Welcome To Preeminence Unleashed
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Art by Jack Butcher
Connect with Nic Peterson:
Newsletter/Blog [most previously paid stuff has been moved here for free]
Nic’s Book, Bumpers (Amazon)
Connect With Jeff Moore:
Thursday Night Boardroom (free mastermind)
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Growth vs. Scaling
How to know when you’re ready
Building systems early on
The value of good coaching
Episode 21: The Right Time to Scale Your Business
“You know you are ready to scale if it feels like you already have your foot on the gas, and there’s friction somewhere… if you feel like you need to force it, you’re probably not ready to scale.”
Nic Peterson (6:02 - 6:12)
To scale or not to scale.
Before we dive deeper into the topic of scaling, let's get one thing clear - it's not absolutely necessary for you to scale your business. We tend to get caught up with what we see others doing on social media, and it's easy to all into the trap of thinking that we must do the same.
Your goals, lifestyle, and circumstances are unique, and you need to figure out what works best for you. Maybe you are happy with the business that you currently have, with the people you're serving, the money you're making, and the life that it provides for you and your family. If that's the case, don't feel compelled to scale because of other's opinions.
However, if you feel like you're ready to expand your business to serve more people and have a more significant impact, it's critical that you learn to distinguish between growth and scaling. You can grow your business by selling and acquiring a bunch of new clients. But scaling means you have systems in place to deliver high-quality service to those customers. You must have the processes and infrastructure in place to be able to sustain your growth.
“Growth is acquiring more customers by selling on the front-end. Scaling is the ability to deliver the results you’ve promised to all those customers.” - Nic Peterson (8:34 - 8:41)
If you've decided you want to scale your business here are a few things to keep in mind.
3 tips for when to scale your business.
How to know you're ready?
If you get anxious about delivering quality results every time you make a sale, you're probably not ready to scale. Most likely, you don't have systems and processes in place to be able to serve many clients at a high level simultaneously. It might be a better idea to develop a solid foundation first to be able to handle massive growth in your business.
Is it ever too early to scale?
No, it's not. If you're a visionary, like many entrepreneurs, you're likely to keep going a hundred miles an hour till you hit a wall. Building systems early on, when you have more bandwidth, will allow you to be more deliberate as you implement processes to deliver quality results to your customers while growing at the same time.
How about being too late to scale?
The answer, again, is no. But this time because it's better late than never. If you already have a business that is running full steam ahead, and then you realize you don't have the foundation to support what you've built, you'll have to hit the brakes so to speak. This drop in momentum can be difficult for entrepreneurs to handle. That being said, you can still scale, ideally with the help of an experienced business coach.
“If you start to build the process to scale from the beginning, then you’re going to be creating the systems to sustain growth from an early stage.”
- Jeff Moore (11:02 - 11:14)
So, to sum it up, it is never too early to scale your business, if you decide that you want to have a greater impact. While it might require you to slow down temporarily, it’s always a good idea to put the right systems in place so you can speed up eventually. To expedite the process, work with a good coach who can help you navigate through the process and put you on the path to massive growth.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Avoiding burnout from friction
Run the right race
Developing intentionality
Doing the things you love
Episode 20: The Friction of Doing the Things You Don’t Want to Do
“When there’s drag, you’re never going to win the race. The harder you drive, the greater the friction and the more power it puts against you.”
Jeff Moore (48:42-49:01)
Business owners often push back against friction, thinking they can overcome it through sheer force. Ignoring the friction in your business keeps you from reaching your goals and doing the things you love, leading to burnout.
Overcoming friction creates efficiency and yields energy to the things that matter. The greater the friction in our work, the more energy we expend during the day and the less energy we have for the things we love to do. That becomes a new source of friction, creating a snowball effect that can wipe your business out if you're not careful.
“If you’re able to do the things you love, what are the chances you’ll be more creative and make a bigger impact? It’s an obligation for you to eliminate friction in your business.” - Jeff Moore (48:23-48:38)
Are You Running the Wrong Race?
There's no shortage of entrepreneurs spending too much time doing things they hate. People who specialize in writing copy struggle when they have to create videos for marketing campaigns. Web designers might be grinding their way through writing sales letters.
But they’re running the wrong race. They're channeling their energy into things that take them significantly longer to do than someone better equipped for the job. What if they focused on what they're good at? Chances are, they'd make a lot more and perform at a higher level at a higher volume. You'll never win a race you don't want to be in.
Develop Intentionality in Everything You Do
Simplifying any message makes it more compelling. The same applies when you're creating intentionality in your work. State your intention clearly and in a way that carries you forward. Get rid of the jargon and create a message that others can easily understand.
“The fastest way to get to where you want to go is to take your foot off the brake. That’s the highest leverage and most efficient thing you can do.”
- Nic Peterson (49:10-49:28)
Defining your role creates an obligation to fulfill that role. There are key questions to ask when going through this process...
What is the highest leverage role you're playing?
Why is that the role and how is it serving you?
What are the non-negotiable rules you play by?
What is the one piece of advice you can offer that's rooted in your own abilities and superpower?
Anyone who one sits down and answers these questions creates more intention in the role they're playing at work, home, and in their community. Integrity is established alongside that intention. You create an obligation to everyone around you to show up as who you say you are. Others start to expect it of you, further enhancing your intentionality.
Doing What You Love in Business
Any drag in your day-to-day activities keeps you from doing the things you love and growing a successful business. Eliminating friction lets you be more creative and have a bigger impact on the people you serve. It's every business owner's obligation to identify and eliminate the limiting factors.
The harder you push back against friction, the greater it will be, and the more power it will exert back at you. Taking your foot off the brake is the fastest way to get to where you want to be. For today's entrepreneurs, that's the highest leverage and most efficient thing you can do to grow a thriving business.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Building an engaged audience
Sharing the actionable
The importance of relationships
Post easy-to-understand content
Episode 19: How to Rapidly Grow a Social Media Audience
“Then suddenly, your followers on Instagram grew by the thousands... And you’ve done this without using any programs or services.”
Jeff Moore (15:13 - 15:37)
Why you need an audience.
In order to have the impact and influence that you want to have, you need to have an audience. Otherwise, you could be creating and sharing some amazing content, but it won’t really have the kind of effect that it should have. Whether it’s on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or through your own channels like a podcast or blog, you need to build a following if you want to generate revenue, or even just provide content to help people solve a problem.
“You don’t have to be great everywhere. Find the place you show up the best.” - Nic Peterson (18:01 - 18:05)
However, it isn’t enough to have a large following. You want an audience that is engaged, people that are resonating with what you’re saying, and people that are applying the tips and strategies that you’re sharing.
