Knucklehead Podcast

Imagine the first 15 seconds of any conversation in sales or marketing. Picture the homepage of a website, the initial beats of an advertisement, the opening lines of an email, or the introduction in a virtual Zoom room. These crucial moments are not just opportunities. They are the battlegrounds where a business either captivates or loses its audience. In this edition of the Knucklehead podcast, Stephen is joined by Kate DiLeo. Successful in building a winning brand pitch for outbound sales, Kate talks about how she transitioned from academia to sales and eventually became a bestselling author and founder of a brand strategy firm. She also explores the importance of building a strong brand strategy and how it can help businesses grow. Kate DiLeo is the Founder of The Brand Trifecta, an interactive brand-building program that has empowered thousands of organizations to build brands. An "accidental brand strategist" who originally intended to pursue a PhD in Anthropology, Kate discovered the power of branding

The Knucklehead Podcast and MEDEVAC Podcast join forces in this episode to discuss the value of networks and communities. Our hosts, Stephen Colon, Christian Meyers, and David Reid, share their personal experiences in the military and the importance of valuing one's own story of struggle and recovery. They emphasize the power of resilience and the need to take risks and challenge oneself to grow and succeed. With a mission to share stories of service, injury, recovery, resiliency, failure, and success, David and Christian touch on the connection between health struggles and the military and how war impacts medical advancements. In the final segment, they speak about the Texas Valor Project and how they fight traumatic brain injuries.David served in the US Army, while Christian served in the Air Force. They both have firsthand experience with combat and the challenges that come with it. Through their podcast, they aim to share stories of resilience and recovery, focusing on the experiences of injured veterans

For some lucky souls, the universe lays out a space for them, a place where they can fit into society. There are, however, others who do not conform to the traditional spaces and roles. They are square pegs in a round hole world. How can these individuals defy the conventional narrative and resist the constraints of societal norms? In this episode of the Knucklehead podcast, Stephen talks with Christopher Lochhead. A dyslexic paperboy from Montreal who got thrown out of school at 18, Christopher talks about how he created his own place in this world. With few other options, he became an entrepreneur, then three-time Silicon Valley public company CMO (Mercury Interactive, Scient, Vantive), and an investor/advisor to over 50 venture-backed startups.Also best known as a "godfather" of Category Design, Christopher shares how he developed his content distribution strategy, why today is the greatest time in the history of human beings to be a creator and an entrepreneur, and how success is about failing in the righ

Selling is essential for all business owners and salespeople, but knowing how to do it effectively can be challenging. Despite having a great product or service, sellers may need help to close deals and generate revenue. While each business is unique, and each salesperson has their own strengths and weaknesses, how can business owners and sellers sell more effectively and achieve greater success in their business?In this edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, Stephen talks with Adam Boyd, Principal at The Northwood Group. A former high school English teacher and football coach, Adam talks about the parallels between football and real-world business, the screw-ups he made in his sales career, and how he now helps owners and sellers expand their businesses.Adam Boyd is the Principal at The Northwood Group, a consulting firm that delivers best practices for sales teams and professional services firms to win more business. Adam has over 15 years of working with small to mid-sized businesses on sales growth. His expe

When it comes to family businesses, there are a lot of different dynamics at play. And when things go wrong, it can be tough to cope with the fallout. Bankruptcy can be a very difficult and stressful time for everyone involved. The impact on mental health is often devastating and can feel like a personal failure. In today's edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Billy Self, talks about the trauma his parents went through when their family business went bankrupt. He also shares the story of his journey to taking over the family business, how he became a serial entrepreneur, and what the most significant turning point in his life and business was. Despite the many failures in his business, Billy realized how faith can make a huge difference in someone else's life and why mentorship is so valuable.Billy Self is the President of Warehouse-Pro, a project and contractual provider of warehousing, distribution, merchandising, freight management, and specialized logistics services for retail, technology, and v

As technology continues to evolve, new platforms for marketing emerge. While some marketing strategies become outdated, others become more relevant than ever. One such strategy is video marketing. When done correctly, video marketing can help businesses to reach a wider audience, build brand awareness, and generate leads and sales.In today's edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Evan Renfroe, talks about how he got into the video and media industry, his biggest failure in his fitness business, and how video marketing can help local businesses gain a competitive edge.Evan Renfroe is a Storyteller and Videographer at Maximized Media Productions. He helps small businesses grow by utilizing effective media and marketing strategies. Evan believes that marketing is the story we tell to invite others into the experience, and video marketing is the vehicle through which that story is shared. In his view, video marketing has two aspects, one dealing with the business side or strategy and the other with the co

For many people, owning their own business is an appealing proposition. However, the realities of starting and running a successful business can be daunting. But for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, franchising is a much better option. Franchising offers would-be business owners the opportunity to get started with a proven business model and to benefit from the support of a successful franchisor and a larger organization.In today's edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Jon Ostenson, talks about what inspired him to transition from the corporate to the business world, what led him to scale down his business, and how he guides people through the franchise process.Jon Ostenson is the Founder and CEO of Franbridge Consulting, a premier source of non-food franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs and executives. Jon is a top 1% Franchise Consultant in the US and a frequent contributor to franchising across various outlets and publications. He is a multi-brand franchisee and has great operators leadin

Small businesses often face challenges in building a positive reputation and generating media coverage. That's because they don't have the same resources as larger businesses. They may not have a dedicated marketing or public relations team or have the budget to pay for advertising. How can small companies step up their public relations game to attract customers and generate revenue from dream clients?In today's edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, Mickie Kennedy talks about Public Relations (PR). He will share how PR is a great business strategy, his business model, and how technology has changed how PR works.Mickie Kennedy is the Founder and President of eReleases, a leader in affordable press release writing and distribution services. He developed eReleases in 1998, believing that publicity is not only for the big guys and to give small businesses access to the media and national newswire. eReleases delivers personal service and exceptional value to every customer, with every press release at every price po

Working in the film industry can be a very rewarding experience. You get to be a part of the creative process, collaborate with other talented individuals, and see your work come to life on the big screen. However, it's important to keep in mind that the film industry is also a business. There are many moving parts, and things can change very quickly. That is what our guest, Tim Tortora, shares today.In today's edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, Tim Tortora talks about what attracted him to the entertainment industry, his secret to a successful career, and his fair share of screw-ups.Tim Tortora is a Hollywood CFO and Movie Producer with 30+ years of experience in finance and physical logistics of filmmaking. His executive experience and drive for innovation motivated him and his team to launch the F3 System™ in Fall 2017. Tim now oversees day-to-day management of the Outsourced CFO service, Full Force Financial, where he and his firm deliver a done-for-you suite of back-end financial processing and forecast

The business world is ever-changing and evolving. What once worked ten or twenty years ago may no longer work today. As society evolves, so must the business world. With technology-driven businesses and social media marketing on the rise, it can be tricky to navigate the waters of social media while remaining true to your brand. How can entrepreneurs build a business that can stand the test of time? In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, B. Jeffrey Madoff, talks about the biggest changes in business today, his principles for establishing a successful company, and how he reacts to mistakes in the industry.B. Jeffrey Madoff is the founder of Madoff Productions, based in New York City. His company collaborates with ad agencies, public relations firms and directly with clients to produce commercials, corporate branding films, live streaming events, and branded content.Enjoy!In This Episode01:21- The biggest changes in business today04:37 - Jeffrey's definition of success06:35 - How social media

Cryptocurrency represents a new form of digital asset that sits outside the traditional financial system. It is an asset class that is uncorrelated to the stock market providing investors with a greater opportunity for portfolio diversification. With crypto becoming a more and more popular investment, what makes it so appealing at a time when stock markets are volatile?In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Jeff Sekinger talks about what attracted him to cryptocurrency investing, why crypto is an important component of a portfolio, as well as the darkest point in his life that led him to where he is today.Jeff Sekinger is the Chief Investment Officer at Boron Capital, an alternative wealth management firm that specializes in moving people from the volatility of the public markets into private investment fund options focused in real estate and cryptocurrency.Jeff Sekinger is also the Founder of 0 Percent, a financial consulting firm that empowers people to accelerate their path to financial

Delegation can be a challenge for some business owners. They feel like they need to do everything themselves in order to be successful. This simply isn't true! In fact, delegation is one of the most important foundations of any business. Delegating tasks to your team frees up your time to focus on the things that matter most - growth.In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Emily Morgan talks about what business owners need to do to scale up their business, why hiring an assistant is the first step to delegation, and the truth about why some people are scared to delegate.Emily Morgan is the Founder and CEO of Delegate Solutions. Her mission is to create freedom for people to do what they love and have a big impact. As the leader of Delegate, she works tirelessly to help reshape the culture of the traditional workforce by providing professional flexible employment for her team while also providing entrepreneurs with strategic workforce options to help them grow more efficiently and effectively

A lot goes into creating an effective database for your business. You need to have a plan and a goal in mind before you even start - what are you hoping to achieve with this data and how will it help your business grow. Without a clear goal, you'll find yourself wasting time and energy on something that doesn't produce results. Having a solid data analytic is essential for any business. Make sure you create yours with your goals in mind! In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Jack Tompkins talks about how data is becoming the next big thing in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds, what Jack learned from failing to consider the end goal when creating a dashboard, and why having an end goal in mind when creating a data model is important. Jack Tompkins is the Managing Partner and Founder of Pineapple Consulting Firm. He loves helping small businesses with data driven decisions from their custom dashboards. Pineapple Consulting Firm is a data analytics company. They are excel experts and f

Making mistakes is an important part of the learning process. It's an opportunity to reflect on what you could have done differently and how you can improve in the future.Even the most successful and admired leaders make mistakes. The key is to learn from those failures and grow from them. Today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast features our guest, Michelle Reines. She will talk about the mistakes she made in her leadership in the past, what she learned from them, and how she leveraged those mistakes to become a badass leader today.  Michelle Reines is the founder of MDR Coaching & Consulting and creator of the unconventional Badass Leader brand. She has a coveted reputation of exceeding expectations in a highly competitive, distressed or volatile business climate. Her strengths encompass extensive people aptitudes in leading and developing large, diverse teams. She possesses over 34 years of intense hands-on leadership, mentorship, organizational and operational expertise. Enjoy! In This Episode2:50 -

There are few things in this world that are as powerful as words. They can be used to build relationships and make a change, but also have the potential to create a negative impact on people. Words are so powerful that they are capable of affecting not only those around us but also our own lives. How can we protect ourselves from the negative effects of words and harness the positive power of language? In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Jonah Larkin talks about the influence his father's words had on his mindset as an entrepreneur, what it takes to deal with some potentially life-threatening situations, and how he applied the lessons he learned from his experiences to become a leadership coach today. Jonah Larkin is a combination of an executive coach and a life coach with expertise in mindfulness, communication, interpersonal dynamics, and entrepreneurship while still maintaining your health and well-being. He helps founders, executives and those in the helping professions create highe

Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and they can happen to everyone. It's normal to look back on them with regret. But what we learn from these mistakes is more valuable than anything else we could have learned at the time of doing something right. The point of making mistakes is not to avoid them altogether, but rather to learn from them and use that knowledge in the future. In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, Stephen talks with Cordell Bennigson, Advisor at Echelon Front, about one of the biggest mistakes he made in his corporate career, why he moved from large to smaller companies, and how ego is the most common pitfall people make. Cordell Bennigson is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, pilot, and forward air controller. Since leaving active duty, he has led business teams in the United States and around the world in a wide variety of industries, roles, and companies. Cordell brings a blend of Marine Corps, combat and extensive private-industry leadership to the Echelon Front t

Mistakes happen all the time, they’re inevitable. They’ve always been part of being human, since time immemorial. Though mistakes are often seen as negative, they can actually be positive learning opportunities. We all make them. Whether they’re big or small, what matters is what we learn from them. In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Joseph O'Connor shares some of the knucklehead moments that he has learned from, why people are hesitant to take risks, and what role coaches play in helping individuals. Joseph O’Connor is an internationally recognized author, trainer, executive coach and consultant. He is a leading author and trainer in coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Systemic thinking. Co-author with Andrea Lages, Joseph wrote the book Coaching the Brain: Practical Applications of Neuroscience to Coaching. Enjoy! In This Episode2:33 - Joseph’s knucklehead moments that he has learned from 5:21 - How red flags can only be seen in hindsight 7:43 - Joseph's conclusion on

Mistakes happen, it's a fact of life. But what you do with them can be the difference between success and failure. They can be defining moments that empower you to do better next time, and they make you stronger in the end. There is no one who has made it to the top without making mistakes. They become a part of your story and give you the opportunity to grow and move forward. In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Ian Koniak talks about the life-threatening situation that changed his career trajectory, how knucklehead moments can empower you, and why you should surround yourself with mentors. His mantra:Mistakes happen for me, not to me. In the midst of a near-death experience, Ian thought about the regrets he would have by not living a life of service where he can use his skills to help people and use his gifts to better the world. As part of the commitment he made, he built a coaching business where he shares his secrets of success with sales professionals. Ian Koniak is the Founder and

The world of art is a place where anyone can be themselves. Some people are born with a creative spark in them, others need to learn how to be creative by practice. Regardless of the circumstances, creativity applies not just to art but also to business and life in general. Being able to create innovative ideas that are relevant to today can make you stand out, thrive, and survive. In today’s edition of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Maria Brito talks about the business side of creative arts. She will speak about the mistake she made at the beginning of her business and what she learned from it, the customs and traditions of the art industry, and why artistic talent should not be confused with creativity. Her advice:Never underestimate the power of your ideas and what you have inside of you. Maria Brito is the CEO at Maria Brito, LLC, an award-winning New York-based contemporary art advisor, author, and curator. She has a demonstrated history of more than a decade working in the fine arts industry develo

As someone who has gone through horrible bankruptcy, slept on his mom’s floor, did not have a job, and fasted for 72 hours, Tay Sweat has suffered every hardship imaginable. But rather than feeling pity for himself over his failures, he took full advantage of them and invested in himself. Today, Tay has earned his reputation in the world of health and fitness, stock trading, and entrepreneurship. He runs three multibillion-dollar businesses and is a full-time investor in real estate and the stock market. In today’s episode of the Knucklehead Podcast, our guest, Tay Sweat will talk about the rough times of his life, how he capitalized on these hardships to achieve success, and what he learned from the many failures he had along the way. Enjoy! In This Episode2:03 - The therapeutic effects of sharing your stories 5:04 - How Tay dealt with the rough times in his life 6:32 - Tay's response to someone who told him, "if you do right by people and continue to work hard, you will get everything you want" 11:07 - How