Emerge Dynamics Podcast

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, David Eric discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on various industries, particularly focusing on knowledge work. They explore how AI is reshaping business processes, the importance of identifying unique value in a commoditized landscape, and the responsibilities that come with leveraging AI technology. The conversation...

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, hosts David Cusimano and Eric Wingerter discuss the importance of perseverance in entrepreneurship, especially in light of current economic trends and challenges. They explore recent data on CPI and Fed rates, emphasizing the need for business owners to adapt to changing circumstances. The conversation highlights personal stories...

In this episode of Emerge Dynamics, we welcome Ali Beck, a blockchain and Bitcoin expert. In previous episodes, we discussed the necessity of understanding Bitcoin and bringing in knowledgeable guests. Ali Beck, who co-founded HollaEx and did his master's thesis on cryptography and Bitcoin security using elliptical curve cryptography, certainly qualifies. This episode promises to...

David and Eric kick off 2025 by discussing the impact of current interest rates on business valuations. They delve into the recent trends, causes, and implications of ‘frothy' valuations in the middle market, particularly focusing on how private equity investments are altering the market dynamics. The episode also explores the discrepancies in interest rates, the...

In this captivating episode of Emerge Dynamics, hosts David and Eric delve into the transformative power of purpose in business. They discuss why defining and implementing a clear purpose is vital for driving employee engagement, improving company valuation, and achieving outstanding results. The episode also offers practical advice on embedding purpose into every aspect of...

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, Eric and David discuss the critical importance of defining the true purpose of your business beyond just making money or supporting causes. They reflect on previous episodes and reintroduce the concept of purposeful business operations, stressing that the actual work a business does should inherently be good...

In this compelling episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, David sits down with the insightful Jen Reed from SpeakWrite. Jen unveils the captivating story behind SpeakWrite's inception and sheds light on their unique value proposition in the transcription industry that bucks the rush to AI. The discussion reveals the critical role of human transcription in...

Join David Cusimano as he dives into a compelling conversation with Andrew Collier, co-founder of Kitchenery. Learn about Kitchenery's innovative strides in the kitchen appliance industry, specifically their groundbreaking wireless power technology. This episode covers essential business strategies, from leveraging blue ocean market opportunities to overcoming funding hurdles through crowdfunding. Andrew also shares insights on...

In this exhilarating episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, David sits down with Rob Haddock, the visionary founder of S-5, and a trailblazer in metal roof attachment solutions. From humble beginnings as a cowboy and rodeo competitor to becoming an acclaimed expert in the metal construction industry, Rob shares his incredible journey. Rob started in...

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, David explores the negative impact to business valuation of owners thinking that the show is theirs . He provides actionable strategies for business owners to shift from an ‘I' to ‘We' mindset, build strong management teams, and ultimately increase their companies' value and attractiveness to investors. Reference:...

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, hosts David and Eric explore the dynamics of managing and investing in middle market private companies. They provide insights into calculating and interpreting breakeven points, emphasizing that breakeven is a moving target, particularly for small businesses. The discussion covers the crucial difference between gross profit margin and...

In this solo episode of Emerge Dynamics, host David delves into the art of public speaking and presentation skills. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding reading directly from your notes and being compelling in your delivery. David shares essential tips to ensure your presentations are efficient, effective, and genuinely engaging, aiming to help professionals improve...

In this episode of Emerge Dynamics, David and Eric delve into the critical financial challenges faced by small and lower middle market businesses. They highlight the importance of effective cash flow management and the risks of overleveraging. Drawing insights from the Harvard Business Review article “A Small Business Is Not a Little Big Business,” they...

In this episode of Emerge Dynamics, hosts David and Eric discuss the challenges and strategies related to employee retention in the middle market business environment. They explore the impact of the yield curve inversion and how companies can create a culture that retains highly trained employees, balancing professional development with genuine organizational loyalty. The conversation...

In this episode of Emerge Dynamics, David and Eric discuss the profound impact of price controls, particularly during emergencies. They explore why price controls often fail, using examples like hurricanes and fuel shortages, and delve into the unintended consequences of such policies. Additionally, they touch on tariffs and import subsidies in a global economy, offering...

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, David and Eric dive into the topic of price controls, examining their historical context, economic theory, and practical implications for business owners. They discuss how price controls, often instituted by governments, impact supply and demand, leading to market distortions and shortages. Using examples such as the dairy...

In this episode, David and Eric dive into the recent stock market volatility and its impacts on the economy. They discuss the latest employment report, trends in the job market, and what these might mean for private company owners and managers. The episode covers practical advice on navigating economic downturns, reflections on previous episodes about...

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics podcast, David and Eric discuss the current state of the economy, interest rates, and how business owners can navigate uncertain times. They explore topics like the impact of political events on the economy, strategic financial planning, and the future of real estate pricing.

In this episode of the Emerge Dynamics Podcast, David and Eric discuss the importance of purpose and passion in business. They elaborate on how purpose can drive business success beyond financial metrics like EBITDA and sales. They also provide practical exercises and real-life examples to help businesses find and cultivate their true purpose, emphasizing the...

In this episode, Eric and David delve into the crucial topic of raising capital for businesses. They explore the various reasons why businesses might need to raise funds and effective strategies and tools to do so successfully. Convertible debt is a powerful tool that offers attractive features to both investors and entrepreneurs. It can often...

Eric and David delve into the evolving nature of work and its impact on individuals and businesses. Work dynamics are changing and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' jobs report doesn't fully pick up everything you need to know. We discuss the entry of young people into the workforce, choices of baby boomers to stay in...

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CIVPART https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/11/20/why-does-culture-eat-strategy-for-breakfast/?sh=1d5c1841e098 https://www.thealternativeboard.com/blog/culture-eats-strategy#:~:text=The%20culture%20eats%20strategy%20for,that%20make%20all%20the%20difference In this episode, We discuss the popular slogan, “culture eats strategy for breakfast”. Our current event topic is the jobs report. It doesn't always tell you what you think it is telling you. The labor force does not seem to be growing. It underscores the need to have a culture built upon...

Eric & David discuss how AI is rapidly becoming the norm. Artificial Intelligence is different than automation. How disruptive will AI be to white collar jobs?

( our tracks are a bit out of sync so our responses to each others comments don't always sound timed correctly – we're working on our internet signal to fix this) Eric and David discuss some current events including what might be happening with interest rates. Check out Episodes 36 and 59 where we discuss...

David and Eric discuss that the myriad of external risks that business owners face and how to balance insurance and cash reserves with risks the business takes. They look through the lens of the preparedness chapter of Q Source which is the leadership book of F3 Nation. https://f3nation.com/q/ There are expected circumstances we need to...

In today's podcast episode, we're going deep into the complex world of corporate finance and budgeting as we face the economic uncertainties of 2024. We'll explore the various challenges and considerations that business owners and managers must contend with in this volatile economic landscape. The recent announcement from FedEx about an expected slowdown really caught...

Eric and David wrap up a mini series on sales by discussing non-manipulative selling and concepts from the book Find Your Six: Stop Lead Generating, Start Building Influence by Patrick Kilner. They discuss the importance of authentic relationship and of creating value for clients. They also discuss how this factors into the valuation of your...

In this episode, David and Eric discuss the current drop in consumer sales across the country. They remind us to focus on not just selling “widgets”, but to go deeper and to demonstrate to customers how your business or product can improve their lives. David and Eric also share tips for monitoring monthly sales goals...

In this episode, David and Eric discuss how to incorporate seasonality into your revenue forecast. They give reasons why you should do this and a practical guide on how to do it. They also discuss the September CPI and question its accuracy in tracking how expensive American life has become. They look at www.shadowstats.com as...

https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/08/10/warren-buffett-is-sitting-on-a-147-billion-pile-of/

In this episode, we discuss the EVA metric which includes the opportunity cost of running your business. Many business owners think that positive net income means that their business is doing well, but is your business creating more value than it's costing? EVA = NOPAT – (WACC * capital invested)         forsook [fawr-sook] verb –...

In this episode, we look at current and historical data from the Federal Reserve and discuss what the inverted yield curve tells us about the state of our economy. The SLOOS Report is a quarterly survey of senior loan officers of banks. According to their date, over 50% of banks are seeing a decline in...

In the final episode of a three-part series on turning your business around, we discuss ways to use the changes you've made to return to being profitable again. It is important to pay attention to the new control systems that have been put in place so that you don't end up back in the same...

In this episode, we discuss step 2 of the 5 stages of a turnaround, the emergency action stage. We give several practical actions that you'll need to take in order to get your business through to the next step. It's all about cash. And you'll need to map how it comes in and goes out...

Are you following the housing market? All business owners and managers should. While other industries only affect us if we are in them or related to them, housing affects all of us. Will there be a housing crash in 2023? Or is the crash cancelled? Eric and David weigh in on where the year is...

During this episode, we begin our discussion about the 5 stages of a turnaround, specifically the many benefits of making changes in management.

The discussion on turnaround management continues today with a discussion on weak finance function. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to have integrity and to hire people to work in finance who will hold the line. It's not just about the numbers, it's about recording financial data according to fundamental principles with correct...

Today we're highlighting some adverse trends that indicate problems are arising in your business. If your business is struggling because you've hit a plateau, or your business is headed in the wrong direction, you'll want to pay attention to these warning signs of decline. Poor working capital controls will ultimately get your business into trouble....

Emerge Dynamics is all about how businesses can emerge from their peers, and businesses accomplish that when they are well-run. This is especially true during a downturn, so today we're focusing on how you can guide your business through these challenging times. There are so many bankruptcies happening in 2023. Why is that? It can...

Today we continue the conversation around your borrowing base. This episode dives deeper into why you may want to consider a borrowing base to finance your working capital so that you can help your business meet its potential. We also discuss the importance of having healthy accounts receivable, and how to use it in the...

On today's episode, we're discussing the mechanics of a borrowing base. This is an episode that will have value in the current economy, and will still have value in future economies. Discussion will involve current events, but ultimately, the goal is to provide solutions that will be applicable in any economy. This is a tactical...

Today we're broaching a topic that's been on everybody's minds, which is inflation. This is a crazy time we are living in, and it's no different in the business environment. For the first time, the Federal Reserve has actually publicly warned that there is a mild recession. The prices we see increasing every day are...

Today's episode continues with a discussion about what servant leadership is and unpacking exactly how to be a servant leader. We'll get to the core of how important it is to be the best version of yourself in order to create prosperity in your organization. Humility is the cornerstone of a servant leadership mindset. In...

Today we're getting into what it really means to be a leader in your organization. People have a tendency to look at the actions and consistency of their leader. You may not even realize how much of an influence you have on the culture of the organization. If you don't focus on this, then another...

We're continuing our conversation about how us business owners can improve as individuals, and today's theme is that how you spend your time really matters. We're bringing in two concepts: The Rainmaker's Dilemma, and the “Value Ladder” from the book “Time Really Is Money: How to Work for $5,000 Per Hour” by Rob Slee. Rob...

There's so much going on these past few weeks that affects business owners, so today we're taking a pause from our recent topics to talk about this current environment instead. Suddenly banks are failing, so we'll get into what's behind those along with the continuously increasing interest rates. When looking back at the past 50...

In today's episode we're diving into our email inbox. Checking out the inbox is a good indicator of how someone is balancing working on the business versus in the business. By looking into someone's inbox, you can get a good idea of the activities those individuals are working on throughout the day. That, however, doesn't...

Curious to know what helps businesses emerge from their peers? Documenting your processes is key. This requires discipline by looking at the consistent application of processes within your business. You must have full documentation, and then train off of that to systematize the way your processes flow. This is optimal for growth.   Looking deeper,...

The customer journey is so important, but even more so during a downturn. There needs to be clarity for the customer about what services and products you're providing. Having this ensures you're making that experience as amazing as possible. Alongside that experience, it's an opportunity to make improvements. With more insight, you can begin to...

Today's episode in our series about growing through a downturn is about acquisitions. This can be a great way to grow, but great caution must still be exercised. Doing an acquisition into an industry that usually falls deeply during a downturn could be a big problem. We may or may not be in a recession,...

We're continuing our series about continuing to grow during a downtown today. But, actually, sometimes you might not be able to do very much growing. You may have to just focus on sustaining yourself, which means preserving cash. Of course it's better to grow, but maintaining the status quo before figuring out exactly what you're...