Episodes

  • Ready to kick off your holiday weekend with a burst of inspiration? In this special Thanksgiving edition of Fast Five for Friday, Ryan and Brooke reflect on five essential lessons that power their coaching journey. From the value of a top-tier team to shifting your perspective on sales calls, they share how gratitude fuels growth and progress. Plus, they dive into how endings can unlock new opportunities and why the unwavering support of family makes it all possible. It’s a perfect mix of heart, hustle, and strategy. Tune in now for your dose of clarity and inspiration!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    What we’re thankful for this holiday season.The gratitude we feel for our all-star team every single day.Ryan’s gripping story that illustrates why we’re thankful for sales calls.Why we’re so glad to be working with heart-centered clients.Our appreciation for the opening up of opportunities.Why we couldn’t do this without our families.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) can transform your business, but how do you avoid consequential pitfalls and maximize success? In this episode, Ryan Lang and Brooke Bishop share invaluable insights from 18 months of running a VA staffing business. They cover the top 10 mistakes business owners make, like failing to onboard effectively, setting unrealistic expectations, or treating VAs as disposable instead of integral team members. Learn why clear communication, consistent check-ins, and focusing on specialized tasks are essential for success. They also explore the difference between VAs and executive assistants, how culture impacts performance, and why trying to hire a “Swiss Army knife” is a recipe for disaster. Packed with real-world examples and expert tips, this episode is your essential guide to leveraging VAs effectively. Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach. Tune in now!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    Today’s topic: Top ten lessons from 18 months of hiring and managing VAs.One: Why you need to treat VAs as integral team members, not low-cost, disposable workers.Two: The importance of stepping into leadership and preparing a clear list of tasks and goals.Three: How effective onboarding ensures success.Four: The importance of implementing a good communication strategy.Five: Why having consistent weekly check-ins matter.Six: The dangers of micromanagement and how to empower VAs.Seven: How to help VAs thrive by creating a positive work culture.Eight: Knowing when you need a virtual assistant vs. an executive assistant (EA).Nine: Setting clear expectations and how this helps prevent complications.Ten: How to avoid the “Swiss Army knife” trap for better results.The many benefits you can expect to see from applying these lessons!

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Episode 16: Building a Profitable Coaching Business

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

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  • Welcome to the fourth edition of Fast Five for Friday, and today, we explore the wonders of slowing down, embracing nature, and finding the fun in all we do. We begin with being specific and how it can open new pathways to success, the magic of nature even during extreme weather, how doing less can lead to more, and the wonders of keeping the fun alive by gamifying even the most tedious tasks. To end, we are reminded of the power of fully committing to something and persevering through any challenges or setbacks.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    How being specific gives you more leverage to move toward what you really want.

    The value of reconnecting with nature, even in the cold. 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing LessHow gamifying everything you do helps to keep the fun alive. Understanding the power of going all-in on any one thing.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    10x Is Easier Than 2x

    Turning Pro

    Stratego Classic Board Game

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • If you hold limiting financial beliefs and undervalue your worth, you'll struggle to accept fair compensation for your efforts. Joining us on this episode of the Coaching Equation is the incredible business coach and CEO of Quantum Evolution, Mariana Lacombe, to discuss how you can unlock wealth consciousness. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about Mariana’s career and what led her to coaching, how dreaming contributes to healing, her life in the business world, how it caused burnout, and so much more! Mariana goes on to share what helped her transform her life before sharing how the ‘employee mindset’ keeps you stuck and how you can navigate making a dream come true. Our guest tells us about the mindset shift she made and the practical actions she took to be a successful business owner, the way limiting financial beliefs hold you back from getting what you want, and how to assess the size of your wealth consciousness and challenge it. Finally, Mariana dives into the differences between revenue and profit and talks about how to get your business to work for you by analyzing the subconscious decisions you make. You don’t want to miss this discussion. Thanks for tuning in!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    A warm welcome to today’s guest, Mariana Lacombe. Mariana takes us back to the moment when she became interested in coaching. She tells us about her dreams and what blocks us from dreaming.Her experience in the business world and what made her switch to coaching. The number one shift Mariana needed to make to transform her life. How to make a dream come to fruition and where most people fail. The ways that the ‘employee mindset’ keeps you stuck. A breakdown of the mindset and practical action you need to take the leap on your dream. The kinds of financial beliefs that hold us back from getting what we want. How to explore your core beliefs about money and challenge them.The difference between revenue and profit and how to get your business to work for you.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Mariana Lacombe on LinkedIn
    Mariana Lacombe on Instagram
    Mariana Lacombe on Facebook
    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn
    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn
    Empire Partners
    Empire Academy
    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • In this Friday's Fast Five, Ryan and Brook share five game-changing insights to sharpen your coaching business. They reveal how follow-up can be a goldmine for growth, why consistency beats intensity, and how courage, not comfort, leads to breakthroughs. With creative problem-solving, they uncover ways to find hidden opportunities and reimagine setbacks as opportunities to adapt and grow. Packed with stories and strategies, this episode delivers clarity, inspiration, and actionable steps to help you thrive. Listen now for insights you can use today!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    The importance of follow-up as a crucial, often-overlooked strategy for unlocking revenue.Why consistency, not intensity, leads to long-term success and mastery.Insights from Brené Brown’s quote: “You can choose courage or comfort, but not both.”The role of creative, outside-the-box thinking in uncovering hidden opportunities.Ryan’s personal story of adapting to an injury and overcoming setbacks.


    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    The Sales Follow-up Goldmine Replay

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • What does it take to build an impactful, long-lasting business? In today’s episode, we delve into the power of relationship-based growth and why it’s essential for every business owner. While we’ve touched on this topic in the past, in this episode, we are giving it the in-depth focus it deserves. During our conversation, we discuss how to transition from a transactional approach to one rooted in trust and authentic connection—all without a marketing budget. Learn the difference between building a relational business versus a transactional one, and discover how to grow your company sustainably through referrals alone. We also share real-world examples of how we built genuine relationships in our business and provide actionable referral strategies that apply to any industry. Explore the importance of consistency in nurturing genuine relationships, and learn the art of blending relational and transactional approaches for greater leads and sales. Join us to uncover the secrets to sustainable business growth and the steps to fostering meaningful, lasting connections that drive success. Tune in now!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    Why genuine business relationships are the foundation of any company. The difference between a relational business and a transactional business.How authentic professional relationships can help get an edge on the competition.Brook's experience of working at Buffini and its unique marketing strategy.A pragmatic framework for fostering and cultivating a relational business. Explore leveraging digital tools to connect with existing and potential clients.Learn about the power of enhancing relationships with your existing client base.Hear about how a referral program can relieve the continuous sales grind. Long-term benefits of building professional relationships for sustainable growth.Recommendations to start cultivating the right relationships for your business.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Episode 14: Mastering Word of Mouth Marketing with Joe Blackburn

    Joe Blackburn

    Barb Betts

    Brian Buffini on LinkedIn

    Buffini & Company

    Evabot

    Tonny Robbins

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • What’s the secret to making swift, impactful decisions in life and business? In this episode of our Friday Fast Five, we explore five key insights, from the importance of quick decision-making to the transformative revelations of the Gene Keys personality assessment. We discuss the “witching hour” phenomenon, the value of focusing on inputs over outputs, and why these approaches matter for long-term success. Join us for practical, introspective tips to drive success and uncover your true purpose. Tune in now!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    The value of moving quickly and making quick decisions in business.Gene Keys personality assessment and its unique insights for self-reflection.Why success is a result of consistent inputs, rather than immediate outputs.Discover the “witching hour” for creative problem-solving and unexpected clarity.Embracing self-care and celebrating small wins along the way.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Codie Sanchez

    Gene Keys

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • From the upcoming US election to the holiday season to extreme weather events, we are living in a truly chaotic time. And that’s before we even get into the prospect of a possible recession! With this in mind, we are using today’s episode to discuss the impact that the time of year and world events can have on your sales engagement, both for you and your prospects. We discuss how these elements can influence your prospects’ decision-making and psychology before setting out clear and intentional strategies for dealing with them. Our conversation also examines how to make sure you have the right attitude with your sales engagements so that you don’t experience a dip. We break down how to walk people through the process with empathy and competence so that you both get the results you want. To learn more about how external events can impact your business and how to master selling in chaos, be sure to tune in!


    Key Points From This Episode:

    The current season of chaos, from the holidays to the upcoming election.Why we should care about what’s going on in the world.The effect of world events and time of year on your prospects’ frame of mind.Understanding how the state of the world can affect you as a salesperson.How to prepare yourself for times of chaos and approach this period with intention.The importance of actively engaging in empathy for your clients and yourself.Getting clear on the chaotic state of the world and how different outcomes will impact you.How to be an exceptional leader and succeed in coaching when things are challenging.Learning to embrace change and approach challenges as opportunities for growth.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Welcome to the inaugural episode of our exciting new series, Friday Fast Five! Each week, we’ll bring you five quick hits from our week, things like thoughts and insights, Aha moments, memorable experiences, and interesting (or sometimes just random) tidbits we want to share with you. Join us as we dive into five highlights from our week!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    An introduction to our new Friday Fast Five series.We explain the format of our Friday Fast Five episodes.The dynamic of having tons of energy trapped inside of our bodies.Digesting the audiobook version of Steven Pressfield’s book, Turning Pro.Beware: the closed-eye process.Creating intentional times to connect deeper.Crafty marketing for gluten-free sourdough bread.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Simple Kneads

    Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life's Work

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • In business, making difficult decisions is paramount to success, and that is why indecision is one of the biggest obstacles preventing business leaders from realizing their company’s full potential. So, how can we make the tough decisions that will ultimately decide our destiny? A great starting point is the grandfather sentiment, which explains how making quick decisions is often better than stalling to try and make the perfect one. That said, speed is beneficial while haste is detrimental, so we discover how to make faster decisions without putting ourselves in compromising situations with the help of the SCIPAB® framework. We also learn about how the environment and one’s physiology affect the decision-making process, why it’s perilous to procrastinate over important decisions, how to cultivate a habit of quick decision-making, and why self-growth and self-improvement are the best paths to making better decisions in all aspects of life. We end with the tough decisions that many are plagued with as the holidays approach, and the undeniable importance of aligning your decisions with your intentions and intended outcomes.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    How having to make tough decisions gets amplified during peak holiday seasons. The grandfather sentiment – how a quick decision is better than a perfect one. How to decipher between helpful speed and blind haste when making quick decisions. Why it’s better to make tough decisions from the heart. SCIPAB® - a framework for making difficult decisions. How environment and physiology affect one’s decision-making. The biggest and hardest decisions that Brook has had to make in business and life. Exploring the dangers of procrastinating over important decisions. How to cultivate a habit of quick decision-making; focusing on the little things. Why and how personal growth improves one’s decision-making. The decisions that many struggle with in-and-around the holidays. How to be aligned with your intentions and outcomes, and why this matters.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Big Fish

    SCIPAB®

    Tony Robbins

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Business planning can feel extremely overwhelming for any entrepreneur, but if you have a roadmap to success, it makes it feel a little easier to achieve. Today on The Coaching Equation, we are joined by the incredible faith-driven business coach and author of Ultimate Breakthrough Planning, Mike Ferrell, to discuss the importance of business planning and how to get on top of it. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Mike’s non-traditional career, why he prioritizes his curiosity, his books, how the financial crisis of 2008 changed everything for him, and how he came out of his darkest times. We delve into what inspired him to create his five Monk principles and a breakdown of each of them before Mike explains how they can be the key to business planning. We even discuss why creating a foundation and business planning are imperative to your business’s long-term success. Finally, Mike shares some tips for simplifying business planning into manageable, bite-sized steps. To hear all this and even be reminded to celebrate your successes, be sure to press play now!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    A warm welcome to today’s guest, Mike Ferrell. Mike tells us about his professional golf career. Where Mike’s entrepreneurship journey began. The importance of maintaining curiosity as a coach. How to maintain or recapture your curiosity. Mike’s first book and the financial crisis of 2008. The greatest gift Mike was given during his hardest time. What informed Mike’s decision to dig himself out of this hole. The five Monk principles he created from The Rule of Benedict.One: virtuous conversation – living positively. Two: community – why community is the foundation of culture.Three: stability – how an organization operates. Four: excellence – innovation and how to create positive change. Five: profound hospitality – internal and external. The importance of planning and building a foundation for your business. How to simplify business planning so it becomes approachable. Why you need to celebrate your success.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Mike Ferrell

    Mike Ferrell on LinkedIn

    Ultimate Breakthrough Planning

    The Sweet Spot

    The Rule of Benedict

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • You’ll want to come back to this episode again and again because it’s a game-changer! In all of our experience, one of the key biggest problems that we see is an inability to establish trust with a prospect. During this episode, Brook and Ryan set the record straight and talk about how to establish trust before, during, and after your sales engagement, whether your prospect decides to buy on the call or not. Learn how to create consistency between marketing messaging and direct engagement with clients, position yourself as a true trusted advisor, and build trust one step at a time. We explore the importance of team communication, how to ask meaningful questions, and grow to understand the pain, the dream, and the gap for your client. You’ll also hear us unpack what it means to ask deepening questions, why it is so critical to stay true to the experience you promise, and why you should value when clients say ‘not now’ rather than get discouraged by it. This episode offers listeners a linear path to building massive amounts of trust. Get ready to sharpen your sales sword today! Thanks for listening.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    The challenge of establishing trust with a prospect during sales engagements. Effectively bridging marketing messaging with sales conversations. What it truly means to position yourself as a trusted advisor. Creating trust through sharing personalized client results and testimonials. Why it is so valuable to build trust one step at a time.Communicating outcomes and expectations from the first step. Establishing real trust once you are in a sales call. The importance of building a strong dynamic of team communication. Building rapport through meaningful questions and understanding the client’s needs.How to grow your understanding of the pain, the dream, and the gap for your client. What it means to ask deepening questions in order to allow people to elaborate.Staying true to the experience you promise. Understanding the value of a response that says ‘not now’ rather than ‘yes’.Why it is important not to allow emotions to lead in the follow-up process.The correlation between buying behavior and trust. How to implement the advice laid out in this conversation.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Author, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur are just some of the titles of today’s remarkable guest. Markus Kaulius is a globally recognized business and thought leader, and he joins us today to share some tips on how we can start living more meaningful lives to unlock our full potential. We begin with a major transformation from Markus’ life that taught him most of what he knows about business success. Then, we explore the gravity of choosing to work on your business rather than in it, how to set up a business as a sellable asset, where ownership fits in, and the ins and outs of Markus’ groundbreaking book, Play a Bigger Game. We also discuss ways to free yourself from imposter syndrome, why nothing really matters without action, and everything we need to know about our guest’s latest business venture: Yaystack. To end, Markus doubles down on the importance of living with intention and explains how he overcomes some of life’s biggest challenges.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    Welcoming Markus as he walks us through one of his life’s biggest transformations. How to know when it’s time to stop working in your business and start working on it. Understanding how to set up a new business to be sold for profit in the future. Ways to take and give ownership as a business leader, and why this matters. The biggest obstacles that prevent business leaders from empowering their subordinates. What inspired Markus to write Play a Bigger Game, and more on this groundbreaking book.Simple steps to help you break free from imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy.The importance of taking action after gaining new information, and how to rise above haters. Unpacking Markus’ new business venture: Yaystack.Reiterating the power and value of intention. How Markus overcomes the biggest challenges that life throws at him.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Markus Kaulius

    Markus Kaulius on LinkedIn

    Markus Kaulius on Instagram

    Markus Kaulius on Facebook

    Markus Kaulius on YouTube

    Play a Bigger Game

    Yaystack

    Amplify Publishing Group

    Tony Robbins

    Magnum Nutraceuticals

    Hidden Potential

    Trey Roth on LinkedIn

    The Surrender Experiment

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • We’re all about sharing our experiences so you can reach your goals even faster. Today, we put the spotlight on Ryan to explore his entrepreneurial journey and the invaluable lessons he’s learned along the way. In a conversation led by Brook, we delve into the realities of building businesses, what it takes to scale to 8 figures, and the challenges of launching a coaching company after achieving that success. We discuss pitfalls to avoid, the “messy middle” between starting and succeeding, and how to navigate that uncertain space. Sometimes, progress means taking a step back, and we touch on that too. Through Ryan’s story, you’ll gain insight into building a career true to your passions, appreciating the power of relationships, mastering sales, and connecting on a genuine, human level. Tune in today to hear all this and more!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    A summary of this episode: an interview between Brook Bishop and Ryan Lang.Ryan’s experiences in college, the army, and the mentorship program that started his career.Quitting his job and the radical shift that followed when he started work with his father. His relationship with music and his family history with it. Elements of his personality that led him away from a career in performance. How Ryan built his career without a college education.Asking for opportunities and improving as he built his career. Founding a gas and oil business on relationships and referrals.The incredible value of understanding sales and human connection. Making a personal transformation and entering the coaching world.Navigating the digital world for the first time. Making a seven-figure investment into his career as a coach. Entering the coaching world with no mentors. The first things Ryan came to understand as a marketer for his own business.Insights from his broadcasting career that translate into sales.Why he attributes so much of his success to relationships.What he would do differently if he had a chance to do it all again.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Mastering Sales Pt 1: Lessons from Brook Bishop’s Path to Success

    Mastering Sales Pt 2: Brook’s Guide to Scaling Successfully and Leading with Impact

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy
    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Are you looking for some tried-and-true sales and marketing insights to help elevate your own skill set? Then you do not want to miss this episode of The Coaching Equation! Today on the show, we are joined by a special guest, Michael Hunter, the Founder of PersonalBrand.com and Spiffy Checkouts. In an episode bursting with goodness, we dig into Michael’s entrepreneurial journey, how to craft irresistible offers in sales and marketing, the inevitable trials and tribulations of being a business owner, and key areas to focus on. Michael also emphasizes the importance of seeking mentorship not just from videos and books, but from hands-on mentors as he unpacks the power of proximity. This episode is loaded with enough information to fill up an entire notebook, so let's dive in!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    What got Michael interested in pursuing a journey in digital marketing.How having a commission-only sales job at 17 helped Michael later in his entrepreneurship.He explains how his marketing journey started to unfold.Michael recounts key “forge-ahead” moments along his path.He unpacks the idea of 45-degree angle moves.The moment his focus zoomed in on checkouts and how Spiffy came to fruition.Why mobile optimization of your platform is (still) important.Key points for successful conversion-based optimized checkout pages.Michael’s thoughts on what makes for an irresistible offer.The four forces of an irresistible offer. Successfully marketing something that isn’t the “instant pill.”What separates the people who build a successful and profitable personal brand from those who don’t. Michael shares advice on how to identify the things we should handle ourselves versus the ones we should delegate or outsource to others.The importance of being proficient in the top five skill sets it takes to run your business. Why copyright is the number one skill you should be proficient at (in this industry). He highlights the value of having hands-on, tailored advice from face-to-face mentors.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Michael Hunter on LinkedIn

    Spiffy Checkouts

    Personal Brand

    Tony Robbins

    Brendan Bouchard

    Spiffy Checklist

    Sign Up for Spiffy

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Business is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re going to not only create a business but actually maintain it for the long haul, then you have to make sure that you’re asking yourself the right questions; that you have the necessary tools; and that you’re fully kitted in mental and emotional armor to withstand any challenge that comes your way. Today’s mission of cultivating sustainable business success begins with a fundamental question: Are you in it for the long haul or only while it’s easy? Next, we discuss the current state of the world, what it’s like to be a leader in wartime versus during peace, the importance of starting with ‘why’, and how to build lasting resilience as a business leader. We also explain why business is never easy and only for gladiators, how to stay ahead of the competition, the best motivations for sustained success, and how to build a formidable mindset. We end with some important questions that you need to ask yourself before going any further in your business venture, the value of building momentum, and more advice for overcoming any business obstacle that stands in your way.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    A question that matters: Are you in it for the long haul or just as long as it’s easy?The state of the world, and being a wartime business owner versus a peace-time leader. Understanding the importance of ascertaining your ‘why’ amidst modern business challenges.How to build resilience and soldier through business difficulties as a leader. Why business is never, has never, and will never be easy; it’s only for gladiators. How the competition is always too strong for you to rest on your laurels. Why money is not the greatest motivator for long-term success. Building the right mindset and securing your mental and emotional armor. Why asking yourself the right questions is vital for success and longevity, and how to do it. More advice for navigating common business trials, and the value of building momentum.Pressing questions to be asking yourself before diving deeper into business.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Tony Robbins

    “Lost in Space” Danger, Will Robinson

    Gladiator

    'Simon Sinek Bagel Story'

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Are you making common mistakes that could hold back your sales team's success? In this episode of The Coaching Equation, we dive deep into the top five sales leadership mistakes that leaders unknowingly make and, more importantly, how to fix them. We discuss the problem of setting clear expectations for sales teams and how to communicate, clarify, and verify sales outcomes effectively. Discover what a healthy sales environment looks like and the common missteps sales leaders make when attempting to create one. Explore the difference between coaching and management, how a typical sales team is structured, and how to find the sweet spot between autonomy and micro-management. Gain insights into the value of regular check-ins with team members, the leadership style that is successful in sales, the characteristics of a true leader, and much more! Join us as we uncover the keys to becoming a more effective sales leader and learn how to turn these common mistakes into stepping stones for success.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    The importance of setting clear expectations and communicating effectively.What role certainty plays in sales and why it’s vital for the success of sales teams.How setting reasonable and achievable goals keeps your sales team motivated.Key differences between setting sales targets and sales standards.Common pitfalls leaders should avoid when creating a work environment.Tips for dealing with team members who are not hitting their sales targets.When to be a coach and when to be a manager as a sales leader.Strategies for balancing team autonomy with management outcomes. The type of environment a servant leader fosters compared to a traditional leader.Final takeaways and how to start becoming a better leader today!

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Outwitting the Devil

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • We make decisions all the time. Are you conscious of the ones you’re making? During this episode, we are joined by Focusologist Penny Zenker, a captivating public speaker, business strategy coach, and best-selling author. Her work has been featured on NBC News, Forbes, ESPN, and more, and today she joins us to share her insights on the psychology of productivity and focus. Penny’s story begins with a tragic event at the age of 19, and she talks about the turning point that this created in her life, totally transforming her relationship to meaning, control, and making the most of her one precious life. Diving into the content of her TED Talk, she distinguishes between positivity and intentionality, before sharing insights on productivity from her book, The Productivity Zone. Penny gets real about her own relationship to focus, and how she reels in her tendency to say yes to everything before unpacking her thoughtful delegation strategy. We discuss what it might look like to shed the all-or-nothing approach to delegation and hiring by really understanding the value of your time, and how to set priorities according to Penny’s two-quadrant theory. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear how Penny makes the complex simple, through her memorable, accessible approach.

    Key Points From This Episode:

    Background on guest Penny Zenker, author, public speaker, and productivity specialist.The story behind the moniker, ‘the Focusologist’.How Penny first became interested in the work she specializes in today. Finding meaning in her father’s death when she was 19.The semester abroad that she spent at JP Morgan.Asking the question, “What else could this mean?”.Her role at Tony Robbins and how being rejected for speaking sparked a new journey.More on her TED Talk, The Energy of Thought. Distinguishing between positivity and intentionality.Becoming conscious of the decisions we are making. Insights from her book, The Productivity Zone, on barriers to productivity.Three things that support getting into the zone as a high achiever Examples of how Penny resets and approaches her tendency to say yes to everything.How failing to delegate can sabotage productivity, especially as a leader.Challenging yourself to ask questions about where you are most effective and where you can let go.Penny’s thoughts on hiring others and understanding the value of your time. Setting the necessary criteria to set priorities.Becoming more dynamic in changing the way that we do things.Where to pre-order The Reset Mindset. Why her approach to focus is different: it’s simple, accessible, sticky language.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Penny Zenker

    Penny Zenker on X
    Penny Zenker on LinkedIn

    Penny Zenker’s TEDx Talk

    The Reset Mindset

    The Productivity Zone

    Tony Robbins

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • In life and business, you either win or you learn! During this episode, we dive further into Co-Host Brook Bishop’s journey into sales success. In this continuation episode, Brook gets into all the muscle that he built in the early part of his sales career, learning how to turn that into massive amounts of sales revenue and eventually scaling a team level to the tune of 30 million dollars. Tuning in, you’ll get countless lessons from Brook on turning difficulty into opportunity and identifying systems, processes, and patterns for faster sales and success. He takes this a step further and teaches listeners how to turn this into a template that facilitates scaling. With insights from different points in his career, Brook shows how he has found opportunity in difficult circumstances, and shares what he has learned and won along the way. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of this conversation, visit iTunes and do so before pressing play on this one. Thanks for listening!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    Introducing Part 2 of our conversation with Co-Hose Brook Bishop’s journey to sales success and mastery.What he learned from working behind the scenes at Buffini & Company.Brook’s intention to master each role beyond its function to educate himself.Becoming calculated in the process of building a network.How developing his understanding of personalities and strengths enabled him to create rapport with others.Obstacles to climbing the leadership ranks at Buffini. Advice from his mentor after leaving the Buffini marriage. Extracting opportunity out of difficulty.Building his own coaching practice and branching out into different industries.How Brook met the team at Tony Robbins before being headhunted to work with them.The role of taking inspired action in facilitating opportunities.Starting to work at Tony Robbins and getting his team’s attention by getting insane results.Why it is so important to be strategic with every opportunity.Changing his life mission to triple his income and cut his errors in half. Distinguishing between what you are saying and what a client needs to hear.How his accolades dovetailed into results while working at Tony Robbins.Finding clear ‘whys’ for himself and his clients to motivate his success.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Mastering Sales Pt 1: Lessons from Brook Bishop’s Path to Success

    Buffini

    Tony Robbins

    Heritage Profile

    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes

  • Success and sales do not happen overnight. Co-host Brook Bishop has an incredible story of success, and during this episode, he shares the details of his climb to sales mastery. We are able to bring you so many lessons from his journey in this episode. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about his introduction to sales and how he learned to ask better questions in order to get better results. He shares his experience of selling lobster before getting his first sales role and enrolling 92% of his clients into timeshares within the first few months. He shares the life-altering power of certainty that helped him to be unrelenting in his pursuits, and how that principle has served him in many areas of his life. Along with learning through adversity in sales, two more huge lessons emerge from our conversation with Brook, and you will see how his experiences bring to life the power of creating your own opportunities and pre-framing client conversations before entering into them. Our conversation is not only entertaining and fun, but you will get nuggets that took Brook years to figure out in a matter of minutes!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    Introducing this episode, where Co-Host Brook Bishop is interviewed about his journey.The story of his introduction to sales through his Uncle before getting his first sales job. What he learned from asking his school if he could take a different approach. How the certainty of ‘If I do x, I will get y,’ changes your actions and your reality.His story of selling lobster through getting all the people on his team to work in his favor. The approach he took when he first started working in sales as a 19-year-old. Enrolling 92% of the people he sat with into timeshares in his third month.What might have been different if he hadn’t experienced challenges before succeeding. How a mentorship experience encouraged Brook to stick through the hard times.Meeting Real Estate Sales Trainer Daniel Pendley and becoming a salesperson for him.Rekindling relationships with people that Daniel had fallen out of favor with.Two lessons from his story: creating your own opportunities, and pre-framing the conversation.Highlights from today’s conversation that you can apply to your own journey.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

    Brook Bishop
    Ryan Lang on LinkedIn

    Brook Bishop on LinkedIn

    Daniel Pendley

    Empire Partners

    Empire Academy

    The Coaching Equation Podcast on iTunes