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.☺️)

01/16/2023

Listen to Dr. King.

Listen to the pain and sorrow caused by systematic oppression over hundreds of years.

Listen to the cries for equity and equality.

Listen to the bigotry and hate speech.

Listen to the protestors fighting for change.

Listen to the self-righteous hypocrites who inflame biases and support racism.

Listen to the mourners, weeping for another slain youth.

Listen to the increasingly diverse leadership in business and government.

Listen to the clang of a cell door unfairly destroying a man’s future.

Listen to the celebration of diversity and inclusion.

Listen to the casual racism that goes unpunished.

Listen to the young voices, ready to lead this movement forward.

Listen to the microaggressions that make work hell for millions of people.

Listen to Dr. King.

Then, act.

Do your part to make his dream reality.

01/06/2023

If you're looking for Seed funding, and don't have traction with your best clients, you're in for a rough 2023.

That's the bottom line in the startup world these days.

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.

12/21/2022

What stories can you share to build trust with clients?

The answer is simple, but not easy to do.

People feel safe around those who are similar to themselves.

It's a primal survival instinct that all mammals share.

It's why they live in packs, herds, or in the case of humans, tribes.

With other mammals, they look similar so they can easily know where they belong.

With humans, it's not that simple.

We're more diverse.

We don't all look the same.

So, how do you show you are trustworthy to somebody you just met?

You tell stories about your beliefs and values.

Those are what people need to know in order to feel safe around you.

If people don't feel safe around you, they will NEVER buy. EVER.

Even if every logical reason is in your favor, the survival instinct will veto the decision.

So, stop talking about what you do...
..and start talking about what you believe.

P.S. Cosmo has fallen asleep in that position more than once. It's adorable.

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?

11/28/2022

I’ve been talking lately about the importance of having a growth mindset, especially during times of economic uncertainty. I’m always working to improve skills that are vital for my business to succeed, like Storytelling.

And this is exactly what we do at the Squash and Stretch Productions: empower entrepreneurs like you to build deeper connections with your best clients. So, you can grow your business, even in uncertain economic times.

We do this through creating authentic, powerful brand stories.

Want to see what we’re talking about? Go to https://bit.ly/Brand-Growth-Blocker-Quiz. As you take the quiz, you'll discover what your #1 Brand Growth Blocker is, and how to access valuable content that will help you overcome your blocker, for free!

Take This FREE 60-Second Quiz To Find Out ”What’s Your #1 Brand Growth Blocker?”

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.

11/14/2022

The greatest investment you can make when facing an economic downturn is...

NOT in Gold...

NOT in Silver...

NOT in Crytpo...

The greatest investment you can make is IN YOURSELF.

Those who learn the skills in the downturn are the ones who make the bills when it comes back.

Our CEO Karl Pontau is proof that his DEGREES did not predict his future - his EFFORT did.

So if you've been thinking about taking that class, getting that certification, learning that craft, the time do invest in yourself is NOW.