Podcasts about business lunch

In this episode of Business Lunch, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss explain how the classic four-stage buying journey has collapsed into one moment—and why trust is the lid that keeps prospects “popping” in your pot. They unpack three forms of trust—Identity, Competence, and Proximity—with sharp wins and public flops (Nike, Sephora, Peloton, DSW, Starbucks, Apple, United). You'll get simple creative frameworks to turn short-form content into instant, in-channel conversions and a 14-day sprint to prove it on a small budget.Highlights“It's not a funnel anymore—it's a popcorn popper. Your audience are kernels heating at different speeds. Trust is the lid that keeps them popping for you.”“Competence trust means the brand ‘gets me'—often better than I can describe myself.”“Employees outperform celebrities for reach and credibility—because most buyers are employees.”“Frictionless is forgettable. Add desirable friction that helps buyers name their pain and act.”“If you can't pivot your model, bolt trust into your media: mirror-micro-media, why-what-where, people-place-proof.”Mentioned in This EpisodeThree Trust Types (MAP mnemonic):M – Identity trust: Mirror → Micro → MediaA – Competence trust: “Answer” with Why → What → WhereP – Proximity trust: People → Place → ProofCompetence wins & misses: Nike's “Why do it?” repositioning; Sephora tutorials lifting AOV; Peloton's 2019 holiday ad backlash.Proximity plays: DSW AR try-ons; Starbucks barista TikToks; Apple retail specialists; cautionary tale—United Airlines viral incidents.Localization tactics: regional currency/sites, geo-specific visuals (city skylines), and micro-influencers by market.KPI effects: higher AOV/retention/loyalty from competence; higher LTV from proximity; employee posts driving outsized reach.Timestamps00:00 – The collapsed customer journey: from funnel to popcorn popper (trust as the lid)04:00 – Recap: Identity trust (mirror, micro, media)—and why episodes stand alone but compound07:30 – Competence trust: the brand that “gets me” (Nike shift, Sephora demos) + Peloton misread14:20 – Framework for competence: Why → What → Where (myth-bust, demo, direct CTA)17:30 – Example: 30-sec tax advisory myth-buster → LinkedIn/Reels → consult link → track AOV20:10 – Proximity trust: employees, in-place context, show real proof (DSW AR, Starbucks, Apple)24:10 – Employee content > celebrity polish; make it authentic, even shot on phone26:00 – 14-day Trust Sprint and MAP recap; why proximity is overlooked yet most scalableTakeaways for OperatorsStop chasing linear funnels; engineer trust in-channel so action can happen immediately.Use Why → What → Where to collapse steps: name the pain, show the fix, drop the link.Turn staff into a media network: People → Place → Proof with incentives and simple tracking.Localize by currency, domains, visuals, accents, micro-influencers—it quietly multiplies conversion.Run a 14-day sprint: baseline CAC/AOV → recruit 3 customers + 3 insiders → record shorts →...

Segment 1: Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor and recent President at WorkingNation, joins Jon to talk about the government shutdown, the postponement of the BLS monthly report, and if the delayed report will impact any movement from the Fed on interest rates. Segment 2: Sarah Hartwick, Senior Vice President for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, joins Jon Hansen […]

In this episode of the Business Lunch podcast, Host Roland Frasier and guest Richard Lindner break down the subscription trap and why recurring revenue isn't always the ultimate solution it's made out to be.From the outside, subscription models look like a dream: predictable cash flow, higher valuations, and a business that doesn't start at zero each month. But as Roland and Richard reveal, the reality can be far more complicated.They dive into real stories from their portfolio companies, showing how recurring revenue can backfire through hidden churn, customer support debt, and endless innovation demands. You'll hear how even big players like Netflix constantly battle to keep customers engaged, and why smaller businesses often underestimate the true cost of service.This episode is a must-listen if you're considering shifting to a subscription model—or if you've already launched one and want to make sure it's sustainable.HIGHLIGHTS“Recurring revenue is great… until you're losing more members each month than you know how to gain.”“There's voluntary churn, where people cancel. But the killer is involuntary churn—declined payments, expired cards—that can quietly eat your business alive.”“If you're creating content subscriptions, pair them with community. Access is the real value that keeps people sticking around.”“Don't fall in love with the model. Define your business by who you serve, not just how you charge.”Mentioned in this EpisodeThe difference between breakage vs. consumption models (think Netflix vs. gym memberships)Why AI in customer support is changing the economics of subscription businessesHow to tell if your business should pursue a bolt-on subscription or avoid it altogether

