Smashing the Plateau

Bou is a leadership consultant who helps his clients discover how to bring out the best in themselves and others. He designs and delivers customized leadership development workshops for executive teams around the globe. Bou also has a thriving executive and life coaching practice. Together with his wife, Riva Greenberg, he supports people living with diabetes. He resides in Brooklyn, NY.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about navigating solo entrepreneurship in a turbulent environment using practical, data-driven strategies.

Bou and I discuss:

• The importance of building on personal experience and podcast insights [00:00:00]
• Challenges faced by solo entrepreneurs after corporate careers [00:00:47]
• Overview of the SMASH system [00:03:40]
• The five elements of the SMASH framework [00:04:17]
• The role of thinking partners and community collaboration [00:07:08]
• Common challenges like marketing and staying relevant [00:10:45]
• How our book addresses entrepreneurial challenges [00:13:31]

Bou is a leadership consultant who helps his clients discover how to bring out the best in themselves and others. He designs and delivers customized leadership development workshops for executive teams around the globe. Bou also has a thriving executive and life coaching practice. Along with his wife, Riva Greenberg, he supports people living with diabetes. He resides in Brooklyn, NY.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to successfully manage the emotional and psychological challenges of entrepreneurship after a corporate career.

Bou and I discuss:

• The importance of self-care for effective leadership [00:00]
• Bao’s transition from quality management to leadership coaching [03:02]
• How the pandemic reshaped Bao’s coaching practices [04:00]
• Navigating changes and embracing emergence in business [08:13]
• Strategies for responding to unforeseen challenges [09:48]
• The role of AI and tech evolution in the modern job market [12:05]
• Key components of the upcoming book on transitioning to solo ventures [17:55]
• Importance of managing energy and time effectively [20:19]

Shahrina Ankhi-Krol, Esq. is a distinguished attorney and the founder of Ankhi-Krol Law. Founded in 2012, Ankhi-Krol Law has become a leading legal service provider that caters exclusively to the needs of startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs all over the country. The firm's areas of practice are Business, Contract, Trademark, and Copyright Laws.

Shahrina has presented legal topics at countless business conferences, expositions, educational institutions, and on Law and Crime. She has also appeared on CNN, FOX, NBC, and CBS. She is a nine-time Rising Star Super Lawyer, a recognition given to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in each state, each year.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, Shahrina Anki Krol shares her valuable insights on the common legal challenges faced by new business owners. We delve into the importance of creating formal business entities, the crucial role of well-drafted contracts, and the significance of networking for business growth. Shahrina also discusses the impact of artificial intelligence in the legal field.

Shahrina and I discuss:

• What it means to be a corporate refugee [02:23]
• Shahrina's journey from working at law firms to starting her own practice [03:23]
• The importance of creating a formal business entity [08:26]
• How to choose a memorable and trademarkable business name [12:04]
• Crafting effective contracts to protect your business [13:27]
• Methods to resolve disputes amicably [16:00]
• Utilizing artificial intelligence in legal strategies [18:33]
• Tapping into community to foster business success [20:53]

Gloriana Teh is the founder and owner of Claritas Consulting & Coaching. She equips leaders and organizations so their people and projects can thrive. Claritas Consulting & Coaching provides strategy and talent management consulting services to organizations, along with leadership and career coaching services.

Prior to consulting, Gloriana was responsible for process development and optimization for a large specialty chemicals company. She pivoted from process development to people development after over 20 years of corporate experience.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to develop essential soft skills for leadership and team success.

Gloriana and I discuss:

• What prompted Gloriana to transition from engineering to consulting [00:02:27]
• The role of soft skills in technical teams [04:31:8]
• Defining and understanding soft skills [00:05:11]
• The importance of human interaction for team collaboration [00:05:44]
• Initial consulting experiences and challenges [00:05:55]
• Designing and implementing a data visualization tool [00:07:17]
• Why digital transformation projects often fail [00:07:42]
• Applying core concepts across different disciplines [00:09:09]
• The impact of feedback and quick success on her consulting journey [00:09:39]
• Connecting personal strengths to business development [00:10:18]
• Identifying the ideal client and solving their problems [00:11:35]
• Upcoming opportunities and projects [00:12:17]
• The significance of emotional intelligence in leadership [00:13:00]
• Advice for transitioning from corporate to solo entrepreneurship [00:16:03]
• The importance of networking and community support [00:18:13]

Steven Lewis is a copywriter who draws on decades of experience in journalism and marketing to position experts as the obvious choice for their ideal clients.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to effectively communicate your expertise and position yourself for success as a corporate refugee.

Steven and I discuss:

• Steven's journey from law to copywriting [01:45]
• The mistakes businesses make in positioning [06:27]
• The importance of understanding your target market [10:00]
• What people actually value in a service provider [14:32]
• How understanding your value can affect pricing [18:51]
• The role of community in personal and professional growth [24:11]