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In this episode, I speak with Liza Romero about the under-utilized talent and ambition of youth in underserved communities around the country. Liza is a cofounder of the Sonoran Initiative: a non-profit dedicated to disrupting generational poverty and creating sustainable, permanent solutions for youth in neglected ZIP codes. Liza grew up in North Philadelphia and experienced an intimate relationship to poverty. Unlike many of her friends and family members, Liza was lucky and made her way out of poverty and now she’s paying forward that lucky break by advocating for youth in communities like the one she grew up in. Tune in for a discussion of the factors that contribute to generational poverty as well as what it takes to interrupt it and tap into the huge reservoir of brilliance in these underserved yet deserving communities. Enjoy! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “We knew that we were brilliant, we knew we had talent, we knew we possessed all sorts of skills and acumen and abilities but there was no structure.” – Liza Romero Show Notes: What the Sonoran initiative is all about and why it’s important The hidden potential of underserved communities How to break the cycle of poverty Liza’s story How Sonoran’s model works “What I grew frustrated with was seeing so much of the potential around me, even my own, fizzling out and in some cases dying, either literally or figuratively on our blocks.” – Liza Romero Links Mentioned: Get a copy of And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou Learn more about the Sonoran Initiative: Facebook

If you're in a process of transitioning your business, career, or life, this episode will help you make better decisions and avoid common mistakes. Tune in for a conversation with Ed Brenegar about what it takes to move through times of transition with empowerment and intention so that we can use our breakdowns and "uh-oh moments" to help us create more alignment and self-leadership. Ed is the author of the book Circle of Impact and works with leaders and organizations in transition to help them create more impact and fulfillment. Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! "Once we see that the pain of changing is less than the pain of staying the same, then we're willing to make that change." - Ed Brenegar Show Notes: How to reframe an 'uh-oh' so it can become an 'aha' more quickly Steps to embarking on a new self-perception The three dimensions of impact Identity and self-perception Ed's Circle of Impact model How to motivate your employees to do better work "The 'uh-oh' leads to the 'aha!'" - Michelle Villalobos Links Mentioned: Get a copy of Circle of Impact by Dr. Ed Brenegar Read Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter F. Drucker Connect with Ed Brenegar: Facebook | Twitter | EdBrenegar.com

How would you like for business to flow to you, for clients to be inbound, and to not have to hustle or push to drive new business? It's possible, with a compelling brand and reputation that attracts INBOUND business. This week's guest is Rory Vaden, the New York Times bestselling author of Take the Stairs, and co-founder of The Brand Builders Group. This episode is chock full of insights to help you break through the wall of obscurity and create a powerful reputation for yourself – so you can relax, take the pedal off the gas, and receive business instead of hunting for it day in, day out. In this episode, Rory breaks down the 6 key questions that you MUST answer to build a brand that attracts opportunities, and shares the essential components of an effective brand, as well as where people generally go wrong in their branding efforts. Rory and his insights have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNN, and other major media outlets. Recently, Inc. Magazine named him one of the top 100 leadership speakers in the world. Clearly, Rory knows a thing or two about how to build and monetize a great reputation, so listen up! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! "What problem do you solve? And can you answer that question in one word?" - Rory Vaden Show Notes: How to break through the "wall" from unknown to known The 6 essential questions you MUST answer to build a solid reputation and compelling personal brand The inner work that needs to happen before branding How to answer the question: "what problem do you solve?" in a powerful and compelling way (and why you need to answer it!) How to become comfortable marketing yourself -- even if you hate it or resist it right now "You have to become addicted to serving your audience rather than serving yourself." - Rory Vaden Links Mentioned: Get a copy of Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden Sign-up for a Personal Brand Strategy phone call with Rory's team. Connect with Rory Vaden: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Brand Builders Group "When you're on the unknown side of the wall, everything is push. Push push push! It's all outbound, proactive, hustle and hard work. You know you've broken through the wall when your business starts to pull and people start finding you." - Rory Vaden

