Scams, Cash, and Fake Friendships with Lauren Gordon

Raise your hand if you feel like you’ve been around some “scammy” business coaches. You see red flags all over their social media profile, you have seen them gaslight some of their clients, and like an occasional shooting star, you see some of their posts don’t make sense. (Surprise! They are lying.) Though there are a TON of wonderful, qualified, good-intention business coaches around, it’s sad to see some very talented grifters join the space. In this podcast episode, I sit with Filipi Sardi, an online entrepreneur from Croatia who has worked with both good and bad coaches, and proceeds to serve this industry by supporting coaches who actually care about the people they serve.  You’ve seen it all… but we’re still here to break it down for ya. Check out some highlights:  Dangerous coaching advice.. Like “fake it til you make it”, and “you only need to be one step ahead” Outright lying, photoshopped screenshots and wild oversimplifications just to show off a different lifestyle (Bonus: remember all the coaches who say they CAN retire now or are retiring soon? After 5 years they’re still on the same grift!) Repackaging and selling the same old videos over and over, covering up with shiny marketing  Wrongfully taking credit over past results of clients, using privilege for achieving “wins” Predatory upselling and cross selling, bulletproof refund policies, advertising “access” to a coach but only get their VAs, overselling containers, and coaches dropping their enthusiasm after you’ve purchased Oh, this is one juicy episode. And if you know a coach or someone who is thinking about hiring a business coach, definitely share this episode with them. They will thank you later.  ***Fili Sardi runs CoachinFlow.com, a global consultancy where he empowers coaches and online entrepreneurs to uplevel their business by delivering exceptional client experience, which, in turn, improves their client lifetime customer value.  Check out his work at CoachInFlow.com or follow him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sardifilip/

7 Okt 20241h 12min

April Dawn, as a consultant that focuses on multi six figure launches, has a ton of super busy days. To most people, this would mean high stress, high pressure, long hours in front of the computer, and maybe sleep and fitness coming in last.  Not for April. She has wonderfully weaved fun, wellness, and healthy habits into her busy days.  Learn how she does it…  How to not overdo “play” and get back to your goals  How not to let a bad month get in your head Ways to “treat yourself” when a great month comes along Best tools for project management (according to this launch queen!) Tips to balance fun and work even during busy times Press play and enjoy this episode to the fullest! And as a bonus gift, if you have an upcoming launch, get her 40-page playbook on her best practices based on several six figures launches.  Download it for FREE here and follow April on Instagram.

30 Sep 202448min

What is it really like to shift careers? When you’re “older”? After a decade of commitment to one career? Maybe eight years of college education? And a lifetime of parents and society’s expectations? In this podcast episode, I sit with Chemical Engineer turned full time content marketer and entrepreneur, Farrah Garcia. After spending years working in a petrochemical plant, she made the bold decision to shift from chemical engineering to content marketing.  She shares about influences around her, the easiest and most difficult part of shifting careers, surprising considerations she had to take into place, and her best advice for people who may find themselves at these crossroads. Today she uses her science-driven mind, and love for engaging storytelling to help Founders, entrepreneurs, and B2B brands craft impactful, authentic content that drives brand strength and profit. Her focus areas include corporate copywriting, LinkedIn, and Twitter content. Follow Farah’s adventures here.

23 Sep 202448min

As a business girlie, beauty girlie, fitness girlie, fashion girlie….I’ve made a lot of bad money decisions that continue to haunt me. I mean, I’ve processed most of them in therapy and I’ve gotten wiser over the years, but sometimes, it annoys me thinking about them!  Years and years of being in the social media eye did not help, too. In this episode, I’ve distilled some of the most common bad money decisions that ladies make, regrettable purchases I made when I started to make more money, purchases that somehow made it to my life even though I had no intention of enjoying it, all the weird mental gymnastics this took, and how you can get over it, too.  You got this, girl! If you love this episode, you may also like: How I Paid Off My Debt Fast Disclaimer: I am aware that certain systemic injustices can put a lot of ladies in a bad financial situation, so when I say “broke” in this podcast, it means “money tight when they should not be”.

16 Sep 202458min

As a former competitive poker player and pretty much a very “F it, let’s do it!” kind of person sometimes, I needed to know how to properly calculate risk. Over the years, I’ve had wins and made mistakes, and I reflected on this topic so I can share my best advice for you.  So grab a warm drink (or a spritzy cold one) and enjoy this episode about how to lessen risks in life and business. Then let me know what you think of it! :) Find me on Instagram at @karlastefan.  Also check out -  How to Solve Problems episode here.

9 Sep 202440min

Just in the past year, I’ve traveled to seven countries. Add maybe four more for layovers.  I recently got hit with a surprise trip back to the Philippines, where I had to travel over 30 hours to stay there for a few weeks. And get this – it was super easy.  I don’t get jetlagged (yep, never in my life) and I learned a few things along the way so that I can keep my diet and business in order even when I’m taking these crazy trips.  Definitely did not come easy – I’ve had missed flights, missed calls, missed business, and I used to just accept that my health won’t be the priority because I’m traveling.  This is not the case anymore. Dive in as I share my best tips for no-jetlag travel, and my best advice for getting your health and business in order even when you’re traveling.  P.S. Well I won’t lie, having a fully outsourced team helps A LOT! So if you need help for that, you know where to find me. ;)  Peep my travels here: @karlastefan (Instagram)

27 Aug 202443min

Have you ever thought about starting a speaking career or hitting up stages to grow your business? You’re in for a treat! Veteran educator, emcee, and standup comedian Adam Palmeter sits with me today to talk about how to prep for public speaking, how to grow a “creative” career without going broke, surprising ways to build up your confidence, key benefits for entrepreneurs as they nurture their speaking career, and easy ways to get over stagefright. I’ve been in the public speaking circuit since I was in high school, and I learned so many new things in this conversation. If you are ever curious about this, prep your fave beverage, put on your Airpods while at the gym, and listen in. *** Adam is a multi-media artist who has done hundreds of mural, writing, children’s book, and public speaking projects. He has also a thriving career as a teacher and coach, and has performed comedy in 22 countries. Check out Adam’s work and adventures at AdamPalmeter.com. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adampalmeter/ Website: https://www.adampalmeter.com/

19 Aug 20241h 1min

It’s pretty straightforward: we had a great conversation about 10 Uncanny Ways to Find Great Hires.  Last week I sat with the Founder of BarbellJobs.com, hiring expert and business broker Sebastian Gast. We talked about some of our best hires, our “creative” ways in finding them, secret green flags to look out for, and we also dispelled some myths and discussed nuances about hiring.  (Side note: listen to why I specifically love hiring friends and family, and how I still uphold merit over nepotism.) Follow Sebastian on Linkedin.  *** Sebastian is the current owner of BarbellJobs.com, an online job board for the fitness industry.  He acquired the site in 2023, following his previous experience as a brick and mortar fitness studio owner.  Despite growing the location to #1 in Colorado and Top 20 in the country, hiring talent was consistently one of his (and the fitness industry's) biggest challenges.  He is really passionate about small business and is still a licensed business broker.  While he has also worked in corporate roles, he is energized by learning from other entrepreneurs and non-conventional career paths.  He is Colombian, a triple citizen, and lives with his wife, two kids, and a dog in Colorado. If you liked this episode share it with an entrepreneur friend and tag us! It will really make our day. You rock! :)

5 Aug 202450min