Squash and Stretch Productions

01/19/2023

People hate being sold to. (I know I do.)

They can sniff a sales pitch a mile away. (Even if you're anosmic, like me! 🤣)

How to avoid such resistance?

1 word— Storytelling.💯

Everyone loves a good story. (We're all human, even those who disagree with your political views...)

It connects on an emotional level.

If you want your marketing to resonate with your BEST clients… (Who doesn't want that?)

Ditch the tactics.

Find the right stories.

(If you feel stuck or frustrated, let's talk. I can help.☺️)

01/02/2023

Calling all startup founders who are trying to get seed funding, but need more traction!

Imagine getting all the tools you need to create brand traction for your startup in just 1 month...

How would it feel to show investors that you have a community of paying clients who love your company?

That’s what you get from my new coaching program, Fast Brand Traction Made Easy.

I designed Fast Brand Traction Made Easy to help you:

✅Optimize your brand and story
✅Build relationships with clients and reputable organizations
✅Appeal to investors

Here’s the catch…

This program is by Application only.

I will hand select each person who gets into the exclusive founding cohort.

This way, you’ll have a more customized experience to solve the toughest challenges you face.

I'm not accepting applications yet.

But, there is a waitlist!

By joining the waitlist, you’ll:

🔥Get to shape the program to fit your unique needs
💥Qualify for special bonuses that will save you time, effort, and money
❗️Be the first to know when the application window opens

Getting on the waitlist is easy!

Click this link and fill out the short form. https://bit.ly/Fast-Traction

You’ll get a follow up email with a short survey that will help complete the program’s curriculum.

There’s no risk or obligation to join the waitlist.

I promise not to spam you or share your info.

Join today!

12/23/2022

Make your brand story stronger by focusing on the impact you have, not what you do.

"We create high quality SaaS solutions" is not a mission statement.

How do you make your clients' lives better?

That's your mission statement.

12/19/2022

How can you increase your chances of getting funding? Jordi Pujol shares his advice...

12/14/2022

Traction is the name of the game.

Don't rush to get funding before you have relationships with customers or clients.

If that's not possible for you (Need FDA approval first, for example), then there are other kinds of traction you can show that will excited investors.

12/12/2022

Check out my new YouTube Series: Brand Story Minute!

New video out daily.

Learn how to build your successful brand!

Brand Story Minute, Episode 001What is a Brand?New episodes out daily!Remember to like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode!Have a ques...

12/09/2022

I've revamped my YouTube Channel!

I'll be launching a new series on Monday called The Brand Story Minute. It'll be daily, 1 minute videos about how to build your brand.

Subscribe by following this link!

Welcome! I am The Brand Story Maker. If you're looking to grow your business, connect with more of your best clients, and achieve your life's purpose, then y...

12/07/2022

Startup Founders face a deadly threat.

One that silently ruins the health of entrepreneurs like you.

I know I struggle with it. Do you?

This threat was a problem before the pandemic, and is now even bigger.

It’s loneliness.

Growing a business is something most people won’t do.

So, they don’t understand what we go through, and the stress it causes.

That stress has consequences.

Research, conducted in 2020 by the US National Institute of Mental Health, noted that up to 72% of entrepreneurs are either directly or indirectly affected by mental health issues, versus just 48% of non-entrepreneurs.

One of the best ways to overcome these issues is to talk about it with somebody who understands what you’re feeling…

…like me!

So, if you ever want to talk about your experiences and feelings, I’m here for you.

I promise, no sales pitches. I’ll just listen and empathize with you.

Simply send me a DM or connection request.

And, if you are open to helping other entrepreneurs feel less alone, let us know in the comments.

You never know when listening can save a life. 😊

12/05/2022

11/30/2022

How are you going to make December 2022 the best month of the year for you and your business?

Who do you need to become to make 2023 your best year ever?

11/24/2022

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

No matter what life has thrown your way in 2022, remember to be grateful for everything you have.