Tune in for Michelle's interview with sales expert Phil M. Jones about how you can sell with more grace and ease using "magic words" that help prospects (or even your spouse and kids!) be more receptive to your message. In this interview, you'll learn powerful phrases to help you ask for what you want -- in the most compelling way possible -- without sounding pushy, feeling sales-y or turning people off. Phil also shares his simple and easy-to-implement referral marketing script that will help you consistently generate quality referrals, instead of relying on chance. Enjoy this very powerful and information-rich episode! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “If we can get somebody to see themselves doing something before we invite them to do it, the chances of them doing it become significantly higher.” – Phil M. Jones Show Notes: What “magic words” are, and why they work so well for influencing in sales The importance of speaking to the subconscious mind -- and how to do it The unique strategy Phil used to release his books and corner a slice of the market in his industry How to know exactly what to say in a challenging sales conversation -- without sounding rehearsed or canned How to ask just about anybody for just about anything without being rejected The key to using magic words, without being creepy or manipulative The biggest sales challenges that are the easiest to overcome Phil's exact referral request script (plus the exact moment to use it) “What selling is, in my mind, is earning the right to make a recommendation. It isn’t embellishing your product or service with features or benefits.” – Phil M. Jones Links Mentioned: Read Phil's books: Exactly How to Sell Exactly What to Say Exactly Where to Start Connect with Phil M. Jones: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Phil M. Jones “It’s not about moving a no to a yes, it’s about moving a maybe to a yes.” – Phil M. Jones

Did you know that the government and large corporations are actively seeking out woman-owned and minority-owned businesses to feed contracts to? In this episode, Nancy Allen, president and CEO of the Women’s Business Development Counsel of Florida (a.k.a. Her Company Inc.) shares how women, minorities and other special groups can take advantage of programs to legally certify their business to qualify for large (even huge!) contracts with the government and large corporations. You'll learn about the wide variety of certifications you may qualify for as well as what it takes to actually generate business from a designation. A certification is not just a piece of paper to hang on your wall! In addition to her position as President and CEO of the Women’s Business Development Council of Florida, (AKA: Her Company, Inc.), Nancy is an international speaker, coach, and consultant who has dedicated her career to connecting and championing women in business, and this interview is a great synthesis of several tools and strategies to help women-owned (and minority-owned) businesses grow. Enjoy! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “When women do well, their communities do well, their cities do well, everybody does well. Women tend to, on average, invest back into the community at a greater rate than men.” – Michelle Villalobos Show Notes: Why the government and big companies are seeking out contracts with women-owned and minority-owned businesses Who qualifies for certification? How certification can generate business The advantage of qualifying for multiple designations Why the certification process need not be intimidating Why everyone who qualifies should consider getting certified “A lot of people who get certified come back to us and say ‘the process made me a better business owner!’” – Nancy Allen Links Mentioned: Learn more about contracting with the Federal government: www.acquisition.gov Read Creativity in Business by Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers Connect with Nancy Allen: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Her Company Inc. “I have seen some of our members who have started off as second-tier suppliers become prime contractors because it opened a door for managers and decision makers to see who they are and what they’re capable of.” – Nancy Allen

In this episode, Michelle shares 9 practices to boost your influence when it comes to enrolling people in your mission, message, perspective, and programs. These practices combine the energetic approaches of hustle and flow, enabling you to be productive without burning out, and effective with grace and ease. Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “When you’re out of alignment, you don’t feel good and other people can feel that. That will spill over into your enrollment!” – Michelle Villalobos Show Notes: The importance of balancing hustle and flow especially if you're a woman How establishing authority and status is essential to enrollment Why establishing rapport and connection requires being in a flow state The 2 key pieces of any effective enrollment conversation The ONE thing that changes EVERY thing when it comes to influence “Commitment is the link between emotion and action.” – Michelle Villalobos

Marsha Shandur is the creator of "I Don't Have My Isht Together Either," which is a community on Facebook, and the keynote speech that she recently delivered at the World Domination Summit, where Michelle first saw her, loved her, and invited her to be on the show. Marsha has taught hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives, professionals, and students how to tell stories that connect and compel even the busiest of people. Her work has been featured in Forbes, the BBC, the CBC, and Mashable. In this conversation, Michelle and Marsha dish about fear, loneliness, pain, and feeling "not good enough," and how hiding these feelings keeps us separate, while sharing them – authentically and vulnerably through story – is the absolute best way to connect with other people, whether onstage, online or in person. She shares some great stories of her own, while sharing how each of us can use story to drive business, transformation and connection. Enjoy! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “As humans, we’re desperate to belong; it’s what we crave more than we crave being happy. So by telling a story that has some vulnerability in it, you’re saying to people: "you belong" – not when you’ve fixed yourself, not when you’re perfect, but you belong where you are right now.” – Marsha Shandur Show Notes: Nobody has their iSht together either... You don't need to be a storytelling genius to write a story that people will stop to listen to, you just need a few key elements that anyone can use How to find a great story and tell it in a way that people connect to (even if you've never been a great storyteller before) What it means to "kill your darlings" in the editing process -- and how to do it How you can use social media to practice your storytelling Why vulnerability can do wonders for your brand How to sell more online by showing prospective customers or clients that you are there for them “When you can articulate the thoughts that your ideal clients are having, especially when they are freaking the F out at 2 o’clock in the morning, then you are saying to them those four most powerful words in the English language: you are not alone.” – Marsha Shandur Links Mentioned: Read Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone & Bruce Patton Get a copy of The Memoir Project by Marion Roach Smith Join the I Don't Have My iSht Together Facebook group Connect with Marsha Shandur: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | YesYesMarsha.com “One of the biggest myths about storytelling is that it’s a skill that you have or you don’t. It’s not! It’s just a set of rules.” – Marsha Shandur

How would you like to know what makes YOU fascinating? Get ready to do some deeply informative (and fun!!) exploring about exactly that. Sally Hogshead is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of an award-winning advertising copywriter, whose work sits in the Smithsonian. In this value-packed episode, you will learn about what it takes to be fascinating, and you'll also get (drumroll, please!!) access to Sally's Fascination Advantage assessment, which is personality test that -- unlike Myers-Briggs and StrengthsFinder -- measures NOT how YOU see the WORLD – but rather how the WORLD sees YOU. This assessment has been used by over a MILLION people worldwide -- for free. And in fact, you may want to take the assessment BEFORE you listen to the interview, as it will make the conversation that much more enlightening. By the end, you'll understand the importance of "Fascination" in YOUR life, as well as know how to fascinate audiences, and how to optimize your business and speaking style to align with your natural tendencies. You will also hear a fascinating conversation about a recent breakthrough that Sally made in her life and what she's now doing as a result. Enjoy! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “If we can understand how other people perceive us at our best, it’s much easier to show up at our most impressive and influential. Because when we fascinate the person sitting in the audience, we’re far more likely to change their opinion and make a change with our message.” – Sally Hogshead Show Notes: Why being fascinating is so important for speakers The 7 different ways of communicating and how knowing your preferred style makes you more effective How high-achieving business people play to their strengths Why taking a masculine approach can often feel draining How to live a more fascinating life “You don’t have to change who you are, you have to become more of who you are.” – Sally Hogshead Links Mentioned: FREE Fascination Advantage Personality Test: use assessment code "superstar" Get a copy of Fascinate by Sally Hogshead Read How the World Sees You by Sally Hogshead Connect with Sally Hogshead: Facebook | Twitter | SallyHogshead.com “The uh-oh always happens before the aha!” – Michelle Villalobos

Turn LinkedIn into a lead generation machine for your business! In this episode, you’ll learn from social media expert, Jennifer Darling, how to use LinkedIn strategically and effectively. These days, LinkedIn is the Google for business professionals: your potential clients will check you out there so you have to know how to put your best foot forward! Tune in to learn how to find work on the platform, optimize your profile for maximum searchability, and connect with high-level decision makers. Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “One thing that I love about LinkedIn that is different than Facebook is the social media culture. Because in LinkedIn, it’s all about business– I’m not going to get lost down a rabbit hole about what’s going on with my niece and her latest boyfriend.” – Jennifer Darling Show Notes: Why you should invest time in LinkedIn How speakers, authors, and coaches can use LinkedIn to connect with prospective clients How to score speaking engagements on LinkedIn The differences in culture between LinkedIn and Facebook Why it doesn't take much time daily to get value out of LinkedIn The best way to connect with a very important person “The number one complaint I hear from decision makers is that... start selling them right away before even establish an inkling of a relationship or know anything about them.” – Jennifer Darling Links Mentioned: Get a copy of Increase Your Leads with LinkedIn by Jennifer Darling Read Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude Watch Jennifer's FREE LinkedIn webinar Connect with Jennifer Darling: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Website “People are searching for you on LinkedIn. Whether you realize it or not, this is a huge search engine to find people!” – Jennifer Darling

