The Action Catalyst With Rory Vaden

As a funding strategist, John Livesay helps CEOs craft a compelling pitch that engages investors in a way that inspires them to join a startup’s team. He hosts The Successful Pitch podcast with investors from around the world. He is the Pitch Mentor at Startfast.net, the number one accelerator in Upstate New York. After a successful 20 year career in media sales with Conde Nast where he worked across all 22 brands in their corporate division [GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired, W and Vogue] and created integrated programs for clients such as Lexus, Hyundai and Guess, John won salesperson of the year in 2012 across the entire company. John’s book, The 7 Most Powerful Selling Secrets and has been translated into Spanish and Russian. John has a B.S in Advertising from the University of Illinois. Show Highlights: Not only do you need to have a solid pitch, you need to know the answers to the questions investors will ask you. @John_LivesayThe moment you lose credibility, the answer is no. @John_LivesayThe ent

Ron Wallace knows a thing or two about hard work and leadership. Over a career of nearly 40 years, he went from a UPS driver to the president of UPS International, where he was responsible for the operations of UPS in more than 200 countries and led more than 60000 employees. While at UPS, Wallace also served on the corporate management committee that oversaw the day-to-day operations of the entire organization and its 400,000 employees. In addition, he served as chairman or co-chairman of 33 different boards of directors of the UPS division of well known companies around the world. In his new book, Leadership Lessons from a UPS Driver: Delivering a Culture of We, Not Me, Wallace pulls back the curtain on UPS’s company culture of “we, not me,” and the principles written by the original UPS founders that have guided the success of the company for the past century. Leadership Lessons from a UPS Driver describes how the company inspired generations of motivated employees, and teaches leaders at any level h

David Nour is a growth strategist and the thought leader on Relationship Economics® – the quantifiable value of business relationships. In a global economy that is becoming increasingly disconnected, The Nour Group, Inc. has attracted consulting engagements from over 100 marquee organizations in driving unprecedented growth through unique return on their strategic relationships. David has pioneered the phenomenon that relationships are the greatest off balance sheet asset any organization possesses, large and small, public and private. He annually delivers 50 global keynotes on business relationships, social & mobile disruptive technologies, and adaptive innovation at leading industry association conferences, corporate meetings, and academic forums. The Nour Group’s sample clients include: Amerinet, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Assurant Solutions, Chubb Insurance, Cisco Systems, Deloitte Consulting, Delta Dental, Disney, Equifax, Emory University, General Reinsurance, Hilton Worldw

Amelia Rose Earhart - Amelia Rose Earhart believes that anything is possible with a solid flight plan. Named by the Jaycees as one of the "Top Ten Young Americans", Amelia Rose Earhart successfully recreated the 1937 flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart. Less than 30 women have ever been pilot in command of a flight around the world and Amelia joins this elite group with the purpose of inspiring women to discover the joy of aviation. As President of the Fly With Amelia Foundation, Amelia grants high school aged girls flight training scholarships to learn to fly. Amelia's 28,000 mile flight around the world in a single engine aircraft became a symbol of determination, courage and empowerment for anyone who has ever decided to seek new horizons. Fortune 500 Companies, The United States Air Force Academy, dozens of Universities and Civic Organizations, just to name a few, have been impacted thousands have been jolted awake by Amelia's contagious enthusiasm for action, her raw and charming leadership

Greg Mckeown has dedicated his career to discovering why some people break through to the next level—and others don’t. The definitive treatment of this issue is addressed in McKeown’s latest project: the instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. As well as frequently being the #1 Time Management book on Amazon, this book challenges core assumptions about achievement to get to the essence of what really drives success. McKeown is the CEO of THIS Inc, a company whose mission is to assist people and companies to spend 80 percent of their time on the vital few rather than the trivial many. Clients include Adobe, Apple, Google, Facebook, Pixar, Salesforce.com, Symantec, Twitter, VMware and Yahoo!. Show Highlights: • We have been conned by the idea that we should be able to do it all and have it all. And it’s a lie. @GregoryMckeown • We live in a world where almost everything is worthless and very few things are exceptionally valuable.

