Youversation | Dennis Washington interviews custom

Jerome Wade is the Chief Epic Officer of The Epic Advantage – an international leadership activation company. Jerome is an international speaker, corporate trainer and executive coach. “Failure should be a close friend to anyone who has succeeded. You have to change the camera angle.” Things Jerome talks about in this episode: His ultimate life mission How he brings solutions for people that transform their lives from average to epic The difference between leadership and management His greatest failures and how he overcame them Why he loves Twitter over other social media platforms How storytelling that sticks impacts lives The value of culture in a company How he advises clients to deal with upset customers Resources Zoom.us How to Contact Jerome: Website: JeromeWade.com Twitter: @jeromewade SPONSOR Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Jeff McMahon is a health and fitness coach that works with many online entrepreneurs to hold them accountable to attain their fitness goals. I work with Pat Flynn, Chris Ducker, and Jeff Wenberg to name a few. “Find out what you are good at and how you can help your ideal customer.” Things Jeff talks about in this episode: How his mother’s health problems helped him find his niche What he really wanted to do instead of being a fitness coach How that “Shiny Object Syndrome” caused him to lose more than $15,000 in less than a year How his wife helped him grow business How he coaches people in health and fitness, even if he can’t be in front of them Why email marketing is his favorite platform for growing his business How he signed Pat Flynn as a client How he gets people to open his emails How he deals with upset customers (and how it wows his customers) How he finds his ideal customers How he avoids distractions and focus on his goals The importance of mastermind groups (View from the Top and Youpreneur) Resources PTontheNet.com Slack Facebook and Facebook Messenger How to Contact Jeff: Website: totalbodyconstruction.com Twitter: @jeffmcmahontbc SPONSOR Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Meredith Bell is an expert in helping companies develop the PEOPLE side of their business. Her software company creates tools that help managers become more effective leaders. Many of her company’s clients have used their products for 20 years. “Be willing to take the initiative and reach out and connect with people.” Things Meredith talks about in this episode: How her career in education led to her becoming an entrepreneur How values have helped her company succeed for more than 30 years How 9/11 forced her business to pivot and adjust its growth strategies How being creative helps her get past her doubts and fears Why she loves LinkedIn How she uses LinkedIn to get traction and build relationships How she deals with upset customers How to connect with potential customers (and how to find them) What she does each day to avoid distractions Resources BufferApp.com How to Contact Meredith: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meredithmbell Twitter: @MeredithMBell SPONSOR Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Adam Toporek is a speaker, author, and internationally noted customer service expert. Adam is the author of Be Your Customer’s Hero, and he delivers his message of Hero-Class® customer service each week through his popular Customers That Stick® blog. “We are at war with distraction.” Things Adam talks about in this episode: How his family shaped his career How blogging helped his find his customer service passion How he views “failure” The difference between giving up vs. walking away Why he loves Twitter (and used to love Facebook) and is now shifting to LinkedIn The power of brand building with social media The importance of curating well The importance of responding to customers (and how to respond) The big thing he teaches in customer service to clients How to improve customer service online and offline Resources CoSchedule.com How to Contact Adam: Website: customersthatstick.com/youversation Twitter: @adamtoporek SPONSOR Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Jon Hackett is a speaker, trainer, and consultant with Strata Leadership, LLC. His passion is to help build strong character cultures in organizations and businesses. “A lot of companies hire for competence, and fire for character.” Things Jon talks about in this episode: How his childhood helped shaped his professional life Why he ended up doing something he vowed he would never do How mission work heavily impacted his career choices How self-doubt can stop you from achieving your goals The importance of grit in success Why he loves Facebook, LinkedIn, volunteering, and phone calls The importance of building relationships before trying to sell How volunteering to open doors How he advises businesses and people manage conflict The importance of character in building a communication strategy The importance of recognizing SWOT in your business strategy (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) Resources OutStand.com How to Contact Jon: Website: hackettglobal.com Website: jon-hackett.com Email: jhackett@strataleadership.com Twitter: @jonphackett SPONSOR Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Barry gets business owners growing again by unlocking their long forgotten potential.  With decades of entrepreneurial experience in his own business ventures as well as consulting countless other entrepreneurs, Barry has discovered the formula to get stuck business owners out of their funk and marching forward. “People will always pay for pain killers instead of vitamins.” Things Barry talks about in this episode: The most important thing he does to help business owners get unstuck The biggest place people get stuck in their sales The key to be getting traction online The importance of consistency How to deal with that “angry customer” The first step to growing a business His daily habits to success Resources MeetEdgar.com How to Contact Barry: Website: BarryMoltz.com/unstuck SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Wayne is the founder of Strongersalespeople.com, and the creator of the free webinar – the Sales Stud Hiring Formula. Wayne helps build stronger sales teams via his Done With You Sales Hiring program and via Sales Leadership Fitness groups. “Business will not appear in my inbox.” Things Wayne talks about in this episode: How he builds stronger sales teams How his own struggles hiring good sales people led him to start his sales coaching business What he still struggles with to get through his obstacles Why his website is his most important platform (own the race course) How he engages his target audience and customers How he recommends you deal with angry customers on social media Where he says most good sales people hang out online What he does each day to avoid distractions and focus on his goals Resources Voxer How to Contact Wayne: Website: StrongerSalesPeople.com SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

David is the Host of the business podcast, Smashing the Plateau, currently featuring the mini-series, Fire Your Business Coach: Why Professionals Look For Answers In All the Wrong Places (And What They Should Be Doing Instead) “Listening to repeated information from the guests was as important as listening to repeated information from the audience.” Things David talks about in this episode: His niche target audience for his podcast The importance of focusing on a niche (and how it happened by accident) The importance of consistency His “light bulb” moment The value of listening How to pick the right social platforms Resources Telephone How to Contact David: Website: com LinkedIn Twitter @tendsp Phone: 646-216-9306 SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Jeff McManus grows things. As Director of Landscape Services at the University of Mississippi, he grows plants…he grows people…he grows ideas. Jeff is a problem-solver, understanding that doing more with less is a 21st century mandate. “I grow people the same way I grow good grass. The more you feed the good grass, the more it will keep away the weeds.” Things Jeff talks about in this episode: What inspired him to start his journey of teaching other people at Landscape University What he does to overcome roadblocks in his life He’s learned what not to listen to be successful Why and how he focuses on growing leaders Why he failed at marketing in college (and how he succeeds at it now) How he deals with upset people What he says is the first step to getting traction online What he does each day to be successful Resources Trello How to Contact Jeff: Website: JeffMcManusSpeaking.com SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Jordan Gray has served as a minister of the Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ since November 2015, which is also the same congregation in which he was raised. “You’ve got to care about them before you can expect them to care about you.” Things Jordan talks about in this episode: How he transitioned from being a CPA accountant to a full-time church minister How realizing what he did not want to do led him to realize what he did want to do The importance of engaging your target audience on their favorite social platforms, not yours How you can shortchange your customers by wasting time on others The importance of prayer and Bible study to orient your day Resources ScanBot How to Contact Jordan: Email: jordan@thegospelspeaks.com Website: TheGospelSpeaks.com SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

John Ferris enables innovation and transformation to grow great companies. He partners with leaders and their companies to radically clarify their purpose and goals, turn new ideas into reality, and take action. “I help organizations achieve greatness. If we improve leaders and companies, it in turn helps our countries.” Things John talks about in this episode: How he discovered his business model of helping businesses innovate and transform The ups and downs of entrepreneurship The importance of focusing on our own goals and business (and not just our clients) Weekly reviews of our “greatness” activities Why he uses LinkedIn “obsessively” for his company and for clients How he uses podcasts with his blogs to build relationships How he advises clients to deal with angry customers The first step of advice he gives new clients The importance of personality on social media What he does each day to be successful Resources Google Drive and Hangouts BaseCamp How to Contact John: Email: johnferris@invisionedge.com Website: InvisionEdge.com SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Joshua Sheats is host of Radical Personal Finance, a top-10 podcast teaching you how to live a rich life now and achieve financial freedom in 10 years or less. He also hosts a podcast called Encouraging Christian Fathers. “I don’t think failure is a mark of shame. Failure and mistakes are inventible.” Things Joshua talks about in this episode: Why a “hunch” helped him move into his podcast career Why he had to ignore the advice of people around him to start the podcast Why he had to quit his job to start his podcast How he “mitigated” the details of failure When we do fail, let’s fail in small, manageable ways and make sure we have backup plans Why his podcast fills a gap he could not find anyone else filling Why he started his business with a podcast What social media platforms he uses to engage his audience and market the podcast His advice for people who want to start their business on digital platforms Why he thinks people confuse a platform and a tool with content and a strategy The podcast is not the benefit, it’s simply the tool that we use to deliver the content Why he follows NO ONE on social media Why he schedules free time and focus days Resources Patreon (for tips) Voice Dictation on iPhone 6+ Dragon Naturally Speaking How to Contact Joshua: Podcast: Radical Personal Finance Podcast: Encouraging Christian Fathers SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Jon Kalahar is the Divisional Communication Director for The Salvation Army of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Jon worked in television for 15 years in Jackson, Birmingham, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia. “I want to do something that benefits others and helps people.” Things Jon talks about in this episode: How he serves people The truths and myths of working in TV How he tries to get people engaged with The Salvation Army year-round How he deals with difficult people on social media His suggestions for growing an audience online Resources Cision Point Google Alerts How to Contact Jon: Email: Jon.Kalahar@uss.salvationarmy.org SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Spinks Megginson is the owner/director of RedZone Group, LLC, the growing company behind RedZone Weather. He graduated from The University of Alabama in 2014. Spinks aims to engage with people across Alabama and northwest Florida across new media. “It’s really changing the way people across my region get their weather.” Things Spinks talks about in this episode: How he found his target audience Why his primary communication platform is Snapchat How he uses the internet to communicate severe weather information The importance of niche and hyperlocal communications Why he has more engagement on Facebook posts that don’t ask for action How he deals with adversity Resources RedZone Weather Text (rzweather.com) How to Contact Spinks: Website: rzweather.com Twitter @rzweather SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Ian Garlic is the CEO of authenticWEB, a video storytelling agency for digital business, and the host of the Tao of Inbound. Most people are really surprised by how tall he is. “Everyone decides because of their situation. Learn their situation.” Things Ian talks about in this episode: Why he took his first computer class at 7 years old What happened that inspired his and his wife start authenticWEB The first question he asks every client Why Ian says problems are really opportunities How Seth Godin’s book All Marketers are Liars inspired him Why video is “the key” to success Why the strategy to traction depends on where the customer is on the “Know Like Trust” scale Why live video streaming works in certain situations How he advises clients to deal with angry customers How taking care of his health is so important to his daily success Resources Slack TeamWork How to Contact Ian: Website: iangarlic.com/dennis for a FREE copy of the Story “Selling” Method Podcast: Tao of Inbound SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Scott Thom is the pastor of Cross Christian Fellowship in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He helps people live their life with purpose. “I’ve always had this passion to train men. I want to build up people.” Things Scott talks about in this episode: Why he loves planting, growing and multiplying churches and ministers How planting a church is like starting a business How he overcame some doubts and fears when he grew and multiplied his first church (and how God blessed him) His favorite digital marketing platform (and how he uses it to gain support for his ministries) How he deals with people who disagree with him The first step to starting a church or a business What he does each day to avoid distractions and focus on his goals A dilemma he has in terms of marketing his work Resources Trello How to Contact Scott: Website: CrossFellowship.org SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Anthony Witt is the founder of The Champion Entrepreneur, a community of start up individuals. He is also a podcast host, an accountability coach, and mastermind group facilitator. “I believe everyone has something that holds them back.” Things Anthony talks about in this episode: How he became an entrepreneur How his journey has been a continuing struggle to find his brand identity Why he couldn’t get traction initially in his business and how he fixed it Why his favorite social media platform is LinkedIn How he grows his business and reaches new customers How he deals with angry customers The first step to growing a business How he avoids distractions to focus on his goals Resources EmailHunter.co How to Contact Anthony: Website: TCEpodcast.com Website: TheChampionMasterminds.com SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Jessica Rasdall is a motivational speaker and a transformational coach. Her story of turning her “mess into a message” for nearly 10 years has been featured on major media outlets. She now helps people live passion-driven lives by helping them focus on embracing their stories and uncovering their purpose. “When you make a mistake or life happens, what do you do next?” Things Jessica talks about in this episode: Why she built this business around her family and lifestyle choices Why she says she built her business “backwards” How her mistake of drinking and driving killed her best friend, nearly crushed her spirit, and later inspired her to help other people The exact moment that inspired her to move forward How she uses Pinterest to reach her target audience How she deals with negativity on social media Her advice on how to start a coaching business How she focuses on her goals Resources Google Apps How to Contact Jessica: Website: JessicaRasdall.com SPONSORS Cross Digital: an internet broadcasting and live streaming company. Visit crossdig.com for more details on how you can live stream video and audio for your business, sports team, or website. Interview Valet: grow your business by talking directly to your ideal prospects on podcast interviews. You be the guest, we’ll take care of the rest. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Ernie Lansford is a sales leader and business coach in the musical instrument and pro audio industry. He’s managed sales reps for a variety of new and established companies. His mantra is “Customer Success is My Passion, Celebrated Partnership is My Goal.” “He who adds the greatest value to a product, wins.” Things Ernie talks about in this episode: Why he says many sales reps fail The key to being a long-term success at sales What happened with a piano salesman when he was 8 years old that sparked his desire to be a musical instrument salesman Why he says many kids don’t stick with learning to play an instrument How the internet has leveled the playing field and exposed the truth about product pricing How his successful clients deal with angry customers How to start a business and grow it What he does each day to be successful Resources Skype BombBomb.com How to Contact Ernie: Website: ErnieLansford.biz SPONSORS Cross Digital – Need to live stream your next event? Cross Digital is an internet broadcasting company specializing in live video and audio streaming. Visit crossdig.com for more details. Interview Valet – grow your brand as a podcast guest! We match you with your target audience. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.

Ryan Gray is a physician turned podcaster who’s mission in life now is to help the next generation of physicians get into and through medical school. “We have a tendency of over-thinking things. If this is something you want to do, login and say hello.” Things Ryan talks about in this episode: How a conversation he had with an airman in the Air Force helped him realize what he wanted to do Why podcasting is his #1 marketing engine Why fear held him back from initially starting a podcast The social media platforms he uses to market his podcast and business Why having conversations on social media is critical to growing a business How he deals with negativity on social media Why exercise is critical to success Resources MeetEdgar.com Trello How to Contact Ryan: Website: MedicalSchoolHQ.net Twitter: @MedicalSchoolHQ SPONSORS Cross Digital – Need to live stream your next event? Cross Digital is an internet broadcasting company specializing in live video and audio streaming. Visit crossdig.com for more details. Interview Valet – grow your brand as a podcast guest! We match you with your target audience. Visit youversation.com/valet for more details.