Author of No BS Strategy, Alex M H Smith, rejoined me on Ditching Hourly to help define a very important word that few business people understand correctly.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
• (00:11) - Guest Introduction: Alex Smith
• (01:30) - Understanding Business Strategy
• (02:02) - The Misunderstood Concept of Value
• (04:15) - Creating Value in Business
• (07:55) - Innovating Beyond Traditional Value
• (13:01) - Practical Examples and Market Research
• (18:14) - Unique Value Proposition
• (29:23) - Understanding Differentiation in Business
• (29:56) - The Importance of Unique Positioning
• (30:36) - Consulting Strategies and Unique Differences
• (31:32) - Examples of Effective Differentiation
• (33:23) - The Role of Specialization in Strategy
• (38:30) - Embracing Weaknesses for Strategic Advantage
• (40:53) - Balancing Specialization and Market Reach
• (41:51) - The Pitfalls of Over-Niching
• (48:28) - Rooting in Recognizable Categories
• (53:20) - Conclusion and Resources

• Alex's free resources » https://basicarts.org/welcome/
• Alex's book » https://basicarts.org/book/
• Alex's mailing list » https://basicarts.org/articles/
• Alex's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/

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Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Professor-in-residence at StoryBrand and host of the new podcast Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how to strike a balance between authority and empathy.

And be sure to stick around to the end to hear J.J.'s take on AI's impact on professional services and how to avoid creating ‘louder garbage’ :-)

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (00:17) - JJ Peterson's Current Ventures
• (01:11) - The Concept of 'Badass Softie'
• (03:26) - StoryBrand Framework Explained
• (06:20) - Empathy and Authority in Leadership
• (08:42) - Balancing Empathy and Authority in Coaching
• (12:38) - Personal Experiences and Coaching Styles
• (16:05) - Communicating Empathy and Authority Effectively
• (24:44) - Engaging Your Audience with Empathy and Authority
• (28:06) - Controlling the Narrative in Marketing
• (29:07) - Embracing Your Authentic Self as a Guide
• (31:41) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• (40:52) - The Importance of Niching Down
• (47:35) - Leveraging AI in Professional Services
• (51:39) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• J.J.'s website » https://www.drjjpeterson.com/
• J.J.'s podcast » https://www.badasssoftie.com/

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!

Solo data advisor Shachar Meir (ex-Meta, ex-PayPal) joined me on Ditching hourly to share the details of his transition from being a manager in massive corporate environments to becoming a successful solo consultant.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• (01:05) - Shachar's Professional Background
• (03:47) - Transition to Solo Entrepreneurship
• (13:51) - First Steps as a Solopreneur
• (15:59) - Landing the First Project
• (20:25) - Facing the Challenges of Solopreneurship
• (25:11) - Navigating the Steep Learning Curve
• (26:17) - The Importance of Networking and Mentorship
• (29:52) - Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Growth
• (33:25) - The Art of Content Creation
• (43:18) - Financial Stability and Client Acquisition
• (51:47) - Final Thoughts and Advice

• LinkedIn Profile » https://www.linkedin.com/in/shacharmeir/
• YouTube Channel » https://www.youtube.com/@shacharmeir

----

Do you have questions about how to improve your business?

Things like:

• Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?
• Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?
• Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?

Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.

Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.

To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to:

https://jonathanstark.com/call

I hope to see you there!