[Legacy post: Small Business Talent] Are there goals that you want to achieve for your business and your life — but going after them seems almost impossible?
Well, if you’re uncertain about how you’ll take that next step forward, then I think you’re going to find today’s interview inspiring.
I’m joined on the podcast today by Stephanie Wetzel-Cottrell. A little background first – Stephanie began her career in corporate marketing 13 years ago. She worked for a variety of interesting companies, including McClatchey Broadcasting, Connexion Technologies, and Fast Lane, to name just a few.
In 2010, Stephanie made the leap to full time self-employment, founding Blue Elephant Creative. Her company is a web development and marketing strategy firm focused on helping small businesses and solo entrepreneurs to grow their revenue.
By the way, Stephanie is also busy pursuing her personal passion. She’s the writer behind TradingPounds.com, a 2000-readers-strong site dedicated to helping people lose the weight and gain the life they want.
Over the past several years, Stephanie has made a lot of dramatic changes in her life. She’s lost over 200 pounds, left her corporate career behind, launched two new businesses, published her first book, and was married this past June.
Today, Stephanie will be sharing her journey of personal and professional transformation with us on the podcast. Don’t miss her inspiring story! (Scroll down to the Podcast Player and listen now.)
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Refocus and Refresh Your Marketing: An Interview with Craig McBreen
[Legacy post: Small Business Talent] My guest on the podcast today is Craig McBreen. Over the past eighteen years, Craig has served a wide variety of clients, ranging from professional service providers like consultants, lawyers, and CPAs, to non-profit organizations.
McBreen Design provides design, website development, marketing strategy and copywriting services. Craig’s collaborative visual approach to creating and sustaining a cohesive brand strategy helps entrepreneurs to market themselves in ways that set them apart from the competition and attract more of their ideal clients, more consistently.
Craig knows that a brand is a lot more than a tagline, logo and a website. The true power of your brand comes out through story, image and personality. It should be meaningful, memorable and lasting. And guess what else? It should contain your passion — because passion is crucial to a winning brand!
Craig covers a number of interesting topics on the podcast today, including:
- Identifying your position in the marketplace
- Why purpose-driven copy comes before design
- Defining your target market more specifically
- Uncovering the core elements of your brand
- How good copy and design convey personality
Do you want to refocus and refresh your marketing efforts? If your answer is yes – then you’ll want to hear what Craig has to say today! (Scroll down to the Podcast Player and have a listen now.)
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Innovate Now: Tony Vengrove Shares His Start-up Journey
[Legacy post: Small Business Talent] My guest on the podcast today is Tony Vengrove. Like many successful entrepreneurs, Tony started his career in the corporate world. In fact, he spent 20+ years working in a variety of advertising, marketing and innovation roles for major ad agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and global corporations including Boehringer Ingelheim and Altria Group.
In early 2012, Tony launched his own firm, Miles Finch Innovation. Today he puts his decades of marketing and innovation experience to work helping clients to create more efficient and productive innovation organizations. Tony collaborates with innovation teams to uncover key consumer insights, generate new product concepts and connect ideas to technologies, manufacturing capabilities and thought leaders. Using a proprietary teaching tool that he developed — called the Idea Climate Equation® — Tony coaches and mentors individuals on the principles of creativity, leadership and innovation.
In the course of this candid interview, Tony shares:
- What innovation really means in practical, non-esoteric terms
- Why all entrepreneurs need to embrace creativity and innovation
- The advantages of seeking out new ideas across diverse industries
- How self-awareness and quieting mental chatter enhances creativity
So what can small business owners and solo entrepreneurs learn from Tony about tapping the power of creative thinking and innovation? Quite a lot! (Scroll down to the Podcast Player and listen-in now.)
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