Business planning can feel extremely overwhelming for any entrepreneur, but if you have a roadmap to success, it makes it feel a little easier to achieve. Today on The Coaching Equation, we are joined by the incredible faith-driven business coach and author of Ultimate Breakthrough Planning, Mike Ferrell, to discuss the importance of business planning and how to get on top of it. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Mike’s non-traditional career, why he prioritizes his curiosity, his books, how the financial crisis of 2008 changed everything for him, and how he came out of his darkest times. We delve into what inspired him to create his five Monk principles and a breakdown of each of them before Mike explains how they can be the key to business planning. We even discuss why creating a foundation and business planning are imperative to your business’s long-term success. Finally, Mike shares some tips for simplifying business planning into manageable, bite-sized steps. To hear all this and even be reminded to celebrate your successes, be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A warm welcome to today’s guest, Mike Ferrell.
• Mike tells us about his professional golf career.
• Where Mike’s entrepreneurship journey began.
• The importance of maintaining curiosity as a coach.
• How to maintain or recapture your curiosity.
• Mike’s first book and the financial crisis of 2008.
• The greatest gift Mike was given during his hardest time.
• What informed Mike’s decision to dig himself out of this hole.
• The five Monk principles he created from The Rule of Benedict.
• One: virtuous conversation – living positively.
• Two: community – why community is the foundation of culture.
• Three: stability – how an organization operates.
• Four: excellence – innovation and how to create positive change.
• Five: profound hospitality – internal and external.
• The importance of planning and building a foundation for your business.
• How to simplify business planning so it becomes approachable.
• Why you need to celebrate your success.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mike Ferrell

Mike Ferrell on LinkedIn

Ultimate Breakthrough Planning

The Sweet Spot

The Rule of Benedict

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

You’ll want to come back to this episode again and again because it’s a game-changer! In all of our experience, one of the key biggest problems that we see is an inability to establish trust with a prospect. During this episode, Brook and Ryan set the record straight and talk about how to establish trust before, during, and after your sales engagement, whether your prospect decides to buy on the call or not. Learn how to create consistency between marketing messaging and direct engagement with clients, position yourself as a true trusted advisor, and build trust one step at a time. We explore the importance of team communication, how to ask meaningful questions, and grow to understand the pain, the dream, and the gap for your client. You’ll also hear us unpack what it means to ask deepening questions, why it is so critical to stay true to the experience you promise, and why you should value when clients say ‘not now’ rather than get discouraged by it. This episode offers listeners a linear path to building massive amounts of trust. Get ready to sharpen your sales sword today! Thanks for listening.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The challenge of establishing trust with a prospect during sales engagements.
• Effectively bridging marketing messaging with sales conversations.
• What it truly means to position yourself as a trusted advisor.
• Creating trust through sharing personalized client results and testimonials.
• Why it is so valuable to build trust one step at a time.
• Communicating outcomes and expectations from the first step.
• Establishing real trust once you are in a sales call.
• The importance of building a strong dynamic of team communication.
• Building rapport through meaningful questions and understanding the client’s needs.
• How to grow your understanding of the pain, the dream, and the gap for your client.
• What it means to ask deepening questions in order to allow people to elaborate.
• Staying true to the experience you promise.
• Understanding the value of a response that says ‘not now’ rather than ‘yes’.
• Why it is important not to allow emotions to lead in the follow-up process.
• The correlation between buying behavior and trust.
• How to implement the advice laid out in this conversation.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

Author, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur are just some of the titles of today’s remarkable guest. Markus Kaulius is a globally recognized business and thought leader, and he joins us today to share some tips on how we can start living more meaningful lives to unlock our full potential. We begin with a major transformation from Markus’ life that taught him most of what he knows about business success. Then, we explore the gravity of choosing to work on your business rather than in it, how to set up a business as a sellable asset, where ownership fits in, and the ins and outs of Markus’ groundbreaking book, Play a Bigger Game. We also discuss ways to free yourself from imposter syndrome, why nothing really matters without action, and everything we need to know about our guest’s latest business venture: Yaystack. To end, Markus doubles down on the importance of living with intention and explains how he overcomes some of life’s biggest challenges.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming Markus as he walks us through one of his life’s biggest transformations.
• How to know when it’s time to stop working in your business and start working on it.
• Understanding how to set up a new business to be sold for profit in the future.
• Ways to take and give ownership as a business leader, and why this matters.
• The biggest obstacles that prevent business leaders from empowering their subordinates.
• What inspired Markus to write Play a Bigger Game, and more on this groundbreaking book.
• Simple steps to help you break free from imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy.
• The importance of taking action after gaining new information, and how to rise above haters.
• Unpacking Markus’ new business venture: Yaystack.
• Reiterating the power and value of intention.
• How Markus overcomes the biggest challenges that life throws at him.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Markus Kaulius

