The Grind and Gratitude Show

Ep 7: The Power of Telling Your Story in Your Business

What is it that really makes a brand stand out? Why do people flock to certain brands? Is it the product or quality of the service or is it something else? Maybe it’s the story behind the brand or maybe it’s the story being told to the potential customer.
If you’re running a business or planning to start one, you must learn how to differentiate your brand from other competitors. Take a look at who you are and what you have to offer that would contribute to the success of your business.
In this episode, I’m going to give you 7 reasons why telling your story in your business gives so much power to your brand and at the same time to remind you to be unique for your business to stand out.
[1:40] Get an understanding of your own personal journey and the things that you've had to overcome, the wins that you've had, the things that you've learned. But also, to attract potential customers, to strengthen and deepen your relationship with your current customers. 
 
[2:42] Your story is powerful, regardless if you have a business or not. 
[3:00] There are people out there that need to hear your story, your personal story. 
[3:36] Sometimes, we have these blockers. Sometimes, there are things we've encountered in our lives and we just kind of lock it away. Because we lock it away, it stops us from moving forward in our life. 
[4:36] A lot of us need to understand that we have a platform. Whether you have social media, whether you have friends and family that you connect with, whether you have a podcast or a blog. 
[5:32] There are ways where you can deliver parts of your story. There are ways you can use that knowledge in your business to build your brand, to strengthen that relationship between your clients, or as a part of your Unique Selling Proposition. 
[5:55] Really knowing yourself as an individual can help you tap into the things that will make you successful in your business. 
[6:09] Think about it, every commercial, advertisement, and marketing funnel that you see, all have to deal with a story. They're all trying to tell you a story. 
[7:14] Telling your story in your business helps you realize your own journey. 
[7:31] We're not really acknowledging the strength, courage, and successes. A lot of us just keep it locked away sometimes because our past is just way too painful. But sometimes, even in that pain, we have to learn how to release that so it does not manifest itself in very negative and harmful ways. 
[9:06] You get to help others with your story. 
[9:59] No matter what you're going through or what you've been through, no matter how low you think you've been in your life or how high, there are people out there that need to hear your story because that will motivate and inspire them to keep going. 
[10:50] Once I started sharing my story, while I was working in the corporate world, people really started opening up about things that have happened in their own life. 
[11:44] I am who I am because of my mistakes, faults, challenges, successes, wins, and relationships. 
[12:25] Know your wins, what's important now. 
[12:55] Oftentimes, we just focus so much on the business that we get away from our wins. Then what happens is, other areas in our life start to suffer tremendously. 
[14:51] Sometimes, you're just going to be crazy busy growing your business. Other times, you kind of have to step back and take care of yourself, health, and wellness. 
[15:02] I have to start every day consciously. 
[16:07] Oftentimes, we're afraid to allow people to get to know us a little bit more. We're afraid to pull back the curtain and to share with people because there's this line of professionalism that we don't want to cross. 
[16:36] Once I started opening up to people, once I started sharing things about myself, personal things, that's when people really started developing this deeper connection with me. 
[17:57] There really is power in being vulnerable. 
[18:29] You have to make your "why" bigger than your whining. 
[19:10] You have to have this mission and this vision for what you're trying to create in this world. And it has to be so big, that nobody can talk you out of it. 
[19:29] A lot of times business owners lose sight of what it is that they're trying to achieve, they lose sight of why they started the business in the first place. 
[19:47] When you know your "why", you know where you're going and nothing can throw you off. 
[20:29] Tell your story in your business because it's going to help you get clear about your message and what you're trying to communicate with your potential customers. 
[22:45] Once you understand who you are and what you stand for, it's going to help you differentiate yourself from your competitors and also forge that deeper connection with potential customers and clients. 
[23:13] Your Unique Selling Proposition is what makes you stand out from your competitors. 
[24:43] You have value to add to this world, you have something to give, you have something to share. 
 
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn

Ep 6: Powerful Habits to Level up Your Life and Business

How do I level up my life and my business? A lot of people ask me this in one form or another. It’s not about one simple thing, it’s about developing the right habits. 
If you’ve been feeling stuck for some time now, this is the nudge that will get you to finally look at your actions and see if they’re healthy habits. Take charge of your life and make that decision to set yourself up for success.
In this episode, I’m going to give you 5 powerful habits and remind you of the most important thing you should be taking care of so you can complete all those actions required to achieve your goals.
[1:12] Successful people talk about their habits and mindset.
[2:38] I was feeling stuck in my life, I was feeling left behind, I was feeling forgotten. I felt like everybody was moving past me and I was standing still. 
[3:25] When you make a decision to do something different, when you make a decision that you are going to make a commitment to changing your life, to change your habits, one day at a time, then that's when everything begins to shift and you begin to go from everything is impossible, to maybe it's possible, to do it. 
[4:55] The morning ritual are the things you love to do, that you look forward to doing, that is going to really shift your mindset, create more peace and calm in your life, and really start your day on that positive note.  
[6:14] There are 5 Ms that I think most of us should incorporate to our morning ritual: Meaning, Meditation, Mantra, Movement, and Mindful Journaling. 
[6:53] When you wake up in gratitude, you program your mind to be grateful for the things that you have, then it's difficult to focus on the things that you don't have. 
[7:36] Meditation doesn't have to be this hour-long, sitting in silence, humming thing. There are so many different forms of meditation. 
[8:31] If you can take 3-5, to 10 minutes every morning and just meditate and clear your mind, it creates more peace and calm, reduces stress, and really increases your mental, spiritual, and physical health. 
[9:06] A lot of people believe in affirmations and mantras because you are what you say you are. 
[10:54] Most of us understand that affirmations work in the negative sense. 
[11:48] If you're gonna believe one truth, why not believe the truth is gonna serve you well. The truth is really gonna help you. 
[13:56] When I exercise, sometimes, I solve problems that I didn't know I could solve. 
[14:16] There is so much power in writing things down. 
[15:39] Having a bedtime routine sets up the next day for success. 
[18:03] When I started taking sleep more seriously, I realized the benefits of having a great sleep. I would wake up with energy, focus, and clarity. 
[19:20] If you want a new life, if you want to level up your life or your business, then you know you have to be a goal-getter. 
[19:56] You have to take massive action towards your goals and your dreams every single day. But first, you have to get clear about what it is that you really want. Then, you have to map it out. 
[20:10] Find the right people to connect with. Find people who are already goal getters. 
[20:30] Freedom requires discipline. 
[20:54] Once I started getting consistent with my goals, that's when my life really started shifting. 
[21:45] Health is wealth. Without your health, you have nothing. 
[23:48] Maybe you need to make your health and wellness a priority and once you do that, you'll notice other areas of your life improving as well. 
[25:18] We really have to focus on being of service to other people. There's that quote that says "If you wanna be a millionaire, help a million people". 
[26:32] Implement new habits into your life that are going to serve you well, serve you better than the habits that you have right now. 
 
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn

Ep 5: Five Keys To Your New Life

How many times have you told yourself that this isn’t probably for me because I’m not ready, I’m not good enough? Or maybe got into feeling really motivated one day, for a week, then a month, but only eventually stopping because you suddenly felt lost or started wondering again, “where am I going?” 
In this episode, I’ll talk to you about change, transforming your life, and the tools to maneuver your actions into your dream life. I’ll share with you the exciting 5 keys to your new life that will help you move forward and become successful. 
[1:25] Oftentimes in our life we have these clues, opportunities, and chances to really change our life but we don’t follow up. We don’t follow through. We don’t act on opportunities when they present themselves.
[1:52] When you feel like “What is this life all about?” Those are the times that we have to dig deep.
[2:01] What am I going to do differently?
[2:27] Maybe you met someone, you heard them speak and they really inspired you to take action and do something differently.
[2:36] Then you went back to your old habits, your old mindset, to your old life.
[2:53] Maybe you need the keys, the tools to get the life that you want.
[3:10] Do you ever think there has to be more than just waking up every day.
[3:29] You deserve more. You deserve to have the life you’ve always dreamed of. The question is, how do you create that life?
[3:37]  I want to share 5 tips to help you create your new life.
[4:30] Develop your life vision.
[4:48] Start thinking about what your ideal life looks like right now.
[4:50] Successful people have a vision for their lives.
[5:54] When you do know what it’s all about, everything is aligned with that. All of your goals, your dreams, your hopes, your desires are all aligned with your vision.
[6:07] Everything that you do is focused on that.
[7:02] What would a perfect day look like for you?
[7:55] When you wake up, you know where you’re going.
[8:41] Get to know yourself.
[9:48] You really have to take time to know who you are, to get to know yourself, to get to know your superpowers but also get to know the areas you need to work on.
[10:03] And because we don’t know who we are, sometimes we allow other people to tell us who we are.
[11:20] Giving yourself permission to fail.
[11:49] Highly successful people have failed a lot.
[12:24] I would rather try and fail than wonder “what if” for the rest of my life.
[13:44] Follow your curiosity.
[14:13] If you play it safe, safe will play you.
[14:44] I had the discipline to follow my curiosity. 
[15:43] The universe or God or whatever you believe in, is trying to move you forward. But you’re just not ready.
[16:13] Follow your path and see where it leads you.
[16:37] This could be the time to answer that call. 
[17:38] Following my curiosity has really opened me up to understanding who I am in my place in the world, and what I’m trying to build in my legacy.
[19:04] Once you have that clarity, everything that you do, the actions, the habits, the people you surround yourself with, help to move your direction you need to go.
[19:14] It’s all about getting a life support network.
[19:57] Every successful person has a coach, a mentor, a support system. 
[20:05] Be careful who you tell your goals and dreams to.
[22:10] Building a strong support network can really help major shifts in your life.
[22:32] You don’t have to know somebody personally for them to be your coach or your teacher.
[23:31] That’s just not true. Once we’re able to shift our mindset then we can put some action behind it, that’s when the fire gets really burning.
[24:45] Make the commitment to yourself to do the things you need to do to create that life. Commit to really thinking about what you really want. 
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn

Ep 4: Moving Through Fear

Have you ever stopped and thought about what’s really stopping you from taking action, from moving forward?
I completely agree with the acronym that fear, is “False Evidence Appearing Real”. There are a lot of reasons why we’re scared. 
In this episode, I’ll share with you the 5 different ways that fear manifests and shows up in our lives. It’s not just a physical reaction to the things you’re afraid of. I’ll equip you with tips on how to overcome it and finally live the life you desire.
[1:44] It’s something that’s not true that appears to be real.
[2:26] Fear isn’t always this physical reaction. Fear shows up in different ways.
[2:43] When we’re afraid of something, we make excuses. We come up with ways to rationalize the fear. We rationalize why we don’t want to confront the fear.
[4:10] We blame others. We allow others to control our emotions because we blame for things that are not going right in our lives.
[5:11] Don’t give people that power. You take the power back.
[6:23] I used to participate in it as well. Once I started realizing that it was a reflection of my own fears, me talking about other people when they weren’t around. I realized I had to stop that.
[6:46] Gossip is that. It’s a way for us to put off doing something that we need to do or take on something we know we should take on.
[7:02] It’s a reflection of our own deepest fears.
[7:36] The more that you complain, the more that it amplifies your fears.
[9:04] That’s how we avoid fear. The things we’re afraid of. We avoid it. We have no emotion. We have no concern. And we hope that in doing so,  it goes away. And it never does.
[11:15] The first thing we have to do is to identify and acknowledge it. 
[13:29] Understanding the source of the fear, that can really help us to grow and to learn about ourselves.
[14:02] What you focus on becomes amplified. 
[14:26] When we choose gratitude, when we choose to focus on the things that are working in our lives, the blessings that we have, the things that are going well, the amazing people that we have in our lives and be thankful. When we wake up that way, it amplifies everything else in our lives.
[17:02] That helps you determine your why. When you think about your family, your friends, the people you interact with every day, your co-workers. When you’re grateful for all those things, it gives you a bigger reason why you should confront those fears.
[17:50] Maybe talking it out, is exactly what you need. Make sure you talk it out with someone you trust. 
[18:41] Talking out your fears can really help you realize new opportunities or new reasons why you need to take action and move through this fear.
[19:33] Talking it out can be really beneficial when you’re afraid of something and it can also bring you new ideas as you’re speaking it out.
[22:19] I’m just trying to give you some tips to help you move through some of the things that may be holding you back because you deserve to live an amazing life. Sometimes, confronting that fear can really help us move through it.
[23:33] Confronting it, getting started, taking a small step, can really be a big step for you.
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn

Ep 3: How to Get Started on a Side Hustle

I also wanted to have more freedom, more flexibility, and be my own boss years ago. My realization about it is that I wish I started it a long time ago.
If you’ve been wanting to put up a side hustle or a business for some time now, I’ll guide you through it.
In this episode, I’ll help you with getting started with your side hustle which could possibly become a bigger business someday. It’s about doing what you love, helping other people with your product or service, and eventually being well- compensated for it.
[2:02] One of the things that I realized is that I should’ve done this long ago.  
[2:18] Now is the time. Now is the time for you to step up or jump into that business, test out that idea that you have, or find the right idea for you.
[3:02] A lot of people get burned out. They’re always working, they’re always on the clock. They never have the flexibility to take time off, to spend time with their family. They’re always working.
[3:30] The problem was, I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know the steps. I didn’t know where to start or even have a great idea.
[5:50] If you’re going to start a business, you have to have a passion for that. You have to be completely invested in it. It can’t be just about money.
[6:41] If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, then it becomes just another job. It’s something that you don’t really want to do.
[6:57] Don’t do things just for the money. 
[7:23] Start with your passionate idea. 
[9:03] It’s better to think of a specific group of people that you want to help
[9:20] With this idea, who can you help? Who can you serve? Who can you help to make their life a lot easier?
[11:10] The more that you can articulate their pain points, the more that you can articulate how to make their lives easier, the more likely they’re going to buy from you.
[11:38] It’s time to take your idea for a test drive.
[11:49] The test drive is about you packaging your idea and trying to get a small number of clients to buy from you.
[12:13] How do I find clients? Start with friends and family. Send them emails and ask them if they’re interested in whatever that you’re selling. Or ask them if they know someone who’s interested...
[12:32] Use your social media. Use your social media platform to let people know that you’re open for business.
[12:48] See who else is doing something similar and spy on your competition.
[15:18] Now that you’ve made a little money test driving your idea, and you know that people want your product or your service, it’s time to scale it. It’s time to grow it.
[15:50] Make sure you do the most important thing that every business should do, yet a lot of people don’t do it. It’s building your email list. 
[21:52] You can find that right idea. You can find the problem that you’re going to solve.  
[22:45] You just need an idea and take action. It’s within you. You have it.
[24:41] Now is the time to explore that idea.
 
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn

Ep 2: Why Believing in Yourself is a Lie, It’s More Important to do this!

How many times have you heard “You just gotta believe in yourself”? People often say just believe in yourself, make the leap, you can do it!That’s easier said than done right! What do you do if you don’t believe in yourself? In this episode you will learn why you don’t have to believe in yourself to get started, instead there are some things you can do to get you into action on your goals and push through a difficult situation.
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn

Ep 1: How to Navigate Your Life During COVID-19

We are living in a difficult time. The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing has many of us living in fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. In this very first episode, I share seven tips to help you navigate your life and increase productivity. Know that the tips that I share in this episode will be useful at any point in time and will help you level up your life.
Show your support for the podcast and become a patron and member and receive exclusive content, resources, and coaching:
https://www.patreon.com/grindandgratitude
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Goal-Achievement System
Danny Stone Website
Danny Stone Facebook
Danny Stone Instagram
Danny Stone Twitter
Danny Stone LinkedIn