Brainfluence

Steven E. Landsburg is a Professor of Economics and the University of Rochester and the man behind the popular “Everyday Economics” column in Slate magazine. Also the author of More Sex Is Safer Sex, The Big Questions, Can You Outsmart an Economist?, and the bestselling The Armchair Economist, Steven has written over thirty journal articles in mathematics, economics, and philosophy. His work has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications.

In this episode, Steven breaks down the surprising realities behind economic and social phenomena. Listen in to hear how height and pay are correlated, why we should all be grateful for people who hoard money, and why more sex is safer sex.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2PQYEWf 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE247.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert and the Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations. Also a National Speakers Association Hall of Fame inductee and New York Times bestselling author, Shep works with companies and organizations that want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. His past clients include American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, American Express, and many more.

Shep joins this episode to share insights from his latest book, The Convenience Revolution, which focuses on eliminating friction for customers. Listen in to hear his advice for building brand loyalty, the mindset companies should adopt when it comes to convenience, and what it really takes to create customer amazement.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2EdQJjv 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE246.mp3
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Dr. BJ Fogg is a behavior scientist with deep experience in innovation and teaching. The head of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University, BJ teaches his models and methods in graduate seminars, and his work has been applied by his students and others to create successful products, including Instagram. He has personally coached over 40,000 people in forming new habits using his breakthrough method called “Tiny Habits,” and his TEDx talk, “Forget big change, start with Tiny Habits” has over a million views.

In this episode, BJ shares how we can use behavior design strategies to develop beneficial habits and create positive change. Listen in to learn the major factors that drive our behavior, hacks for changing habits, and the key thing innovators need to understand about what makes people do the things they do.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2SxFmHa 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE245.mp3
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John Bargh is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on the science of priming and the unconscious mind. The James Rowland Professor of Psychology, Professor of Management at Yale University, and founder of Yale's Automaticity in Cognition, Motivation, and Evaluation (ACME) lab, John has conducted revolutionary research focused on non-conscious drivers of human behavior for more than three decades. He has written nearly 200 scholarly research and theoretical papers—for which he has received major awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Distinguished Career Award from the American Psychological Association—and is the author of one of Business Insider's outstanding reads of 2017, Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do.

In this episode, John dives into the research behind priming and how certain stimuli can shape our perception and behavior. Listen in to learn how images and strategic cues influence us, what we can do to counteract negative priming effects, and ways you can set up intentional primes in your own life to create positive outcomes.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2rcUVbR 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE244.mp3
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Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin help the world's most iconic brands use technology to win new customers and keep the customers they've already earned. Respectively the President and Senior Strategist of the online customer service and digital marketing consultancy Convince & Convert, Jay and Daniel are both best-selling authors and marketing experts. Jay is a 7th-generation entrepreneur who has created five multi-million dollar companies, and Daniel, who has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, CBS Radio, and Fox News, is the author of the online reputation guide Manipurated.

The duo joins the show today to share insights from their new book, Talk Triggers: The Complete Guide to Creating Customers with Word of Mouth. Listen in to learn what makes word of mouth crucial for businesses, why relying on organic word of mouth isn't enough, and what companies must do in order to get customers talking.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2BmsNJa 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE243.mp3
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Nigel Travis is the Executive Chairman of the Board and former CEO of Dunkin’ Brands. Previously serving as the President and COO of Blockbuster, Inc., as well as the President and CEO of Papa John’s, Nigel has become an expert in transforming company culture and getting results. His new book, The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback, reflects on his decades of leadership and shares his unique approach to achieving prosperity.

In this episode, Nigel explains how cultivating a challenge culture within companies leads to greater alignment and better business solutions. Listen in to hear his advice on engaging everyone within an organization, the important lessons he’s learned about leadership over the years, and useful ways of gaining insights and improving policies.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2DkCOIi 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE242.mp3
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David C. Baker teaches people how to turn unique knowledge into a profitable business. Referred to as the "expert’s expert" by The New York Times, David has written five books, advised over 900 firms, and keynoted conferences in over 30 countries. His work has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, BusinessWeek, and more.

David joins this episode to share insights from his newest book, The Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact + Wealth. Listen in to hear tips to help you develop your expertise, how the way we deliver expert services is changing, and what it takes to effectively combine expertise and entrepreneurship.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2yXWT49 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE241.mp3
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Bernard Ross and Omar Mahmoud are the authors of Change for Good: Using Behavioral Economics for a Better World, and they're here to share how we can use behavioral science and neuromarketing to benefit society. Bernard’s areas of expertise include strategic thinking, change leadership, innovation, and organizational transformation, while Omar has over 30 years of experience in multinational corporations and international organizations.