Scott Stratten - Scott Stratten is the President of Un-Marketing. He is an expert in Viral, Social, and Authentic Marketing which he calls Un-Marketing. It’s all about positioning yourself as a trusted expert in front of your target market, so when they have the need, they choose you. Formerly a music industry marketer, national sales training manager and a Professor at the Sheridan College School of Business, he ran his “UnAgency” for a nearly a decade before solely focusing on speaking at events for companies like PepsiCo, Adobe, Red Cross, Hard Rock Cafe, Cirque du Soleil, Saks Fifth Avenue, Deloitte and Fidelity Investments when they need help guiding their way through the viral/social media and relationship marketing landscape. His clients’ viral marketing videos have been viewed over 60 million times and he’s recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN.com, Inc.com and Fast Company and was named one of “America’s 10 Marketing Gurus” by Busin

Jim Steeg – Jim Steeg, former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the San Diego Chargers (from 2004 to 2010) where he was in charge of all business operations for the team. Before that, he spent 35 years with the NFL and 26 years in charge of the Special Events Department (1979–2004). Under Steeg’s leadership, the Super Bowl expanded from a championship football game into a week-long extravaganza. He is currently a noted sports business, stadium and events consultant, advising companies on a variety of subjects, including business ventures, strategic planning, technology, media and community relations, marketing programs and events plans for sports leagues, organizations, conferences, teams and events; stadium operations; fan enhancement; stadium physical structure, and organizational structure. Show Highlights: Things don’t always go as planned. Let them evolve as they may. @jimsteegSome things happen by chance and others are thought out. But you have to role with the cha

Michael Hyatt is the co-author of Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want along with his good friend Daniel Harkavy. It is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best seller. In the book, they discuss the importance of creating a life plan and how to do it. Michael is also the the founder of 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever,™ Platform University®, and Get Published. He has been blogging since 2004 and really has a firm understanding of book launches and building online products. His work has been featured in publications like Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Forbes and many more. Michael is the former Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. He now writes, speaks, and coaches full-time. Show Highlights The way to avoid a stalled career, a stale marriage, and an unhappy life is to be intentional by building a life plan. @MichaelHyattMost people drift through life not realizing how much they’ve lost direction. @MichaelHyattNo one ever drifted to a

Jeffrey Hayzlett is a primetime television host of C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and Executive Perspectives on C-Suite TV, and business radio host of All Business with Jeffrey Hayzlett on CBS on-demand radio network Play.It. He is a global business celebrity, speaker, best-selling author, and Chairman of C-Suite Network, home of the world’s most powerful network of C-Suite leaders. Hayzlett is a well-traveled public speaker, the author of two bestselling business books, The Mirror Test and Running the Gauntlet. His third book, Think Big, Act Bigger, releases September 2015. Hayzlett is one of the most compelling figures in business today. Jeffrey focuses on business transformation, leadership, innovation, and change management to drive business growth. He is an expert on brand marketing, and his signature humor and big, bold approach Hayzlett is a voice of experience, having bought and sold over 200 businesses, small and large, in his 26-year career. He is a former Fortune 100 CMO and one of the most influ

This week’s podcast is highlighting a life story from one of our Southwestern Consulting™ coaching clients. This week’s client is financial representative, Alex Pace from Northwestern Mutual. Alex is a financial planner, helping individuals, families and businesses put their goals and ambitions into a plan that will make sure they live financially secure… The Action Catalyst is a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Moore, President of Southwestern Advantage, the oldest direct-sales company in America, and Partner with Southwestern Consulting. With more than 45 years in sales leadership and marketing management, Dan has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to make better use of time to achieve life, sales, and other business goals. Each week, he interviews some of the nation’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing meaningful tips and advice. Subscribe on iTunes and please leave a rating and review!

John O'Leary - Expected to die, John O’Leary now teaches others how to truly live. John’s journey overcoming his fire had mostly been kept private. Then, in 2007, his parents’ showcased the story in their book, Overwhelming Odds, which they wrote as a thank you to the family and friends who supported them. This book resulted in organizations around the world requesting to hear first-hand how John defied the odds. To meet the growing requests and recognizing his calling to be an agent of inspirational living and overcoming adversity, John began professionally speaking in 2008. Since then, John has shared his message with more than 500,000 people in ten countries at 1,200 events for clients including LEGO, Southwest Airlines, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and more. His newest book is On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life. Show Highlights: Everybody has a story. It's just not usually the story we are telling the world. @JOLearyinspiresThere are two motivations in life that we lead and

Marcia Wieder - Marcia Wieder, CEO and Founder of Dream University, has spent the last 30 years launching and leading a world-wide Dream Movement. With her proven DreamSteps Methodology to help people identify and realize their dreams, Marcia has literally changed the world. Marcia has collaborated with 3 U.S. presidents, been a repeat guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, had her own PBS television special and has trained thousands of people from all walks of life. Known for her inspirational and motivating speaking style, Marcia is in demand on stages around the world. Her newest book is Dream: Clarify and Create What YOU Want. Show Highlights: A dream is something that you can create a plan for and make happen. A fantasy had no plan of action. @marciawiederGoals are measurable checkpoints towards a dream. @marciawiederOur ability to take risks stems from our ability to trust ourselves. @marciawiederIntention is the rudder that steers the course of our lives. But it doesn't work well without

Jay Baer has spent 23 years in digital marketing, consulting for more than 700 companies during that period, including 32 of the FORTUNE 500. His current firm – Convince & Convert – provides digital marketing advice and online customer service advice and counsel to some of the world’s most important brands like The United Nations, Allstate, Cisco, and Cabela’s. His new book, Hug Your Haters, is the world’s first modern customer service manual, showing how companies large and small can benefit from the enormous increase in online complaints and customer feedback. His second book, Youtility: Why Smart Marketing is About Help not Hype, was #3 on the New York Times business best seller list, and a runaway #1 Amazon best seller. Jay speaks approximately 60 times per year world-wide, often with lessons about how businesspeople can use today’s shifts in technology and consumer expectation to gain or keep more customers. Show Highlights: 80% of businesses say they provide superior customer serv

Rusty Shelton -  first spoke at Harvard on the changing world of PR and marketing at the age of 23. Today, as CEO of Shelton Interactive, he leads one of the country’s fastest-growing digital marketing and PR agencies. Founded in 2010, Shelton Interactive features a unique and forward-thinking communications model that integrates PR, social media, graphic design, website development, and SEO—services that are normally handled by multiple agencies—under one roof. The company has launched more than 30 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. Barbara Henricks -  is president of Cave Henricks Communications, a full service media relations and consulting firm, specializing in book publicity, media strategy for thought leaders, and platform development. Barbara has spearheaded campaigns for some of the biggest names in business today, including Jack Welch, Tom Rath, Ram Charan, Larry Bossidy, Maria Bartiromo, Clay Christensen, and Marcus Buckingham. A former journalist at NBC, Henricks has represe

Andrew Davis has wrangled for The Muppets and written for Charles Kuralt. He’s marketed for tiny startups and Fortune 500 brands. He is the author of two books, Brandscaping and Town Inc. In 2001, Andrew co-founded Tippingpoint Labs, where, as the chief strategy officer, Andrew and his team helped companies like Putnam Investments, Breville and TomTom. Drew has led the charge to change the way publishers think and how brands market their products in a digital world. Today, after selling Tippingpoint Labs, Andrew Davis shares his insights and ideas in workshops and speaking engagements around the world. He's been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, International Business Times, The Boston Globe, CBS News and hundreds of other media outlets. Show Highlights: In the future, everyone will be in sales. @DrewDavisHereVideo is a massive shift in marketing. Don't tell your audience, show your audience. @DrewDavisHereMarketers will spend less time creative a lot of content and focus on shari

Tim Sanders is a New York Times bestselling author, public speaker, and former Yahoo! executive. He joined Yahoo! through the acquisition of Mark Cuban's Broadcast.com in 1999. Tim uses his business expertise to help some of the world's biggest brands lead their teams to greatness & close deals. Tim is the author of four books, including the New York Times bestseller Love Is the Killer App: How To Win Business & Influence Friends. It’s been translated into over a dozen languages and has been featured in Fast Company, USA Today, the New York Times, The Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor and on CNN. His other books include Today We Are Rich, The Likeability Factor, Saving the World at Work and his most recent book, Dealstorming Show Highlights: Dealstorming is the combination of brainstorming and deal making. @sanderssaysWhen you put brainstorming and deal-making together you solve all the problems that stand between you and the complex sale. @sanderssaysThe secret to dealstorming is to in

This week's podcast is highlighting a life story from one of our Southwestern Consulting™ coaching clients. Dr. Ray Queener is the Superintendent of Cambridge Isanti School District  (5,000 students) in Cambridge, MN. He is dedicated to creating a better culture in his school district and becoming a stronger leader. Putting action behind that goal, he partnered with one of our accountability coaches to guide him through his goals. Dr. Queener's accountability and leadership coach is Kristen Hartnagel. Kristen specializes in leadership, vision, team engagement and motivation. Her passion is changing lives and creating strong sales cultures. She is an expert at training, coaching and personal development. Tune in to this week's unique show to get a glimpse of a real life story about accountability and the benefits of partnering with a coach to accomplish your goals in life. Show Highlights: How are you able to make significant changes to affect the way your team learns? @Queener1Be creative and