In this episode of The Collective Podcast, hosts Shane and Kyle, joined by special guest Justin Brough, an originator and key figure at Cyberbacker, discuss the practical applications and benefits of utilizing virtual assistants in business operations. They share their personal experiences, insights, and tips for effectively leveraging VAs to enhance productivity and business operations.

03:27 - Viewing VAs as Remote Staff

08:06 - Scalability and the Evolution of Entrepreneurship

09:01 - The Mindset Shift for Entrepreneurs

11:27 - Struggles and Misconceptions about Hiring VAs

21:50 - Cultural Differences and Bonuses for VAs

24:08 - Upcoming Webinar on VAs


Takeaways:

Virtual assistants (VAs) should be considered an essential part of your business team. Treat them as remote staff members rather than just contract workers. This perspective fosters a stronger working relationship and increases their commitment to your business goals.

As an entrepreneur, adapting to the evolving business environment is important. Leveraging remote staff, like VAs, can help you scale your business more efficiently. Embrace this shift to stay competitive and responsive to market demands.

Effective delegation and project management are key skills for working with VAs. Learn to delegate tasks appropriately and manage projects systematically to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of your remote team.

Offering bonuses and incentives, such as the 13th-month bonus, can greatly enhance the performance and loyalty of your VAs. Recognizing their hard work with additional compensation can lead to higher motivation and better results.

Quotes:

"You can have the best virtual assistant in the world, but if you can't delegate, communicate, and help manage projects, it's not going to work well."

"This should be the year that you finally step back from doing everything at a, at a poor level and step into just being really what you're good at because you are important."

"One of the things that we pride ourselves on, at least here in Cyberbacker, is we find the best talent throughout the Philippines. In order to do that, we have to offer them great stuff."

"The reality is, my importance has shifted. My time has shifted. My energy has shifted. My focus has shifted. And things that weren't required of me before are now required of me. A big piece of that being delegation, project management."

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane and Kyle, along with special guest Dan Smokoska, explore effective LinkedIn strategies for content creation and engagement. Dan shares his unique point system for meaningful online interactions and the importance of a well-crafted LinkedIn profile.

03:25 - The Power of Engaging on LinkedIn

06:47 - Intentional Design: Building an Audience

10:09 - Providing Value and Building Trust

13:58 - LinkedIn: Industry Conversations and Referrals

23:13 - Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

25:39 - The Rise of Video Content on LinkedIn

28:01 - Authentic and Relevant Engagement

Takeaways:

LinkedIn excels as a platform for industry-specific discussions and high-level referrals. It’s an ideal space for connecting with peers, sharing knowledge, and building relationships that can lead to significant business opportunities.

Engaging with your network on LinkedIn through likes, comments, and direct messages is more impactful than merely creating and posting content.

Be deliberate in curating your LinkedIn connections. Focus on engaging with individuals and groups who align with your professional goals and can benefit from your expertise. This targeted approach ensures your efforts are directed toward those who matter most to your business.

Treat your LinkedIn profile like a sales page. Ensure it clearly communicates who you are, what you do, and how you can help your audience. A professional photo, a compelling banner image, and a well-crafted summary can significantly enhance your profile’s appeal and effectiveness.

Quotes:

"Are you providing value? And if you're doing that, it's going to help what you create to be seen by more and more and more people."

"If I had to choose one or the other, create content or engage consistently on LinkedIn, I would go with engage all day long. You can blow up as a company or as a salesperson by just engaging with the right audience.”

“When they click on your name, they land on your profile. And if your profile is not really intentional about who your audience is and what their pain points are and how you solve them... then they're not going to use you and they're going to jump off that page."

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this first episode of The Collective Podcast, Shane, Sean, and Kyle get real about why it’s key to be yourself everywhere—yes, even on social media. They talk about using social platforms not just to share, but to build genuine business connections. Listen in as they share personal experiences and give some straightforward advice on keeping it real online and offline.

00:01 - Introduction and Authenticity

06:42 - Different Perspectives on Social Media

13:57 - The Benefits of Leveraging Social Media

27:17 - Closing Thoughts and Leveraging Social Media

Takeaways:

Incorporating personal interests and aspects of one's life into professional interactions can enrich one's professional persona and make interactions more engaging.

Even if personally disliking social media, recognizing and utilizing its professional benefits can yield significant advantages in business contexts.

Using personal anecdotes effectively during presentations or in content can create a more engaging and memorable experience for the audience.

Transparency in how you communicate, particularly about dislikes or preferences, can foster a more honest and robust dialogue.

Quotes:

" What's your primary use for social media? Are you just consuming? Are you engaging? Or are you posting things to just feel good? "

" I'd rather just read a book than look at what I feel like are shallow representations of people's lives. "

" What people have to understand is the outcome drives the motivation to be consistent, to do the actions. “

" Social media may be therapy for some, a headache for others, but it's undeniably a powerful business tool. "

Show Links:

Community Platform: https://products.thecollectivecoaching.com/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itsthecollectivecoaching/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCollectiveCoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectivecoaching/

In this episode of the Next Level Podcast, Shane, Sean and Kyle dive into the exhilarating world of sales and marketing with special guest Darin Rhodes. Discover how the right strategies, paired with effective technology use, can transform your approach to CRM and lead generation!

04:23- The Need for Execution and Strategy in Marketing

10:42 - Applying the Marketing Formula to Loan Officers

21:45 - The Power of Making Offers to Solve Problems

27:29 - Using Technology to Scale Offers to the Right Audience

Takeaways:

Ideas are plentiful, but execution is key. Shift your energy from collecting new strategies to implementing what you already know. It’s all about the practical steps—block and tackle.

If you’re using a CRM system or any significant piece of technology, take the time to really understand it. Purchasing a tool isn’t enough; you need to know how to leverage it effectively to benefit your business.

Always circle back to assess the effectiveness of strategies and tools. If something isn’t working, adjust the strategy rather than abandoning the tool.

While technology is essential, the human element—how you interact with and utilize the technology—is what makes the difference in providing value.

Quotes:

"It's really not about the technology as much as it is that that's just the tool that the best chefs use to make Michelin star menus, right? But it's not, it's not the tool, it's the chef."

"Your content always springs from your strategy, not the other way around."

"I don't want any more ideas. There are enough ideas already out there for me to have for the rest of my entrepreneurial life. I want to know how to execute."

"I think there's a fifth part, which is the reevaluation at the end, which you talked about. But like, if people have never done this, that's probably one of the most important steps."

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

In this episode, Kyle Draper along with Jonathan Mast talks about how AI can make work and life easier, especially if you find focusing hard. Jonathan gives simple tips on using AI to get things done faster and better. Tune in to learn how you can use AI to help with your projects and become a go-to expert in what you do!

00:00 - Introduction and Importance of Community

07:41 - The Prompting Framework for AI

14:56 - Incorporating Personality Types into AI Prompts

Takeaways:

AI is not just a technological advancement but a transformative tool that can elevate both your personal life and business ventures. Jonathan Mast's insights encourage you to explore how AI can open new avenues for learning and development.

AI has the capability to make complex tasks more manageable and to expedite the completion of projects. This is particularly beneficial if you're in a fast-paced environment or need to meet tight deadlines.

With AI's assistance, reaching your goals becomes a more streamlined process. Whether it's completing a project ahead of schedule or mastering a new skill, AI can offer the support and resources necessary for success.

Quotes:

" AI isn't going to replace us, but people using AI will. "

" Topical authority is being seen as the expert in your niche. "

" Good today is better than perfect tomorrow, because tomorrow will never come if we try to be perfect. “

" Being an adult with ADD, anything that allows me to do something quickly is a win for me. “

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

In this episode, Shane Kidwell and Sean Zalmanoff tackle the crucial topic of taking well-deserved breaks and establishing firm boundaries in the demanding arena of commission-based work. They deliver powerful insights on how to seamlessly disconnect, ensuring your team has everything under control, so you can recharge without a hitch.

03:16 - Different Types of Trips and Setting Up for Vacation

06:10 - Different Approach for Work Trips

09:58 - Setting Up Team and Communication

10:26 - Accepting Consequences and Results

12:45 - Working on Weekends

20:26 - Owning Your Time and Leveraging Technology

Takeaways:

Understand that taking time off isn't just about leaving work; it's about strategically planning so that your absence is as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Before you step away, ensure your team and clients know who to contact and how to handle urgent issues. This planning helps you truly relax and enjoy your time off, knowing everything is under control.

Embrace tools and systems that make remote work and communication seamless. Applications like RingCentral for calls or Calendly for scheduling are invaluable. They allow you to maintain a presence and ensure continuity in your work, even when you're not physically available.

Keep your clients, team, and partners in the loop about your availability. Clear communication helps manage expectations and reduces the chances of misunderstandings or frustrations during your absence. This proactive approach ensures smoother transitions and maintains trust in your professional relationships.

Quotes:

"You are entitled to take a vacation. You are a full-fledged adult. You can do that. Everyone else in life takes vacations where they don't work."

"Be where your feet are. I don't remember who said it, but it's definitely something in our industry that we can all be more present and do more of."

"You can't effectively be two places at once. And I think that's important to understand, be where you're going to be and be effective in that time."

"Just set your team up for success. And your team is not just your team. I believe your team are your agents, your referral partners, your pre-approvals."

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

In this episode, Kyle Draper introduces Luke Shankula, the CEO and founder of Loans on Demand. They discuss Luke's marketing tactics, specifically his use of two-step posts to generate engagement and leads. Luke explains the strategy behind these posts and how they can be effective in gaming the algorithm and starting conversations with potential clients. He also emphasizes the importance of being a person of value and creating content that resonates with your target audience.

01:01 - Annoying Marketing Tactics

08:08 - Overcoming the 'Ickiness'

10:08 - Creating Buzz with Two-Step Approaches

13:30 - Being Seen as a Person of Value

20:20 - Generating Content Ideas

23:15 - What Loans on Demand Does

25:14 -Next Level Community

26:13 - Acknowledging Mistakes

Takeaways:

Whether it's sharing expertise, tips, or resources, consistently offering something valuable builds your reputation as a knowledgeable and helpful professional. This can attract more engagement and interest in your services.

Asking your audience to comment for more information or resources can increase engagement and reach. It also allows you to directly connect with interested individuals through private messages.

Everyday activities and experiences can be valuable content. Sharing these moments can help you connect with your audience on a more personal level, showing that you're more than just your business.

Just like in-person relationships, online relationships thrive on interaction. Commenting on, liking, and sharing others' content can help build your online community and presence.

Quotes:

"Understand what they need and what they want... if you've never presented value to your audience, the reason I'm able to get away with this is because I, for the last six years, have posted consistently and put out value."

"This is called a two-step post... what that just means is you're making someone take an action and then you're going to do something because of their action."

"If you're just putting out crap, people are going to catch on... You have to actually put out value. You have to engage with them because then there's the law of reciprocity."

"I'm always taking pictures and recording video. How much of that makes it to social? Hardly any of it. But I'm just always capturing content."

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/

In this week's podcast, Shane Kidwell, Kyle Draper, and Sean Zalmanoff discuss the shifting importance in the mortgage industry and the need for thoughtful staffing decisions. They emphasize the importance of understanding your worth and hiring based on your expertise. The episode also touches on the benefits of hiring contractors and the need for effective planning and process.

02:03 - Shifting Importance in the Mortgage Industry

03:26 - Assessing Staffing Needs and Challenges

04:52 - The Scarcity Mindset and Hiring Locally

06:45 - Overcoming the Physicality of the Team

09:30 - Efficiency and ROI in Hiring

12:25 - The First Hire in a Growing Mortgage Company

22:26 - The Importance of Planning and Process

25:42 - Understanding Your Worth and Asking the Right Questions


Takeaways:

Embrace the shift towards digital and remote work environments. Recognize that efficiency and productivity can be enhanced through virtual meetings and remote staffing, which also allows for a broader talent pool beyond geographical limitations.

Before hiring, clearly define the roles and responsibilities based on your business needs and personal strengths. This planning phase helps in identifying whether a task requires a full-time employee, a part-time assistant, a contractor, or can be automated through technology.

Recognize the value of your time and expertise. Focus on tasks that you excel at, are passionate about, and that directly contribute to revenue generation. Delegate or outsource tasks that can be performed adequately by others at a lower cost.

For many businesses, especially in the current market, the first hires or outsourced roles should focus on branding, marketing, and social media to enhance lead generation and establish a strong online presence. This approach prioritizes top-of-funnel activities that are essential for growth.

Quotes:

"The reality is that we're so often just trying to put our finger in the hole in the dam. We don't even understand why there's a dam."

"Be inquisitive and be a learner. And if you're inquisitive with like full humility, like when you get a bill from the IRS for 56 grand, that humbles you even if you're not super humble."

"Whether that's in us, whether that's in yourself, whether that's in both, whether that's in a gym membership, maybe it's investing in Sundays, you know, taking some time with your family, but invest."

"And we have stronger relationships because we have to be intentional versus the people that just think they're doing a good job because they happen to see their people every day."

Show Links:

Community Platform: www.BecomeNL.com

Podcast Partner: https://leadpops.com/mortgage/partners/nextlevel/

Social Media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelLoanOfficers/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwSyHzkvBri1YWJSH7df1CQ

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-loan-officers/about/