146: Lessons from a Business That Didn’t Make It

Have you considered starting a business—or do you run one now? In either case, my conversation with Sylvana Caloni and Paul O’Donnell is a must-listen. They share essential lessons learned from the starting up and closing down of a premium pie business. Their insights can help you avoid pitfalls and increase your chances of long-term success.

Sylvana and Paul co-authored Humble Crumbles: Savouring the Crumbs of Wisdom from the Rise and Fall of Humble Pie to tell the story of Paul’s failed business venture. Paul provides a raw account of his journey as an entrepreneur with his company, Humble Pie, and Sylvana supplements his narrative with observations and suggestions based on her dual lenses as an equity analyst and leadership coach. They embrace the one word we tend to avoid in life and in business: failure.

You’ll discover:

Why “failure” is not a negative
The importance of self-awareness for entrepreneurs to be successful
Why you must consider the downsides when creating a business plan
How to make the most of mentors and advisors when starting and running a business
The value of making a BIG ask

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Peer Coaching Made Simple

129: Listening for What People Don’t Say

What could you learn about another person if you paid attention to much more than the words they were saying? Steve Sims is a master at this. He designs and delivers unique experiences for his clients by listening to what they say they want and then asking questions to hear what they really need. The result is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience and a raving fan for life.

Steve has a unique talent for connecting with people’s passions, opening doors, and making things happen. He’s been running his luxury travel and lifestyle concierge firm, Bluefish, for more than twenty years. During that time, Steve has developed an exclusive reputation and impressive client list of the world’s rich and famous. Steve is the author of Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen and host of the podcast, The Art of Making Things Happen.

You’ll discover:

Why Steve made the decision to hang around with rich people…and how he did it
How Steve uses his listening skills to hear what a prospective client really needs, beyond the words they say
The reason Steve asks WHY 3 times whenever someone gives him an answer…and how it leads to a powerful relationship
What holds people back from making big asks…and how to get past the hesitation
The reason Steve uses the word “discover” instead of “fail”

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Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill

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Steve’s Websites

Steve Sims

TheBluefish.com

Steve’s Book

Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen

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086: How Expanding Your Mindset Leads to Extraordinary Results

What if you could increase your income by 20 times? My guest Monica Da Maren explains how she did just that as she evolved from hair dresser to VP of Sales for Bob Proctor’s company, Proctor Gallagher Institute. You’ll be inspired by her story and the practical suggestions she shares that you can use, too. Monica’s coaching and teaching have been instrumental in my own growth over the past two years. Come prepared to take notes because Monica shares lots of valuable nuggets you can start implementing today.

You’ll discover:

3 powerful ways to use auto-suggestions to build your self-image
The downsides of focusing on “how-to” instead of “what”
The importance of strengthening your intuition so you see opportunities as they arise
The value of a strong purpose that drives all your actions each day
Why failing is something you should seek instead of avoid