SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 13

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to helping you move from being an option to being the preferred choice in your industry.

If you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or a professional, you know the market is saturated. The only thing that truly differentiates you isn't your product; it’s your story. How clearly you tell it determines your entire ceiling for growth. That’s why I am thrilled to welcome a man who is the master architect behind some of the world's most influential narratives. Our guest today is Bill Blankschaen, the founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders.

Bill is a New York Times Bestselling writer, and his work impacts millions. His client roster reads like a masterclass in influence: we’re talking John C. Maxwell, Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank, Michael Hyatt, Zig Ziglar's family, and countless corporate leaders and successful business coaches. They all go to Bill to refine the single most valuable asset they have: their narrative.

Bill and his team craft books and learning experiences that turn ideas into greater impact, greater influence, and significantly greater income.

He’s here today to discuss the roadmap laid out in his new book, Your Story Advantage: A Proven Path to Maximize Your Impact, Influence, & Income. Join me for my conversation with Bill Blankschaen.

Guest Bio:

Bill is the founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders, a creative team of storytellers who share his passion for helping people live a story worth telling and serving them with excellence in genuine, high-trust relationships.

StoryBuilders tells stories that make the world a better place by creating compelling books and learning experiences that turn ideas into greater impact, influence, and income.

A New York Times Bestselling writer, Bill and his team work with a variety of influencers like John C. Maxwell and Maxwell Leadership, Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank, Lewis Howes, Michael Hyatt (Full Focus), Rory and AJ Vaden, Zig Ziglar and family, Jeff Allen, Stu McLaren, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, business coaches and consultants, political figures, cultural voices, athletes, comedians, fitness gurus, psychologists, and even faith leaders at some of the largest churches in America.

The books, resources, and experiences they have created have already impacted millions of people—and they’re just getting started!

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://mystorybuilders.com/
2. Product Link: https://amzn.to/47JMfiy

Insight Gold Timestamps:

02:27 I can sit down and blow through a book in a matter of hours

04:49 Your breakthrough begins when you start with your story

07:02 That's why I like to lean into what I created called the storytelling structure

08:45 Your message, whatever it is that you're sharing, is about you, but it is not for you

10:10 We like to say that we tell stories that make the world a better place

10:40 As I like to say, if you want to elevate, you have to collaborate

12:59 I call it the confidence trap

16:48 Once you get clarity, then develop it out, and then monetize it from there

18:21 The amount of information in the world is doubling every day now

20:44 What's a typical, average process?

22:23 We believe every story matters, and every story is different and unique

23:41 The very first question I ask any of these people that we work with...

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast where we talk to the leaders and visionaries who refuse to settle for 'good enough.' Today, we’re tackling a psychological trap that captures thousands of high-performing professionals every single year. It’s called 'The Dependence Dilemma'. That invisible ceiling of financial obligations and the false sense of security that keeps brilliant people stuck in survival mode.

Our guest today is a man who didn't just break that ceiling; he shattered it. He started in the classroom as a high school math teacher, crunching numbers just to make ends meet. But he decided to stop playing it safe and started playing it big.

That shift led him to found a direct sales empire that has cleared over a billion dollars in global sales. He is a world-renowned philanthropist, a cancer survivor who turned his battle into a multi-million-dollar research mission, and the author of the transformative new book, Life of Your Dreams.

He’s here to show us that the gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't a matter of luck—it’s a matter of mindset and seven specific, transformative steps. Join me for my conversation with Mark Pentecost.

Guest Bio:

Mark Pentecost went from being a high school teacher to becoming a billionaire, a nationally-recognized philanthropist, and a world-renowned thought leader.

From founding a direct sales company that has surpassed over a billion dollars in sales globally, to surviving cancer (and donating millions of dollars toward cancer research along the way), Mark knows just how precious life is and has dedicated his own life to helping other people achieve their dreams.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://pentecostgroup.com/our-story/
2. Product Link: https://pentecostgroup.com/life-of-your-dreams-book/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

01:50 In your new book, Life of Your Dreams

03:04 I was one of those guys always reading a book

05:29 He said, if you don't do something different, in 20 years, you're going to be doing the same thing with the same issues

08:19 My daughter had come and said, D ad, we've got to tell your story

11:18 I didn't know I was an entrepreneur until later in life

12:55 If you're not happy then nobody around you is happy

16:41 He (my grandpa) would say, Mark, you can't force a horse to drink, but you can salt the oats

17:11 I have a whole chapter on Say It and See it

19:22 Being a CEO was like a head coach

21:01 I decided to live on the offence, and that changed everything

23:33 I would start naming our issues

25:00 I realized sometimes my greatest strength was my greatest weakness

27:39 Do you have a rudder on your ship or is the wind just blowing you wherever you go?

29:37 My point today is if you really want something, there's ways to do it

29:55 in the book, I call it Grit-Q. What is, I don't care about your IQ, what's your Grit-Q?

30:58 I think dreaming is like a muscle, the more you dream, the bigger it gets

33:17 Life's full of pivots

34:50 I always say the dream you're most proud, is the one you're afraid to say out loud

36:12 You know, the scariest day and the best day of my life was the day I...

SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 11

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast that arms you with the strategies to stop chasing and start attracting your ideal clients! I’m your host, Michael Vickers, and if you're a business professional or entrepreneur, you know the struggle: you have an incredible service, but cutting through the noise to establish yourself as the trusted authority feels impossible.

Today, we are tackling the single most powerful B2B platform: LinkedIn. It’s time to stop using your profile as a dusty online resume and start transforming it into a definitive lead generation engine. Our guest and his team have cracked the code on building genuine authority and measurable revenue through a high-conversion LinkedIn strategy. He's here to share the secrets to becoming the preferred provider in your niche.

We’re diving into everything: from the critical shift your profile must make, to the high-converting framework for direct messaging, and Shay's simple, actionable advice you can implement today.

Get ready to take notes, because this episode is how you master the art of B2B LinkedIn. Join me for my conversation with Shay Thieberg!

Guest Bio:

Shay is the Co-Founder of MAIA Digital - a LinkedIn Marketing Agency. Specializing in LinkedIn marketing, Shay holds a Masters degree in Social Psychology & Decision-Making. Shay is among 30 Global LinkedIn Certified Experts and Faculty members at Reichmann University where he teaches “B2B Marketing for Tech”.

Resource Links:

1. Website: https://team-maia.com/
2. Product Link: https://team-maia.com/b2b-linkedin-strategy/

Insight Gold Timestamps:

03:31 That was a lesson that I learned by myself that I can control my own life and path

05:21 My ADHD is my superpower

07:43 LinkedIn picked me

10:07 So, we're calling it the LinkedIn trifecta

11:33 The only thing that I did is post valuable insightful tips, hacks, and content for people to be able to use

17:16 I'm calling it T to B: Trust to Business

18:43 He wrote the post, I'm riding his wave, but I'm writing a thoughtful comment

23:00 I built a program that analyzes your entire LinkedIn analytics

24:37 And it's got to be authentic and you've got to be transparent with it

25:58 Stop thinking about posting content and start thinking about sharing your thoughts

28:58 I'm also a certified psychologist

34:36 People want to purchase, they don't want to be sold

38:10 The main two mistakes that people actually do...

39:21 Try to diversify your content because eventually people buy from people

41:17 I'm measuring my LinkedIn success, my ROL (Return On LinkedIn) by the amount of messages that I'm getting in my inbox

46:30 The website is team-maia.com

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-thieberg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAIA.DIGITAL.LINKEDIN

YouTube: