Two successful entrepreneurs who are now coaching a variety of CEO's and Leaders to move them past their obsticles on their way to maximum impact. These guys see their clients and you as Superheroes and themselves as Sidekicks. Learn from experts on the best business strategies, creating unforgettable branding, fund raising, and daily winning at building your company. Learn how to inspire world-class teams. We are here to help develop your super powers. Check out the Podcast on Apple. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/superhero-sidekick-coaching-podcast-leading-the-way/id1540834842

Joe and Joel tak about how to blow the doors off when putting on a World Class Event. 1.) FILL THE ROOM WITH FANATICS: Fill the room with people who are fanatical about you. Make it hard to get too, not easy to get too. I like doing black tie events for this very reason, it thins out those who won’t walk the extra mile. There are four stages that someone goes through in becoming a partner with your org. First they are Indifferent then they become curious, then you move them to open, and lastly they become enthusiastic. Great events are made up of mostly enthusiastic people and few potentially high cap open people. You don’t want to fill the room with curious and open people, and you definitely don't want a room or curious and indifferent people (that’s what our local PRC does) and this is why I’m against low barriers of entry. Free events or selling out tables and having donors bring their friends doesn’t bring in the super dollars because the room is concentrated with more people that are not enthusiastic than the other way around. You want your event to feel like it’s on fire, everyone has been anticipating it! No one is there for a free meal or even there for a favor of a friend who invited them. 2.) BLOW THE DOORS OFF: Blow the doors off. At our events we charged $500 per plate and we spent it.. on them in big and little ways. I have had billionaires tell me that our event was the best event that they have ever been too. And that’s because we made it. 3.) GO THE EXTRA MILE: For your top donors, I’d recommend not only comping their tickets but getting their hotel room for them for one night, and again go the extra mile. Not the cheapest hotel you can find, get them the Trump hotel. Make it feel very appealing to go to. We would put a box of chocolate covered strawberries on their beds. 4.) MAKE IT UNIQUE & EXCLUSIVE: Make unique and exciting invitations. People feel like they are invited to something exclusive when they get an expensive invitation in the mail. Find the best wedding invitation in your budget and make that. We sent out metal invitations or long slender scrolls in a tube. You can have different invitations for different donor groups. Your top people should get the top vip treatment. Our invitations were always fun and they made people think that this event would be totally different. Invitations should go out six months in advance. However, Save the Date cards should go out ten months in advance, those just need to be fancy postcards. 5.) REMOVE OBSTACLES: Offer child care on the invitation. This is one obstacle that some people can’t get over on their own when traveling across the country to an event. Have good child care with some ideas that are really fun for the kids. One of my favorite child care ideas is that you give each kid a little personality test and when their parents pick them up they get a little card that tells a little more about their child. 6.) PERSONAL INVITES: Personal invitation. Everyone who you want there needs two or three personal invites from you starting one year in advance. 7.) MAKE IF FEEL LIKE FAMILY: Your event should feel like a very exclusive club, in some ways more like a big family event than a fundraiser. It’s important that people have lots of time to comfortably network before and after the event. It’s like a reunion of kindred souls.

