Episodes

Dec. 5, 2022

100: On Big Leaps, Busywork & Elton John (feat. Bri Seeley)

Are you stuck on the "rollercoaster of inconsistent income?" We all know entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint, but it can feel extra cumbersome when we're stuck in a marketing rut, drowning in admin tasks, or struggli...

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Nov. 28, 2022

99: ICYMI: The Business of Fandom: Live from FAN EXPO Chicago 2022

Holy heck! Annie P. Ruggles' strategy novella and companion guide, "The Coach Who Would Not Sell" comes out today! To mark the occasion (and give Annie a bit of a break), we're bringing back our 1st ever LIVE episode - …

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Nov. 22, 2022

98: On Enthusiasm, SEO, and The A-Team (feat. Seth Goldstein)

We all know mindset is a critical tool for entrepreneurs - but is your mindset working harmoniously with your marketing, and vice versa? In the struggle to break through the noise and reach potential buyers, how do we ensure ...

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Nov. 15, 2022

97: On Leaders, Role Models & Scandal (feat. Kristen Edwards)

What the heck does it actually mean to be a "natural leader?" And, if you're an un-natural leader, are you just out of luck? For being an isolated endeavor, solopreneurship sure demands a lot of people-wrangling. What skills ...

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Oct. 31, 2022

96: First Impressions, Bad Clients & Avatar: The Last Airbender (Feat…

So - what do we do about the "just not your people" people? The bad fits? The awkward encounters? And - on the flipside - how can we ask for and receive support without feeling clingy, desperate, or amateur? It's …

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Oct. 25, 2022

95: On Joyfulness, Overworking & A League of Their Own (feat. Dr. Eri…

Is joy fluffy or essential? A soft skill or a beacon? And on the flipside, is burnout a badge of honor? How can we keep the love alive in our small businesses, in spite of recessions, upheaval, bad news, and …

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Oct. 18, 2022

94: Discoverability: A Candid Convo with Emmy Award-Winner & MTV Tale…

Mandy Moore, The Osbournes, Ashton Kutcher, The Millionaire Matchmaker - behind each media sensation, there was a helluva media/brand strategist - Vinnie Potestivo! As a network talent executive at MTV Networks from 1998 to 2...

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Oct. 10, 2022

93: On Events, Engagement & Downton Abbey (feat. Shay Wheat)

Are you fully harnessing the power of live events in your business? Whether in-person, hybrid, or online-only, events are unparalleled when it comes to building community, sharing thought leadership, and proving your value - ...

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Oct. 3, 2022

92: On Passion, Focus & Rocky (feat. Dr. Michael Gerharz)

Are you focused enough on focus itself? Are you diluting your message, power, or passion by being too broad or ambitious? And, do you have to be loud and flashy in order for your purpose to come across crystal clearly? …

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Sept. 27, 2022

91: On Moneymakers, Self-Management & Paper Mario (feat. Melissa Gull…

How much of your workday gets gobbled up by non-money-making activities? How can you set expectations and goals for yourself that are both ambitious and compassionate? And, how can gamification help you take off "the busy bad...

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Sept. 19, 2022

90: On Honesty, Web3 & 90 Day Fiancé (feat. Derek Gorthy)

Do you ever feel like the Internet is leaving you behind? There are so many new trends, new platforms, new tools, new terms... you name it. Although Blockchain has been a beloved topic of conversation in tech circles for almo...

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Sept. 12, 2022

89: On Likes, Leads & Somebody Feed Phil (feat. Hannah Acosta)

So - they're paying attention, now what? How do you turn dopamine-bumping likes into dollar-earning leads? What's the next step for followers who have been hanging out in your DMs and comment threads for weeks or even years? ...

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Sept. 6, 2022

88: On Customer Satisfaction, Loneliness & Jesus Christ Superstar (fe…

Have you bought into your own hype? And - in practice - is that a good thing or a bad thing? Will your success inadvertently harm the folks who have had your back since the beginning? How can we move …

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Aug. 29, 2022

87: On Data, Downturns & Pretty in Pink

Does tracking your business growth (or losses) have to be so anxiety-inducing? On the flipside, does analyzing your data have to be so dang dry and boring? HECK NO. Although it's hard to focus on profits, profits, profits all...

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Aug. 22, 2022

86: On Spontaneity, Flow & Phish (feat. Greg Wieting)

Are you treating yourself like your most prized asset? Do you find it hard to rest, or even slow down? And what's the truth of "hustle culture;" do we really need to push harder to get further? If the cost …

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Aug. 15, 2022

85: On Financial Confidence, Control & Yellowstone (feat. Danielle Ha…

How well do you know your numbers? For many, many small business owners, the answer is "not nearly enough." When you wear 17 different hats on any given day, it's easy enough to ignore the books and bank accounts and …

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Aug. 8, 2022

84: On Hype, Consistency & Seinfeld (feat. Jason Cercone)

On your path to connection and service, what metrics really matter? Should you aim to go viral, or allow yourself to move slowly and deliberately? And what's more important in podcasting and content creation - quality or cons...

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Aug. 1, 2022

83: The Business of Fandom: Live from FAN EXPO Chicago 2022

Holy heck! It's the very first special episode of TLTQ - and it's a glorious nerdfest. Annie P. Ruggles recently brought her brand of entrepreneurial enthusiasm to the show floor at FAN EXPO Chicago and sat down with 14 pheno...

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July 25, 2022

82: On Healing, Hustle Culture & Kesha (feat. Jessica Butts)

Is your definition of success truly your own or has it been cobbled together from other peoples' mandates and expectations? Are you more likely to succeed if you show up fully and frantically every day or if you slow down …

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July 18, 2022

81: On Closers, Compassion & Attack on Titan (feat. Jason Marc Campbe…

When you define selling, is your answer more synonymous with greed, manipulation, and regret or to love, empathy, and enthusiasm? You've been sold to horribly and unethically countless times - but have you ever had a sales he...

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July 11, 2022

80: On Expertise, Unlearning & The OC (feat. Rachel Kurzyp)

Do we expand our skills by learning or by doing? How do you identify what falls inside our expertise and where we have growth options? And - what if we're experts in something that we just don't love anymore? Entrepreneurship...

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July 5, 2022

79: On Self-Promotion, Belonging & Pee-wee's Playhouse (feat. Deanna …

In order to take ourselves seriously as business owners, do we need to be so dang serious? What are the key differences between savvy self-promotion and sleazy self-serving advertising? Is putting yourself out there emotional...

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June 27, 2022

78: On LinkedIn, Audacity & Ruth Bader Ginsburg (feat. Clarene Mitche…

Is LinkedIn just a resume site for job-seekers? Heck no! In fact, your competitors are likely making a whole bunch of money over there! How? By leveraging its business-focus and ever-expanding list of competitive free feature...

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June 20, 2022

77: On Feedback, Staying Power & The Simpsons (feat. Nick Loper)

Is there anything more vulnerable (some would say terrifying) than asking for feedback, waiting for the responses, and then actually absorbing them? Why do small criticisms tend to outweigh earnest praise? And - what the heck...

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