Jeff Ross (00:02.584)
Well, g'day legends, I'm Jeff Ross, your proud dad with three amazing boys coming here from the stunning island of Tasmania. I'm the host of the Laptop Lifestyle Dad Show brought to you in partnership with the Los Angeles Tribune. Our mission here is simple, to help frustrated online marketers, side gig hustlers like you, break free from overwhelm, master AI and social selling, and finally build that business that works for you.
not the other way around. A few years ago, I was spinning my wheels, working from home, side hustling and stuck in what I call Sucksville. I was juggling it all, consistently worried about family moments, missing the family moments and wondering if I'd ever break free from the grind. Then I discovered the power of storytelling, branding and yes, even serving others. That's where the shift changed and everything happened for me.
And today I'm so excited. I'm as excited as a caffeinated kangaroo bouncing on a trampoline because I get to bring you someone who embodies that same servant-hearted leadership and that approach to life. Steve Ramona. As the host of the podcast, Doing Business with a Servant's Heart, Steve is all about helping entrepreneurs build authentic connections and thrive by leading with service. This conversation is going to be jam-packed with practical advice for growing your business
connecting with others in a meaningful way and finding fulfillment in what you do. So go grab that coffee, tea or whatever keeps you bouncy around like that caffeinated kangaroo with us and let's dive in and have a good old chat with Steve Ramona. So Steve, welcome to the show.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (01:49.248)
Thank you very much for having me, Jeff. Like I told you before the show, I love your logo, I love the concept of your show.
Jeff Ross (01:55.278)
Thank you, really appreciate you. And it's my honor to be able to interview you today. And so we connected with through Jake Jake Clendenning through the total disruption and we got to know each other through there and we're both on the LA Tribune Marketing Forum. And one of the big things that I got from you and Danny Walsh was just to ask, you know, those big scary questions that we think that are big and scary, but just to reach out and just do the asking, right?
So I offer that I got into Steve's inbox and straight in and I asked him if he'd come and interview with us and here we are. So I appreciate you.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (02:34.764)
You're welcome. That's a perfect real-time scenario right there, the power of asking. For both of us, for you and for me, being the opportunity to be a guest on this great show.
Jeff Ross (02:37.934)
Yeah.
Jeff Ross (02:43.713)
Yeah, absolutely brilliant. All right, cool. Let's get into it. So I always like to start with a story of where you're at, what I call Sucksville for most people and where you are now, which is Awesome Town and some of the highlight milestones that help you to get to where you are now. And there's always gold in these heroes journey stories, right? And so I'd love to for our listeners and for me too, a bit selfish, I'd love to get to know your story. So what's your story, Steve?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (03:11.5)
With the power of being a host is we selfishly get to learn. And I love that you said that. That makes you a great host starting out. Fantastic. It started at 18. I was gonna go play American football. I know you're in Tasmania, so it's the NFL type football. I wasn't gonna play any NFL. wanted to, but when you're five, eight, you don't make it. And working at a health club at the front desk, I just took a job. My cousin was the president. My family had started it and I needed a summer job. It turned out to be a 20 year career.
Jeff Ross (03:14.241)
Ha ha ha ha.
Jeff Ross (03:18.252)
Appreciate you.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (03:38.22)
But what I learned early at 18, 40, 50, 60 year olds coming into the gym, I had to say hello. I had to welcome them to the gym. What's that mean? I get to build relationships with them. I didn't know I was doing that. But hey, Jeff, welcome. Hey, Jeff, have a great day. Then it became, hey, Jeff, how was your vacation? Hey, Tony, how was your grandbaby? Hey, Jim, you just had a baby. How's your baby doing? Where you're having conversations more than just, hey, hello, and goodbye. Those are great conversations, but...
when you start having these conversations about kids and how was your Thanksgiving? And I'm sure this week a lot of people are going, hey, how was your Thanksgiving? How was your Thanksgiving? Those lead to getting to know somebody better and building a relationship. We are in the people asset investment business. We need people. What's our best way to, yeah, you do that so well as I seen in those two events we're a part of, but we need to build those assets like money.
Jeff Ross (04:25.781)
Love that.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (04:36.02)
like an investment tool, we need to build the asset. How do we do that? We uplift them. We bring them value. We serve them. What does that look like? You don't need to give somebody a million dollars. If you can, that's fantastic. That's a great way to serve. But you literally call your business partner right now while you're listening to this or after and say, hey, thank you for being a great partner. Simple. 30 seconds. It is simple. Thank you. But here's the problem. A lot of people know that.
Jeff Ross (04:57.248)
Yeah, that's brilliant. Love that. So simple.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (05:05.26)
if they don't take action. That's the big key is just doing it. I say in my podcast, in my monologue, your call to action as my audience is after the show, today, I want you to figure out how you're gonna serve yourself, serve others, and what impact you're gonna create today. And I'm do that right there on the show today, Jeff. Audience, I want you to think about those three things and do it today after the show. And reach out to Jeff and say, hey, I listened to your show.
I went out and I did this, I did that, I did this. I guarantee you 99.9%, you're gonna feel good and you're gonna smile, but even better you can make other people smile.
Jeff Ross (05:45.162)
Love that. Love the intentionality of that. And straight away, like I've asked you to share your story, but you've already come in here and you've flipped the script already and you're serving the audience. I love it. I love it how you've taken it away from you and you've made it about the audience. It's brilliant.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (06:00.918)
Thank you. Thank you for noticing that. That's a tip for everybody listening. We just did real time. When you're a speaking gig, what a great way to speak. Bring value to your audience. You know what? They could care less about you unless you influence them. Uplift them and value.
Jeff Ross (06:09.089)
Mm-hmm. That's Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. And for me, that's what I had to learn how to slow down these key skill fundamentals of how to meet that heart to heart connection. Like, you know, I've been in the game 16 years and very effectively, you know, know how to use paid ads to do like the direct pitch and all of that sort of stuff. And, and when I transitioned from like a service-based marketing to, you know, relationship building, I totally bombed. I totally sucked at it because I went in too hard for the kiss too soon, so to speak.
And, you know, it freaks people out. You make people run for the hills, but that they're just slowing it down and focusing on building relationship, right. And meeting people where they're at. And it doesn't become about now, how come the sale it becomes about how can I serve? So you flip in the script again. I love that. So you're, you're the master in this space. And I really want to get inside your brain. Cause once again, selfishly, like, I want to ask some questions and learn from the master, but this is all about the audience and
How can we transfer that knowledge so our audience can hit the ground running faster? Because I know that our audience are moms and dads, they're side gig hustlers and working from home and a lot of them get into the space because they're attracted to the opportunity, they're attracted to the products, but then they go, crap.
Now I need to learn how to do this thing called marketing. Now I need to learn how to do this thing called sales. Now I need to learn how to do this thing called business. And they're figuring it out for themselves. So, you know, you've been there, you've done it all. What would be some of the top three tips that you would have for our listeners to be able to help them to master this, this servant hearted leadership, this listening effect, to be able to meet people where they're at.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (08:04.78)
Those pillars, I think it was three or four that you put out there, I'm gonna say three words, people, people, people. It's gotta start there, because the three pillars, the marketing, the sales, the other things that you mentioned, do not ever happen unless you got a person to bring those services to. We forget about the people, we forget about the people closest to us, we forget about we need people. Some people need three or four, some people need three or 4,000. It doesn't matter.
The more people you meet, the more that opportunity door opens. Remember, when you meet somebody, the door opens, but what does the door do as well? It closes. So you jump and meet somebody and they're not a fit, serve the hell out of them. Excuse my language, but it's not, but you get what I'm saying is, and here's an example. I was like you audience. And I was like Jeff when you mentioned, be very transparent here and very humble. I was on a call five, five years ago for, was selling the digital business card.
Jeff Ross (08:48.427)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (09:03.654)
And I jumped on with Donnie Bovan. He became a guest on my podcast. Very well known leader in business and community. And I pitched him right from the beginning. He said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, stop. Why are you pitching me? You know nothing about me, whether I need this, whether I want this, whether it's going to fit my needs. And I was blown up. This guy's much younger than me. I was like, what the hell did I just do?
Jeff Ross (09:26.759)
Wow.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (09:31.052)
And he was so gracious and walked me through some steps. Here's what's better. And he actually coached me a servant's heart. Donnie, if you're listening this ever do, God bless you for your servant's heart. And I took that and ran with it and said, you know what? I got to stop that. So I started meeting people and a quick great story about people meeting. That's a kind of a cool thing. People meeting. Let's let's let's trade back that me and Jeff got something people meeting. So January 2020.
Jeff Ross (09:40.477)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (09:51.347)
people mean. They got it.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (09:58.248)
I was part of this digital business card company in sales. And I'm like, I got to meet more people. How do I figure this out? Well, I was introduced to this networking group that met like 15 times a week. went, okay, starting Monday, this was Friday. I'm going to go to five meetings a day, five days a week.
Jeff Ross (10:14.217)
That's going into the deep end.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (10:17.036)
Diving, yes, diving deep. Here's the ROI on that. In six to eight weeks, I was the number one salesperson in the company. They were like, what are you doing? I met 500 new people. Now, this is very important, audience. They were not all clients. Probably 100 were clients, 20%. But those other 400 gave me about 1,000 referrals.
Jeff Ross (10:33.949)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (10:40.744)
love that. One of the very first things I say to our people is just starting out, especially in the network marketing game, is go and have 500 conversations as fast as you can. Don't worry about the result. Just go have the conversations. Because inside that we can do the little micro training. Like if you had this conversation, what could you have done different? What could you have done better? You know, this happened, what happened here? And so it's in that action, in that messy. That's where we learn, right?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (11:09.292)
And I'll add to this. People go to me, they're writing the numbers going six to eight weeks. There's no way you met 500 new people. I've met 500 new people and probably 300 to 350 were referrals I hadn't met yet, but some of those became clients. So when I say 500 new people, doesn't mean I've met them. That's including referrals because look at it. I tell entrepreneurs meet 10 to 15 new people every week. That's your goal. So take a half hour or, you know,
Jeff Ross (11:25.832)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (11:30.311)
Mm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (11:38.092)
Let's just use a half hour for easy number. So that's if you did 10, that's five hours a week, 40 hour week. So that's not even what 10 % of your week, but it's a revenue generating. So you meet 10 people and the next week you got five referrals from them. That's 15. You meet 10 people that next week, that's 25 people and they give you 20 referrals. So now you're at 55 and the numbers start compounding and mushrooming out.
Jeff Ross (11:49.161)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (11:54.6)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (11:59.281)
Mm.
Jeff Ross (12:06.641)
Yep.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (12:06.698)
I get three referrals daily. I could probably look at my email. It's 236 Pacific Standard Time right now. I probably have a referral there for my podcast, for my business, or you just need to meet Steve. He's got a servant's heart. He can help you. I probably serve five to 10 people a week for free. People go, why aren't you charging? I said, one, it wasn't set up that way. This was not framed as a s-
Jeff Ross (12:22.918)
Love that.
Jeff Ross (12:29.576)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (12:35.198)
as a sales call or as a coaching call, was frames get to know each other. But that's the power of a servant's heart. Because when I jump in, my first thought is, how can I make Jeff have the best show ever? I better have some energy. I better be authentic. I better have some, you know, serve your audience, serve you. I do that with every call I jump on. I met a gentleman 24 years old doing quite well. He was actually pitching me. He had a person telephone.
Jeff Ross (12:39.401)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (12:47.164)
Yeah.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (13:04.832)
They're called setters. They set up an appointment with them. I knew it was going to be a pitch call. And I told them right away, I said, hey, you're this, you know, I know it's all set up. I said, but I'm here to just learn about you. Next thing I know, I'm learning about him. I give him a couple of tips. goes, can I pick your brain? He says, I'm 24, you're 63. You've been around the block. I said, yeah, probably a few times for 45 minutes. He asked me question and question and question. I gave him golden nuggets.
Jeff Ross (13:06.492)
Yep. Yep.
Jeff Ross (13:34.407)
Mm-hmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (13:35.274)
He got off. says, Steve, I can't believe you did that. I said, by the way, I got another referral for you. need you. He's like, you just don't stop. said, no, I'm a fire hose. If I can bring you referrals now, audience, let's step back. You're not always going to be able to do that. I'm not always able to do that. I always think about doing that, Jeff, but not able to do it. Thinking at least taking action. And that's the other thing I mentor a lot of podcast hosts and I've taken some people and walked them through.
Jeff, know, you know this, you've seen it. Three, four months, they haven't launched their podcast. And I've spent an hour or two with them and audience. I'm not complaining. I'm just saying here's, I guess you call me an expert and thank you for calling me the master. I'm giving my IP away for free. And you never take action. And I, I'm not worried about them taking action. I'm worried about the result they missed. Who were they met in three months to their podcast? For example.
Jeff Ross (14:10.589)
Yeah.
Yep.
Jeff Ross (14:29.723)
Mm-hmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (14:34.924)
that could have changed your life, could have grown their business, could have brought revenue to them.
Jeff Ross (14:38.888)
Yep. Look, I've been in the game 16 years and I've always wanted to start a podcast. You know, I had all the, the, the shoulda, coulda, woulda's excuses and all of that sort of thing. And this last six months, you know, actually it's been not the six months, July we started and it's been a brilliant ride. I wish I'd done it sooner. You know, it's that, that whole, you know, wish it could have done it sooner than hindsight 2020 and, and the amount of doors and the amount of connections and the amount of relationships that are coming off.
back is just mind-boggling. But it's not even about the sale right now or the money right now. It really is that servant's hearted leader to be able to go and add value and plant seeds. And so this is what I teach as well in the customer value journey. A lot of people are going for the sale too soon. like you just described, going for the pitch too soon.
You know, let's slow it down. Let's figure it out. Let's ask some questions. Let's connect. And I do a lot of business with, you know, people that I know, like, and trust. And I know a lot of other entrepreneurs who do the same. So let's slow it down and find ways to connect and relate and resonate. So if you're coming into a conversation, you're meeting someone for the first time, this is more for our listeners and for me too. What are some of the frameworks? What are some of the questions that you use to slow it down, to help people meet them where they're at, to connect with them?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (16:06.198)
You're a fantastic coach. You're leading me to something. My principal, I love it. And this is why I'm so excited to be on the show. I call this the ASLA principal. A-S-L-A. I'll say that again. A-S-L-A. The A is for ask. Ask a question. And if you need help, you're an introvert, have them on your desk before you start the meeting. What's your challenges? I ask that all the time. People go, that's a brilliant question. Because what are you asking? How can I help you?
Jeff Ross (16:22.918)
Mm.
Jeff Ross (16:35.462)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (16:35.862)
What are your challenges? How can I help you? How long have you been in business? What are you passionate about? Do you have a family? Write those down if you need to, but start asking questions. So you ask and then you shut up. People go, well, yeah, okay, shut up. That's good. And then you listen. And that's where the bridge breaks down. Cause they're like, well, I shut up, I'm listening. Are you? Think about your Zoom calls you've been on for business or friends or family.
You know, we got the Brady Bunch, you're in Tasmania, you probably know, everybody knows that show, all the boxes. And somebody's box goes black. Now, maybe they're going to the bathroom, maybe somebody's at the door, maybe they have something happen, it's an emergency. But audience, think about this. When they go black and mute, are they really listening? They're not listening if they're going to the bathroom. They're not listening if they're answering the door. And that's a need, I'm not saying they shouldn't, but that's why I say listen. Because a lot of people shut up and do this.
Jeff Ross (17:06.5)
Yeah, yeah.
Jeff Ross (17:20.805)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (17:32.212)
If you're watching, you know, the look away, they're not listening. And we find that in person or their body language is so really tightly listen. And when you listen, guess what? The A is ask. Then you get to ask another question. For example, I ask you, Jeff, what's your challenges? You go, man, I need 20 more new clients. Okay. You have a leads problem. Yeah, I do, man. How about this tip? And this is a great tip for all your audience. Go out to your contact list.
Reach out to all the people, you're not your family, you're young cousins, but people that you know, because everybody on there, like or love you, and send them an email. Quick question. Say you work with lawyers. Do you know a good lawyer I could talk to? I'd love an intro.
Jeff Ross (18:08.166)
Mm-hmm.
Jeff Ross (18:16.997)
I love an intro. Zip, Lask.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (18:18.992)
So simple, but what are gonna do? They're gonna go, Steve, what are you doing now? my God, I started a podcast and I wanna get lawyers on my podcast. I got two friends. My cousin's a lawyer. I had a guy do this and I met him four years ago. He was 27 years old. He's the kind of where I learned it. I forget his name, I wish I could, but he knows he's out there in the universe. That's how he started. He did a flipping home business. He went to his thousand contact list, reached out to everybody that was relevant.
He like 20 referrals and he got more referrals. And some of the people signed up for his course that were friends of his that did not know he was doing it. Well, when I talked to him, it was two years later, he was 27 years old. I said, how are doing? You've got to be doing well. He goes, I just hit a million dollars this month in income, one month. And all he marketed is through his contact list and remarketed it. Three months later, hey, by the way, do you know?
Jeff Ross (19:07.586)
in one month.
Jeff Ross (19:11.62)
Mmm. Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (19:17.836)
property managers. I love an industry trailer. Hey, know commercial realtors do you so you could come up with questions, but it's such a powerful way to one tell everybody what you're to get referrals three get clients. I've had people do this and five times their income.
Jeff Ross (19:30.82)
Yeah.
Jeff Ross (19:39.704)
great book that ever comes to mind from Alan Pease, Questions Are The Answers. yeah, that's what I've learned how to do the last 10 years is just ask questions to be able to bring out the best answers. And that sounds like exactly what you're doing, but here's where, you know, trying to transfer that skill, the key part that you mentioned there is that listening part. Yeah, that bridge. So I find, you know, not picking on the youth today. I definitely don't want to condemn or judge anybody, but.
I find talking to people sort of 25 and under these days, it's really hard to get them to connect and listen because of for whatever reason, let's call it social media, they're on their screens all the time. That's how they communicate. And, you know, very hard to get them to look in you in the eye and hold eye contact. So I've got three young boys, know, 12, 11 and eight. And one of the things that Sarah and I are very heavily focused on is communication skills.
And our 12 year old, like I took him to India with me last October with a bunch of other adults and he could hold a conversation with most adults, no problem. And he's 12. So I want to dig into your wisdom here. What do you think are some tips that we can help people to learn how to be more effective listeners? Adults or kids alike, what are some of the things we can break down here? Because I think that's the key missing part.
is people know how to ask questions, people know how to pitch, they know how to do that, but do they really know how to listen?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (21:12.32)
First, I love your comment about 25 years old. 25 year olds. Like I told Ryan, his name was Ryan the 24 year old, best opportunity in the world right now. You can start a business with really no money, no time and you're 25 years old. You stay with that business 10 years and you make a million dollars in 10 years. You're way ahead of the game. So that's the first thing. I'll reach out to Jeff for me. I'm gonna throw Jeff, not under the bus, but on top of the bus.
Jeff Ross (21:35.575)
Yeah.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (21:41.772)
Hey, reach out to us. love talking to young men like Brian that are motivated because the opportunities and their opportunities for 63 olds. I've just launched a business that's going to do incredibly well at 63. So it's really across the board, but because you have 25, you'd have 60, 50, 60, 70 years of being able to learn, but learn from people like me and you, Jeff. Reach out to us. I'll answer questions like I did with Ryan.
Jeff Ross (21:49.773)
Yes.
Jeff Ross (22:04.259)
Hmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (22:12.544)
Now the listening part is like the service part. There are two tannins. I'm putting my fingers there. They go together, but they need to be practiced. What do we do in sports? We practice before we play a game. So be intentional, and you used that word earlier, which I love, Jeff. Be intentional with your listening. If you're listening to this show, I want you to, next meeting you go into, just work real hard in your mindset to listen. And the best way to listen,
Jeff Ross (22:19.043)
Mmm. Mmm.
Jeff Ross (22:25.165)
Yup.
Jeff Ross (22:38.905)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (22:40.854)
is have a pad, I have an iPad I use, or a bag of paper and start writing notes. And look down at your notes and go, you know, Jeff, you talked about your three kids. I believe you said 11, nine, and six, and you took them to India. How do you think that's gonna help your business when you go to India?
Jeff Ross (22:56.835)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (22:58.636)
Now, I just did real time listen to what you said, not throw it back at you, but brought it back around to you. And you're like, no, it didn't really help my business. Well, you know what? Next time you do that, introduce people to your your boy, but go, you know, he may be helping me in my business. my God, Jeff, what is your business? Why do this, this and this? See what I did. I asked questions.
Jeff Ross (23:06.979)
That's it.
Jeff Ross (23:25.9)
Yep.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (23:27.926)
brought in a comment and be able to bring it around so they ask you it's
Jeff Ross (23:31.33)
Looking for those personal connection points where we can relate and resonate. Love it.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (23:35.474)
Exactly. Leveraging the words. I had a great guest today on my podcast talking about words. And maybe they go, my God, can I learn more? Yeah, let's jump on a Zoom call. Here, here's, you and you pass your information and you communicate. It is so incredible. And now I have a superpower doing it, but again, I just do it all the time. So it's easy for me. So you need to practice that and serving.
Jeff Ross (23:50.977)
Hmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (24:02.74)
I tell people start on Monday. I haven't talked about this in a while, so I'm super excited, Jeff. This is so great. Start Monday and be intentional and serve, but write down somewhere. I served a lady at the grocery store. put her groceries in the cart. Write down how you felt and how they felt. And every time you serve that week, write that down. Go over all those notes on Friday or Saturday and go, okay, how did all these people feel? Well, they were all pretty happy, which is probably going to happen.
How did I feel? God, I felt good. Really, that lady was really appreciative with the groceries. I told that lady her baby was beautiful and she just glowed. Here's the most important, last and most important question. How did your week change? How was your attitude? How was your emotions? I guarantee you, and I keep saying that, I'm not gonna say 100 % because I don't believe a lot of things in life in the world are 100%. But here's the image, and I did this and you loved it, Jeff.
Jeff Ross (24:48.586)
you
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (25:03.978)
I want you audience to think about Christmas as a six, seven, eight year old. You get up the earliest time that you ever get up because you want to run to the tree and open up that first gift. Mom and dad said, before we get up, open a gift. You open it up and it's a bike. my God, the bike's there. my God. But what do you do as a kid or anybody else? We're so happy we want to give somebody else a gift. That gift exchange. That's all I do and all you should do every day is just bring gifts to people.
Jeff Ross (25:07.137)
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (25:25.503)
Yeah. Yeah.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (25:32.574)
in whatever form you can bring it.
Jeff Ross (25:34.335)
Love that, it gets you out of your head, brings you into your heart and it gives that attitude of gratitude. And I'm coming to mind going deeper here into some of the neuroscience stuff and for what's coming up to the surface for me, like everybody talks about the law of attraction. That's cool. I like to go deeper than here and I actually think it's called the law of vibration. Because when you're operating out of that vibration of love, light, gratitude, then yeah, you're gonna attract.
more of that vibration into your life, aren't you? Whereas if you're operating, you know, law of attraction, and if you're operating out of lack and need and all that sort of thing, well, then you got to attract that vibration. So I don't think that the whole law of attraction conversation goes deep enough. And what I've started doing is starting to realize in my layman terms, is it's very much that that heart of vibration, you know, be that person of love. you know, look, yeah, I'm an online pastor. I started a church beginning of this year.
And it's about that connection of that community and just meeting people where they're at and helping them to be light and love in the simple crux of it. I love what you're talking about there.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (26:44.236)
Yeah, you're a brother from another mother and I love using that phrase because people go, you say it all the time. But it's true because I was just talking about filial love, the Greek love of brother ship, companionship, not intimate. And I think people get scared of love for two ways in business or friendship. how could you love Jeff? just met him. Well, because I feel the vibe, there's energy there, there's vibration where we think alike, but we fear we're being vulnerable. Be vulnerable. What's going to happen?
Jeff Ross (26:51.392)
Mmm.
Mmm.
Jeff Ross (27:04.5)
Yeah, there's a heart to heart.
Mmm, yes, please Yeah
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (27:14.357)
I mean, and let's, you've got mental health and vulnerability's tough, but for most people, ask that person, Jeff, I'd love for you to be a client. I can do this, this, and this for you. And they say, you know, I'm not ready. I can't afford the 10K, but I love you. And so I built that relationship. Hey, I love what you're doing. Or I think it's great. Good. You hold onto that. Here's a great tip for all you audience. When you're selling your wares, when they say no, serve them more.
Jeff Ross (27:24.672)
Mm.
Jeff Ross (27:42.88)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (27:43.296)
Well, you know what, Jeff? I understand that. You know, we'll reach back around, we'll talk more, but I've got an introduction for you. You do this and this guy, I think, could be a great partner for you. You just drop those barriers. Because when people say no to somebody, they're fearful. Like, I don't want to say no to Steve. I'm like, I mean, like Steve. I don't want him to be mad at me. It's just a weird feeling, but people do it. That cuts that with a knife right through it.
Jeff Ross (27:52.574)
Yeah. Brilliant.
Yeah.
Jeff Ross (28:06.676)
Yeah. I just, yeah, I just like lots of light bulbs coming off in this conversation reflecting to other conversations I've had over the last decade. And Bruce is his name, a good friend of mine. He always said, whenever you meet someone, you want to make sure that we give them a warm welcome, a memorable experience and a fond farewell, you know, and it doesn't matter what happens at the end of the conversation, make sure that they leave with that fond farewell because that's what's the lasting impression, right? That's what they'll remember.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (28:27.702)
beautiful.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (28:37.15)
Amen. That's that's perfect. Perfect for this show.
Jeff Ross (28:38.015)
Mm.
Yeah, love it. So just coming into back into serving others and I feel like part of the roadblocks that I hit all the time with this conversation and helping others to get this. Like you and I, we just get it. Like we live it, we breathe it, we just get it. But trying to transfer that over to other people sometimes, it's a little bit challenging because you've got to go through it to get it. And I really believe it's an exponential thing, experience things.
But I want to dive into this a bit deeper, you know, and serving others, sounds amazing. And, you know, all of our audience think like, this sounds great, you know, loving on others, it's great. But people worry about slowing down their business goals. Like how can they strike the balance between serving their audience and still achieving that financial and time freedom that they're all striving towards?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (29:35.904)
The problem with serving, and it's not a problem, the story of serving, and it's probably the wrong word, but you'll get when I say this, when we serve me and you, Jeff, we don't know how, when, or where the ROI is gonna come back. The universe, or in my case, God's, know, God's, I call it God's currency, will come back. I just don't know when. But you know what? You meet people, you've got two options. You can be very kind with them and learn about them and help them.
Jeff Ross (29:43.421)
Mm.
Jeff Ross (29:49.011)
Mm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (30:06.476)
Well, actually three things, be neutral, don't do anything and say, Hey, it was great to meet you. Or three, be just, just be mean to them. Just be terrible.
Jeff Ross (30:12.767)
What's the heart behind the agenda of the conversation?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (30:18.164)
Right, so that's how I look at it, might as well bring them value. like I said, I'm gonna say it again, every time I look at your logo it's great and you had a great comment about that and it just leads to better relationships.
Jeff Ross (30:37.439)
Mmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (30:39.658)
I tell you, if the world adopted a servant heart, things would be so much better. I know it's not gonna happen. I don't say this a lot publicly, but I'm gonna say it with you, because I love you, Jeff, what you're doing. My goal is that million people next year see and hopefully adapt a servant's heart message. I know I'll make some inroads there. I'm meeting some great people like you, but all of you, if you have a purpose, if you're looking for revenue,
Jeff Ross (30:51.135)
Appreciate you.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (31:09.74)
Here's something to think about that may help you. I can sell Jeff on my $10,000 coaching program today. I just met him today. was a incredible sales guy. I said the right words and you sign up and go, yeah, I'm going to do it. Here's 10K. But then I meet five other people that I've built a relationship with. Hey, it's four weeks. We jump on two or three calls. After the third call, I'm ready to go. Man, listen, I'm so excited.
Well, Jeff, the one person may last six months, may do the whole year if it's a 10,000 year program. Does he renew? Maybe, and maybe I build a relationship with him, which I would if I did that. But a lot of people don't when they pitch right away. They want to pitch, it's a numbers game. Pitch Jeff, pitch Steve, pitch Tony. I got a man, I'll find the next one and just fill in the con for. Well, when you do it that way, are you going to get many referrals? And yeah, you made money for the first year, but if I...
Jeff Ross (31:56.552)
Yeah.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (32:08.022)
build a relationship with five people and they stay with me three to four years or even two years, let's talk about money. How much more money are gonna make? But more importantly, how many referrals are you gonna get?
Jeff Ross (32:09.672)
Mmm. Mmm.
Jeff Ross (32:20.114)
Yeah, I love all this. It's what I say, slow it down, focus on the long-term game. coming back to lessons out of the Bible for a second, it's the parable of the sower, isn't it? It's going out and throwing seeds out, not really expecting any of them to grow, but the ones who do grow nurture, water them, lurk. And if you do that enough times, you're gonna have a pretty awesome harvest down the road. It's just inevitable. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.
And that's the way that I like to operate our business. And it sounds very similar to what you're doing.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (32:52.576)
Yeah, very similar. And Jim Rohn is passed away and RIP is a great, I don't know, but I've read his books and seen him on YouTube. He had a phrase similar to that for people that not with the Bible is you've got your field with seeds. Well, there's birds going to come and steal your seeds. What seeds are left over, similar to what you're saying, cultivate those. There's birds everywhere trying to take your seeds.
Jeff Ross (33:10.589)
Mm.
Jeff Ross (33:18.525)
Mm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (33:21.27)
but they're not gonna take all of them, especially if you're building and cultivating a relationship.
Jeff Ross (33:25.447)
Yeah.
Yeah, talking about Jim Rowan, really great book that I read for 10 years ago, actually turned my life around. Seasons of Life. It's a very short read, but it was very powerful read for me, especially at that time in my life. It was amazing.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (33:41.708)
That's powerful, powerful message.
Jeff Ross (33:44.007)
Yeah. Cool. Well, Steve, I could talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles and talk to a deaf dog at the court of a round table with this conversation with you. But I love to look at wrapping it up. So, mate, you've dropped so much gold, so much wisdom with us today, even in this just this last 30 minutes. But before we wrap up, are there any other final words of encouragement that you'd like to leave our listeners with?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (34:10.262)
Super simple, get better 1 % every day. Not 50%, not 80%. Don't say your goal, made 100,000 this year and 2025 you're gonna make 10 million, maybe even a million. Those are dreams and they're okay to have those dreams, but have goals, but to do those goals, imagine if you started January 1st, because we're coming close to that. Say you December off, which if any entrepreneur out there never take December.
Here's a tip, because it's the best month of the year, because guess what? Christmas parties, Thanksgiving, which just happened here in America. How many Christmas parties? I just talked to a guy, he's having 60 people at his Christmas party. My chiropractor, guess what? He's gonna sell his services to them. And not sell in pitch, but what are you doing now? man, I built my chiropractor. Opportunities are ripe in December. I make more money in December than any other month because of that. But get a better 1 % every day starting January 1st. That's 300.
Jeff Ross (34:40.603)
Yes.
Jeff Ross (34:49.467)
Yep.
Mm-hmm.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (35:08.076)
65 percent if you did it every day let's cut it in half let's say it's 150 percent audience i want you to think about if you grew 150 personally and professionally would your income
Jeff Ross (35:20.795)
Yeah, of course it would. Yeah. And I'm just reflecting, you 2024 for you for me has been a year of laying a lot of groundwork, you know, getting a lot of the pipeline down and getting the infrastructure in place. And, and I feel like, you know, heading into the end of this year, I've achieved that. And 2025 is going to be a pretty awesome year, but not for me personally, awesome because I get to serve and play in the impact in a much bigger way.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (35:25.121)
Yeah.
Jeff Ross (35:48.79)
and play in that purpose-driven space. And that's pretty cool.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (35:53.644)
Purpose-driven space. Audience, that's one of the best things he's said so far. Be in that space.
Jeff Ross (36:00.252)
Hmm. It's where your heart sings, right? That's where you get to do what you love. Cool. Well, if our podcast listeners, they want to connect with Steve, they want to reach out and just, you know, have an awesome conversation with you because you're a pretty genuine standup guy. How could they reach out to you and how can they follow your podcast, you know, doing business with the server?
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (36:06.494)
Absolutely.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (36:23.424)
Yeah, you can search Doing Business Servants Heart. I think I'll have the link for my podcast on YouTube. You can find me on LinkedIn. I love living there because that's where entrepreneurs should be. It's a business platform, so I like it. I'm there a lot. Or you could just email me at SteveR, R my Ramona for SteveR1961 at gmail.com. Again, SteveR1961 at gmail.com. And if you have any questions at all, send it to me and I'd love to answer them.
Jeff Ross (36:52.664)
We'll make sure all those details in the show notes below. So Steve, thank you for your wisdom and your servant hearted approach and really, really appreciate you. Now, before I wrap up, I always like to close with a bit of a dad joke as, yeah, it's just part of who I am. Simply known as the king of dad jokes. And I want to just quickly share this image here with you. I forgot where it was. I've closed it down whilst I was waiting for you. Gotta love it.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (37:18.4)
He got a love check.
Jeff Ross (37:22.431)
Here it is. So my friend Dave, Dave Barker from church, he's another, you King of Dad jokes. We swap jokes back and forth. And I thought this one was very timely for today's conversation. Steve, I'm wondering how, I'm wondering, I'm sorry. I'm wondering how I can get my wife the perfect Christmas gift when she already has me. I'm not sure if I can find one better.
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (37:47.564)
I'm gonna use that one. That might save me some money. I'm just kidding. I'm gonna buy her a gift. Don't worry
Jeff Ross (37:51.009)
Hahaha!
Jeff Ross (37:55.151)
Here's another one for you. So I married my beautiful wife for her looks. Just not the ones that she gives me these days.
Ha
Steve Ramona Podcast Host (38:04.716)
That's a good one too. my gosh. my gosh. That's so good.
Jeff Ross (38:06.779)
You're a champion. Thanks Steve, I really appreciate you. So, Legends, if you felt inspired by today's conversation, don't wait to take action. As Steve's already said, go and take action, go and have that conversation, go and ask for that referral. yeah, go, what was it? Ask, shut up, listen, ask, ask. There you go, so go do that.
And if you want to connect with Steve, make sure that you head over to his podcast, Doing Business with a Servant Heart, and more amazing insights and stories that will help your business to grow and serve your community right there. And while you're at it, make sure you're subscribed to the Laptop Lifestyle Dad Show. We're hosted on the LA Tribune Podcast Network, so you can find us at latpn.com forward slash Jeff hyphen Ross.
And if you've got value from today's episode, please don't keep it to yourself. Let's share it with our mates, your business partners, and anyone else you know who needs a little inspiration, practical advice to get out of Sucksville and get into awesome town. Remember, this isn't just about building a business. It's about creating freedom, showing up for your family, and making a lasting impact. Thanks for tuning into the Laptop Lifestyle Dad Show. And until next time, keep bouncing around like that caffeinated kangaroo.
and we'll see you soon.