154 - Round 5: Success leaves clues — with Mo Ismail

The Art of Learning by Teaching In this episode, host Chris Do delves into the personal and professional growth journey of graphic designer James Barnard, focusing on the importance of authenticity, transparency, and the willingness to learn in public. By sharing his own experiences, including the initial struggle with an Adobe Illustrator tool, Barnard highlights the positive impacts of admitting one's gaps in knowledge and the collective learning that ensues with the audience. The episode further explores the power of teaching and how it can not only enhance one's own understanding but also boost business through specialization, in this case, logo design. Barnard discusses the effectiveness of script writing for social media content to bolster confidence and articulation, alongside the significance of continuous learning and sharing even the basics of one's craft. Emphasizing mistakes as a natural part of the creative process, the conversation shifts towards the benefits of humility and preparing oneself before claiming expertise, culminating in the mutual growth of both the designer and his audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beyond Connections In this episode, host Chris Do delves into the secrets behind successful LinkedIn profiles and growth strategies with guest Sam Browne, an entrepreneur from Auckland, New Zealand, who achieved an impressive feat of growing his LinkedIn following by 50,000 in one year. Sam shares his journey from starting various businesses to finding a successful formula on LinkedIn involving consistent, engaging post writing and the crucial role of hooks in capturing audience attention. He emphasizes the importance of content quality, the strategic use of personal and educational content, and the power of case studies and specific, direct calls to action for lead generation. Sam also recounts his highest-performing post, revealing its massive engagement stats and highlighting key factors contributing to its success, like a compelling hook, concise value-packed content, and shareability among community members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mastering Marketing & Time In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with marketing expert and bestselling author Allan Dib shares his journey from immigrant to marketing and IT success, emphasizing the power of a positive mindset towards money and marketing. Allan discusses the essence of Lean Marketing, drawing from lean manufacturing to advocate for efficiency and waste reduction in marketing efforts. He highlights the importance of communication, goodwill, and understanding customer needs for creatives and introverts, advocating for sales techniques focused on listening and diagnosing rather than pushing for a sale. Through personal anecdotes and professional advice, Allan conveys the significance of differentiating oneself in the market, crafting irresistible offers, and the vital role marketing plays in business sustainability and growth. The episode not only explores Allan's transformative sales insights but also invites listeners to engage with him, reflecting on his experiences, strategies, and the impact of marketing on achieving business success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Robert Katai, founder of the B2B Creator Newsletter, as he discusses a transformative strategy for brands aiming to achieve significant growth without solely relying on paid advertising or traditional marketing channels. He emphasizes the shift from conventional approaches to investing in in-house creators. In-house creators, who could be any employee passionate about the brand, are positioned as better alternatives to outside influencers for building authentic connections with audiences. Robert highlights the power of personal branding and genuine content creation as a means to foster trust and engagement with the brand. The discussion covers the increasing costs of customer acquisition, the saturation of AI in marketing channels, and the decreasing efficacy of brand-only social media accounts. Through examples like Apollo.io and SparkToro, Robert illustrates how companies can leverage their employees to authentically engage with their community, resulting in increased brand loyalty, lower marketing costs, and organic growth. The solution proposed encompasses nurturing in-house talent to generate content that resonates with the audience, establishing a human-to-human connection. Robert's insights are framed within his extensive experience in marketing, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to overcoming current marketing challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Art of Lead Generation In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Daniel Priestley as he shares valuable lessons from his career on the significance of lead generation, supplemented by practical approaches and the use of success stories to illustrate point. Furthermore, he introduces an affordable, globally accessible tool aimed at creators and entrepreneurs, encouraging immediate action to incorporate effective strategies for lead generation into sales processes. He highlights the tool's benefits, including its unique pricing model that charges users only upon achieving success, thereby underscoring the importance of accessible entrepreneurial tools in expanding business reach. The episode culminates with endorsements of Daniel's expertise and additional resources for further engagement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elevating Experiences In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Paul Hoke, an unconventional master of wedding entertainment, who reveals the art of creating deeply personalized and memorable wedding experiences. Going beyond the traditional DJ and entertainment role, Paul shares his unique approach to engaging with clients—through listening, silence, and understanding their backstories—to craft events that resonate on an emotional level. From integrating personal stories and family traditions into the fabric of the occasion, to challenging industry norms with creative problem-solving under constraints, Paul's methods demonstrate the profound impact of empathy and personalization in transforming events into lasting memories. Through a series of touching stories, including the innovative engagement techniques and the thoughtful integration of family history, this episode is a testament to the power of thinking outside the box and the importance of creating meaningful connections. Join us as we delve into the mind of a creative genius who challenges clients to reimagine what a wedding can be, ensuring that each celebration is as unique and extraordinary as the individuals it honors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Struggle to Strength In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Jordan Rogers, detailing his recovery from heroin addiction and incarceration to achieving professional acclaim at Nike and becoming a significant advocate for personal branding. By leveraging his struggles to forge a connection and inspire athletes and individuals alike, Jordan highlights the essence of resilience, authenticity, and the strategic use of personal branding. The narrative further explores how personal experiences and unique stories can not only enrich one's professional growth but also inspire broad, impactful success. Jordan's work, particularly with college athletes, underscores the crucial role of embracing vulnerabilities, recognizing strengths, and the proactive pursuit of personal potential beyond waiting for opportunities. His success story, marked by growth in followers and recognition from figures like Tiger Woods, serves as a testament to the power of authentic personal branding and its pivotal role in achieving happiness, health, and wealth. The script encapsulates the intersection of personal hardships with professional triumphs, advocating for the strategic and authentic use of personal branding in navigating and leveraging one's unique journey towards broad-reaching impact and success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Jule Kim, exploring the significance of SEO in the creative industry and how individuals can leverage it to generate high-quality leads. Jule Kim, a certified life coach with expertise in SEO, discusses the importance of understanding your customer, creating content that addresses common questions and objections, and effectively using keywords to improve search engine visibility. The episode covers practical SEO strategies, including the use of images and meta descriptions, organizing website content, and the importance of having a Google business profile. Additionally, Jule shares insights on transitioning careers, her affirmation deck 'Self Love Affirmations and Reflections', and the evolution of search on social media platforms. The conversation emphasizes the need for creatives to make their work findable online to attract and convert potential leads into clients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Sid Yadav, the co-founder and CEO of Circle, a community platform for creators and brands, shares his entrepreneurial journey along with valuable lessons for success. Talking about the early days of Circle, he acknowledges the impact of his experience with Teachable and how it influenced his venture. He articulates how he navigated through various challenges including technical hurdles, building a robust product, and creating an adept team. Sid explains his transition from a secure job to a startup and his ability to secure investment from Teachable's CEO. He also discusses the significance of making promises, delivering them, and sharing one's work with the world for feedback. Sid emphasizes that it is better to launch a product even with imperfections and refine it along the way. The talk also provides a glimpse into Circle's future endeavors towards transforming brand-creator engagement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, host Chris Do sits down with Liz Mosley, a UK-based freelance graphic designer and podcast host, shares her inspiring journey of transforming rejection into a springboard for success. Liz candidly reveals how an initial refusal to appear on her podcast led her to initiate a personal challenge of gaining 100 professional rejections in six months, which in turn yielded surprising results. Her changed mindset and newfound confidence led to many acceptances, sponsorships, and opportunities, including having even the 'rejections' eventually turning into acceptances. Liz’s story underscores the idea of approaching rejection not as a setback but as an opportunity for growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices