Episode Details

Holly Jean Jackson, CEO and founder of Changemaker Impact Co., joins Josh Elledge on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur to talk about stop chasing shiny objects. Holly Jean Jackson of Changemaker Impact Co. says high team turnover is a sign a leader is chasing shiny objects, and a shared wish list is the fix.

In this episode

• Know the symptoms. Holly says high team turnover and job descriptions that no longer match the work are signs a leader is chasing shiny objects.
• Park good ideas. Holly keeps a team wish list, or parking lot, so ideas wait until there are resources and time.
• Match marketing to sales. Holly says many clients spent money with marketing agencies and saw zero return because no sales system stood behind the campaign.
• Add friction on purpose. Intake forms and early calls screen out poor fits, and Holly says a values mismatch means no sales conversation.

Questions this episode answers

How do I know if I'm chasing shiny objects as a leader? Holly Jean Jackson says the symptoms show up on the team first: high turnover because people are exhausted, and job descriptions that no longer match the work. It's most common when a leader is stuck on a pain point, such as a cash-flow plateau, and answers it with more ideas and more work instead of more hires.

What should a founder do with a good idea when the timing is wrong? Put it on a wish list, which Holly also calls the parking lot, and discuss it as a team when there are resources and time. Hit current KPIs first, including customer and employee experience.

What is an aligned sales system? Holly describes marketing and sales that match the company's vision, mission and values, so a prospect's experience doesn't feel disjointed at the close. It includes intentional friction, such as intake forms and early calls that screen out poor fits, and treating an objection as a sign of interest.

A standout quote

“You're not saying it's not a great idea. You're saying it's not the right time right now.” Holly Jean Jackson

About Holly Jean Jackson

The Changemaker Impact Co. site lists Holly Jean Jackson as a revenue and performance consultant, speaker, podcast host and author, with more than 16 years helping business owners regain clarity, energy and focus. Josh noted Holly's 2022 TEDx talk, Navigating Fear in a New Era of Uncertainty.

Links

• Changemaker Impact Co. website
• Holly Jean Jackson on LinkedIn
• Full article and transcript on podverified.com

About The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

The Thoughtful Entrepreneur is a daily podcast where Josh Elledge talks with founders and business leaders about what is working right now. Want to be a guest? Apply at podverified.com/podcast. Curious how podcast hosts see you as a guest? Get your free PodVerified Score.