The Big Ask 1.) STACK THE DECK: Have more than one A list speaker. I like to have seven or eight speakers. And at our events we even asked Mike Pence to speak for only ten minutes. 2.) CARE FOR THE MESSAGE, IT IS YOUR MISSION: Curate every speech. Meet with every speaker in advance (three months prior) at your headquarters and map out exactly what they are going to talk about. Share an ideal script with them that fits with their story. These scripts should all be emotionally pointing toward the mission and the task. 3.) LEAD, BUILD, INSPIRE & CELEBRATE: Be intentional about the “emotion ark” of the evening. You don’t want to curate a conference of random speeches, instead think of it as a really good movie. Great movies develop characters and draw you in then they climax and pull at your heart. It’s best to start out events with lots of humor, and then draw people into deep emotion. I like to create an emotion graph when planning out the event. The biggest gifts come after someone who has a side sticker laughed themselves out of their chair, squeezed their partner a little, and then cried three times before it was time to give. What you don’t want is randomized emotion. You want the evening to build, and you want it to end in an abandoned celebration. It’s also very important that the evening has good stage management, leading up to the ask you need to seamlessly hand the stage off again and again. 4.) K.I.S.- KEEP IT SIMPLE: It’s important that the ask is simple, clear, and specific. And that there is a dollar goal for the evening. I like to let people know the goal in advance and tell them the goal at least four or five times before they ask. The goal needs to be for a specific amount but also for a specific thing like a new building or 100 sonograms machines. Then it also has to be clear what the building or sonogram machines will achieve such as 1,000 more clients per year or tens of thousands of sonograms per year, which accounts for lives saved and again best if we can specifically have a goal right down to our impact. Think simple, think clear, think specific. 5.) CAST VISION, ONLY YOU CAN: It’s the job of the CEO to cast the vision. They don’t need to be the closer and in-fact I don’t think they should. I recommend that the CEO gives a speech that is five to seven minutes and that is fun and impactful. This so each should be written three months prior and 100% memorized and practiced. 6.) ASK WITH CARE, ASK WITH EXCELLENCE: The actual ask should be emotional by a professional closer. And then should walk the people through the form. Don’t let anyone fill out the form early. Instead, ask them not to take it out of the envelope until they ask. Then during the ask, walk them through the four parts of the donation form.

CREATNG A DONATION FORM 1.) CHECK THE BOX, NEXT…. The donation form needs to be very simple and easy. First off (and this is a biggie), don’t make your donors write in their personal information. You should already have their name, address, email, phone number on the giving sheet. Remember they are giving out of their heart, don’t distract them by asking information that you already know. I also like to print on the sheet what they have given in the last twelve months and what they have given in total. If they are on a donor team I print that on the form as well. In addition to how easy this makes the process it’s also important psychologically. Someone might be tempted to say let’s just give online after the event (and then forget). But it’s already filled out. They basically have to just check boxes. 2.) PLAN, PREPARE AND PREPARE MORE: It’s your closer job to walk them through the form without dropping the emotion ball. So have them actually prepare this in their talk. No seriously, have them rehearse it and time it multiple times. Every banquet that I have been to in the past year has biffed this up. Most closer have never even looked at the giving sheet. Don’t do that. 3.) DO YOUR HOMEWORK, STEWARD WELL: The first part of the form should be a set of high dollar menu options. These options should cost between 5% and 25% of your total raise. So if it’s for a $175,000 stork bus have the three menu options be A $10,000 wrap, $25,000 sonogram unit, and a $50,000 paid sonographer. If you are raising $1,000,000 have your items very from $50,000 to $250,000. It’s important that your closer explains each of the three items and how they contribute to the overall evening goal. 4.) KEEP THE FORM EASY AND CLEAR: Each of the four parts of the form need delineation. The second part of the form is simply where they circle one of three giving amounts or write in their own amount. 5.) CREATE LONG TERM PARTNERS: t he third part of the donation form is to ask them to become a monthly partner. And it’s important that the speaker can articulate why this is also important. I have been amazed at how many people will sign up for both one time and monthly giving when specifically coached to do both. I like to have a highly visual gift for anyone who signs up for a giving team. My favorite gift is a stork bow tie because when guys got it I would have some one knight it over their neck and they wouldn’t tie it (because they didn’t know how) but it would remain on their neck. If for any reason you only want to do one ask instead of two then drop the one time giving and only do the monthly option. The monthly option should also come with a menu of team giving. And the speaker should explain the difference between each of the teams. Monthly giving is the most important thing on the form. 6.) EASY, FAST AND TRUSTED: The fourth part of the form is simply to get their payment info. We primarily want them to simply void a check and sign the bottom of the form. That’s the easiest, fastest, and best for the donor. This saves you lots in fees, and also ensures that your donors don’t drop when cards get maxed out, get canceled, or decline. The form should mention that debiting a checking account saves the org. And the speaker needs to make sure that this is emphasized. The best case scenario is if you already have the donors giving information on file and then they just have to check menu boxes and sign. 7.) ASK THEM TO BRING FORWARD: Once the ask is made it’s important that all the forms are brought forward. I like to ask people to multiply the mon

Benjamin Kennedy With more than 10 years of experience in Colorado Springs Benjamin Kennedy is one of the most knowledgeable and successful realtors in the region. Focused on the mid to high-end custom homes market, Benjamin works closely with each client to ensure the buying and selling experience is curated to the client's lifestyle. Benjamin believes there is no substitute for great customer service and attention to detail. Benjamin is proud to currently house his license with ERA Shields. Our Vision Curating your Colorado Springs lifestyle, Benjamin Kennedy Real Estate is committed to excellence. We dive in with each client to guide and coach them to either quickly list and sell their home or connect them with their new dream home. http://www.bkcoloradohomes.com/

Bill Darpino is a coach for Superhero Sidekick Coaching. Bill is an expert event planner and orgainzer. He talks about planning, leadership and inspiration. Leading volunteers is an art and a science, but most of all, it's a joy to lead people toward a great cause! Culture development is the key. See more about Bill at www.superherosidekick.com

Joel teaches the concept of growing vertically before growing horizontally. So many business owners get into a hurry to grow out their business that often we don't realize the personal growth required to handle expansion.

Joe Baker and Bill Darpino present on the foundations of branding.

Dr. Jeff Myers is one of America’s most respected authorities on youth leadership development. Dr Myers is the president of Summit Ministries, a highly respected worldview training program whose tens of thousands of graduates are making a difference in politics, law, academics, medicine, science, and business. Summit influences 50,000 young people per year. Finding Purpose Through Our Calling - Jeff’s purpose and drive to teach and develop (young) people to think right, act right, and serve the right God. · What is Summit Ministries? · The 4 big questions of life - Origin, Meaning, Morality and Destiny · The 5 Deadly Questions - Where do you get your infomrmation? How do you know if your right? What happens if you're wrong? Are you willing to consider a different perspective? define your terms? · Learning to make our calling real through what we do in our professions as well as our ministry. They are one in the same, and stem from our worldview. · The heart of a biblical worldview, "Jesus doesn't just save us from something, but he saves us FOR something."

Jared Baldwin - Organizational Leadership- Professor- Program Chair- Mentor- Problem Solver. Jared shares the difference between working on a Team verses working in a Group. We explore these questions and more: How do we know when we are on a team or part of a group? What does a group look like? What does a team look like? What is the goal of a team? of a group? When is it appropriate to be part of a team? or a group? Links & Resources: • www.superherosidekick.com • www.joelsmithcoach.com • Check out our Podcasts on YouTube. • Join the Superhero Sidekick Facebook Page. Interested or have a question about coaching? • Fundraising / Non-profit Coaching – joe@superherosidekick.com • Leadership / Business Coaching– joel@joelsmithcoach.com

Joe and Joel talks about the need for coaching. Joe baker specializes in non-profit fundraising and is the founder of Superhero Sidekick Coaching. Over the course of the many businesses that I have been a part of I hired many different consultants and strategic planners, some were good, some were not… All of them could quickly show me what was broken about my organization and help me see what was needed, however none of them were available to help me through the process of getting things right. These consultants would offer ideas that seemed great on the whiteboard but then when those concepts began to fail I was on my own to figure it out. And this is precisely why I exist today. Because great CEO’s need so much more than a consultant…they need a sidekick. WORKING WITH A SIDEKICK IS SIMPLE Free assessment of your organizational needs, goals and pain points. The modeling of a strategy to get where you are going. The delivery of a scoreboard to track if you are winning daily. Meeting weekly to ensure success. https://superherosidekick.com/ Joel is an Empowerment Coach and Trainer at Joel Smith Coach llc. Raise your awareness Raise your value Raise your impact Coaching That Move Leaders Beyond Their Personal Hurdles We awaken business leaders, empower them, and launch them into action! I will help you discover self-leadership and personal growth as the first steps to becoming a high impact leader. This requires honesty, humility and an accurate view of self. The more you can add value to yourself the more you will be equipped to add value to the people around you. Great leadership is contageous! https://www.joelsmithcoach.com/

PAUL FREED Paul helps companies recruit executives faster and more efficiently using the “Art of Recruiting” to help companies stand out from the pack. He is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Herd Freed Hartz, celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year, having worked with 300+ clients across a mix of industries and roles. They have been named Top retained search firm in the NW by Forbes magazine last 3 years, national public speaker on “The Art of Recruiting” and even invited on Season 4 of Top Recruiter. Paul lives in Bend, OR with his wife Rachel and 8 yr old adopted daughter Samantha. He loves all things outdoors (skiing, mountain biking, hiking, wakesurfing), passion for travel (82+ countries so far), watching Shark Tank, Jeeping, and perfecting his Traeger BBQed pork shoulder. Topic: Art of Recruiting: How to Inspire Talent You Want Overview: To attract the talent you want to grow your business, you need to stop boring them with your job descriptions. You can’t attract an A-player when most job descriptions sound like “Here are 20 soul-sucking tasks you can do….interested?”. House Listings are like Job Descriptions. · Why real estate agents stage a house & listing – do the same for your job descriptions. · To accomplish anything of significance – you need to recruit and attract others to join you · Art of Recruiting just works and great ROI Balance the Steak & Sizzle · 4 quadrants – kitchen sink/ping pong/franken-description/talent magnet · Steak examples to include. · Sizzle examples to include. Read it aloud – Is it Authentic & Inspiring? · Would you say that to a human sitting across from you? · Authentic voice – should sound like I’m talking with you 1:1 · Hero/Villian/Quest – invite someone to be a hero on your epic mission that matters.

Are you catching fish, or are you focused on building and empire? Your dreams are something unique to you, They involve others and require maintenence and care. Are you designing your dream? Joe and Joel talk about entreprenuership and living out your purpose.

Joe talks about his latest experience climbing a mountain with his family and the impact it has on his children. Going from defeated to hopeful. Overcoming the circumstances to complete the task. Facing dehidration, cold weather head on. www,superherosidekick.com www.samadventure.com

Joe tells the heartwrenching journey that Joe, Ann and his kids are going through and the blessing they are experiencing along the way. Sometimes God gives us the most wonderful gifts when we are brave enough to endure the suffering that comes when we trust our Creator. superherosidekick.com joelsmithcoach.com

Joel and Joe talk about the Upper Limit Problem as described in Gay Hendricks book The Big Leap. The Four Zones The Genious Zone The Zone of Excellence The Competent Zone The Incompetent Zone The Thermostat “Each of us has an inner thermostat setting that determines how much love, success, and creativity we allow ourselves to enjoy. When we exceed our inner thermostat setting, we will often do something to sabotage ourselves, causing us to drop back into the old, familiar zone where we feel secure. “Unfortunately, our thermostat setting usually gets programmed in early childhood, before we can think for ourselves. Once programmed, our Upper Limit thermostat setting holds us back from enjoying all the love, financial abundance, and creativity that’s rightfully ours. It keeps us in our Zone of Competence or at best our Zone of Excellence. It prevents us from living in the ultimate destination of the journey—our Zone of Genius.” ― Gay Hendricks, The Upper Limit Problem “In my life I’ve discovered that if I cling to the notion that something’s not possible, I’m arguing in favor of limitation. And if I argue for my limitations, I get to keep them.” ― Gay Hendricks, “Fear is excitement without the breath.” Here’s what this intriguing statement means: the very same mechanisms that produce excitement also produce fear, and any fear can be transformed into excitement by breathing fully with it.” ― Gay Hendricks,

Chris Flugstad is a self made successful businessman who sold his business at a young age to spend his time investing in others through generosity.

Joe and Joel talk about the idea of pruning. Dr. Henry Cloud introduced this idea in the book Necessary Endings. Some things must come to an end before another can start. Everything is seasonal. Sowing and Reaping is the guiding principle for pruning. www.superherosidekick.com www.joelsmithcoach.com

Matt Hammitt is an American singer, songwriter and author. Matt was the lead singer and songwriter for the band Sanctus Real from 1996-2016. He has been the recipient of three Dove Awards, has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for his work with Sanctus Real, and has been awarded for his chart topping songs, performed by both Sanctus Real and other musical artists. Matt talks about finding his creativity in the midst of struggle and hardship. Visit us at: Superherosidekick.com joelsmithcoach.com