You do not need a title to be a leader. At the time I’m posting this, I just got my university acceptance letters.

Today, we are shattering the myth that you need a title to be a leader. I am sitting down with Dr. John L. Terry III, the "Black Belt Leader," to explore why true leadership is a discipline, not a position. As I prepare to step into my university journey in Dublin, this conversation about confidence, discipline, and purpose could not be more timely.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to conquer the three enemies of focus: flinching, freezing, and chasing.
  
• The Black Belt Acrostic and the 10 character traits of elite leaders.
  
• Why successful people do daily what unsuccessful people do sometimes or not at all.
  
• How to apply the concept of Kaizen (never-ending improvement) to your daily life.
  

Who is Dr. John Terry, III? Dr. John is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and a three-time Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee. He blends martial arts mastery with real-world leadership strategies. You can find his work and his book, Black Belt Leadership 101, online https://www.beablackbeltleader.com/

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Welcome
  
• 02:49 - Passion, Purpose, and Intentionality
  
• 03:47 - John’s story
  
• 05:26 - Overcome The 3 Enemies of Focus: Flinching, Freezing, Chasing
  
• 07:42 - The Black Belt Acrostic & The Power of Belief
  
• 09:57 - Escape the Autopilot Trap
  
• 11:04 - Kaizen: The Pursuit of Black Belt Excellence
  
• 12:09 - The 10 Essential Character Traits of a Leader
  
• 17:51 - Earning a Black Belt is Just the Beginning
  
• 25:03 - Why You Must Fail Your Way to Success
  
• 27:31 - True Servant Leadership
  
• 32:56 - The Global Leadership Deficit
  
• 40:50 - How to Maximize Your 1,440 Minutes a Day
  
• 45:37 - Advice to His 18-Year-Old Self
  

Take a screenshot of this episode and tag me and Dr. John on your Instagram Story! Tell us one thing you are doing today to get out of your comfort zone. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that helps you grow 1% SMARTA every day!

What if the only thing standing between you and your dream career is the courage to ask: "What is the best that can happen?"

Today, we are breaking down why consistency, enthusiasm, and authenticity will always beat perfection.

Ashley Leeds, famously known as the "15-Minute Guy," who spent 40 years as an employee, worked 30 different jobs, and finally took the leap to start his own business at the age of 55.

As I pack my bags to move in Ireland next week, Ashley’s advice on navigating major life transitions, taking leaps of faith, and ignoring the pressure of other people's opinions hits closer to home than ever.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you should never go back to a job or situation you hated.
• How to build an undeniable personal brand on LinkedIn in just 15 minutes a day.
• The salesperson's secret to reframing rejection as a mathematical stepping stone to success.
• How to use AI for content ideation without losing your authentic human voice.
  

Who is Ashley Leeds? Ashley Leeds is a LinkedIn expert and coach who helps professionals and entrepreneurs stand out online. After a 40-year career spanning the catering and sales industries, he built a successful business teaching people how to master LinkedIn with just a 15-minute daily commitment. You can find him connecting and sharing value on LinkedIn.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Happy 102!
  
• 02:23 - The 4 Pillars: Consistency, Enthusiasm, Belief, & Never Quitting
  
• 07:42 - Starting a Business at 55 After 30 Different Jobs
  
• 14:23 - Why You Should Always Ask: "What's the Best That Can Happen?"
  
• 19:18 - How to Handle Rejection Like a Sales Professional
  
• 22:44 - The Right Way to Co-Create with AI on Social Media
  
• 24:17 - Stop Selling: Why Transactional Networking Fails
  
• 28:18 - The 15-Minute Daily LinkedIn Routine
  
• 31:27 - Financial & Life Advice for 18-Year-Olds
  
• 34:48 - Final Advice: Stop Worrying About Everyone Else
  

If you loved Ashley’s rule of 15 minutes a day, take a screenshot of this episode right now and share it to your Instagram Story! Tag me and Ashley, and tell us one small habit you are building this year. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a conversation that helps you grow 1% smarter every day.

If you are relying on corporate buzzwords, rigid sales scripts, and AI automation to build your brand, your business is already dead.

Welcome back to The SMARTA Podcast! In Episode 101, we are tearing down the myth of corporate perfectionism and unlocking why being human is your ultimate competitive advantage. I am joined by Bryan Kramer, legendary speaker, strategist, and author of H2H: Human to Human.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why there is no B2B or B2C, there is only Human to Human (H2H).
  
• The 3 Pillars of modern leadership: Simplicity, Empathy, and Imperfection.
  
• How Apple and Amazon take complex processes and make them simple.
  
• Why "overnight success” is a lie and how to create crowdworthy ideas.
  
• How to become "delightfully disruptive" in a noisy digital world.
  

Who is Bryan Kramer? Bryan Kramer is a renowned keynote speaker, executive coach, and bestselling author who sparked the global "Human to Human" (H2H) movement. Having led a successful marketing agency for 25 years, he has helped thousands of leaders simplify their communication and humanize their brands. Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn or visit bryankramer.com.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Welcome
  
• 01:34 - The 3 Pillars: Simplicity, Empathy, & Imperfection
  
• 02:36 - Why Companies Forget Emotion & Human Connection
  
• 03:26 - The Power of Simplicity: Apple, Adidas, & Amazon
  
• 04:27 - Why Humans Complicate Everything
  
• 06:25 - Embracing Imperfection & Building Real Confidence
  
• 08:18 - Killing Corporate Buzzwords & Silicon Valley Jargon
  
• 10:02 - What H2H Means for Personal Branding in the AI Era
  
• 15:18 - The Myth of Overnight Success & Crowdworthy Ideas
  
• 21:29 - Becoming "Delightfully Disruptive"
  
• 23:43 - Rapid Fire Questions & Life-Changing Books
  

If this episode inspired you to simplify your message, take a screenshot right now and share it to your Instagram Story! Tag me and Bryan, and let us know your biggest takeaway.

Subscribe to keep growing 1% SMARTA every week!

If you are competing with AI on productivity, you have already lost.

Welcome to the 100th episode of The SMARTA Podcast! Today, we are breaking down why human potential is your only real competitive advantage. I am joined by my very first guest, Andrew Bryant, who returns to discuss his new book, Potentialize.

What you will learn:

• The Ignite framework to unlock potential.
  
• Why getting out of your comfort zone is terrible advice.
  
• How to use AI to amplify human creativity, not replace it.
  
• The Goldilocks zone of challenge and support.
  

Who is Andrew Bryant? Andrew is the world's leading expert on self-leadership, a global keynote speaker, and an executive coach. His latest book, Potentialize, teaches leaders how to thrive in the age of AI. Discover more on Andrew Bryant's Speaker Page.

In this 100th MILESTONE Episode:

• 00:00 - 100th Episode Intro
  
• 03:04 - Redefining Potential & AI
  
• 06:40 - The COW Formula (Capacity, Opportunity, Willingness)
  
• 12:05 - The IGNITE Framework Explained
  
• 19:15 - Expanding Your Comfort Zone
  
• 30:10 - Humans and AI: The Next 10 Years
  
• 40:30 - What It Actually Takes to Be a Leader
  
• 46:12 - Embracing Stoicism & Adaptability
  
• 52:30 - The First Step for Graduates
  
• 1:01:08 - Final Advice: Be the Driver of Your Life
  

Screenshot this milestone episode and share it to your story! Tag me @soniamartaauthor and Andrew @selfleadership and let us know your biggest takeaway.

Subscribe to keep growing 1% smarter every day!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist https://www.youtube.com/@soniamartaauthor

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

If you tell me you are completely fearless, you are a liar. Because fear isn't something to run from, it is an invitation to your ultimate potential!

Welcome back to The SMARTA Podcast. Today, we are having a raw, unfiltered conversation about why you need to stop waiting for someone else to pick you and finally give yourself permission to be great. I am sitting down with executive coach and author Angus Nelson to unpack why most modern leadership problems are actually just nervous system dysregulation in disguise.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why experiencing "imposter syndrome" simply means you already belong in the room.
• The "Nothingness Principle": How having nothing to prove, lose, or gain makes you the most powerful person in the room.
• Why you need to be a "lighthouse, not a tugboat" in your relationships.
• How to stop managing your time and start regulating your energy.
  

Who is Angus Nelson? Angus Nelson is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and the author of The Neuro Resilient Leader. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, he helps high-performing founders and leaders regulate their nervous systems to operate from a place of true stability and personal power. You can find his work at angusnelson.com.

YouTube Timestamps & Chapters:

• 00:00 - Why You Should Listen to Today’s Pod
  
• 02:09 - Permission, Process, & Invitation
  
• 03:16 - Stop Waiting to Be Picked
  
• 09:24 - The Danger of Isolation & Dysregulation
  
• 12:57 - The "Nothingness Principle"
  
• 23:58 - Leadership is a Nervous System Problem
  
• 41:53 - Imposter Syndrome Means You Belong
  
• 47:24 - Why Fear is an Invitation
  
• 01:04:52 - Be a Lighthouse, Not a Tugboat
  

If this conversation helped you reframe your fear, screenshot this episode right now and share it to your Instagram Story! Tag me and Angus, and let us know what you are giving yourself permission to do today. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a conversation that helps you grow 1% smarter every day.

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist https://www.youtube.com/@soniamartaauthor

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

What if the only thing keeping you from your dream job is the courage to walk up to a stranger on an airplane?

Today, we are breaking down why "Visual Leadership" is the ultimate competitive advantage in an era where attention spans are plummeting. I am joined by Todd Cherches, an executive coach, NYU and Columbia University professor, and the author of Visual Leadership. Todd shares his incredible origin story, from a 24-year-old taking a terrifying leap of faith to approach the President of NBC on a flight, to surviving a string of terrible bosses in the TV industry.

If you want to know how to solve a multi-million dollar corporate problem using nothing but a 30-second sketch on a napkin, this episode is for you.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why you should Expect the Unexpected and be "prepared to be unprepared".
  
• The ACR Framework (Attention, Comprehension, Retention) and why visual thinking works.
  
• How to use the "Pizza Slice Approach" to navigate office politics and influence stakeholders.
  
• The "4 Gs of Leadership" (Genuineness, Generosity, Graciousness, Gratitude).
  
• Why you should stop trying to be the hero of your own stories.
  

Todd Cherches is the CEO of BigBlueGumball, a management and leadership consulting firm. He is an executive coach, a TEDx speaker, and an award-winning adjunct professor at NYU and Columbia University. His book, Visual Leadership, teaches leaders how to use visual thinking to communicate more effectively. Connect with Todd on LinkedIn to learn more about his coaching.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Welcome

• 02:51 - Todd: Expect the Unexpected
  
• 03:22 - The Airplane Pitch: Meeting the President of NBC
  
• 08:14 - What is Visual Leadership & The ACR Framework
  
• 13:40 - A Love Letter to Horrible Bosses
  
• 17:40 - Are You in the Right Seat on the Right Bus?
  
• 22:00 - The Multi-Million Dollar Napkin Sketch
  
• 24:52 - Overcoming the "I Can't Draw" Syndrome
  
• 28:51 - The 10 Types of Visual Thinking
  
• 34:20 - The Pizza Slice Approach for Influencing People
  
• 38:22 - Stop Being the Hero of Your Own Stories
  
• 42:04 - Why Critical Thinking is Dying in the Gen Z Era
  
• 46:33 - Advice to His 18-Year-Old Self: Fail Faster
  
• 50:11 - The 2 Books That Changed Todd’s Life
  
• 52:23 - Final Advice: The 4 Gs of Servant Leadership
  

If you loved Todd's advice to "Be prepared to be unprepared," take a screenshot of this episode right now and share it to your Instagram Story! Tag me and Todd, and tell us one bad boss experience that actually made you a better leader. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a conversation that helps you grow 1% smarter every day.

If you aren't waking up feeling absolutely scared to death about your goals, you are not evolving!

Today, we are breaking down why putting technology before human connection will destroy your team. I am joined by Rob Swannie, a manufacturing and cybersecurity veteran who proves that empathy and trust will always outlast AI.

What you will learn:

• Why the "3 T's" must always be Trust, Teams, and Tech—in that exact order.
  
• How to survive the AI revolution by upskilling and keeping a "human in the loop".
  
• Why true company culture is simply what people do when nobody is looking.
  
• The 15-minute morning hydration and gratitude routine that guarantees unstoppable energy.
  

Who is Rob? Rob Swannie is a technology leader, former musician, and author of Leading Like a Human: Building High-Functioning Teams by Putting People First. Grab his book to learn how to lead without a title and build cohesive units.

In this episode:

• 00:00 - Welcome
  
• 02:31 - Trust, Simplicity & Consistency
  
• 03:26 - The 3 T's: Why Tech Comes Last
  
• 11:13 - AI's Impact & Upskilling Humans
  
• 17:07 - Empathy: Everyone is Carrying a Brick
  
• 20:56 - You Don't Need a Title to Lead
  
• 29:34 - What Company Culture Actually Means
  
• 39:33 - Why Being "Scared Sh*tless" is the Goal
  
• 43:01 - 2 Books Every Leader Must Read
  
• 52:04 - 3 Daily Habits for Peak Energy
  

Take a screenshot, tag me, and tell us how you're leading like a human today! Subscribe now to grow 1% smarter every day.

Going viral tomorrow won’t save your business, and chasing vanity metrics is secretly destroying your credibility!

Founder and CEO Latoya Rogers reveals why chasing overnight fame fails and how building authentic community, trust, and courage creates sustainable success.

What you will learn in this episode:

• The 3 C's of magnetic authority: Connection, Courage, and Collaboration
• Why copycat marketing kills brands, and how to spot trends before your competitors.
• How to craft a high-impact 10-second pitch that instantly wins the room.
• Why you need to replace your "To-Do" list with a "Ta-Da" list.

Who is LaToya Rogers? LaToya Rogers is the founder of CHAVIL, a boutique travel marketing and PR agency helping brands, creators, and executives build authentic, trendsetting communication strategies. Connect with Latoya on LinkedIn and Instagram.

In this episode

• 00:00 - Hello you.
• 02:31 - The 3 C's FORMULA
• 03:31 - Why Going Viral Won't Save Your Business
• 06:27 - Stop Copying Competitors: How to Set Trends Early
• 10:11 - When Should You Build Your Personal Brand?
• 12:11 - The 10-Second Pitch & Headshot Audit
• 16:31 - Authentic Storytelling: Sharing Losses Over Wins
• 20:01 - Stop Waiting to Be Perfect: Let People See You Build
• 26:21 - The Reality of Entrepreneurship & Intentional Growth
• 35:18 - Stop Being Shy: How to Promote Your Achievements
• 38:19 - Rapid Fire: The Biggest Myth in Advertising
• 47:21 - 2 Must-Read Books & The "Ta-Da" List
• 55:13 - Final Advice: Do It Afraid

Screenshot this episode right now, post it to your IG Story, and tag me (@SoniaMartaAuthor) Tell me what action you're taking today, even if you're doing it afraid. Subscribe now to grow 1% SMARTA with me, every day!