Do you ever have days where you feel like things aren’t going according to plan? I was recently chatting with some friends and it seems like we all had our own struggles to deal with. One friend had to let go of 8 senior managers in one day, while another was struggling with sales due to a mental block they had imposed on themselves. As for me, running a business has been keeping me up at night lately. But then I came across a story that reminded me that unexpected things can happen even when everything seems to be going smoothly. It’s like a peaceful boat ride that gets interrupted by a sudden storm. So, if you’re feeling like things aren’t going according to plan today, this video is for you.

Have you ever lost a business pitch, proposal, or quote REPEATEDLY? How did you react? Did you feel like a failure or start doubting yourself? Before you respond, take a look at this 👉Giannis Antetokounmpo is considered one of the best players in the NBA. He led his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, to the best record in the league with a 70% winning percentage. 👉They were favored to win the NBA championship this year, but on April 27th, they lost in the first round of the playoffs. When asked if he considered the season a ‘failure’, I was in awe of Giannis’ wise response. Hope it will give you some encouragement too! #GiannisAntetokounmpo #healthymindset

Would you rather pursue 100 new deals where you can make a one-time maximum profit, or focus on 50 recurring deals that offer a slower but steady income? Your choice here hinges on how you perceive the individuals you serve – as customers or clients. And let me tell you, there’s a significant disparity between these two terms. 💡A customer is someone who engages in a transaction with you. They may buy, but their interaction with you is often short-lived. 💡But, a client is someone with whom you build a trusted relationship. They may engage in one or multiple transactions with you, but the key factor is the lasting bond you establish. Check out this short video if you are looking to retain MORE clients.

A study conducted by  HubSpot  found that a whopping 97% 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 consider salespeople to be trustworthy. This is a common experience for many of us, as we’ve all encountered salespeople who took advantage of us and were not honest. But how can we fix this issue? After all, in order for a business to survive, 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥. In my recent interview on  Heavy Chef, we talked about Sell or die hungry.  The success of your business depends on your ability to sell your products or services effectively. If you can’t sell, you won’t make enough money to sustain yourself or your business. #heavychef

Ever felt like you’re tackling this insanely steep mountain, but it’s not your regular climb—it’s this crazy, narrow one with distractions popping up at every corner? Life’s a bit like that, isn’t it? Always buzzing, everyone wanting a piece of your attention. Well, I picked up this cool lesson from Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish pastor from the 19th century.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked, “What’s the difference between storytelling and story-selling?” I’d have enough to…buy a small pig! (See what I did there?) 🐷 Storytelling is great for dinner parties. But story-selling ? Now that’s how you take your sales skills to Pig Island-level awesome. 🏝️ Curious? Check out this video. #pigisland

In this episode, we have  Shelley Walters, the CEO of The Sales Counsel joining us. Her company is the first in South Africa to offer fully remote sales courses. Shelley shares her inspiring journey from a difficult upbringing to a successful entrepreneur. She talks about how she learned the value of hard work and business ownership from her grandfather, and how moving to a new city changed her life. Shelley also discusses her early career pursuits, which ultimately led her to start her own business. We dive into a variety of topics, including religion, corporate life, the financial sector, and new technology. As usual on this podcast, we have plenty of helpful resources that listeners can access to continue learning. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn! KEY POINTS The art of selling is not taught in school, but it is vital for the work environment. Some of your most important hires will be those employees who work diligently behind the scenes. Who you let into your life and the choices you make when you’re younger can significantly impact your future success. RESOURCES Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World  – Cal Newport  Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal  – Oren Klaff Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences  – Nancy Duarte The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy  – Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol  – Annie Grace We’re Still Human – and Work Shouldn’t Suck  – Brad Shorkend and Andy Golding Your Brain at Work  – Dr David Rock

Question: “How can you be innovative if your existing knowledge restricts you? The year is 1939 – the start of WWII. Imagine that you are tasked by the government to pick out the most suitable bomber pilots for the air force to fight Hilter’s Nazi Germany. It is high stakes. You are picking out young men aged around 19 or 20 asking them to risk their lives against an enemy who is out to kill them. So, how do you choose your candidates? What can you do when people say to you “We need to innovate, be creative, think outside the box”. P.S Think you are creative? Try the “Brick test” mentioned in the video. Take the “stress” out of growing your business. Book your 30-min discovery call today. #creativityinbusiness

The first time I heard this story was in 1997. Brian Dyson used the metaphor of juggling 5 balls for work-life balance. Here is the story. Back in 1996 Coca-Cola’s former CEO, Brian Dyson gave “The 5 balls of life speech” and it has become one of the most viral speeches circulating on the net. Similar to Apple founder Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, Dyson addresses the priorities in life using the metaphor of juggling 5 balls. He calls the balls work, family, friends, health and spirit . ” Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.” My takeaway: What I love about Dyson’s message is that it does single out those important attributes in our life: family, spirit, health, friends and work. Treat all of them with the TLC they deserve. Treat them like fragile glass balls and focus on the awareness of it all and activities where they all feel right and proper. Call it balance if you want, but strive to get there. Making sales should not be a mystery…. Book your 30-min strategy call today. #BusinessStrategy #CharlesHsuan #ProblemSolving

Renee Hasseldine is the founder and CEO of Think RAPT . Her company helps clients with the creation of visual models and intellectual property. By simplifying your message through the use of visuals, Renee believes that you can successfully scale your business. Visuals are also a powerful tool to communicate complex concepts in a simplified and clear way. In this episode, Charles chats to Renee about her entrepreneurial journey – from a failed vegan bar to the success that is Think RAPT. They also talk about the importance of conducting good market research and defining your ideal client. And, Renee defines her Think RAPT model – Results, Answers, Process, and Target. Give this episode a listen, and let Renee’s passion inspire you! KEY POINTS Money is never a good motivator for starting any career or business. Just because you build it, does not mean they’ll necessarily come. You have to find your right niche. Leverage ways to make more money and work less. Then, love what you do. RESOURCES MENTIONED GET VISUAL!: Win clients and grow your business with visual models – Renee Hasseldine Think RAPT®

Mark Sham is the founder of Suits and Sneakers , an informal, online, education platform. He also presents the travel channel, Like a Tourist (Act like a tourist in your own city) Mark believes that there are many ways to become an expert. While formal education has its place, it doesn’t cater to everyone. In this episode, Charles talks more to Mark about informal approaches to effective learning. The two also chat about Mark’s unique hiring practices, the time and effort it takes to create content and build a name, and how quickly life can throw small businesses a curve ball. Mark also shares his joy in inspiring fellow South Africans to explore their home country. KEY POINTS You don’t have to have everything figured out. Everyone is simply making their best, calculated guesses on how to start a new business, live their best life, be a good parent, etc. Kids learn from their parent’s examples. If they don’t know certain life choices are options for them, they likely won’t carve out new paths for themselves. Who you spend your time with matters. Learning how to be happy is vital for navigating our complex world. RESOURCES MENTIONED Cakey by Davy Like a Tourist Suits and Sneakers The Algebra of Happiness – Scott Galloway

How do you start and grow a profitable private practice as a health professional? As a health professional, the topic of “Marketing and Sales” was never part of your curriculum. That is why Tasneem started the Private Practice Growth Club in 2019 to teach other health professionals the value of effective marketing and selling their services. As a self-employed Occupational Therapist (OT) Tasneem Abrahams has practiced across many fields of OT, but now predominantly works with teenagers and adults with ADHD. Tasneem chats to Charles about how OT is a naturally holistic field of medicine. She translates these holistic OT principles into how she helps clients with their private practice marketing and selling. Tasneem also shares her mother’s significant role in her entrepreneurship journey. KEY POINTS An occupation is not just 'work' – it’s anything you spend time on, including leisure, daily living, and playing. Many health professionals think of sales as a bad thing. But, not making people aware of health service options is actually a disservice to those in need of help. Don’t compare your Day 1 to someone else’s Day 1,000. RESOURCES MENTIONED Atomic Habits – James Clear Aisha Baker – Baked online