Markus Kaulius on LinkedIn

Markus Kaulius on Instagram

Markus Kaulius on Facebook

Markus Kaulius on YouTube

Play a Bigger Game

Yaystack

Amplify Publishing Group

Tony Robbins

Magnum Nutraceuticals

Hidden Potential

Trey Roth on LinkedIn

The Surrender Experiment

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

We’re all about sharing our experiences so you can reach your goals even faster. Today, we put the spotlight on Ryan to explore his entrepreneurial journey and the invaluable lessons he’s learned along the way. In a conversation led by Brook, we delve into the realities of building businesses, what it takes to scale to 8 figures, and the challenges of launching a coaching company after achieving that success. We discuss pitfalls to avoid, the “messy middle” between starting and succeeding, and how to navigate that uncertain space. Sometimes, progress means taking a step back, and we touch on that too. Through Ryan’s story, you’ll gain insight into building a career true to your passions, appreciating the power of relationships, mastering sales, and connecting on a genuine, human level. Tune in today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A summary of this episode: an interview between Brook Bishop and Ryan Lang.
• Ryan’s experiences in college, the army, and the mentorship program that started his career.
• Quitting his job and the radical shift that followed when he started work with his father.
• His relationship with music and his family history with it.
• Elements of his personality that led him away from a career in performance.
• How Ryan built his career without a college education.
• Asking for opportunities and improving as he built his career.
• Founding a gas and oil business on relationships and referrals.
• The incredible value of understanding sales and human connection.
• Making a personal transformation and entering the coaching world.
• Navigating the digital world for the first time.
• Making a seven-figure investment into his career as a coach.
• Entering the coaching world with no mentors.
• The first things Ryan came to understand as a marketer for his own business.
• Insights from his broadcasting career that translate into sales.
• Why he attributes so much of his success to relationships.
• What he would do differently if he had a chance to do it all again.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mastering Sales Pt 1: Lessons from Brook Bishop’s Path to Success

Mastering Sales Pt 2: Brook’s Guide to Scaling Successfully and Leading with Impact

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy
The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

Are you looking for some tried-and-true sales and marketing insights to help elevate your own skill set? Then you do not want to miss this episode of The Coaching Equation! Today on the show, we are joined by a special guest, Michael Hunter, the Founder of PersonalBrand.com and Spiffy Checkouts. In an episode bursting with goodness, we dig into Michael’s entrepreneurial journey, how to craft irresistible offers in sales and marketing, the inevitable trials and tribulations of being a business owner, and key areas to focus on. Michael also emphasizes the importance of seeking mentorship not just from videos and books, but from hands-on mentors as he unpacks the power of proximity. This episode is loaded with enough information to fill up an entire notebook, so let's dive in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What got Michael interested in pursuing a journey in digital marketing.
• How having a commission-only sales job at 17 helped Michael later in his entrepreneurship.
• He explains how his marketing journey started to unfold.
• Michael recounts key “forge-ahead” moments along his path.
• He unpacks the idea of 45-degree angle moves.
• The moment his focus zoomed in on checkouts and how Spiffy came to fruition.
• Why mobile optimization of your platform is (still) important.
• Key points for successful conversion-based optimized checkout pages.
• Michael’s thoughts on what makes for an irresistible offer.
• The four forces of an irresistible offer.
• Successfully marketing something that isn’t the “instant pill.”
• What separates the people who build a successful and profitable personal brand from those who don’t.
• Michael shares advice on how to identify the things we should handle ourselves versus the ones we should delegate or outsource to others.
• The importance of being proficient in the top five skill sets it takes to run your business.
• Why copyright is the number one skill you should be proficient at (in this industry).
• He highlights the value of having hands-on, tailored advice from face-to-face mentors.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Michael Hunter on LinkedIn

Spiffy Checkouts

Personal Brand

Tony Robbins

Brendan Bouchard

Spiffy Checklist

Sign Up for Spiffy

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

Business is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re going to not only create a business but actually maintain it for the long haul, then you have to make sure that you’re asking yourself the right questions; that you have the necessary tools; and that you’re fully kitted in mental and emotional armor to withstand any challenge that comes your way. Today’s mission of cultivating sustainable business success begins with a fundamental question: Are you in it for the long haul or only while it’s easy? Next, we discuss the current state of the world, what it’s like to be a leader in wartime versus during peace, the importance of starting with ‘why’, and how to build lasting resilience as a business leader. We also explain why business is never easy and only for gladiators, how to stay ahead of the competition, the best motivations for sustained success, and how to build a formidable mindset. We end with some important questions that you need to ask yourself before going any further in your business venture, the value of building momentum, and more advice for overcoming any business obstacle that stands in your way.

