The Business Elevation Show With Chris Cooper - Be More. Achieve More

So you have the desire to write a book? Or perhaps you have written before and want to do an even better job next time around? But how do you best write a book? How do you then get your hard work published? And how do you elevate your business by reaching the audience who might want to buy it? Welcome to the complex and mysterious world of books. As someone who has been on this journey and is still learning, I thought it was time we explored this important way to elevate your work on the show. I am delighted to welcome someone who can help. Since she was a small child, Sue Richardson has been mad about books. For some years she worked as an editor, mostly freelance for other publishers, before deciding to take the plunge and become a publisher herself. Today many happy clients have experienced great success with her support and direction. Join us to learn how to reduce the pain and increase the pleasure of your book publishing journey.

I recently had the privilege of sitting in a large packed room of delegates at one of Gavin Preston’s ‘Strategies for Growth’ seminars in Whitehall in the very heart of London. Two things struck me. Firstly, how appropriate a location - Gavin was able to get to the very heart of the challenges that most businesses face and provide insightful wisdom that like nearby ‘Big Ben’ was striking a big chord with the audience. Secondly, what a great initiative by the HSBC bank to invest in bringing a leading business strategist in to help their customers at no cost. My faith that the banking sector does actually care about bringing value to its customer was being rekindled! During this show Gavin will share some of his impact strategies to really help you to grow your business. Don’t miss what without doubt will be a very engaging and if you apply the wisdom a potentially very profitable interview.

How do you become a really engaging leader or manager? Today, most leaders appreciate the importance of 'Employee Engagement' to productivity. Yet often don’t consider how engaging they are personally. When 35% of people would forgo a major pay rise to see their boss fired, then perhaps they should! Chris Cooper will share wisdom and memorable stories about increasing your personal engagement drawn from extensive experience and research with highly engaging international business experts, high achievers and organizations. As this show marks 175 unique shows and 'engagement' is a key speaking and masterclass topic for Chris, he has decided to do a first and both host and deliver the content for this show! As Dr. Matthew Higgins of the University of Leicester School of Management wrote ‘Few presenters can connect the fate of kidnapped penguins to enhanced business performance strategies so seamlessly’!' Intrigued? Then do listen in!

During this show, we will be discussing a no-nonsense methodology for negotiating deals, managing your time and handling crisis, all at the highest level. My guest is Jeff B Cohen one of the entertainment industry’s most beloved success stories, prominent transac-tional attorney and former child actor (he played Chunk in the Richard Donner/Steven Spielberg movie 'The Goonies'). During the interview we will be discussing the lessons from his book ‘The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood’. Developed in Hollywood, the real world tactics, strategies and guiding principles are vital for any business environment. Join this show to learn wisdom from a fascinating personality who has achieved great success in both the world of business and entertainment.

There is one thing in life that is just inevitable – we are all going to die.However, the thought of your death and the legacy you wish to leave behind can be a hugely motivating driver for business and life success. Making the most of everyday as though it were your last can help you to achieve exceptional results. Just google my former guest and friend Stephen Sutton MBE and what he achieved! I first came across Neil Dorward when I saw him deliver a very thought provoking speech to an engaged audience on legacy. As Scotland’s first ever Civil Funeral Celebrant he had been involved with leading over 2500 funeral services. He therefore has huge experience and integrity around the subject. So what do we want that service to say about our lives and how would we like to live on in the memories of others when it is our turn? Join us and listen to some very important and inspirational messages that may help you to lead a better and more fulfilled and elevated life today.

How do you transform your dreams into reality, irrespective of where you come from? My guest Patty Aubery will tell you that permission is granted! During this show we will discuss some key principles of building a very successful life and career from someone who has done just that. Patty went from PA to being President of The Canfield Training Group. She has overseen day-to-day operations alongside Jack Canfield for over 24 years. During that time she published over 200 titles, became a New York Times bestselling author and, with her colleagues, built a multi-million dollar enterprise. Patty has led the dream life of many – a published author, media professional, executive Mom, world traveler, avid mediator and lifestyle connoisseur. She is now dedicated to facilitating Women’s Summits speaking to women entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and corporate employees on success and strategic planning. Join us and give yourself the permission to succeed!

Ever wondered what life must be like establishing and leading your own charity? My guest Will Travers OBE is an internationally renowned wildlife expert who has dedicated his life to wildlife issues, since he lived in Kenya while his parents, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, made the film Born Free (1966). In 1984, he co-founded the wildlife charity now known as The Born Free Foundation, which works to stop individual wild animal suffering and protect threatened species worldwide. Will is President of Born Free and President of the Species Survival Network (SSN), an international coalition of over 100 organizations committed to the promotion, enhancement and enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endan-gered Species. Join us to learn from lessons acquired while leading a high profile charity and the conservation issues that we should all be caring about today.

Why is it that some organizations like the US Marine Corps can gain consistently strong results in highly complex operations with a highly diverse work force. During this show we are going to explore lessons from military high level strategic leadership and people engagement which can translate directly relate to enhancing performance in the business world. My guest John Boggs is a retired Marine Corps Officer whose wisdom and insight from many years of senior military operations service is today making waves across the commercial world. Join us with a pen and paper at the ready to hear how you can become a more strategic and engaging leader.

A new generation of business leaders is turning to mindfulness as a cutting-edge leadership tool and research suggests that such a practice can help us gain clarity, reduce stress, optimize performance, and develop a greater sense of well-being. I am delighted to welcome back Michael Carroll the author of Awake at Work, The Mindful Leader and Fearless at Work to the show. Over his 30 year business career he has held several corporate executive positions and as the COO of Global Coaching Alliance, he has worked with many major global brands. Michael has been studying Buddhism since 1976, is an authorized teacher in the Kagyu-Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and has lectured at leading educational enterprises and practice centers throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America & Australia. During the show we will discuss what mindfulness is and how to develop it in the often stressful 21st century workplace. Interested in becoming a more mindful leader? Then this one is for you!

We are without doubt in a connection economy and it is the small things that make an enormous difference as to whether people trust you, connect and will engage with you. According to my guest we must ask the question - is my next action going to build a relationship by earning trust or is it going to burn it? During this show, I will be talking to Paul Dunn a 3-time TEDx speaker based in Singapore. Paul is a Senior Fellow in one of the World’s Leading Think Tanks and holds a Lifetime Service Award to the Accounting Profession in the UK. Paul recently featured in Forbes Magazine alongside Sir Richard Branson in a global piece on ‘disrupters’ in business. His book, The Firm of the Future, is regarded as a breakthrough book for professional knowledge firms. He is Chairman of the revolutionary B1G1: Business for Good, a company that’s already enabled businesses to create almost 50 Million giving impacts around the world. Join us if you care about building business and changing lives.

Great leadership is a key ingredient for business and organizational success. However, what are its key constituents and how can you improve your own leadership skills? My guest Neil Laughton is the CEO and Founder of 'The Business Leadership Academy'. He served in the Royal Marines and Special Air Service Regiment (21 SAS) before founding a group of construction companies. He grew the organisation to £40m turnover and then sold it to Balfour Beatty Plc. A recipient of the Ness Award for “Inspirational leadership” from the Royal Geographical Society, Neil leads adventurous expeditions all over the world. He has climbed the highest mountain on each continent including Mt. Everest and skied to the Geographic North and South Poles. He has made twelve first ascents in Greenland, circumnavigated the UK on a jet-ski and piloted the world’s first road legal bio-fuelled flying car across the Sahara Desert. Join us and build your leadership skills by acting upon the wisdom from this show.

Hidden among the chaos and hype, there are secrets to success on the web. Globally renowned inter-net expert Chad Barr is joining me to reveal them - and show you how to use them to amplify your web presence and profits. Using the unmatched reach of the web, entrepreneurs are empowered to take a more tactical, brand-driven approach to attracting new clients and reinforcing the relationships with their current clientele—quickly raising the bar to produce better results for their brand and their business. During the show we will be discussing the critical areas that can be immediately enhanced to emphasize creditability and instantly build trust among visitors. Join us for a show that could set you well on the way to a million dollar presence.

Are you a Restless Executive? During this show I will be talking to Jo Simpson about the lessons from her new book ‘The Restless Executive – Reclaim your values, Love what you do & Lead with purpose’; A must for anyone wishing to join the enlightened leaders of today’s new business paradigm. Jo is a leading authority in Values Based Leadership. Her journey to Dubai in 2005 inspired her to establish her ground breaking company & pioneer coaching & mentoring in the Middle East, helping to transform the business & management culture of numerous organisations. She has worked with many senior leaders across many international brands.  Since returning to the UK in 2010, she continues to pioneer her methodologies for values-based leadership & innovative team development as an engaging keynote speaker & executive leadership coach. I know Jo well as both a friend and colleague - trust me this will be a valuable show.

What is social entrepreneurship and how do you best lead a socially responsible business? My guest Liam Black would say be Visionary, be bold, take risks, stay humble, get clear teams and mentors round you, gather evidence, get clear about money, look after yourself, work hard and Get plenty of sleep! In this show we will discuss some of the key lessons acquired by one of the UK’s best known social entrepreneurs, Liam Black. Liam has led some of the country’s most successful social enterprises, most recently Fifteen which, with Jamie Oliver, he grew into a global brand with businesses in Europe and Australia. He is author of There’s No Business Like Social Business and The Social Entrepreneur’s A to Z, and speaks and writes widely on leadership, enterprise and social change. Join us for a very socially responsible and inspiring show tinged with Liam’s trademark good humour!

How much of your time is spent meeting with people? How effective are these meetings? What business impact is driven from people meeting in your organisation? During this show we will explore how to leverage the power of meeting in your organisation. My guest Katherine Woods, co-founded Meeting Magic in 1999. Since then she has facilitated thousands of meetings and she believes that the greatest opportunity for most businesses lies in unleashing the potential that exists when people collaborate effectively. Most organisations have plenty of meetings but most do not get the best from people and some even demotivate them. It is possible to get tangible business results and leave participants feeling motivated and committed to action. Join us to find out more about how to make your meetings truly magical!

Feast or famine, boom or bust - it’s a pattern that too many sales organizations regard as a necessary evil. And that is wrong. If you want a long-term career, you need to get off the roller-coaster of inconsistent results. Instead of frantic scrambles to meet quotas, you can create a strong year round record of closed sales, repeat customers, and increasing referrals, all while you build a growing prospect list. That according to my guest is what Non Stop Sales Boom is all about. Colleen Francis has been a successful sales leader for over 20 years and understands the challenges of selling in today's market. She is the best-selling author of popular sales books including the recent Nonstop Sales Boom. She is a Certified Sales Professional (C.S.P.) and inductee into the Speaking Hall of Fame. Sales and Marketing Magazine called Colleen and Engage Selling: one of the top 5 most effective sales training organizations in the market today! Join us if you want a non-stop sales boom!

Does this resonate with you? Work is such a critical part of our life and yet we often struggle with - and feel overwhelmed by - the numerous challenges it presents us. Whether it's job insecurity, making peace with or leaving an unfulfilling job, or dealing with office conflicts, we often experience fear and a sense of groundlessness just at a time when we want to be our most creative and resilient. This quote is from my guest Michael Carroll's fascinating book 'Fearless at Work' which I found excellent reading. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy Michael Carroll is a long time human resources executive, meditation teacher and executive coach. During this show we will discuss some really engaging and inspiring principles that can help us to be naturally more brave, resourceful and resilient at work. Do join us for what I know will be a very content rich and performance at work enhancing show.

Do you agree that the ability to connect, engage and influence are essential skills to thriving in today's business environment? Howev- er, if you want to fine tune your skills there a few better to learn from than those who have done it at the highest level. Some arena’s such as political campaigning, professional speaking and hostage negotiation have the ability to fully put these skills to the test. My guests are Simon Bucknall who from a political campaigning background became twice UK and Ireland Champion of Public Speaking and in the top 20 out of 26,000 speakers at the World Championships in Arizona. Also, Richard Mullender a former Lead Trainer at the National Crisis and Hostage Negotiation unit at Scotland Yard in London. Richard has designed and run courses for the Met- ropolitan Police, United Nations, FBI and South African's 'Scorpions Unit'. Join us for some great wisdom into how to truly connect and influence others to help you more effectively achieve your desired outcome.

Want to stand out from your competitors? You know your customer service is good, but then along comes Celebrity Service! During this show we are going to be discussing the unseen gap between Good and Amazing. From room service in South Africa, visiting a toy shop in London, to trying on clothes in New York, Geoff will share examples of Celebrity Service that can help you change everything in your business by creating incredible word of mouth that has customers beating down your door for more. Geoff Ramm is the creator and author of ‘Celebrity Service’ & ‘OMG Marketing’. He’s a multi-award winning speaker who has challenged & inspired audiences across five continents. Join us for another great conversation with one of this shows favourite guests Geoff Ramm.

What can we learn from alternative businesses such as outlaws and criminal gangs when it comes to doing good business today? Why do we admire charismatic villains while mistrusting organizations and political leaders? What can this teach us about the way we should do business today? My guest Martin Parker is the Professor of Organisation and Culture at the University of Leicester School of Management whose literary works include ‘Alternative Business - Outlaws, Crime and Culture’. Join us for a fascinating journey into a different world and what we can take from alternative businesses that can enhance good business today?