Ep 253: Back to Basics: The Lead Product

Are you tired of meeting with potential clients, putting time and effort into proposals, and not closing the sale – or worse, getting ghosted? Maybe you constantly feel like a glorified order-taker and you’re tired of being a pixel pusher.Today, we’re getting back to basics and talking about why you shouldn’t be giving away your strategy for free and what you need to do instead to get off the client-chasing hamster wheel.Tune into this episode to hear:Why pitching with free proposals is BSHow free proposals enable scope creepHow the lead product positions you as a trusted advisorWhat makes it easier to land premium priced projectsHow to avoid the salesy free discovery callResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Carolyn Herfurth is a friend, colleague, and coach of mine who has helped me transform my business multiple times over the years. She is a genius at spotting opportunities and crafting new revenue streams for successful business owners who want to get to the next level, but don’t see a clear path.For 22 years, Carolyn has been instrumental in launching over 100 businesses and accelerating the growth of thousands more. Outlier entrepreneurs hire her as their strategic thought partner to make sense of “all the things” and re/innovate their business model for tighter alignment with who they've BECOME since they started out — and for greater impact.As co-founder of Impostor Syndrome Institute, Carolyn has played a key role in scaling Dr. Valerie Young’s groundbreaking work on impostor syndrome. Carolyn also enjoys delivering presentations and workshops to world class companies like EY, Dyson, Bimbo Bakeries USA, and Everest Reinsurance.Tune into this episode to hear:The pivots Carolyn has made in her own career over the last few years Carolyn’s question that changed the trajectory of my businessHow a third party can help you get to the heart of what you wantLearn more about Carolyn Herfurth:WebsiteBEYONDImpostor Syndrome InstituteInstagram: @carolynherfurthConnect on LinkedInMentioned:The 5 Pillars: Self-Assessment for the Outlier EntrepreneurResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

One of the hardest parts of being a business owner is that there is no boss. There is nobody to tell you that you’re doing a good job.When you’re the only person who can pat you on the back and validate that you’re doing the right things, it is so easy to get paralyzed by fear of making the wrong decisions.This month, I’m sharing key mindset shifts that will help you through the hardest parts of being in business. In this episode, I talk about how indecisiveness thwarts most small business owners, and what you can do to get past the fear and take action.Tune into this episode to hear:Why waiting for the “right” decision is secretly stalling your businessThe story of one massive flop that ended up being one of my best business lessonsHow to build confidence when no one’s validating your work but youWhy decisiveness is the not-so-secret sauce behind our most successful clientsResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

This month, I’m sharing the big mindset shifts that have helped me through the hardest parts of being in business.In this episode, I talk about the little mantra that has gotten me through some of the toughest times, from pounding the pavement as a real estate broker to conquering stage fright to starting No BS Agencies: Stupider people have done it.It’s a little uncouth, I know, but it was an easy way to remind myself that people who aren’t as skilled have succeeded in all of these arenas before me, so I could do it too. And so can you.Tune into this episode to hear:Why this mantra worksWhat will put you ahead of the gameResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Cold, hard truth: Building a business is really hard and anyone who tells you differently is lying.No matter how much you love what you do or how experienced you are, there’s always more to learn, more to figure out, and new fires to put out. And if anyone’s telling you otherwise? Yeah… they’re probably full of it.It’s been incredibly hard for me too. I have cried so many times with frustration and fear that I wasn’t going to be able to make it work, even after I had successful businesses under my belt. When I started No BS Agencies Mastery, I went through growing pains all over again.This month, I want to share a few mindset-shifting ideas that I have learned and carried with me that have helped ease some of the difficulty.In this episode, we’ll talk about the first and foundational mindset shift I want you to make. If it’s going to be hard no matter what, you might as well build the business you actually want.Tune into this episode to hear:The kinds of hard work that hurts your business in the long runHow checklists and admin work make us feel productive without moving the needleWhat the right kind of hard for your business looks like Resources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of one of the most anticipated events in the No BS world — our annual in-person retreat in Brooklyn, NY! With 60 students flying in from around the globe, I share what goes into planning an experience that’s equal parts strategic deep dive and soul-fueling celebration.You'll hear why in-person connection is a game-changer for business growth, how the retreat is intentionally designed to unlock transformation, and yes, how I convinced a huge name and a hero of mine to come speak to our small-but-mighty community (spoiler: it involves a lot of heart and a little chutzpah).If you’ve ever wondered what makes the No BS retreat feel like a business homecoming or you're craving a clearer path to a freedom-filled, profitable business, this one’s for you.Tune into this episode to hear:Why I host 60 people at my apartment to kick things off (yes, my bedroom door is open—literally)The mindset shifts and strategy breakthroughs we create when we get in the room togetherThe big reach we made this year that absolutely paid offWhat past attendees have said about how this retreat transformed their confidence, business, and even led to a TEDx TalkMentioned:Hillary Weiss on Instagram: @hcweissTalking ShrimpLaura Belgray on Instagram: @laurabelgrayThe Fuller Center for HousingSeth GodinE. 145: Emily Wilkins on How Niching Down and Owning That Niche Allowed Her Business to ThriveE. 219: Eleanor Hancock on Making the Big Leap, Changing Everything in Their Business, and Finding the Most Valuable Piece of Any Client ProjectThe dilemma of the timid trailblazer | Eleanor Hancock | TEDxBrayford PoolResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

A few weeks ago, I did something that I never thought I would ever do in a million years. It was so out there that I can’t believe that it has come and gone and I did it.What did I do? I got up on stage as the lead, and only, singer in a rock band.Am I a singer? Hell no. So how on earth did I find myself signing up for the terrifying prospect of singing live in front of a room full of people?Today I’m going to tell you why I did it and why I’m so glad that I did it not only for myself, but for my business and for all of you.Tune into this episode to hear:The real gift of doing things that scare the crap out of youWhy entrepreneurs need to push their boundaries all the timeWhy it matters to me that I walk the walk and do hard thingsWhat's better than doing it perfectlyMentioned:When You Bank True Confidence, Anything Is Possible | TED TalkE. 11 - Influence, Being Your Brand, and How to Command the Attention of Any Room with Brett Lavender Resources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Let’s not sugarcoat it. AI is changing everything. And yes, it’s already coming for your creative agency.But not everyone is at risk. Let's talk about what you need to do in order to protect yourself from AI and any other future tech disruptions. Tune into this episode to hear:What we can all learn from the rise of tools like Squarespace, Fiverr, and CanvaHow leaning in to the value of your process sets you apart The key skill that AI can never replicateThree essential steps to future-proof your creative businessResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

I’m excited to share a conversation with an amazing teacher of mine, the one and only Selena Soo.Selena is a wonderfully kind and generous person who wants to lift up others by teaching us how to better show up and forge real, rich relationships with each other. In this episode, we talk about the insights from her new book Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business.Selena Soo is a 7-figure business mentor, who helps experts and authors reach millions with their message. Through dozens of multi-6 figure and 7-figure launches, Selena has generated over $13 million in revenue in her first 10 years of business. She has also built more than 400 affiliate and referral partnerships.An expert in publicity, Selena has helped thousands of entrepreneurs land media, in places that include O, The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Business Insider, and The Drew Barrymore Show.A former New Yorker, Selena is living her dream life in sunny Puerto Rico.Tune into this episode to hear:Why building real, intentional connections is more important than being at every networking eventHow investing time, creativity, and resources into relationships reaps big returnsThree key phases to seeking and developing a rich relationshipSimple ways to intentionally give and add value to your relationshipsSelena’s six circles of connection framework that will help you manage relationshipsLearn more about Selena Soo:WebsiteInstagram: @selena_sooConnect on LinkedInRich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your BusinessResources:Get the first four chapters of Rich Relationships plus bonus scripts!No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

When the economy is in turmoil, a lot of business owners get really scared. This is understandable! When we don’t know what’s going to happen, fear is totally normal. And it doesn’t help that we live in a 24/7 news and social media cycle that is most likely feeding you a lot of scary news, information, and opinions.You might be afraid that your clients are going to disappear, that your business will shrink, and that you’ll find yourself in a really dangerous place financially.So today, I want to talk about those fears, how I would think about it, and what you can do to shield yourself for whatever turmoil might come along with a more depressed economy.Tune into this episode to hear:Why pulling back and shrinking down your business is not the answerTwo student success stories on using unexpected downtime to catapult their businesses forwardWhy the right clients are always going to be willing to invest for high-value servicesWhat you need to focus on right now to make sure your business weathers the stormResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com