The Small Business, Big Deal Podcast is where Kansas entrepreneurs deconstruct their businesses, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Josh Gentry is the Senior Vice President at Financial Independence Group and consults daily with financial advisors across the country about how to operate and market their practices as efficiently as possible. Born and raised in Rossville, Kansas, Josh has been in tune with the issues facing the communities of eastern Kansas for decades. This podcast is a place where small business owners from Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, Manhattan, and all the small towns in between can tell their unique stories that make them part of the fabric of their communities. The goal of the podcast is to help young entrepreneurs turn their dreams into businesses and to meet the brightest entrepreneurs of present and future. Thanks for listening to the Small Business, Big Deal Podcast. One Kansas business owner. One story. Week by week.
On today's podcast, we're talking with Katie Dooley, owner of Paper Lime Creative, a branding and design agency in Edmonton, AB. Her company creates stunning visual branding that shows off businesses' unique personalities. Their print design services make getting a brand out into the world effortless and enjoyable. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/media/ep-39-design-agency-owner-helps-businesses-create-stunning-branding/1490/ About our guest: https://paperlime.ca/about/ What we discuss on this episode: 0:56 – Meet Katie 1:29 – Entrepreneur dreams 3:45 – Making the transition 7:25 – Changing her life 10:00 – Growing pains 11:03 – Structuring her business 12:09 – Brand strategy 16:02 – Companies she works with 17:32 – Growth 18:47 – Continuing education 21:26 – Managing the work 26:11 – When to hire a marketing company 36:40 – Advice
On today's podcast, we're talking with Dennis Crosby, owner of Crochet Media Group, an online subscription that focuses on the arts and crafts niche, especially crocheting. Find out how his business is thriving, even during COVID. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/media/ep-38-online-magazine-business-booming-even-during-covid/1484/ About our guest: https://denniscrosby.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:32 – Meet Dennis 12:55 – How he ended up working on a magazine 19:53 – Why he continued magazine 24:45 – Building teams 29:06 – Hiring 34:16 – Personal development 40:59 – What's next
On today's podcast, we're talking with J.B. Morris, founder of Concierge Wealth Management based in Boston. Find out how he helps high earners in their 30s and 40s develop financial plans. Read more here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-37-concierge-wealth-owner-helps-clients-achieve-financial-goals/1475/ About our guest: https://www.conciergewm.com/team/julian-morris What we discuss on this episode: 1:19 – Meet J.B. 2:19 – Becoming a financial advisor 3:28 – The financial industry 7:30 – Owning a business 13:20 – Work-life balance 18:04 – In person versus virtual 24:00 – Financial planning 33:38 – Mental toughness 38:58 – Advice 40:38 – Contact J.B.
On today's podcast, we're talking with Todd Bertsch, owner of Evolve Marketing and a leader in the web design industry. Find out how this self-described “true-born leader” created his company. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-36-how-a-true-born-leader-created-his-own-marketing-team/1468/ About our guest: Todd is an award-winning web designer, author, educator, and lecturer, and speaks regularly throughout the region on various web-related topics. He holds a BFA from The University of Akron in graphic design. His web experience and marketing strategies are what separate him and Evolve from others in the web industry. Helpful Resources: https://www.evolvemarketingteam.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:29 – Meet Todd 3:29 – Why entrepreneurship 7:34 – Work-life balance 17:54 – Delegation 20:29 – First hire 25:38 – Accounting 29:08 – What he wishes he knew 33:01 – Failure 33:36 – How his business is different 39:33 – Advice for new business owners 42:05 – Contact Todd
On today's podcast, we're talking with Laura Wright, a master sales coach who is helping “badass business women” make more money and know their worth. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/entrepreneur/ep-35-sales-ninja-helps-badass-business-women-know-their-worth/1463/ About our guest: Laura Wright is a Self-Published Author, Speaker, Growth Strategist, Master Sales Coach and co-founder of The Sould Sisters. She has closed a cool $43 million and then some over the past 20 years and she's the founder of EPIC at Sales, but, for a time Laura Wright's life was anything but epic. After her real estate company crashed and burned in 2008, Laura found herself over $500,0000 in debt and doubting her ability to rise up from this setback, until she remembered two of her greatest gifts: the power to see the potential in ANY situation and the ability to close just about any sale with love. A few years later, Laura has made a name for herself in the coaching industry as the go-to “Sales Ninja” for service-based women in business, helping her clients scale to six-figures within months and cross seven-figures in record time. Join her Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesouldsisters What we discuss on this episode: 1:05 – Meet Laura 4:19 – Don't give discounts 5:40 – How she became a business owner 8:06 – College burnout 14:53 – Building a business plan 27:05 – Hire before you're ready 31:42 – Getting your spouse on board 35:48 – New businesses and knowing your worth 43:26 – Bringing on a partner 50:36 – The Sold Sisters
On today's podcast, we're talking with John Briggs, founder and CEO of Incite Tax. John graduated from Brigham Young University with a Master of Accountancy in Tax. He worked on corporate taxes and trusts in Orange County, Calif., with Deloitte & Touche, one of the four largest national accounting firms. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-34-accounting-firm-owner-helps-businesses-navigate-tricky-tax-system/1456/ About our guest: https://incitetax.com/about-the-team/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:09 – Businesses 4:15 – Anti-tax 6:40 – Scary IRS letters 11:40 – Entrepreneurship 16:47 – Work-life balance 23:07 – Personal development 28:20 – Making an impact 33:32 – Company culture 38:42 – Employees 39:37 – Dream gifts 40:26 – New entrepreneurs 44:26 – Contact John
On today's podcast, we're talking with John Bernatovicz, founder and president of Willory, a staffing and consulting firm focused on HR and payroll. With over 22 years' experience within the payroll and HR niche, John has focused his working career on understanding the needs of his clients, candidates, and partners. He is not satisfied until he finds what his clients and candidates are looking for. He thrives to grow, challenge, and develop the Willory team. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-33-staffing-firm-founder-shares-secrets-to-professional-success/1449/ About our guest: https://willory.com/home-company/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:18 – Meet John 5:55 – Aspirations 7:25 – Burn out 10:02 – Mission and vision 12:02 – Growing businesses 14:53 – Talent acquisition 17:35 – Culture 19:08 – Failure 21:00 – Signs to change direction 23:31 – Work-life balance 27:38 – New book 29:45 – Advice for new entrepreneur 30:42 – Contact John
On today's podcast, we're talking with Lauren Goldstein, founder and CEO of the boutique business strategy consulting firm Golden Key Partnership. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-32-the-business-doctor-helps-clients-get-unstuck/1440/ About our guest: https://www.goldenkeypartnership.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:34 – Meet Lauren 2:29 – How she started 6:15 – How she helps clients 8:27 – Her team 11:30 – Hiring people 14:06 – Tools she uses 18:44 – Work-life balance 24:35 – Hustle culture 25:45 – Continued education 27:41 – Misconceptions 31:32 – Types of clients 34:07 – Contact Lauren
On today's podcast, I'll share the number one mistake I made in my business when I was starting out and how you can avoid this problem. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-31-the-number-one-mistake-i-made-in-business/1435/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:10 – Boundaries 2:50 – Making money 4:28 – Work-life balance 5:53 – How to protect your time 7:47 – Take email off your phone 8:32 – Hire an assistant 9:47 – Information overload
On today's podcast, meet Mike Michalowichz, creator and author of Profit First, which hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe use to drive profit. Find out how he made a fortune, lost it all and is now helping others. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/entrepreneur/ep-30-business-owner-and-author-shares-his-profit-first-approach/1426/ About our guest: https://mikemichalowicz.com/ Connect with Mike: https://mikemichalowicz.lpages.co/small-business-big-deal-podcast-page/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:34 – Meet Mike 3:35 – Crash and burn 6:11 – His first book 8:50 – Being profitable is OK 11:59 – Key foundations to business 13:54 – Finding your niche 17:23 – Work-life balance 19:34 – Educating himself 21:29 – Worthwhile investments 23:32 – Best investment in his business 24:39 – Contact Mike
On today's podcast, meet Dr. Sabrina Starling, a business psychologist who teaches business owners how to take back their lives and hire A players on their team. From finding “A-Ha” moments to getting rid of warm body employees, she explains what makes a business successful. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-29-business-psychologist-teaches-owners-how-to-take-back-their-lives/1422/ About our guest: https://www.tapthepotential.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 3:08 – Dr. Starling's business 14:00 – Work-life balance 21:29 – Boundaries 24:50 – Pay attention to your energy 28:11 – Learning as you go 30:52 – Team members 32:40 – Coaching 40:25 – Shared values 42:20 – Contact Dr. Starling
On today's podcast, meet Kim Kiel, a sales and direct response strategist and founder of the boutique copywriting agency, Kim Kiel Copy. Find out how she created her business around her family's needs. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/freelance/ep-28-how-kim-kiel-designed-a-copywriting-business-around-her-life/1415/ About our guest: https://www.kimkiel.com/ Get the Ultimate Checklist for Magnetic Copy that Attracts & Sells: https://www.kimkiel.com/magnetic-copy-checklist What we discuss on this episode: 1:19 – Starting her business 2:13 – Nonprofit industry 6:48 – Quitting her job 8:37 – Entrepreneurs in her life 10:18 – Work-life balance 12:34 – Clients 15:27 – Online influencers 18:53 – Best investments 23:27 – Home life 27:58 – Focus 29:59 – Inspiring clients 34:35 – Giving back 37:25 – Contact Kim
On today's podcast, meet Rob Minnick, a third generation business owner of Minnicks: Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Insulation in Maryland. Find out how his passion for people and love for his family keep his company thriving. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-27-third-generation-business-owner-is-a-leader-in-hvac-industry/1407/ About our guest: https://minnicks.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:18 – The family business 5:05 – His father in charge 5:50 – Rob's roles in the business 12:36 – Learning to be an owner 16:00 – Coaches and mentors 19:00 – Brothers 22:13 – His time 24:32 – Minnick's difference 29:44 – How people can become an HVAC technician 33:16 – Apprenticeship 35:44 – Advice for someone entering this industry 36:55 – How to contact Minnick's
On today's podcast, meet Alexa Hallberg, a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and business badass. Find out why she has made it her mission to help other women in business. See the show notes: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/entrepreneur/ep-26-serial-entrepreneur-wants-to-help-other-women-business-owners/1398/ Connect with Alexa: https://alexahallberg.com/ https://lexandcompany.co/ What we discuss on this episode: 2:09 – How Alexa created her photography business 5:37 – College 7:03 - Skills 10:06 – Adding a studio 13:36 – Big, exciting things happening 28:51 – Opening her store 32:32 – Marketing 34:09 – Mentors 35:30 – Education 43:50 – Advice for new entrepreneurs 47:02 – How to contact Alexa
Every business owner wants to make a profit, but are you taking a deliberate approach to reaching that goal? Let us introduce you to someone who helped change our business through his Profit First system and give you more insight to how this approach has been adopted by companies around the world. See the show notes: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-25-a-proven-profit-first-system-with-ron-saharyan/1390/ Connect with our guest: https://profitfirstprofessionals.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-saharyan-3846a8 https://amzn.to/3sEwqSF What we discuss on this episode: 0:55 – Background on Ron 5:45 – Mike's past experience and failures 6:51 – Learning more about this system 9:11 – What is Profit First? 12:06 – Starting in a basement 15:28 – Outsourcing 18:40 – Moving to a bigger space with bigger team 22:43 – Being deliberate with spending 26:30 – Giving employees a purpose 31:03 – Ron's advice for business owners 33:36 – How to learn more about Ron
On today's episode of the Small Business, Big Deal podcast, our guest is Aimee Rosenow, owner of Evoke Creative Topeka. Find out why she left one business and started another and how her work-life balance has changed. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/media/ep-24-boutique-business-owner-focuses-on-work-life-balance-and-helping-women/1383/ About our guest: Aimee is a family-oriented, small business consultant focused on helping retail shops and boutiques clearly demonstrate their brand through website design, email marketing, and social media. As a former boutique owner and mom of three, Aimee comes to her clients from a place of empathy and understanding. Her experience gives her a unique perspective and drives her mission of giving boutique owners back the time to do the things they truly love. What we discuss on this episode: 1:02 – Meet Aimee 2:30 – Friendship and business 3:27 – Children's boutique 5:29 – Work-life balance 8:45 – Getting back into business 10:22 – Boundaries 15:55 – Advice 20:29 – Turning down clients 23:14 – Networking 28:18 – How to contact Aimee 30:06 – Bonus content
On today's episode of the Small Business, Big Deal podcast, our guest is Ariel Unselt, owner of Chinell's by Ariel and sister company, The Rogue Florist. Find out why she left her 9-to-5 job and how she became a florist. Read more: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-23-why-ariel-unselt-left-her-job-to-become-a-florist-and-business-owner/1376/ About our guest: https://chinells.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:09 – Why Ariel left her 9-to-5 job 5:31 – When she realized she could run a business 7:19 – Her husband's reaction 11:13 – How she found clients 12:52 – Why she does weddings 14:35 – Touching stories 17:44 – Her team 21:11 – Working on her business 23:30 – Changing directions 28:57 – Advice for entrepreneurs
On today's episode of the Small Business, Big Deal podcast, our guest is Kate Bagoy, a business coach and founder of SixFigureFreelancers.com. Find out why her personal mission is to inspire and empower people to lead lives by design, not default. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-22-how-to-ditch-the-9-to-5-and-become-your-own-boss/1368/ About our guest: http://katebagoy.com What we discuss on this episode: 1:45 – Meet Kate Bagoy 2:59 – Fear of entrepreneurship 5:25 – First steps to starting a business 9:30 – Coaching people through stress 11:31 – When to connect 15:01 – Paid versus unpaid marketing 18:18 – Getting clarity on what you want 21:45 – Seeing more entrepreneurs? 23:44 – How to balance your time 27:33 – Self-care routine 31:23 – Six-Figure Freelancers
Many companies small and large end up dealing with fraud at some point, but a family business never expects one of their employees to steal more than a half-million dollars. That's exactly what happened to the Stevenson Company, the metal works company behind many beautiful designs around Topeka and beyond. Owner Joe Pennington opens up about the experience and the hard lessons learned. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-21-a-half-million-dollar-lesson-on-fraud/1346/ About our guest: https://www.stevensoncompanyinc.com/contact/meet-the-team What we discuss on this episode: 0:53 – What is the Stevenson Company? 2:40 – How Joe got involved in the company 5:15 – Did you ever expect to own the business? 7:37 – What do you wish you knew earlier? 8:25 – Employee stole a half-million dollars 18:49 – Helping other businesses with fraud. 22:56 – His book 25:26 – Lessons learned about fraud 29:16 – Why his employee was always at work 32:49 – Projects he's proud of 37:55 – Work-life balance 40:52 – Will the family business be passed down? 43:57 – Bonus Content
On today's episode of the Small Business, Big Deal podcast, our guest is Rich Tarwater, owner of Tarwater Farm and Home. Find out how he expanded the family business and what advice he has for his children. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-20-how-faith-and-family-helped-rich-tarwater-expand-his-business/1337/ About our guest: http://tarwaters.com/about-us.html Everything we discuss on this episode: 1:05 – Tarwater Farm and Home 2:57 – Taking over the business 8:32 – Leadership and his team 13:43 – Difference in his business 15:51 – Personal and work time 20:18 – Failure 25:20 – Expansion 31:45 – Covid 38:28 – Advice for young entrepreneurs 40:05 – Bonus content
On today's episode of the Small Business, Big Deal podcast, our guests are Annie Rector and Kristin Hems of Third Avenue Events. Learn how they faced the challenges of the Covid pandemic and how they continued building close relationships with clients. Connect with our guest: http://www.thirdaveevents.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thirdaveevents/ https://www.facebook.com/thirdaveevents/?ref=br_rs https://www.linkedin.com/company/thirdaveevents Read more and check out other episodes here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-19-how-third-avenue-events-faced-challenges-and-built-relationships-during-pandemic/1325/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:27 – How did they meet? 2:27 – Did Kristin always want to start a business? 3:50 – What they were doing before they started the business 7:08 – Who takes lead roles with clients? 9:19 – Were they worried about failing? 11:11 – How do they find time to work on their business? 12:00 – Goals for 2021 12:53 – How they handled the pandemic 16:43 – What they did during down time 23:00 – How clients responded 25:19 – What differentiates them from competition? 28:35 – How they stay organized 30:52 – How they would use $1 million in business 32:01 – Who is target customer 34:02 – How they serve the community 35:59 – Advice to new entrepreneurs 38:00 – How to contact Third Avenue Events 39:45 – Bonus content
Stephanie Roberts chose a career in recruiting after being inspired by her mother to help people. Find out how she started her business, how she manages a work-life balance and what common misconceptions people have about her industry. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/podcast/ep-18-how-a-recruiter-helps-businesses-find-and-hire-quality-employees/1318/ About our guest: https://humansbeingresources.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:13 – What led her to this profession 2:48 – What do people think about recruiting office? 4:41 – Work-life balance as a leader 7:37 – When to bring on the first team member 12:56 – What technology platforms she uses 15:12 – Is being a virtual business a benefit? 15:50 – How clients are handling recruiting 17:04 – New habit that's improved life 17:58 – Failures that set her up for success 20:07 – How she decides what's next 20:35 – Has she ever turned down referrals? 22:58 – Best investment 23:44 – Bad recommendations 26:13 – What candidates can do to be more visible 27:19 – Things candidates should not do 29:23 – What she wishes she knew earlier 30:49 – How to contact Stephanie 33:01 – Bonus content
Many people dream of walking away from the corporate world and starting their own business. Mark Kern did just that about 15 years ago and now runs a successful marketing company out of Lawrence. Today we'll talk to him about taking that leap, how he's navigated the changing marketing business, and the best investment he's made in his company. Read more and get additional resources here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/lawrence/ep-17-how-the-kern-marketing-group-began-where-its-headed/1275/ About our guest: https://kerngroupinc.com/ What we discuss on this episode: 1:19 – Connections 2:38 – What led to starting his own business 4:56 – How that transition into the new business went 10:32 – Were those first clients ideal? 12:30 – Have you ever had to exit a client relationship? 13:59 – Building his team and hiring 18:08 – How did you overcome COVID challenges? 22:06 – Best investments he's made in the business 27:03 – Personal development techniques 30:04 – Social media consuming your time 32:30 – What's currently happening with his business and what's to come 37:11 – How to connect with Mark Kern 38:13 – One thing you'd tell someone thinking about starting a business.
You've probably noticed that the podcast took a short hiatus over the final quarter of 2020, but we're back and excited for the future of the show. Josh Gentry has turned his attention and energy to a new startup so he doesn't have as much time to dedicate to the show. Starting this week, we'll begin rolling out new episodes with the top entrepreneurs and small business owners, but we'll do so with our new host, Tracy Jepson. If you don't know Jepson, she's a small business strategist from Topeka and was actually featured on this show in episode six. We encourage you to go back and listen if you missed it. Before we make the transition, we wanted to share a short message from our new host about the future of the show and why we're excited about where it's headed. Check out the new website here: https://tracyjepsonpodcast.com/
Running a small business mostly on your own can be tough. Hear from the owner of LKS Imagine about how he finds customers, manages the workload and what he wishes he knew when he started. Read more about this episode: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-16-inside-richard-holmans-custom-embroidery-and-printing-business/1191/ About our guest: https://www.lksimagine.com/ On today's show: 2:55 – Richard’s background 3:43 – What led him to starting LKS Imagine 4:38 – How COVID-19 has impacted his company 6:10 – Target customers 7:20 – How he advertises 8:11 – Operating processes 9:18 – Technology platforms 9:42 – The 5-star experience 12:30 – Why some businesses end in failure 14:26 – What he wishes he’d known sooner 18:12 – What he does to get focused 19:38 – His afternoon routine 21:03 – Most worthwhile investment 23:44 – Work-life balance 25:05 – Success in one word 25:44 – How to contact him
At Body Specific, co-owners Lisa Lahm and Leah Henderson offer a menu of services that cater to clients’ whole health needs. From massages to skincare and a sauna, find out how they recruit new clients and keep their business running during the pandemic. Read more here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-15-massages-skincare-and-a-sauna-inside-a-whole-health-business/1197/ About our guests: https://bodyspecificllc.com/ On today's show: 1:56 – Meet Lisa and Leah 3:47 – What led Lisa to this profession 4:46 – How personal training and marketing helped Leah 5:42 – How they expanded services 7:17 – How COVID-19 has affected their business 9:16 – How they find customers 11:38 – Target customer 13:15 – Services they offer 14:26 – Benefits of using a sauna 15:36 – Average time to use a sauna 16:08 – What operating processes they use 18:12 – Technology platforms they use 19:12 – Client who has touched their hearts 21:49 – Why offering free services can be helpful 23:32 – How to contact them
Jenny Wheat didn’t study photography, but she is passionate about the craft. Hear how she has chased her passion and built a successful photography business thanks to a lot of hustle and heart. Read more about this episode: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-14-how-hustle-helped-this-photographer-build-her-business/1187/ About our guest: http://www.wheatphoto.com/ On today's show: 2:51 – Meet Jenny Wheat 3:39 – Why she started her business 6:44 – How COVID-19 has affected her business 8:35 – Her favorite type of photography 9:54 – Her target customer 11:00 – Process of setting up a photo shoot 13:47 – Showing personality in photos 15:01 – People who don’t like being photographed 15:52 – How she stays on top of her game 19:02 – Mentors 20:41 – How she finds new clients 22:50 – Most worthwhile investment she’s made 24:33 – Why many businesses end in failure 27:14 – Her failures 29:16 – Why she turns down some clients 31:18 – A new belief, behavior or habit that has improved her life 33:34 – Her favorite picture 36:10 – How to contact her
On today’s podcast, we introduce you to Jake Farrant, founder and president of Mammoth Sports Construction. Find out how this booming family business became an industry leader in sports field construction, national cemetery renovations and golf course installation. Read more about this episode here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-13-meet-the-man-behind-mammoth-sports-construction/1181/ About our guest: https://mammothturf.com/our-team/ On today's show: 2:18 – Meet Jake 4:00 – What his company does 7:31 – What his first week in business was like 9:08 – What he wishes he had known sooner 11:28 – Installing synthetic turf fields for smaller schools 15:25 – Installing New Orleans Saints’ turf on his hometown field 17:47 – How he gets new clients 19:38 – Artificial turf injury statistics 23:13 – Advice for working with family members 26:16 – How he uses technology to track his business 29:12 – What he has learned from failures 31:18 – How he handles a work-life balance 34:36 – The most worthwhile investment he’s ever made
Eric Weslander is a natural-born problem solver. This former journalist turned attorney talks about making the switch to a legal career and why he is aggressive about protecting his personal time. Find out more about his career and the work he’s doing at Stevens & Brand. Read more and get additional resources here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-12-from-journalism-to-law-eric-weslander-enjoys-solving-problems/1176/ About our guest: https://stevensbrand.com/attorneys/j-eric-weslander/ On today's show: 1:31 – Eric’s background 4:59 – Why he changed careers 6:14 – What area of law is most interesting 11:44 – How cases are distributed to lawyers 13:08 – How he is more efficient 13:58 – Technology he uses 20:38 – How failure set him up for success 23:00 – Best compliment he’s ever received 25:53 – Finding a work-life balance 29:26 – Most worthwhile investments 30:40 – Advice for young professionals 32:06 – One word to describe his success
Meet Adriana Bates, the driven, hard-charging leader of Clear Mortgage. Find out how she has used her competitive nature and love of data to make her business more successful than ever, even during a pandemic. Read more about this episode: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-11-you-better-dial-for-dollars-adriana-bates-competitive-data-driven-business-plan/1170/ About our guest: https://clearkc.com/leadership-team On today's show: 2:05 – Meet Adriana Bates 3:54 – What led her to this profession 10:35 – Starting from the ground up 12:21 – Her biggest pain point for growing the business 13:33 – How she has handled her business during a pandemic 17:31 – How many employees she has 18:36 – How she got customers in the beginning 19:12 – How she reaches her goals 20:33 – Work harder, make more money 21:17 – Strong operating processes 23:43 – Breaking down her process 27:37 – Finding time to work on the business 29:09 – Why she works a lot 29:43 – Her difficult work-life balance 32:07 – What she’s doing to be a strong leader 38:20 – Why some businesses fail 45:39 - What she does when she feels overwhelmed 47:17 – Her advice for young professionals
Our guest today began coding at the age of six and has built a successful career working on the internet. Adam Fichman of Lifted Logic in Kansas City joins us to talk about working with Facebook early on, finding your purpose as an entrepreneur, and building authentic relationships with employees. Read more about this show here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-10-the-business-of-the-internet-with-adam-fichman/1164/ About our guest: https://liftedlogic.com/team/adam-fichman/ Today's show schedule: 1:43 – Adam Fichman joins us today. 3:25 – How would you describe what you do? 4:57 – How did he get started? 6:57 – What it’s like starting a business at such a young age. 10:26 – His experience working at Facebook and understanding advertiting online. 16:28 – How Lifted Logic started? 18:30 – The Japanese concept of Ikigai 22:57 – The company has grown to about 30 employees 24:31 – Creating a culture where employees love coming to work. 28:12 – Dealing with mental health issues. 31:04 – Who were his mentors? 33:28 – His daily routine. 34:45 – Best way to get in touch with Lifted Logic
Barry Feaker has held the Executive Director position at the Topeka Rescue Mission for more than three decades. During that time, his organization has made a huge impact on the community and the people that need support. He’s seen a lot of change through the years, including the most recent shift that COVID-19 has caused. Join us as we learn more about the TRM. Show notes & additional resources: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-9-supporting-the-homeless-and-impoverished-of-topeka-with-barry-feaker/1159/ About our guest: https://www.trmonline.org/about/about-trm-ministries Today's schedule: 1:21 – Background on our guest today, Barry Feaker 2:53 – Why did he leave the mental health field to TRM? 6:37 – Benefits and challenges for an organization like this. 8:16 – How COVID changed funding. 8:59 – Has the government tried to get involved at any point? 10:54 – Every rescue mission is different. 12:06 – How many people do you shelter each year and how COVID impacted that. 14:14 – They’ve lost a lot of volunteers due to COVID as well. 15:00 – Processes they use to manage these large numbers of people. 16:47 – The process for homeless coming in. 24:14 – Scary moments he’s had on the job. 27:50 – Does he have a favorite failure? 31:31 – The anti-human trafficking division 33:45 – Human trafficking in Topeka 37:07 – Is there a program he’s most proud of? 40:43 – What do you wish knew early on? 42:13 – Best way to get plugged into the Topeka Rescue Mission.
Every business relies on profit to stay afloat and one Kansas State grad is helping small businesses around the country maximize their operation. Tracy Jepson, CEO of TLJ Consulting, joins us today to share some of her processes and advice for putting profit first, insight into the mistakes owners commonly make, and the lessons she’s learned for her own operation. Read more and get additional resources here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-8-putting-profit-first-with-consultant-tracy-jepson/1152/ About our guest: https://tracyjepson.com/about-the-owner Today's show schedule: 2:53 – Tracy Jepson joins us today. 4:27 – How she got to this point since graduating from Kansas State. 5:48 – Business staying busy at TLJ Consulting. 6:46 – How have business owners around the country handled COVID-19 8:26 – Working with about 75 small businesses. 10:39 – What do you know now that you wish you knew when you began the business. 12:30 – What is a Certified Profit First Professional? 14:02 – What does the process look like when working with a business? 20:29 – What is a Pumpkin Plan Strategist? 23:15 – The type of business owner she works best with. 24:25 – The most common mistakes being made by business owners. 27:36 – Things she’s doing to continue educating herself. 30:31 – What operating processes has she put in place and what technology is she using. 33:14 – Finding time to work on the business rather than in the business. 36:41 – She doesn’t believe in failure. 39:41 – One of the best investments she’s made. 40:51 – Best way to contact Tracy
Growing a business is a challenge on its own but what if you were trying to do it with your significant other? That’s what Greg and Carol Rau have done at Apple Tree Homes in Lawrence. Today we’ll spotlight their story to find out what additional challenges working with a spouse creates, their passion for building custom homes, and how technology impacts their business. Read more and get additional resources here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-7-building-homes-and-a-business-with-your-spouse/1145/ About our guests: https://appletreehomesinc.com/about-apple-tree-homes/ Today's show schedule: 2:06 – Greg and Carol Rau join us for the show. 3:39 – Greg’s background and how he ended up in this profession. 4:23 – How Carol got involved in the company. 6:33 – Advice for working with your spouse. 11:01 – How many homes are you building at any given time? 11:45 – How customized can houses be? 13:50 – What ways do you differentiate yourself from the competition? 15:37 – What technology do you use in your business? 18:33 – Does the internet and all its ideas for homeowners make the job more difficult? 19:28 – Why business websites are so important. 22:41 – What do you for continuing education? 24:23 – Any mentors that have played a role in the growth of the business? 27:02 – What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs? 30:09 - What’s the best compliment received from a customer? 33:06 - Favorite part of building a home.
Our next guest takes us to Kansas City and the technology sector. Kyle Ginavan, CEO of One HQ, shares his passion for technology, how to build leadership through trust, and what he does to maintain balance for himself and his team. Read more and get additional resources here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/kansas-city/ep-6-leadership-trust-and-building-influence-with-kyle-ginavan/1140/ About our guest: https://onehq.com/about-us Today's show schedule: 0:41 – Our guest today is Kyle Ginavan, CEO of One HQ 1:18 – Before we start, let’s rehash the goal for this show. 3:05 – Background on our guest. 4:12 – Raised in a small farm town, Kyle’s had quite the journey. 5:15 – Has his technology company been impacted by COVID? 6:22 – What do you wish you knew when you first started in the business? 7:22 – How to be a strong leader 9:03 – How do you continue developing yourself and growing professionally? 10:42 – Who do you consider a mentor? 11:52 – Processes that he’s put in place for the business. 14:07 – How they use two retreats each year. 15:35 – How do you advertise the company and how has strategies changed? 17:00 – Your first content is going to suck. Just get started. 18:02 – Why is failure a part of starting a business? 19:30 – Chasing the ‘no’ 22:13 – What he does to improve work-life balance? 24:57 – Finding time to work on your business vs in your business. 26:51 – Success boils down to persistence. 27:40 – What advice would you give to future entrepreneurs? 28:38 – Best way to contact Kyle
On this episode, we talk with Matt Nelson, CEO of Income for Life, about his retirement planning business. We’ll devote a lot of the conversation to marketing, which is a key component to survival in that industry. Learn what’s worked, what hasn’t, and why he uses the ESPN mentality for growing his client base. And of course we’ll talk successes, failures, and lessons learned. Show notes & additional resources: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-5-marketing-strategy-and-lessons-in-finance-with-matt-nelson/1135/ About our guest: https://www.incomeforlife.org/ Today's show schedule: 2:42 – Welcome in Matt Nelson from Income for Life. 3:54 – What led Matt to this profession? 5:53 – What do you wish you then that you know now? 8:09 – Describe that first week of business for you and how that went. 10:18 – 95% of our marketing efforts are digital so COVID impacted us a little differently. 13:53 – How did you generate new busines back then vs today. 17:51 – Do you spend more money on branding or direct response marketing? 20:18 – Who is your target customer? 22:23 – Using the ESPN marketing mentality 25:39 – Have you ever turned down a client? 26:58 – Why delegating tasks and authority was a big shift. 29:52 – How do you create the work-life balance for your business? 32:55 – How has failure helped you learn? 38:04 – The best compliment you’ve ever received from a customer. 39:00 – The 3 C’s of retirement. 43:27 – The best way to get in touch with Matt and his team
From just starting out to adapting to the current challenges and needs of your clients, Randy Dick shares a great perspective on being a small business owner. His continued self-discipline as well as his priority on work/life balance has allowed him the opportunity to run a business alongside his family. Read more and get additional resources here: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-4-self-discipline-and-adaptability-with-randy-dick-of-kaw-valley-insurance/1127/ Check out Kaw Valley Insurance here: https://kawvalleyins.com/ Today's show schedule: 2:07 - Who is Randy Dick? 3:22 - What originally lead Randy to the insurance industry? 4:25 - Why do people think starting your own business often ends in failure? 6:24 - What was the first week in business like? 7:23 - What does Randy wish he had known when he first started? 9:16 - Randy shares what Kaw Valley Insurance provides. 11:55 - A lot of places have permanently closed following the impact of coronavirus. 15:18 - Making services understandable and palatable to clients. 18:35 - How did Randy find new prospects? 21:15 - How do you grow in your knowledge and skills? 23:59 - How do you find more time to work on your business instead of in your business? 26:36 - What kind of processes have been put in place? 29:08 - How to create a work/life balance. 32:03 - What’s the best compliment Randy has received from a client?
Regardless of what type of work you do, you’ll find the same leadership characteristics are succesful across the board. Today we’ll talk with Travis McKinley, who leads multiple businesses through hard work, consistency and treating people with respect. Join us as we talk about lessons learned, a fight on a jobsite, and what he tells every employee. Read more about the show here: http://kansasbiztalk.com/ Today's show schedule: 1:57 – Travis McKinley is our guest today and he’s a busy man. 2:58 – How has his businesses dealt with the pandemic? 4:38 – What led you to this profession? 6:31 – What do you wish you knew when you first started out? 7:35 – Have you ever turned down a client? 8:05 – 3 things that he tells everyone that works for him. 10:31 – A story from the jobsite about earning respect. 13:40 – What operating processes do you have in place. 15:26 – How do you advertise your business? 19:56 – Why are people scared to start a business? 21:22 – An example of a failure that he’s learned from. 25:42 – What’s the best compliment you’ve received? 28:33 – What have you done to create work-life balance. 32:21 – Reduce your success down to one word. 34:27 – Best way to connect with their business.
The first guest on the podcast is Dr. Ben Rutherford, a dentist with a growing dental practice based in Topeka. Find out how he decided on this career later than most, how he took over a practice at 28, the challenges of running a business during a pandemic, and the lessons learned along the way. Plus he’ll throw in a few dental tips for kids and adults. Read more about the show here: http://kansasbiztalk.com/ About our guest: http://www.easttopekadental.com/office-info/about-our-doctors Today's show schedule: 0:42 - The goals for this show. 1:48 - Ben Rutherford, D.D.S is our guest today. Some background on him and his business. 2:59 - Let’s start with what led you down the path of becoming a dentist. 4:23 - What was your first year in the profession like? 5:22 - What do you know now that you wish you knew then. 7:01 - How do you find time to work on your business rather than for your business? 9:44 - What effect has COVID-19 had on the business and what changes have you made 12:39 - Continuing education opportunities. 14:38 - How many employees across all of your locations? 16:09 - What are the biggest problem areas for patients when it come to their teeth? 18:12 - At what age should children start going to the dentist? 19:31 - How important is flossing and how often? 20:46 - Any toothbrush and toothpaste recommendations? 23:06 - Best way to get in touch with East Topeka Dental
Small businesses often struggle to have their message heard so we’ve launched a podcast to give them that voice. Find out how we’re going to do that and what the plan is for the new show. Read more and get additional resources here: http://kansasbiztalk.com/ Today's show schedule: 0:26 - Let’s start with a little info about Josh’s background. 1:07 - Josh’s family and where he grew up. 2:02 - The goals for this podcast and what we hope you learn. 3:59 - This is a critical time for many small businesses. 5:14 - Our resiliency will eventually win out.
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