SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 31

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast for professionals and entrepreneurs who are ready to build their expertise and dominate their industry. Have you ever felt like you're doing all the right things, but still not getting the results you want? What if the key to unlocking your next level of success isn't about working harder, but about understanding the invisible habits of thought that are running the show?

Our guest today is a world-class expert on this very topic. She is a best-selling author of the book I See You. Her work is all about helping individuals and organizations achieve more without burning out by aligning their thoughts with their goals. She is on a mission to help people get out of their own way so they can build a life and a business they love. Please join me for my conversation with Amy Kemp.

Guest Bio:

Amy Kemp is the owner and CEO of Amy Kemp, Inc. In her work within this growing company, Amy helps leaders and business professionals understand how deeply “thought habits” impact every part of their work and lives.

As a certified Habit Finder coach, Amy has led over 400 female business leaders through a four-month small group engagement called Encounter. This experience is designed to help clients replace subconscious thought habits that are no longer serving them with more healthy ones. She has worked through the Habit Finder curriculum with hundreds of leaders in one-on-one settings and with leadership teams at small and large companies.

In addition, Amy teaches two engaging online courses each year in the fall and spring that are designed to challenge and expand her clients’ understanding of themselves and to welcome new, curious people into the scope of her work. Some of the most popular topics in her library of offerings are “Money Is a Mirror” and “A Boundary Is Not a Wall.”

Finally, with the launch of her first book, I See You: A Guide for Women to Make More, Have More, and Be More – Without More Work, on February 29, 2024, Amy has created an opportunity for everyone to learn and engage with her and the principles that guide her coaching.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.amykemp.com
• Product Link: https://amykemp.com/habit-finder-assessment/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:47 Nobody in here is smarter than anyone else

07:24 Your work really revolves around the idea fundamentally that thought creates habit, and habit creates results

09:30 We're hardwired to survive

10:35 In the title of your book, I See You, A Guide for Women to Make More, Have More and Be More...Without More Work

12:04 The core message of the book is that you can't outwork your thought habits

12:51 Women generally still carry the absolute majority weight of the unpaid labor in our world

14:40 If in fact you're choosing to do the unpaid labor...

16:40 I think families are businesses

18:50 There has to be an intentional division of that labor that isn't just falling on one person

21:23 Your work with the Habit Finder Assessment is really the cornerstone of your coaching

23:25 Everyone has a wall when you first encounter them

24:50 You need to have more guilt free play

27:11 That's the kind of energy that grows a business or that grows your leadership

31:20 If you want to sustain any kind of discipline in that way, it has to be connected to a deeper value or a deeper purpose

31:35 Playtime is an investment in growing my income and...

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 30

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred podcast. The podcast dedicated to providing business professionals and entrepreneurs with the strategies and mindset to not just succeed, but to truly thrive and create the life they desire. Today, we have a guest whose journey completely redefines conventional wisdom. He's a living testament that success isn't confined to traditional paths. In fact, sometimes, the most profound insights come from those who forge their own way.

Our guest is Ken Rusk, the bestselling author of "Blue-Collar Cash," host of the "Comfort, Peace & Freedom" podcast, and the visionary behind "The Path to a Successful Life" course. Ken built a remarkable empire and a life of purpose over four decades, all without a for mal higher education. He's not just building businesses, he's building lives, and fostering a truly employee-centric culture. Get ready for an incredibly insightful conversation that will challenge your assumptions and empower your professional journey. Join me now for my conversation with Ken Rusk.

Guest Bio:

Ken Rusk is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker who achieved WSJ Bestseller status with "Blue-Collar Cash" during the pandemic. He hosts the podcast "Comfort, Peace & Freedom" and empowers individuals through his impactful course, "The Path to a Successful Life."

Ken's unique journey includes appearances on Fox & Friends, Tucker Carlson Tonight, and America's Newsroom. His insights have been featured in Forbes, USA Today, Fox Business, and more. Without formal higher education, Ken's diverse accomplishments include awards like Top Workplaces in Ohio and numerous Franchise of the Year honors.

As the founder of Rusk Industries, he collaborates with notable figures and supports charitable organizations. With over four decades of experience, Ken continues to inspire through speaking engagements. He's currently working on a book about fostering employee-centric business culture for growth.

Resource Links:

• Website: kenrusk.com & veteransuccess.org
• Product Link: https://courses.kenrusk.com/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:21 Your book, Blue Collar Cash

05:44 Did you have a paper route?

08:32 You learn by what you see sometimes

10:20 I wish they would put out the same statistics that they do for professional football players

15:37 What was the biggest lesson I got out of college?

19:04 The law of supply and demand never fails us

21:12 I don't necessarily care what you do for a living as much as I care what you do with what you do for a living

22:39 Focus on the people, not the product

23:22 I've always thought that you had to go to college to be smart enough to be an entrepreneur

25:16 I call it putting a rudder on your boat

26:54 I practice being grateful

29:46 We're going to walk a higher tightrope, but we're going to raise the net

31:23 What's the lesson here? What's the opportunity?

33:05 There's always multiple pathways of things that are happening at the

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 29

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. The podcast that helps business professionals and entrepreneurs go from being just another option to being the emotional favorite. Today we're addressing a topic that so many of us navigate daily: the power of quiet leadership. The business world often celebrates the loudest voice in the room, but what if the most powerful leaders are actually the ones who are thinking, listening, and observing?

Our guest today is a living testament to this idea. With over two decades as a successful product and technology executive, he's led teams and scaled startups, but he's here today as the voice of the quiet thinker. He's the host of the Powerful Introvert podcast and newsletter, and he's on a mission to help introverted professionals and leaders embrace their natural strengths and thrive on their own terms. Please join me for my conversation with Greg Weinger.

Guest Bio:

What if the best leaders weren’t the loudest voices in the room?

Greg Weinger has spent over 20 years proving that introverts and unconventional thinkers can thrive in leadership. A seasoned product and technology executive, he has helped scale startups 10X to $70M+ in revenue, leading teams that build market-leading digital products and drive business growth. A Stanford graduate, he studied English literature, creative writing, and software engineering—giving him a unique ability to blend technical expertise, storytelling, and strategic thinking to make complex ideas accessible and actionable.

Greg is the author and host of Powerful Introvert, a Substack publication and podcast dedicated to helping introverts unlock their leadership potential. A sought-after speaker, he challenges outdated leadership norms and explores how organizations can create inclusive leadership structures that embrace diverse working styles.

He is also deeply interested in the intersection of technology and personal wellness, exploring how wearable biometrics and machine learning can optimize meditation, mindfulness, exercise, and sleep to help leaders operate at their best. His mission is to redefine leadership by prioritizing self-awareness, leveraging introverts’ strengths, and creating space for different leadership styles to thrive.

Greg speaks with depth, clarity, and a touch of irreverence, delivering insights that challenge assumptions, spark new ways of thinking, and provide practical takeaways for better leadership and performance.

Greg lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife of 25 years, their two cats, and their golden retriever, Mervin. He is a proud father of two college-aged children.

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:11 Introverts are looking inwardly first

02:21 Extroverts, the bias is outward first, they're acting, they're emoting

04:39 They talk about ambiverts

07:02 The more prepared introverts are, the generally the better off they are going into a situation

08:23 So, what are the most damaging misconceptions about introverted leaders

09:04 Just because they're quiet doesn't mean that they don't have anything to say

12:58 Why do we have such a bias towards the extroverted leader?

14:47 There are absolutely ways to do this in a way that are authentic to you

16:32 My personal practice, I wake up earlier and I am meditating for 40 minutes to an hour

20:05 How should we approach to make that introvert feel comfortable or that extrovert feel comfortable?

21:17 Introverts like authenticity

23:25 What's your advice for turning self-doubt into a source of confidence and credibility?

25:29 When you're vulnerable, you're speaking your truth, that's authentic

27:10 The phrase is: Let the puppy tire itself out

28:18 It's a constant practice to be as present as we...

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 28

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, the show dedicated to helping you master your mindset, amplify your influence, and become the undisputed champion in your field. Today, we have a great guest who embodies the fighting spirit of true success. He’s a former professional boxer who has taken the discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking of the ring and translated it into a powerful framework for entrepreneurs and business professionals.

