Episodios

  • Building Genuine Connections and Taking Action with Brett Trainor

    Building Genuine Connections and Taking Action with Brett Trainor
    Jun 25 2025
    In this episode, Jake sits down with Brett Trainor, a leading name in the fractional community, who shares his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurial freedom and how he built an authentic, engaged network from scratch.

    You’ll learn:
    • How shifting mindset from “what am I going to get out of this call” to “how can I add value and learn” changes everything.
    • Why action beats analysis paralysis, especially when transitioning from corporate to solo or fractional work.
    • The power of genuine, human connection over mass marketing or trying to blast messages to the masses.
    • How Brett’s no-edit TikTok rants resonated with thousands and became an unexpected business driver.
    • Why focusing your message with a narrow, memorable niche beats vague “I do everything” pitches.
    • The importance of patience and persistence amid initial silence or slow growth.
    • Insights on measuring success beyond vanity metrics — trusting that consistent giving pays off even if you can’t track every result.
    • The value of re-engaging long lost network contacts and nurturing second and third degree relationships.
    • Encouragement for older entrepreneurs that wisdom and clarity gained with age will be your biggest asset.

    If you’re seeking inspiration for authentic networking and actionable advice for entrepreneurial breakthroughs, this episode is a must listen.

    This episode is brought to you by Orchestraight, You can get a free trial of Orchestraight, an NLP based Lead Gen tool, for 7 days, up at orchestraight.com. Orchestraight, The straightest path to success.
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    38 m
  • Summer of STRATA: Trigger – Activating the Right Responses to Connect and Convert

    Summer of STRATA: Trigger – Activating the Right Responses to Connect and Convert
    Jun 18 2025
    In this episode, Jake explores the power of Trigger, the second layer in the STRATA framework, and how understanding and leveraging triggers can dramatically improve your sales and business development.

    You’ll learn:
    • Why selling the results and the life your client will have with your product beats selling features and benefits.
    • How to spot the signals prospects are leaking about their desires and then carefully trigger those emotions or biases.
    • The importance of tailoring your messaging to who is most susceptible to specific triggers for higher engagement and better conversion.
    • How triggers vary between people and situations, with examples like loss aversion and positive future pacing.
    • Why broad “spray and pray” lead gen fails to connect because it misses these precise triggers.
    • Ways to listen actively and responsively to adjust your triggers in real time during conversations.
    • The role of reciprocity as a powerful subconscious trigger you can apply ethically.
    • How poorly targeted or impersonal mass messaging can trigger rejection and frustration, not interest.
    • Ways Orchestraight incorporates triggers seamlessly into your messaging for maximum impact.
    • The caution to avoid overthinking triggers while being highly intentional about your audience and message.
    If you want to powerfully engage prospects by speaking their brain’s language and triggering the right responses for conversion, this episode is your guide.

    This episode is brought to you by Orchestraight, You can get a free trial of Orchestraight, an NLP based Lead Gen tool, for 7 days, up at orchestraight.com. Orchestraight, The straightest path to success.
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    25 m
  • Communicating Your Value as a Fractional Leader with Jason Jones

    Communicating Your Value as a Fractional Leader with Jason Jones
    Jun 11 2025
    In this episode, Jake chats with communication coach and fractional leadership specialist Jason Jones about how totally different the game is when shifting from corporate job interviews to authentic business development conversations.

    Jason breaks down why success isn’t about blasting generic pitches, but about getting deeply relevant to the client’s context. He shows that true influence is built by narrowing your focus and learning your prospect’s experience first.

    You’ll discover:
    • Why talking about solutions only works if clients already see the problem and have chosen a fix. Otherwise, it’s just “nice to have,” not critical.
    • How being an expert on problems, not just solutions, catapults your ability to connect and offer real value.
    • The myth that selling is passion alone. Strategic, focused communication creates real investment.
    • Why listening actively and being endlessly curious about your client’s world wins trust and referrals.
    • The power of building an intentional network by learning your most relevant industries and problems deeply.
    • How patience, narrowing your niche, and learning continuously create powerful connections, versus shotgun-email blasts that get ignored.
    • Tactics to stay motivated during dry spells, including calling a close colleague to list wins and shifting your focus.
    • Why treating everyone with respect, from janitors to executives, opens doors and builds champions.
    If you’re venturing into fractional leadership or consulting, frustrated by low response, or just want to sharpen your approach, this episode is your blueprint.

    This episode is brought to you by Orchestraight, You can get a free trial of Orchestraight, an NLP based Lead Gen tool, for 7 days, up at orchestraight.com. Orchestraight, The straightest path to success.
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    39 m
  • Signal: The First Layer of STRATA and Its Power in Business Development

    Signal: The First Layer of STRATA and Its Power in Business Development
    Jun 4 2025
    In this episode, Jake digs into the critical power of Signal, the first and arguably most important layer of the STRATA framework.

    Signal is all the tiny but impactful cues we give off long before we say a word, from punctuality to posture, phone usage to tone, our vibe sets the stage for every interaction.

    You’ll discover:
    • How unconscious signals add up and influence whether prospects invest attention or tune out early.
    • Why being interested beats being interesting, and how genuine curiosity sends the strongest signal.
    • The neuroscience behind “vibe” and how signal strength combines authenticity, emotion, and presence.
    • Why your headshot, social media presence, and basic professionalism are the silent but loudest signals you send.
    • How even the smallest changes, like smiling for real or leaning in, can dramatically shift people’s perceptions.
    • Real-world examples of how shifting your signal can change outcomes instantly.
    • The dangers of missing or leaking the wrong signal and why that can tank your whole pitch before it starts.
    • How Orchestraight deeply integrates the signal principle by focusing messaging on the prospect, not you.
    If you want to reboot your lead gen and create deeper connections that truly move the needle, mastering your signal is your starting point.
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    29 m
  • Building Trust and Relationships with Todd Wilkowski

    Building Trust and Relationships with Todd Wilkowski
    May 27 2025
    In this episode, Jake welcomes longtime friend and fractional general counsel Todd Wilkowski to the show.

    Todd’s journey from commercial litigator to trusted problem solver in the business world reveals the power of relational sales and the importance of genuine connection over transactional hustle.

    Todd dives deep into:
    • Why understanding who you are and your unique value prop fuels authentic prospecting.
    • The disconnect between traditional high-volume sales tactics and the modern need for meaningful relationships.
    • How lawyers, and anyone in professional services, can build trust and a “book of business” by focusing on strategic, proactive advice rather than reactive problem-solving.
    • The importance of being genuinely curious about your prospects, their story, and what truly drives them.
    • Why long-term relationship-building beats quick wins and why “relationships before transactions” is not just a saying but a business game-changer.
    • A cautionary story about the perils of approaching potential clients with a hard sell before establishing trust.
    • How fractional roles create an opportunity for smaller companies to benefit from specialized expertise without the overhead of full-time hires.
    • The value of playing the long game as a connector and trusted advisor.
    Jake and Todd remind us that sales isn’t about dialing numbers or pushing products.

    Instead, it’s about investing time into knowing your prospects, understanding their needs, and becoming a resource they look forward to connecting with.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Believe in what you bring; don’t sell what you don’t believe in.
    • Be more interested than interesting—curiosity opens doors.
    • Trust takes time and can’t be rushed with immediate transactional asks.
    • Leverage your unique strengths and be authentic in your approach.
    • Relationships are the foundation of sustainable business growth.
    If you’re tired of chasing cold leads and want to reboot your lead gen strategy with heart, this episode is for you.

    This episode is brought to you by Orchestraight. You can get a free trial of Orchestraight, an NLP based Lead Gen tool, for 7 days, up at orchestraight.com.

    Orchestraight. The straightest path to success.
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    31 m
  • STRATA – The Six Layers of Neurostrategic Influence

    STRATA – The Six Layers of Neurostrategic Influence
    May 21 2025
    In this episode, Jake unpacks the fresh concept of STRATA, the six-layer framework embedded in neurostrategy that revolutionizes how you communicate and persuade.

    Far from just another sales acronym, STRATA maps exactly how your prospect’s brain filters trust, emotion, bias, and decision-making in a precise sequence. You’ll learn why most communication and presentations fall flat because they ignore the brain’s preferred order of receiving information… and how STRATA fixes that with intentional architecture rather than instinctual guessing.

    The six powerful layers:
    • Signal: The vibe, presence, and social proof you send before saying a word.
    • Trigger: The shortcuts and biases the brain uses for snap decisions.
    • Reframe: Shifting mindset to see problems and solutions in a new light.
    • Anchor: Locking in an emotional or identity connection to your message.
    • Transfer: Delivering your pitch, story, or offer, but only after prepping the brain.
    • Action: Creating a compelling motion that moves prospects to act.
    Jake and his co-host explore how skipping these layers leads to missed opportunities and how applying STRATA intentionally makes your business development, sales calls, pitches, and content far more effective.

    Plus, they discuss how Orchestraight naturally incorporates STRATA to help craft messages that truly resonate. If you’re tired of winging it and want a blueprint that aligns your message with how the brain buys… this episode is your playbook.

    Key Nuggets:
    • STRATA restores the psychological order your brain craves to process influence.
    • Most presentations fail not from poor content but from hitting the wrong triggers or missing steps.
    • Emotions rule decisions; logic follows… order of delivery matters.
    • Your signal precedes your words — presence, energy, and trust are communicated before the pitch.
    • Creating true connection is a multi-layered experience, not a one-line pitch.
    • The “summer of STRATA” is here — a call to upgrade your neuro strategic messaging.
    • Orchestraight embodies STRATA effortlessly, making messaging smarter and more human.
    Make this your summer breakthrough. Build your communication foundations step-by-step… and watch how your prospects not only listen but move easily toward “yes.”

    This episode is brought to you by Orchestraight… You can get a free trial of Orchestraight, an NLP based Lead Gen tool, for 7 days, up at orchestraight.com. Orchestraight… The straightest path to success.
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    25 m
  • Mastering Rapport: Sales Without the Push With Nikki Rausch

    Mastering Rapport: Sales Without the Push With Nikki Rausch
    May 14 2025
    In this episode of Lead Gen Reboot, host Jake Stahl dives deep with Nikki Rausch, the Sales Maven specializing in transforming the misunderstood process of selling.

    Tired of chasing leads like it’s a lottery?

    Nikki flips the script, showing why building rapport and meaningful conversations isn’t just better... it’s faster and more effective.

    Jake and Nikki explore:
    • Why sales is a “conversation with” not a “pitch at”
    • The NLP mandala: How mindset and presence change your interactions
    • Active listening and asking smarter questions to unlock real needs
    • Reframing sales fears and ego to check them at the door
    • Making memorable first impressions even in cold outreach
    • The art of “closing the loop” — knowing when to follow up and when to bless and release
    • Intentional networking: Be the giver who builds a tribe, not the taker lost in numbers
    🧠 If you’re ready to stop dialing roulette and start creating sales conversations that stick, this episode is your guide to rebooting your sales mindset and strategy.

    🔗 Grab Nikki’s free training, Seal the Deal, at yoursalesmaven.com/jake

    Test-drive brain-powered sales with a 7-day trial of orchestraight.com, the straightest path to smarter, humanized AI outreach.
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    43 m
  • Neurostrategy For Personal Goals & Relationships

    Neurostrategy For Personal Goals & Relationships
    May 7 2025
    In this episode, Jake Stahl shifts gears from sales strategy to self-mastery.

    Sharing stories from his own life, Jake opens up about how moments of uncertainty, transition, and emotional overwhelm can become powerful turning points.... IF we learn how to reframe them.

    He walks through the foundational principles of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), showing how language, focus, and internal patterns shape our reality and our results.

    This conversation dives deep into how to regain a sense of control, stay grounded in high-stress environments, and rewire the stories we tell ourselves so we can move forward with purpose and clarity.

    Highlights include:

    • The power of pattern interruption to stop negative mental spirals
    • How language and self-talk can shift your emotional state instantly
    • Practical tools to recognize when you're running unconscious scripts, and how to change them
    • Why self-awareness is the root of influence, resilience, and real leadership

    This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating personal or professional change. It's raw, reflective, and real. b

    Brought to you by Orchestraight, the AI Business Development platform that helps people grow into who they’re meant to become.
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    39 m