Segment 1: Bill Geiger, President and CEO of Geiger Wealth Management, joins Jon Hansen to talk about National Retirement Security Month, the importance of creating a secure retirement plan, and the three most important jobs to do to prepare for retirement. Segment 2: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, talks to Jon about […]

Segment 1:  Aki Ito, Chief Correspondent at Business Insider, joins Jon Hansen to talk about the new rules of workplace loyalty. Segment 2: Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins Jon Hansen to talk about the stock market continuing to hit all-time highs, why she still believes in the stock market despite economic turmoil, and to answer all of your financial […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about why workplace values are holding up some younger workers. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins Jon to talk about new trend where companies are either holding on to seasoned CEOs in their later 60s and […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about why workplace values are holding up some younger workers. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins Jon to talk about new trend where companies are either holding on to seasoned CEOs in their later 60s and […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about why workplace values are holding up some younger workers. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins Jon to talk about new trend where companies are either holding on to seasoned CEOs in their later 60s and […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about why workplace values are holding up some younger workers. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins Jon to talk about new trend where companies are either holding on to seasoned CEOs in their later 60s and […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to talk about why consumers under 40 are not buying life insurance, and a new study that shows that one in six aspiring homeowners have given up in the last five years. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about an obscure biometric privacy law could […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about consumer sentiment falling, what to know about the 10-year Treasury yield, and why gold is doing so well right now. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.

This week's episode began with Min Kong, the Director of Culinary Innovation for Dig Inn. Dig Inn is a healthy, fast-casual eatery concept that is expanding within Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. We then switched gears and spoke with the Chef and Co-Founder of Get Saucy, a dietary and allergen-friendly sauce company based out of California. Chef Suhan Lee, a Co-Founder of Get Saucy, joined me from his home-base in New York to discuss their lineup of sauces that can be a big hit for all eaters at your table! Lastly, we heard from Lee Leung, who is the Regional General Manager for Fearless Restaurants. Lee joined us to announce the recently-launched breakfast, brunch, and mid-day options at Triple Crown. Fearless Restaurants always offers a dynamic combination of food and vibes, and now Triple Crown can help you power through your next breakfast meeting, family visit, or simply just to enjoy a delightful meal! Related Links:https://www.diginn.comhttps://getsaucy.comhttps://www.triplecrownradnor.com

Segment 1: Emily Shaw, Economic Development Coordinator, Lindenhurst, tells John about her job helping out businesses in Lindenhurst, what the business community in Lindenhurst is like, how they are a business-friendly town, how many people the village employs, why she feels that Lindenhurst can compete with bigger cities, and some of the new developments that […]

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the surge in home sales, the anticipation of 2 more rate cuts this year, why it’s going to be a good time for investors, the expected rise in unemployment numbers, and why leaning into AI could be good for […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about how participating in sports can help in the business world, and the line in the sand when it comes to sharing your opinion publicly and having consequences for those actions. Segment 2: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, joins […]

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Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to talk about where mortgage interest rates are right now, the uptick in people refinancing, her thoughts on the Fed decision to cut rates, how many cuts she expects before the end of the year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics postponing the release of a key […]

Segment 1: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John Williams to talk about the impact of student loan repayment and its impact on the economy, and what will happen now that the Fed has cut interest rates. Segment 2: Kara Demirjian Huss, Senior Vice President at TCCI Manufacturing, and Founder […]

Segment 1: Stephen Kates, CFP, Financial Analyst, Bankrate, joins John Williams to talk about the Fed decision to cut interest rates and what that means for your money moving forward. Segment 2: Abrar Al-Heeti, Senior Technology reporter for CNET, tells John everything we should know about the iPhone Air, and President Trump pushing back the TikTok […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about Medicare plans, Wall Street waiting on the Fed decision, and to answer all of your financial questions. Terry also offers her instant analysis of the Fed lowering interest rates for the first time since December.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about the challenge of finding a job right now, the impact that AI is having on the labor market, and what he expects after the Fed cuts interest rates. Tom also shares why he believes we are in a recession. Segment 2: Philippe […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to talk about stocks being up on the expectation that the Fed will cut interest rates, and why President Trump wants companies to stop reporting earnings on a quarterly basis. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Britannica Group suing Perplexity AI over online […]

Segment 1: Paul Nolte, Senior Wealth Advisor and Market Strategist, Murphy & Sylvest, joins John to talk about the latest employment and inflation data, what the data means for Fed policy, how much the Fed will cut rates, consumer sentiment falling, and what he’s telling his clients right now. Segment 2:  Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer […]

Segment 1: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, joins John to talk about markets hitting fresh new highs after hot inflation data will likely trigger a Fed rate cut. Steven is encouraged by the broadening of the market and explains why he’s not worried about inflation or the labor market. Segment 2: Jason Hiner, Editor in […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about short term interest rates dropping, why it might be time to revise your budget, the recent revision of the labor report numbers, how much the Fed will cut rates later this month, and the big takeaway from today’s inflation data. Terry also answers all of […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about the weak labor report, how the labor market is being impacted by uncertainty, the difficulty finding a job right now, and some tips to help you get (and keep) that elusive job. Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain's, joins John to […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to talk about mortgage rates coming down, Friday’s weak labor report, the likelihood the Fed cuts rates in September and October, the nine metro areas with housing markets worth more than $1 trillion, and a new survey shows a retirement confidence gap. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director […]

Segment 1: Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor and recent President at WorkingNation, joins John Williams to break down the latest data on today's ‘devastating’ labor report. Jane also explains why she still has great faith in the BLS. And do the weak labor numbers mean that the Fed will cut rates later this month. Segment 2: […]

Segment 1: Jeff Wolfthal, Program development specialist, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, joins John to talk about he eighth annual celebration of the beloved monarch butterflies as they begin their migration. Purchase tickets here! Segment 2: Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief, ZDNET, joins John to talk about Apple about to announce an iPhone Air that sets the stage for […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the economic forecast for the remainder of 2025. Terry and John are joined by the always engaging Dr. Bob Froehlich, who makes his stock market (Dow) prediction for the rest of the year.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about people discounting the value of relationships, and why authentic relationships are best built in-person rather than Zoom. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about what executives need to know about effectively responding to a critical organizational crisis. […]

In this episode of the Business Lunch podcast, host Roland Frasier sits down with Lucy Guo, a remarkable entrepreneur who made her mark in a short amount of time. Lucy takes us through her inspiring journey, starting from her early days as a kindergartener selling Pokemon cards and colored pencils to her groundbreaking roles as an intern at Facebook and the first female designer at Snap.Lucy's shares how she leveraged platforms like PayPal and eBay to turn her skills into financial opportunities. Lucy and Roland delve into the topic of coding and its importance in today's landscape. While Lucy acknowledges the rise of no-code tools, she emphasizes the value of understanding coding fundamentals, particularly when it comes to managing engineering teams and making informed decisions about app development.This podcast episode offers a captivating glimpse into Lucy Guo's entrepreneurial journey, filled with valuable insights and lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.HIGHLIGHTS"I was always an entrepreneur growing up... I was selling Pokemon cards and colored pencils for money." "Knowing how to code is important... the best sites today and the best apps today, you still need a team of engineers."“If you are just a business person and you are hiring a team of engineers, you're gonna get ripped off."Mentioned in this episode:Get Roland's Training on Acquiring Businesses!Discover The EXACT Strategy Roland Has Used To Found, Acquire, Scale And Sell Over Two Dozen Businesses With Sales Ranging From $3 Million To Just Under $4 Billion! EPIC Training

Segment 1: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John Williams to talk about GDP growth, if we should be skeptical of economic data revisions, core inflation rising, if he thinks the Fed should cut rates in September, the fate of Fed governor Lisa Cook, and the importance that the Federal […]

Segment 1: Jack Ablin, Chief Investment Officer and Founding Partner, Cresset Capital, gives John an in-depth look at the U.S. housing crisis. Jack also talks about the market still performing very well after Nvidia earnings. Segment 2: Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief, ZDNET, joins John to talk about the latest iPhone falling behind other phones when it comes to AI […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about why she believes the Fed will likely be cutting rates in September, what would happen if the Fed does cut rates, how interest rates actually work, and the benefits and pitfalls of AI. And as always, Terry answers all of your financial questions.

Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about the market not having much of a reaction to President Trump trying to fire Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, the overall health of the economy, the impact of tariffs still being relatively unknown, consumer confidence coming in stronger than expected, and the […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to talk about if August is a good time to put a house on the market, current mortgage rates, why the government took a 10% stake in Intel, when the Fed is likely to cut interest rates, and how the market typically performs after the Fed cuts […]

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John to talk about today’s big market rally after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell suggested interest rate cuts would be coming soon, how many rate cuts he expects to see for the rest of 2025, and when we we’ll see the full impact of tariffs. […]

Segment 1: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, joins John to talk about why the markets have been down recently, the odds of a Fed interest rate cut, how many rate cuts he can expect this year, and why this may be a good buying opportunity. Segment 2: Jason Hiner, Editor in Chief, ZDNET, joins John […]

Join us as we delve into the dynamic world of executive leadership and pivotal moments of transition in this engaging episode of the Business Lunch podcast. Hosts Roland Frasier and Ryan Diess kick off with a lively banter, setting the stage for a deep dive into the complexities of being a CEO. The episode features a detailed discussion on the stepping down of Bumble's CEO, exploring the nuanced reasons behind such significant career decisions.Throughout the conversation, Ryan and Roland offer insights into the multifaceted nature of executive roles, particularly focusing on the differences and responsibilities of CEOs and COOs. They bring their own experiences into the discussion, providing listeners with real-world examples and practical advice.This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the intricacies of business leadership, whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned executive, or simply curious about the dynamics of high-level management.It's an insightful journey into what it means to lead, adapt, and grow in today's fast-paced business environment.Highlights:"I think that the most important thing is to be able to have a conversation with somebody and to be able to disagree with them and still respect them."“I want to know all the people I'm working with by name and you know, see how they're doing and know about their families and do barbecue.”“No one can run your business like you do.Highlights: "I think that the most important thing is to be able to have a conversation with somebody and to be able to disagree with them and still respect them."“I want to know all the people I'm working with by name and you know, see how they're doing and know about their families..."“No one can run your business like you do.”Timestamps: (0:00:00) - Considering Leadership Transitions(0:14:17) - Consider Hiring CEO or COO(0:23:07) - CEO vs COO and Hiring Specialists(0:33:02) - Acquiring Successful Businesses Is More EffectiveCONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES: • 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch! Today, hosts Roland Frasier and Richard Lindner dive deep into a practical framework for optimizing business expenses—perfect for founders, business owners, and financial leaders. Whether you're facing a cash flow crunch or simply want to boost your bottom line, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you identify, analyze, and cut unnecessary costs while maintaining business momentum.Highlights:"Every extra million dollars helps, every extra $100,000 a month helps.""Profit dies by a thousand cuts, especially with forgotten subscriptions.""Don't wait for things to get bad to make things better.""If you're operating on a 25% profit margin, cutting $100,000 is like adding $400,000 in sales."Timestamps:00:00 – The Payment Terms Dilemma: Cash Flow vs. Sales Velocity01:32 – Why Every Business Needs a Bottom Line Review03:10 – Testing 12-Month Payment Terms: Results & Risks06:24 – The Impact of GAAP Accounting on Revenue Recognition08:40 – The STOP Framework: Where to Start Cutting13:24 – Evaluating Team ROI: Scorecards & Underperformance15:39 – Tools & Tech: The Hidden Cost of Subscriptions18:59 – Operations & Overhead: Renegotiating Leases and Utilities26:46 – The SAVE Process: Scan, Analyze, Verify, Execute34:56 – Why Quarterly Expense Reviews MatterCONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to answer all of your financial questions.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about a recent Wall Street Journal article that breaks down why America’s mobility is stalling. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the surge in mergers and acquisitions activity and what companies and employees should be aware of […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to talk about the trend of ‘job hugging’ and how workers are clinging to their jobs, where home values are rising and falling. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about a Chicago startup that helps social service agencies book hotels for people in need being […]

Segment 1: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John Williams to talk about how tariffs will impact general prices, why markets are still hitting all-time highs, when the Fed might cut interest rates, and to explain why initial labor report numbers are typically not reliable. Segment 2: Mike Spriggs, […]

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch! In this episode, Roland Frasier and Richard Lindner take a look at the current trend of running businesses with ultra-lean teams, the role of AI in operational efficiency, and the real impact these choices have on business value and potential for acquisition. Whether you're a founder, operator, or executive looking to optimize your team, scale profitably, or prepare your business for sale, this episode is packed with insights on balancing technology, human capital, and long-term growth.Highlights:"It's a badge of honor to operate with as few people as possible.""If you're a lifestyle business, build a lifestyle business. If you're building to sell, you're selling the ability to execute.""Trying to be lean in customer support is usually to give poor customer support.""Small businesses that are overly lean are just not going to be as marketable as companies that have redundancies."Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:05 – The Lean Team Trend: Entrepreneurs and the new badge of honor02:44 – Three Business Models: Lifestyle, lean tech, and scalable teams05:49 – Technology as Amplifier: Roles for tech and humans08:13 – The Customer Support Cautionary Tale: $40M savings gone wrong12:16 – Human Touch in Customer Service: Why empathy matters15:45 – Transferable Value: The importance of cross-training and redundancy19:28 – Critical Roles for Lean, Profitable Companies: Finance, marketing, sales, and tech24:26 – Departmental Tech Specialists: Bridging humans and AI30:16 – Digital Marketer's AI Solutions: How to get started and who it's forCONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch! In this episode, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss dive into the emerging trend of rolling up traditional businesses and supercharging them with AI. They discuss the opportunities and pitfalls of this strategy, offer advice for old-school business owners, aspiring platform companies, and investors, and share real-world examples of value creation through AI integration. This episode is perfect for entrepreneurs, business owners considering acquisitions, and anyone curious about the intersection of AI and business growth.Highlights:"Roll ups fail at the integration level, and the integration is really what systems do we have to do that?""If you don't invest in up-leveling and AI-fying your business now, you'll be acquired on the cheap.""The basic building blocks of why you would do a roll up, applied with AI and tech, make perfect sense to me.""If you're planning on just shutting it down or letting it die a slow and profitable death, then cool. But if it's longer than that, you either have to get on the bus or face being put out of business."Timestamps:00:00 Introduction04:15 AI and Roll-Ups: Success and Failure 07:16 Advice for Old-School Businesses 10:30 Investor Strategy and Execution 16:05 Management and Systems for Roll-Ups 17:56 Investor Strategy: Mergers and Acquisitions 20:52 Value Addition through AI CONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch! In this episode, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss dive into the real challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses today, cutting through the marketing spin of industry reports. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, marketer, or anyone interested in practical strategies for growth, customer acquisition, and leveraging AI, this episode is for you. Tune in for candid insights, actionable advice, and a few laughs along the way.Highlights:“I've never once in my entire life heard a small business owner use the word ‘resilience.'”“If your offer is confusing, it's not going to work, simplicity wins right now.”“AI is the single biggest disruptive event any of us have ever experienced.”“Let people buy the way they want to buy.”Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:36 – Salesforce Report: Hype or Help?03:57 – Do Business Owners Really Say ‘Resilience'?05:14 – AI Adoption: Fear of Losing the Human Touch07:38 – What Are the Real Top Challenges?11:07 – How Macroeconomics Impact Sales15:23 – Simplifying Offers for Better Results17:41 – Creating a ‘Happening' to Re-Engage Customers21:05 – AI-ifying Your Business: Pivot or Perish28:04 – Acquisitions: The Private Equity Playbook for SMBsCONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch!In this episode, Roland Frasier and Ryan Deiss dive into "the great flattening"—the radical shift where AI enables entire departments, and even companies, to be run by a single person. They explore real-world examples from tech and traditional industries, discuss the risks and rewards of this new model, and offer practical advice for leaders and entrepreneurs. If you're a business owner, manager, or anyone interested in the future of work, this episode is for you!Highlights:"What if the highest performing marketing team at your company was actually just one person?""AI is compressing entire departments into individual 'departments of one.'""The coordination tax is the overhead of meetings, getting along, and not getting along.""This may be the end of the middle manager and the rise of the player-coach."Timestamps:01:41 – Introducing "The Great Flattening" Concept02:30 – WhatsApp: $345M Value Per Employee03:30 – Midjourney & Cursor: Creative and Dev Pancakes07:21 – The Coordination Tax Explained11:18 – Team Size, Efficiency, and the Two Pizza Rule14:25 – AI Agents Replacing Marketing Teams22:35 – Risks of Single-Person Departments26:53 – The End of Middle Management?37:19 – The Pancake Test: Is Your Department "Pancakeable"?54:20 – Digital Marketer's Department of One Beta ProgramCONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier

Welcome to a new episode of Business Lunch. Today, we discuss practical strategies to navigate economic slowdowns, particularly during summer. They share insights on creative marketing, leveraging internal resources, and maximizing downtime. Whether you're experiencing a seasonal dip or a broader economic challenge, this episode is packed with actionable advice to keep your business thriving.Highlights:"The quickest way to drown out negativity is with an abundance of positivity.""The Lord puts you into these situations knowing you can handle them. It's a test.""Hard makes you resilient. Soft and easy doesn't make you resilient."Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction02:30 - Current Economic Trends05:00 - Seasonal Slowdowns10:00 - Strategies to Combat Slowdowns15:00 - Leveraging Internal Resources20:00 - Creative Marketing Ideas25:00 - The Importance of Not Panicking30:00 - Enhancing Offers and Bundles35:00 - Acquisition Opportunities40:00 - Long-Term Planning and TestingCONNECT • Ask Roland a question HERE.RESOURCES:• 7 Steps to Scalable workbook • Get my book, Zero Down, FREETo learn more about Roland Frasier