Key Points From This Episode:

• A question that matters: Are you in it for the long haul or just as long as it’s easy?
• The state of the world, and being a wartime business owner versus a peace-time leader.
• Understanding the importance of ascertaining your ‘why’ amidst modern business challenges.
• How to build resilience and soldier through business difficulties as a leader.
• Why business is never, has never, and will never be easy; it’s only for gladiators.
• How the competition is always too strong for you to rest on your laurels.
• Why money is not the greatest motivator for long-term success.
• Building the right mindset and securing your mental and emotional armor.
• Why asking yourself the right questions is vital for success and longevity, and how to do it.
• More advice for navigating common business trials, and the value of building momentum.
• Pressing questions to be asking yourself before diving deeper into business.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Tony Robbins

“Lost in Space” Danger, Will Robinson

Gladiator

'Simon Sinek Bagel Story'

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

Are you making common mistakes that could hold back your sales team's success? In this episode of The Coaching Equation, we dive deep into the top five sales leadership mistakes that leaders unknowingly make and, more importantly, how to fix them. We discuss the problem of setting clear expectations for sales teams and how to communicate, clarify, and verify sales outcomes effectively. Discover what a healthy sales environment looks like and the common missteps sales leaders make when attempting to create one. Explore the difference between coaching and management, how a typical sales team is structured, and how to find the sweet spot between autonomy and micro-management. Gain insights into the value of regular check-ins with team members, the leadership style that is successful in sales, the characteristics of a true leader, and much more! Join us as we uncover the keys to becoming a more effective sales leader and learn how to turn these common mistakes into stepping stones for success.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The importance of setting clear expectations and communicating effectively.
• What role certainty plays in sales and why it’s vital for the success of sales teams.
• How setting reasonable and achievable goals keeps your sales team motivated.
• Key differences between setting sales targets and sales standards.
• Common pitfalls leaders should avoid when creating a work environment.
• Tips for dealing with team members who are not hitting their sales targets.
• When to be a coach and when to be a manager as a sales leader.
• Strategies for balancing team autonomy with management outcomes.
• The type of environment a servant leader fosters compared to a traditional leader.
• Final takeaways and how to start becoming a better leader today!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Outwitting the Devil

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

We make decisions all the time. Are you conscious of the ones you’re making? During this episode, we are joined by Focusologist Penny Zenker, a captivating public speaker, business strategy coach, and best-selling author. Her work has been featured on NBC News, Forbes, ESPN, and more, and today she joins us to share her insights on the psychology of productivity and focus. Penny’s story begins with a tragic event at the age of 19, and she talks about the turning point that this created in her life, totally transforming her relationship to meaning, control, and making the most of her one precious life. Diving into the content of her TED Talk, she distinguishes between positivity and intentionality, before sharing insights on productivity from her book, The Productivity Zone. Penny gets real about her own relationship to focus, and how she reels in her tendency to say yes to everything before unpacking her thoughtful delegation strategy. We discuss what it might look like to shed the all-or-nothing approach to delegation and hiring by really understanding the value of your time, and how to set priorities according to Penny’s two-quadrant theory. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear how Penny makes the complex simple, through her memorable, accessible approach.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Background on guest Penny Zenker, author, public speaker, and productivity specialist.
• The story behind the moniker, ‘the Focusologist’.
• How Penny first became interested in the work she specializes in today.
• Finding meaning in her father’s death when she was 19.
• The semester abroad that she spent at JP Morgan.
• Asking the question, “What else could this mean?”.
• Her role at Tony Robbins and how being rejected for speaking sparked a new journey.
• More on her TED Talk, The Energy of Thought.
• Distinguishing between positivity and intentionality.
• Becoming conscious of the decisions we are making.
• Insights from her book, The Productivity Zone, on barriers to productivity.
• Three things that support getting into the zone as a high achiever
• Examples of how Penny resets and approaches her tendency to say yes to everything.
• How failing to delegate can sabotage productivity, especially as a leader.
• Challenging yourself to ask questions about where you are most effective and where you can let go.
• Penny’s thoughts on hiring others and understanding the value of your time.
• Setting the necessary criteria to set priorities.
• Becoming more dynamic in changing the way that we do things.
• Where to pre-order The Reset Mindset.
• Why her approach to focus is different: it’s simple, accessible, sticky language.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Penny Zenker

Penny Zenker on X
Penny Zenker on LinkedIn

Penny Zenker’s TEDx Talk

The Reset Mindset

The Productivity Zone

Tony Robbins

Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

Empire Partners

Empire Academy

The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes