Michael de Groot on the Business Infrastructure Podcast

Are you tired of pouring time and money into marketing efforts that just don’t connect with your audience? Have you been told to simply “tell a good story” but still aren’t seeing the sales boost you were hoping for? It’s time to discover the power of strategic storytelling.

Our next featured small business advisor is Michael de Groot, the Chief Storyteller at Staying Alive UK. As Dutchman born living in the UK and born to an Anglo-Indian mother, he has quite the story to tell himself as he starts off by revealing his journey from the textile industry to video production.

In this episode, Michael shares tips to:

Uncover the vital role of an enthralling business story in attracting and retaining customers,

Tap into emotional connections for authentic, captivating stories that audiences will love, and

Create impactful marketing videos that zero in on customer concerns and drive engagement.

He also walks us through his 13-step process for crafting a perfect business story. It involves several essential elements such as understanding your clients’ needs, identifying emotional drivers, and selecting an appropriate narrative structure. The process enables you to create a customized, memorable, and impactful story that resonates with existing customers and converts leads into new customers.

Discover the art of storytelling and why you should avoid advertisements if you want to make meaningful connections with your customers!

RESOURCES

Books:

Why Is Storytelling So Important?: download Michael’s free e-book.

The Hero’s Journey: a book by Joseph Campbell.

Websites:

Staying Alive UK: the main website of Michael’s company.

Michael’s Storytelling Online Workshop Replay: an online workshop that will give you the foundation for bringing your business story alive in everything you create online and offline.

Storytelling on LinkedIn: Michael’s online course, available on Udemy.

Connect with Michael: access a full, curated list of other resources from Michael, including his social media profiles, bio, and his special interests in pickleball and taiko drumming!

Originally published via: https://www.eqbsystems.com/podcast/253-small-business-advisors-crafting-the-perfect-business-story-with-michael-de-groot/

Alicia Butler Pierre - Business Infrastructure

Alicia Butler Pierre is on a quest to revolutionize the way small businesses operate. She does that by speaking, coaching, writing, lecturing, and podcasting. She is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc. and the bestselling author of *Behind the Façade*, the world’s first published book on business infrastructure. She hosts the weekly *Business Infrastructure* podcast, which ranks in the world’s top 2%. She’s an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and Operations Management at Nichols College. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s advised, designed, and optimized processes for organizations including Coca-Cola, Shell Oil, The Library of Congress, and The Home Depot.

Websites: https://aliciabutlerpierre.com - https://eqbsystems.com
Podcast: https://businessinfrastructure.tv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciabutlerpierre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alicia_B_Pierre
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Alicia_B_Pierre
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliciaButlerPierre
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alicia-Butler-Pierre/e/B07JJNF5X8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EquilibriaInc
Free Resources: https://linktr.ee/alicia_b_pierre

Sandra Adeyeye Bello - The Different Woman

Sandra Adeyeye Bello AKA The Different Woman is a theatre and media practitioner with over 12 years of media experience from the print to radio and screen. She has been there and seen it all. She is a writer, content developer and also a social entrepreneur.

Sandra is a mental wellness advocate that's why she founded The Different Woman Network to help merge her career in media and passion for gender advocacy.

The Different Woman Network, a multimedia production and events coordination agency based in Abuja, Nigeria.

A social enterprise with over twelve (12) years of media experience in idea generation, script and content writing, video production and consultation, content creation and development, event coordination and management etc.

We create original and commercial audio-visual productions with humanised experiences through storytelling for better understanding of our themes and agendas. We also plan exciting and impactful recreational activities for Nigerian families all year round.

The Different Woman Network therefore promotes the concepts of diversity, inclusion, gender equality and equity. Our desire is to create impactful community engagements and entertainment that promotes mind wellness and empowerment for women.

Website: https://www.tdwnmedia.xyz
YouTube: https://youtube.com/tdwnmedia
The Different Woman TV: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDifferentWoman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdwnmedia
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tdwnmedia & https://www.instagram.com/thedifferentwoman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tdwnmedia

Hazel June - Online Course Creator

Hey, I'm Hazel June - Nice To Meet You!
I‘m a certified Potterhead but Hogwarts wasn’t hiring so I decided to help muggles instead. I have no talent in Potions and I certainly don‘t have a knack in Transfiguration or an inclination to the Dark Arts…

So l decided to focus on what I love – training & education.

I was always told to finish college and get a job to be successful. But after over a decade of working in corporate, I felt trapped – very far from feeling successful. I was earning a good amount of money that gave us a comfortable life but that didn’t give me the flexibility on work hours. I missed so much of my son‘s childhood because of work. So when the opportunity came for me to work from anywhere, I grabbed it. Constantly learning and acquiring the skills that allowed me to help my clients ultimately gave me the freedom that I was looking for. As a Corporate Trainer turned Online Course Strategist, I’ve been helping multiple clients convert their expertise into a profitable digital course.

Website: www.hazeljune.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amhazeljune
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amhazeljune
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhazeljune

Philip Steventon - The Neurodivergent Lawyer and Content Creator

Hello, I'm Phil.

I am an #ActuallyAutistic (and #ProbablyADHD) aspiring lawyer, content creator, writer, speaker, and workplace neurodiversity inclusion consultant.

I love to talk about and engage in all things law and the legal sphere, particularly around Employment law, disability inclusion, autism, ADHD, and wider neurodiversity including meaningful inclusion in workplaces and learning how other neurodivergents can leverage their own strengths and abilities to make work and life work for them and for us all!

Over the last 5 years, I have gained experience and expertise in a range of practice areas including Employment law, Commercial Property, Debt Recovery, Corporate law and Litigation, and developed my skills in drafting documents and agreements, research, giving commercial advice, clear communication, and community building in the legal community.

I write articles and blogs and create content for my own platform The Neurodivergent Lawyer, for LawCareers.net, and for anyone else who wants to hear from me and share my experiences and my knowledge around law and neurodivergence.

In 2022 I worked with a handful of public organisations and institutions to assess their face-to-face and virtual interview and application processes and recommend things they can do to make these processes more inclusive of neurodivergent staff, clients and members of the public. The delegates and representatives from these organisations came away with a greater understanding of the autistic and neurodivergent experience and have been implementing my recommendations for the benefit of their staff, clients and the wider public.

For my articles published by LawCareers.net, please see here:
https://www.lawcareers.net/Explore/Blog/Phil-Steventon

For my own content published through my own website, please see below:

Website: https://philjsteventon46.wixsite.com/neurodivergentlawyer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-steventon-mcilex-aa148a55
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philjstev89 and https://www.instagram.com/neurodivergentlawyer

Mark Drager - Brand and Positioning Expert, Podcaster and Storyteller

Mark founded his creative production company in 2006, grew it to a little over $2mm in annual revenue, and then slowly watched as it all crumbled around him.  Through the hard lessons learned and working to not make the same mistakes twice, today Phanta Media focuses less on growth and “keeping the machine fed” and more on doing extraordinary work with really cool people.

As a brand strategist, Mark also understands the need to be courageous and has developed a killer process that can help you make your next courageous move.

Website: https://www.markdrager.com
Podcast: https://www.markdrager.com/we-do-hard-things-podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark.drager
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkDrager
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdrager
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark.drager

Alexis Kingsbury - Co-founder AirManual, Spidergap and Bridging Insight

Alexis is an award-winning entrepreneur, with over 10 years of experience, currently running two SaaS businesses (AirManual and Spidergap) with a remote & global team, and supports others as a board member or consultant including well known companies like Sony PlayStation.

In the last few years, Alexis has worked with 100s of business leaders to help save them 1,000s of hours of their time each year and unlock their business’ growth. He’s been sharing his findings, and it’s had a huge impact on many businesses. For example, Alexis won the ‘Most valued content’ award in 2021 for his workshop at Dan Bradbury’s Success Mastermind (a community of 60+ small business owners), which led to over 30 business owners adopting the tools and processes recommended.

Alexis is a husband, and dad of two, and is passionate about balancing work alongside family life (and makes sure his team does too!) He also enjoys craft beer, whisky, skiing, skateboarding, dancing, gaming, golf, touch rugby and squash.

Airmanual: https://www.airmanual.co
Spidergap: https://www.spidergap.com
Podcast: https://www.airmanual.co/podcasts/de-stress-your-business
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkingsbury
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexis.kingsbury
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alexiskingsbury

Anze Tominsek - My Last Joint

Hey, Anze here, an ex-stoner and a future authority figure in the field of marijuana addiction. I know, bold statement. But hear me out.

I’ve spent majority of my 20s getting high and escaping reality. Now I want to spend my lifetime helping others quit and seize new opportunities.

This year I have talked with over 1000 people struggling to quit. I also helped few of them. I started a podcast, opened a community and introduced a digital program. But I’m really just starting.

August 2022 was my 2 years anniversary being marijuana free. To celebrate, I did something special. I sat down and asked myself “what would I do if I had to do it all over again?”.

Website: https://mylastjoint.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anzetominsek
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-last-joint/id1599048403

Erika Zeigyte - Founder and Remote Teams Expert - Prosana

I’m a Neuroscientist! The brain has always interested me, and somehow along the line I transitioned into Marketing and Business development and have been enjoying every moment of it.

I started working with a digital marketing agency over three years ago (I was one of the first few team members!) and have helped to build the operations and talent from the ground up, from 3 people to 85 at its peak.

My interest has always been in education, and I always leaned towards the side of strategy rather than execution, and I wanted to take my knowledge and skills to help other eCommerce and digital agencies achieve high-performing back-end operations so that they can grow and develop into scaling businesses.

Out of all of this, I founded a company called Prosana (consisting of 5 team members and myself), to provide all of these services to those startups. In the beginning, we were focusing on operations, but I saw that the need was far greater, so my consultation expanded into more areas and new services (We also offer recruitment now!)

Website: https://theprosana.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-zeigyte
LinkedIn Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-prosana
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezeigh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeigyte

Arti Kumar-Jain - Diya Holistic Life Care

Arti Kumar-Jain, Executive Director, is passionate in providing quality care and accessibility through the lifespan. She has over twenty years of experience in the education and mental health settings.

Arti also is the Founding Director of Love & Light 4 Kidz LLC which provides parent, child, family coaching through contract services and support. Arti is a Certified Health Coach, Certified Holistic Cancer Coach, Certified Professional Coach, Death Doula, Master Reiki Teacher and Holistic Health Practitioner. She also is a Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher and facilitates workshops with inclusion of guided relaxation and ways to build positivity in one’s work environment.

Arti believes in collaboration in partnerships and is currently the Transformative Education Coordinator for Pause Inc. located in Boston, Massachusetts. As a strategic alliance partner, the Founder and CEO of Pause Inc. Dahria Williams-Fernandes and Arti believe in education and advocacy to make shifts and change in individual, family, community, and global ways. Arti is also a Reiki Ambassador with the Reiki Healing Foundation and attributes much of the vision behind Diya to this organization. Arti as a Holistic Wellness Practitioner finds looking at the person’s mental, physical, and spiritual health is key to the happiness quotient we all hope to lead.

Arti believes wholeheartedly in the ability of the person to create their best lives with a safe and comfortable space where alternative healing methods are engaged and activated. Through empathetic listening and compassion, Arti facilitates conversations and alternative health practices to provide comprehensive services through the lifespan.

Experienced Presenter, Consultant, and Mental Health professional with a demonstrated history of working in the professional training & coaching industry. Skilled in Early Childhood Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Child Development, and Career Counseling. Strong media and communication professional with a Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in Community Counseling from Marymount University.

How Diya came to be?
Diya which means “Light” in Hindi came to be out of the vision of the written word of Arti’s mom. When Arti’s mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in the winter of 2018, Arti began to focus on cancer support, wellness, nutrition and everything to help support her mom. When Arti’s mom passed in the summer of 2019, Arti found her mom’s Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu scripture. There on a piece of paper, Arti found the life stages written down by whom she referred to as “Mummy”. Arti took a look and a few weeks later with her intuition, timing, and Reiki she realized that her mummy was calling to service the life stages through Diya Holistic Life Care and the rest is history in the creation..vision.. And mission. Arti realized in her grief journey she was called upon to do this work as a legacy project and tribute to her parents, ancestors, and those lives that she encounters. The Diya to Arti and team symbolizes being held to carry and light our lives up. Diya’s dedication comes from providing care to lead our best lives possible and to evolve in better health and wellness.

Diya as a Legacy Project
Diya Holistic Life Care is Arti’s family of origin legacy project. A legacy project is something you create or an activity you do to honor the life of a loved one. With the passing of Arti’s mom and reflecting on her Papa’s death as well, Arti realized her purpose in life is to serve through the transitions of life. Arti realized that great success comes from being supported, heard, and validated and that is exactly what Diya was designed to do.

Website: https://diyaholisticlifecare.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artikumarjain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diyaholisticlifecare
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diyaholisticlifecare
Podcast - Pause: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm6TdLr7mlYWv3jyr1dQUl6ZglYgD59lP
Dare to be Authentic Vol. 6: Finding Your Purpose: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09BY815GB

David Avrin - Customer Experience Keynote Speaker

One of the most in-demand Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the world today, David Avrin, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow, has shared his content-rich, entertaining and actionable presentations with enthusiastic audiences across North America and in 24 countries around the world. David helps organizations better understand and connect with their changing customers and clients to help future-proof their businesses. 

David's insights have been featured on thousands of media outlets around the world.

He is also the author of five books including the acclaimed: It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You!, Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back) and his newest book: The Morning Huddle -- Powerful Customer Experience Conversations to Wake You Up, Shake You Up, and Win More Business. 

The ideal opening keynote speaker
Kickoff your meeting or conference with a bang! As your opening keynote speaker, platform pro David Avrin sets the stage for profound learning and meaningful engagement with his thought-provoking content delivered with an entertaining, energetic, and humorous style. David will provide both the content and context for your audience to help set the stage for all the learning and connections to come!

A memorable closing keynote speaker
As a powerful closing Keynote speaker, David Avrin will reinforce the learning and value received by your conference participants, while challenging them to forgo ingrained behaviors and think beyond the traditional business mindset. With the right mix of humor and energy to keep audiences engaged and in their seats, participants will stay until the end and leave with a smile on their face, along with a clear idea of what’s next and how to get there.

Website: https://davidavrin.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidavrin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdavidavrin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidAvrinFans
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtH4DdaOhbturnA9OI80kPw
Podcast: https://www.davidavrin.com/podcast

Kate Strong - World Champion Triathlete, Plant-Based Adventurer, Coach and Consultant, Strong Voice Podcast

Kate Strong leads by example when it comes to peak performance whether that’s climbing Mont Blanc, developing a sustainable business with a global reach or breaking 3 cycling world records. She is a widely sought after coach, enabling individuals and teams to redefine what’s possible and introduce flow into their daily way of being.

Kate has lived and travelled all over the globe, earning a double Masters in Engineering while living in France & Italy, She’s set up micro businesses in indigenous communities in Central America & Asia as well as founding a hospitality business in Australia. It was during her time in Australia that she discovered triathlon. Within 14 months of taking up the sport, she was crowned age-group World Champion and later went on to break 3 cycling world records.

She has faced her fair share of difficulties along the way, from being trapped in a toxic relationship to working herself out of the million-dollar debt her ex left her. However, she is not defined by these challenges and she uses these darker days to fuel her to always striving to be the best version of herself.

In 2023, Kate is planning to cycle 3,000 miles around the coast of UK, planting 3,000 trees along the way and raising awareness of the importance to protect our global health.

Website: http://www.katestrong.global
Tour de Wales: https://katestrong.global/tour-de-wales
Challenge 3000: https://katestrong.global/challenge3000
Podcast: http://www.katestrong.global/podcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katestrong01
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katestrong01
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/katestrongTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateStrong01

Andrew Miller - Business Enjoyment, Multiple Author and International Speaker

A qualified insolvency practitioner, Andrew spent 16 years in the Restructuring department of the global accountancy firm, KPMG, as well as being seconded to Barclays Bank's insolvency unit.

Taking on leadership roles highlighted to Andrew a passion and flair for working with individuals and the issues that affect them at a personal level. Through working with company owners who were in the process of losing everything, he became acutely aware of the emotional connection that exists between a business and its owner, something that is not always recognised or appreciated.

Andrew believes that 'you', 'your environment' and the interaction between the two should be looked at as a whole, rather than in isolation. Andrew works with business owners and their team to get all three areas right – which then allows you to truly enjoy what you do on a day to day basis.

Andrew has worked for himself for over 10 years in which time he has written eight books, won numerous awards and was also invited to be a policy advisor to the government around business failure.

He has been with his wife for over 26 years and loves what he does.

Website: www.businessenjoyment.com
TEDx Talk: https://andrewmiller.groovepages.com/tedx/mtjm
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrmiller
Facebook:
Personal: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.miller.359
Business: https://www.facebook.com/BusinessEnjoyment
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpXIUc8iRjfJ_z4UlIEfpQA
Business Enjoyment Podcast – The Tingle Zone: www.bit.ly/tinglezone
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B07VNYN6J9

Bibliography:

Hope Won't Pay the Wages
How to deal with the personal impact of a struggling business
(Winner - Business Game Changer Magazine Editor's Choice: Top Three Books of 2020)

Successful Startups
Get going. Stay going.

The Successful Business Owner's Guide to Reducing Stress
How to avoid these 13 common pitfalls

Multiply Your Success (with Phil Grundell)
245 Proven Ways to Take You to the Next Level

MLM Revisited
How to Fall Back in Love with Your Network Marketing Business

More Than Just Money
An Introduction to the Business Enjoyment Model

Transforming Your Life III (Various Authors and Sai Blackbyrn)
20 Incredible Stories Showing the Strenght of the Human Spirit
(International Bestseller in 11 Countries)

At The Sharp End (Various Authors and David Norrington)
Advice and Tips from Small Businesses

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B07VNYN6J9

Traci Neal - Writer, Speaker and Poet

Traci Neal lives in the United States as a performing poet and professional writer. She is featured in The New York Times, Storyberries, Sheen Magazine, and InspireMore to name a few. She is the third place 2022 poetry winner in the United Kingdom Thalassemia Society for their Global Arts and Poetry Competition, the 2022 poetry winner of Empowering Justice Foundation Poetry Contest, the third-place 2022 State Winner of the SCCDA Poetry and Art Contest, and the 2021 second-place winner of the virtual poetry slam "Taking It Global" in Toronto, Canada.

To the Editor (New York Times) - April 17, 2021:
Imagine a young, Black, Southern teenage girl in middle school with thick glasses. This girl wants to do so well in school. She wishes she were popular. She desires to have more friends and be liked. She loves to read. She loves poetry. This girl was me.
I have one philosophy. In my teenage years and now in adulthood, I have believed that rejection motivates reach. Poetry would become my outlet in life. In high school, college and adulthood, rejection would follow me constantly. Still, it became my motivation to reach out to the hurting, helpless and those hungry for hope.
Rejection pushes poetry out of me. Poetry propels me to release my pain. Rejection motivates me to never give up. I think we all have felt rejection at some point in our lives. Let rejection be your motivation to reach.

Traci Neal
Columbia, S.C.

Website: https://www.tracinealspeakerpoet.com
Thank you: https://www.tracinealspeakerpoet.com/thank-you-blogs-articles
Poets & Writers: https://www.pw.org/directory/writers/traci_neal

Sam Mitchell - Podcaster, TEDx Speaker, Blogger, International Speaker

Envision yourself as a person who has a bright future, but then get diagnosed with autism at a young age, and you develop a lack of conversational skills when one of the requirements in society is discussing with someone.

Now, I do not converse with any male or female easily because I have the tendency to talk about what I only want to, and it leads people the wrong way. I have never been able to figure out the reason, but at the end of the day, I brush the dust off, and I reclaim my territory.

My voice is an attribute even though society may not agree. I have myself and others who would disagree with most of the human population. Each day before I go to bed I make sure that I lit my torch to know that I am here as well, so why are you not letting me in while giving me a chance at my redemption?

When I am conversing with someone, the person who saves me from fainting is me. The reason is no one knows how I talk to someone one hundred percent as I go off-topic too much along with coming across as selfish by not sharing thoughts with others. While I like to converse with my family and peers, it is damp and causes too much anxiety and depression to where I have to tiptoe on my feet.

There have been people who I feel more comfortable speaking to than others, but it will never be full-fledged comfortable. This will always be an almost mature and comfortable mood. However, I would not wish to change my conversing skills. If I had one wishing star come down, it would certainly not be that. I have so much to say that fire would eventually come out of my breath. I always wonder if others care about my thoughts, which has led me to not care about people who have not listened to my thoughts. Furthermore, I know I am a relevant human being and that is the only opinion that matters to me.

You can debate whether this could be me being a jerk or not? I am only just feeding you accurate information. The decision and the rest are up to you. My enemies have made me stronger so if you choose to not like me and throw me off the cliff, then go ahead, but my friend, you are wasting your time because you cannot start drama or make me feel bad about myself. I have been through too much to not have my life puzzled together. You once did push me, but I have officially resurrected and no matter what, I will keep coming back. Instead of saying stop drop and roll, we should say listen, open your ears, and include.

I am no longer a hidden gem. I am the gem for others who need my voice and others who just want a direction. Additionally, I’ve been shot in the head too many times while conversing, and I am now bulletproof to the negativity during a conversation. Each person has been manipulated into the negatives and their fifty-percent right when it comes to skills we do not understand or topics that we consider trivial. However, put us in our element, and it will become a different ball game.

We can converse with you like anyone else when it comes to our knowledge that we just want to share with the planet. It is time for everybody to become more open-minded when it comes to autistic people conversing. Instead of looking at autistic people blabbing as a foreign language, it is now time for us to see the rise of the Sun while others give us the undivided attention that we so desperately need for the world to hear us. Now let’s envision an autistic person who lacks conversational skills again.

The one thing I hope you took from this is that you know society puts pressure on people on the spectrum as they must converse with the human species and I do not think society will fully understand. They could always be a problem in the future, but let me ask this: Why can’t you become part of the solution?

Website: http://autismrocksandrolls.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismrocksandrollspod
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/229025325159144
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamMitc95075321
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammitchell100
TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/9qOVY7YI-Rw

John Leister - Self-Published Author and Creator of The JohnnyVerse

I'm fifty-six and I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. About three years ago, I hit emotional-bottom and reached out to God. Since then, my life has changed in the following ways:

• I'm no longer addicted to sugar.

• My weight has gone from 235 lbs. to 170 lbs.

• I work-out regularly: weight-lifting, yoga and daily, long walks.

• I post videos of myself working out on my Facebook page. I'm not shy.

Most importantly, I've been pursuing my dream of becoming a professional writer of creative fiction with more passion than ever before. For me, at least. Now? I have over eighty books on-line. If you Google Indigo Books and search John Leister, you can check them out. I would be more than happy to send you one.

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/contributor/author/john-leister
https://www.facebook.com/john.leister.5
https://www.facebook.com/groups/497054801130251
https://bookgoodies.com/interview-with-author-john-leister

Useful resources shared by John during his interview:
https://www.draft2digital.com
https://www.postermywall.com

Faris Aranki - Strategy and Emotional Intelligence

Having spent over 20 years delivering strategic change for the corporate and non-corporate worlds, Faris has experienced first-hand the fine differences between strategic success and failure.

His work has spanned numerous companies (from global behemoths to small start-ups), in numerous countries, across a range of sectors, supporting them all to unlock strategic success. 

He came to realise that often what hinders institutions from achieving their goals goes beyond the quality of their strategy; it is their ability to engage effectively with others at all levels and remove barriers in their way. This has led to his passion for improving strategic effectiveness within all businesses and individuals and the foundation of Shiageto Consulting.

Over time, Faris has worked to distil his knowledge of how to solve complex problems in a structured manner combined with his skill on engaging effectively with others and his ability to quickly determine the barriers to a strategy's success. This knowledge has formed the foundation of Shiageto’s workshops, courses and methodologies. Faris believes that any firm or team can adopt these improvements; all it requires is a little of the right support - something Shiageto provides!

On top of leading our business, Faris is now an accomplished speaker and contributor for a variety of outlets.

Website: http://www.shiageto.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaranki
Medium: https://farisaranki.medium.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farisaranki
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shiageto
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi9pqTZluGFRE01GDg3TsDA

Sarah Ross - Your Reason to Breathe

Sarah Ross, Founder of “Your Reason to Breathe”, helps stressed executives and entrepreneurs to beat the burnout cycle by finding their own “Reason to Breathe” and building their life around it.
After burning out in the corporate world and planning to take her own life, a dying orphan in a Vietnamese orphanage showed Sarah that she had more to give by using her own story to help others.
Her mission is to make sure that no-one who is burning out ever feels like ending their life is their only choice. She speaks, coaches and mentors on how to reset, recharge and thrive after burnout using her signature models “The B.R.E.A.T.H.E Model ” and “Priority Happy”.

Website: http://www.yourreasontobreathe.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/thesarahross
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourreasontobreathe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourReasonToBreathe

Clinton Young - Global Courage Speaker, Pickleball Coach, Pro Commentator, Founder of Pickleball 4 Life

As a Globally Renowned Courage Speaker and Mentor, Clinton’s work centers around inspiring and enabling the courage and confidence to unlock your God given potential. 

An experience of failure in 2008 shattered his confidence but awakened his soul. It set him on a spiritual path that led him to his purpose of “Re-Igniting the Human Spirit”. 