Elizabeth McCormick is a total badass! Formerly a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot, now she's a prolific motivational speaker and author. In this interview Elizabeth and Michelle discuss the awesome (and sometimes not so awesome) realities of being a trailblazing woman. You'll hear how Elizabeth became a pilot at a time when there were few other women in that role and the lessons she learned in the process. Enjoy! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “Everything I do today either takes me closer to or it takes me further away because there is no neutrality to momentum.” – Elizabeth McCormick Show Notes: How determination take you where you want to go How your long-term vision fortifies you for short-term action Why Elizabeth's book is focused on self-leadership How women can claim their power How to transition from your day job to a career in speaking “We get to choose what we believe. We are the ones who get to determine what assumptions we make, what judgements we make, and what beliefs we hold in the situations that we’re in. And they can either serve us or not.” – Elizabeth McCormick Links Mentioned: Get a signed copy of The P.I.L.O.T. Method by Elizabeth McCormick Read The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell Visit Soar 2 Success for more content from Elizabeth Connect with Elizabeth McCormick: Facebook | Twitter | Website “We need to listen to that voice inside of us. I call it the ‘tap on the shoulder’ when something higher is saying: this is not right! This is not it. This is not what you’re supposed to do.”

Michelle speaks with Love & Life Coach Lisa Concepcion about how high-achieving, type-A workaholics can find and keep true love. In this episode, you’ll learn the real reasons why high-achievers often struggle to find love, the value of intuition in love and business, and why everyone needs to stop worrying about finding “the one”. Lisa’s New York-style tough love approach is both effective and endearing and you’re sure to learn a lot from this episode. Enjoy! Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “As long as we are in a high-vibing place and we are open to love, love can find us.” – Lisa Concepcion Show Notes: The reasons high-achievers -- especially women -- so often have trouble finding love The power of intuition in business and love (and how to develop it) The importance of knowing what you’re looking for in a partner Overcoming the unique challenges of dating as a high-achiever What "self love" REALLY is, and how to create it Lisa's lessons from the journey of becoming a Superstar love coach & content producing queen “As we love ourselves more and we love our businesses, we settle less.” – Lisa Concepcion Links Mentioned: Get a copy of Inner Bonding by Margaret Paul, Ph.D. Get Lisa's No BS Guide To Dating for FREE Connect with Lisa Concepcion: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube “Making yourself feel wrong for wanting what you truly need– that’s self abandonment.” – Lisa Concepcion

LeeAnn Marie Webster and Michelle talk about how to build and nurture relationships using email marketing. You'll hear why email is STILL highly relevant and why -- in an era of spam and overcommunication -- email marketing with H.E.A.R.T. is the way to go. By the end of this interview, you'll know some best practices to deepen relationships, build a devoted following. and grow your business. LeeAnn is the founder of Totally Telesummits and Just Done It Weekend, a marketing retreat where business owners walk in with nothing and walk out with an entire email marketing funnel DONE. LeeAnn has been featured in the Huffington Post, LA Times, and various other national and local media outlets. Consider Leaving a Rating & Review! “The greatest lesson I’ve learned in business and in life is to always be tuning in to whether you are aligned with who you really are.” – LeeAnn Webster Show Notes: The importance of building relationships in business, and why email marketing is still an ideal channel for communication that nurtures people over time Why social media can't and won't replace email Email with H.E.A.R.T.: best practices for email marketing How often you should email your tribe? Creative ways to grow your email list How an "Iron Man Mindset" paved the way to LeeAnn's business success “Email is great in addition to social media but you can’t think of social media as being in place of email. And here’s why: you don’t own the platform.” – LeeAnn Webster Links Mentioned: Get a copy of Leveraging the Universe by Mike Dooley Read Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris Check out joinbytext.com Connect with LeeAnn Webster: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Website “The ideal time frame is the intersection between how often you want to create content and how often your audience wants to hear from you.” – LeeAnn Webster (on how often you should email your tribe)