Archives for August 2020

Types of Meetings You Should be Having

A strong company knows what meetings they need, to be the most productive. They know the most effective kinds of meetings to do just that and exactly when and how regularly to have them. Companies that know what they’re doing don’t have meetings that everyone hates just because they think they need to have meetings, they have meetings that work smoothly to achieve objectives.

Here are the types of meetings a strong company should be having.

Quarterly and Yearly Retreats

It is essential for teams—especially leadership teams—to have retreats away from the distractions of the workplace. These retreats, although seemingly unimportant, actually have the essential job of developing team skills and unity. Not only that, but you can learn a lot about a person’s abilities once they’re taken outside of the repetitive, day-to-day workplace life.

“To put it simply, you learn to know a person. You can better identify with them. You may even bond over the fact that you have the same interests as them. A hard skill can reveal a bunch of other soft skills, so it’s always useful to find out more about a person.” – Huffpost

Quarterly retreats provide the opportunity to restart. You are taken outside of the normal work life and can reassess projects from a distance. A yearly retreat is about developing skills, team building, and planning for the year to come.

Quarterly Board of Advisors Meetings

Your quarterly Board of Advisors meeting should always be prepared well in advance. This includes sending your Board any material they need to read beforehand. The majority of the meeting should be related to two core goals that your leadership team is focused on. These should be goals that are for the next year or so, not just the next quarter.

“This [the goal] could be a big strategic initiative for which you need the Board’s advice, their help in troubleshooting, or their challenging questions.” – Cameron Herold

The Board asks the tough questions that you need to hear. Although frustrating, these will strengthen your team and your business in the end.

Monthly Financial Meetings

You want the entire company to always be on the same page, but when it comes to finances that is an absolute must. That’s why you invite everyone to this meeting.

Slack lists three things that it’s absolutely vital for everyone at your financial meeting to be very clear on. Those are:

  • How much money you’re going to spend
  • What the money is being spent on
  • What kind of return you can expect on your investment

Financial meetings really emphasize the fact that everyone is on the same team, that the company’s profits and losses are theirs, too. That also means being very, very transparent.

Weekly Strategy Meetings

It’s important for a company to always make time for team strategy. It’s not the kind of meeting where decisions get made, but the kind of meeting where you brainstorm for the future.

“You don’t have to end a Weekly Strategy Meeting with a resolution or put specific plans into action. This meeting is meant to be a time for the team to sit together, prognosticate the future, and throw stuff on the walls to see what sticks.” – Cameron Herold

Without taking the time for strategizing, you and your team will instead grow reactionary. Brainstorming builds future strength.

Weekly Goal-Setting and Review Meetings

These are meetings that take place one-on-one between a leader and a person who directly reports to them. It’s important to take this time so that the leader and that person can set goals for the week and review the previous week. With that, they can improve and learn.

“In these One-on-One meetings, the leader’s role is to provide a balance on three things: direction, development, and support.” – Cameron Herold

By having a reliable, weekly meeting with a leader, employees feel a sense of security and stability. Knowing a leader is going to listen to you can be very empowering.

All companies have meetings, but not all companies know which ones they need and why. Truly effective companies educate themselves about the productivity of meetings. They know how important it is to do them right.

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

How To Get Your Clients To Trust You And Your Ideas

You never want to have a client that does not trust you. A lack of trust completely ruins a project. Without trust, it’s not easy, and sometimes not even possible, to get a client on board with your ideas. All projects, big or small, need to have everyone on board.

Here are some of the most effective ways to get clients to trust you and your ideas.

Explain the “Why?”

Clients need to know why you’re doing something, not just that you’re doing it. It’s a simple thing, but a vital one. You may be super experienced and have been doing something for so long that it’s just second nature. You barely think about the why, but your client doesn’t have that same experience.

“You can’t expect someone to do something if you don’t tell them WHY they should do it.” – Yes and Yes

Explaining why strengthens your relationship with the client through trust. You’re showing that you care that they understand what exactly you’re doing, which makes them feel as if they can trust you not to undermine them. It also establishes your expertise. By explaining why something is done the way you’re doing it, the client knows that you understand what you’re doing inside and out.

Know Who You’re Talking To

When planning out something such as a proposal, of course, you need to script it so you’re clear and to the point, but you also need to give yourself the freedom to change that script depending on who you’re talking to.

“Shape your story for the audience. Strategize how you’ll sell your initiative to different groups of colleagues and higher-ups. “Think about the language you’ll use for each of your audiences,” says [Susan] Ashford.” – Harvard Business Review

By shaping what you have to say to the individual you are speaking to, your client will be a lot more likely to both understand what you have to say and trust what you have to say.

Be Passionate About It

Passion is the number one thing that will get people to listen. People want to work with someone who is genuinely passionate about what they’re doing, and it’s an easy quality to see.

“People will want to work with you if they can see your passion for the job. The types of people that you want on your team are those who know that passion drives success.” – Cameron Herold

Passion makes you persistent. A client can trust that a passionate person will get the job done. It’s a quality that drives success and pushes the client to be passionate about what you’re doing as well.

Acknowledge Criticism

There is often outside criticism for any idea in business. It can be tempting to ignore it, but no matter what you do to brush it aside, the client is still going to hear it. If you don’t acknowledge it, this plants a seed of doubt in the client that will inevitable fester.

“But conflict shakes people up and gets them to pay attention in a novel way. This gives you the opportunity to say why your idea really is valuable and explain it in a way that wins over hearts and minds – securing their commitment to implementing the solution.” – John Kotter on Forbes

By acknowledging the criticism, you get the chance to assure your client why it isn’t valid or, maybe you can learn something from it. Either way, acknowledging the criticism is the only way to stop it from negatively impacting your client’s trust.

Trust is one of the most vital things in any relationship, especially one’s with your clients. Trust gets the people you need fully on board. Without a client’s trust it’s nearly impossible for the project to be successful.

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

book-4

Meetings Suck: Turning One Of The Most Loathed Elements Of Business Into One Of The Most Valuable

We all know that meetings suck, right?

You hear it all the time. It’s the one thing that almost everyone in business can agree on.

Except it’s not actually true… 

Meetings don’t suck.

We just suck at running meetings.   

When done right, meetings not only work, they make people and companies better.

In Meetings Suck, world renowned business expert and growth guru Cameron Herold teaches you how to use focused, time effective meetings to help you and your company soar.

This book shows you immediately actionable, step-by-step systems that ensure that you and everyone in your organization improves your meetings, right away.

In the process, you’ll turn meetings that suck into meetings that work. 

In life, we always hear about people who’ve made huge decisions from their gut – without data.Today, I want you to make a decision, not only from your gut, but also from some data.  A decision that is only $12 per employee but will be priceless for your business.

Right now, your gut is telling you something is wrong with your company’s meetings.  You KNOW everyone complains about meetings.

People HATE going to them, they HATE running them, and they really have NO idea which meetings are truly necessary but they hold meetings simply because they think that is what they SHOULD do.

Even some of the smartest CEOs in the world complain about meetings – Elon Musk publicly told employees at Tesla & SpaceX to walk out of meetings if they weren’t being run properly.

I sent Elon a message saying that wasn’t going to fix anything – the key is to fix the root of the problem – NOT continue to ignore why meetings suck.

A Meeting is – Any phone call, video call or occasion where 2 or more people meet to discuss or work-through office topics.

Most employees on average spend 1-2 hours per day in meetings.

And likely, none of those employees – front-line staff or leaders – have had any training on how to attend meetings or participate in them, LET ALONE How to RUN THEM.

Consider this…

If the Average employee spends just 1 Hour per day in meetings – that’s 1/8th of their time.

If the Average employee earns $50,000 per year.

And they’re spending 1/8th of their time in meetings, that means you’re paying $6,250 dollars per year for just ONE employee to attend meetings.

The reality is, employees spend 1/8th of their time – and 1/8th of your company’s payroll – doing something they have literally NO idea how to do.

The Reality is…

95% of employees are booking & leading meetings – and they have NEVER been trained on how to run them.

95% of employees have had NO training on how to show up and participate in the meetings they attend daily.

And 95% of employees and companies have no idea what meetings are even necessary to hold.

Meetings CAN be hugely effective – IF you know how to run them

Meetings don’t SUCK, we just SUCK at running meetings. 

Investing $15 per employee – to help ensure the $50,000 a year you spend on them is an obvious and easy choice.

This could be the most impactful $15 you’ll ever spend and will save the company’s money, time and resources instantly.

Buying a copy of Meetings Suck for 100% of your employees and having them read it this month will have a huge impact on your company’s success.

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Free PR: How To Get Chased By The Press Without Hiring A PR Firm

Public relations has always been an essential part of doing business which is probably why you’re shelling out big money to an outside PR firm. But the truth is that you don’t need them. You already have all the necessary tools in-house to do as good a job as the so-called experts. 

Cameron Herold and Adrian Salamunovic have taught thousands of company execs how to exploit free media coverage and ditch these expensive, often ineffective outsiders. 

Cameron & Adrian have also built in-house PR teams, spent decades learning how to generate Free PR and how to leverage public relations to complement their sales and marketing strategy. 

In Free PR, you’ll learn how the media world operates while you gain invaluable insider knowledge and actionable advice on how to: 

  • Build your own in-house PR team
  • Provide effective interviews
  • Score great media coverage for free with just a few easy steps 

Landing public relations coverage for yourself and your company is a powerful tool to help elevate your personal brand. PR is easier to generate than marketing, PR is easier to leverage than marketing and PR is more cost effective than marketing. In other words, Public Relations is more critical than ever in growing your brand and your business. 

You’ve got more passion, commitment, a larger stake, and a deeper understanding of your business than any outside PR firm could ever have. So stop wasting money and take the reins yourself.  Learn the secrets to landing TONS of Free PR for your company.

What they’re saying:

“I think PR is the core for promoting any business. Public relations acquires customers! That’s what’s cool about this book.”

– Kevin O’Leary,  Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank

“The ultimate guidebook for those looking to get press, grow their brand, and get in front of the masses. Free PR is the roadmap you’ve been looking for.”

– Peter Shankman, Founder, Help a Reporter Out (HARO)

“Adrian and Cameron will show you the secrets of getting massive exposure for your business. This book is packed with actionable insights from two guys that actually know how to to do it.”

– Dan Martell,  Serial Entrepreneur & Investor (Intercom.io, Unbounce)

“I told Cameron to write the book on generating free PR. I’m excited to see that he’s finally sharing his secrets with the world. This is a must read for any entrepreneurial company and marketing team.”

– Verne Harnish, Founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)

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Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future

Many corporations have slick, flashy mission statements that ultimately do little to motivate employees and less to impress customers, investors, and partners. 

But there is a way to share your excitement for the future of your company in a clear, compelling, and powerful way and entrepreneur and business growth expert Cameron Herold can show you how. 

Vivid Vision is a revolutionary tool that will help owners, CEOs, and senior managers create inspirational, detailed, and actionable three-year mission statements for their companies. In this easy-to-follow guide, Herold walks organization leaders through the simple steps to creating their own Vivid Vision, from brainstorming to sharing the ideas to using the document to drive progress in the years to come. 

By focusing on mapping out how you see your company looking and feeling in every category of business, without getting bogged down by data and numbers or how it will happen, Vivid Vision creates a holistic road map to success that will get all of your teammates passionate about the big picture. 

Your company is your dream, one that you want to share with your staff, clients, and stakeholders. Vivid Vision is the tool you need to make that dream a reality.

miracle-morning

The Miracle Morning for
Entrepreneurs: Elevate Your SELF to
Elevate Your BUSINESS

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

Hal Elrod’sThe Miracle Morning has helped redefine the mornings and the lives of millions of readers since 2012. Since then, careers have been launched, goals have been met, and dreams have been realized, all through the power of the Miracle Morning’s six Life S.A.V.E.R.S.

THESE SIX DAILY PRACTICES WILL FUEL YOUR EFFORTS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.

Now The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs brings you these principles in a whole new light—alongside the Entrepreneurial Elevation Principles and the Entrepreneur’s Elevation Skills. These are essential skills that you need to create a successful business and personal life. Cameron Herold— Bestselling Author and a widely-respected expert on entrepreneurial mindset—brings his wisdom and insight to you using Hal Elrod’s powerful Miracle Morning framework.

DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR BUSINESS, AND BECOME THE INFLUENTIAL AND INSPIRING LEADER YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE.

The principles and skills you’ll find in this book will help you to channel your passion and achieve balance in a remarkable new way. – Learn why mornings matter more than you think – Learn how to master your own self-leadership and accelerate your personal development – Learn how to manage your energy—physical, mental, and emotional – Learn how to implement Hal Elrod’s invaluable Life S.A.V.E.R.S. in your daily routine – And much more… You’re already an entrepreneur. Now discover how to take your success to the next level by first taking yourself to the next level. The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs is your roadmap to masterfully building an empire with a powerful vision, utilizing your areas of personal genius, with the right team at your side.

Start giving your business and your life the very best opportunities for success, right now.

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.