The Business Elevation Show With Chris Cooper - Be More. Achieve More

Negotiation is an essential business skill; but do you really know how to do it really well? International keynote conference speaker, facilitator, MC and trainer, bestselling author Derek Arden has worked in 27 countries, with 5 business schools and has been a visiting lecturer at the Henley Business School for 12 years. His latest book ‘Win Win - How to get a winning result from persuasive negotiating’ has sold over 5000 copies in 14 countries. In 2016 Derek was voted the Number 1 speaker in the UK by the Professional Speaking Association members, he also holds their prestigious Founders award for Inspirational Business Speaking. Join us for a show where Derek will share a simple, straightforward and empowering guide to effective business negotiations to help you get the result you want – first time, every time!

Connecting with others is an essential part of business and is an important element to success. Yet it can also be one of the hardest things to do! So what are the key connection mastery skills and how do we implement them? Judy Robinett is a business thought leader who has been profiled in The Street, Vogue, CBS, NBC, Forbes, The Washington Post & Bloomberg Businessweek, as well as author of “How to Be a Power Connector:The 5-50-150 Rule”. On this week’s show we will discuss how ‘How to Be a Power Connector’ brings together real-world examples from a variety of power connectors in multiple industries, helping you replicate and apply the critical connection skills that will get you results! Join us for a show that could literally transform your fortunes.

Ever feel more challenged dealing with your kids than you do by employees and clients at work? Being a parent can seem like a hard job when the world of work is also demanding. As parents we are constantly reminded about our behaviour and need for patience. Skills that are also valuable back into the work place! Also from our kids we are reminded of the value of creativity, energy, playfulness and enthusiasm. My guests this week com-bine fatherhood with busy work lives. Caspar Craven, is a highly successful entrepreneur who took two years to sail around the world with his wife and 3 young children. Dan Kuschell is a Business Growth Expert who has built 11 companies and has a young family. Join us this week as three fathers in business discuss their lessons from parenting including a word of warning. As a CEO once said to Chris Cooper ‘My biggest regret from building my company is I had no time for my children, now they are grown up and I have time, they have no time for me’.

It has often been said that you should follow your passion and then make a living out of it. However, there are also arguments that this isn't always wise! Having a regular job with a regular income may offer you and your family more security. The world is also littered with failed business stories. Do you stay or do you go for it? My guest Shirin Shabestari, grew up hiking Iran’s beautiful mountains with her dad as a young girl. She later moved abroad and did her studies and started a family but rekindled a passion for hiking and then mountaineering. In 2014 she founded Persian Pursuit, leading treks and ski expeditions to Iran. She is very passionate about sharing her passion and stories from the mountaineering world in Iran with the West and inspiring people to visit this most misunderstood country. During this show we will discuss the pros and cons of whether to follow your passion and gain insight into Shirin's experience and learn more about Iran and why it is so misunderstood.

Introverts aren't comfortable with traditional tactics like aggressively pushing a product or talking over a customer's objections. However, sales is a skill anyone can learn and master--and introverts are especially good at it once they learn how to leverage their natural strengths. Called “the real deal” by Forbes, Matthew Pollard, CSP, is an inter-nationally-recognized authority in differentiation, niche marketing, and sales systemization. His Rapid Growth strategies have resulted in five multi-million dollar success stories of his own, as well as profitable businesses for 3500 clients and counting. He is the founder and Executive Director of Small Business Festival, ranked as the #3 business conference in the nation by Inc., and the author of The Introvert’s Edge: How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone. Join us as Matthew shares how to succeed in sales--without changing who you are.

Effectively navigating change is today an essential skill for all leaders, employees and consultants. Gone are the days when employees can resist change. Instead we must embrace it, strategise and implement well. So how do we most effectively navigate it and what are the key pitfalls to be mindful of? Whether you are an internal employee or an external consultant, leading and managing change requires great consultancy skills to achieve success. During this show Chris Cooper will share from over 25 years of experience of business change projects the practice and theory involved in effectively navigating change. Chris and team at Chris Cooper support the transition of businesses, leaders and teams to higher levels of performance. He has interviewed over 300 experts and thought leaders on high performance mindset and practices and teaches this subject at MBA level. Interviewing Chris will be employee engagement and culture change expert John Jennings.

Do you have the courage to change or help others to change? At 15, Karlyn Pipes was a Junior National swimming champion and destined for greatness. However, she slipped into a dark pattern of alcohol abuse. Despite having amazing athletic skills, she hit rock bottom at age 31. It was then that she turned her life around by returning to the one thing that had created both the pain and pleasure in her life...the water. Today, Karlyn is one of the most accomplished competitive swimmers in the world with over 214 FINA Masters World records, 332 U.S. Masters National records, and in 2012 was voted as one of the Top Ten masters swimmers of all-time. Karlyn had to find the COURAGE to change and as a result of her miraculous do-over, in 2015 she was inducted into the prestigious International Swimming Hall of Fame. Join us for insights into how you can build or help others to develop the courage, strength and resilience to change.

On the 8th May 2009 Mick Dawson and Chris Martin set off from Choshi in Japan to row 7,000 miles across the North Pacific to San Francisco. Crossing the North Pacific in an open rowing boat was one of the world’s great firsts and, after two failed attempts he was determined to make it. Storms, fatigue, equipment failure, intense hunger and lack of water were just some of the challenges. Facing near certain death they eventually reached the iconic span of San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge after a back breaking voyage of over six months. Mick Dawson is a former Royal Marine Commando, a professional sailor, motivational speaker and film maker. Having been gripped by Mick’s book 'Battling the Oceans in a rowboat' I had to interview him and find out what we can learn about leadership, strategy and courage from one of the most incredible adventures of modern times.

The one question on the lips of so many business leaders and owners today is - How do I attract and retain productive talent? I am delighted to introduce you to the man who can help. Stefan Wissenbach is very passionate about the impact of engagement on businesses. He is founder of Engagementmultiplier.com - a business transformation program that delivers insight and data enabling business owners to make smart decisions and efficiently transform their companies. Stefan has enabled business owners and CEOs to simplify the complexities of employee engagement and improve attraction,retention, morale, productivity and profitability. His latest book, The Engaged Organisation, explains how business owners can build the company they dream about. To find out why I so endorse the work of Stefan and his team visit www.engagementmultiplier.com/en-gb/pp/elevation/.

Would you like to make a real difference in the world? My guest Anita DeFranz was named by Newsweek as ‘One of the 150 Women Who Shake the World’ by French Magazine Le’Equipe as one of ’10 Women Who Changed Sport’ and The Sporting News as ‘One of The 100 Most Powerful People In Sport’. In 1976, Anita DeFrantz captained the U.S. women’s rowing team and won a bronze medal at the Montreal Olympic Games. Coming from a long tradition of fighting for equality and justice her story is an extremely fascinating and inspiring one. Anita, for example, amongst many other roles, is the first African-American and American woman to be a member of the International Olympic Committee and the IOC Executive Board. Having had the privilege to meet Anita,her amazing story and the lessons she shares will, I can assure you, benefit anyone wishing to make a positive impact on the world. Join me for this very special interview with Anita DeFrantz.

Now that 75 percent of screen time is spent on connected devices, digital strategies have moved front and centre of most marketing plans. But what if that’s not enough? What if most people ignore company messages? Geoffrey Colon is a compelling voice at the intersection of marketing, tech, and popular culture. DJ, data punk, podcaster and author, Geoffrey is a Communications Designer at Microsoft in Redmond, WA. Colon has spent 20 years in various marketing ca-pacities working for and with several of the most influential brands including Red Bull, Spotify, Netflix, American Express, The Economist, Coca-Cola, IBM, WWE and Food Network. Join us for this week’s show as Geoff propels you out of your comfort zone and into the disruptive mindset you need for future success!

We often talk about sales on this show. However, if you want to increase profit you also need to consider your costs. My guest Jeremy Bowley has a passion for procurement and has been responsible for delivering procurement process improvement into many successful companies. An experienced Chief Procurement Officer with a strong track record in property, food & drinks, facilities management & indirect spend, Jeremy has worked with over 50 companies over the past 14 years, delivering significant value by improving process, supplier selection and terms. I know this all be true as many years ago (before his rise to being a major influence on the world of procurement) he was a young and upper coming star in my own procurement team. During this week’s show I will discuss with Jeremy his latest eBook about disruptive procurement and some of the insider secret procurement tactics that have saved literally millions for his clients!

Winston Churchill once said “Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields the power more durable than that of a great king...“. As an executive, are you making the most of your speaking skills? Steve Trister has been a public speaking & communication skills coach since 2007. Using his skills as a former professional comedy actor he is able to transfer the tools and techniques of stage and screen, into a tangible method for business professionals to become more memorable, influential and engaging every time they speak. Since 2007 he has worked with many senior leaders. His clients include Cisco Systems, BT Wholesale, Vodaphone, Deltatre & many others. Join us to hear us discuss the essential keys that help senior executives to quickly accelerate the quality of their speaking and communication skills!

Your business relies on you for its survival, and its life-blood is sales. Building a robust platform is the most effective and sustainable way to attract prospects and convert them into customers. Literary agent and expert platform consultant Wendy Keller won her first district-wide writing award in 4th grade and decided to become a writer. She became an award-winning journalist, working for other newspapers, magazines, and even PRNewswire. By age 26, when her first book released, she had already founded the company that would become Keller Media. Today, Wendy is the author of 31 published books under 9 names, plus dozens of self-published books. Join us as Wendy shares the secrets behind how to select the right promotion strategies for your business, market your products and services, develop an enthusiastic customer base, and ultimately create a strong platform that distinguishes your business from the rest--all without spending a fortune!

Are you a freelancer and want to find higher paying projects, while working less? An with less stress? My guest on this show is Matt Inglot the creator of FreelanceTransformation.com who helps freelance designers, developers, marketers and consultants to win clients and build a dream lifestyle through freelancing. Matt's expertise comes from running a web agency for 11 years, which he transformed from a traditional bricks and mortar office and 80 hour work week to significantly less work and far greater profitability. From feeling stuck and making the wrong moves he figured out how to transform his business to create the lifestyle and financial freedom that he wanted. From that experience Matt has realized that most freelancers and consultants make life far more difficult for themselves than it needs to be. I would recommend this show for anyone working on their own or in a small team and looking to positively change their business circumstances.

Do you ever get stopped when trying to get the things you want to done? My guest and good friend Mette Bloch was able to apply strategies to control her behaviour and win two World Championship gold medals in single sculls rowing, progressing from eighth in the world to first. Mette is an entrepreneur and well known television presenter, speaker, the author of four books and writer for magazines and newspapers. She loves a challenge and in November 2010 wrote, produced and performed a solo comedy show in front of an audience of 1600 to rave reviews. Mette’s greatest personal challenge came in 2005 when she was diagnosed with chronic arthritis, a devastating blow for a former elite athlete. Her ability to overcome these limitations and continue to achieve her goals means she is the ideal expert to discuss this essential topic. Join us to experience one of the show's most popular guests and leave with some great ideas to achieve more of your goals.

High Performing Teams make the difference between success and failure. They make the difference between whether a company can adapt to the many threats, opportunities and challenges in today's modern world. During this interview host Chris Cooper will be interviewed by, and in deep discussion with employee engagement, leadership and team development expert John Jennings. Chris Cooper has over 25 years experience leading and developing UK and international teams. As the host of the Business Elevation show for almost 6 years he has also interviewed and gained insights from many tremendous team developers. John Jennings has spent 34 years developing teams and has led teams globally, working for major brands in the UK and Silicon Valley. Join us for a content rich interview designed for anyone who wants to understand how to elevate team performance.

Are past successful skills and leadership strategies insufficient to master the obstacles businesses currently face? My guest Maureen Metcalf says that key executives must continually evolve to manage increasingly complex and volatile conditions—yet they rarely do. Are your key executives ill-equipped to navigate the escalating rate of change your organization faces? During this show I will be interviewing Maureen Metcalf, Founder, CEO, and Board Chair of Metcalf & Associates who is a highly sought-after expert in anticipating and leveraging future business trends to transform organizations. She has captured her thirty years of experience and success in an award-winning series of books which are used by public, private and academic organizations to align company-wide strategy, systems and culture with innovative leadership techniques. Join us to find out how to evolve your skills to today's conditions.

To become the most successful woman in global motorsport as well as a high achieving person in business means lots of incredible lessons along the way. My guest Jutta Kleinschmidt is the first and so far the only woman who has ever taken outright victory in the longest and toughest rally in the world, the Dakar Rally. Amongst Dakar and her many other adventures, vision and courage are needed in equal measure. Join me and be inspired by Jutta’s incredible life and motor racing journey and learn the life and business lessons she has acquired along the way. In addition, we will also be talking about an area of fascination for Jutta which is the key trends in the fast moving world of mobility. Will driving your own car one day be deemed as too dangerous and become illegal? Are petrol and diesel going to come to a demise? This interview is going to be an incredible fast journey of inspiration and leading edge motoring wisdom.

How would you like to build your dream business and acquire the lifestyle and business that you deserve? My guest Jim Palmer is a marketing and business building expert and in demand coach. He is the founder of the Dream Business Academy and Dream Business Coaching and Mastermind Program. He hosts Dream Business Coach TV, the hit weekly Web TV show watched by thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners and he is also the host of Stick Like Glue Radio, a weekly podcast based on Jim’s unique brand of smart marketing and business building strategies. Jim is known internationally as the creator of No Hassle Newsletters and walks the talk as he actually lives on board a yacht. As I type, moored off Rhode Island, New England! Join us for great ideas and inspiration to help you build your dream lifestyle and business.