It’s still the best time to be alive in the history of humanity.

Focus on what you want more of, and take action to get it.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Life is worth living.

You only get one life.

So, make it the best one you can.

11/18/2022

Here’s how I keep my anxiety in check.

✅Turn off the news and social media.
✅Turn off alerts and notifications on all devices.
✅Maintain a regular morning and evening routine.
✅Block out my time each day so I get my most important work done first.

We all have anxiety about something. It’s part of being human.

What do you do to relax?

Let us know in the comments.

11/16/2022

Want to build trust quickly with your best clients?

Talk about what you believe.

Not what you do.

11/10/2022

👉How “Flawsome” 😎are you?

We’ve been conditioned (especially on social media) to present ourselves as perfect, happy, and successful all the time.

Especially as a business owner or leader.

The reality is, those projections aren’t real, and keep people from connecting with us on an emotional level. 😕

They lack authenticity.

But, authenticity alone leads to narcissism because “you’re being yourself,” without caring about others. 😠

Authenticity needs empathy. Added together, you get “Flawsome.” 😎

Let’s use myself as an example:

As an entrepreneur, I know how it feels to:

➡️Worry about cash flow and how you’re going to make ends meet.

➡️Lose sleep over how to explain the value of your business (and self).

➡️Not know what piece you're missing to achieve the success you desire.

😲I even know how it feels to hit rock bottom and consider jumping off an overpass. (That was very hard for me to type.)

That’s me being authentic and vulnerable.

Now let’s add some empathy to make it “Flawsome.” 😎

Because I’ve had those experiences - and two brain tumors - my passion is to help others through those same experiences by building empathetic connections with their best clients using storytelling.

11/09/2022

"Empathy works so well because it does not require a solution. It requires only understanding." - John Medina

11/04/2022

"Empathy is communicating that incredibly healing message of 'you are not alone.'" 💯
-Brene Brown

11/02/2022

You have two ears and one mouth.

Use them proportionately!

10/31/2022

Happy Halloween from Squash and Stretch Productions!

10/28/2022

Thomas neede dhelp telling his story and attractingmore of his best clients.

10/28/2022

👉Is empathy a soft or a hard skill?

I’d say that it’s a hard skill. The hardest of skills for 21st Century leaders.

And, I’m not alone.

“Empathy should be embedded into the entire organization,” writes Belinda Parmar in the Harvard Business Review. “There is nothing soft about it. It is a hard skill that should be required from the board-room to the shop floor.” 💯

10/21/2022

Fewer than 10% of startups that raise a seed round successfully raise a Series A investment.

Here’s how to increase your odds of being one of them…

How most successful startups do it:
-Have a strong Why Story
-Show traction with a growing client community
-Share stories that show product market fit
-Build relationships early with VCs
-Build out an expert team with a healthy culture and powerful vision
Why most startups fail:
-Focus too much on the product
-Don’t solve a real problem
-No emotional hook in their message
-Use too much jargon
-Don’t have the data to back up their claims

10/20/2022

Here’s a clip from the first episode of my new LinkedIn Live series, The Nailed Pitch!

I spoke with D. R. Sara about how to pitch a startup to investors.

In this clip he talks about the importance of having a growth mindset.

Enjoy!

The next episode will be tomorrow! Friday, October 21st at 10 am Pacific time.

https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:6987461499451564032/

10/17/2022

Here’s a clip from the first episode of my new LinkedIn Live series, The Nailed Pitch!

I spoke with D. R. Sara about how to pitch a startup to investors.

In this clip he talks about the importance of clearly communicating your message.

Enjoy!

The next episode will be Friday, October 21st at 10 am Pacific time.
https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:6987461499451564032/

10/13/2022

Are you sick of feeling anxious?

Here are four simple steps that helped me.

Will they work for you?

✅Turn off the news and social media.
✅Turn off alerts and notifications on all devices.
✅Maintain a regular morning and evening routine.
✅Block out my time each day so I get my most important work done first.