All In Podcast With Daniel Giordano

In this episode of All-In, host Daniel Giordano welcomes Jake Clopton, an entrepreneur who has found (or carved out for himself) a niche within the commercial real estate lending industry. Was the path to founding Clopton Capital Lending a straight one? As is usually the case with any successful startup enterprise, it was not quite that simple. There were stepping stones, challenges, surprises and a learning curve along the way. A native of upstate New York now established in Chicago, where he is raising a family, Jake shares a combination of elements that have shaped his business story. The most important facet perhaps has been his ability to focus keenly and do his homework. Rather than scattering his attention among different disciplines and activities, Jake adheres to a philosophy of running one race at a time. Clearly that strategy has worked for him, since his firm is going strong after well more than a decade in business. Jake works with CRE owners throughout the U.S. to provide finance solutions for c

On this episode of All-In, Host Daniel Giordano chats with Brian Basilico, known to many as “The Bacon Guy.” The focus is on all things marketing – including the sea change that has gone on as a result of the advent of the internet. The conversation starts out with some background on Brian’s upbringing and early entrepreneurial passion for music, which turned out to reveal a powerful draw to advising people about branding and other facets of business growth. For anyone who wonders, Brian shares a quirky backstory as to how he became “The Bacon Guy” and what the acronym means (Building Authentic Connections Online Networking). How marketers make those all-important connections has changed drastically with the explosion of social media and other web-based communications tools, but in terms of content Brian says many of the tenets remain the same. It turns out that the delivery of messages can take different forms, while effective, high-quality marketing collateral remains the same across all mediums. Brian shar

Entrepreneurial success requires more than keen business skills and strategy. This episode of All-In explores another essential component: Mindset. With his guest Nina Cooke, a coach who specializes in uncovering self-limiting beliefs, Dan explores the intersection between what we tell ourselves and what we’re able to achieve as a result. When the inner monologue is full of self-doubt, feelings of unworthiness or fear of rejection, we are inevitably going to wind up holding ourselves back. Negative self-talk is unquestionably damaging, but many of us aren’t even aware of it. Nina’s practice is built around helping high-level executives, many of whom have already had business coaching, access another core element of growth and long-term achievement: Conscious and unconscious thoughts. Once brought to the surface, Nina helps people examine the roots of their inner monologue and consider alternative mindsets. Drawn from her own early upbringing in England (and some of the patterns she developed that did not serv

This episode of All-In features a woman who clearly has found her perfect professional match. Tara Patten is an image coach and virtual stylist whose lively personality and passion for helping people uncover their best selves is nothing short of inspiring. Daniel hosts a conversation that is both energizing and informative. While Tara is full of passion for her business and mission today, the road to get there was anything but a straight one. Born in England, raised and educated in Florida and Maryland, she was in search of a calling. That search took her to California and ultimately aboard cruise ships in the Caribbean, where she loved being a “shopping ambassador.” It was her first hint of where things ultimately would go. But, as is so often the case, there were a few storm clouds before blue sky broke through. At one period, when the way forward seemed particularly murky, Tara realized there was only one thing to do – something she recommends we all consider when the chips are down: Ask for help. She got

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel talks to Lance Krek, an entrepreneur involved on the retail side of the cannabis industry. Lance sees the benefits of cannabis, especially for medicinal purposes. His passion for the industry enabled him to successfully transition from military life to the business realm. From boots to business and no prior formal business training, Lance initially faced adversity as an entrepreneur, yet he was determined to strive for excellence in the cannabis industry. Lance also expresses a couple advantages of his position within the industry. First, the retail side has given him a great perspective of how the process functions from the endpoint. And second, he wants to educate the public about cannabis and how it can be used safely and responsibly. Though a noticeable stigma still lingers within the cannabis industry, Lance hopes that the product will be treated more like alcohol – not in the sense that it can be abused, yet in the sense that it should be easily accessible,

Knowing how to keep laser-focused is a superpower not just for business coaches but for any entrepreneur who wants to cut through the noise. On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel discusses the power of clarity with Matt Johnson, author and founder of the MicroFamous FastTrack. He has built his successful coaching consultancy, Pursuing Results, around providing thought leaders the tools they need to achieve the profile they want. Matt shares the foundational framework he has developed, including a marketing system on which to build dreams once they’re clearly defined. He teaches clients how to set themselves apart by optimizing every aspect of their podcast presence – from booking guests to cultivating clients to leveraging social media, blogging and networking opportunities. It all starts with making the hard choices necessary to produce a compelling business proposition. Getting clear about clarity was itself an “aha” moment for Matt, who went All-In and found a business model to go the distance only

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel’s guest shares some of the key ingredients specific to establishing and growing a transgenerational family business. Founder of the Goldhill Group, Jonathan Goldhill grew up outside of New York City, watching his own father and grandfather manage and grow their own company. The rewards are significant and – sometimes – so are the challenges. The Goldhill Group provides strategic thinking, execution planning, and accountability coaching to businesses. Based in the Los Angeles metro area, the consultancy serves closely-held and family business clients in the lower to middle market nationwide. Next-Gen entrepreneurs looking to advance a legacy started by parents, grandparents or other family relations have to think not just about taking the reins but keeping that business relevant. Over 30 years of growing his coaching consultancy, Jonathan has tracked what works – and doesn’t – when it comes to building on a previous generation’s foundation. Very often vis

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel speaks with Steven Lewis of Taleist copywriting. Steven’s career began in web development, during which time he found himself ahead of the curve, constantly explaining to people what a website was. Afterward, he turned to writing and has been working with copywriting which, he notes, doesn’t change and will never change. Steven says that he prefers not to gravitate toward a niche because he likes the excitement of a variety but also because it’s advantageous to bring things from one area into another. His specialization is simply making copywriting work online. The difference between content writing and copywriting is that copywriters not only need to entertain and inform (like copy writers) but they also have to get the reader to do something. This is the hard part. When asked about a challenge in copywriting, Steven notes that an ongoing setback in copywriting is education and getting clients to understand why copywriting is a bigger investment than a couple hun

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel speaks with Christina Hills, formerly the Shopping Cart Queen and now an entrepreneur passionate about empowering people to move their businesses forward. Christina shares her background and how she came from a demanding career in the film and television industry to being a work-from-home mom helping clients to create websites and online courses to move their business forward. She and Daniel discuss what it’s like to be entrepreneurial parents with the desire to spend more time at home with kids. As Christina built her own business, she notes that one of the biggest challenges was figuring out what was a good opportunity and what was not a good opportunity. She says that there is tons of business to be had, you simply have to discern which opportunities are right for you and which ones you need to let go. One of the big takeaways for listeners considering exiting their career or launching something new is the Saturday Morning Test, which Christina explains in this

On this episode of The All-In podcast, Daniel sits down with therapist, author, and resilience expert Darlene Corbett to talk all things therapy and hope in the age of COVID. Darlene grew up with a disabled sister, a circumstance she believes led to her desire to help people in her career. Throughout their conversation, Darlene and Daniel touch on hypnotherapy, the practices Darlene employs to keep herself healthy as a therapist, and the best ways to beat back isolation. Darlene’s biggest hope is that through her work she will have helped someone see their worth. Don’t miss this insightful and hopeful conversation from two people who believe that as long as there’s life on earth, there is hope.

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel talks to Muhammed Siddique, a current entrepreneurial philanthropist, whose ‘rags to riches’ story highlights hard work, perseverance, and relationship-focused connections to propel himself amongst the business elite. From a small village in Pakistan, Muhammed had to earn his way through life – this was a common thread that is mentioned throughout the discussion. His hard-working and disciplined attitude enabled him to succeed in school and eventually in the business world. Though Muhammed had many hurdles to climb, he admits his biggest challenge was during college. From this experience, however, Muhammed says that he is not afraid of any challenge that he encounters, and he encourages the listener to not be fearful. As an advocate for relationship-centered business partnerships, Muhammed expresses the reasons why this is important, he sheds light in a failed experience he had in the past, and what he learned from it. Ultimately, having a solid mentor who can hel

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel sits down with Christina Wegner, an experienced businesswoman with extensive skills in the marketing milieu. The discussion primarily focuses on her journey through the marketing sector, setbacks she encountered, and current and potential opportunities for her to make a difference in helping others. As supportive parents, both Daniel and Christina agree that finding a balance between work and family is essential – Christina always considers a job that is not only ideal for her, but also one that will be equally beneficial for her family life. One main topic that is discussed is Christina’s passion for diversity and inclusion. She reiterates a phrase ‘slow down to speed up’ – people often do not take the time to hear a differing perspective and they jump to conclusions. This has helped her be more respectful, and she ultimately wants to use her platform to give others an opportunity to be heard.

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel invites real estate expert Michael Flight to discuss what it means for him to have gone all-in. Michael opens by sharing a little of his background and what made him want to get into real estate investment in the first place. Some of these stories showcase wins, while others detail heavy losses that Michael and his business partners suffered. Ultimately, he says, it’s how you take those losses and build a better plan moving forward. One of the key takeaways from this conversation is what Michael says about preparing oneself for a career in real estate. Beyond just understanding the market, someone going into real estate investment needs to be proficient in many complementary skills. For example, they need to be financially savvy. They need to be good with people. They need to have patience and common sense. In other words, it’s so much more than just trading properties and understanding the market. Michael believes that if you’re passionate enough and you surround

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel welcomes someone who has taken his background in media production to the podcasting world. Mathew Passy talks about how he became the self-dubbed “Podcast Consultant,” and he shares his views on the future of podcasting, the nature of entrepreneurial work, and the importance of protecting the time you have with your family. From content generation all the way down to editing and publishing, Mathew’s services as the podcast consultant can take your vision for the podcasting space and make it bloom. Mathew shares how he got into, fell out of, and then got back into podcasting, despite all other plans to the contrary. He reflects on difficulties he’s had as a one man band and offers tips and suggestions for those who do have the entrepreneurial spirit. What’s most important for him is his family, and he does everything he can to make the most out of their time together. Tune in for an honest conversation between two fathers who share a love for podcasting and the thr

On this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel is excited to introduce someone who has leveraged the creative use of digital communications to blaze a trail not only for himself but for entrepreneurs of all kinds. Jess Tiffany shares lessons learned over his years of experience as a leading expert in LinkedIn optimization and the author of more than 200 books related to digital and email strategy, lead generation, brand development, social media marketing and executive coaching. With a diverse suite of marketing and networking tools, his Marketing & Networking University (MNU) services raise the profiles of established and aspiring entrepreneurs in myriad ways. Jess shares not only a bit about his journey to digital innovation (including a re-meet cute story about how he wound up marrying his wife) but also details some of the roadblocks he encountered while building his business and tips for new authors who often don’t realize that publication is the start – not the end – of the marketing road. Enjoy an i

This episode of the All-In Podcast highlights the colorful journey Daniel’s guest, Harry Duran, has traced from his early life as the child of El Salvadoran immigrants growing up in Yonkers, New York, to his years working in a traditionally corporate environment to entrepreneurial and construction ventures to ultimately pioneering a podcast platform that today brings all kinds of disparate voices to life. In addition to being a podcast host himself, Harry’s full-service company, FullCast, provides keen marketing and digital production skills to others. His offerings include end-to-end support for business leaders interested in leaving a lasting legacy through the medium of podcasting – from launch to production to marketing and support in building brand focus and recognition. Harry shares with Daniel his unique backstory and detours he took along the way to becoming a successful podcast strategist. The road of course hasn’t been without its bumps. Daniel elicits thoughts from Harry on early challenges as well

In this episode of the All-In Podcast, Daniel welcomes a fellow dad-entrepreneur whose business ventures are driven by passion but not at the expense of his family life and priorities. David Jenyns, an Australian marketing specialist and expert on creating business systems, shares a step-by-step breakdown for entrepreneurs looking to put processes in place. Any business without reliable, replicable systems is at risk of bottlenecking around a key team member or members. It’s David’s mission to help visionaries get granular about how to develop sustainable operations that can run independently – freeing up entrepreneurs for their next pursuit! David explains how his own lack of understanding about systems early on delayed his evolution beyond the digital marketing agency he ran for 13 years. He has since literally written the book on systems (available here) and, as a result of implementing processes of his own, he is enjoying plenty of quality time with his children throughout both the week and on weekends. Y

In this episode of the All-In Podcast Daniel introduces listeners to Matt Wolfe, an internet entrepreneur and cohost of the Hustle and Flowchart podcast. From lessons learned while working in his family’s shutter business to the passion for all things computing that drives his endless appetite for learning new things, Matt’s positivity reflects his life philosophy: It’s the going not the getting there that has to be good. Matt shares with Daniel his podcast’s goals and his personal aspirations. He and his co-host Joe Fier are devoted to bringing a much-needed financial balance and sense of control into the lives of people trying to define what is success in life. Hint: It’s combination of bringing in dollars but also learning how to manage and spend sustainably for a stress-free lifestyle. As is so often the case, Matt’s entrepreneurial ventures have not been without challenges – stumbling blocks he shares as well as strategies for staying on track to goals. Among the tips and tricks these two podcasts share:

Let's face it, finding speaking gigs and submitting your information to them is a time consuming process. If you are new to the speaking industry, you may not even know where to start. If you are an experienced speaker, you may be struggling with how to get booked in today's market. That’s where Kerry Heaps steps in. By launching a company designed to create success for speakers as well as creating more successful events, Kerry has found her niche. Her company, BookSpeakRepeat works with speakers two ways.  They’ve created a DIY self-paced program called Speaker in a Box and for those just starting out who have always dreamed of becoming a speaker, Speaker Academy. Book.Speak.Repeat. was created for Speakers who want help, who are willing to do the work and understand this is a process that takes time. Kerry shares how her small town upbringing, modeling experience at a young age, and years working in a corporate atmosphere laid the perfect groundwork for her to start a business of her own. Her “all in''

In this noisy digital world, you can’t break through the noise, you just add to it. Instead, you need to get in on the conversation where your ideal customers are already listening. As a Navy veteran who ran nuclear power plants, and an inbound marketing engineer, Tom Schwab has a refreshingly unique approach. He focuses on time-proven strategy, then supercharges it with today’s technology and podcast interview marketing. An author, speaker, and teacher, Tom helps you get more traffic, leads and raving customer fans by being interviewed on targeted podcasts. His company, Interview Valet, has been called the category king of podcast guesting. Over the last 6 years, they have gotten over 700 top authors, coaches/consultants, and companies featured on over 30,000 leading podcasts to grow their brand and their business. Tom believes we are all "Just One Conversation Away”. Utilizing the power of relationships in a digital age can take your business to the next level but it is also sage advice for life. To him, th