Smashing the Plateau
Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau

Smashing the Plateau

Overview
Episodes

Details

Launched in 2014, Smashing the Plateau shares weekly stories, strategies and ideas to help consultants, coaches and small business owners build success as entrepreneurs following long careers as high-achieving employees. We believe you should be able to take control over your career destiny, do what you love, what you’re competent at doing, and get paid what you’re worth, consistently. We are committed to the success of expertise-based businesses. Ready to go even deeper? The Smashing the Plateau Community uses a structured, supportive process to implement the kinds of strategies we discuss in this podcast. It is a community that is built to be a safe, caring place, where inclusive, direct, active and empowering conversations are welcome. If you want to get your consulting, coaching or small business to grow, on your own terms, so that you can deliver great results to your ideal clients, while supporting the lifestyle you want, and you don’t want to do it alone, apply to become a member of the Smashing the Plateau Community. Learn more at https://smashingtheplateau.com.

Recent Episodes

How to Enhance Your Leadership Skills for a Fulfilling Career Path Featuring Tammy Gooler Loeb
FEB 24, 2025
How to Enhance Your Leadership Skills for a Fulfilling Career Path Featuring Tammy Gooler Loeb

Tammy Gooler Loeb is an executive leadership and career coach, speaker, and facilitator with expertise in leadership, team development, organizational culture, communication, and career transitions. For over two decades, she has enjoyed supporting clients across a wide variety of sectors and industries.

Tammy is the author of the award-winning book, Work from the Inside Out: Break Through Nine Common Obstacles and Design a Career That Fulfills You. She hosts a biweekly podcast, Work from the Inside Out, featuring professionals who have transitioned their careers to more meaningful and satisfying work.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to redefine career success and find happiness in your professional life.

Tammy and I discuss:

  • The evolving definitions of career success and happiness [02:34]
  • The impact of remote and hybrid work on career fulfillment [03:29]
  • How to find balance between personal and professional lives [05:10]
  • The importance of control over work environments [06:51]
  • Challenges faced by new leaders in today’s organizations [10:27]
  • Strategies for finding support in leadership roles [13:15]
  • The value of community in overcoming leadership challenges [19:00]

Learn more about Tammy at:

https://www.instagram.com/tammygoolerloeb/

https://www.facebook.com/TammyGL/

Thank you to our sponsor:  

The Smashing the Plateau Community  

Join now for exclusive access to curated, brief strategic tips from our podcast professionals – transforming your path to success is only a click away!

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26 MIN
How to Establish Credibility in Branding as a New Entrepreneur Featuring Philip VanDusen
FEB 10, 2025
How to Establish Credibility in Branding as a New Entrepreneur Featuring Philip VanDusen

Philip VanDusen is a branding consultant serving SMBs and entrepreneurs based in New Jersey, USA. As a thought leader, Philip shares his expertise in marketing, design, and entrepreneurship on YouTube to his 295k subscribers, in the Brand•Muse newsletter, the Bonfire mastermind community, and on the Brand Design Masters podcast.

Philip has led creative teams in both global branding agencies and global corporations — serving as VP of Design for PepsiCo and Old Navy, and as Executive Creative Director at the iconic branding firm Landor Associates. Past clients include a host of Fortune 100 companies.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will discover how to navigate significant career changes and master the art of branding from a seasoned expert. 

Philip and I discuss:

  • His reflections on what he might have done differently in his career [00:00]
  • How he transitioned from a corporate role to entrepreneurship [02:13]
  • The concept of career being more like a web than a ladder [02:52]
  • Starting out in branding and the progression to where he is now [03:42]
  • The importance of experiential learning over formal education in some fields [04:58]
  • Dealing with imposter syndrome and the fear of uncertainty [06:18]
  • The shift from working in real life to digital environments and adapting to new technologies [08:42]
  • Advice for corporate refugees transitioning to their ventures [10:02]
  • Establishing credibility and authority when starting new [11:39]
  • The vital role of community in supporting career transitions [12:35]
  • The importance of visual branding and consistency across platforms [14:01]
  • How to start building a personal brand even before fully defining your services [16:35]
  • Exploring the potential of digital content to attract and retain clients [21:06]

Learn more about Philip VanDusen:

WEBSITE

https://www.philipvandusen.com

BONFIRE MASTERMIND:

https://philipvandusen.com.com/bonfire

BRAND•MUSE NEWSLETTER 

https://www.philipvandusen.com/muse

CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL COACHING

https://philipvandusen.com/oneonone

BRAND CONSULTING

https://philipvandusen.com/brand-consulting

LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipvandusen/

YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/c/philipvandusen

Thank you to our sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

Gain immediate access to exclusive, streamlined strategy advice from our podcast experts by subscribing now – your journey to success is just one click away!

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29 MIN
How to Make the Leap from Employment to Media Innovation Featuring Jon Leland
FEB 3, 2025
How to Make the Leap from Employment to Media Innovation Featuring Jon Leland

Jon Leland has been a media innovator for over 40 years, including serving as the founding director of creative services for the USA cable TV network. He has led video production and creative services companies for over 30 years. 

Currently, Jon is the host and producer of the Video Mojo video podcast and the creative director of the boutique marketing agency ComBridges, which delivers content, social media, and video marketing services, as well as AI creativity consulting. Jon's passion is supporting people in living more creatively and joyfully through his latest venture, the Creativity Sandbox Community.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about the transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the critical role of community and networking in sustaining a business, and how AI can be harnessed to fuel creativity and innovation.

Jon and I discuss:

  • His journey from an employee to a media innovator and entrepreneur [00:21]
  • How community and networking supported his career transition [03:48]
  • The critical role of AI in creativity and marketing today [06:36]
  • The evolution of his business and the multiple pivots over the years [08:01]
  • The concept of "following the juice" and finding your passion [18:04]
  • How to harness AI effectively for creative processes [18:29]
  • Advice for corporate refugees looking to start their own business [24:08]

Learn more about Jon at https://play.combridges.com.

Thank you to our sponsor:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

Get exclusive access now to carefully selected, concise strategy insights from our podcast experts – one click can set you on the path to success.

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28 MIN
How to Craft a Successful Career Transition in the Speaking Industry Featuring Blair Nichols
JAN 27, 2025
How to Craft a Successful Career Transition in the Speaking Industry Featuring Blair Nichols

Blair began his career in New York at the HarperCollins Speakers Bureau, a business he never knew existed. From there, he had the privilege of leading the Hachette and Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureaus for GTN (now UTA Speakers), before moving west to work with Keith Ferrazzi (author of "Never Eat Alone"). He served as his chief of staff for over three years and learned how keynote speaking can be strategically positioned for corporate coaching and consulting while also studying at UCLA Anderson.

After a few temporary roles during his last year of business school, he returned to the Speakers Bureau world post-graduation. However, after signing and establishing talent, growing and scaling valuable assets and businesses for bosses with nothing to show for it after leaving, he had had enough.

In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about the intricacies of the speakers bureau industry and how to leverage speaking engagements for business growth and personal success.

Blair and I discuss:

  • His journey from working at traditional speakers bureaus to founding his own firm [00:21]
  • What initially drew him to the speakers bureau industry [01:49]
  • The business model behind speakers bureaus and how they operate [03:00]
  • His decision to pursue an MBA and how it influenced his career [04:11]
  • The challenges of working under restrictive leadership and the push towards entrepreneurship [07:50]
  • The strategic positioning of keynote speaking in business development [00:43]
  • How his business model differs from traditional speakers bureaus and the focus on holistic client management [11:18]
  • Advice for corporate refugees on leveraging speaking engagements [13:39]

Learn more about Blair at https://calendly.com/bbn-cm/new-client-call.

Thank you to Our Sponsors:

The Smashing the Plateau Community

Connect with us for insightful strategy tips from our experts, designed to help you master your success journey effortlessly.

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24 MIN