Real Relationships Real Revenue - Audio Edition | Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career

What if procrastination is costing you business? In this episode, I sit down with Jon Acuff to unpack why smart, capable professionals procrastinate on the things that actually grow their businesses, especially follow-up, relationship building, and business development. We talk about the four traps that keep us stuck, why procrastination isn't just about getting started, and how even quitting can become something we put off.
Jon also shares practical strategies for getting out of your own way, including his "CEO of follow-up" mindset, the power of the Golden Hour, and why shifting from selling to serving can completely change how you approach relationships. We also dig into knowing what to stop doing, choosing the right platforms for your business, and building relationships that lead to long-term revenue.
 
Topics We Cover in This Episode: 
Why your biggest competition might actually be yourself

The hidden ways procrastination shows up in business

Why follow-up gets harder after rejection

How to use your "Golden Hour"

When quitting is actually the right move

Why serving can make selling easier

How to focus on the platforms that actually matter

What it takes to turn relationships into revenue

 
If you've ever known exactly what you should be doing but still found yourself putting it off, this episode is for you. Tune in and find out what's really getting in your way.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonacuff/
Jon's Website: jonacuff.com
Stage and Page workshop: jonacuff.com/stage
 
100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15
Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai
Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com
Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info
Give to Grow Amazon Order Link:  https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc
Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

What if the expertise you've spent decades building could become the engine for more predictable revenue, stronger positioning, and better-fit clients? In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Northcutt, founder and CEO of Level Up Creators, to unpack why so many experts struggle with inconsistent lead flow even when they are exceptional at what they do. 
We talk about the "expert trap," why being great at the work is not enough to consistently win the work you actually want, and how personal branding, a clearly defined methodology, and a deep understanding of your ideal client can change the way people see and choose you. Amanda also shares how to extract the expertise that has become second nature, turn it into a repeatable methodology, and use AI to help uncover and codify what may otherwise be difficult to articulate.
 
Topics We Cover in This Episode: 
Why being exceptionally good at your work can actually make it harder to explain what you do

The missing piece between expertise and predictable, recurring revenue

How to uncover the methodology hiding inside your own experience

Why your personal brand may matter more to the buying decision than your company name

What a product ladder can look like, even when you think you only have one service to sell

How to make it easier for the right prospects to say yes

Why the language your clients use may be more valuable than the language you use to describe your work

How AI can help turn years of expertise and conversations into usable intellectual property

 
If you're an expert, consultant, professional services provider, or business leader who wants to become easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to hire, this is a conversation you don't want to skip.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Amanda: https://welevelupcreators.com/
100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15
Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai
Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com
Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info
Give to Grow Amazon Order Link:  https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc
Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

I'm excited to sit down with Kristy Ellmer, a senior leader at Boston Consulting Group and co-author of How Change Really Works, to talk about what it actually takes to lead meaningful change inside organizations. Rather than relying on intuition or management trends, Kristy explains how years of research in behavioral science, neuroscience, and real-world transformations led to seven practical principles for increasing the odds of success. We explore why so many change efforts stall, why getting genuine agreement matters more than quick consensus, and how leaders can create the conditions for lasting progress instead of temporary compliance.
Our conversation also moves beyond strategy into the human side of transformation. We discuss why people are more likely to embrace change when they have ownership in shaping it, how leaders can encourage productive disagreement without slowing momentum, and why stories often inspire action more effectively than metrics alone. Whether you're leading a company, managing a team, or guiding clients through change, these ideas offer practical ways to think differently about how people commit to new directions and sustain them over time.
 
Topics We Cover in This Episode: 
Why "false alignment" creates more problems than open disagreement

How to know when your team is truly aligned before moving forward

A simple exercise that exposes hidden assumptions in leadership meetings

What the "IKEA Effect" teaches us about ownership and commitment

Why involving more people doesn't always slow a transformation down

How stories and symbols can motivate people in ways data alone cannot

The role of healthy debate in building stronger decisions and better execution

Why successful change is often about designing the process, not just setting the goal

 
If you're responsible for leading change or influencing others through uncertainty, I think you'll find this conversation incredibly helpful.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Purchase How Change Really Works: https://a.co/d/08tqzPRZ
Connect with Kristy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-r-ellmer-b25b7a23/
Connect with Kristy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy_ellmer/
 
Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai
Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com
Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info
Give to Grow Amazon Order Link:  https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc
Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Robert Cialdini, one of the world's foremost researchers on influence and the bestselling author of Influence, to discuss what actually builds trust in relationship-driven business development. Rather than focusing on persuasion tactics, we explore the small, practical behaviors that help experts create stronger client relationships over time—from expressing genuine affinity and finding authentic points of connection to using language that reinforces partnership instead of distance.
We also talk about why human connection often matters more than demonstrating expertise alone. Dr. Cialdini shares research-backed examples on asking for advice instead of opinions, making communication feel more personal, framing conversations around shared goals, and even how admitting a past mistake can strengthen credibility.
 
Topics We Cover in This Episode: 
Why the principles of liking and unity are foundational to lasting client relationships

A simple language shift that turns critics into collaborators

How to find authentic common ground without forcing rapport

Why humanizing your communication can be more persuasive than emphasizing credentials

What Warren Buffett's shareholder letters teach about building trust

How acknowledging a past mistake can make future recommendations more credible

When framing outcomes as potential losses can be more motivating than highlighting gains

Practical ways to make emails, conversations, and client interactions feel more personal

 
If you're looking for practical ways to strengthen trust, communicate more effectively, and build relationships that last, I think you'll find plenty to take away from this conversation.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Cialdini Free Assessment — cialdini.com  
Book: Influence by Robert Cialdini — https://a.co/d/05dd7GPv 
Robert Cialdini's other books — https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000AP9KKG/
 
Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai
Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com
Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info
Give to Grow Amazon Order Link:  https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc
Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/

In this episode, I sit down with former Navy SEAL, leadership expert, and bestselling author Rich Diviney to explore what it really means to perform well in uncertain environments. Drawing from the ideas in his book Masters of Uncertainty, Rich explains why chasing peak performance can actually be the wrong goal for most people and why learning to perform optimally in unpredictable situations matters far more. 
We discuss how uncertainty affects decision-making, motivation, relationships, and business development, and how small shifts in focus can help us make progress even when outcomes feel unclear.
If you're leading a business, growing relationships, managing a team, or simply trying to navigate a challenging season, this conversation offers practical ways to stay focused and effective when certainty is nowhere to be found.
Topics We Cover in This Episode: 
Why optimal performance is often more useful than peak performance

How uncertainty creates stress and what your brain is looking for in difficult situations

The Duration, Pathway, Outcome (DPO) framework and how it can reduce overwhelm

Why breaking goals into smaller horizons can improve motivation and follow-through

How fear, uncertainty, and anxiety interact and what helps reduce their impact

What attributes reveal about how people show up under pressure

How high-performing teams adapt leadership responsibilities in real time

Why trust depends on more than competence and consistency alone

 
If you're looking for practical ways to navigate uncertainty with more confidence, clarity, and resilience, this episode is for you.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Listen to Secrets to Thriving Under Pressure with Author and Retired Navy SEAL, Rich Diviney: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-to-thriving-under-pressure-with-author-and/id1504330338?i=1000683901565 
 
Connect with Rich: https://learn.theattributes.com/mastering-uncertainty
 
Sign up for Bunnell Idea Group's free AI Business Development tool, GrowBIG AI: growbig.ai
Sign up for Mo's weekly newsletter: GrowBigPlaybook.com
Free Give to Grow Training and Downloadable Materials: Givetogrow.info
Give to Grow Amazon Order Link:  https://a.co/d/ec8DTzc
Follow Mo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobunnell/