Corporate Escapees

Working hard on the wrong thing and you can feel it, but you can't see it from inside the jar. In this episode, I break down the Decision Call format, what it is, why it works, and the pattern showing up across four very different SaaS partner businesses I ran calls with recently. One was a Microsoft partner at $800K running two business models pretending to be one. One was a Salesforce solopreneur serving nonprofits who couldn't pay her real rate. One was a NetSuite partner whose revenue had dropped from $75K a month to under $15K. One was a Zoho partner building bespoke AI with no packaged offer. Different platforms, different countries, same problem. If you're stuck on your number one challenge and need clarity to act on it, this one is for you.Resources and LinksNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 683 - Get Specific, Get Rich, or Get Out with Jay McBainCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenJay McBain breaks down the data behind why 51% of partners are in double-digit profit decline while the industry grows at 10.2%, and what separates the partners winning from the ones quietly falling behind.Learn the specific positioning shift that gets you found by large language models, buyers, and vendors, including why "I sell to midsize banks in Perth and do compliance" beats every generic services page on the internet.Walk away with the new partner economics: the 6.3 partners surrounding every SaaS deal, the 28 measurable moments in a buyer's journey, and where partner revenue actually sits inside the next 20 years of AI.Half the channel is in double-digit profit decline in an industry growing 10% a year, and most SaaS partners can't work out why their pipeline is drying up. In this episode, I talk with Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Omdia, the world's leading voice on channels, partnerships, and ecosystems, with 32 years entirely in the channel. We get into why digital sameness is killing smaller partners, why large language models can't find you when you do all things to all people, and where the real money sits inside the 20-year AI era. Jay shares the data behind the 1,000 partners doing two-thirds of all tech services globally, and the niche play that puts you on the right side of that line. If you're tired of competing in a sea of identical websites and watching better-positioned partners win deals you should have been in, this one's for youAbout Jay McBainJay McBain is Chief Analyst for Channels, Partnerships, and Ecosystems at Omdia, with more than 30 years analyzing the global channel landscape. He has held executive channel roles at IBM, Lenovo, Autotask, ChannelEyes, and Forrester, and was named Global Channel Influencer of the Year by Channel Futures Magazine. His research on the 28 measurable buyer moments, the 6.3 partners surrounding every SaaS deal, and the shift from resell to ecosystem-driven revenue has made him the analyst vendors and partners turn to when they need to understand where the channel is heading next.Resources and Linksomdia.comJay's LinkedIn profileJay McBain on The Paul Higgins Podcast: Episode 435Need help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 682 - 82% of Tech Partners Are Not AI Ready Are YouCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Your clients keep asking you about AI, and you keep talking about tools. That's the problem. In this episode, I break down why most SaaS partners are giving away the most valuable conversation they could be having, AI readiness diagnosis, for free. I share Jay McBain's latest research showing 82% of channel partners don't feel prepared to deliver AI services, and I unpack the real reason it's not demand, complexity, or talent. If you've been winging the AI conversation in client meetings and wondering why the work that follows feels like a once-off, this one is for you.Resources and LinksJay McBain on The Paul Higgins Podcast: Episode 435Need help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 681 - Generalists Get Referrals Specialists Get ChosenCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Your revenue is inconsistent and you already know why you haven't made the decision yet. In this episode, I break down the WHO problem most SaaS partners mistake for a skills problem, why serving more industries makes you the best option for no one, and the audit I run on every client's last twelve months of revenue to find their real signal. I share what Jay McBain's data shows about the fastest-growing tech partners right now, and the three steps to rebuild your business around one industry and one problem type. If you keep getting random referrals and repricing every engagement from scratch, this one's for you.Resources and LinksJay McBain on The Paul Higgins Podcast: Episode 435Need help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 680 - The 28 Moments Your Clients Use to Choose Without YouCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

You didn't lose that deal in the proposal. You lost it six months earlier, before the prospect ever found your name. In this episode, I break down why the buyer's journey for tech business owners has shifted, why AI is accelerating it, and why most owners are still showing up only at the last two touch points and wondering why win rates feel random. I walk through the channel analyst data from Jay McBain on the 28 touch points in a modern B2B buying journey, and I share the three fixes that decide whether your business compounds or flat lines over the next five years. If you are tired of being invisible in the early part of your client's buying journey, this one is for you.Resources and LinksJay McBain on The Paul Higgins Podcast: Episode 435Need help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 679 - The LinkedIn Secret Filling Tech Business Owners' Calendars with Donald KellyCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenDonald runs one of the top B2B sales podcasts in the world, heard in over 155 countries, and breaks down the exact LinkedIn-first sequence he uses to turn cold prospects into booked calls without paid ads or cold spam.Learn the three-step system Donald uses to move a prospect from stranger to conversation: engage on their content, send a personalised connection request tied to something specific about them, then bridge to a short email that speaks to real pain, not surface pain.Get Donald's follow-up sequence that replaces the lazy "bumping this up" email with relevance-based touches your prospect actually wants to reply to, plus the exact tools (Hunter.io, Sales Navigator, Apollo) he uses to find verified business emails.Tired of sending LinkedIn messages into a black hole and wondering why your outbound never converts? In this episode, I talk with Donald C. Kelly, founder of The Sales Evangelists and one of the most recognised B2B sales voices in the world. Most tech business owners default to pitching before earning attention, and it is the reason their pipeline stays empty. Donald walks through the exact sequence he uses to break through the noise, earn engagement, and turn it into a real conversation, without faking friendship or copying the spray-and-pray playbook every SDR is running. If you sell on LinkedIn and the results are not matching the effort, this one shows you where the gap is.About Donald KellyDonald C. Kelly is the founder of The Sales Evangelist and host of one of the longest-running B2B sales podcasts in the world, with nearly 2,000 episodes heard across 155+ countries. A LinkedIn Top Voice in Sales and three-time Salesforce Top Influencer, he helps SMB and mid-market sales teams build LinkedIn-led outbound systems that turn cold prospects into booked calls. He is the author of Sell It Like a Mango and based in West Palm Beach, Florida.Resources and Linksthesalesevangelist.comDonald's LinkedIn profileDonald's free prospecting toolHunter.io Apollo.io SNOV.ioZoomInfoGemini Nano BananaBase44Previous episode: 678 - 81% of Partners Will Grow Below the Industry RateCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Watched your vendor's share price lately, or noticed the quiet changes to partner fees, commissions, and cloud service minimums? In this episode, I break down why Wall Street is pricing in the collapse of the per-seat model, and why platforms restructure partner economics long before they touch executive pay. I share the pattern I've seen across 670 tech business owners, including what happened to my own consulting business when the platform pivoted overnight while I was on dialysis three times a week. The business owners coming through this stronger already made three structural decisions, the ones still waiting for the platform to stabilize are still waiting. If 80% of your pipeline still runs through someone else's hands, this one is for you.Resources and LinksNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 677 - Hard work isn't your problemCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Most tech business owners hitting mid-six figures aren't stuck because they're not working hard enough. They're stuck because they're running a business built on assumptions nobody has ever tested. In this episode, I walk through the exact audit I did on my own business when activity was high and revenue wasn't moving. I share what the data revealed: a newsletter that warmed but never converted, a target market too early-stage to invest, and growth projections built on events and partnerships that historically produced near-zero direct clients. Once I faced those numbers, I made one decision: cut the noise and go back to the one engine that actually built my business. If you're adding more LinkedIn posts, more outreach sequences, and more channels but the gap between where you are and where you need to be isn't closing, this episode is for you.Resources and LinksNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 676 - Why Your Voice Is the Only AI Tool That Matters With Molly Mahoney Check out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenMolly launched the world's first AI-focused content membership in 2021, two years before ChatGPT, and has generated content that reached over 39 million views. She brings hard-won perspective on what separates human-first AI strategy from AI zombie content that erodes trust.Learn the SAAVE framework: a five-part method for identifying what makes you a uniquely weird human, so your AI agents produce content that actually sounds like you and not like every other consultant using the same tools.Get the APR Method: a repeatable three-step system for announcing, producing, and repurposing every video you create, so one piece of content generates an entire week of output without starting from scratch.Your content machine is broken, and the tools aren't the problem. If everything you publish sounds like it could have come from anyone in your industry, you haven't got a content problem. You've got a voice problem. In this episode, I talk with Molly Mahoney from The Prepared Performer, a digital marketing strategist and keynote speaker who has been building AI-powered content systems since 2021. Molly shares how she helps established business owners identify the 20 things that make them a uniquely weird human before touching a single AI tool, because without that foundation, you're just feeding the robot army. If you've been hiding behind the technical work while the algorithm rewards personality, this conversation will change how you think about content.About Molly MahoneyMolly Mahoney is a digital marketing strategist, keynote speaker, and former NYC performer who helps coaches, consultants, and agency owners build AI-powered content that actually sounds human. Known as The Prepared Performer, she launched the world's first AI-focused content membership in 2021, two years before ChatGPT, has generated over 39 million views, and been featured in Forbes and Inc.Resources and LinksThepreparedperformer.comMolly's LinkedIn profileFree Custom GPT Source Prompt GeneratorSpotlight Engine SoraPerplexity ComputerGoHighLevelRSS AppPrevious episode: 675 - SaaS isn't dying. Your positioning might be. Check out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Platform agnosticism made sense when software budgets were small. That era is ending. In this episode, I break down why the "death of SaaS" narrative is the wrong read, and why the tech business owners who believe it are about to miss the biggest software wave in a decade. I walk through what Monday.com's CEO said on the 20VC podcast about the budget equation flipping from headcount to platforms, and what that means for consultants who haven't yet committed to a single platform. If you're still keeping your options open because it feels safer, this episode will challenge that directly.Resources and LinksMonday.com CEO Eran Zinman on 20VC with Harry StebbingsNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 674 - AI Can't Give You a Blood TestCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Using AI to diagnose your own business is like Googling your blood test results and treating yourself. In this episode, I share what seven years of post-transplant care taught me about pattern recognition, and why the same principle applies to the WHO and WHAT decisions most tech business owners are avoiding. I walk through the difference between a tool that helps you execute and someone who has seen your situation hundreds of times and knows exactly where the problem is. If AI is giving you polished output but no real direction, this one is worth your time.Resources and LinksNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallBook a Decision Session herePrevious episode: 673 - The 40-Minute Meeting That Makes or Breaks Your First HireCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Most tech consultants building their first team make the same mistake. It's not the hire. It's what happens on day one. In this episode, I walk through the exact 10-item induction call checklist I use with every new hire, whether they're based in the Philippines, Australia, or North America. I cover the questions that flip the dynamic from day one, the ones most consultants skip entirely, and why the first 40 minutes determines whether your team can eventually operate without you. If you're building your first team and want to stop being the bottleneck, this is where it starts.Resources and LinksNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 672 - Why Discipline Won't Fix Your Consulting BusinessCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Working 60-hour weeks and still watching your revenue flatline? In this episode, I break down the two strategic decisions most tech consultants have never made: WHO to target and WHAT business model to run. I share how one consultant went from competing on commodity rates with payroll anxiety every month to building a specialist practice, hiring a team, and clearing over $30K a month without changing his technical skills. If you're great at delivery but still trapped in the project grind, this episode is for you.Resources and LinksNeed help with your WHO and WHAT decisions? Apply for a FREE Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 671 - Why Your Clients Are Not Using the AI Tools You Recommended with Angie CarelCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenAngie scaled from an 18-year marketing agency to leading AI adoption for 600-person corporations, giving her a rare ground-level view of exactly where companies get stuck and what actually moves people from fear to fluency.Learn the "people-first" sequencing Angie now uses before any AI tool deployment, including how she frames corporate AI training as "recess" to sidestep resistance and drive real adoption.Get Angie's workflow automation logic: how she mapped every bottleneck in her business using Miro, then eliminated them with Make, enabling her to run 15 trainings in a single week instead of her previous max of three.If your clients keep investing in AI tools and their teams still aren't using them three months later, the problem isn't the technology. In this episode, I talk with Angie Carel, an AI enablement consultant who spent 18 years running a marketing agency before pivoting full-time into corporate AI adoption in 2022. Angie works with large corporations across finance, healthcare, and higher education, and her view is consistent: jumping straight to use cases before building AI literacy almost always backfires. We dig into the people-first sequencing she now uses to close the gap between deployment and actual adoption, and why framing AI training as "corporate recess" gets results that formal rollouts never do. If you're a consultant whose clients are sitting on AI investment with nothing to show for it, this conversation will reframe how you solve that problem.About Angie CarelAngie Carel is a Generative AI Consultant named one of the Top 50 Women to Watch in AI and featured in the IEDC 2025 Yearbook as a leading entrepreneur. After running a 10-person marketing agency for 20 years, she went all-in on AI consulting — and in her first year solo, she's on track to outpace her old agency's revenue. Angie founded AI in FW, Indiana's largest AI community with 700+ members, and Co-Crafted, an AI consultancy collective. She helps organizations adopt AI with a human-first approach and coaches emerging AI consultants on building sustainable practices.Resources and LinksAngiecarel.comAngie's LinkedIn profileLovableMidjourneyRunwayMakeN8NRelay Google Gemini Deep ResearchClaudeClaude CodeThe AI Show with Paul Roetzer and Mike KaputGoogle DeepMind podcast Previous episode: 670 - Stop Chasing Small ClientsCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

You're at mid six figures, your calendar is full, and you're still grinding for $20,000 projects. Meanwhile, there are enterprise and mid-market contacts sitting in your CRM right now who could write $200,000 checks, and you haven't called them because the small deals feel safer. In this episode, I walk through the exact WHO decision that keeps most tech consultants stuck in the project grind, and why safe doesn't scale. I share how one consultant, stuck at mid six figures with deal sizes of $15,000 to $25,000, made one strategic shift to stop chasing referrals and start activating the mid-market relationships already in his network. Six months later, his deal size was 10x. If you've got the right contacts in your phone but keep defaulting to smaller, faster deals, this episode will make you reconsider who actually deserves your time.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 669 - The Pricing Gap Most Consultants MissCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Clients aren't pushing back on your rates, so you assume you're priced right. That's the most expensive assumption in consulting. In this episode, I break down how one consulting partner discovered she was leaving $55 to $95 per hour on the table because she priced based on confidence instead of market value. I walk through the exact sequence she used to move from $40,000 per month to $63,000 per month, and the one-question filter that tells you whether you're making the same mistake. If you've never actually researched what the market pays for the outcome you deliver, this episode is your wake-up call.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 668 - Stop Waiting for Salesforce Leads with Doug PelletierCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenDoug Pelletier has spent 35 years winning enterprise accounts (Disney, Pfizer, Xerox) as a small Salesforce partner, proving that company size is irrelevant when your positioning and sales approach are right.Learn why Doug hired a General Manager at just six employees, and how that single WHO decision helped him scale to 130 people without burning out on tasks outside his strengths.Get Doug's approach to managing cash flow daily (a discipline he's maintained for 17 years) and why he says cash flow matters more than profitability for consulting firm owners.About Doug PelletierDoug Pelletier is the Founder and CEO of Trifecta Technologies, a technology consulting firm he launched in 1991 that has grown into a trusted Salesforce and enterprise solutions partner for leading organizations. A sales- and strategy-led founder, Doug focuses on identifying real business problems, building executive relationships, and hiring strong operational leadership early – allowing him to concentrate on growth, client strategy, and selling. His leadership is shaped by decades of experience and a strong emphasis on financial discipline and long-term stability. Having gone through multiple industry shifts, Doug views AI as a major inflection point and leads Trifecta in helping organizations move beyond the hype to apply data, architecture and AI in practical ways that drive meaningful business outcomes. Resources and LinksTrifecta.comDoug's LinkedIn profileSnowflakeDatabricksApolloZoominfoPrevious episode: 667 - The Land-and-Expand PlayCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

You've landed a foothold in a big company, delivered a great project, the client loved it, so why are you still stuck in the same corner six months later winning the same small deals? In this episode, I break down why most consultants stay trapped in one department and how to turn a single project into an enterprise-wide engagement. I share how one Airtable consultant turned a $20,000 clinical trial tracking project at a top-three pharmaceutical company into a $200,000 transformation across three countries, all by making one strategic shift in how he treated his internal champion. If you've got a foothold in a big company and you're watching other consultants land the deals you should be winning, this is your playbook.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 666 - The partner trapCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Stuck at 50% of your revenue target because your pipeline depends on someone else's priorities? In this episode, I break down the partner program trap and why so many platform consultants stay dependent on AE referrals even when they know it's holding them back. I walk through the exact 12-month transition sequence I use with clients: pick your niche, build pain-point messaging, start direct outreach, and keep partner referrals flowing as cash while you build. If your best leads only show up when an account executive needs to hit their quota, this episode shows you how to take back control of your pipeline.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 665 - AI Does 70% of the Work and Here's What a Salesforce Partner Does With the Other 30 with Ferny BengaliCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenFerny reveals how Sherpaneer uses AI across operations, from capacity planning models to proposal development, giving you a practical blueprint for integrating AI into your own consulting workflows.Learn how Ferny and her partner built a fully self-sourced pipeline through reciprocal partnerships with adjacent vendors like Gong, Clari, and FinancialForce, without relying on Salesforce for leads.Get Ferny's approach to managing AI tools across a team, including shared projects in Claude, an internal AI use policy, and a quarterly review cycle to keep everything current.You know you should be using AI in your consulting practice, but where do you actually start without compromising client data or wasting time on tools that don't stick? In this episode, I talk with Ferny Bengali from Sherpaneer, a boutique Salesforce consultancy that works with enterprise clients across high-tech, financial services, manufacturing, and healthcare. Ferny walks me through exactly how her team of 12 uses AI day to day, from feeding anonymized staffing data into models for capacity planning, to using voice notes and LLMs to prep for pitches. We also get into how she structures client knowledge across projects, her approach to AI-optimized content for SEO, and why she hired a part-time BD person instead of going full-time. If you've been experimenting with AI but haven't operationalized it across your practice yet, this conversation will show you what that looks like in action.About Ferny BengaliFarnaz (Ferny) Bengali is Co-President of Sherpaneer, a women-owned, diverse Salesforce consulting partner that helps mid-to-large organizations implement the right way, the first time. With 20+ years of industry experience—including leadership roles at MicroStrategy, Accenture, and The Carlyle Group—Ferny chose the boutique path over big consulting, building a practice that delivers senior-level expertise without the agency bloat. She's also a board member of WISE (Women in Salesforce Entrepreneurship), co-invests in hospitality through Dogwood Hospitality, and is passionate about using AI as an operating layer to scale consulting without scaling headcount.Resources and LinksSherpaneer.comFerny's LinkedIn profileRead.aiNotebook LMScribeChatGPTClaudeGoogle Gemini

Still relying on referrals and hoping the next one brings a decent project? In this episode, I break down why your referral strategy is actually killing your margins, not growing them. I share the pattern I see with over 200 tech consultants who are great at delivery but trapped in legacy business development, constantly auditioning for clients who see them as a vendor instead of a strategic partner. Learn how you can increase your revenue by making two important decisions: the WHO decision and the WHAT decision. If you are tired of the referral lottery and ready to stop competing on price, this episode lays out what actually needs to change.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 663 - The "Fake Productivity" Trap for Tech ConsultantsCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Ever finish a 60-hour week and realize you didn't do a single thing to find better clients? In this episode, I break down why most tech consultants stay trapped in work that feels productive but actually keeps them stuck. I share the story of a client who was exhausted, in debt, and over-delivering on every project until we made two critical decisions together: the WHO (estate attorneys only) and the WHAT (productized service with clear scope). Six months later, he cleared his debt and doubled his profits. If you've been avoiding the hard decisions by staying busy with comfortable work, this one will challenge you to finally make the call.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 662 - How to Build an AI Strategy That Actually Works with Christine DuqueCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenChristine Duque, former Big Four consultant and CEO of Alonsera, shares why only 10% of global companies are seeing real impact from AI, and what separates the successful ones from the rest.Learn Christine's "Three A's" framework for making AI consumable: Automated, Anticipatory, and Augmented intelligence, plus how to progress toward autonomous operations.Get practical guidance on structuring AI transformation committees and coaching executive sponsors to drive cross-organizational buy-in.Feeling pressure to "do something with AI" but unsure where to start without wasting budget or burning out your team? In this episode, I talk with Christine Duque, CEO of Alonsera and former Big Four consultant who now helps mid-market companies in highly regulated industries navigate AI implementation. We dig into why most AI initiatives fail before they even launch, and it's not the technology. Christine explains why treating AI like a silver bullet creates more chaos than progress, and what the 10% of companies getting real results are doing differently. If you're tired of the hype and want a grounded perspective on what AI adoption actually requires, this conversation cuts through the noise.About Christine DuqueChristine Duque is CEO of Alonsera, a global AI consultancy helping organizations deploy AI solutions that actually scale. With executive experience at Accenture, Deloitte, and IBM, she's overseen $2B+ in AI and digital transformation projects for Fortune 50/100/500 companies—delivering results like 70% faster data ingestion and 30-50% customer engagement efficiency gains.A sought-after speaker on ethical AI and digital transformation, Christine is actively shaping international AI standards through partnerships with Oxford University and UC Irvine. She authored the Amazon best-seller Walking in My Shoes: Shattering Glass Ceilings in Corporate America and co-founded the Women's Empowerment AI Network. An accomplished operatic soprano, she debuted at Carnegie Hall.Resources and LinksDuquesacd.comAlonsera.comChristine's LinkedIn profileChristine on Instagram: @christineduqueChristine on Facebook: Christine DuqueChristine on TikTok: @duquesacdYoutube Channel: Christine DuqueChristine's book: Walking In My Shoes:...

Stuck three months into a niche and wondering if you picked wrong? In this episode, I share the story of a client who spent 14 months doubting his industrial automation niche before everything clicked. His first outreach response took 14 months to close. A newsletter reader opened the same email 25 times before becoming a client. I break down why most consultants quit at the exact moment their planted seeds are about to grow, and why your biggest competitor isn't other consultants but your own ability to commit long enough to let your niche work.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 660 - The Human-Centric AI Shift Every Tech Consultant Should Know with Scott Stafford Check out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenScott Stafford shares his human-centric AI framework, explaining why major tech companies are now hiring salespeople again despite investing heavily in agentic solutions.Learn how to shift 20% of your workload to voice mode and natural language, with practical examples of completing real work while away from your desk.Discover where vibe coding tools like Bolt.new hit their limits and what foundational knowledge you still need to deliver AI-first solutions for clients.Wondering where to place your bets as AI reshapes the entire SaaS landscape? In this episode, I talk with Scott Stafford, an AI strategist working at the intersection of Salesforce, robotics, and human-centric technology. We dig into why companies that rushed to replace humans with AI are now reversing course, and what that shift means for consultants building practices today. Scott also shares his vision for how personal agents will become your new user interface, making traditional software interactions feel like relics. If you're trying to figure out where to invest your learning time and how to stay relevant as voice interfaces take over, this conversation maps out the territory ahead.About Scott Stafford Scott Stafford is a Human-Centric Technologist, AI Strategy Lead, and technology evangelist with 20+ years of experience bridging business strategy and emerging technology. A 27-time Salesforce certified All-Star Ranger and community leader, Scott focuses on helping people and organizations adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He is co-founder of RiseWithVoice, an initiative that helps individuals strengthen both their literal and metaphorical voice to thrive in an AI-augmented future.Resources and LinksScottstafford.aiScott's LinkedIn profile625 - The Salesforce Partner's AI Dilemma with Sanjeet MahajanBolt.newSuperwhisperPrevious episode: 659 - How This Salesforce Partner Grew to 25 People by Saying No with Dennis KnodtCheck out more episodes of The Paul Higgins PodcastJoin our newsletter

Why you should listenDennis Knodt grew Valuent from freelancing in 2019 to a 25-person Salesforce consultancy by narrowing focus to one product line (quote-to-cash) and one geography (Germany), offering a blueprint for partners drowning in "we do everything" positioning.Learn how to structure your Salesforce AE relationships so successful projects create internal bragging that generates referrals without you having to ask, including why mid-market and enterprise AEs are more valuable than SMB relationships.Get Dennis's approach to running proof of concepts at full market rate on larger projects, giving clients tangible results before committing to six or nine-month implementations.Trying to grow a Salesforce practice while competing against every other partner who claims they "do it all"? In this episode, I talk with Dennis Knodt, co-founder of Valuent, a Berlin-based consultancy that went from freelancing in 2019 to a 25-person team by making deliberate choices about what to say no to. We dig into why Dennis doubled down on Germany instead of chasing international expansion, and how a setback with Salesforce (when they brought in a competitor) actually led to recruiting the architect who now leads their revenue cloud practice. If you've ever wondered whether focus is really worth the short-term sacrifice, this conversation will challenge how you think about building a defensible position.About Dennis KnodtDennis Knodt is the Co-Founder of Valuent, a bootstrapped Salesforce consultancy specializing in Quote-to-Cash optimization. After working at Bain and VC-backed startups like Rocket Internet and Enpal, Dennis chose to build a profitable boutique firm focused on deep expertise over growth-at-all-costs.Resources and LinksValuent.ioDennis's LinkedIn profileLovablePrevious episode: 658 - The Delivery TrapCheck out more episodes of The Paul Higgins PodcastJoin our newsletterSuggested resourcesFind out more about Paul and how he can help you

Spending 60+ hours a week on client work and wondering why your pipeline is empty? In this episode, I break down why being brilliant at delivery is actually keeping you stuck. You'll learn the four-step framework I use to help consultants escape the delivery trap and start tracking the metric that actually matters: growth hours. If you've built a job instead of a business, this episode shows you how to change that.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 657 - What's Your Resolution?Check out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Heading into the new year without a clear focus for your consulting business? In this quick episode, I reflect on 2025 and encourage you to use any downtime to dig into the podcast archives. Whether you're looking for episodes on AI, positioning, partnerships, pricing, or escaping delivery, there's something here for you. I'd also love to hear from you directly. What's your resolution for 2026? What challenge are you tackling first? Drop me a message and let's connect.Resources and LinksEmail me at: paul@paulhigginsmentoring.comPrevious episode: 656 - Don't Do It AloneCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Did you hit your targets in 2025? Or are you still stuck chasing clients and trying to figure it out alone? In this solo episode, I get brutally honest about my own struggles, including when I couldn't see what needed to change from inside my own business and had to bring back my mentor to push me. I share how one client, Jack, made the WHO and WHAT decisions he'd been avoiding and increased his revenue by 29% with his highest month ever. I also explain why AI, as powerful as it is, can't make the fundamental strategic decisions for you. If you're heading into 2026 without a clear plan, this episode is the wake-up call you need.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 655 - From Hourly Rates to Outcome PricingCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Stuck waiting for your platform's marketplace to send you your next lead? In this episode, I break down the three traps that keep SaaS partners grinding on low-margin implementations, and what happened when a Monday.com partner finally made the WHO and WHAT decisions he'd been avoiding. We dig into how he went from competing on price with thousands of other partners to closing his biggest deal ever by selling outcomes instead of configurations. If you're a Salesforce, Zoho, or HubSpot partner who's tired of being at the mercy of algorithm changes, this one shows you what it looks like to own your pipeline.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 654 - How to Build Automations That Actually Scale With Your Business with Jared WeissCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenLearn the specific signals that indicate a client is ready for automation support, including the "cusp of scale" indicators Jared uses to identify businesses where systems work can deliver immediate ROI.Get the scoping questions Jared asks before every automation project, from "Is this always going to be assigned to this person?" to the scale and maintenance questions that prevent tech debt before it starts.Discover how Jared positions automation services as strategic partnership rather than task execution, allowing him to charge for advice and push back on client ideas rather than just building what they ask for.Scaling your business but drowning in systems that don't talk to each other and growing pains that get louder by the week? In this episode, I talk with Jared Weiss from Matix Flows, who spent over a decade in the startup trenches before launching his own automation consultancy. We dig into why so many business owners end up with tech debt they don't even realize they're building, and what it takes to create systems that actually support growth instead of creating constant firefighting. If you've ever wondered whether your automation setup is helping or secretly holding you back, this conversation will challenge how you think about your operations.About Jared WeissJared Weiss is the founder of Matix Flows, where he helps growing businesses turn messy systems and scattered workflows into smooth, scalable operations. With over a decade of marketing and automation experience—including serving as Director of Marketing at SaaS company Redlist—Jared specializes in business automation, CRM optimization, and strategic consulting with hands-on execution.Known for his holistic approach from working across multiple departments, Jared bridges the gaps between marketing, sales, and operations to create systems that actually work. He partners directly with business owners buried in manual tasks, helping them automate follow-ups, lead routing, and task handoffs so they can focus on growth instead of getting stuck in the weeds. His philosophy is simple: ideas alone don't drive growth—systems do.Resources and LinksMatixflows.comJared's LinkedIn profileZapierUpworkPrevious episode: 653 - Why Plumbers Get Paid More Than Most ConsultantsCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Tired of hearing "let me think about it" after every proposal? In this episode, I break down why most tech consultants are stuck grinding on $3K projects while plumbers are one of the highest paid trades. I share the story of David, a CRM consultant who was targeting the right companies but solving the wrong problem, and how one shift took him from $5K projects to his first $250K contract in six months. If you've been told you need better marketing, better positioning, or a tighter niche but nothing's moving the needle, the real issue might be simpler than you think.Resources and LinksApply for a Multiplier CallPrevious episode: 652 - Building a Top 3% HubSpot Partner Through Vertical Focus and Culture-First Leadership with Gemma PriceCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenGemma shares how she turned a £7 million stack of paper inquiries into a thriving HubSpot consultancy—proof that seeing inefficiency others ignore can become your biggest opportunity.Understand why narrowing your focus during uncertainty can accelerate growth faster than diversifying.Discover how building a culture focused on psychological safety helped HubGem become one of the world's happiest workplaces—and why that's their competitive advantage against bigger agencies.How do you compete with bigger agencies when you can't match their salaries? In this episode, I sit down with Gemma Price, founder of HubGem, who built a 20-person HubSpot consultancy focused exclusively on the education sector. Gemma shares the moment she discovered millions of pounds worth of leads sitting in a colleague's bottom drawer on paper, and how that frustration sparked her entrepreneurial journey. We dive into why she resisted the urge to diversify during COVID, the change management principles that make tech adoption actually stick, and how prioritizing human connection over perks created a culture that retains talent. Plus, Gemma's take on where AI meets CRM and why the future belongs to those who don't sacrifice humanity for efficiency.About Gemma PriceGemma Price is an entrepreneur and award-winning CEO recognised for building one of the world's happiest workplaces. She scaled HubGem to become a Top 3% global HubSpot partner by vertically specialising in education and leading with a culture-first approach. Gemma helps founders harness AI, experience the power of intuitive psychology coaching, and embrace human-centred leadership to build scalable businesses without the burnout.Resources and LinksHubgem.co.uk Gemma's LinkedIn profile642 - Stop Being a Platform Expert - Why Business Growth Advisors Win in the AI Era with Sarah McDevittWhy Culture Is the Real Competitive Advantage in the AI EraPrevious episode: 651 - Platform-Agnostic Consulting: Why SaaS Partners Are Making the Switch to AI with Leandra NisbetCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resourcesGemma offers transformational 1:1 and group Intuitive Psychology Coaching and also consults with leaders on building happier workplaces. Learn more about the different ways you can work with Gemma at Intuitive.co

Why you should listenDiscover the simple formula for calculating ROI on AI tools before you implement them, so you stop wasting money on platforms you'll never use.Leandra reveals how she helps burnt-out business owners fall back in love with their companies while scaling revenue—without adding more to their plate.Learn why the most effective automations aren't the flashy AI agents everyone's talking about, but strategic tweaks to tools you already own.You're stuck at a revenue ceiling and drowning in delivery work. Every "AI solution" promises to save you time, but you're paralyzed by options and skeptical of the hype. Meanwhile, you're working harder than ever with nothing to show for it.In this episode, I sit down with Leandra Nisbet from Stingray Advisory Group to cut through the AI noise. Leandra shares her battle-tested approach to helping consultants scale without burning out using practical automation that actually moves the needle. We dig into why chasing every new AI tool is killing your productivity, how to know if an implementation will pay off before you start, and why human expertise still wins over bots.About Leandra NisbetLeandra Nisbet is the Founder & Owner of Stingray Advisory Group, a woman- and minority-owned advisory firm based in Michigan. With a background in finance, marketing, computer technology and team operations, Leandra helps small business owners and entrepreneurs scale with confidence by combining streamlined systems, strategic decision-making and a deep understanding of what drives sustainable growth.Stingray Advisory Group specializes in marketing strategy, financial management and business planning by meeting clients where they are, whether clarifying goals, navigating cash flow challenges or preparing for expansion. The firm is focused on community impact, with a mission to support under-resourced entrepreneurs and empower women and BIPOC business owners to build sustainable, purpose-driven companies.Resources and LinksStingrayadvisorygroup.comLeandra's LinkedIn profileLeandra on Instagram: @LeandraCreatesPrevious episode: 650 - How to Turn a Quiet List into a Revenue MachineCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

You've got a database of hundreds, maybe thousands of leads sitting there not converting, and you're stuck wondering if you should keep chasing new leads or finally fix your positioning. I recently worked with a business owner who had this exact problem—thousands of people in their database, strong team, solid systems, but fuzzy messaging. In this episode, I walk through the three-step process we used to get them on track for 50% growth without adding headcount. I also share why most reactivation campaigns fail and the one thing you need to check before sending a single email. If you've got a list that isn't converting, this episode shows you exactly where to start.

Why you should listenKelly Fifield shares her practical approach to using AI for productivity without getting lost in complicated automations that waste weeks of your time.Discover the critical difference between using AI as a task-focused executive assistant versus a strategic business coach—and why you need both to avoid getting trapped in research while missing revenue goals.Learn why starting simple with AI beats jumping straight to complex automations, and get Kelly's framework for deciding what to automate first.Are you drowning in AI tools and automation tutorials that promise everything but deliver confusion? I sit down with Kelly Fifield, a certified life coach who helps coaches incorporate AI and productivity systems into their businesses. We cut through the hype to discuss what actually works: using AI as your executive assistant and strategic coach, creating content from coaching calls, and why you should avoid the automation rabbit hole until you've solved problems the simple way first. Kelly reveals her honest take on ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini, how to use Notebook LM for processing large content libraries, and the one emotion causing most of your procrastination. If you're tired of wasting time on AI tools that don't deliver, this conversation will help you focus on what matters.About Kelly FifieldKelly Fifield is an AI systems strategist, productivity specialist, and certified life coach whose frameworks deliver organized focus and AI-amplified results. She works on Rick Mulready's AI Playbook team, where she's fielded thousands of entrepreneur questions about AI and turned that frontline experience into practical, repeatable workflows and systems.A former math teacher, Kelly balanced three jobs while transitioning into AI and operations, pressure-testing the systems she now teaches. On her podcast, she shares plain-English strategies for dramatic productivity gains. With AI in the mix, clients routinely achieve output that once took a team. They say sessions with Kelly are the best part of their week - clear next steps, real momentum, and a coach who's warm, direct, and genuinely fun to work with.Resources and LinksProductivitygeniuscoaching.comKelly on Instagram: @productivitygeniuscoachEmail Kelly at: kelly@productivitygeniuscoaching.comListen to Productivity Genius Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen to Productivity Genius Podcast on SpotifyRick Mulready's AI Playbook CommunityGranola.aiNotebook LMChatGPTClaudeGeminiGoogle...

Why you should listenMark Emond shares his strategic pivot from traditional marketing automation to AI transformation services, offering a proven roadmap for consultants looking to evolve their positioning before the market forces them to.Discover how to identify and attract visionary clients who are ready to invest strategically rather than just experiment—learn the signals that separate early adopters from those who'll waste your time with endless pilot projects.Get practical insights on building an internal AI Innovation Lab that drives both client value and operational efficiency, including how to structure experimentation without killing momentum or burning budget.I'm watching too many consultants get paralyzed by AI—either ignoring it completely or drowning in tool experimentation without a strategy. Mark Emond made a bold pivot, repositioning his B2B marketing consultancy to lead AI transformation for enterprise CMOs. In this conversation, we dig into how he identified the shift before his clients demanded it, how he's separating visionary buyers from tire-kickers, and what he's learning by building an internal AI Innovation Lab where his team plays with everything from ChatGPT to Make and Clay. If you're sitting on technical expertise but wondering how to package it for the AI era without becoming a commodity, this episode shows you exactly how one founder is skating to where the puck is going.About Mark EmondDemand Spring's founder, Mark has a tremendous passion for helping marketing leaders transform their Revenue Marketing practices with AI, enabling them to become strategic leaders within their organizations. A Forbes Council member and contributor to MarketingProfs, Mark brings thought leadership to the marketing community, sharing insights on cutting-edge strategies, industry trends, and AI-driven marketing transformation. Prior to founding Demand Spring, spent 17 years in marketing leadership roles at IBM, Cognos, Watchfire, and Corel. Mark happily resides in Ottawa, the coldest capital city in the world, with his wife and teenage daughter. He combines his passion for athletics and developing young people as the coach of one of the top competitive girls basketball teams in Ontario. Resources and LinksDemandspring.comMark's LinkedIn profileBrandlightMakeClayn8nReplitWispr FlowTiga AIPrevious episode: 647 - The Cost of Figuring It Out AloneCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletter

Ever feel like you're burning through tactics (LinkedIn, conferences, outbound) with nothing sticking while your spouse picks up the financial slack? You're smart enough to execute anything, but you're making million-dollar decisions about equity, offshore teams, and pipeline strategy completely alone. Your peer group can't help because they're still solopreneurs. Your casual mentors give generic advice. And you'd pay someone a fortune just to tell you what you did wrong in the last 12 months. Two consultants I spoke with, both mid-to-high six figures and both technically brilliant, were living this exact reality. One's a Salesforce partner wrestling with niche versus product focus. The other's an Airtable partner navigating equity deals with a peer group that's outgrown. In this episode, I break down why strategic isolation kills growth and reveal the three things you can't get from your current support system: pattern recognition across multiple businesses, permission to challenge your assumptions, and execution frameworks that compress time.Resources and LinksWatch the video hereApply for Mentoring herePrevious episode: 646 - Why This Consultant Targets Job Postings Instead of Cold Outreach (And Gets Better Results) with Andy CulliganCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenDiscover why targeting companies posting job ads on LinkedIn crushes cold outreach, and how Andy positions himself to connect directly with decision-makers actively looking for his expertise (no complex funnels required).Learn how podcasting opens doors. Andy shares how it gets him in front of impossible-to-reach prospects, plus the truth about why most consultants quit after two episodes.Get Andy's exact visibility playbook including how to leverage awards and PR for massive LinkedIn engagement, why offline networking is making a comeback, and the AI-powered intent data strategy that identifies which accounts are actively searching for solutions like yours right now.Most consultants hit the same wall. Their personal network dries up. Cold outreach feels like screaming into the void. Every marketing guru pushes complex funnels and expensive ad campaigns that don't work for high-ticket consulting.In this episode, Andy Culligan breaks down how he built his fractional CMO practice serving $10M-$50M SaaS companies without cold outreach at scale or massive marketing budgets.We explore why SaaS companies get stuck at key revenue milestones and what changes in their go-to-market approach. Andy shares his team's MarTech stack and how they've automated client operations using AI agents that analyze contracts and recommend pricing to prevent churn.If you're selling high-ticket services and tired of tactics that don't work for consultants, this delivers the blueprint.About Andy CulliganAndy is a fractional CMO, and CEO / Co-Founder at purple path, a GTM partner for B2B SaaS companies.Andy describes himself as a sales person stuck in a marketer's body, and excels in aligning marketing and sales teams to drive revenue growth.With over a decade of experience in SaaS martech, Andy has built and lead teams to success, making him the go-to CMO resource at a fraction of the cost.Resources and LinksPurplepath.ioAndy's LinkedIn profilegrowth path PodcastApollo.ioClayBomboraLeadfeederRiversidePrevious episode: 645 - How to Build AI Automations That Actually Make You Money with Jason AlbertiCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenJason Alberti reveals his complete end-to-end automation system built on N8N that transforms website leads into qualified prospects with research reports, generates customized proposals from call transcripts, and eliminates the hours you're wasting on repetitive client work.Discover why strategically keeping humans in the loop at specific checkpoints prevents AI disasters and builds trust with clients who can tell when everything is automated versus thoughtfully assisted by technology.Learn why focusing on one core principle (automation) beats being a jack-of-all-trades, and how Jason wrote an entire book in 8 weeks using the same AI frameworks he teaches clients.You're spending hours researching prospects before calls, writing custom proposals from scratch, and drowning in follow-up tasks that could be automated. Meanwhile, your competitors are closing deals faster because they've systemized what you're still doing manually. In this episode, I sit down with Jason Alberti, an AI automation consultant who helps conscious entrepreneurs escape tech overwhelm. We dive into his exact workflow for automating lead qualification, pre-call research, and proposal generation using tools like N8N, Perplexity, and ChatGPT. Jason also shares his journey from jack-of-all-trades to automation specialist, why referrals remain his best go-to-market strategy, and how he wrote a complete book in 8 weeks using AI. If you're tired of being buried in repetitive tasks instead of serving clients, this episode will show you the practical path forward.About Jason AlbertiJason Alberti is a seasoned entrepreneur, AI expert, and digital strategist with over 20 years of experience in marketing, systems design, and business optimization. He's the creator of Freedom From Chaos, a groundbreaking framework that helps conscious entrepreneurs streamline their lives and businesses using the power of AI. Jason is passionate about making advanced technology accessible, practical, and deeply human. His work bridges the gap between automation and authenticity, empowering business owners to reclaim their time, amplify their impact, and live with intention.Resources and LinksJason's LinkedIn profileJason on FacebookFreedomfromchaosbook.comGet Your Free Personal Identity & Brand Identity TemplatesN8NChatGPTClaudePerplexityApifySunoTl;dvFirefliesFathom.video636 - The Systematic Approach to Building Bigger AI Consulting Deals with Taireez...

You're spending thousands on outreach agencies, cold email tools, and marketing tactics—but your revenue is stuck. You keep trying new strategies, but nothing seems to move the needle.Here's the hard truth: the problem isn't your tactics. It's your business model. And you can't see it because you're inside the jar.In this episode, I share two real client examples who transformed their revenue—not by running faster, but by fixing their fundamental business model. One went from confused positioning across three platforms to one clear niche. The other went from $10K deals to $200K deals—same person, different model.Most consultants are selling too many things to too many people, doing deals too small for the complexity, and competing on price instead of value. No marketing tactic fixes a broken business model.Resources and LinksApply for Mentoring herePrevious episode: 643 - From Tech Chaos to White-Label Software in 90 Days with Robin AlexCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenRobin Alex shares the exact problem that led to creating GoHighLevel—and how solving your own biggest pain point can become an 8-figure business opportunityLearn why the most successful agencies focus on outcomes instead of showcasing their impressive tech stacks, and how to reposition your business accordinglyDiscover the emerging opportunities in AI, WhatsApp, and desk phone integration that are driving unexpected growth for consulting partners right nowI've watched too many consultants drown in their own tech stacks.They build these impressive automation workflows, connecting 15 different tools through Zapier, and then wonder why clients aren't lining up to work with them. The tech is brilliant. The business results? Not so much.In this episode, Robin Alex and I tackle the fundamental question facing every consultant right now: where do you actually sit when SaaS, AI, and no-code platforms are all converging at once?We explore the practical reality of white-labeling your IP (spoiler: it's an 80/20 split between turnkey solutions and custom work, not the 100% out-of-the-box dream you're imagining). Robin shares why natural language prompts are about to eliminate the multi-click workflows we've all gotten used to, and how to think about AI integration without getting paralyzed by the endless options.The biggest insight? Stop building tech museums. Your clients don't want to tour your impressive automation setup. They want their problem solved fast, and they want to know you can do it again for the next problem.If you're sensing the consulting model is shifting but can't quite see where to place your bet, this conversation will give you the clarity you need.About Robin AlexRobin Alex's journey from IT analyst to SaaS entrepreneur spans over two decades in technology. Starting as a system administrator and technical services director, Robin founded his first company, AbsoluteGaming.net, in 2003, followed by Innovate Fast in 2015. His hands-on experience managing technical operations and running multiple ventures gave him unique insights into the challenges agencies face when trying to scale.In 2018, Robin co-founded HighLevel after recognizing that agencies were trapped trading time for money with fragmented tech stacks. Drawing from his technical background and entrepreneurial experience, he built a solution that allows consultants to become SaaS company owners—helping thousands break through the 6-figure ceiling without the complexities of software development.Resources and LinksRobin's LinkedIn profilePaulhigginsmentoring.com/ghlTypingmindAcquired PodcastThe Twenty Minute VCPrevious episode: 642 - Stop Being a Platform Expert - Why Business Growth Advisors Win in the AI Era with Sarah McDevittCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoring

Why you should listenSarah McDevitt shares insider insights from HubSpot's Partner Experience team, revealing what separates successful partners from those stuck in license-selling modeLearn why data quality is the hidden bottleneck preventing partners from delivering on AI promises—and how to fix it before it destroys client trustDiscover HubSpot's innovative use of AI tools to democratize partner feedback and accelerate decision-making across their ecosystemYou're stuck selling licenses when you should be solving business problems—but every time you pitch "transformation," clients just want to know the price per user.In this episode, I sit down with Sarah McDevitt, who leads the Partner Experience team at HubSpot, and we cut through the AI hype to talk about what actually matters. Sarah spent 16 years in agency land before joining the "dark side" (her words) at HubSpot seven years ago, so she knows both sides of the partner equation intimately.We explore why the best partners stop being platform experts and start being business growth experts. Sarah reveals how HubSpot uses AI internally to democratize partner feedback, the real reason behind their partner program changes, and why selling AI without fixing data structure first will be your downfall.If you're a consultant partnering with any SaaS platform—or considering it—this conversation will change how you think about your role. Stop reading the toaster manual to clients. Start asking better questions about their actual business problems.About Sarah McDevittSarah Stone McDevitt is a Radio broadcasting graduate who spent the early part of her career in local radio before moving into agency life. She spent 16 years working across creative, media, content and web development agencies before joining HubSpot almost 7 years ago. She initially joined to manage the CC team in EMEA, and shortly after that, she added the EMEA Onboarding team and Pro Services teams to her management portfolio. In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, she took over the Pro Services NAM and EMEA businesses. Today, Sarah leads HubSpot's Partner Experience team, where she focuses on creating exceptional experiences for HubSpot's global partner ecosystem. In this role, she has emerged as a thought leader in the field of Relational Intelligence (RI), pioneering approaches that demonstrate how human relationship-building and emotional intelligence work alongside artificial intelligence to drive business success. Sarah advocates for the irreplaceable value of authentic human connections in an increasingly AI-driven world, showing how RI and AI complement each other to create more meaningful customer and partner relationships.In her personal life, Sarah is married with four children and lives in Dublin, Ireland. She proudly served 13 years in the reserve army in Ireland as a corporal in a communications unit. She is the founder and chairperson of a charity called Help Us Give Smiles which has seen her travel to Kenya for almost 20 years working with vulnerable children and communities. And finally, she is an LGBTQ+ activist focused in particular on the rights of LGBTQ+ parents.Resources and LinksHubspot.comSarah's LinkedIn profileWatch “Why the Future of Work is More Human Than You Think“SpeechifyNotebook LMPrevious episode:

If you're drowning in delivery work, putting in 80-hour weeks, and feeling like your business controls you instead of giving you freedom, this episode is for you. I'm sharing the story of one of my clients who was completely maxed out—working across multiple SaaS partner relationships, positioned as an hourly contractor, and so exhausted he looked like he'd fall asleep on our calls. Sound familiar?Here's what most technical consultants don't realize: you're solving the wrong problems. You love complex technical challenges, but you're getting trapped in solving every problem instead of asking if these are the right problems to solve—and if you're getting rewarded properly for solving them. In this episode, I walk you through the exact transformation we achieved using my three Multiplier Method, taking him from 80-hour weeks to landing deals worth one-third of his annual revenue in a single month. If you're ready to break free from being the bottleneck in your own business, this is how it's done.Resources and LinksApply for Mentoring herePrevious episode: 640 - How to Stop Being Invisible to Microsoft's 30,000-Person Sales Force with Rob FeganCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenRob Fegan shares the exact 4-phase framework he used to transform his Microsoft partner business from zero to millions in annual revenue—and how SMB partners can replicate this success even as "small fish" in a 30,000-person sales ecosystem.Learn how to leverage Microsoft's Commerce Incentives Fund to access thousands in funded engagements per customer, essentially getting Microsoft to pay you to deploy their solutions while you focus on high-margin services.Discover why connecting with AI specialists (not just AEs) is the key to unlocking Microsoft's FY26 priorities, and how to position your messaging so Microsoft's field teams become your biggest sales asset instead of just another vendor relationship.You're running a solid Microsoft partner business, delivering real results for clients, but you feel completely invisible to Microsoft's massive sales organization. You watch bigger partners effortlessly access pipeline opportunities, co-sell motions, and vendor support while you're stuck fighting for scraps. You know the opportunity is there—Microsoft has 30,000 salespeople who could be feeding you qualified leads—but you have no idea how to cut through the noise when you're just a 1-10 person shop.In this episode, I sit down with Rob Fegan from RYZE Partners who spent 15 years building and scaling Microsoft partner businesses before a successful exit. Rob breaks down his proven 4-phase framework that turns Microsoft's field teams into your biggest sales asset, even as a small partner. We dive into the four critical areas most partners get wrong, why SMB partners are suddenly Microsoft's top priority after years of enterprise focus, and the specific funded programs that can inject thousands of dollars per engagement into your business. If you're tired of being stuck, overlooked, and sidelined while bigger partners dominate the conversation, this episode gives you the exact playbook to change that.About Rob FeganRob Fegan is the founder of Venvito and co-founder of RYZE Partners, where he helps Microsoft SMB partners go from invisible to in-demand. After 15+ years in the Microsoft ecosystem, Rob built his own Microsoft practice from zero to millions in annual revenue before a successful exit. Now he's on a mission to help 10,000 Microsoft partners escape what he calls "SOS Mode" - being Stuck, Overlooked, and Sidelined - through his proven frameworks for demystifying selling WITH Microsoft. Rob's approach has helped partners transform from vendor status to becoming Microsoft's go-to referral sources, turning field teams into their biggest sales asset.Resources and LinksRyze-partners.comVenvito.netRob's LinkedIn profilePrevious episode: 639 - How to Stop ChatGPT from Lying to You (AI PhD Reveals the Fix) with Garima AgrawalCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested...

Why you should listenGarima Agrawal bridges the gap between PhD-level AI research and practical consulting applications—she understands both the Formula One engine and how to help you drive the car better.Learn the layered prompting technique that eliminates most hallucinations and turns ChatGPT into a thinking partner rather than a content generator you can't trust.Discover which LLM to use for specific tasks—ChatGPT for analysis, Claude for coding, Gemini for technical research, and Perplexity for citations—so you stop wasting time with the wrong tool.You're using ChatGPT every day, but deep down you don't fully trust it. You've been burned by hallucinations. You watch it confidently give you wrong information, and you're left wondering which parts are reliable and which parts are fiction. You know AI should be making you more productive, but instead you're second-guessing every output and spending more time fact-checking than creating. Meanwhile, you see other consultants talking about Claude, Gemini, Perplexity—and you're not sure if you should be using those instead or if ChatGPT is fine. You're stuck in this loop of knowing AI is powerful but not knowing how to harness it properly. This week, I sat down with Garima Agrawal, who brings a rare combination: PhD-level AI research expertise and real-world consulting experience running her own firm. She breaks down the exact framework that eliminates most hallucinations, reveals which LLM actually performs best for specific consulting tasks, and shares the prompting mistakes that sabotage your results before you even start. If you're ready to stop fighting with AI and start using it as the leverage tool it should be, this conversation gives you the practical roadmap you need.About Garima AgrawalGarima Agrawal is the founder of HumaConn LLC, a consulting firm focused on empowering businesses and investors with tailored AI solutions. At HumaConn, she specializes in designing strategies for effective AI integration—helping clients enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and identify high-potential AI-driven opportunities that bridge innovation with real-world impact.She also serves as Head of AI Models and Services at Minerva CQ, where she leads the development and deployment of real-time, goal-oriented AI systems that power agentic, human-in-the-loop assistance in customer contact centers—boosting engagement and operational performance.Garima holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Arizona State University, where her research focused on making AI knowledge-aware—enabling large language models to reason reliably in specialized domains. Her core expertise includes reducing hallucinations, optimizing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and building cost-effective, trustworthy AI pipelines.With over a decade of experience spanning software engineering, data science, and AI leadership, Garima bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application—helping organizations build AI that delivers meaningful, measurable results.Resources and LinksHumaconn.comGarima's LinkedIn profileGarima's Google Scholar profileChatGPTClaudeGemini

Ever freeze up when a perfect prospect asks, "What makes you different from the other consultants we're considering?" You know you deliver incredible results, but when it comes to explaining your approach, you sound just like everyone else. I struggled with this exact problem until I discovered the game-changer: mapping your scattered expertise into a clear proprietary methodology. In this episode, I share exactly how one client went from competing on price to commanding premium rates by packaging his hidden IP into a systematic approach that differentiated him completely.Resources and LinksPaulhigginsmentoring.comBook a call herePrevious episode: 637 - The Full-Cycle Advantage: Refusing to Be Just Another Zoho Consultant with George EastonCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resourcesBONUS: Email me at paul@paulhigginsmentoring.com to get the IP Mapping and Methodology Multiplier Playbook. (subject: IP mapping)

Why you should listenGeorge Easton shares his journey from executive recruiter to building North America's largest Zoho partner by headcount (60 team members), offering invaluable lessons for scaling service-based businesses.Learn his "full-cycle business management consultancy" model that serves manufacturing, legal, healthcare, and home services - and why being the "chocolate wheel" beats being a specialist.Discover how to transition from subcontractor-heavy operations to employee-focused teams, and why George wishes he'd made this switch earlier for better consistency and work quality.You're trapped between two impossible choices: stay laser-focused on one niche and miss opportunities, or spread yourself thin trying to serve everyone. You watch competitors win deals because they can handle the client's entire tech ecosystem while you're stuck explaining why they need multiple vendors. In this episode, I talk with George Easton from Ion8, who solved this dilemma by creating a "full-cycle business management consultancy" model. We discuss how he built North America's largest Zoho partner team, his middleware-first approach to connecting systems, and why he pivoted from subcontractors to employees for better client outcomes. Join us to learn how to build a scalable consultancy that serves clients across their entire technology ecosystem without becoming a jack-of-all-trades.About George EastonGeorge Easton is the CEO and Founder of ion8.net, North America's largest Zoho partner with nearly 60 staff operating virtually across seven countries. He's transformed what began as a marketing firm into a global "full-cycle business management consultancy" that serves as a comprehensive external operations partner for SMEs with 500 or fewer employees. George identified a critical market gap: businesses prefer one accountable partner over multiple specialized vendors.His entrepreneurial journey spans over two decades, from achieving top performer status at IBM Canada (exceeding quota by 100%+) to pioneering sports analytics at SportRFID with patented technology deployed across North American and European ski resorts. George is the product visionary behind ion8's proprietary middleware portfolio, including AI-powered call management and CRM integration tools. With credentials from Stanford University's Venture Lab, he's built his reputation on a proven methodology: implement scalable systems first, then apply targeted growth strategies to transform vendor relationships into strategic partnerships.Resources and Linksion8.netGeorge's LinkedIn profileN8nManusPrevious episode: 636 - The Systematic Approach to Building Bigger AI Consulting Deals with Taireez NiswanderCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenTaireez reveals how AI consultants can identify specific automation opportunities worth significant annual savings for any client role, transforming vague "AI implementation" conversations into concrete ROI discussions.Learn the systematic approach to expand your share of client value beyond single platform implementations, positioning yourself as a strategic advisor rather than a technical order-taker.Discover a practical tool that helps consultants confidently sell AI automation by providing hard evidence of savings and implementation roadmaps for any job description.As a SaaS or AI consultant, I know you've been in client meetings where you see massive automation opportunities but struggle to articulate the specific value and ROI. In this episode, I talk with Taireez Niswander, Chief AI Officer and creator of the Automation Goldmine platform, who has solved this exact problem. We dive into how you can identify automation opportunities worth tens of thousands in annual savings for any role, transform your positioning from technical implementer to strategic advisor, and systematically expand your client relationships beyond one-off platform implementations. Join us to discover the tool that's helping consultants prove AI value before the sale.About Taireez NiswanderTaireez Niswander is the creator of Automation Goldmine and PerfectFit apps. She is a Chief AI Officer and one of the first 100 people globally to earn the International Chief AI Officer Certification. With over four years of hands-on AI experience and two decades of operations expertise, she has demonstrated remarkable business impact—including scaling business operations by 233% and serving as Vice Chair of CHIFOO's Board of Directors.After being laid off in February 2024, she became a Chief AI Officer by September—proving the power of practical AI implementation.Her work focuses on helping businesses identify and automate high-impact operational processes. Through her Automation Goldmine framework, she's developed a systematic approach to spotting automation opportunities that deliver measurable ROI. Her solutions help consultants and business leaders transform manual workflows into automated systems without the typical tech complexity.Resources and LinksAutomationgoldmine.comTaireez's LinkedIn profile589 – AI 1st business with John MunsellSonger.co Previous episode: 635 - Why Your Sales Problem Isn't Actually a Sales ProblemCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resourcesBONUS:Walk into any meeting, paste a job description and salary, and immediately demonstrate $50K+ in hidden value per role. Start with low-hanging fruit to build trust, then...

You're working 60+ hours a week, racking up business debt from marketing that isn't working, and you haven't even put yourself on payroll. Every time you try to scale, you hit the same ceiling—more clients means more personal delivery time, which means less time for marketing, which means your pipeline dries up. In this episode, I walk you through a real case study of Jay, a Zoho consultant who thought he had a sales problem but was actually trapped in what I call a "capacity spiral." I'll show you the exact diagnostic process that revealed his true bottleneck and how we restructured his business to increase revenue while working with clients he actually enjoys. You'll learn why you can't hustle your way past structural constraints and discover the three-step framework that transforms overwhelmed consultants into profitable business owners.Resources and LinksPaulhigginsmentoring.comPrevious episode: 634 - Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Leaders Instead with Rachel PlowmanCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenRachel Plowman shares her authentic 9-month journey transitioning from project manager to COO at radianHub, offering real-world insights for anyone considering or navigating a leadership promotion in their consulting business.Learn practical strategies for managing P&L responsibility, project profitability analysis, and time tracking systems that actually work without crushing team morale.Discover how to successfully delegate while maintaining quality standards, plus proven approaches for client relationship transitions during organizational changes.You might be wondering how to develop leadership within your team or whether your current team members can handle bigger responsibilities. In this episode, I talk with Rachel Plowman, COO of radianHub, who shares her transition from project manager to COO over 9 months. We dive into the real challenges of taking on P&L responsibility, managing project profitability, and building systems that support growth. Rachel provides concrete examples of how they improved margins, implemented effective time tracking, and navigated client relationship transitions during her promotion.About Rachel PlowmanRachel has been in information technology for much of her career, with 5 SFDC certifications. After beginning her career in financial services, she quickly transitioned into product ownership and project management with an emphasis on business analysis and software consulting. She has been in the Salesforce ecosystem as a consultative project manager and business analyst, while raising her family and enjoying life beyond software development.Resources and LinksRadianhub.comRachel's LinkedIn profile531 – Gearing Up for a Sale with Russell BadgettRight Click PromptPrevious episode: 633 - From 10% to 50% LinkedIn Acceptance Rates with Oleg SobolevCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources