Scale Up Strategies: The Business Podcast for Coaches, Consultants, and Speakers
We're your hosts and Business Coaching experts Mary Fain Brandt and Laura Bashore
We’re sharing all our mistakes and insider tips from our 20+ years in business and
how we successfully scaled up our businesses without losing our minds or our husbands.
Sure you can piece it together and try to DIY your way to success
OR
you can listen to us every week and learn the shortcuts because we promise there
are some.
Scale Up Strategies: The Business Podcast for Coaches, Consultants, and Speakers
From Business to Author: Using Book Writing to Scale Your Business with Special Guest Richard Marks
Unlock the secrets of scaling your business through the power of authorship! Join us as we sit down with Richard Marks, the dynamic founder of RDM Management Group, to uncover the transformative potential of writing a book for business growth.
We also dive deep with Mary and Laura as they share their personal journeys and the hurdles they faced in their quest to become authors. As a bonus, Richard provides invaluable insights on the benefits of joining business chambers and the critical role of committee involvement in building lasting relationships and expanding your network.
Discover how Richard's empathetic leadership style led him to pen the influential book "Expect Great Things to Happen: Five Core Principles of Highly Effective Business Professionals." His book has not only reshaped corporate teams but has also proven instrumental in his business success. Richard reveals the profound impact that writing a book can have on your leadership abilities and business development, offering practical advice for overcoming doubts and staying focused on your writing goals.
From overcoming self-doubt to celebrating the triumph of publication, this episode is packed with actionable tips and motivational stories. Listen to Richard's latest business venture, learn about the resilience needed in the face of failure, and enjoy a fun, light-hearted "this or that" game that offers a peek into his personality. Whether you're an aspiring author or a seasoned business professional, this episode is filled with insights and inspiration to help you scale up your business. Don't forget to connect with Richard on LinkedIn and subscribe for more enriching content.
Connect with Richard Marks
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdmmanagementgroup/
Book - https://www.amazon.com/Expect-Great-Things-Happen-Professionals-ebook/dp/B09ZC3QNLP
Upcoming TEDx Escondido - https://www.tedxescondido.
SPONSOR
TEAM Referral
https://teamreferralnetwork.com/san-diego-region/
Are you an entrepreneur or a small business owner? How are you attracting business? Join San Diego's Elite team referral networking group. Don't hire a sales team. Join one Call today 619-731- 0395 or visit team referral networkcom to give your business the boost that it needs. Team together, everyone achieves more.
Thank you for listening to Scale Up Strategies: The Business Growth Podcast for Coaches, Consultants, and Speakers.
If you enjoyed the show - follow, rate, and share our podcast with your network!
We'd love to hear directly from you:
bizscaleuppod@gmail.com
Connect with Laura and Mary on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraobashore/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryfainbrandt/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/scale-up-strategies-the-business-growth-podcast
Thank you to our Sponsors:
BuzzSprout
Thinking about starting your own podcast or leveling up by switching hosts? Use our code: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2110162
Receive $20 through BuzzSprout's Refer a Friend Program
TEAM Referral Network - SD
https://teamreferralnetwork.com/san-diego-region/
You're listening to Scale Up Strategies, the business growth podcast for coaches, consultants and speakers. We're your hosts and business coach experts Mary Fain Brandt and Laura Bas hore.
Laura Bashore:We're sharing all our insider tips from 20 plus years in business, including how we successfully scaled our businesses without losing our minds or our husbands.
Mary Fain Brandt:Sure, you can piece it together and try to DIY your way to success, or you can listen to us every week and learn the shortcuts, because we promise they're really awesome, so grab your favorite cup of coffee, tune in and let's start the show.
Laura Bashore:Hi listeners, welcome back to Scale Up Strategies, the business growth podcast for coaches, consultants and speakers. I'm Laura Bashore.
Mary Fain Brandt:And I'm Mary Fain Brandt. We've got a question for our listeners today. How many of you have thought about writing a book? Go ahead and raise your hand if you're watching the video, because I've got my hand up, laura. We've been talking about writing a book for like three years. How many people have started writing a book and then stopped? Or how many of you have a book and you don't know what to do with it? I was at my meeting yesterday with business owners and I have a colleague who said she's been writing a book for 13 years. What Nice Right. So I'm sure that you guys have heard that writing a book for 13 years what Nice Right. So I'm sure that you guys have heard that writing a book can make a huge difference in your business. As a speaker, I am always asked Mary, do you have a book? And I embarrassingly say no, I can't wait to change that. Right, right, laura. As a speaker, you're like do you have a book?
Laura Bashore:Well, today we have a great guest.
Mary Fain Brandt:I know I have a PDF, but we're going to have a book soon, you guys. But today we have a very special guest. Richard and I know each other from San Diego. Some of you know that Laura and I know each other from San Diego. I'm the one not in San Diego anymore Richard Marks. He's the founder and president of RDM Management Group, a professional sales consulting company.
Laura Bashore:Yeah, so when we were thinking of bringing on a guest and somebody who could talk about doing books for us, richard came top of mind for me and then when I mentioned it to Mary, she's like, yes, we should talk to Richard. And so you know how networking works is, richard and I see each other. We're part of one of the same chambers and so when I saw him I was like, hey, random question. But Mary told me to ask you and we're thankful that he said yes, because I have seen him in action and I have seen, in addition, what the book can do in action. So we're so thankful that you decided to say yes and we asked you to come on yeah, all things.
Richard Marks:How could I possibly say no two of my favorite friends?
Mary Fain Brandt:I love that. So, richard, quick backstory we met each other almost nine years ago, right, and we started our business at the same time. I think we met at North County Business Chamber or something, right? Yes, that's correct. That's the same way we met. I know that's where he gets people. It's part of my networking strategy.
Mary Fain Brandt:Yeah, and we were both so new to owning a business, we both came from the corporate world, and so what I love is that we took action and we started meeting at the Coffee Bean or something over in Clarebot and we would meet like quarterly and talk about what was working, what wasn't, you know.
Mary Fain Brandt:We talked about our goals, our failures and the little successes that we were having in those very early stages. And I want to share one thing that, richard, you told me, probably a couple years later, as we kept in touch, you had joined the chamber and you said, mary, I think a chamber would be a really good fit for you. And I was still in San Diego and I never joined the chamber there. But on top of that, you said, mary, when you join a chamber, join a marketing or join a committee, because then you'll get known quicker. And so, richard, I don't know if you know, but I am a member of the Glendale chamber here and one month after joining I was on the marketing committee. So I listened to what you said and it has been phenomenal. So one piece of advice like that you gave me years ago, I have that in my back pocket and your little voice was in my head join the chamber, find the right chamber and then get on a committee.
Richard Marks:Yeah, I think that's so important. And you know the chambers often where the most gathering of people are at the mixers, and the mixers depend on the size of the chamber. You know that's where you're buying the most folks there networking, promoting their businesses. But those mixers usually only happen once a month and if you're trying to grow your business, and only interacting in the networking group once a month, in my opinion is not going to give you the level of success that you're seeking. However, if you join a committee, you're now interacting with folks at different stages of that cycle. You're learning about them, they're learning about you. That's where the relationships, in my opinion or through my experience, are actually created. Then, when you see the folks in the mixer, you're like, hey, I know this person, I know that person that continues to build trust, it begins to continue to strengthen relationships and it also creates, uh, amazing networking referral opportunities and at one time at the north san diego business chamber, I was part of four different committees in it.
Mary Fain Brandt:You told me that I was like that's crazy, but you know what else. You told me that I was like that's crazy, but you know what else you told me before we dive into today's topic, which I promise you guys we're going to get to, is that you said, mary, it takes time, it took you a year, and so I want to let you know the chamber is my biggest source of clients at this moment.
Richard Marks:Wow, that's really great to hear.
Mary Fain Brandt:Yeah, but it took a good nine months. But I was consistent, I showed up and I've added services to my portfolio, and so they've worked with me on LinkedIn, obviously, and now they work with me on AI the same people that know like trust. So it takes time, but I just wanted to let you know, publicly that you helped me, that that bit of advice that you shared years ago I kept in my back pocket and I used.
Richard Marks:So thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing that with me. Thank you very much.
Laura Bashore:Yeah, I completely agree. Committees are huge. That's how I got started in the North San Diego Business Chamber too. And plug for Richard. Richard is the newest chairman on the board for the Insumitas Chamber, so again, Congratulations. Thank you and then don't tell anybody, you guys, but it'll be public by the time this is out. But I'm the newest, one of the newest board of directors for North San Diego Business Chamber.
Richard Marks:Really. Congratulations, right, laura, I just literally rejoined or renewed my membership with North San Diego Business Chamber.
Laura Bashore:I know I was screaming for you in the crowd.
Richard Marks:He's like I saw him after it he's like who is?
Laura Bashore:that I'm like that was me.
Richard Marks:So I'm excited about that.
Laura Bashore:And now we want to hear about a little bit about your business before you start telling us how your book was influential. So I know you had mentioned, Richard, that you started your business over nine years ago and just with your background in sales and leadership, can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to start RDM Management Group?
Richard Marks:Well, it was really interesting. I spent 30 years in sales and sales leadership five years as an individual contributor ie salesperson and then 25 years as a sales leader. And in my role as a sales leader, I was in the technology space and I often was leading and managing teams. Well, some of my team members knew more about the products and services than I did. You know, I got promoted because I excelled as an individual contributor. That's how many of us get promoted. We were so great at our job. Now you get to lead a team.
Richard Marks:However, there was things that I did not know. However, I realized that I needed my team in order for me to be successful. I learned very quickly that, as a leader, in order for me to meet my sales goals and objectives, that I needed my team members, my direct reports, to meet their goals and objectives. And if they did so ironically, of course I would meet my goals and objectives. So I learned how to humble myself at a very early age. As a leader, I began to build relationships, trust, rapport with my direct reports and consequently, morale was high. People enjoyed working with me, they trusted me. They would literally go above and beyond. I did very little micromanaging because they felt, as though, that I valued them. Because I did, I respected them and I treated them accordingly. Thus they would just go above and beyond. Well, fast forward.
Richard Marks:I began to receive opportunities when I was in corporate America to go and replace other leaders throughout our organization and throughout the nation, primarily because they would conduct these employee surveys and employee surveys. That morale was in the toilet and they gave me an opportunity to say, richard, can you go and work with this particular team of this particular region to help improve morale? Now, the interesting thing is that those organizations were meeting their sales goals, but it was how they were meeting their sales goals. The leaders were managing by dictatorship do it because I said so. Managing by fear, and that negatively impacted morale. Managing by fear, and that negatively impacted morale. And so, as I began to travel around the country and begin to demonstrate that care, that value, that respect, that empathy, that trust I was sharing with you earlier, that continued to create additional opportunity for me for promotion and managing different markets.
Richard Marks:Well, I began to have conversations with other thought leaders from different industries, come to find out that they were running into some of the same issues in terms of leadership styles that they were plagued with, or to include themselves and then fast forward the organization I was a part of.
Richard Marks:They wanted me to relocate from San Diego to Albuquerque, new Mexico, and because that's the region that I was managing New Mexico and Texas and I wasn't interested in relocating to those markets Again, I was living in San Diego and so they said well, richard, if you do not want to relocate, you're going to have to find a job in San Diego or Orange County within the first 60 days, and if you do not, you're going to be placed on the surplus list. Well, what that meant was is that I could actually be laid off. I really realized very quickly that, based on how I was leading teams in my corporate world, I could actually share this information to others in form of training to be able to grow my vision, which I always wanted to have a business. So that's how I got into it. I was doing it in corporate America and I wanted to help others beyond my borders, if you will.
Laura Bashore:I love it. Okay, that makes sense, and I think you hit on a really good point and this is where your value comes in when you're dealing with corporations is that when we get promoted in sales based on our ability to sell, that does not mean that we're good leaders. That's just not how that works. So I'm interested to know then can you share with our audience officially what the name of your book is and then tell us what inspired you to write that Meaning? Did you have the book and then your business started, or did you have your business and then decided to start the book?
Richard Marks:My book is entitled Expect Great Things to Happen. Five core principles of highly effective business professionals.
Mary Fain Brandt:I think we all need to read that.
Richard Marks:Oh, absolutely. It's a great leadership book. It's a great interpersonal skills book. It's a great soft skills book. So I think it would help many organizations. As a matter of fact, it's doing that already organically. Many folks have come to me. These are leaders who are managing teams. In this example. They read the book and they, based on the insight that they received, they begin to share it with their team members. So my book is part of several book clubs. It's also woven into the culture of many organizations now, based on those five principles that I will talk about in a couple of moments, and now they're leading their team and their organizations based on those principles, through my experience. So that's a testimony of many of my clients who have purchased a book.
Mary Fain Brandt:I love that. Thank you, richard, for sharing that with us, and we'll make sure to include a link to where people can get your book in the show notes.
Mary Fain Brandt:So Richard this episode is about writing a book as a business owner. How can it help my business? Should I write a book? Why should I writing a book as a business owner? How can it help my business? Should I write a book? Why should I write a book? So many of our listeners are considering writing a book, but aren't sure how it can benefit their business. So can you talk about some of the key benefits you've experienced since publishing your book? What would be the top reason?
Richard Marks:Yeah Well, my mentor, art Barter, is the one that challenged me to write a book. Art has a business here in San Diego and Art and I was on the same stage, and this was right before COVID at Alliant College here in Alliant University. And we're on the same stage and, ironically, one of my clients knew Art. I had no idea who he was and they told me that, based on how sort of I was leading their organization, was very similar to Art. So I began to research Art and his business, et cetera. Fast forward, we're on the same stage and I asked Art if he would be interested in meeting with me for coffee to just assess my business steady, meeting with me for coffee to just assess my business. And he said yes. So Art and I met at a coffee house and, ironically, in Encinitas, he looked at my business model and said Richard, you have a really good business. He said, however, I would recommend that you write a book. I'm like, well, art, I do not mind speaking with people or training and development, but I'm not interested in a book. He said if you're going to be serious about this business, write a book. He said it's not necessarily about book sales, it's about being an authority figure, an expert, a subject matter expert in your industry. So I say yeah, but no, I really did not receive that, because I ironically struggled in all transparency and reading and just keeping my focus and I'm thinking folks will have the same challenge as well, reading my book and how do I convert these words and speaking, you know, in front of a live audience into a book. So I struggled there, mentally, would you believe.
Richard Marks:A week and a half later, I get a request on LinkedIn by a gentleman by the name of Jeremy Jones. Jeremy Jones has a publishing company in Phoenix and they specialize in helping authors or, excuse me, speakers, trainers, facilitators convert their message into a book, and so he reached out to me. I said, okay, let's schedule a meeting. We met maybe a couple of weeks later, virtually, and then all of a sudden I decided to take a serious interest in their program, and so I signed up for the program and he promised to help you birth a book within a year, about 20,000 words. This is area of expertise, and so I decided to take that plunge. I started it and they said Richard, could you please turn in your first three chapters of your book? And this was about after a month I turned in my first three chapters. They responded about a week later. I've never seen so many corrections and red marks in all my life.
Laura Bashore:And that's hard to swallow, right it was. It destroyed my ego.
Richard Marks:It destroyed my ego and so much so I quit. I, like you know. Oh, absolutely, I quit.
Mary Fain Brandt:I love that you're being so transparent and authentic. I I think one of our goals just to side note here is that with our podcast, we want to share real stories, not just the pretty picture. So, richard, keep telling us about how you quit. I want to hear more about this.
Richard Marks:No, I quit. I told myself I'm fine running a business, I'm fine being a facilitator, I'm fine coaching, but, author, I just don't have to have that Again. I don't know how to do this. And my publisher, Jeremy, said, Richard, I got you, Just follow our program. And even following the program, I struggled. I thought I was in some type of. I used to tease Jeremy. I said, Jeremy, I think I need to be in the remedial program because I am struggling here. And then now COVID is happening. My wife Elisa got diagnosed with Parkinson's. So I'm trying to manage that. I'm trying to manage my business. It's happening in real time. And I was sitting outside one day in front of the pool just relaxing, and I do a lot of internal self-talk. I'm constantly working on myself. And I asked myself a question Richard, what are you proving to yourself by quitting?
Laura Bashore:And my response was I just like.
Richard Marks:Well, I told my internal voice Richard, shut up, it's okay to quit, man, you don't have to do this.
Laura Bashore:Just say no.
Richard Marks:Richard, exactly. It's like I don't have to do this. Then I asked myself again what would you tell the clients that you're coaching? What would you tell the audience that you have the opportunity to speak with? More importantly, what would you tell your children that it's okay to quit? And then I got really convicted and so I prayed about it, I thought about it, I talked to my wife, elisa, about it and, of course, I began to. I reached out to another editor Her name is Laura, she's a local person that I met here and Laura literally would come to my office and what we would do. She would ask me questions based on the construct of my book. We would record my answers.
Mary Fain Brandt:Right, I like that way that that feels better to me.
Richard Marks:Exactly she, we were actually record my, my answers and then she would clean it up in form of editing, and so that started to build up my courage to continue to move forward. And so I connected with my publisher, jeremy, simultaneously working with Laura, and then, fast forward, we were, we're able to build some momentum, make some, and I was able to finish my book. And then, as we finished it, we were like OK, well, richard, who might we get to endorse your book? Ironically, I'm a fan of Kim Blanchard. My office is on his campus and I'm thinking, wait, I'm paying these folks rent. Let me reach out to Kim Blanchard organization and see if they would be interested in endorsing my book. Not to mention, I'm certified on one of his, on his program on situational leadership.
Richard Marks:Well, I pushed my book out to Ken. Now, that was really quite intimidating, because Ken is Ken is an author of about 60 plus books. He has these great programs, great organizations and, would you believe, after a couple of weeks he gave me this endorsement. Ladies, that brought tears to my eyes and my book has been endorsed by Ken Blanchard. So, because I was able to work through my fears of not being good enough, didn't think that people will want to read the book. It was validated by the most powerful authors that I know and then, when the book launched on May 22nd two years ago, it launched and became bestseller first week.
Laura Bashore:Totally yeah, fantastic.
Mary Fain Brandt:Hey. So, richard, real quick, you know I love that you shared your authentic story of being afraid and quitting. I just love that you could share that you quit and that you were like this isn't for me because I don't know. Can anyone else ever feel?
Mary Fain Brandt:anyone else align with that once in a while, even as a business owner, like, I don't know about this, but you know, you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and went back to work. I have a question. So, as a professional speaker Laura and I are both speakers, as you are and I am always asked do you have a book? So, having a book and being an established speaker that you are, has the book influenced or opened up any speaking opportunities that you think like you wouldn't have had this speaking opportunity if you didn't have the book, or has it complemented? How does that, how does having a book help your speaking career?
Richard Marks:Well, it has helped a variety of ways. Now because folks are reading the book. The book is a gateway for speaking opportunities based on my book. So that has created a lane all on its own and, as I shared earlier, because of the book, folks are reading the book. They want to apply the book in their organization. Now it creates additional training opportunity on the book. As a matter of fact, I was with a new client literally yesterday and they want me to come in and train on my book. So it's not only creating speaking opportunity, it's creating training opportunities as well. Opportunity is creating training opportunities as well.
Richard Marks:Not to mention, there are folks that are looking for authors and speakers or authors, if you will based on you know, their goals and objectives for this upcoming year or whatever cycle that they might be in, and they want to hear. You know I talk about again the principles of my book. They want to hear about that self-discipline, the emotional intelligence that I talk about, and so emotional intelligence is just one of these areas that continue to be very impactful for organizations right now individuals and organizations. So I often get opportunities for those speaking sort of gateways as well, and then I also get opportunities to do podcasts. There's another one, you know because of the book.
Richard Marks:So thank you folks for you know acknowledging that that as well, and I have been also been able to increase my speaking fees because of the book.
Mary Fain Brandt:I like that right there, you got me. Oh, okay, so yes.
Richard Marks:So once you become an author, again, you're deemed as an expert, and I leveraged at every whether I'm just doing facilitation, based on the many training topics in which I facilitate, and or as a speaker, because I'm an author, that raises your level of competency as an expert and so not only open more doors, it actually you can leverage that as increased revenue, and I do. And so some clients that I've worked with in the past said Richard, remember when we did X, can we do it for the same price? No, and sometimes, did x, can we do it for the same price? Uh, no. And and sometimes and that's that's a harsh reality, because going through that growth, understanding your value, understanding your, your worth uh, it sometimes can create a separation from your old clients to your, your new ones. But even for me was more of a psychological play. I had to understand my own value and as a professional speaker or, more important, as an author, tying that to your ability to speak, it can increase 50, 100% of what your fees were and even more.
Mary Fain Brandt:It's actually unlimited, laura we got to write a book. That's it. I mean, let's clear our schedule. Next week we're writing a book.
Laura Bashore:But I did have kind of a question with that too, because you're talking about okay, this can increase your value. How do you make sure that you do that? But something that can come into play, especially when you're newer as an author, when you're using this to help increase value. Do you offer that as a gift to each person who signs up, or is it, and you can also purchase this book for?
Richard Marks:this amount Like how do you leverage?
Laura Bashore:that piece of it.
Richard Marks:So again, I this one particular client wanted me to talk about leadership skills, interpersonal skills, soft skills right, because that's where the leaders need to work. Leadership skills or interpersonal skills, soft skills right, because that's where the leaders need to work. So I was actually able to leverage my book because this person knew that I wrote a book. But they did not make that connection. They just wanted me to come in and talk about soft skills and I suggest well, how about? How about, let's, let me give each it's like 50 people.
Richard Marks:I'm like, let me autograph, a personal autograph, each book. I have a bookmark, I have a bracelet. Let's do that and we will focus on the five core principles of my book and that person. Oh, richard, that's great, that's an excellent idea. And I tie that the cost of the books and the bookmark and the bracelet and me being an author into that fee to increase my fee. I love it Versus just training or facilitating on that topic. So I've learned how to combine them. And also, folks, I'm finishing up my workbook of my book, so I have the book, the secondary piece to it?
Richard Marks:Oh, absolutely. It's a complimentary piece. It's not free, of course, it's for a fee, but it's a companion of the book. So the book itself has now birthed a companion, which will also increase revenue opportunities. My goal was to convert my book into a stapled training program stapled training program and to and I want that my vision is for this to be so successful I want to certify other folks who want to train on my book. That's another revenue piece, right?
Laura Bashore:I love that, so licensing the certification for them oh absolutely oh, absolutely I learned
Richard Marks:this ironically from the Ken Blanchard model. Many of his books have been converted into these staple trainings and now folks get certified on the Ken Blanchard material. In this example, they can make revenue for themselves but can get paid for the material that you have to buy from them. It's an excellent way to continue to grow your business. So not only does it help you as a speaker, it can also help you in your business holistically, because we're all looking for that recurring revenue right, we want that, and so I get royalties.
Laura Bashore:Now clarity to what you do right that people know now, because instead of just saying here's the topics I speak on, they're like no, here's a program, I deliver a whole program. Yeah.
Mary Fain Brandt:Laura. We got a lot of writing to do. We got to write our book and then we have to write the workbook and then the sequel. I think we're going to have to go to a writer's retreat, Laura, and it needs to be somewhere fabulous.
Richard Marks:San Diego.
Laura Bashore:Come on.
Richard Marks:And one other thing I would recommend as well what I did, because many folks told me said well, richard, we're not readers. We like listening to books as we're driving, to work or whatever, and so my book, of course, is on Amazon, it's on Kindle. So I reached out to Amazon and they have actors in which, or voice actors that you can hire to actually read your book, and so I shared that with a couple of colleagues of mine and they said Richard, you got to be kidding, you're going to do this yourself. Right, you're going to record your own book. And I know, or I had this again internal psychological blockage on what my voice sounds like, and a lot of people do not like the sound of the voices.
Mary Fain Brandt:And I was one of those folks right. But you know, that's that's very subjective.
Richard Marks:But again, mary, you sound fantastic. Again, this is just a psychological block in our head and so, ironically, I met this person at the San Marcos chamber. This person has a recording studio in Vista and we were just talking about business and he said, richard, you have an interesting perspective. And he said, you also have a really good voice. And I said, would you believe I have a book. I'm interested in recording my book. Well, long story short, I went into a studio last year, january, I recorded my book and my book is now audible. And so, again, this is another birth or a segue to becoming an author right and offering it on multiple platforms.
Laura Bashore:Well, I'm going to purchase it on Audible because I'll say I do like your voice. When you said you were going to come on the podcast, I was like, oh, he's got a great voice for it. I'm even more excited and I'm someone who listens to Audible regularly and if I don't like the voice, I oh yeah.
Mary Fain Brandt:If I don't like the voice, I oh yeah. If I don't like the voice, if it's annoying or something I'm like, oh, I can't go to chapter two.
Laura Bashore:Okay, so you do have a great voice.
Mary Fain Brandt:You are a subject matter expert and writing a book that really positions you as that subject matter expert gives you more credibility, it opens up more speaking opportunities and it can lead to more revenue, because you've already got additional streams of revenue with the audio book and the workbook and I'm sure there's going to be another book coming out and then getting it into training. So I think that you've opened up the eyes and ears to our listeners on what the benefits are of writing a book as a business owner and so, laura, we're totally going to have to book that writing retreat and get busy. So I think Laura has some questions for you before I wrap it up with. My questions Are you ready?
Laura Bashore:I do, yes, so we have four questions. We have four questions that we ask every guest, okay, and so. I know I didn't prep have four questions. We have four questions that we ask every guest, okay, and so. Short and sweet. I know I didn't prep you for them, so I apologize, but here they are. So the first question we have for you is what was the last risk that you took as a business owner?
Richard Marks:Wow, that's a very good one. So, hmm, the last risk I think I would share is I really attempted to bring several folks together. I have this vision that hasn't quite developed as of yet, but I put several folks together. It was actually to help grow their businesses and mine. It was actually to help grow their businesses and mine, and we were offering webinars complimentary, based on our area of expertise, and we offer them free of charge, with the hope is that people would actually hire us into their organization. And that failed. We did provide a lot of value. It was very successful in terms of the content and what we delivered.
Laura Bashore:But the flip side of that coin, it did not yield the results in which we're looking thank you for sharing that sure, okay and and it's something to realize that you know, what we do after we fail is what makes us successful, right, so I think that's a great great thing to share. Okay, so question number two what is a quote that you live by in your business?
Richard Marks:Expect great things to happen.
Laura Bashore:There's the plug. That's an easy one for you. That's a Richard Marks quote, okay.
Richard Marks:Yes.
Laura Bashore:I love it. What is the number one social platform that you use for your business?
Richard Marks:LinkedIn.
Mary Fain Brandt:Thank you.
Richard Marks:That's an easy one as well, I think that's an easy one as well.
Richard Marks:And then, if you could sum it up in a sentence or a phrase, what is the key to your success? Not quitting. I mentioned fear or failure several times in our conversation. I've learned to adopt what we call the growth mindset. The growth mindset is looking at situations, especially difficult situations, as an opportunity for you to learn, grow and change for the better, focusing your attention on improving yourself instead of changing or blaming anyone else, and that's a great concept and principle that I also adopted in order for me to get to my desired outcome.
Richard Marks:Failure is inevitable, but I do not allow it to have me to quit. It may delay it, I may have to reroute, I may have to gather some new information, similar to the book. I may have to acquire a new skill, but it has not tarnished my, my, my internal purpose to continue to achieve my goals. It may have changed and shifted somewhat, but I still have that big vision picture on my desired outcome. I know that I'm going to achieve those things, but initially it's not the way in which I envision, especially as an entrepreneur. We have tons of ideals, so creative, and we try X, and we try X, and we try Y, and sometimes we do not receive that immediate gratification. I'm encouraging your listeners whatever you do, don't quit.
Mary Fain Brandt:I love it, I love it. Well, those were the business questions. And then you know me, richard, I'm going to come in with the fun questions. So we have this thing that we ask our guests more of a personal note. It's called this or that and you don't get to add an answer. I'm going to give you two words and you have to choose one. Okay, are you ready? He's like oh God here comes, mary, let's go.
Richard Marks:Okay, this or that, here we go.
Mary Fain Brandt:Richard, okay, this or that, here we go. Richard Marks, mountains or oceans.
Richard Marks:Ocean.
Mary Fain Brandt:Netflix binge or bowling night.
Richard Marks:Netflix binge.
Mary Fain Brandt:Football or baseball.
Richard Marks:Football.
Mary Fain Brandt:Whiskey or wine Whiskey. So far, we're like matching.
Richard Marks:I'm just wanting to know it. Or dogs it's a Gemini Dogs.
Mary Fain Brandt:Okay, we're off Mexican food or Italian food.
Richard Marks:Hmm, italian food, I love pizza.
Mary Fain Brandt:Paper or digital.
Richard Marks:Can I say hybrid?
Mary Fain Brandt:The rules are Digital, mac or PC.
Richard Marks:PC.
Mary Fain Brandt:We can't be friends anymore. Sorry, flip flops or boots.
Richard Marks:Flip flops.
Mary Fain Brandt:Okay, we're friends again. Thank you for playing.
Richard Marks:Really, did I win or lose? I'm not really sure what's the outcome of this.
Mary Fain Brandt:I think that this is a win or lose game. It's just a fun game that makes us laugh hysterically with our guests and our audience gets to know you a little on a personal level. I appreciate it.
Laura Bashore:It's about the journey, richard, it's the journey.
Richard Marks:The journey of this or that.
Laura Bashore:Yeah, I love it, right? Well, we are just so thankful that you came on with us today, richard, and shared some of your insights and again for our listeners, we will put the link to Richard's book in our show notes, so please find it there. And you heard he's on LinkedIn, so we'll put his link there too for you guys to connect yes, buy his book.
Mary Fain Brandt:Connect with him on linkedin, go out and network with your chamber. That's one of those tips. And if you've got a book stuck in your head, it's time to get that onto paper or digital, and for all of our listeners. Don't for um. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review our podcast, and until next time here. Here's to good coffee, great conversations and even greater success. Cheers.
Richard Marks:Cheers. Thank you Laura, thank you Mary.
Mary Fain Brandt:If you enjoyed the podcast, show us some love. Please rate, review and subscribe to our podcast, and if you have any feedback, go ahead and share that with us too, because we want to hear from you. Until then, stay focused, stay motivated and stay caffeinated.
