200 episodes

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.

Smashing the Plateau Smashing the Plateau

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 143 Ratings

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.

    How to Transition from Executive to Entrepreneurial CEO Featuring Gina Cotner

    How to Transition from Executive to Entrepreneurial CEO Featuring Gina Cotner

    Gina Cotner is the CEO of Athena Executive Services, a firm that pairs virtual executive assistants across the United States with swamped and successful entrepreneurs and executives. Her team of high-caliber executive assistants works part-time from home, taking many tasks and projects off the plates of successful people, leaving them free to spend their time where they are most needed.
    In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to transition from a secure corporate job to founding and scaling a company that aligns with your personal values and lifestyle.
    Gina and I discuss:
    Her initial decision to leave IBM and her corporate life behind [00:00:38]The journey from planning to open a martini lounge to becoming an entrepreneur [00:02:59]How Gina faced and overcame financial fears during a divorce [00:05:10]The inception of Athena Executive Services and its growth [00:07:54]Strategies for dealing with disappointment and the importance of keeping it simple [00:15:19]Building a business that thrived during the pandemic [00:11:00]The benefits of community and networking in business development [00:19:08]
    Learn more about Gina with Athena Executive Services on social media to stay updated on latest insights and offerings: 
    Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/AthenaVirtualAssistants]
    Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/athena_executive_services]
    YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@athenaexecutiveservices5248]
    LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/athena-executive]
    Thank you to Our Sponsor:
    The Smashing the Plateau Community
    Get exclusive access to select, streamlined strategy guidance from our podcast professionals by subscribing now – a single click is all that stands between you and your successful future!

    • 26 min
    How to Innovate with Data Science for Business Success Featuring Tyler Martin

    How to Innovate with Data Science for Business Success Featuring Tyler Martin

    Introducing Tyler Martin: a Business Coach and CPA with a talent for growing businesses. He escalated a staffing firm to $25 million a year and expanded a CPA firm to 200 clients in just five years. Tyler's unique strength lies in his hands-on business experience — he's not just a coach. He has personally built and sold successful companies. Specializing in service businesses with revenues of $1-15 million, Tyler provides practical, actionable guidance to help them grow. He is the ideal mentor for business owners eager to develop their enterprise.
    Tyler Martin is a seasoned CPA and business coach with a knack for helping businesses flourish. With his firsthand experience in growing a staffing firm to $25 million and building a CPA firm from scratch to 200 clients in just five years, Tyler understands the ins and outs of business growth. Moreover, having sold successful companies of his own, Tyler brings a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to his role as a mentor to service businesses with revenues between one to $15 million.
    In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how to navigate the waters of business growth and deal with the challenges of being a corporate refugee starting from scratch.
    Tyler and I discuss:
    His transition from CPA to entrepreneurship and why he took the leap [00:01:13]Building his own CPA firm and acquiring 200 clients in five years [00:01:33]Strategies for lead generation and client selection [00:03:06]The significant pivot from business coaching to providing CFO services [00:09:23]Overcoming the fear of investing money into seemingly sinking ships [00:15:25]The balance between proactive business modeling and reacting to emergent opportunities [00:07:07]
    Learn more about Tyler at www.thinktyler.com.
    Thank you to our sponsor:
    The Smashing the Plateau Community
    Secure your subscription today for privileged access to our podcast specialists' distilled strategy insights – a single click is all it takes to navigate the path to success!

    • 25 min
    How to Leverage Writing into Business Success Beyond Law Featuring Erica Holthausen

    How to Leverage Writing into Business Success Beyond Law Featuring Erica Holthausen

    Erica Holthausen is the founder of Catchline Communications, where she provides consultants with essential tools to develop and share a body of work that enhances their authority, boosts their visibility, and creates new opportunities. Leveraging her background as a freelance writer and editor, Erica assists her clients in selecting topics, pitching ideas, composing articles, and securing publication in prominent industry trade journals and business magazines, such as Harvard Business Review, Inc., and Entrepreneur.
    In this episode, Erica and I discuss:
    Her unexpected career transition from law to communications [00:00:54]The role of mentorship in her professional development [00:06:18]Erica's advice on asking questions and being open to help [00:07:47]Overcoming doubt and the power of trusting oneself [00:10:03]The evolution of her business, Catch Line Communications [00:15:41]How she pivoted her services to meet the consultants' needs [00:15:58]The creation of her group program and the upcoming community [00:17:34]The importance of community for entrepreneurs [00:20:11]One actionable step for corporate refugees moving towards entrepreneurship [00:22:59]
    Learn more about Erica at Catchline Communications at https://linktr.ee/catchline and connect with her on LinkedIn.
    Thank you to our sponsor: 
    The Smashing the Plateau Community 
    Enlist now for privileged access to select, succinct guidance from our podcast professionals – a single click is all that stands between you and your successful journey!

    • 28 min
    How to Transform Selling into an Authentic Success Featuring Nikki Rausch

    How to Transform Selling into an Authentic Success Featuring Nikki Rausch

    As the CEO of Sales Maven, Nikki Rausch possesses a unique ability to transform the often misunderstood process of "selling."
    With over 25 years of experience in selling, Nikki is now hired by entrepreneurs and small business owners who seek her expertise to learn how to sell successfully and authentically.
    Nikki is the author of three books, all of which are available on Amazon. She also hosts the podcast Sales Maven, which can be found on your favorite podcast platform.
    In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you'll discover the nuances of NLP in sales and learn how to use these techniques to boost your business.
    Nikki and I discuss:
    The pivotal moment that led her into entrepreneurship [00:02:52]How NLP transformed her approach to sales and communication [00:11:42]The importance of treating your business as a separate entity for sales success [00:10:13]Turning the discomfort of change into an opportunity for growth [00:21:50]The strategies that helped her pivot from a lavish lifestyle to a savvy entrepreneur [00:07:02]Nikki's continued investment in personal and professional development [00:19:00]
    Learn more about Nikki at:
    https://yoursalesmaven.com 
    https://www.facebook.com/yoursalesmaven/
    https://www.instagram.com/your_sales_maven/
    https://yoursalesmaven.com/podcast
    https://yoursalesmaven.com/smashing
    Thank you to our sponsor: 
    The Smashing the Plateau Community 
    Subscribe instantly to receive exclusive, well-chosen advice that's brief and effective from our podcast mavens – you're only one click from conquering your success journey!

    • 25 min
    How to Launch a Successful Design Agency After a Corporate Career Featuring Andre De La Cruz

    How to Launch a Successful Design Agency After a Corporate Career Featuring Andre De La Cruz

    Andre de la Cruz is a UX and Product Design professional with 15 years of experience. After losing his job last July, Andre co-founded an agency called Rally, which specializes in Brand, UX, and Product. He established the agency with two seasoned professionals in Brand and Product, along with a team of senior talent. Rally offers startups flexible monthly access to their team of senior designers and product managers through a subscription service. Prior to founding Rally, Andre spent the last five years at early and growth-stage startups, building and leading design teams, and collaborating with product and executive leadership to develop new products from inception to launch (0→1) and to evolve version one (v1) products into a more mature, polished, and professional state.
    In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, Andre shares insights on making the bold move from a stable full-time job to creating and managing a successful design agency.
    Andre and I discuss:
    His career progression and the decision to start an agency [00:01:00]The experience of leading design teams at startups [00:02:00]The journey of founding Rally with his partners [00:04:00]Shaping and adapting agency business models for market demand [00:10:00]Diversifying into the software industry [00:12:00]The pivotal role of community and networking in entrepreneurship [00:17:00]Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs considering their own venture [00:21:00]
    Learn more about Andre at https://www.joinrally.co.
    Thank you to our sponsor: 
    The Smashing the Plateau Community 
    Sign up today and unlock exclusive, streamlined strategies from our seasoned podcast professionals – success is just a click from your grasp!

    • 22 min
    How to Build a Thriving Business with Ethical AI and Community Featuring Jessica Spencer

    How to Build a Thriving Business with Ethical AI and Community Featuring Jessica Spencer

    After nearly two decades in the corporate world, Jessica founded the educational media company Penguin Connective, which seeks to create greater equality and opportunity in challenging areas such as future readiness, foster-to-adopt, and transitioning to adulthood. She is the creator of the AI Explorers Society and a ChatGPT for Teachers course that currently serves over 1,800 educators globally. Jessica resides near Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and their five children.
    In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn how continuous learning and strategic diversification can create a resilient business model.
    Jessica and I discuss:
    Her transition from corporate administrative roles to entrepreneurship [00:50]The advantages and challenges of acquiring education while working full-time [01:12]The evolution of her career through multiple industries [01:34]How a diagnosis with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome influenced her life choices [05:15]The role of diversification in achieving financial security [06:46]The importance of ethical AI and its application in education [14:09]The value of community and collaboration in a successful business [17:29]Introducing the AI Explorer Society and its goals [16:12]
    Learn more about Jessica at: https://www.aiexplorers.io
    Thank you to our sponsor: 
    The Smashing the Plateau Community 
    Get immediate access to carefully selected, succinct advice from our podcast specialists by subscribing today. Your journey to success begins with just one click!

    • 21 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
143 Ratings

143 Ratings

GinaDu ,

Got such a great insight!

I loved that episode at the beginning of the year about midlife! It was so helpful for me to consider midlife not as an age but as a stage! Because I’ve felt that I’m at a stage and not yet the age.

Paul at Midlife, New Life ,

Author: Midlife, New Life

I really appreciated being a guest on Smashing the Plateau. "Learn how conscious choices, inner work, and community forge new paths in life's latter half" was a great experience, with excellent questions that elicited the best from co-authors of the book, Midlife, New Life: Living Consciously in Midlife and Beyond, published in February 2024.

touristinthecity ,

Dense episodes

I agree with all the things others have written here - David’s approach is quiet and yet pointed. He allows us as listeners to see that it’s okay to be human with blind spots and some mistakes and yet be a successful business operator.
David gets the best from his guests. He himself is deeply knowledgeable about running a business and dealing with one’s own personal quirks. He wants an owner to avoid getting in their own way, and each episode can feel empowering to us.

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