He’s recently spoken to over 50,000 people across North America and Europe, and was recognised by Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global as a “Top 12 Speaker to Inspire You”. 

In 2020, Clinton discovered Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in America. He was hooked not only for the fun of it, but also because it shattered a limiting belief he held for 20 years that he could ever be competitive again in sports after several knee surgeries earlier in life. With a renewed sense of confidence, Clinton became a PPR certified Pickleball Coach, founded Pickleball 4 Life, and started teaching this great sport because of its ability to inspire life and improve one's self esteem. 

On a mission to uplift humanity, he’s now traveling the US in his RV with his wife, leading Pickleball inspired events for corporations, schools, and charities to inspire mental, emotional, and physical well-being in our communities. 

Clinton believes that Pickleball is more than just a sport. It's a catalyst for positive change!

You can see him on stages and Pickleball courts across the US by visiting www.ClintonYoung.com and www.Pickleball4Life.org, and by following him on Instagram and Facebook at @ClintonSpeaks and @ClubFreedomLive. #Pickleball4Life

Website: https://clintonyoung.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintonyoung
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clintonspeaks + https://www.instagram.com/clubfreedomlive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClintonSpeaks + https://www.facebook.com/groups/clubfreedomlive
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClintonAYoung
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrClintonYoung

Speaking & Coaching Inquiries
www.ClintonYoung.com
@ClintonSpeaks on Instagram and Facebook

Follow RV and Pickleball Journey
www.Pickleball4Life.org
@ClubFreedomLive on Instagram and Facebook

Tim Kellis - Happy Relationships

Finally, the breakthrough you have been looking for. In this groundbreaking book Wall Street analyst and author Tim Kellis takes you on a journey through time to not only help you discover yourself but understand how to build and keep a lifelong happy, healthy, harmonious, loving, affectionate, intimate marriage. Not only will you learn how to build a positive relationship, what turns that relationship negative but how to change the course of the negative relationship back to where you were at the beginning, back when your life changed forever.

Most importantly, you will learn the greatest lesson, and that is why, why should two people who fall in love and decide to spend the rest of their lives together learn to build a loving home. Unfortunately, as society has developed we have lost our way in the most important part of each of our lives, our families. Just because we have a 50% divorce rate doesn’t mean that we should sit back while countless families go through one of the most painful experiences imaginable.

Renowned Wall Street analyst Tim Kellis takes on what could be considered society’s biggest problem today, divorce. The journey that led him to tackle such a significant issue was both personal and professional.

After a successful career that eventually landed him on Wall Street as the first semiconductor analyst to focus on the communications market Tim met what he thought was the girl of his dreams, only to see his relationship end with bitterness and anger. The journey included working with a marital therapist, and after he realized the therapist wasn’t really helping decided to tackle the issue himself.

The journey you are about to embark includes a trip through history, where the most significant lessons civilization has learned over the last few thousand years are used to demonstrate not only the way to set up a positive relationship, but the causes of that relationship turning negative.

Additionally, Tim dives into the science of psychology to answer the most basic question anyone asks who goes through the pain of divorce, “why didn’t we work out”?

The basic premise of the book is that we have a 50% divorce rate yet there doesn’t appear to be anything happening to help solve this problem. Just because divorce has become a significant part of our culture doesn’t mean we should simply sit back while countless families suffer through the agony of splitting up.

The toll to society tomorrow because of our culture of divorce today is impossible to determine but future generations will have to deal with this change to the culture that has occurred over the last two generations.

For the first time in history Tim will elaborate on a psychological solution to our psychological problems so that couples can learn how to change the direction of their negative relationships. In essence, the psychological objective is to understand what happens mentally between two people who make one of the most important decisions of their lives, to get married.

The objective of this book is to provide real, logical help to couples so that they can learn how to stay out of the divorce trap. Good luck on your journey as you learn how to set up your relationship so that you can maintain a happy, healthy, harmonious, loving, affectionate, intimate marriage.

Book US: https://www.amazon.com/Equality-Quest-Happy-Marriage-Relationships-ebook/dp/B001NMTCWQ
Book UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Equality-Quest-Happy-Marriage-Relationships-ebook/dp/B001NMTCWQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timkellis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timkellis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/timkellis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tim.kellis
The Marriage Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HappyRelationship
Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/@timkellis
Tim Kellis on Lifetime's The Balancing Act: https://youtu.be/RMVBSXcEBqU