Stay ConnectedYou started this business to lead. Somewhere along the way, the business started leading you instead.
The Modern CEO Podcast with Amber McCue is where that stops, and growth gets a plan. Real strategy, sustainable systems, and the kind of leadership conversations that help you step fully into your role as the CEO your business needs.
Your season of growth is already underway. You’re right on time.
Have you lost focus on your focus?
We all start out with great intentions for our businesses, but often get a little lost along the way. It's okay -- that's totally normal! Maybe we get excited about other options, maybe we get a little burnt out, maybe we feel pulled in a million different directions, or maybe we just deal with a LOT OF jet lag (guilty as charged!)
What's important is that we master how to get our focus back on track!
After all, as modern CEOs, it's part of our job to keep ourselves and our teams aligned with our vision and focused on the task at hand!
Did you know that entrepreneurs are generally happier than the average person?
People who feel as though they have chosen their own paths tend to be more content with their lives. Makes total sense, right?
And it isn't just about the destination at the end of that path -- it's about the journey itself, my friend!
A lot of people approach their business (and their life in general) with the idea that true happiness lies just beyond the goalposts. But positive psychology shows that the happiest people are those currently working towards a goal.
All the more reason to focus on making your journey as amazing as possible!
For full show notes please visit: ambermccue.com/blog
Do you ever wonder why we feel so refreshed and ready to start a project on January 1st? Or, for that matter, on the first of the month or on a Monday?
How about after a job change, birthday, or anniversary? Or even after a long weekend?
It's a little thing called the Fresh Start Effect!
(Yes, it's actually a real thing!)
At times like these, it's common to feel an awesome surge of momentum. That little burst? You can harness that to catapult yourself into an amazing wave of productivity!
And I'm here to tell you how to ride that wave … Whenever you want!
In this episode, I will:
Let's get (fresh) started!
Highlights:
02:00 Wishing you a Happy New Year and a Happy Fresh Start!
02:50 What is the Fresh Start Effect?
3:20 "One month into the new year, only 64% of resolutions continue to be pursued"
4:50 Use temporal landmarks to help you navigate time
8:55 "You have got an opportunity to create your own fresh start" right now
10:30 Why you should leverage the 90-day planning process
11:47 Your three missions (should you choose to accept them!)
Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Visit http://www.ambermccue.com and follow Amber on instagram: @AmberMcCue
Mentioned in this episode:
86 Days This Year When You Can Change Your Behavior - Daniel Pink
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing - Daniel Pink
The Fresh Start Effect by Hengchen Dai, Katherine Milkman, and Jason Riis
Aaaand we're back! That's right, I'm finally settled in my brand new home in Ethiopia! And let me tell you, it's been quite a year! The past ten months or so have taught me a lot of lessons that are SO important for both life and business, including:
Hi, everyone!
Do you suffer from an overabundance of ideas? You know what I'm talking about – you're trying to figure out the next step you want to take for your business, but you have a dozen potential plans swirling around in your head and it's hard to narrow down on The One!
"I want to host an in-person event!"
"My new course should be on XYZ!"
"I should start a new online community!"
AHHHHH!
I call this "idea mania" and let me tell you – it's something I am VERY familiar with! Having too many ideas can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused.
And a lot of the time, none of the ideas from a mile-long list actually get implemented. (Even if they are brilliant ideas!)
Here's the thing about ideas – they are useless unless you're able to hone in on one, buckle down, and actually get it done!
Ideas are easy. FOCUS is tough.
But don't worry – over the years I've developed some tips and tricks to help me deal with my own idea mania. And now I want to share them with you!
In this episode, I'm going to:
Say GOODBYE to idea mania!
Highlights:
3:03 Why does idea mania happen??
4:14 Big or small – all entrepreneurs deal with it!
6:09 Be an idea landlord – give them a home while they wait!
7:50 The big questions you need to ask – and why the answers are SO important!
13:21 Start building your plan!
Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Visit http://www.niceops.com and follow me on twitter and Instagram: @AmberMcCue
Mentioned in this episode:
Hi, everyone! I really hope you listened to my last episode where I talked about the concept of Scalable Intimacy, an amazing business model that bakes connection and intimacy right into your scaling efforts! If you missed it, give it a listen, because this week's episode is going to take it to the NEXT LEVEL!
(Don't worry – you can listen to this one first if you're short on time. I'll get you caught up to speed!)
Here's the thing: Scaling your business does NOT mean that you have to lose that sense of connection and intimacy that you had as a smaller business!
I know it sounds wild, but all you need to do is reinvent how you do your business.
No big deal, right?
It's actually easier than you think!
In this episode, I'm going to:
Get ready to reinvent your business model!
Highlights:
2:17 Recap: What in the world is Scalable Intimacy??
6:39 Case Study: The story of Freshly Implemented, the implementation incubator
17:03 Different membership levels make things more scalable
19:55 Systems and structure are the key to scaling
21:15 Repeat after me: Mentors and templates!
Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Visit http://www.niceops.com and follow me on twitter and Instagram: @AmberMcCue
The nice thing about small start-ups is the sense of connection you can have with your customers, your team ... sometimes even your vendors!
But you don't want to stay small forever (you certainly won't multiply your revenue that way!)
Are you afraid that if you scale your business, you'll lose the intimacy and connection in your business model? Then the latest episode of the Modern CEO podcast is just what you need!
Have you ever heard of a concept called "Scalable Intimacy"?
I know, I know – it sounds like a total oxymoron, right?
But hear me out!
You don't have to lose out on that level of intimacy as you scale your business. It is TOTALLY POSSIBLE to hold onto that feeling of intimacy and collaboration with your customers and the people you're working with, even as you grow your business to amazing new heights! Scalable intimacy is a way of growing your business in a more fulfilling and connected way that can actually get you more sustainable results – not to mention more referrals!
In this episode, I'm going to:
Sounds good? Let's talk intimacy
Highlights:
2:03 The history of the Scalable Intimacy concept
7:00 Build intimacy and connection into your business model
8:25 The difference between scale and growth
12:16 What is intimacy? What does it mean for your business?
18:43 Human interaction leads to innovation ... and referrals!
23:23 How do you achieve intimacy with clients?
Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Visit http://www.niceops.com and follow me on twitter and Instagram: @AmberMcCue
I have helped thousands of women grow and scale their businesses – and make a lot of money doing what they love!
But here's the thing – sometimes spending money can be pretty important too!
Here's what you need to know about me – I'm not the type of person who splurges on $200 jeans or first-class flights. So when it came to planning a summer retreat for my team (and realizing how much it would cost to get us all together in person), I went back and forth on it.
In the end, I decided to go for it.
Why was I willing to spend that money? Because a well-planned retreat is WORTH EVERY PENNY when it comes to keeping your business on the right track!
The virtual world we're now able to live and work in is amazing for convenience, but nothing can beat a face-to-face meeting when it comes to getting to know the people you work with and growing those relationships!
Let's face it. Humans need human connection!
When you meet with your team in person, it realigns everyone, gets them back on the same page, and reminds them of the vision that you, their leader, have put in place for your business. Once you're all marching to the same tune, you are FAR better positioned for taking over the world!
And you've got to love that!
Engagement and connection are kicked into high gear when you've got your team in the same room. You may communicate well on Slack, but nothing can beat those inside jokes and amazing brainstorming sessions that happen face-to-face!
In this episode, I'm going to:
Are you ready to get your team fully on-board with your vision?
Highlights:
6:15 Why you should invest in face-to-face team meetings
8:54 Retreat agenda-setting
14:26 Put your game plan to a vote!
23:05 How do you transform your values into actions?
Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Visit http://www.niceops.com and follow me on twitter and Instagram: @AmberMcCue
I've worked with thousands of women to help them scale their businesses and build their financial freedom -- all you have to do is decide, RIGHT NOW, that you can overcome anything that gets between you and that amazing success you've been dreaming about.
Seems easy enough, right??
(Well, of course there is more to it. But this podcast is all about mindset!)
I'm the mother of three beautiful girls, and I like to compare building a business having a baby. Some people are just about ready to pop, some people have just conceived, and some people have already successfully nurtured a business baby or two!
I feel like I'm pretty early on in my pregnancy when it comes to this particular new business of mine. Business babies are a lot like real babies -- at first, you don't really know what they will turn out to be.
And that's the exciting part, isn't it? All of that potential?
And, like real pregnancies, all business pregnancies are different -- different challenges, different support systems, and different circumstances.
The one thing that they all have in common?
You need to have the will and determination to overcome any and all obstacles thrown your way!
In this episode, I'm going to:
Consider this podcast your prenatal vitamin!
Highlights:
1:01 My baby story (and the crazy obstacles!)
12:22 Make the decision to pivot and adjust
13:00 Beware of addiction to extreme over-work -- listen to your body!
17:03 Slow and steady wins the race
18:08 Are you really ready to have this baby? (Psst: the answer is yes)
19:06 What is your first step?
Thank you for listening! Want more information and tips? Visit http://www.niceops.com and follow me on twitter and Instagram: @AmberMcCue
I gotta tell you, I am REALLY feeling the summer vibes these days – spending time at the beach, wearing my flip-flops to go buy ice cream cones, and soaking up that beautiful sunshine. I'm not rushing around to get the kids to and from school, packing their lunches, or making sure they do their homework. Instead, I get to slow down and just enjoy life a little bit more (which is harder than it sounds, when you're as productivity-prone as I am)!
Unfortunately, this blissful season doesn't last forever.
Summer is already halfway over and you know what that means: half-price sales on bathing suits!
But, of course, that's not all: we only have about 5 WEEKS LEFT to get our businesses supercharged for the busy fall season.
Hey, spring doesn't hold a monopoly on growth!
If I asked you right now what you need to do this fall to best support your business growth, would you have an answer for me? When is the last time you worked on your action plan?
There are two times of year that are absolutely PERFECT for taking a moment to get yourself set up for the busy seasons to come: right now and December. Block out a week or two on your calendar to do some thinking, reflecting, and planning – busy days are ahead!
Now that I've got you on board the reflection train, I want to make sure that you're getting the most out of your reflection period!
In this episode, I'm going to:
Share a firsthand case study on how a little reflection helped to preemptively save my business from a potentially fatal Groupon-related disaster!
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