Business Infrastructure - Curing Back Office Blues

Jared Easley, the co-founder of Podcast Movement, joined us for the 100th and 200th episodes of the Business Infrastructure podcast. And he's here again as we celebrate the 300th episode!   But this episode is different. It's the final episode of the Business Infrastructure podcast.   As long as the internet is around, you will still be able to access this catalogue of 300 episodes! That also means you can still do things like leave reviews and comments.    Saying goodbye is never easy. We appreciate the 236 guests that appeared and contributed valuable resources to this show as well as the amazing people behind the scenes who made this show possible.   The good news is that we have a new podcast launching on September 1, 2024. It's called

In our last episode, you heard from our team at Equilibria, Inc. on what it took to produce and promote the episodes for our Season 23: Growth Strategies Masterclass. We also shared important lessons we learned from the guests who participated in this masterclass.   There's also an important lesson, or conclusion, that producer Alicia Butler Pierre reached as a result. As you and other listeners went along this growth strategies journey, you may recall her hinting at a big revelation. Something that, once revealed, will change everything!   In this episode, Alicia reveals that important discovery.  

Ever wondered what it takes to put on a podcast show? The behind-the-scenes work is much more than what you might expect especially when producing an audio masterclass. But we pulled it off!   In our end of season wrap party, our team at Equilibria shares lessons we learned throughout the Growth Strategies Masterclass. We also discuss how we efficiently manage a remote podcast team that's spread across four countries – India, Nigeria, Philippines, and the U.S.   Finally, we reveal things that surprised us about this season and some team members even ask producer Alicia Butler Pierre personal questions. You might find her answers interesting, but the only way you'll know is if you listen!   Thank you to the Black Panda team: Leena Nair, Rujuta Jamgaokar, and Simmi.   The Equilibria, Inc. team: Clarence Levy III, Grant Revilla, Gladys Jimenez, and Erika Revilla. A special shout out to our audio editor, Olanrewaju Adeyemo, who was unable to attend.

This is part two of our interview with Christina Barsi, an entrepreneur with a revolutionary tool to help us align our personal infrastructure with our business infrastructure. That tool is called the Circle of Ease. It's one of the things she mentioned during the first half of this interview.   As a reminder, she also talked about: The difference between your Zone of Genius and Zone of Excellence, How to be in with work that give you energy, Why delegating things that you are good at, but don't enjoy will free up your time to truly grow and scale your business.   Now, Barsi will describe exactly what her Circle of Ease tool is and how to use it. Similar to previous episodes, podcast host Alicia Butler Pierre shares how she will use this tool to figure out what work to focus on as Equilibria, Inc. transitions from a consulting business model to a training one.   This is the last episode of our Growth Strategies Masterclass.   It's filled with eye-opening information that will cause you to personally reflect on the intersection of your personal and professional goals in ways you may not have before. Listen now to discover the possibilities that lie ahead for your business' growth!  

It's hard to believe, but we're at the last topic of our Growth Strategies Masterclass. At this point, we've had guests share their expertise on the following:   Vetting and validating growth ideas, Creating a strategic growth plan that includes validated ideas, Developing project plans to implement your company's growth strategy, Growing your business through strategic partnerships, and Building your business to sell it for maximum value.   With all the planning tools we've learned for strategically growing our businesses, there's still the possibility that our plans may not unfold the way we envisioned. Our ability to handle unforeseen events or challenges that can halt our plans determines whether we'll stay in the entrepreneurial race.   The real question to ask yourself is, “Are you comfortable with potentially having to pivot?”   This is what our next guest, Christina Barsi, is here to talk to us about. As a former actor turned entrepreneur and owner of a successful podcast production company, she's a shining example of what can happen when you intentionally integrate decision-making and fulfillment into your  entrepreneurial endeavors.   Barsi's career transition experiences as a compelling example for entrepreneurs seeking to establish a personal infrastructure that resonates with their passions.   In part 1 of this two-part episode, Barsi explains why: Creating a personal infrastructure that aligns with your company's business infrastructure is critical for achieving self-fulfillment, Distinguishing between internal data and external data is key to establishing a foundation for business growth strategies, and Calibrating your mindset is necessary for assessing the work that brings you joy and will ultimately enable you to create action plans to bring growth plans to fruition.   Navigating business pivots and transitions effectively requires intentional decision-making and introspection. Join us on this journey of self-discovery as a pathway to lasting business success!  

We're at the next stop on our Growth Strategies Masterclass this season and it involves exit planning. Now, you may be thinking, “I thought we were talking about growing our businesses, not exiting them!”   But the truth is, exiting your business by selling it can in fact be a smart move especially if you are seeking what our last guest, Carl Nicpon, described as “Freedom 2.0.” Building your company to eventually sell it requires significant work in formalizing business infrastructure and strengthening financial health.   In this latest episode, our producer and host, Alicia Butler Pierre, reveals why she wants to sell Equilibria, Inc. (the underwriter of this show) as part of the company's long-term strategic growth plan. This requires a level of honesty, introspection, and selflessness that few entrepreneurs dare to think about let alone act on.   Along the way, Alicia shares her story in hopes that it will also inspire you to: Focus on specific business infrastructure elements to build or improve, Discover the financial metrics required to attract future investors, partners or buyers, Build a dashboard to track core operational activity, Consider funding as a source for raising capital required to scale operations, and more!   You'll also gain access to additional resources where you can learn more about how to: 1) sell your business, 2) find the optimal exit planning strategist, and 3) get maximum sale value for the business you've worked so hard to build and grow.  

Whether your growth idea involves starting a new business, a new product or service, or pivoting altogether, it's wise to begin with the end in mind. In other words, you need to know your exit strategy.    It might seem strange to think about an exit strategy when you are focusing on starting either something new or doing work in a new way. However, another effective and potentially lucrative growth strategy could involve your exit as a founder or leader, the exit of one of your business partners, acquiring another business, or selling yours.      While there are several myths about how to exit your business successfully, our special guest expert, Carl Nicpon says one thing is certain - “You only have one chance to get it right!”    Carl is a Managing Director at Marsh Creek, a boutique business brokerage and mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. His career journey from school counselor to third-generation business owner to Merger & Acquisition (M&A) advisor brings a wealth of diverse experiences to his clients.   In this episode, Carl debunks several myths about selling a business while also educating us about the selling process. This includes providing a foundation for understanding:  How to increase the value of your business, Why your business needs to be able to operate without you, When to start preparing to sell your business, and What EBITDA is and the pivotal role it plays in determining the value of a business, and   You've worked hard to build, grow, and scale your business. Discover how to achieve what Carl describes as “Freedom 2.0” by assembling the right team of experts that will guide you to selling your business at maximum value.  

Have you thought about forming partnerships with other people or companies to catalyze growth at your company? Achieving scale, more revenue, and greater profitability at a faster rate are just some of the many benefits that a strategic partnership can offer.   But you must be careful in forming these partnerships. There are legal aspects to consider like profit sharing, intellectual property protection, and even a plan for dissolving the partnership. These aspects should be formalized in a contract and then discussed, negotiated, and signed in writing to protect everyone involved.   In this latest episode of our Growth Strategies Masterclass, our producer and host, Alicia Butler Pierre, shares details about her behind-the-scenes work with Karen Mills. As a reminder, Karen was the lawyer featured in the last episode. She specializes in contract law, in particular teaming agreements.     The information shared in this episode is a bit unique in that Alicia actually sketches out a workflow diagram (or flowchart) as she describes her work with Karen. As a result, you can expect to:   Learn the process for drafting a teaming or partnership agreement, Discover the different ways to construct a partnership agreement, Gain an understanding of the various types of clauses (i.e., first right of refusal and non-disclosure) you may want to include, and Walk away with a foundation required to form a strategic partnership with confidence.   Talk is cheap. Stop relying on verbal agreements

It's hard to believe, but we're already at the midway point of our Growth Strategies Masterclass! As a recap, we've covered how to: Vet and validate your business growth ideas, Create a strategic plan that includes validated ideas, and Develop project plans to implement youur company's growth strategy.   Growth comes in many shapes, forms, and scales of magnitude, and one viable way to grow is through partnerships or teaming agreements.   Have you heard the expression, “Two heads are better than one?” It's true! Forming partnerships with the right people or companies can accelerate your business's growth in ways you didn't imagine. The legal aspects of forming partnerships correctly can be overwhelming.   But you're in luck!   Our next guest is Karen Mills, a founding member of Mills Law, LLC. She has 25 years of experience practicing law with a specialty in contracts law and mediation services. Her expertise in teaming agreements is invaluable, making her the go-to authority for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking clear and fair strategies for growth.   In this episode, you'll discover: The various types of teaming arrangements so that you set your business up for success, How to navigate the fine print of contracts to safeguard your business's future, The questions you should ask yourself before entering a partnership, Why you should always figure out an exit plan at the start of a partnership, and much more!   Stop relying on verbal agreements or handshakes to conduct business deals that make you and your business susceptible to unexpected and costly pitfalls. Instead, protect your business and its assets through clearly written contracts as you transition from the honeymoon phase of forming a new partnership. It can be one of the best investments you make!   

Now that you know more about how to leverage project plans to execute your growth strategy, it's time to create your own!   In this latest episode of our Growth Strategies Masterclass, our producer and host, Alicia Butler Pierre, explains how to take information from your X-matrix to build a project plan.   Be prepared to apply the principles you've learned about business infrastructure in building a project plan that:   ·        Defines the tasks required to accomplish your strategic growth goals, ·        Identifies the people to perform those tasks in addition to due dates, ·        Includes monthly check points to measure success against targets in your X-matrix, and ·        Organizes information clearly and transparently.   This episode includes a discussion of the software we use for project planning. Just think - you're getting even closer to accomplishing those growth goals you and your team identified at the beginning of this journey!  

Let's continue the journey of our Growth Strategies Masterclass! At this point, we've learned about how to validate and vet ideas for business growth as well as how to develop a strategic growth plan that includes those vetted ideas.   Now it's time to learn how to implement that strategy!   If you're feeling overwhelmed operating your small business and struggling to realize your growth goals, then you are not alone! As small business owners we often find ourselves juggling tasks, relying on sticky notes and phone reminders, but still falling short of achieving the strategic growth plans we've worked so hard to create.   The feeling of being stuck in a cycle of disorganization, perceived lack of resources, and missed opportunities can be frustrating. But what if there's a simpler way to bring clarity order to the chaos and pave the way for plans that you can actually implement?   Here to show us how we can implement strategy through project planning is Jon Reid. He's the Managing Partner of Tier1 Management Consulting Group. Jon offers valuable insights into the practical application of project management, emphasizing the importance of well-defined project plans in achieving desired outcomes.   In this episode, you will be able to: Discover effective ways to implement strategic growth plans for your small business, Learn about the essential stages of the project management process for strategic growth and, Understand what makes a project successful.   Let's explore how project management skills can transform the way you approach growth and bring clarity to the path for executing your business strategy.  

In the last episode, you learned about the X-matrix – a powerful visual tool to link strategy with execution. Now it's time to learn how to use one to create your strategic growth plan!   Don't worry, we won't leave you alone! You can actually listen to our producer and host, Alicia Butler Pierre, as she describes how we completed an X-matrix to assist you in creating your own. In this episode, Alicia explains the events leading to the development of our long-term strategy to convert our business model from being 100% consulting to 100% training.   This shift in our business model laid the foundation for completing our X-matrix. It also includes our idea for an online course that we were able to vet and validate thanks to the Lean Canvas tool described at the beginning of this season.   Also included in this episode is: An explanation of how to complete an X-matrix, How to use the S.M.A.R.T. method to define strategic goals, A demo of our X-matrix, and Discussion of the action plans required to implement strategic goals.   Be sure to download the free X-matrix template provided in the show notes so that you can follow along. Good luck!  

Welcome back to our Growth Strategies Masterclass! Our first two episodes featured how to vet and validate ideas for growing your business. Now it's time to develop a strategic plan around those ideas that made the cut.   Are you ready to take your business to the next level and achieve breakthrough growth? If you're feeling like strategic growth planning is just too “corporate” and is something that only large enterprises do, then think again. In this next class, Kenya A. Moses, an operations executive at NSI Industries, talks about the X-matrix and how you can use this tool to revolutionize your approach to growth and scale your business.   With a keen focus on linking strategy with execution, Kenya's insights are invaluable for both small business owners and executives seeking the business infrastructure required for repeatable, profitable, and scalable growth. His practical approach and 25+ years of experience make him a trusted authority in the strategic growth planning process known as Hoshin Kanri.   In this episode, Kenya explains how to: Implement the 7-step Hoshin Kanri strategic planning process based on your growth ideas, Use the X-matrix as a simple yet highly effective tool for defining, linking, and aligning long-term strategic goals with tactical projects for achieving those goals, and Develop action plans and continuous check-in points to ensure your strategic growth goals are met.   Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a seasoned corporate executive with years of experience in operations, finance, and strategy as he provides a blueprint for small business growth.   Uncover the art of crafting innovative and effective growth strategies that can revolutionize your business's operations and lead to profits you didn't think were possible!  

We were finally able to launch our first episode for this season. It was such an amazing topic to listen to and it was also indeed a Masterclass! The previous episode featured the Lean Canvas, a one-page guide that Ash Maurya created. Martina discussed a tool she leverages to help us innovators, entrepreneurs, and operational leaders vet and validate our ideas.   Lean Canvas is a strategic document that helps managers assemble hypotheses of a particular business model for launching any start-up. It is an efficient approach to developing a one-page business plan for validating your business idea into key assumptions for better analysis.   In this episode, Alicia will tell us how Martina was able to help her with her ideas which she had some uncertainties with. Alicia will also show us her company's very own Lean Canvas which Martina helped her complete, so that you can also follow along and see how she was able to vet this training idea and hone it. Take this opportunity to learn how to use the Lean Canvas and understand what could be pursued as part of a strategy not just to grow, but also to scale. So, sit back, listen, and learn as much as you can on how to use this tool in this Masterclass and find out how to vet and validate your ideas if they will be an asset or a loss.  

We're proud to present the first lesson in our Growth Strategies Masterclass!  With so many ideas for improving our business and boosting cash flow and profit, it's tempting to start pouring our energy, time, and money into those ideas. But wait! What if you end up losing a lot of money on an idea that ultimately doesn't work? Martina Goss warns against becoming a “busy fool.” As a certified Lean Startup coach, she's brilliantly transformed her career from a certified accountant crunching numbers for businesses to a trusted advisor for startups and existing businesses with new ideas.  Martina introduces us to a tool she leverages to help us innovators, entrepreneurs, and operational leaders vet and validate our ideas. It's called the Lean Canvas, a one-page guide created by Ash Maurya for testing the viability, feasibility, and desirability of an idea.  In this episode, Martina explains: What the Lean Canvas is, what it looks like, and how to use it, The 12 questions the Lean Canvas forces you to answer about your idea, How to use the Lean Canvas, Why your idea should “cross the chasm,” and much more!   She also makes the case for enlisting the help of a facilitator in completing your Lean Canvas. Listen as she details how to conduct customer discovery as a necessary measure of your idea's ability for mass appeal.  Avoid the dangers of becoming a busy fool with a tool that will help direct your efforts on the ideas that not only make sense, but also can make you money!  

We're embarking on yet another journey here on the Business Infrastructure podcast. This season focuses on growth strategies to scale your operations, finances, and sales to the next level.  The episodes are structured as a masterclass featuring a combination of different subject matter experts who share different tools and frameworks for developing and implementing a growth strategy.  Following each expert guest's episode our host, Alicia Butler Pierre, will apply each tool and framework for Equilibria, the company behind this show. We'll end the season with stories from friends of the show regarding their successful strategies. Get ready to learn things that will help you achieve extraordinary results that are transformative, innovative, and groundbreaking!  We certainly discovered something we didn't expect after applying all the tools you'll soon learn, and the outcome will surprise you! What is it? Well, you'll have to come along for the ride to find out.

Finally! We are at the end of another successful and exciting season of the Business Infrastructure Podcast! This Season 22 of the Business Infrastructure Podcast is focused about the use of AI technology and how to take advantage of it. The guests lined up for this specific season are guests that has success on using AI for their businesses, and we also have some guests that we had a fireside chat with about the pros and cons of using AI. It was such an amazing experience for all of us as we have learned a lot of ways to leverage AI and how it can optimize businesses. With all their different insights and approach in using AI, we were able to discover how AI can really make our work a lot easier and how it can sometimes be dangerous if to be wrongly used. But you know what made it exciting? The demos! Yes, the demos! The demos that they showed us and how they walked us through to each AI tools. That experience itself is amazing because it's not just educational, but it also serves as a free tutorial from these professionals. So, in this final episode for this season, Alicia Butler Pierre, our producer and host will give a very short and brief recap in all of the episodes. But wait, there's MORE! Alicia will give you an idea on what to expect for the next season of the Business Infrastructure Podcast. So keep on tuning with us and learn how to manage fast growth and build a business infrastructure that supports scale, sustainability, and profitability.  

We're back! And now we are down to our last episode for Season 22 of The Business Infrastructure Podcast. In our previous episode, we learned how to leverage AI to make slides to streamline client presentations and trainings. This time, it will be a fireside chat with one of the OG in the podcast industry and she is going to specifically talk about how to build data sets and feedback loops to customize and train your AI. Our last guest for this season is the Co-Founder of Podetize and she personally has conducted over 3,000 interviews and over 1000 shows with 50,000 episodes and counting. She non other than, Tracy Hazzard. She's also a serial entrepreneur and has a long and impressive background in technology. Tracy has some exciting things to share with you, things that can potentially revolutionize the way you operate your business. In this final episode, you will learn how to: Make AI a Team Member, Build data sets and feedback loops to customize and train your AI, Maximize transcription accuracy with AI technology, and Enhance business efficiency through customized tool integration. Come! Learn what you can, try it and most importantly, have fun in this final episode of this season.  

Here we are again with another episode of our AI audio conference session, a Business Infrastructure Podcast special. The last time we were here, we were able to witness how AI can help you decide a name for your business or innovation, and how it can make your life easier when taking down notes whenever you are in a meeting. Now, let's find out how AI can help us in making slides to streamline client presentations and trainings. Are you spending hours digging through information and meticulously crafting slides, only to feel like the process is holding you back from focusing on revenue-generating activities? Let's transform how you educate and engage your clients with AI technology, reducing research time and streamlining your presentation creation process. Our special guest Terica Pearson, the CEO of Pearson Consulting Group will show us her innovative approach to leveraging AI technology, particularly Gemini to provide tailored solutions to small and mid-sized businesses, highlighting the importance of tech-savviness in today's digital era. She is the testament to the power of continuous learning and adapting in the business world. At the end of this episode, you will be able to: ·       Discover the benefits of using AI tool for creating compelling presentations, ·       Learn the strategies for taking advantage of AI tools to optimize productivity, and ·       Explore the different side of AI and its possibilities. This episode contains a demo of Gemini. Listen, take notes, and take advantage of this innovative AI tool on how to optimize productivity when making a presentation for your clients.  

We're back with another session of our AI audio conference. The last session featured tools for using AI to become a professional sound engineer. This time, we will give you a glimpse on how to make your life easier when taking down notes whenever you are in a meeting. Have you ever had that experience when you're trying to listen attentively to what people are saying in a meeting but afraid you'll miss something important because you're also busy trying to take notes? Despite your best efforts, you just can't multitask during the meeting. Or what about that feeling when you're having a hard time thinking of a name for your new business, project, or innovation? Well, worry no more! Our next speaker is a former game designer and developer turned software developer and entrepreneur. Edie Woelfle can personally vouch for the AI tools she shares in this session. She and her team consistently use Fireflies AI to capture important notes during client meetings. And she also used Namelix to come up with the name for her software development agency, Keiboarder. In this exciting episode, you will discover how you can: Give Namelix certain parameters to help it create a list of unique names, Leverage Namelix's AI to even create logos, Boost you and your team's productivity with Fireflies AI's automated audio and video recording and transcription, and Take meeting action items documented by Fireflies AI and connect it to other tools to improve project management, and more! This episode contains a demo of both Fireflies and Namelix. Discover the possibilities of both of these AI tools to make your work and decision making a little easier!  

Now that you've heard from another one of our keynote speakers, Dean Hamilton, we're ready to resume the demo sessions at our AI audio conference is here! Similar to the video editing demo, this one also gives you a sneak peek into how AI is leveraged to produce this very show, specifically – Cloud Bounce.    Here to tell us all about it is our show's sound designer, Clarence Levy III. As the mastermind behind Sabor! Music Enterprises, he's no stranger to music production and sound design, having worked on various popular TV and film projects. He even created a salsa band once and currently manages a brass band.   In this episode, Clarence explains what's required to take audio from good to great and how even amateurs can use AI audio editing tools like Cloud Bounce to make that possible. He speaks candidly about the music production process from creation to mixing to mastering and the business infrastructure required to make audio sound “commercial ready.”   Specifically, he shares how AI audio editing tools can speed audio mastering, enhance sound quality, and level the playing field for creatives who don't have the backing of larger music companies. He even talks about the darker side of using AI in music and its implications.   This episode also contains a demo of Cloud Bounce.   Listen now and learn how even you can use AI to take your audio projects to the next level and even compete with professionals.  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a trend nowadays, especially for businesses. It is a great tool that will potentially streamline your business. But, some people negatively use AI and just lurking in the dark, waiting for their next victim.   This interesting episode will unveil the limitations of AI in decision-making. But be ready for an unexpected twist that might change your perception of automation. As we go deeper into the possibilities, you'll encounter potential risks that you are unaware of.   We were able to sit down and have a conversation with Dean Hamilton, the Chief Technology Officer at Wilson Perumal & Co. and has a broad knowledge and experience in the topic of AI and automation. Dean knows the challenges that small business owners face when it comes to implementing new technologies. Dean is very good at breaking down complex concepts into relatable terms, making it easier for small business owners to understand how AI can improve their back-office operations. Dean will tell us perceptions about AI and help small business owners decide whether AI is right for their business.   In this episode, Dean will help you: Understand how AI and automation can boost your back-office operations and improve efficiency, Learn how to train AI models using past data to copy human reasoning and decision-making, allowing your business to automate difficult tasks and make accurate predictions and, Identify the risks and challenges that come with the adoption of AI in your small business and gain awareness on how to reduce them for successful implementation.   We invite you to listen and discover more about what the future of AI holds in streamlining and automating your small business operations.  

Here we are again with another episode of our first-ever AI audio conference. Last time, you learned about Momento FM and how it can automatically generate short video content. Now you will discover how you can use AI tools to edit videos in record time!   Does the endless cycle of watching, editing, and rewatching your raw video footage sound all too familiar? You've probably been told to just power through it, but the pain of spending countless hours in front of the screen only to still end up with subpar results is all too real. It's time to break free from this frustrating loop and discover a better way to streamline your video editing process.   Gladys Jimenez is our next speaker. She is an Emmy nominated TV editor and the owner of Gladiola Films. With a career spanning over two decades, she has extensive experience in the video editing industry. She's worked with companies like MTV, Buzzfeed, and Red Table Talk – The Estefans.   In this episode, Gladys tells us how she: Utilizes AI tools to streamline video editing processes, Embraces the collaborative nature of video editing for unique storytelling, Master the art of conveying emotion while editing videos, and  Creates captivating content using tools like CapCut, Gling, Murf.AI.    This episode also contains a demo.   Listen now and take notes from this expert on how to leverage AI to streamline your video editing as well as craft storytelling that is visually captivating.  

The next session from our AI audio conference is here! It's all about Momento FM (now known as Momento FM) – a slick video content automation AI tool.    And there's no better person to tell us about it than Beate Chelette, the Growth Architect behind Chelette Enterprises and the wildly popular The Women's Code.    Overcoming a series of natural disasters and being on the brink of financial ruin, Beate humbly reached out to the President of the U.S. for help. And he answered! Not only did she strategize her way out of debt, but 18 months later, she sold her photography business to Bill Gates. Ever since, she's been an advocate for woman entrepreneurs and like us, she's passionate about helping other entrepreneurs create scalable and sustainable businesses.    One major way she helps other business owners is through her own podcast, the Business Growth Architect show. In this episode, Beate shares how she restructured her show's business infrastructure because of Momento FM. Discover how she:  Asks herself a series of questions to drive innovation and problem-solving in business, Uses Momento's AI to automatically generate 30-40 pieces of short video content, Automates customer touch points through engaging and entertaining video, and Embraces the adoption of technology to enhance business operations through more efficient and accurate data.   This episode also contains a demo of Momento FM.   Listen now and learn from this master of her craft on how to best leverage AI to streamline your team as well as your content generation and promotional processes and watch your profits soar!  

We're back with another session from our AI audio conference. It features Esker, a French-based tech company that's created a revolutionary AI solution that automates key back-office processes.     One of those processes that Esker's AI can automate is Order-to-Cash – the cycle from the moment a customer places an order to delivering the order and providing additional support.    Here to share exactly how this AI tool works is Aurélien Coq, a product manager at Esker. His nearly 20 years of experience at Esker has led to his deep understanding of customer interactions and payment cycles and how to radically improve both through AI.   In this episode, Aurélien shares how Esker Synergy AI can help you: Enhance customer satisfaction and increase cash flow by effectively managing customer inquiries and seamless payment processes. Improve cost savings and relationships with suppliers and vendors through a streamlined Source-to-Pay process. Streamline your Order-to-Cash process by integrating with existing accounting and CRM software. Empower your team to support customers faster and with more accurate data.    This episode also contains a demo of Esker Synergy AI.   Listen now and prepare to take your customer's experience with your business to the next level.  

We're back with another episode of our first ever AI audio conference. In the last episode, you heard about using Perplexity AI as a research assistant. Now, you will discover another AI tool to take ideas to implementation through writing.   You know the importance of promoting your business. In the age where content is king, consistently writing and posting about your products or services is necessary for your business's survival.    But carefully planning and writing that content takes time. A lot of time. This is what our next speaker, Neha Naik, discovered as she grew her two tech-based recruiting businesses – RecruitGyan and The Profitable Recruiters Blueprint.   Neha even hired a content writer, hoping that would lead to increased efficiency and productivity in developing, writing, and publishing content. Instead, they both found themselves still drowning in the administrative burden of these tasks. This inefficiency led Neha to Jasper AI – a digital writing technology that has transformed her company's content marketing processes, streamlined the work of her content writer, and supercharged the productivity of her team of 40 people.     In this episode, Neha explains she uses Jasper as a digital writing assistant to: Enhance customer engagement through catchy phrases, witty questions, and attention-grabbing headlines, Translate industry jargon and complex ideas and concepts into words that even a child can understand,  Jumpstart social media polls and email campaigns, and much more!   Not a recruiter? Don't dismiss this episode! We promise you will learn things about Jasper that you can immediately apply to revolutionize your digital marketing processes. So, be prepared to take notes and your writing to the next level with words that will not only captivate but convert your online viewers and visitors alike into paid customers!  This episode also contains a demo of Jasper AI.  

Welcome back to our special AI audio conference. In the last episode you heard our opening fireside chat. Hopefully you now know more about AI and the possibilities it offers to boost your productivity, efficiency, and capacity to achieve better results faster.    Now it's time to start exploring specific tools to help you do just that!   That brings us to our next speaker, Jim Stroud. He has deep experience in HR strategy, recruiting and talent management for businesses of all sizes, across multiple industries and sectors. One major way he shares his knowledge is through content. As a content creator who keeps his finger on the pulse of the latest developments in his subject matter expertise, producing quality content is critical to his success.    In this episode, Jim shares how Perplexity AI, a Chat GPT competitor, helps him take his content creation to another level. He also shares how Perplexity can help you: Automate your online research activities, Verify the sources of information provided by generative AI, and Strengthen your company's business infrastructure through the most productive use of Perplexity as a tool, a digital research assistant, and streamlined content writing processes.    This episode also contains a demo of Perplexity AI.    Listen now. Take notes. Create your free Perplexity account. Watch your productivity skyrocket!  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be all the rage now, so it's easy to feel excited but also overwhelmed or even…scared.   Have you been told that implementing AI in your business is the key to upgrading your operations and staying ahead of the competition? Or, are you interested in learning more about AI and how it can help increase your operational efficiency, productivity, and profitability?   If you answered yes to either question, then you're in the right place!   Welcome to Season 22 of the Business Infrastructure podcast. Over the next 12 episodes you'll get a free pass to the audio version of our AI tech conference. You'll not only learn more about AI but you'll also discover new tools from different experts and entrepreneurs that leverage AI to streamline and scale your back-office operations.   Interestingly, AI is not a new technology. And this is where we're starting – this episode features a fireside chat with Kjell Carlsson, a thought leader with deep subject matter expertise on AI. As the head of Data Science Strategy at Domino, Kjell spearheads the use of AI technologies for maximum business impact. In the evolving world of AI, he plays many roles, from being a consultant to an advisor, providing guidance on its use and championing its potential. After listening to this episode, you'll understand: The fundamentals of AI and how it works, The principles for using generative AI tools as digital assistants, How to be on the lookout for “hallucinations” or false information, The risks associated with using AI and how to develop systems for checks and balances, and much more! Understanding the language of AI alone can be a gap in its successful deployment. Kjell translates the meaning of many words associated with AI. He even shares relatable examples to make sure we understand key AI words and concepts – don't allow these words and concepts to prevent you from growing and scaling your business to the next level. Listen now and be prepared to revolutionize the way your business operates!

We've come to the end of Season 21 which featured 11 remastered episodes that we pulled from our podcasting vault.    In this monologue, host and producer Alicia Butler Pierre hints at what is sure to be an exciting future for all of us - us as the content producers and you as our loyal audience. Though our recent episode releases have been a bit sporadic, one thing that isn't is our committment to providing you with the absolute best resources for streamlining, improving, and scaling your back-office operations.   We've been working diligently behind the scenes, adding more people to our team, automating our own processes, and leveraging newer technologies to help us resume our normal weekly release schedule. In other words, we've been taking a dose of our own medicine and strengthening our business infrastructure!   Stay tuned for what is sure to be an excited year ahead of fresh content produced just for you. So, if you haven't subscribed yet make sure you do so. Our new season starts on January 7, 2024!   Season 21 episodes are available at: BusinessInfrastructure.TV.

We're finishing 2023 the same way we started it – with our most popular episode to date. It comes from our original business infrastructure masterclass season.   In this remastered episode, you'll hear the story of Emily Miller – a fictitious character from the book, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success.   She is the founder and Executive Director of a fast-growing non-profit. An appearance on a daytime talk show goals viral, giving the non-profit unprecedented exposure. Sadly, it also exposes Emily's leadership weakness.   When she learns the non-profit's board is threatening to replace her, she springs into action by hiring a consultant who introduces her to the Business Parts Analysis – the first element of building business infrastructure. This helps secure her future and reputation.   This is a storytelling format that we hope you enjoy and will leave you inspired to improve your organization's operations. As you close the door on 2023, and open a new one for 2024, may you take the lessons learned from this season of remastered episodes to grow and scale in a way you never thought possible!  

As we approach the end of 2023, we're rounding out our season of remastered episodes. Our latest trip to our podcasting vault leads us to a guest on the other side of the world – India to be exact, with special guest Aman Agarwal.   Aman is a former engineer and B2B salesman who built SANPRAM Transnational in response to a growing crisis he noticed while working in Silicon Valley – the widening technical fluency gap between leaders and technologists.   If accounting is the language of business, then technology is the language of scale. As founders and leaders of our businesses, we must be fluent in both.   In this remastered episode, Aman shares more about why he, as a technologist, chose to start an education company to close technical fluency gaps so that non-tech businesses can understand how to translate their strategic growth goals into language that technologists use.   He also shares the business infrastructure he and his small, but mighty team are building to ensure they build a solid foundation that will allow them to successfully scale in a slow and intentional, yet highly effective and profitable way.   You'll also discover how Aman developed an equation for scaling his company and how you can also figure out a similar equation based on your company's unique formula for success.  

We're getting close to the end of our season of remastered episodes. These are previous episodes that were popular. We've taken them off the shelf of our podcasting vault and revived them with the quality you're used to hearing now on our show!    Up next from our vault is our episode with Lynn Bonner. She's working double duty as the CEO of her firm, Action Leadership Lab, as well as a VP at U.S. Bank.   How does she successfully manage this?   Well, as she says, it takes energy, leadership, and action to get things done. In this remastered episode, Lynn defines what it means for a company to be agile and shares how she applies both agile and digital transformation principles from her corporate experience to build the business infrastructure required to scale her clients' companies.    Discover why the key to building, scaling, and sustaining your company's operations may lie in taking action in short, incremental steps.      

We've selected our next episode to remaster and you're in for a treat!   Why?   Because this episode is all about podcasting – that is, the actual business of podcasting. It features Doug Sandler, someone we refer to as a podcasting “O.G.” Not only is the co-host of the wildly successful Nice Guys on Business podcast, but he also is the co-founder of Turnkey Podcast Productions.   Like entrepreneurship, podcasting is not for the faint of heart. It requires patience, commitment, and consistency – all of which is challenging since it takes a while before you know who your audience is. In this remastered episode, Doug reveals the business infrastructure required for a successful podcast. He also shares the types of podcasts that tend to do really well and how you can monetize them.   Learn the significance of knowing your market, offer, and message and how that winning combination can make podcasting a viable revenue source for you or your business.      

Our continued search through our podcasting vault has led us to the next episode to remaster. Who was selected? None other than Shellye Archambeau.   As a master planner and strategist, Shellye knows how to create roadmaps to accomplish just about anything she sets her mind to. This is what led her to attend a top-ranked university, moving up the ranks at IBM, and ultimately becoming a CEO by the time she turned 40.   In this remastered episode, we use her book, Unapologetically Ambitious, to anchor our conversation. Shellye shares her journey in becoming one of the first black women to lead a high-tech Silicon Valley company. Specifically, she reveals how she builds and empowers teams to build business infrastructure to support rapid, sustainable growth.   Along the way, she also shares her predictions for remote working, how to delegate effectively, and why falling in love with your market is essential for scaling your business.   Discover why she says you deserve to be ambitious and to do so unapologetically.      

We're back inside our podcasting vault in search of the next episode to remaster. This time we've selected Jeff Wald, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author.   Jeff previously left our podcast listeners on the edge of their seats as he took us on his journey of starting, building, growing, scaling, and ultimately selling not just one but two small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.    In this remastered episode, you'll have the benefit of listening to Jeff's story guided by narration as he shares how he did a brief stint working as an auxiliary officer for the NYPD and ultimately left behind a career at an investment banking firm to start his first company.   Though that company failed, he learned some valuable lessons, dusted himself off, and in true entrepreneur fashion, started another company. And then another one. When he founded WorkMarket, he knew that scaling from 8 to 8,000 salespeople required business infrastructure. Eventually, Jeff sold those two companies to ADP and Salesforce.   How did he do it? Listen now to discover this and much more!    

What's next as we continue searching through our podcasting vault?   None other than Jennifer Wang.     Her original interview took place during the pandemic and resulted in an outpouring of love not only from our listeners but also from many of Jennifer's clients who saw the episode promoted across different platforms. So, it's no surprise that this is our next episode selected for remastering.     Jennifer began her career with a major advantage. Being Chinese American, speaking fluent Japanese, and having lived in multiple countries as a child afforded her an appreciation for cultural differences. Now, as an entrepreneur, she imbues this with every project.   In this episode, Jennifer speaks openly about how she became a preeminent event designer and event planner and explains the difference between the two roles. She also gives us a peek behind the curtain of her processes for creating film and television events that offer a seamless experience for clients.   A huge part of her success is in the business infrastructure she's built over the past 20 years, which includes an all-star team. Take note of how her relentless work ethic and attention to detail help her company land clients like Netflix and NBCUniversal.    

Our next search through our podcasting vault leads us to this classic episode that generated quite the buzz when it originally aired. In fact, it stayed in our top ten most downloaded episodes for nearly two years!   Who does it feature?   None other than filmpreneur, Forrest Tuff. A former basketball athlete, he's now an award-winning public speaker, author, founder and CEO of One Vision Productions, and a philanthropist with a focus on financial literacy.   Whether on the basketball court or in the shark-filled waters of business, Forrest plays any game to win. In fact, he's found a clever way to blend all of his skills and experiences into what he's coined, “The One Vision Productions Way” – a philosophy that serves as the compass for growing his film production company rooted in quality, consistency, and innovation.   In this remastered episode, he describes the two specific actions he took to reduce overhead that radically transformed his business model.  Find out how this transformation also solidified his company's business infrastructure and increased their operating capacity as well as competitive advantage leading to greater agility, revenue, and profitability.   Discover what Forrest means when he says, “When you call yourself the CEO, you have to make hard decisions.” Listen now and heed his advice!    

The search through our podcasting vault for “oldies but goodies” continues!   Our next episode selected for remastering features future of work strategist, Diana Wu David. As a serial entrepreneur who's also a former Financial Times executive with a background in economics, she's well-versed in pricing.   The price you charge for your product or service directly reflects its perceived value and is one of the quickest ways to increase profitability. Yet, some of us find it difficult to raise prices.    In this candid interview, Diana addresses the fear of raising your prices and explains her formulaic process for testing different pricing strategies. Those strategies include developing a minimum viable product, segmenting customers, and performing A/B testing.  She also talks about why trouble usually brews where pricing and process intersect and how you can avoid it.   Take advantage of her years of experimenting with pricing through the lens of futureproofing and breakthrough the psychological factors preventing you from greater profitability. Listen now!    

We're continuing to search our vault for older episodes that previously went viral. We are putting them through the rigor of our new show's format.   On this remastered episode you get to meet Ron Carucci, serial bestselling author, managing partner at Navalent, and prolific contributor to the Harvard Business Review. He has a 30-year track record helping organizations articulate and execute strategies that lead to accelerated growth.      In this episode, Ron shares two examples that demonstrate how he uses organization design to encourage clarity-driven innovation.  He also discusses the three ways to organize work and explains why your company's business infrastructure (i.e., your work, your people, and your technologies) must be integrated to stay ahead.   When it comes to innovation, discover what Ron means when he says, “Fail fast doesn't mean pray and spray,” and heed his warning for founders and executives who suffer from “EBITDA addiction” and rush to market without due diligence.     

Welcome to Season 21 of the Business Infrastructure podcast!   This season we've searched our vault for some “oldies but goodies” episodes that we think deserve to be put through the rigor of our new show format. That's why we're referring to the theme as Remastered.”    The first remastered episode features Liz Kislik – a Bloomberg contributor and seasoned change management and corporate communications expert. She's spent the past 30 years helping leaders work through change in fast-growth environments.   As you lead your company through growth spurts, you may realize that it's time to “level up” your business infrastructure. But how you communicate the need to upgrade people, processes, and tools is just as important as the upgrade itself. Change is difficult, even in a faster-paced small business environment, and you can unknowingly create more chaos if you deliver news about change improperly.   In this episode, Liz dons her conflict resolution hat to share best practices in delivering difficult news. One of the tools she recommends might surprise you - it's something you likely use every day.    

We're celebrating the completion of another successful season of the Business Infrastructure podcast!    Season 20 focused on Small Business Advisors and this guest lineup found us in four different countries and included three military veterans. What's also interesting is that in nearly every episode we learned that a certain guest had a complete change in career.   We were blessed to have 12 amazing guests who brought their unique skillsets, diverse experiences, and deep industry insights to provide us with the information and resources to help us scale our operations.   And the best part? Each of them exclusively works with entrepreneurs and small business owners! So, the tips, strategies, and tactics that they share are tailored with you in mind!   In this season finale, our producer and host, Alicia Butler Pierre, gives a brief recap of all episodes and shares what you can expect in the next season! As usual, you can count on us to provide access to the resources to manage fast growth and build a business infrastructure that supports scale, sustainability, and profitability.    

Ed Moore has built an impressive career in telecommunications. He credits his discipline and drive to his military background. It serves him well in understanding how to pair technical expertise with communication, leadership, and teamwork.   In this backstage version of our interview, Ed shares more about his remarkable career journey while opening our eyes to the possibilities of various telecom solutions that we can employ as we scale our small business operations.   You can expect to hear an edited version of this episode in the coming weeks. For now, we thought you'd enjoy this candid conversation between two buddies first.   Listen and enjoy!

As you lead your company through growth spurts, you may realize that it's time to “level up” your business infrastructure. But how you communicate the need to upgrade people, processes, and tools is just as important as the upgrade itself. Change is difficult, even in a faster-paced small business environment, and you can unknowingly create more chaos if you deliver news about change improperly. Liz Kislik has spent the past 30 years helping leaders work through change in fast-growth environments. In this remastered edition of her original interview, she dons her conflict resolution hat to share best practices in delivering difficult news. One of the tools she recommends might surprise you – it's something you likely use every day.

Are you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated trying to micromanage every aspect of your small business, constantly checking and double-checking your team's work? If so, then you are not alone! Instead of experiencing the business growth and scalability you desire, you may be stuck in a cycle of exhausting yourself and hindering your team's potential.   This describes the story of our next featured small business advisor, Ebony Green. Her initial hesitation to hire “non-revenue generating” employees proved her wrong. Not only did her new operations team streamline various processes using certain technologies, but they increased speed, agility, and bandwidth. Soon, her private practice's ability to do more with less enabled them to work with even more patients which led to more revenue.   As the CEO of two successful six-figure businesses in the speech pathology field, Ebony has some pearls of wisdom for what it takes to manage fast growth and scale sustainably.    In this episode, you will be able to: Unearth strategies for structuring your business for seamless expansion and effective scalability. Realize the game-changing role of technology in optimizing healthcare procedures and practices. Understand the value of building an environment of trust and delegation within your team.  Evaluate the distinct roles and impacts of revenue and non-revenue contributing staff on business acceleration.  Grasp the dynamics of transparent communication and clear expectations in growth-centric businesses.   Not fully trusting your team, delegating ineffectively, and lacking confidence in their abilities are preventing your company from increasing capacity and achieving scale. It's time to let go of control and empower your team, creating a more efficient and successful business.   Discover the power of trust, delegation, and communication to transform your company's back-office operations and scale revenue and profit!   

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage now and even small businesses need to embrace it to remain competitive and to grow in today's digital age. AI can help increase productivity, streamline processes, and facilitate more accurate data-based decisions.   Welcome Jeremy Bormann - a young entrepreneur and founder of Legal Pythia who's passionate about leveraging technology to improve the legal field. He has an impressive academic law background from both Germany and Scotland.   Though Jeremy never practiced law, his internships at top law firms revealed inefficiencies in document management. Out of this frustration, Legal Pythia was born. Jeremy's unique blend of legal knowledge and tech-savvy has enabled him to co-create an Explainable AI (XAI) solution that's transforming document management for not only small law firms, but also insurance companies and other businesses that can spend excessive time on research.   In this episode, you will learn how to: Expedite legal document management, Leverage XAI to build transparency and customer trust, Uncover the potential of AI-driven strategies for business expansion and scalability, Eliminate bias when researching or comparing data using XAI, Secure and encrypted data in legal document management, and more!   Discover how Legal Pythia's XAI holds the potential to expand and scale your company's operations in ways you never imagined!    

 Our next small business advisor this season is Byron Wolfe, the Founder of CFO-AF. He has a unique skill set that spans accounting, finance, and operations. He's passionate about helping small businesses identify their financial goals and providing them with a roadmap for achieving them. As a CPA and Fractional CFO, Byron cleverly navigates the irony of helping small businesses thrive in the present while also guiding them towards a profitable future that can include the exciting and ever-evolving world of crypto, NFTs, and the Metaverse. In this episode, you will discover: The key difference between accounting and finance, What a fractional CFO does and how to hire one,  The competitive advantage of accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment, How to make money with NFTs and in the Metaverse, and so much more! Byron even shares what it's like to work alongside his wife! After listening to him, you'll understand why knowing what you want your business to look like in five years is critical to your business's future. It provides a compass for managing finances, streamlining operations, and implementing profitable marketing strategies. You don't want to miss this one! You're guaranteed to learn something you didn't know about the link between business infrastructure and financial operations for achieving sustainable growth and scale.    

In a world where fitting in is everything one woman is fighting to create safe spaces for everyone to just be themselves. But when tragic circumstances hit close to home, she realized that change is not just about being on the sidelines.   We're proud to welcome Gayatri Chadwa, the founder of Sva Eternal, an educator, and a lifelong diversity and inclusion advocate. She specializes in creating safe spaces to bridge the gap as students advance from the classroom to the workplace.   Business infrastructure is critical to supporting diversity and inclusion. It comprises the appropriate people, processes, and tools to create an inclusive culture where employees feel they are an essential part of the team. By integrating employee voices, ideas, and concerns into decision-making, small businesses can lay a solid groundwork for an inclusive atmosphere.    In this episode, Gayatri shatters the myth that incorporating diversity and inclusion is only for large businesses. After listening you'll be able to: Show more appreciation for employees through low-cost actions,  Incorporate a sense of belonging in day-to-day operations, Foster a supportive environment where individual contributions are valued, Implement powerful techniques for commemorating employee achievements and more!   Join us as Gayatri takes us on her journey to discovering the transformative power of inclusivity in the workplace. Discover the shocking twist that changed everything. Are you ready to be part of the change? Tune in to find out.     

We're on a roll here on Season 20 of the Business Infrastructure show! Our featured small business advisors have dropped gems..and mics (pun intended). And our guest on this episode is no exception. Meet Alex Sanfilippo, founder and lead educator at PodPros. PodPros is a multi-media parent company with a pure focus on all things podcasting. It's home to PodMatch – an online matchmaking service that pairs podcast guests with hosts. Why should you consider being a guest on podcasts? It gives you an opportunity to share your expertise about your field as well as add value to listeners who may be unaware of the benefits of your products or services. Millions of people listen to podcasts daily, so becoming a guest is a viable addition to your business development and marketing strategies. But be warned – as Alex mentions in this episode, podcasting is a form of public speaking. He talks more about that as well as how to: ·       Develop impactful podcast guest bios that captivate potential listeners, ·       Increase your brand's visibility and exposure, ·       Prepare a media kit that showcases your talents, ·       Pitch podcast hosts with mutually beneficial purposes and more! If you want to know more about the power of podcast guesting as a business growth strategy that yields profit, then this episode is for you!    _____________

Are you tired of pouring time and money into marketing efforts that just don't connect with your audience? Have you been told to simply “tell a good story” but still aren't seeing the sales boost you were hoping for? It's time to discover the power of strategic storytelling.    Our next featured small business advisor is Michael de Groot, the Chief Storyteller at Staying Alive UK. As Dutchman born living in the UK and born to an Anglo-Indian mother, he has quite the story to tell himself as he starts off by revealing his journey from the textile industry to video production.   In this episode, Michael shares tips to: Uncover the vital role of an enthralling business story in attracting and retaining customers, Tap into emotional connections for authentic, captivating stories that audiences will love, and Create impactful marketing videos that zero in on customer concerns and drive engagement.   He also walks us through his 13-step process for crafting a perfect business story. It involves several essential elements such as understanding your clients' needs, identifying emotional drivers, and selecting an appropriate narrative structure. The process enables you to create a customized, memorable, and impactful story that resonates with existing customers and converts leads into new customers.   Discover the art of storytelling and why you should avoid advertisements if you want to make meaningful connections with your customers!    

Our next featured small business advisor this season is Dr. Shanta Harrison. She has over 25 years working for and with local, state, and federal government. Her career began as a high school student working as a Page in the Louisiana Senate and progressed into various leadership roles throughout American government.   It was during a particular change in a gubernatorial administration that Dr. Harrison found herself without a job. In response, she started her own consultancy uncovering the power of government contracts in the process. Little did she know that it would be the start of a journey that would prove the importance of mentorship, perseverance, and staying true to one's purpose in achieving success.   She also currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach for the City of Houston's Housing and Community Development Department. This role, in addition to her own business, enables her to impact lives through both policymaking and entrepreneurship.  With a unique perspective on both sides of the government coin, Dr. Harrison is well-equipped to guide small business owners through securing government contracts and certifications.   In this episode, Dr. Harrison schools us on how to: Leverage census data to secure funding for small businesses, Determine which business certifications can increase your chances of getting certain government contracts, Keep your overhead low by tapping into various free small business consulting services, and much more!   Dr. Harrison also makes the case for engaging and collaborating with local politicians and government outreach initiatives to support small businesses. Includes a surprise revelation at the end of the episode!    

Todd Anduze is a man of many talents. With an impressive professional background that includes military service, accounting, mining, and psychology, he's seen the entire spectrum when it comes to teams – the good, the bad, and everything in between.   It was while serving in the U.S. Navy that Todd first gained experience in team building and leadership – a time that he refers to as what a “…team should absolutely be.” Ever since he's applied those principles to every job he's held since then. With a strong foundation in management and accounting, he's turned his passion for understanding human behavior and team dynamics into a successful career in his latest role as the Director of the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Center (SBDC).   As you'll hear, Todd's unique perspective, combined with his diverse experience, makes him an invaluable resource for small business owners seeking effective strategies for building strong and successful teams.   In this episode, he shares practical tips for: Mastering the art of recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and constantly assessing teams, Untangling the complexities of team dynamics through transparency and effective communication, and Cultivating a thriving work environment that nurtures employee involvement and commitment.   Discover how to utilize the resources and services offered by the (SBDC) by seeking help from experts like Todd to consult and advise on various aspects of your business, including team building, at no charge.