3 Tips to Grow an Audience Quickly.
Pick Your Channel - Don’t try to show up everywhere. Find out which platforms or mediums are most widely used by your target audience, and focus on those. You might have to try a couple of different platforms to figure out where to connect with the people you’re looking for, but once you do, you’ll experience rapid growth in followers.
Keep it Simple - People on social media often like content that is actionable and easy to understand. They’re not interested in the “why” or “how,” as much as they are in the “what.” They know the result they want to see, and what they want from you is to explain to them in simple terms how to achieve those outcomes. If you’re creating content, whether it's a blog post or a podcast episode, go through it and pick out the parts that are actionable to share on social media.
Build the Right Relationships - Knowing the right people makes it much easier to grow an audience. Find people in a complementary niche or industry with a similar followers. Get on podcasts or Facebook Lives with others that are reaching the same audience. Some of their followers will probably be interested in following you as well. The key is to build relationships with other marketers or entrepreneurs and demonstrate that having you on their podcast or Facebook Live will benefit them as well.
“Being the best at what you do and being famous are two different things. The most famous is not always the best. Are you optimizing to be famous, or are you optimizing to be the best?”
- Nic Peterson (7:36 - 8:00)
To grow your audience, post content that is easy to understand, apply, and share. Listen to this week’s episode of Preeminence Unleashed to learn more about how to grow an audience of engaged social media followers.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Lisa Sasevich
Topic: Preeminence
How to invite pursuit
Giving yourself the time to say “yes”
Position yourself to establish trust
Shifting with the trends
Episode 18: Creating an Irresistible Offer with Lisa Sasevich
“Be confident and ready in any situation to make your offer, be it in a stadium or a one-on-one conversation.”
Lisa Sasevich (20:16-20:27)
Many mission-driven entrepreneurs, such as coaches, authors, speakers, trainers, and service professionals, want to make a difference in the lives of others but don’t want to have to sell.
Renowned business mentor Lisa Sasevich has a solution for them. She assures these entrepreneurs that they don’t actually need to sell if they have an irresistible offer already prepared that is neither pushy or salesy but that invites pursuit.
Helping entrepreneurs nail down that offer is her mission.
“What we’re really good at is showing you the formula to make your intangible service feel so tangible that the folks who need you have the confidence to say ‘yes’ on the spot.” -Lisa Sasevich (7:21-7:35)
Lisa herself has given the same talk over and over for ten years. To prepare for a new event, she swaps out some of the testimonials and examples to fit the audience she will be speaking to. Having this speech ready to go enables her to readily say “yes” to opportunities because she needs so little time to prepare.
Lisa teaches others how to prepare their own signature speech in her Speak-to-Sell Bootcamp on her website.
Lisa’s Bootcamp is for you, if you would like to:
Attract more clients by speaking, whether to a live audience or in everyday situations like networking groups, Facebook Lives, and podcasts.
Position yourself to establish trust and connect with your audience.
Create an irresistible offer.
Naturally transition to your offer by crafting a compelling story designed to leave your ideal client wanting more and primed to work with you.
Use a proven structure, not a word-for-word script, that sells for you, allowing you to be in the moment while still delivering a talk that sells.
“Know your offer, make it irresistible, and then have a presentation to lead to it.” -Lisa Sasevich (15:05-15:15)
Having the Speak-to-Sell formula enables you to shift as the cultural trends shift. Remember the big guns who were on MySpace? Where are they now? They’re on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube because they knew how to move their message from one platform to another.
Learn how to sell without selling. When you have the words to describe your product or offer in a way that profoundly resonates with your ideal client, they’ll be compelled to say yes without hesitation.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Curating a unique group
Moving from abstract theory to practical application
Get clear on your “why”
Developing valuable relationships
Episode 17: The Collective Momentum of Business Masterminds and Retreats
“In most masterminds, one person is the hub and everyone else is the spokes. But everyone should be the hub with access to everyone else.”
Jeff Moore (12:26-12:44)
Business owners join masterminds to connect with other entrepreneurs, establish accountability, and leverage each other’s insights and expertise. Masterminds meet online or through in-person meetups and retreats. These meetings add horsepower to your business engine, giving entrepreneurs a much-needed tune-up that helps them reach their goals faster.
But the word “mastermind” is one of the most misunderstood business buzzwords out there today. When they’re done strategically, mastermind retreats improve over time with each meeting elevating into something more.
Curation Creates a Powerful Mastermind Network
The key to creating a powerful network is to deliver valuable content, resources, and tools. Like a fine art museum that doesn’t try to just pack everything in at once, your mastermind has to be curated in a way that offers members something they won’t find anywhere else. It must help them become the absolute best at what they do.
“Serving people at the highest level and being famous are two different things. The most famous is not always the best.”
- Nic Peterson (7:41-7:57)
Mastermind retreats let you sit down with people who want to be the best in serving others. This creates a collective momentum that fuels every member’s growth. While most business “gurus” focus on visibility, likes, shares, and other vanity metrics, successful entrepreneurs know that serving others at the highest level isn’t the same as being famous. The most famous business leaders aren’t always the best, and just because you’ve never heard of someone doesn’t mean they don’t provide tremendous service to their audience.
Building and Leveraging the Collective Momentum
The collective momentum that masterminds and retreats create is what takes your network to a new level of service so you’re always becoming better at what you do. Traditional masterminds position one person as the hub. But a more effective strategy is to view everyone as hubs, giving each member access to the entire network.
Curate the conversations and connections that come from your mastermind meetings. This moves entrepreneurs away from abstract theory and towards the practical applications that actually grow their audiences. Growth isn’t something you can force in your business. Trying to force growth beyond your capacity to scale throws you and your business out of balance. You might reach the goals you’ve set, but at the expense of your personal relationships, health, and professional fulfillment.
“You can’t force growth… force creates counterforce. It’s really about removing the limiting factors.” - Nic Peterson (26:39-27:03)
Having the right mastermind network helps you answer the important questions that consistently move you forward. You get clear on the real reason why you do everything you do, and you discover what’s important to you.
The relationships you develop with your network provide thousands of touch points that benefit your business. As the mastermind group becomes better at serving others, your ability to serve skyrockets, and you achieve lasting growth in the process.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Brooke Elder
Topic: Preeminence
Serving others without personal gain
Focus your message on the problems you solve
Getting out of “survival mode”
The importance of authenticity
Episode 16: Building a Purpose-Driven Business with Brooke Elder
“If you can learn to serve people, then it doesn’t matter what you do...you’re going to be successful.” - Brooke Elder (33:01-33:05)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
Network marketing businesses help new entrepreneurs serve others and build brands that give them the financial freedom and professional fulfillment they’ve always wanted. But it requires a unique set of skills to achieve long-term growth and success.
Brooke Elder helps entrepreneurs create purpose-driven businesses by applying proven marketing strategies to network marketing. She began her entrepreneurial journey selling for Mary Kay and soon took her skills and expertise to Scentsy, becoming one of the company’s top earners. Brooke created a training system exclusively for her team. Her system was so effective that she eventually had 10,000 people going through her training. She took the idea of helping others grow their own network marketing businesses and created a successful coaching practice.
“Network marketing is just a tool in the toolbox. It’s not the whole business...it’s just a tool you have.” - Brooke Elder (18:16-18:27)
There’s a mindset shift when you begin to see yourself as an entrepreneur. You take on a new perspective that influences how you make decisions and the actions you take each day. The purpose-driven entrepreneur begins from a place of serving others without having to gain something in return. You’re more likely to provide higher value to your clients and customers when you want to serve them.
Build a Business by Serving Others and Solving Problems
When crafting your message, it’s crucial to keep the problems your offer solves at the forefront of your focus. Your target audience will be more receptive to your message if they are able to see the ways it will benefit them. If you position yourself as someone who is here to serve others, then you’ll always find new ways to provide service and grow. Don’t sell to satisfy your own needs. Instead, develop your ability to innovate and continually look for new ways to solve the problems of your audience.
Many new network marketers, and entrepreneurs, come from a place of desperation and survival. Creating a business can feel like the best way to gain freedom and increase income. However, when trapped in survival mode decisions come from a place of scarcity, instead of wisdom, and sometimes boldness, making decisions needed to help a business to thrive.
“Preeminence is not about falling in love with your product, it’s about falling in love with your client.” - Jeff Moore (14:12-14:20)
It takes a special kind of person to succeed in network marketing. That’s why the success rate is low compared to other businesses. Knowing what it takes to succeed in network marketing helps you develop the skills and traits that help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
Successful network marketers know there’s something more out there for them, and they understand the importance of authenticity in business. They’re willing to do things differently and rebel against conventional ways of doing business. But more importantly, they have the heart to serve. Regardless of your product, offer, or business model, building a purpose-driven business driven by serving others is an unstoppable way to grow a thriving and sustainable business.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
Learn more about Brooke and how you can create your own purpose-driven business by visiting socialtenacity.com. You can also find her on the Authentic Influencer Podcast and on Facebook.
Guest: Malorie Nicole
Topic: Preeminence
Getting rid of mental junk
The “busy” identity
Ask why, not how
Examining your beliefs
Episode 15: Breaking The Glass Ceiling and Developing a Money Mindset With Malorie Nicole
“Business and life are the same things if you’re an entrepreneur. There’s no way to separate those two pieces.” - Malorie Nicole (10:25-10:34)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
Entrepreneurs are used to working on the mechanical aspects of their business. They focus on sales processes, fulfillment, marketing methods, and tactics. But they struggle to achieve the kind of exponential growth that results in a six- or seven-figure business.
Malorie Nicole helps today’s entrepreneurs get rid of the blocks that keep them from getting more fulfillment and profit out of their businesses. Her clients include marketing specialists, agency owners, copywriters, and business coaches. Malorie’s mindset growth process avoids the tactics that entrepreneurs don’t really need. Instead, business owners need to look at all the junk that’s blinding and keeping them from seeing what really needs to be done to achieve success.
“People complain about being busy. But they resist giving up the busyness because it’s become their identity.” - Nic Peterson (8:57-9:09)
There are telltale signs that you’re carrying too much junk. If you’re going to bed freaking out about your business or waking up stressing about it no matter how much you’re making, then chances are that there are a lot of things that need to be eliminated before you can achieve real and lasting growth. Entrepreneurs often find that the stress they’re experiencing can be a result of not achieving the success they’re after. But it could just as easily come from achieving too much success.
Change Your Mindset to Create New Business Behaviors
Our minds perpetuate stories about the things we do and the reasons we do them. Many entrepreneurs create an identity around “being busy.” They resist letting go of that identity, causing them to spend time and energy on things that don’t actually move their businesses forward. As an entrepreneur, it’s impossible to separate business and life. But many business owners convince themselves that everything will fall apart if they don’t show up. This can keep you from making the right decisions and taking the actions that support your business goals.
Modifying behaviors is the first step to creating change in everything you do. There are countless courses available that are designed to help business owners build successful companies. But most of them focus only on the mechanical side of entrepreneurship. In addition, they try to offer all the answers to business problems. But when you base all your decisions on advice from others, you don’t use your own resources or empowered thinking to figure out what you need to be doing. Successful entrepreneurs are those who follow instructions while coming to conclusions on their own.
“When we don’t get rid of the junk, we’re adding layers to ourselves. But we’re still carrying all that crap with us, and it’s showing up in our business.” - Malorie Nicole (4:10-4:19)
Blanket recommendations don’t work because everyone has different challenges, growth opportunities, and gifts. Rather than ask the “how” questions, you’re better served by asking the “why” questions. When you don’t ask these questions, you disconnect yourself from the intention of the actions you need to take. This leads to resistance to growth and stifles your creativity as an entrepreneur.
Beliefs around money can interfere with your ability to build and grow a successful business. How much do you believe you can make? Have you convinced yourself that you’re only capable of earning a certain amount of money? Your experiences cause you to develop beliefs that create a self-imposed money ceiling. Your parents’ relationship with money can influence the beliefs you have around your ability to build wealth.
Entrepreneurs need to be honest with themselves about the beliefs and fears that are holding them back. What beliefs are showing up for you? How did you form those beliefs, and are there any situations where those beliefs don’t apply? When you discover that your beliefs are limiting your growth, you can take on new beliefs that contribute to your business success.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
You can learn more about Nicole at abundantlyclearcourse.com.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Justin DeMers
Topic: Preeminence
Building compelling assets
Right indicators, right time
Social proof at every stage
Sharing client successes
Episode 14: The Gift of Going Second - Social Proof Mastery with Justin DeMers
“If you bake social proof gathering into your fulfillment, it reaffirms the belief that your client made the right decision.”
- Justin DeMers (17:03-17:10)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
Successful businesses leverage the power of social proof. Your target audience is more likely to take action when they see others who are like them achieve the results they’re looking for. Social proof is a powerful factor to consider when designing and implementing your marketing strategies.
But it takes more than an endless testimonial page on your website to generate new clients for your business. Integrating social proof gathering into everything you do builds the assets that compel prospective customers to choose you over your competitors.
“If you can articulate the story someone is telling themselves better than they can articulate it, you win.” - Nic Peterson (7:54-8:01)
Business owners make the mistake of believing that testimonials are all they need to establish social proof, assuming that visitors will read through all of their testimonials. Let me break it to you. They don’t. To make social proof work for you, it is crucial to offer the right social proof indicators at the right time. Prospects are afraid of being the first one to use the product. Leveraging social proof can give you the power to eliminate the fear that comes with purchasing a new product or service. It allows you to give them the gift of going second.
With social proof, new customers gain confidence knowing that others have used your product and achieved real results, and overcomes the obstacle of someone thinking the results of others could never be possible for them. Each potential client has a story they are telling themselves about the potential for success and risk of failure. Utilizing social proof allows you to articulate that story better than the prospect ever could. Prop up the success of your previous clients before touting your own. This builds trust and credibility, which go a long way in building a lasting and profitable brand.
Make Social Proof an Essential Part of the Sales Process
The secret to using social proof effectively is to bake it into every stage of your process. Whether you’re selling, onboarding, or fulfilling client orders, infuse social proof into every step. Prospects will move through your sales funnel in a more natural way with the guidance of those who are already one step ahead of them. After converting a client, social proof reaffirms that they made the right decision. That belief component makes it easier for you to market and sell your products and services and will increase client retention.
Getting feedback is key to building social proof. But don’t just interview customers hoping to extract something for your benefit. Instead, foster one-on-one human interactions that give the individual an opportunity to share something real. People connect to stories that feel real. Video testimonials don’t need high-level production value. Honesty is what matters.
“Humans connect to stories that feel real.” - Justin DeMers (24:48-24:53)
When you create the right social proof assets, you have the ability to leverage them in the right order at the right time. The online marketplace is filled with marketers who misrepresent claims around their products. Many entrepreneurs show income statements without legally required disclaimers, and customers can be compensated for their story in many ways including access to exclusive content, training, and other benefits. Whether compensation is financial or otherwise, businesses need to be upfront when using paid testimonials.
Social proof is more than just getting clients to praise you through testimonials. When you focus on sharing your clients’ successes, and you implement that strategy into your entire sales process, it’s easy to create powerful social proof so your audience has the confidence, trust, and belief to say “yes” to your offer.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
Learn more about building social proof into your sales process by visiting socialproofclub.com.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Samantha Hartley
Topic: Preeminence
Know your metrics
Consulting with confidence and certainty
How not to undercharge
Implement what you learn
Episode 13: Next-Level Consulting Success with Samantha Hartley
“We have income equality when we make our own income. Decide what you want to earn and charge that.”
- Samantha Hartley (29:03-29:09)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
Consultants provide an invaluable service to today’s businesses. But many consultants sell themselves short. They secure a handful of clients, but they struggle to move to the next level of success.
Samantha Hartley helps women consultants and experts stop under-earning and get bigger results working with bigger clients while delivering greater value. Consultants learn how to bring confidence and certainty into every meeting they have with clients and show their true value every time.
“You can’t affect change in an organization in less than a year. It won’t stick.” - Samantha Hartley (19:58-20:06)
Today’s consultants have the tools and resources to do the work they want. But they don’t always live up to their potential, and they remain stuck doing too much work for too little pay. They work with clients who don’t see the value of the services they provide. They develop a habit of playing small, charging low fees and selling smaller packages than they should. They don’t raise their fees out of fear that clients will stop working with them.
Most consultants underprice their services. Even consultants who’ve come out of the corporate world and are used to making six figures end up settling for below average fees when going out on their own.
Playing a Bigger Consulting Game
The most successful consultants are those who gain the tools, skills, beliefs, support, and guidance they need to build their businesses and work with the right clients.
Looking at the metrics of your business is the biggest step you can take to achieve better results. However, many consultants are intimidated by the numbers. When you avoid analyzing the numbers, it becomes impossible to create and reach financial goals. Subsequently, consultants become attached to lower fees and are uncomfortable asking for and receiving what they’re worth.
“A consultant leads clients as their trusted advisor. If they need something better, tell them they need it. And if you can provide it, offer to provide it.” - Nic Peterson (44:23-44:35)
When you walk clients through their own numbers, you show them how much their problem is costing their business. You then position yourself as the obvious choice to solve that problem. For some businesses, problems could be worth millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Undercharging your clients hurts your credibility. Clients may not trust that you can solve their problem and fulfill the promises you’ve made. By charging what you’re worth, you emphasize the importance of the services or products you provide. You differentiate yourself from your competitors, and you enhance your credibility and expertise.
You can create the consulting business you’ve always dreamed of when you get amazing results for your clients and start trusting the universe when taking risks. When you implement what you learn, you create a work life that matches your vision and helps your clients turn theirs into a reality.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
You can learn more about Samantha Hartley’s work here.
Samantha is giving away a FREE copy of her proposal template! You can download it here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: David Tyreman
Topic: Preeminence
The rise of David Tyreman and Propaganda
Your brand is a story, your customer is the star
Making your brand unique
Who are you and what do you do?
Ep 12: The Secret to Building a Profitable and Enduring Brand with David Tyreman
“Without a brand, you’re simply a vendor… and vending is for machines. We’re not machines… we are people.” - David Tyreman (17:48-17:55)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
Branding is a business buzzword that’s misinterpreted and misused throughout all industries. Today’s entrepreneurs struggle to create effective, engaging, and memorable brands because they simply don’t understand what branding is.
David Tyreman helps businesses crack their DNA code to create powerful brands that open the floodgates of new customers and clients. Arriving in the U.S. with nothing more than a suitcase, $5,000, and a new idea, his venture into the antique business soon left him and his business partner flat broke with no idea of what to do next.
Over time, they transformed their business failure into the monumental multi-million dollar visual branding and merchandising company Propaganda. The company’s unique attention-getting strategies landed them a gambit of high-profile clients including Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger.
David is now on a mission to share the lessons he learned through his consulting, public speaking, and publishing under his new venture The World Famous Company.
“A brand is a story starring your customer living happily ever after using your product or service with great trust and admiration.”
- Jeff Moore (13:04-13:18)
Your brand is your story, and your customer is the hero in that story. Businesses need a story to create a world customers can live through. This is the hub of your brand from which all branding elements like your website, tagline, and logo must grow. Most business owners do it the other way around. They complicate their brand, creating something that their own team can’t articulate. Your brand should be so clearly defined that any member of your organization can communicate it in one sentence.
Begin With the Hub of Your Brand
You can’t look at branding the same way your customers do. For the consumer, the brand identifies a specific product or service. For business owners, a brand distinguishes you from your competitors and allows you to connect with the right audience. Unlike vendors that become commodities, brands are identities based on people. Brands have personality.
Businesses try to emulate what others are doing in their industry, so they become invisible. Your brand must be unique to your business and the value it offers. It should be expressed at every touch point in the sales process to customers and everyone in your supply chain.
“Every brand touchpoint is an opportunity to steal the show and inspire your customers.” - David Tyreman (22:37-22:52)
Your brand comes before your logo or website. Today’s logos are signposts that let customers know where they are. That’s not your brand. Think about what really differentiates your business from your industry competitors. Focus on effective branding solutions that connect with your target customers on an emotional level. That’s the real secret behind branding.
Identify who you are and what you do. Who is your customer? How do your customers brag about your business? Customers see you as the best, so what is it you do that makes them believe it? When you answer these questions, you create a language between you and your customer that represents a lasting and profitable relationship. When you answer these questions, you’ve created a brand.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed” Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
Learn more about David’s work at worldsgreatestcompany.com. You can also find out more about his two-day intensive workshop by visiting davidtyreman.com/2-day-workshop.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Give value, be successful
Preeminence = long-term growth
Put your customer first
The importance of a compelling introduction
Ep 11: Preeminence and Your Business Culture
“Preeminence is the highest form of leadership.” - Jeff Moore (34:49-34:55)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
The Sales You Achieve Tomorrow Are the Result of Your Actions Today
Your business success depends on the value you provide your customers and the relationships you develop over time. Preeminence, the quality of being superior to all other options, is one of the most valuable traits you can infuse into your business.
Today’s successful businesses create opportunities by fully giving of themselves and offering ongoing value to their customers. Rather than focus strictly on the bottom line, they focus on long-term growth and sustainability. More importantly, they find that when they stop worrying about losing money, they no longer have that problem. They prioritize the needs of the customers to ensure that the business is always positioned as their first and obvious choice.
“The number one priority for the culture of your company is to take care of the customer.” - Jeff Moore (13:31-13:36)
A common mistake that business owners make is thinking they have to make a sale today. They fail to realize that a sale may come further down the line. Whether it’s six days or six months later, the sales you achieve are the result of your actions today. A strategy built on preeminence is one that leads to long-term growth, reducing marketing costs and amplifying the results you achieve. When you treat people well and give them options that help them meet their personal or professional goals, then achieving results simply becomes a matter of time.
Make Preeminence Part of Your Business Culture
Preeminence means taking care of the customers first and working out the other “stuff” later. It is believing in gaining lifetime customers and clients. Taking care of the customer should be the primary goal of your company’s culture. The impact of business culture can be seen in the countless companies that are bought out by larger ones. The new company takes over and fails to manage the organization in a way that maintains the momentum and success it’s already achieved. They lose sight of the truly important details and quickly see diminishing results.
By taking care of clients and customers as well as your employees, vendors, and other members of your organization, you build trust around your business. Trust creates momentum. Rather than see yourself as your company’s representative to your customers, flip the script and become your customer’s representative to your company. The quality of preeminence must exist in everything you do. It should extend beyond your business and exist in your personal relationships. Preeminence becomes a way of being that supports the results you achieve in all areas of your life.
“Preeminence is not a business tactic, it’s a life strategy.” - Nic Peterson (35:44-35:49)
You attract success through the person you become. But you must see yourself through the eyes of clients and customers. Having a clear and compelling introduction clarifies the value your business offers. You need to articulate what you do, who you do it for, and how customers benefit from working with you. This helps others see the character of your business, its leadership, and its value propositions.
It’s hard for business owners to see the consequences of what they do when they’re tied up in the daily tasks that come with running a business. It’s crucial to have a community around you that supports your ongoing efforts to achieve success in your industry. An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. A community built on the principle of preeminence supports everything you do and creates a business culture that fosters collaboration, service to your customers, and a shared vision.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
How to handle business growth
Creating predictability
Evaluating your business structure
Fireproof your business
EP10: Adopting Disciplines and Systems to Meet the Demands of a Growing Business
“If you haven’t adopted disciplines as you grow, your cash flow starts to dwindle.” - Jeff Moore (3:55-4:15)
Nic Peterson & Jeff Moore
Preeminence Unleashed
Business growth can lead to costly issues that can be easily avoided. When your business blows up, everything within it multiplies. Entrepreneurs must reinforce the relationships they’ve established with their customers, vendors, and employees. Without the right disciplines and systems, you will become overwhelmed as you attempt to adjust to growth.
“When you take your eye off the ball, you’re not in growth mode anymore. You’re in save-your-ass mode.” - Jeff Moore (4:44-4:51)
As you grow, your company is no longer the same business it once was. Failing to have systems in place negatively affects your bottom line, leaving you unable to hire the people you need to scale and operating from a place of desperation. Disciplines and systems create predictability for you and your customers.
Business owners who have grown from zero to a million are used to doing everything themselves. But when they hire someone else to help them reach the next level of growth, they still try to do it all alone. Their business is their baby, and it’s difficult to hand their baby off to others.
Structure Influences Behavior
Many entrepreneurs are spending money on things that aren’t critical to growth. For a company with a 10% profit margin, saving $100,000 in unnecessary expenses can be equivalent to doing another million dollars in sales. But you could also go out and acquire $1 million in new business without realizing you’ve lost $500,000 somewhere else.
The right business structure is essential to your operations. A bad hire can end up costing you ten times the cost of the employee. However, even a rockstar employee is destined to fail if there isn’t a system in place that supports them. Growing businesses need others. An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk for lost time, unnecessary friction, and other common pitfalls. Business owners often become addicted to the adrenaline that comes with resurrecting their business after being on the brink of collapse. But in order to build a truly successful business, you need to have a fireproof system already in place.
“The person that gets over the initial hump is a different person than the one who got them there. You need those two people, but you can’t be both at once.” - Nic Peterson (11:38-11:57)
As a business owner, you don’t have to go it alone. You don’t have to be the hero swooping in to put out fires. Creating disciplines and systems around your work will help you transition into your next stage of growth. Your customers will be better served and you’ll achieve the work life that you want and need for ongoing success.
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
Guest: Ryan Levesque
Topic: Preeminence
Recognizing the right market
Solving urgent problems
Pick your players
Doing your research
EP9: Choose the Shortcut with Ryan Levesque
“If you start out with the wrong market, you are destined to fail before you even begin.” - Ryan (7:54 - 7:59)
Research has shown the biggest reason people fail in their businesses is that they have chosen the wrong market. It can be discouraging to think you can do the work to listen to the market and give them what they want, but if you haven’t chosen the right market in the first place, it’s possible that your business won’t make it.
Ryan Levesque, the author of the #1 National Best-Selling book ASK, spent three years studying businesses to help him understand why some businesses who followed his methods were thriving, while others were failing. In his research, he found common factors present in all markets that were successful.
“I’m fascinated by the success of the unsexy industries.” - Nic (20:52)
There are five components that can be found in all successful markets. If you utilize these “Five Market Must-Haves” when selecting a new market, you’ll be able to be successful regardless of the obscurity of your niche.
Make sure that the market is evergreen. It’s important that the market was relevant in the past and is likely to be relevant in the future. An excellent example of an evergreen market is gardening, which is one of the longest lasting hobbies in America.
Look for enthusiast markets and to avoid problem-solution markets. In enthusiast markets, people stay engaged over a long period. Pet owners would fall in this category since they are likely to need various products and services throughout the life-cycle of their pets. On the other hand, if someone’s basement is flooded, they only need to fix that once. It will be difficult to maintain longlasting success with a business focused around this problem.
Solve a problem that is urgent within that market. A pet owner might think that a dog-sweater is cute, but there’s typically no urgency to purchase. Potty training, however, is an urgent problem. People in these markets are generally not price-sensitive. They’ll pay whatever it is necessary to alleviate their pain.
Find a market that has future problems. Find a market with continued pain points, for which you offer the solution. For example, a business coach can assist the client in launching their business. The lifetime value of this client is great, as a growing business will come with continual challenges.
Choose a market that has “players with money.” Target individuals who are predisposed to spend money on your product or service. One of the best examples of this is the golf market. Most golfers are working professionals, and they spend money on all sorts of things like equipment and training.
“Ask questions. Stay curious. Seek truth. That’s the recipe for a fulfilling and successful life.” - Ryan (10:24 - 10:34)
If you are considering a new business venture, remember that choosing the wrong market can destine you for failure regardless of how great your product or service might be. Take the time to do the research and due diligence to find the right market to go into, and you’ll be setting yourself up for success.
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Introduction - 0:27
How Writing a Book Can Open Doors - 1:46
The Single Biggest Mistake When Starting a Business - 5:16
Ryan’s Story - 10:40
The Five Market Must-Haves 14:43
Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Market - 30:42
Get a FREE Hardcover Copy of Choose - 34:12
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 38:00
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
To get a FREE hardcover copy of Ryan’s new book Choose + the 25 top niches in 2019 + $200 in bonuses, visit his website.
Find out what type of business you should start based on your personality, goals, and other factor with Ryan’s free assessment.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Prioritizing connections
Focusing on a few high-ticket clients
Avoiding “bycatch”
Revisit your avatar
EP8: Landing Big Fish Clients and the Right "Catch Method"
“Maybe getting one line in the water, and getting it right, is better than a scattershot method of throwing 15 lines with random bait. ” - Nic 1:46
In the entrepreneur world, we can become so focused on grabbing leads and building a following, that we forget that we are looking for a particular client who will be drawn by a particular method and message. How often do you value personal conversation over blasting content? How much effort are you making in the individual connections with individuals who could become lifetime clients? If you continue spending all of your effort trying to talk to everyone, you’re going to end up talking to no one. This mishap is common, to say the least, but if not remedied, it could be a fatal flaw in your business.
“It’s about being in the right place, with the right message, and the right method ” - Jeff (7:12)
Landing big fish clients is actually much simpler than we’d like to think. Do you really need 7,000 leads in the water, when you’re really only looking to build a substantial working relationship with a few high-ticket clients? This method can take time and patience, but in the end, is so much more effective at building the business you actually want, and getting your message to the proper audience.
A downside of spending too much time trying to grab all of the clients, rather than focusing on accruing the right clients, can be bycatch. In commercial fishing, bycatch is the term used for the unwanted fish caught in the nets thrown for a certain type of fish. If you are casting your nets too wide or using a net when you should be using a hook, you will end up gathering clients who aren’t a good fit for your product or service. This leads to wasted energy, and at times, exhaustion and burnout.
“If you aren’t taking specific and unique action to engage your clients, the clients will eventually find someone who will.” - Jeff (13:13-13:23)
Maybe you’re realizing that you’ve spent way more time than you’d like to admit on lead generation. Maybe you’re recognizing that you are out of touch with your avatar, and you have way too many lines in the water with the wrong type of bait. Maybe you’re realizing that you keep catching the wrong type of client, and now you’re realizing why. What now?
This week, revisit the specifications of your ideal avatar. Who is that client? What is this individual’s natural habitat, and what kind of bait will draw them in? If you don’t know, it’s time to find out. You can’t have a lack of clarity on what you want to catch, and then complain about what you end up with in your boat!
Regardless of the type of client you are seeking, low-tech is always best. What we mean is this, don’t ever demean the value that can be found in a genuine, authentic connection with an individual. It isn’t automation, it isn’t a killer funnel, it’s a real conversation with real people, offering real results. This week, reach out to a client, or a potential client, in an effort to build a genuine connection. Don’t use it as a ploy to make a sale. Add value. Become an expert. Build a relationship. Hone your method and message.
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Introduction - 0:40
Right Place, Right Message, Right Method - 5:23
Personal Connection is Vital - 10:36
Why Low-Tech is Best - 18:45
Dial in the Best Process for Your Avatar - 23:34
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 29:45
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the “Preeminence Unleashed”Facebook Group.
If you want to continually be challenged in your business growth, sign up for Nic’s Network Newsletter.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Knowing which questions to ask
Ask, rather than tell
Challenge your people
Questions encourage growth
EP7: Questions > Answers
“Asking the right question is a skill and a weapon.” - Nic Peterson
Socrates once said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Success in your business isn’t dependant on having the right answers, but in knowing which questions to ask. Questions are everything. They are the key to your own growth and your business and personal relationships. Learn how to master the art of questions, and gain a new skill and weapon to wield at will.
“People want to be told what to do, but when you can provide someone with better questions to ask, they will have the fuel to propel them into whatever stratosphere they want to go into.”
- Jeff Moore
Most of the time, people just want you to tell them what to do. It can feel simpler, easier, less scary that way. However, unless you are desiring to grow a needy client-base that is dependent on you for their every move, questions need to be your greatest used resource, and your default in conversations. Questioning is so much more powerful than telling, and can be utilized to help facilitate an individual’s growth, helping to guide them towards their own answer. Start being more aware of your conversations with clients. Are you quick to provide a solution? Are you elevating yourself as an expert, instead of helping to elevate your client? While it’s important to ask questions of others, it’s equally, if not more important to consistently be asking yourself questions. Become a detective of your actions, your motivations, and your pursuit of data.
“The process of discovery is not ‘tell me the answer,’ it’s asking questions that prompt more questions. It’s a series of questions that lead to growth.” - Nic Peterson
Become a master of asking questions. Not only will you find yourself learning more about your clients, friends, and family, but you’ll find that people in your circle of influence will become better at asking questions as well.
One way to do this is to start answering the questions that people ask. So many times, people aren’t asking the questions they really want to be answered. If they’re asking the wrong question, does it really matter what the answer is? People tend to hover closer to the surface or stay “safe” with vague, hypothetical questions. Challenge others to dig deeper and be bolder with their questions. When a client asks how to make $100,000 quickly, you can tell them to just sell all of their stuff. These answers could frustrate in the short-term, but hopefully, it will help them to think more about the questions they ask. What that client really wants to know is how to build a successful, sustainable business. To get there, they’ll need to ask bigger, more specific questions. Help them grow, instead of enabling their timidity.
Questions lead to more questions, and there is never a time when there aren’t more questions to ask. That, my friend, is a beautiful thing.
“Questions are the sculptor of the soul.” - Jeff Moore
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Introduction - 0:36
The Importance of Questions - 4:22
Some Really Important Questions - 6:36
The Benefit of Questions for Others - 10:22
Don’t Ask Lazy Questions - 14:53
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 27:36
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Trust is the foundation for success
Character + competence
Trust yourself
Your toolbox
EP6: The Most Sustainable Method for Business Growth
“Trust and preeminence are symbiotic. There is no preeminence without trust, and there is no trust without being preeminent. ” - Jeff
In an industry that advertises “value in advance,” but then psychologically manipulates individuals into feeling so stuck that they feel they have no other option than to invest thousands into a program, how do we foster trust and lead strong with a counterculture that adds value, instead of first demanding substantial investment?
Trust is the foundation for referrals, and for long-term sustainable success. It must be built over time and with intentional effort. However, in order to have the freedom to trust others, and for others to feel the security to place their trust in you, it is imperative that you first learn to trust yourself.
“As trust goes down, the cost of doing business goes up, and the speed of business slows down tremendously.” - Nic
There are two main aspects of an individual that are crucial when assessing the level of trust. The first is character. The people we let closest to us, the people we trust with our money and our time, are individuals that are consistent with their words and actions. In addition to character, it is vital to possess competence. Do I trust the person to get the end result? Do they have the skill required for the specific situation? These are questions we subconsciously ask when we are working with service providers. However, it is important to recognize that, in order to be the best service provider possible, we should be asking these questions of ourselves. Am I being authentic and consistent with those around me? Do I have the competence to deliver the end result?
Often, individuals with a low level of competence and character seem to have an answer for everything. You know the people we’re talking about. Trustworthy individuals, who have also built a level of trust in themselves, have the confidence to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll go find out.” Those are the people to have in your corner, and those are the people to emulate. No one expects you to be all-knowing, but they do need for you to be honest in order for them to trust you.
“Ignorance is not the opposite of knowledge. It’s the illusion of knowledge that is the most dangerous.” - Jeff
If you are ready to build a greater level of trust in your brand, service, and business, the best place to start is building trust in yourself. The competence and character that you carry will be evident to your clients, and they won’t trust you if you aren’t coming from a position of security and genuine confidence. Find an individual you trust, and ask them to give you feedback. What are your strengths and weaknesses, and how can you grow in the area of trust?
This week, comb through your marketing and position an aspect of your brand to help others move forward. It’s important to focus on the tools you have that will help the potential client to build trust in self. Find a way to give away value for free. Give to those prospective clients that need your help even before they invest a single dollar into your service. When you help others move forward in their business and life because of something you did, you become a trusted advisor. Giving away value for free doesn’t make you a pauper or a martyr. Trusted advisors become trusted service providers. Period.
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Introduction - 0:57
The Two Layers of Trust - 3:45
The Importance of Self-Trust - 10:21
Where Does Trust Begin? - 18:13
Take the Time to Foster Trust - 24:47
Actionable Advice - 30:23
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 37:51
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Steve Sims
Topic: Preeminence
Begin with gratitude
Where Steve came from (You’re out of excuses)
Staying authentic
How to become, not just do
EP5: The Real-Life Wizard of Oz: How to Make Anything Happen With Steve Sims
“I remember visiting you a couple times and looking out and thinking, man, you’re living this unique life that is really cool, how magnanimous that is and what the steps are in between.” - Jeff Moore
Steve Sims is a guy who is really, really good at making things happen. Or at least, that’s the Cliff Notes version. Over the years, Steve has perfected the art of meeting the right people, connecting with them, and staying authentic. He put his skills to use building Bluefish, a company that provides one-of-a-kind experiences to its clients. Bluefish became the book, Bluefishing, which reached international acclaim (but don’t ask Steve where Taipei is), which has opened up more and more opportunities.
“I wake up in the morning, I look around at my family and just rejoice that it’s my morning, and what am I going to conquer? If I can wake up in the morning, I’ve already got an unfair advantage to win.” - Steve Sims
And all this from a guy who grew up in East London, destined to become a bricklayer. Steve relates that his grandfather told him, “If you don’t get out today, you’re me tomorrow.” He quit immediately, and recalls that he had simply felt out of place and wanted more for his life. From there, Steve’s path took him to a short-lived job in finance, and then to a job as a bouncer in Hong Kong, where Bluefishing was conceptualized.
As he went on, Steve found that his success came when he stayed humble and authentic, and this lesson came after Bluefish took a big nosedive. With this story, he relates the importance of resilience after failure and the story of how he met Claire, his wife and ultimate teammate.
“Go into a bar on a Friday night, and you’re next to millionaires and billionaires. The talent is how you communicate with them. How do you relate, connect, how do you make it irresistible to the point that they don’t want you to leave the bar stool? It takes you back to building relationships, building credibility, and connecting with someone.” - Steve Sims
Steve’s current endeavors include a fresh new course on networking and meeting high net-worth clients - as well as the crucial skill of becoming, not doing - and a podcast based on the ideas behind Bluefish. He also runs Speakeasies, events that bring together smart people and valuable learning. Although he curates all these interesting, intelligent people, Steve notes that he still feels humbled to be among them, and lets everyone listening in to this episode know, “You’re already out of excuses.”
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Steve’s Mornings - 1:30
Origin Story - 3:15
Moments of Doubt - 7:35
Claire and Steve - 10:30
Bluefishing - 13:30
Jesse Itzler + Steve - 17:00
Current Doings and the Course Philosophy - 19:25
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 30:00
How to get involved
Get Steve’s Course: bluefishsteve.com
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Fall in love with the process
Do what moves the needle
Put in the work
Record your progress
EP4: The Process is the Shortcut
“Success, and success in life for him is the process...he defines success after he finishes the process. It’s a function of the process, not a function of the destination.”
Much of the rhetoric surrounding goal achievement has to do with “shortcuts” promising fast results with minimal effort. Preeminence, on the other hand, involves falling in love with the process – not the expectation of a certain result.
Those who stay focused on the end goal or the idea of a desired result will find themselves unhappy for every day that they aren’t at that point. They become vulnerable to giving up when things go wrong on the journey. A person who falls in love with the process gets to fully enjoy each and every day that they are working towards their goal, because they’re loving the steps and loving where they lead.
After all, the process is the shortcut – and you can’t win a race you don’t want to be in.
“You cannot be running as fast as you can if you’re staring at the finish line. You do not get to choose if the bases are loaded when you come up to bat. Hit the ball.”
That’s an overwhelming concept at the start (for a lot of people). Nic Peterson is a prime example of loving the process and engineering it in a way that works, like so:
· Figure out what moves the needle – Part of avoiding stress as you figure your process out is isolating the few behaviors that keep your trajectory moving steadily upward.
· Do those things every day – This is every bit as simple as it sounds. Pick the two or three most beneficial factors for your journey and do them steadfastly every single day.
· Put the work in long-term – Like all worthwhile things, getting to your goal means showing up and putting in the work every day for as long as it takes, be it weeks, months, or years.
· Don’t crash and burn when you slip up – Failure is part of success. All you can do is look at whether or not you did the few things you set out to do, and if you didn’t, wake up tomorrow and do better.
“If you’re still in a place of judgment, judge your own behavior. That is the only thing you have any right to judge if you want to achieve anything.”
Finally, record the progress you’re making. This allows you to look back and see yourself moving positively forward, analyze your wins and losses, and constantly improve.
There’s truly no better way to phrase all this advice (or make it actionable) than to say, “The process is the shortcut”. Fall in love with the process, commit to it like you would any other relationship, and put in the work. You’ll get there.
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Introduction - 0:00
Falling in love with the process - 0:25
Prime example - 4:00
Engineer the process - 8:10
Love your goal - 12:00
Put in the work - 17:00
Recap and charting progress - 20:00
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 30:00
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Guest: Jeff Moore
Topic: Preeminence
Proactive empathy
The purpose of marketing
Developing understanding
Best Process
EP3: What is Marketing?
“The most effective marketing is understanding where people are coming from and just saying, ‘Hey, I get you’.”
We hear the word “marketing” a lot. How many of us actually understand what it is? This week on Preeminence Unleashed, Nic and Jeff set out to define marketing and what it means.
Nic points out the number of times he’s been told “You’re so good at marketing,” even though that’s not how he defined himself, and the truth of the matter - that he’s laser-focused on becoming more aware of the way people think and behave, and why so. The key piece, according to Nic, is proactive empathy. Being able to say the things people feel but cannot articulate, and devotion to understanding what those things are, constantly.
Jeff adds his perspective:
Marketing is everything: the before unit, the during unit, and the after unit
The purpose of marketing is to drive new, increased, and/or profitable consumption of your product, service or message
True growth = new business - lost business + penetration over last year’s business
“When you can articulate the needs, desires, challenges, fears, and aspirations of the other person - not better than they can to you, but better than they can to themselves, you have now passed the tipping point of being their trusted advisor. All you need to do from now on is communicate with them with that level of understanding, and you will be their trusted advisor for life.”
Humans, at their base, share the same universal frustration: We do not feel understood. The reason Nic is good at what he does is that he is a human that cares and helps people elevate and upgrade their lives.
“Marketing is solving somebody’s problem. Not trying to enroll people or take somebody’s money to solve your problem.” - Nic
Being a trusted advisor is being able to tell people what is best for them. How does this happen? Understanding is the key. Removing judgment and re-adjusting your perspective to get in people’s heads. Not what they tell you, but what’s really going on.
Preeminence is not “How can I help you,” but instead being a student of the people you serve. Take your experiences serving and use them to elevate the lives of the people you encounter.
“In the end, it’s going to be okay. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
Nic reflects on the 23 questions he learned from Jeff that force you to puzzle through what’s really going on in client’s lives. If you go through these questions for your clients, then rinse and repeat, you’ll end up with a heightened understanding of each client - which makes you the obvious choice to help.
Learned helplessness puts your clients in a state of “Screw it, I’m done,” and hearing about challenges and victories over them is what brings clients to the point where they trust you and can motivate themselves to make a change. If you can be the one to tell them about those victories, you’re in the best position to earn their trust.
The guys describe the Best Process call that Nic guides clients through, and the Deep Impact process, and why these allow them to go beyond the obvious and do the extra work to understand and thereby serve their people.
The Deep Impact sheet is available for members of the Vault and listeners of this podcast at preeminenceunleashed.com/impact. Go fill out the sheet and find out which parts of it are difficult, look at the people you’ve already worked with and let your experiences with them help you focus in.
We also have 50 Shades of Jay to look forward to with Jay Abraham - the link is in the Facebook group for Preeminence Unleashed!
If you’re craving more of Nic and Jeff and the insane value they’re giving out, keep an ear out for the next episode and visit the guys on Facebook and through the website.
Some Topics we talk about in this episode:
Introduction - 0:00
Nic + Marketing - 1.05
Proactive Empathy - 1:50
The Growth Formula - 3:15
The Universal Communication Problem - 4:15
Ask Not “How Can I Help?” - 9:25
Deep Impact - 10:45
Wrap-up and Takeaways - 30:00
How to get involved
An entrepreneur alone is an entrepreneur at risk. Join the community, and join the conversation in the Thursday Night Boardroom Facebook Group.
Eager to be challenged? Sign up for Nic’s Blog and Newsletter Here. Warning: this is not for the cognitively lazy.
All previously paid business development courses, programs, upsells, and masterclasses are available for free in the Nic Peterson Archive. Create Your Free Account Here.
If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!