Currently working as the director of =mc—a management consultancy working worldwide for ethical organizations—and the Chief of Market Knowledge for UNICEF International Private Fundraising & Partnership division, respectively, Bernard and Omar join this episode to share their research and how we can apply it. Listen in to learn proven tactics for influencing behavior, the ethical concerns surrounding persuasive psychology, and important things to keep in mind when it comes to asking for donations.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2OjVdXo 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE240.mp3
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Dr. Nick Morgan is one of the country's top communication speakers, theorists, and coaches. He has written speeches for Fortune 50 CEOs and presidents, as well as coached people to give Congressional testimony, to appear in the media, and to deliver unforgettable TED talks. The author of Give Your Speech, Change the World, Power Cues, and Trust Me, Nick has also written hundreds of articles for local and national publications.

In this episode, he shares insights from his newest book, Can You Hear Me?: How to Connect with People in a Virtual World. Listen in to hear which important cues we lose when communicating virtually, why even typically kind people can easily become online trolls, and what we can do to remain sensitive to emotion in the world of online communication.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2PnlloW 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE239.mp3
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Josh Bernoff is a prolific blogger and the bestselling author of Writing Without Bullshit: Boost Your Career by Saying What You Mean. Frequently quoted in publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Josh has keynoted major conferences on television, music, marketing, and technology. He also blogs every weekday at withoutbullshit.com, publishing commentary on writing, politics, health care, technology, and business strategy.

In this episode, Josh shares how to streamline your writing and get to the point before you lose readers. Listen in to hear his tips for creating more effective content, identifying and eliminating passive voice, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2S1Xae3 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE238.mp3
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James Clear has been covered by USA Today, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and US News & World Report. He writes about psychology, habit formation, and peak performance at JamesClear.com, his personal website that sees a million visits per month. His articles also frequently appear in outlets like Time, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Lifehacker, and The Next Web.

An author, entrepreneur, and photographer, James joins the show to share insights from his new book, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Listen in to learn what it takes to form positive habits, how making small changes adds up over time, and how to set yourself up for success.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2NFB5Pg 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE237.mp3
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Dr. Carl Marci is a lot of things: a medical doctor, an entrepreneur, and a pioneer in neuromarketing. Currently serving as Chief Neuroscientist of Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience, as well as a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, Carl travels around the world helping marketers and market researchers understand neuroscience, measuring engagement, and non-conscious processing in advertising.

He joins the podcast today to share the key lessons he’s learned over the years about what makes effective advertisements. Listen in to hear what almost half of an ad's sales performance can be attributed to, important differences in how people consume media on various devices, and what Carl says is the real challenge that marketers must overcome.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2OCH8IH 

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Today’s podcast is the second episode of our two-part series focused on The Persuasion Code, a new book co-authored by Christophe Morin and Patrick Renvoise. We're joined this time by Patrick, co-founder and Chief Neuromarketing Officer at SalesBrain. Along with Christophe, Patrick is also the co-author of what is likely the first book about neuroscience in marketing, Neuromarketing: Understanding the "Buy Button" in Your Customer's Brain.

Prior to co-founding SalesBrain, Patrick was in charge of business development at Silicon Graphics, and then at LinuxCare. He soon developed a fascination with the human brain and began investigating a scientific model to explain how people make buying decisions. Patrick spent two years researching and formalizing the first 100% science-based persuasion model called NeuroMAP™, a proprietary, award-winning methodology that has been used by over 6,000 companies worldwide.

In this episode, Patrick shares the major drivers of human behavior that all marketers should understand. Listen in to learn what's at the core of our decision-making, how to alleviate common pain points for customers, and what companies can do to ensure they're communicating their value propositions as effectively as possible.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2xF1x6p 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE235.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Welcome to the first of a two-part series that will focus on the new book, The Persuasion Code, co-authored by Christophe Morin and Patrick Renvoise. Today we’re speaking with Christophe, who serves as the CEO and Chief Pain Officer at SalesBrain. With a Ph.D. in Media Psychology and over 30 years of marketing and business development experience, Christophe was formerly the Chief Marketing Officer for rStar Networks—a public company that developed the largest private network ever deployed in US schools. He also previously worked as VP of Marketing and Corporate Training for Grocery Outlet Inc, the largest grocery remarketer in the world.

In this episode, Christophe shares his expertise on understanding and predicting consumer behavior using neuroscience. Listen in to learn what it takes to create convincing campaigns and what makes marketing messages really stick.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2xz7kdx 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE234.mp3
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Tiffani Bova has helped companies like Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Dell, and more expand their market share and grow their revenues. Today, she is the Global Customer Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce, as well as the author of Growth IQ: Get Smarter About the Choices that Will Make or Break Your Business. Previously VP, Distinguished Analyst, and Research Fellow with Gartner, Tiffani is a top Twitter influencer in customer experience, sales, AI, the future of work, cloud, and marketing with more than one million Twitter impressions per month.

In this episode, she explains where so many companies get it wrong when it comes to growth. Listen in to learn the key components of effective growth strategies, why timing and sequence are so important, and what must be in place before marketing efforts can truly work.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Mszv2h 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE233.mp3
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Carmine Gallo is a public speaking and communication expert who has coached some of the world’s most respected brands, including Apple, Disney, Wal-Mart, and many more. A popular keynote speaker and the bestselling author of Talk Like TED and The Storyteller's Secret, Carmine teaches CEOs and leaders to deliver dynamic presentations and share inspiring stories that sell products, grow brands, and inspire change.

In this episode, Carmine shares insights from his newest book, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great. Listen in to hear the key components of great communication, why storytelling is so important to get your message across, and tips for figuring out your own story to help you better engage audiences.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2wHCH4m 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE232.mp3
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My guest today has been called "one of the truly deep thinkers in the arena of technology and culture" (Geoff James of CBS Interactive Media), and his writing has been deemed "a brilliant vision of where we must take our enterprises to survive and thrive" (Tom Peters). Thomas Koulopoulos is the chairman of the Boston-based global innovation think tank Delphi Group—which was named one of the fastest growing private companies in the US by Inc. Magazine—a columnist for Inc.com, an adjunct professor at Boston University Graduate School of Management, and an Executive in Residence at Bentley University.

Formerly the Executive Director of the Babson College Center for Business Innovation and Executive Director of the Dell Innovation Lab, Thomas has written eleven books, including Cloud Surfing: A New Way to Think About Risk, Innovation, Scale & Success and Gen Z Effect: The Six Forces Shaping the Future of Business. In this episode, he shares insights from his newest book, Revealing the Invisible: How Our Hidden Behaviors Are Becoming the Most Valuable Commodity of the 21st Century, as well as his predictions for how advancements in technology and AI will shape our future. Listen in to hear how human behavior and innovation are linked, and how the inevitable technological shifts will make our lives easier and more productive.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2MI3XdK 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE231.mp3
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John Padgett is a leader in transforming customer experience with technology. He is the Chief Experience Innovation Officer at Carnival Corporation—the operator of cruise lines like Princess Cruises, Holland America, Seabourn, and more—where he leads a team with diverse skills to create game-changing guest experiences.

A key player in the development of Disney’s MyMagic+ technology—which led to a $1 billion investment in technology infrastructure at Walt Disney World in Orlando—and Ocean Medallion—the first-of-its-kind wearable device that creates an interactive guest experience—John has 31 patent registrations and 92 trademarks to his credit. He has also won multiple innovation awards for wearable devices, experience itinerary scheduling, and optimization, digital experience interaction platforms, and operational processes.

In this episode, John shares how innovative technology can significantly improve customer experience, as well as the possibilities of applying similar technology in the broader world. Listen in to learn what companies should all keep in mind about keeping clients happy, the most important thing about any customer interactions, and what it really takes to create a frictionless experience.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2nE3ieB 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE230.mp3
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Mike Michalowicz had founded and sold two companies—one to private equity and another to a Fortune 500—by his 35th birthday. The author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and his newest release, Clockwork: Design Your Business To Run Itself, Mike is now running his third multi-million dollar venture, Profit First Professionals.

Mike has traveled the globe to speak with thousands of entrepreneurs, and he's here today to share where many business owners get it wrong. Listen in to learn the key business elements that every entrepreneur needs to understand, what makes it so hard for business owners to separate themselves from their work, and the crucial thing that all businesses need to figure out in order to thrive.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2BkmWWB

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE229.mp3
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Allan Dib is a serial entrepreneur, rebellious marketer, and technology expert. He has started and grown multiple businesses in various industries including IT, telecommunications, and marketing, one of which grew from a startup to four years later earning a spot in Business Review Weekly's Fast 100 list as one of Australia's fastest growing companies.

As a highly sought after business coach, consultant, and public speaker, Allan frequently shares his proven strategies and cutting-edge tactics with people all over the world. In this episode, he shares insights from his book, The 1-Page Marketing Plan, which has sold over 60,000 copies and is used as a marketing text in university classrooms across the U.S. Listen in to learn Allan's system for selecting the right niche, common marketing mistakes to avoid, and tips for differentiating your business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2AYjPn0 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE228.mp3
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Today’s guest has a provocative theory about the business firm as we know it. Ralph Welborn is CEO of CapImpact, a predictive analytics and advisory firm focused on new growth models, and he says the way most businesses do things today isn't the best way to create growth and profit.

A former senior executive at both IBM and KPMG, Ralph spent 25 years advising public and private sector firms around the world. He joins the show to share insights from his new book—co-authored with Sajan Pillai—Topple: The End of the Firm-Based Strategy and the Rise of New Models for Explosive Growth. Listen in to learn how the competitive landscape has changed, what it means to look at it through the lens of business ecosystems, and the important questions businesses should be asking themselves when planning their strategies.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2LOFLp9 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE227.mp3
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The concept of the starving artist is so widespread that sometimes it’s hard to imagine anyone—other than a few outliers—really succeeding in their craft. But my guest today says we shouldn't buy into that idea, and that it's actually much more possible to succeed as an artist than people think.

Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and the best-selling author of five books, including The Art of Work and You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One). His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of writers succeed every year.

In this episode, Jeff shares insights from his new book, Real Artists Don’t Starve, and explains why we shouldn't buy into the concept of all artists struggling to make ends meet. Listen in to hear his advice for any serious artist who wants to get their career off the ground.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2v6Jp35 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE226.mp3
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Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming, and then mentally scolded yourself for wasting time? Well, next time, don’t be so hard on yourself. My guest today is here to explain why wasting time isn’t such a bad thing. In fact, he says it’s necessary for creativity, self-identity, and overall health.

Alan Lightman is a physicist, novelist, and essayist with a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Caltech. One of the first people to receive dual faculty appointments in science and in the humanities at MIT, Alan is the author of five novels, two collections of essays, a book-length narrative poem, and several books on science. His novel Einstein’s Dreams was an international bestseller and has been translated into thirty languages.

His new book new book is In Praise of Wasting Time, and he joins the show today to share the truth about the importance of downtime. Listen in to learn how to make sure you give yourself the mental breaks you need and why we should all be wasting time every day.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2L7loUA 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE225.mp3
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Just about all of us have to do presentations of some kind or another, and David Hooker is an expert on making those presentations more effective. David is the Lead Evangelist for Prezi, a cloud-based presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring ideas to life. With more than 85 million users of their software, David and his team have built stunning visuals for scientists, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like Bono and NPR’s Guy Raz.

In this episode, David discusses how images impact communication and shares valuable insights on creating engaging presentations. Listen in to learn how even the most unskilled artist can create effective images, what it means to be visually literate, and how to improve your own visual literacy as a consumer.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2N9bBtH 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE224.mp3
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In today’s world of ever-shrinking attention spans and the seemingly endless barrage of marketing messages out there, is it really possible for brands to stand out anymore? My guest today says yes, and he’s here to explain how to do it.

Nick Westergaard is a strategist, speaker, author, and educator who serves as the Chief Brand Strategist at Brand Driven Digital. A contributor to the Harvard Business Review and host of the popular On Brand podcast, he helps build better brands at organizations of all sizes—from small businesses and Fortune 500 companies to President Obama’s Jobs Council.

In this episode, Nick shares key insights on effective branding from his new book, Brand Now: How to Stand Out in a Crowded, Distracted World. Listen in to hear how to develop a brand personality, where there are opportunities to "flip the script" to stand out from competitors, and what it takes to create real brand impact.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2NqjlIw

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE223.mp3
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Few people have contributed more to understanding human behavior and decision-making than Dr. Antonio Damasio. A University Professor, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology and Philosophy, and Director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Dr. Damasio has brought groundbreaking insights to the science of emotions and consciousness through his research, theories, and books. His work has been cited over 100,000 times, and his books have been translated into dozens of languages.

In this episode, Dr. Damasio shares insights from his most recent book, The Strange Order of Things, which addresses the evolutionary development of the mind and the role of homeostasis in the generation of cultures. Listen in to learn how our minds and cultures are linked, where decision-making really happens, and the important role our emotions play in key areas of life.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Iyiimi 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE222.mp3
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Want to earn your audience's trust in the first 15 seconds you are on stage? Want to be seen as authentic and likable? Science has the answers.

In this episode, Noah shares the science behind what makes audiences perceive presenters as likable and trustworthy, as well as advice for improving your own communication. Listen in to hear what makes speakers seem authentic, tips for helping people clearly understand your message, and the surprising findings that came from his extensive research on communication.

Noah is the CEO and Co-Founder of Quantified Communications, and a pioneer in applying technology and AI to help people strengthen the way they communicate. Recognized as one of the most innovative domain experts in the rapidly growing field of people analytics and behavioral intelligence, Noah was featured on the main stage at TED2016 speaking about how leaders talk. He also spoke at SXSW on the Intelligent Future, delivered a TED-Ed Lesson in the Playing with Language Series with over nine million views, and was nationally broadcast discussing the future of personal analytics on NPR All Tech Considered.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2yrGDKO 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE221.mp3
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Tom Peters co-authored a book that changed the way the world does business, and which is often called the best business book ever. In addition to the massively successful In Search of Excellence, Tom authored or co-authored seventeen other books, including his latest, The Excellence Dividend: Meeting the Tech Tide with Work that Wows and Jobs that Last.

Still breaking new ground in management thought leadership thirty-five years after In Search of Excellence, Tom received the 2017 Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins the show today to discuss how too many companies get it wrong when it comes to effective business practices and finding the proper focus. Listen in to hear what Tom says company leaders must understand, his unexpected stance on maximizing shareholder value, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2HIKTF6 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE220.mp3
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Today’s guest has quickly built a reputation as one of the leading minds in B2B marketing. Sangram Vajre is the Co-Founder & CMO of Terminus—a software as a service platform for account-based marketing—and the mastermind behind #FlipMyFunnel. He’s also the author of Account-Based Marketing For Dummies, and was named one of the 2018 top B2B influencers to watch by B2B News Network.

Sangram brings his ABM expertise to conferences across the nation, including Dreamforce, #FlipMyFunnel conferences, PFL’s Big Sky Big Ideas, and Hypergrowth, and he joins this episode to share that knowledge with us. Listen in to hear typical B2B marketing mistakes companies make, where marketers should be focusing their energy, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2M3Ppl2 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE219.mp3
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My guest today works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, neurochemistry, and human behavior. Ramsay Brown is Co-Founder and COO of Boundless Mind (formerly Dopamine Labs), where he and his team work on persuasive AI and behavioral design. A NeuroTechnologist trained at USC's Brain Architecture Center, Ramsay worked on Brain Mapping and pioneered an app that was something like Google Maps for the Brain.

Ramsay is an emerging leader in Persuasive Technology & Neuroinformatics and has been featured on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, TechCrunch, Big Think, The Guardian, and GQ. In this episode, he shares how persuasive technology is shaping human behavior, what his company is doing to ensure they're promoting change for the better, and how society as a whole can become more neuro-literate.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2LDTvzQ 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE218.mp3
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It may seem like the best way to grow a business is to acquire new customers, but today’s guest is here to explain the major flaws in that logic. Joey Coleman is the Chief Experience Composer at Design Symphony, a branding firm that specializes in creating unique, attention-grabbing customer experiences. His clients range from individual entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, and from non-profits to government agencies.

In this episode, Joey shares his expert advice on improving customer retention, as well as insights from his new book, Never Lose a Customer Again: Turn Any Sale into Lifelong Loyalty in 100 Days. Listen in to learn why focusing on existing customers is so important and how to turn a one-time sale into a long-term relationship in just a few months.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2KGWAxP 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE217.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s guest is a former hostage negotiator for the FBI. Now you may be wondering what hostage negotiations have to do with you, but the answer is: a lot. Chris Voss has demonstrated that his techniques—which are rooted in brain science—crush the traditional approach to business negotiation, and we can all use his advice for negotiating within our own lives.

Chris’ company, The Black Swan Group, specializes in solving business communication problems using hostage negotiation solutions, and he joins the podcast today to share his expertise, as well as insights from his new book, Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It. Listen in to learn tricks for negotiating in highly emotional situations, advice for building trust, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2IIG2rU 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE216.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

My guest this week is going to help us with a problem that makes many of us cringe—actually, she’s going to help with cringing itself. Melissa Dahl is an expert on awkwardness, and she's here today to share advice for dealing with this uncomfortable feeling. A senior editor covering health and psychology for New York's The Cut, Melissa cofounded New York’s popular social science site, Science of Us, in 2014. You may have also seen her work in Elle, Parents, or TODAY.com.

In this episode, you'll hear fascinating insights from Melissa's new book, Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness, on the science behind feeling awkward. She also gives tips for helping yourself to feel less awkward in social situations. Listen in to hear all that and more!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2I8oz8U 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE215.mp3
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Jeffrey Shaw is many things: a photographer, an entrepreneur, the host of popular business podcast Creative Warriors, a featured storyteller on The Moth, a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and the author of LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer’s Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible. As one of the most sought-after portrait photographers in the U.S. for more than three decades, Jeffrey has photographed the families of such notables as Tom Seaver, Pat Riley, David Bloom, and Stephanie Seymour, and his portraits have appeared on the Oprah Show, in People and O magazines, and more.

But his keen eye isn’t just for photography. Jeffrey has also honed his ability to sense the needs of others, as well as trends in business. He uses this skill to teach entrepreneurs how to attract their ideal customers by speaking their secret language, and he joins this episode to share his expertise. Listen in to learn what it takes to build a brand people trust, how to avoid the common mistakes too many entrepreneurs make, and where to start learning and developing lingo that will resonate with customers.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2HEtiPz 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE214.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Steve Bistritz knows firsthand how to work with C-level executives. With over 40 years of high-tech sales, sales management, and training management experience—as well as over 27 years working with IBM in sales and training-related positions—Steve is the President and Founder of sales training and consulting company SellXL.com. He is also a popular keynote speaker and the co-author of the best-selling book Selling to the C-Suite: What Every Executive Wants You to Know About Successfully Selling to the Top.

In this episode, Steve shares key takeaways from the book, which provides expert advice rooted in 10 years of empirical research conducted through interviews with C-Suite executives in 500 diverse companies and government bodies. Listen in to learn how to gain access to the most relevant executives for any buying decision, common mistakes that too many salespeople make, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2vBMPhR 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE213.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Any good marketer should try to keep up with Google’s ever-changing metrics, and today’s guest is one of the best resources for doing so. Rand Fishkin is the founder of SparkToro, and was previously cofounder of Moz and Inbound.org. He’s dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through the Whiteboard Friday video series and his blog. He also shares business advice—as well as his personal story—in his new book, Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World.

In this episode, Rand shares the stories behind his entrepreneurial adventures and misadventures, as well as the major lessons he learned along the way. Listen in to hear what Rand says every entrepreneur must keep in mind when looking into funding, timely SEO advice for businesses, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Hz4pFy 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE212.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today's guest is an international speaker and bestselling author on innovation and design. Most recently serving as the Global VP of Innovation and Officer at VF Corporation (a parent organization to over 30 global apparel companies, including The North Face, Vans, Timberland, and Nautica), Soon Yu regularly consults business leaders on developing meaningful Iconic Signature Elements, Signature Moments, and Signature Communication.

Soon has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, and New York Times, and he joins us today to share valuable advice on to how to build a brand's iconicity. Listen in to hear tips from his new book, Iconic Advantage®, and learn what it really takes for brands to become iconic.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2GSLu7G 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE211.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Heather Ann Havenwood is a serial entrepreneur whose early career accomplishments include starting an online publishing company and taking it from zero to a seven-figure revenue in less than a year. She is also a prolific author—with titles ranging from dating to podcasting to entrepreneurship—and has been named one of the Top 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs for 2017 by Huffington Post.

Heather joins the podcast today to share insights from her newest book, Sexy Boss: How Female Entrepreneurs are Beating the BIG Boys While Changing the Rule Book for Money, Success and Even Sex. Listen in to hear the important lessons she learned from the struggles along her entrepreneurial journey, as well as her advice for female entrepreneurs to help them become a powerful force in the world.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2GC5deX 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE210.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Have you ever met someone new, and then five minutes later realized you couldn’t remember that person’s name? Or have you ever tried to learn a language and been frustrated by your inability to recall many of the words that you just learned? Today’s guest can help you with those common memory struggles and more.

Dr. Anthony Metivier is the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, a systematic, 21st Century approach to memorizing just about anything. What separates his approach from others is that he doesn’t focus on memorizing long strings of digits or training for memory championships. Instead, he focuses on things that are part of your daily life, such as names and faces, material for tests and exams, and foreign language vocabulary.

In this episode, Anthony shares the simple memory techniques that he describes as easy, elegant, effective and fun. Listen in to learn how to use them to improve your memory.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2DV1Fil 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE209.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

How many emails do you delete or scroll past every day without even reading them? Just taking a minute to think about that should give you a good idea of how utterly ineffective most marketing emails are. So what does it take to stand out in a crowded inbox? Today’s guest is here to tell us.

Erin Gargan is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, and digital persuasion expert who helps sales, marketing, and event professionals become more persuasive online communicators. She sold her first two companies—Jump Digital Media and PMS.com—before the age of 30, and in 2010, she founded Socialite Agency, a social media firm whose clients include The Oscars, ABC/Disney, VISA, Target, Hitachi, Siemens, and more.

In this episode, Erin breaks down her sales messaging formula that has been leveraged by some of the world’s biggest brands and shares advice from her new book, Digital Persuasion: Sell Smarter in the Modern Marketplace. Listen in to learn how to avoid the common mistakes most email marketers make and what you can do to stand out online.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2u7ns6C 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE208.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Sometimes, learning from your mistakes doesn't work. When a decision you made turns out badly, your first instinct is to not repeat that. But, that decision may well have been the best one with the information you had.

Or, have you ever over-analyzed a decision so much that you prevented yourself from actually making a choice? It seems we've all been there, and today's guest is here to tell us how to overcome this situation of paralysis by analysis, as well as how to become a better decision maker.

Annie Duke is a World Series of Poker bracelet winner, the winner of the 2004 Tournament of Champions, and the only woman to win the NBC National Poker Heads Up Championship. Merging her poker expertise with her cognitive psychology graduate work at UPenn, Annie is now a full-time professional speaker and decision strategist.

In this episode, Annie explains the science behind how we evaluate decisions and how to reframe our thinking to look at decisions objectively. You'll hear insights from her new book, Thinking In Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts, on the biggest problems we have as decision makers, how the wrong kind of decision-making can hurt innovation, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2FIaKQo 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE207.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s guest is a master at turning seemingly wild ideas into new realities and showing the rest of us how we can do the same. Awarded the Future Thinker Award from Thinkers50 and named the #1 person most likely to influence the future of management in both theory and practice, Nilofer Merchant has been called the “Jane Bond of Innovation”—and for good reason.

She has personally launched more than 100 products, netting $18 billion in sales, and has held executive positions at everywhere from Fortune 500 companies like Apple and Autodesk to startups in the early days of the Web. Her ideas have been featured in publications like the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Wired, as well as in her TED Talk, "Got a meeting? Take a walk."

In this episode, Nilofer shares insider expertise from her new book, The Power of Onlyness: Make Your Wild Ideas Mighty Enough to Dent the World, and explains how we can connect our ideas to the world around us and create change.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Fn4xGn 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE206.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today we have a returning guest on the show! Denise Lee Yohn is an expert on brand leadership, a speaker and consultant, and a writer whose work appears in Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Knowledge@Wharton, and more. She is also the bestselling author of What Great Brands Do: The Seven Brand-Building Principles that Separate the Best from the Rest.

Denise's new book is Fusion: How Integrating Brand and Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies, and she joins this episode to share insights from the book on how to create brand authenticity and on-brand customer experience. Listen in to hear her tips for creating purpose in your company, teaching employees to understand customers, and what it really takes to achieve brand-culture fusion.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2FYKAH0 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE205.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Rohit Bhargava is a trend curator whose insights on trends, marketing, and the future have been utilized by dozens of the biggest brands and organizations in the world, including Intel, Under Armour, and the World Bank.

A marketing expert and the founder of the Non-Obvious Company, Rohit is also the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of five books on topics as wide-ranging as the future of business, building a human brand with personality, and why leaders never eat cauliflower. His newest book, Non-Obvious 2018 Edition: How To Predict Trends And Win The Future, features fifteen all-new trends across five categories, including Culture & Consumer Behavior, Marketing & Social Media, Media & Education, Technology & Design plus Economics & Entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Rohit shares his marketing insight and predictions for the future, what he looks at to determine if something is really a trend, and what you can do to become a better trendspotter yourself. Tune in to hear all that and more!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2Fr1oG8 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE204.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Sam Mallikarjunan is the co-author of the book How To Sell Better Than Amazon, and he’s here today to explain what it takes to do just that. A Marketing Fellow at HubSpot and former Head of Growth at HubSpot Labs—the somewhat-secret experimental arm of the world’s #1 Sales & Marketing platform—Sam has seen firsthand what it takes to market effectively. He teaches Advanced Digital Marketing at the Harvard Division of Continuing Education and speaks across the country and around the world about startups, business, and marketing.

In this episode, Sam shares his insight on market testing and the importance of focusing the user experience. He also talks about how to use a free tool in order to gain a lifetime customer, as well as the main thing marketers should focus on if they really want to sell better than Amazon.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2ET3n8m

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE203.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s guest is a developmental molecular biologist who has a lifelong fascination with how the mind reacts to and organizes information. Dr. John J. Medina is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine, as well as the author of the New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, a provocative book that takes on the way our schools and work environments are designed. He also wrote Brain Rules for Baby—a must-read for parents and early-childhood educators—and recently released his new book, Brain Rules for Aging Well.

In this episode, John discusses fascinating research on what improves people’s ability to recall information, how simple visual changes can trick our brains, and more. He also shares tips for making presentations more effective, as well as practical things you can do to keep your mind sharp as you age.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2EefDNm 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE202.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today we have two guests on the show! Maryann Karinch and Jim McCormick are experts in body language and sales, and they are here to share how to read other people in selling or persuasion situations so you can present your case in a convincing way.

Maryann has been writing about body language for 14 years, building on her background in theater, where it was very important to be able to communicate emotions effectively and use correct body language. Jim's extensive knowledge of sales comes from his work shaping capital campaigns, sales strategies, and major donor programs for clients from the National World War II Museum to multiple international companies.

The pair combined their areas of expertise in their new book, Body Language Sales Secrets: How to Read Prospects and Decode Subconscious Signals to Get Results and Close the Deal, and they join us today to share tips and tricks you can use to improve your ability to sell. Listen in to learn what you should be doing from a body language perspective to increase your odds of closing the deal.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2nyVT0v 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE201.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Would you trust a doctor who didn't understand physiology? An engineer with no knowledge of physics? Given how obvious those answers seem, it's surprising that so many companies trust marketers who don’t consider behavioural science.

Today’s guest, Richard Shotton, illustrated the absurdity of this fact with the above comparisons in his book, The Choice Factory, and he certainly has plenty of room to speak on the subject. After starting his career 17 years ago as a media planner and working on accounts such as Coke, 118 118, and comparethemarket.com, he now studies how findings from behavioural science can be applied to advertising.

Richard currently serves as Deputy Head of Evidence at Manning Gottlieb OMD, the most awarded media agency in the history of the IPA Effectiveness awards, and he writes about the behavioural experiments he runs for titles such as Marketing Week Campaign, Admap and The Huffington Post. He joins us in this episode to share his findings, how he has used them to increase campaign effectiveness, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2nbLveW 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE200.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

We would all love to do less and get more done, but the question is: how? Morten T. Hansen is here to give us the answer based on his extensive research.

A management professor at University of California, Berkeley, Morten is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Great by Choice, and the author of the highly acclaimed Collaboration and Great at Work. His research has won several prestigious awards, and he is ranked one of the world’s most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50.

In this episode, Morten shares key behaviors that stand out among top performers, as well as tips for changing your habits to improve your own productivity. Listen in to learn how to make the most of your time, what to avoid in the workplace, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2rkS5Er 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE199.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Today’s guest has made it her mission to use behavioral science to improve inclusion and diversity. A behavior economist and expert in organizational change, Tinna Nielsen is the founder of the non-profit change-organization Move the Elephant for Inclusiveness, the co-founder of the non-profit Inclusion Nudges Initiative, and the co-author of the Inclusion Nudges Guidebook. She is also a strategic partner for inclusiveness and gender parity at the United Nations, and she collaborates with organizations, practitioners, and social entrepreneurs worldwide to redesign communities and organizations.

In this episode, Tinna shares the surprising truth about the unconscious snap judgments we all make, as well as the devastating experience that led to her realization of what it really takes to influence people to change their behavior. Listen in to learn what types of unconscious biases we all have, as well as how to prevent those biases from affecting our communities.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2DkWaOI 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE198.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Have you ever thought about what brands in your life you can’t imagine living without? Maybe the thought of giving up your Apple computer gives you anxiety, or the idea of shopping anywhere other than Amazon makes you cringe. Those are the types of reactions that indicate how strongly we become attached to brands—if their marketing is done right. 

Today’s guest, Brian Sheehan, knows all about what it takes to create that kind of powerful brand attachment. Now the Professor of Advertising at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, he teaches courses in advertising, advertising management, advertising strategy, digital advertising, and international advertising. In this episode, he shares insights from his new book, Loveworks: How the World’s Best Marketers Make Emotional Connections to Win in the Marketplace, and explains what it takes to become a brand that consumers can’t live without. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2COKMdj 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE197.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

We all have to ask for favors from time to time, but did you know there are certain things you can do to increase the likelihood that someone will say yes? From getting the timing right to planting the seed for a future favor, using psychology can significantly improve your odds of getting people to oblige.

In this episode, our very own Roger Dooley shares science-based tactics that will increase your chance of success the next time you ask for a favor. Some of them may surprise you!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2lx1oLb 

 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE196.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

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