple of weeks ago, I shared behind the scenes stories of how we built the No BS Agencies Mastery program, and last week I shared some of our big wins along with wins from students.In this episode, I’m looking ahead and sharing what’s in store for 2024.Tune into this episode to hear:Why we’re focusing on continuous improvement for No BS Agencies MasterOur plans for the May 2024 No BS retreatHow we’re growing our community and educational opportunities in 2024What we’re planning for our next-level students who have owned the process and built their authorityResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

In honor of the holidays and the end of the year, I thought I would do something a little different this month and talk about the year in review.Last week, I took you behind the scenes and looked back on what it took to build the No BS Mastery program.Today, I'm feeling pretty festive, and I thought I would share some of the biggest wins that we've had inside Mastery in 2023.Tune into this episode to hear:Three major ways we invested time, money, and energy that seriously paid off for us and our Mastery studentsSome big student wins from our in-person retreats in New York and MiamiHow our students are killing it with lead products and intensivesResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

The No BS Mastery Program is about to celebrate its three year anniversary. So, this month, I want to share some behind-the-scenes details about the origins of the program, what it took to build and grow it, and celebrate some of our wins with you. In this episode, I share the backstory of No BS Mastery, how and why I started it, and why I decided to go all in on it. In addition, I’ll also share some key lessons I learned in the process — insights that I know will help you if you ever consider offering a one-to-many program (e.g., a course, etc.) in a profitable way. Tune into this episode to hear:What we learned the hard way about building and marketing a courseInvestments that I made up front in order to figure out how to profitably sell a course Why I completely overhauled my business, even after we had started selling the courseKey differences marketing and selling a done-for-you services and one-to-many offeringsWhat you need to do before creating a one-to-many service offeringThe key lessons I learned and skills I had to build to transition into a new business modelResources:Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert KiyosakiBlack Belt with Taki MooreCarolyn HerfurthNo BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com