Conversations With Phil Gerbyshak - Aligning Your Mindset, Skill Set And Tool Set For Peak Performance

For those who don't know my background, I grew up in Crivitz, Wisconsin, a rural town of 996 people in northeastern Wisconsin. I wasn't the fastest kid, or the smartest kid, or the most athletic kid. In 7th grade, I was one of the worst basketball players on the team. I had generic shoes the other kids called "G-Didas" for generic Adidas shoes. They were Win Streaks, and they were all we could afford.  I didn't believe in myself - at all - in 7th grade basketball. To say I sucked was an understatement. I played 5 minutes a game, if that, and I don't think I scored any points. 8th grade was a little better, and Coach Nelson showed me some sympathy and started me a few games. I averaged 6 points per game. I still had no confidence in my game or me. It took me until freshman year when I really thought I could be a decent ball player. We practiced hard, harder than I ever had before, and I worked my butt off, in large part because of the belief of my coach, Gary Wondrash. I still believe in myself, and much of th

David Boutin is one of the first people I met when I moved to Tampa. I noticed him on Twitter, and reached out to him. He hesitantly agreed to meet with me, and we've been friends ever since.  David is a Georgia Bulldog football fan, a husband, and a Twitter chat guru. I learn a lot from David's writing, and from watching what he does on Twitter. Recently David co-authored the book Twitter Marketing that Sells with Mike Kawula, and they work together at The Social Quant.  David and I talk about all things Twitter, why he was hesitant to meet me (and how the way we met helped him get an awesome job) Tampa life, and more in this informative interview. Connect more with David Boutin Follow David Boutin on Twitter Read his book Twitter Marketing that Sells (just $.99 on the Kindle) Try the free 14 day Twitter Marketing Challenge

  One might wonder what chicken wings, sports announcing, nursing, parenting, entrepreneurship, and admissions have in common. If you don't know, then you haven't met Brandon Elliott. I met Brandon several years ago at a speaking engagement I had, and we have been connected ever since. In this conversation, Brandon and I talk about being a male nurse, how he's overcome discrimination in his work and in his life, how he makes a difference teaching social media to kids in his S.M.A.R.T. program (S.M.A.R.T. stands for Social Media Awareness & Responsibility Training), sports, and a whole lot more.  More about Brandon Elliott As a graduate from the College of Mount St. Joseph Brandon earned his nursing degree while playing football. He was a captain on their undefeated team in 2004 as well.  Brandon worked in the hospital setting before finding his niche in long term care.  He became a director of nursing services by the age of 26 and is currently known in the Cincinnati marketplace as the nurse liaison for

Does posting about things like politics that polarize people make business sense? Sam Richter certainly has an opinion on this - and he has proof to back it up based on conversations he's had with event planners. Sam Richter is an expert in sales intelligence and reputation management - so not only does he have anecdotal evidence on this - he's done the research to make this work.  In this conversation, Sam and I talk about statistics, reputation management, and much more. Connect with Sam Richter The best place to connect with Sam Richter is at his website, where he has all his intelligence tools and more. 

One of my favorite things to do is karaoke. I'm not a good singer, but I'm very enthusiastic. Some of my best conference memories are of doing karaoke, and I've even done live band karaoke. So much fun! As I've done this so many times, I've seen good hosts, and bad hosts. I have a ton of respect for those who are really good at being the karaoke meister, the person who helps everyone have fun and cues up the music we sing, and who also sings to fill in the dead air when nobody wants to sing. The best karaoke meister I've seen is Robb Ellicson. He's just got what it takes to be great. And he's a terrific business person, who markets multiple businesses in addition to his karaoke business. In our conversations, I've learned a lot from him, so it's fun that I get to share him with you. Connect with Robb Ellicson If you're in Milwaukee, check out one of his shows. And connect with Robb even more at http://www.spinndoctors.net/

Charles Lerette aka Hugh Briss is a social media pioneer. He was the first person I remember making social media graphics, nearly 10 years ago now. He's still the first person I look to for guidance on for the right way to use imagery for social media. With my recent move to Florida, I actually got to spend a day with Hugh, and learned he is even smarter than I realized - and that's saying something. He's a savvy business owner who teaches himself new skills to remain relevant in his niche. Whether it's photography, where he got his degree, creating social media headers, or video, Charles is a smart guy.  Yes, his real name is Charles Lerette. You'll find him online as a photographer with that name, and all his social media identity information online as Hugh Briss. We'll talk about why he did that and so much more in this conversation. More about Charles Lerette aka Hugh Briss All aspects of your online presence matter, and Charles can help you with them all. He's taken my headshots, done my logo, designed

Scott Monty and I first "met" as a contributors to The Age of Conversation series in which hundreds of bloggers wrote a page or two about marketing, compiled it into a book, and gave the proceeds to charity, many years ago. In 2015, Scott and I got to solidify our friendship by meeting at a Social Media Club event in Dallas. In between, Scott worked with Ford to take them from recession to relevance with some of the most interesting marketing that moved the needle.  Scott is also a man who can rock a bow tie. Seriously well. When I think of Scott, I think of that signature bow tie, which is his logo now as well as how he dresses. Super cool! In this conversation, we talk about all of Scott's passions: marketing, Sherlock Holmes (he runs the I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere website and podcast), and podcasting. The time went too fast for us, and I know it will for you too. More about Scott and connect with him Scott Monty is an internationally recognized leader in digital communications, digital transformation,

I met Amy Franko on now defunct #SocialLeader Twitter chat and was impressed by her ability to quickly synthesize leadership topics into tweets. We decided to swap our leadership and sales thoughts in a few Skype conversations. I quickly realized Amy had a lot of useful information to share that could benefit you, so I finally recorded one of our conversations.  More about Amy Franko Amy Franko drives results for organizations by elevating their most important asset—their people. Her firm, Impact Instruction Group, works with technology companies and professional services firms to design and deliver leadership development and strategic selling programs. Amy’s experience within large global organizations, such as IBM and Lenovo, has shaped her skills as a futuristic thinker and leader. She brings new perspectives to her clients, with a sharp focus on achieving strategic goals. Known for her dynamic and engaging style, Amy is a sought-after speaker on the topic of leadership development and strategic selling, h

Mark Hunter is known as The Sales Hunter. Yes, Hunter is his real last name, and sales is really his game. I learn so much from Mark every time we connect, every time I read his articles, and especially when I read his books. His latest is called High Profit Prospecting and if you're in sales, you won't want to miss it. In this conversation, Mark and I laugh a lot as we share insights on sales and leadership you won't get from anyone else. His tip on how to use LinkedIn strategically to get to the C suite is outstanding.  This episode is worth the listen even if you're not in sales, because Mark shares how sales and leadership are really the same thing, and how you can lead better by selling better. Connect more with Mark Hunter Buy Mark's latest book High Profit Prospecting Connect with Mark on Twitter Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Read Mark's articles on sales, leadership and prospecting

This episode, I get to talk to someone who I love, have great respect for, and who makes me laugh, all while teaching me something new about life and leadership. It's none other than Chip Lutz, the Unconventional Leader. I met Chip several years back at the National Speakers Association chapter in Wisconsin, and we have been friends ever since. We've shared a room at convention, he's gotten his certified speaking professional, I moved away to Tampa, and we've kept bantering on lots of things. What I love about Chip's leadership style is it really is unconventional. He admits there are no secrets to great leadership, and he focuses his message on looking at the common every day things in very uncommon ways. Chip served in the Navy and retired as an officer, after earning the rank of chief in the enlisted Navy. He is remarkable - and he will knock your socks off with his witty humorous ways of talking about leadership. Chip is offering you a free copy of his book Leadership by the Numbers, just for signing up f

Leadership is the topic du jour, and few people know it as well as Peter Barron Stark. I've been fortunate enough to spend time with Peter at several National Speaker's Association conferences, and his quietly insightful way of sharing things always leaves me smarter, and wanting more time with him. He is the co-author of Why Leaders Fail with past guest Mary Kelly, which you can listen to here, as well as The Only Leadership Book You'll Ever Need: How to Build Organizations Where Employees Love to Come to Work and coming in 2017, The Only Negotiation Guide You'll Ever Need:101 Ways to Win Every Time, in Every Situation.  To say I got to converse with a master of leadership is an understatement. Peter is straight to the point, with actionable insights, and shares things we can all do to be a better leader.  What I like best about Peter is though he has probably forgotten more about leadership than most will ever hope to know, he is humble and willing to learn from others, as evidenced by his company, and the

How does someone accidentally get famous? When they show up on a billboard - in Times Square - in her underwear.  If that's all she did, Stacy Nadeau would be worth talking to.  What if I told you that's barely scratching the surface. That Stacy Nadeau is all about building OTHERS up, having a support system, and how to build your own supportive network if you don't have one in your family or existing network.   And though you wouldn't guess it, this is the FIRST ever podcast Stacy has ever done. Give it a listen, and you'll figure out how you can make a difference with your own image, whether you're male or female, tall or short, skinny or not so skinny. Stacy calls this your "Esteem Team" and you can use this in your business and your life. She also provides some great insights into networking, body image, and why she hired a direct competitor to be her business coach. And a bunch more than that! About Stacy Nadeau In the summer of 2005, six women made national news when they appeared on a Times Square bil

Bruce Weinstein is a fellow speaker, a member of the National Speakers Association. He's also the guy I go to when I have a question about ethics. He has a PhD, and he lives in New York City. In this episode, we talk about ethics, and character, and music. And we laugh some. And we share things that can help your business. About Bruce Weinstein Through his high-content, engaging, and interactive keynotes, workshops, and webinars, Dr. Bruce Weinstein, The Ethics Guy®, works with organizations that want to do the right thing every time and that know the key to their success is the high character of their employees. Bruce writes about ethics, character, and leadership for FORTUNE, and his signature presentations include: The Good Ones: Ten Crucial Qualities of High-Character Employees Ethical Intelligence: Five Principles for Making the Best Decisions at Work and Beyond To Yell the Truth!™ A Fast-Paced, High-Energy Ethics Game Show Based on YOUR Organization’s Values and Code of Conduct Is It Still Cheating If

Lee Constantine has an interesting model with Publishizer: It's one part Kickstarter, one part independent publisher, and all parts making sure you can actually sell your book before you publish it. I normally don't do episodes where I just talk about a product or service, but this is special. If you are thinking about self publishing or even traditional publishing your book, check these guys out first. And no, I don't get anything from sharing this. Except for I get to be really happy if this helps you make more money (or not lose money) publishing your book.  I asked Lee about how this got started, what the downsides might be, and more about how this works. I left this interview very impressed, to say the least, and I am seriously considering using this for a future book project. 3 Steps - How Publishizer Works Submit a 1000 word proposal A book proposal explains your book to readers and publishers. Be guided step-by-step through using our book proposal template. Launch a 45 day pre-orders campaign Need

Pam Thomas is one of the first people I met online, 10 years ago. We've hung out a few times in person too, and to say she is easy to learn from and be friends with is an understatement. She's coached me formally and informally a LOT over the past 10 years, and while she kicks my brain (and backside) with her straight shooting, no nonsense Pam-a-rama style, I never feel judged or like an idiot, which is not the case with every coach. Her new program is all about values - and it is outstanding! I was a beta tester of it, and I learned a lot about myself and my business.  In this conversation, Pam and I talk about values based blueprinting - and so much more - in a quick hitting and helpful conversation. About Pam As a certified coach and intuitive in practice since 2005, Pam loves helping people connect with their values and make transformational changes so they're no longer settling, frustrated, directionless, passionless or in pain. Pam helps people discover their WHY so their WHAT has more meaning. Connect

Michael F. Johnson is an author, a podcaster, an expert in the book publishing world, and one of my favorite mentors. Each week, his podcast Common Sense Comments, makes me think about business in a new way, in 4 minutes or less.  His book Kill the First Tiger is the fastest book I have ever read. Each chapter takes less than 3 minutes to read, though I encourage you to read and implement a chapter a time for your business. This conversation is no different, though we go a little longer than his usual podcasts do. About Michael F. Johnson Michael is an author, a consultant and a speaker, offering businesses a common sense look at what's not working to better help them get going so they can do what does work. His insights are as brief as they need to be, though don't mistake that for a lack of depth on his expertise. Few people can be succinct, and get right to the heart of the matter.  More from Michael F. Johnson Follow Michael F. Johnson on Twitter Subscribe to Common Sense Comments Get your copy of Kill

Bruce Turkel is one of the smartest branding guys I know. He's a fellow member of the National Speakers Association, he plays a mean harmonica, and his books make me smarter - after they make me laugh. His new book All About Them is another smash hit! It's a fast, entertaining read that will teach you something if you're not careful. Bruce and I talked about his new book, customer service, branding, and so much more. You won't want to miss this conversation. More about Bruce Turkel Bruce Turkel has helped create some of the world’s most compelling brands including Miami. Bruce has worked with Hasbro, Nike, American Express, Charles Schwab, Citicorp, Discovery Networks, Bacardi, Sol Melia Hotels, Azamara Club Cruises and many more great companies. A captivating speaker and author, Bruce has spoken at MIT, Harvard, TEDx, and hundreds of corporate and industry conferences. Bruce appears regularly on FOX Business and has been on CNN, ABC, CBS, and NPR. He has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, Co

Dr. Heidi Thorne, MBA/DBA, is a business and marketing coach, speaker and author. She specializes in working with self employed speakers, coaches and consultants on writing and self publishing books and blogs to help build their brands, fans and expert status. Heidi is the author of 11 (and counting!) print business books and ebooks. In this episode of Conversations with Phil, we talked about her latest book How to Network, which is a must read for any small business owner or person who needs a refresher on how to network in today's digital world. Heidi and I met many years ago at SOBCon, the successful online business conference, and have kept in touch over the years. Heidi caught me up on all the cool stuff she's working on, and shared her secrets on how she was able to write 11 BOOKS, be a networking guru, pivot into new areas, and stay sane.  Listen in and learn more. More about Heidi Thorne Connect with Heidi Thorne on Twitter Connect with Heidi Thorne on LinkedIn Heidi's website, filled with helpful i

Bernie Swain has one of the more interesting people I've interviewed. He quit his job to start a speaker's bureau, signed his first deal on a handshake, represented President Ronald Reagan - and now he's written a terrific book.  In this conversation, we talk about taking the risk of starting an agency, how he was able to secure President Reagan as a client, and what's next in his world. We laughed, we shared stories, and Bernie gave us some terrific advice on how to become a success.   More about Bernie, from his about page: Bernie Swain - founder of the pre-eminent lecture agency in the world, Washington Speakers Bureau - comes from simple, humble, and resilient stock.     His mother, Patricia, grew up working on her parent’s farm, hunted, fished and yet loved to fly; she befriended Charles Lindbergh and other aviators of her time. Bernie’s father lived with his single mother, five sisters, one brother and numerous relatives in a tiny two-room house in one of the poorest mining towns in West Virginia; he sp

Jason Schenker is one of Bloomberg's top forecasters. Since 2011, Bloomberg has named him a most accurate forecaster in 31 categories - including #1 in coffee price, which is cool because I love coffee. Jason is also the author of several books, including Electing Recession, which is very timely with an election season in full swing here in the US. Jason shares his insights into how he got his start making prediction, a little of how he makes predictions, and much more. It made for a very interesting episode. Jason Schenker bio In 2009, Jason Schenker founded Prestige Economics, a top-ranked financial market research firm that offers corporate and institutional clients a retainer service. Prestige Economics also performs management consulting and forecasting projects. Since 2010, Bloomberg News has ranked Mr. Schenker one of the most accurate "Bloomberg Best" financial market forecasters in the World in 31 different categories, including #1 in the World in 17 categories for his forecasts of economic indicat