My guest is a high-performance coach, a motivational speaker, and the founder of the Man Challenge. His philosophy isn't just about winning; it's about preparing to win, recovering from setbacks, and fighting like a pro in every aspect of your life. Join me for my conversation with the extraordinary Gavin Lance Topp.

Guest Bio:

Gavin Lance Topp is a former professional boxer who began his journey with 19 amateur fights, drawn to the sport for its physical and mental challenges. He went on to win and defend the Australian Junior Middleweight Title, and after a comeback in 2005, fought five international opponents before earning a World Title Eliminator bout in Germany. At his peak, he was ranked 12th in the world

Then in 2009 founded the Fight Like a Pro Rite of Passage Program — a transformational experience designed to help men rise into their full potential as husbands, fathers, and leaders.

After leading over 3,000 men through the program, Gavin authored A Rite of Passage, which has sold thousands of copies worldwide. Then in 2019 was inducted into Queensland boxing Hall of Fame. This journey led to the creation of the Man Alive Experience, an online mentorship platform connecting with men across the globe.

Resource Links:

• Website: www.gavintopp.com
• Product Link: https://gavin-topp.mykajabi.com/manchallengetickets

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:42 W hen you're the new kid in town, sometimes you've got to fit in

05:51 Unless my heart was in it, I'm not doing it

06:56 You either compete or you create

08:24 My first book, A Rite of Passage for the Modern Man

08:57 There's 3 men inside every man

11:22 There's always more in a man than what he realizes

13:11 An angry guy is an easy guy to fight...he's predictable

16:33 What are your character traits that you can a hundred percent rely on?

17:35 When the dream is big enough, the odds don't matter

20:54 When you communicate a message that's attached to your purpose, that inspires people

22:52 There's more in you, you can do more, you can become more, you can achieve more

23:48 It's about coming up with the right questions, so then you get the right answers

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavintopp-fightlikeapro/overlay/contact-info/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076350442592

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gavinlancetopp

Instagram:

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 27

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, where we bring you the insights and strategies to help you elevate your business and become preferred. Today, we have a true expert of sales and entrepreneurship joining us.

Glenn Poulos is here to share his unparalleled wisdom on sales strategy, consumer behavior, and how to build truly successful companies. Get ready to take notes, because Glenn is about to drop some serious insights. Join me for my conversation with Glenn Poulos.

Guest Bio:

Glenn Poulos is the co-founder, Vice President, and General Manager of Gap Wireless Inc., a leading product and service distributor for the mobile broadband and wireless markets. With over three decades of experience in sales, he has spent thousands of hours in the field or on the phone with customers and working with salespeople to help create several very successful companies.

After entering the sales field in 1985 as a Technical Sales Rep, Glenn founded his first company, mmWave Technologies Inc. in 1991 and simultaneously served as President of Anritsu Electronics Ltd. for 9 years. Using his extensive knowledge and experience in the industry, he lectures groups on sales strategy, consumerism, and what motivates people at a raw emotional level.

Glenn lives near Toronto in Ontario, Canada, where he enjoys hiking, skiing, and playing pickleball.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://glennpoulos.com/
• Product Link: Never Sit in the Lobby
• Product Link: Profit Powerhouse

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:39 You wrote a great book called Never Sit in the Lobby

02:15 I got thrown out of the Canadian government for working too hard

04:20 There's three things that you need in order to become an entrepreneur

06:40 The reason you're hitting the wall and bouncing off is because you're scared

09:35 I've learned far more from my failures than I ever have my successes

12:08 Even if you do fail, it's not a permanent situation

16:13 I'm not a PhD in balance

18:06 I call it the $12 million problem

19:18 Until you can give it up and you can put the right person in the right seat, you can't scale the business

21:48 My mom had a saying, which was, 'Don't don't focus on what you lose. Focus on what you get to keep'

24:00 For me it's always about leverage

25:38 The area that you want to focus on is like process first, and then people second

29:19 Find the right person to head up that process and scale it

32:25 I invariably want to fall asleep reading legal documents

34:07 In the hands of the best person, you'll still get the better result

37:06 The one thing that I think will never change

38:25 People buy from people

40:59 W hen there's something in it for you, your ability to absorb information, goes up significantly

43:03 A lot of failing salespeople, they make the mistake...

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn:

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 26

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. The show that's dedicated to helping you become the preferred choice in your industry, and in your life. Today, we have a truly remarkable guest who embodies the spirit of a long term vision, profound transformation, and impactful leadership.

Our guest, David J. Greer, is a 40-year veteran of the entrepreneurial world. He joined a young software startup at just 22, and for two decades he helped build it into a global powerhouse. After a powerful exit, David embarked on a two year sabbatical, sailing 5000 miles in the Mediterranean with his family. A journey that reshaped his perspective on success and life. David is a highly sought after entrepreneurial coach and facilitator. He's a true expert on cultivating high performing cultures, empowering people and crafting strategic plans that lead to high growth businesses. Join me for my conversation with David Greer.

Guest Bio:

David J. Greer is a 40+ year entrepreneur. At 22, he joined a young software startup, stayed 20 years, becoming co-owner, while building the company into a global powerhouse. After selling out of that business, he and his wife took a break, commissioning a sailboat in the South of France and home schooling their three children for two years while sailing 5,000 miles in the Mediterranean.

Since then, David has been an angel investor, senior executive helping entrepreneurial friends of his, and since 2015 he has been an entrepreneurial coach and facilitator. David is an expert on culture, people, and strategic planning to create high performing and high growth businesses.

David has 15 years of continuous sobriety, which is why he focuses on helping entrepreneurs who struggle with alcoholism and/or addiction.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://coachdjgreer.com/
• Product Link: https://coachdjgreer.com/book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:03 That's the essence of marketing and selling

04:22 While sailing more than 5,000 miles, 10,000 kilometers in the Mediterranean

06:34 I'm all in or all out

07:26 I'm an alcoholic, and I'd been a daily drinker for at least 20 years

11:13 I wrote my book, Wind In Your Sails: Vital Strategies that Accelerate your Entrepreneurial Growth

14:39 We were incredibly customer focused

16:45 We found out there were 5 really common things that people had problems with

23:16 Go out 3 to 5 years and pick a future date. What is your business going to look like on that date?

24:56 People, strategy, execution, and cash

28:06 I think those of us who really get to a certain level of performance realize it's the calendar or nothing

29:19 Work always expands to the time we allow for it

29:56 It took you longer to procrastinate

30:43 Lets more employees say no to those things that don't matter

33:37 So go 10X where you can go 10X

35:41 At the end of the day, the customer experience is about what do they feel?

35:49 Branding is what do people feel about you, and what do they say about you, when you are not in the room?

37:24 Strategic planning is a hundred page binder that sits on a shelf and no one ever looks at it

40:33 I'm really strong on weekly meetings with my team

41:38 You don't have to be so serious

41:55 Everything in life and in business is an experiment

43:49 I want you to know there is always light at the end of the tunnel

45:14 The website is

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 25

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast, where we bring you the insights you need to stand out from the competition and thrive. Today, we have an incredible guest who has not only witnessed but actively shaped the evolution of marketing over the last few decades. From the very early days of the internet our guest has been at the forefront, adapting and innovating.

He's Gee Ranasinha, the CEO of KEXINO, an award-winning marketing agency that has been the secret weapon for over 400 startups and small businesses across 20 countries. Gee and his team help these businesses achieve the holy grail of success: growing awareness, reputation, trust and sales.

Prepare to extract some serious wisdom from a seasoned pro who understands exactly what it takes to become preferred in today's complex market. Join me for my conversation with Gee Ranasinha.

Guest Bio:

Gee has been in marketing since the days of dial-up internet and AOL CDs. Today, he’s the CEO of KEXINO, an award-winning marketing agency. Over the past 16 years KEXINO has helped over 400 startups and small businesses in around 20 countries grow awareness, reputation, trust – and sales.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute Of Marketing, Gee is also Visiting Professor at two business schools, teaching Marketing and Behavioral Economics to final-year MBA students.

Outside of work Gee loves to cook, listens to music on a ridiculously expensive hi-fi, and plays jazz piano very badly.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://kexino.com/
• Product Link: https://kexino.com/services/marketing/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

05:50 A differentiator at the beginning was that we would lead with a business problem

08:43 Nothing every dies, it just gets fragmented

11:04 The vast majority of our total addressable market is not ready to buy at that exact specific time

13:47 The marketers of their day understood how we as buyers considered and remembered brands at the point of purchase

15:00 Thinking Fast and Slow

18:49 One of the biggest obstacles we face is ignorance of what marketing is

21:11 Nobody spent any time on the single biggest factor of any website that drives conversion

25:08 The reason it sounds too good to be true is because it is too good to be true

29:18 A thing called the 'sunk cost fallacy'

31:54 Price isn't necessarily the deciding factor, as how buyers perceive value

34:20 I would say the lion's share of the reason why a B2B sale happens is not because you are selling the best product...

37:34 The biggest competition is sometimes is not doing anything

38:51 Four words: Talk to your customers!

39:08 Our customers are our biggest advocates

40:30 A fantastic question to ask an existing customer...

42:01 The best way people can find you if they wanna reach out to you is kexino.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn:

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 24

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to the Becoming Preferred podcast. In today's dynamic business landscape, simply doing business isn't enough to stand out. To truly thrive, to become the preferred choice, you need a strategy that elevates your brand, optimizes your operations, and magnetizes your ideal clients. But how do you make that leap from overwhelmed entrepreneur to empowered CEO? How do you build a business that truly "rules" your market?

Today, we have an absolute master of business strategy joining us.Someone who has guided countless entrepreneurs and leaders to not just survive, but to profoundly succeed. She's the brilliant mind behind Your Biz Rules. A speaker, author, and an undeniable force in helping you transform your vision into a profitable, scalable reality. Get ready to unlock the secrets to become truly unstoppable. We're thrilled to welcome the incredible Leslie Hassler!

Guest Bio:

Leslie Hassler is the powerhouse behind Your Biz Rules, a consultancy firm transforming small businesses into freedom-generating machines. Leveraging 17 years of entrepreneurial experience and a strong background in marketing, finance, and leadership, Leslie guides businesses toward predictable profits and sustainable growth. Your Biz Rules offers comprehensive business audits, the Profitable Growth Incubator program, private consulting, and Fractional CFO services. The firm is celebrated for igniting transformative profitable growth, reshaping businesses to fulfill the owner’s vision, and enabling clients to break through financial barriers.

Leslie’s holistic approach prioritizes profitability and a balanced quality of life for business owners. She is the author of First This, Then That and the upcoming Scaling Rich™, Recognized on stages across the U.S., including NAWBO and WBENC, Leslie is also a Past President of NAWBO DFW and an alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business program. A mother of two and avid traveler, Leslie brings a well-rounded perspective to her work. Her mission is to ignite the potential within business owners, empowering them to conquer challenges, unlock unprecedented growth, and build a life of abundance and balance.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.yourbizrules.com/
• Product Link: https://www.yourbizrules.com/fractional-cfo-services/
• Resource: https://www.yourbizrules.com/becoming-preferred-podcast/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:22 You have the domain yourbizrules.com

04:28 Your business does need rules

06:27 In order to scale, you are going to need some core element of scalability

06:55 Systems, processes, technology, and people are core

07:58 You do speak about having a crystal clear ideal client definition

09:50 This falls under the adage of 'a confused mind does not buy'

10:18 We focus on psychographics, not demographics

11:20 Clarity is what helps distinguish you from the next person

12:30 At the end of the day, people are trying to buy solutions, they're not trying to buy work

15:35 I find that 99.99% of the people out there do not feel like their numbers people

18:53 Nobody needs more work, we need more ease

20:01 What you'll see is, we get you, we've got you, we've gone through something similar

22:37 Basically, you are making a client promise

26:19 E very interaction should reinforce that brand's promise and personality

26:24 Inconsistency erodes magnetism

27:34 One of our values is generosity

31:50 How many