Podcasts about businesses

He was running four businesses. None were working. He deleted three. Seven days later he was at 50K a month.

Today on the show, I talk about how to regulate your nervous system before a sale.   Get your CELAVIVE mask here!! https://bit.ly/martisfavmask Grab your free resources here: https://stan.store/MartiAngel My FAV Affiliate links: Health & Wellness : https://bit.ly/joinmarti Affirmations Audio: https://martiangel.gumroad.com/ Check out some of my favorite journals and books here! https://amzn.to/3siywJ4 Get your Freebie -digital downloads here: stan.store/martiangel   TAKE THE FREE QUIZ “ WHAT IS YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL ARCHETYPE” https://bit.ly/Mbizquiz CHECK OUT ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND BUSINESS TOOLS I RECOMMEND https://amzn.to/3WDVMBm GET ALL OF MY EQUIPMENT HERE: http://bit.ly/MARTIANGELTOOLS%E2%80%8B Disclaimer Marti Angel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://www.amazon.com . . Get your CELAVIVE mask here!! https://bit.ly/martisfavmask Grab your free resources here: https://stan.store/MartiAngel My FAV Affiliate links: Health & Wellness : https://bit.ly/joinmarti Affirmations Audio: https://martiangel.gumroad.com/ Check out some of my favorite journals and books here! https://amzn.to/3siywJ4 Get your Freebie -digital downloads here: stan.store/martiangel   TAKE THE FREE QUIZ “ WHAT IS YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL ARCHETYPE” https://bit.ly/Mbizquiz CHECK OUT ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND BUSINESS TOOLS I RECOMMEND https://amzn.to/3WDVMBm GET ALL OF MY EQUIPMENT HERE: http://bit.ly/MARTIANGELTOOLS%E2%80%8B Disclaimer Marti Angel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://www.amazon.com .

Send a text“Pay attention.” Let's start there.This week on Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About, we're sitting down with Kathleen Godfrey, independent financial advisor, fierce advocate for women, and 30 year industry veteran who is not here to play small.Kathleen built her firm after being widowed, downsized, and told flat out she would never make it. Thirty years later, she leads a team of all female advisors, works primarily with women, and has donated over 2 million dollars back into her community.Kathleen challenges us to keep one powerful focus: pay attention to our money, our accounts, to who is advising us, to what our sons are consuming online, and to policies that impact our financial autonomy.This conversation is bold. It is honest. And it is necessary.

You can't forecast cash flow if you're just guessing. In this episode, I break down why so many real estate investors and business owners operate on what I call the “hope and pray” plan—hoping enough deals close and praying there's money left over at the end of the month.I walk through what cash-flow forecasting actually means for a real estate business that's running multiple deals at once. We talk about why forecasting doesn't have to be complicated, how reserves change the way you make decisions, and how a simple system like Profit First gives you the visibility you need to stop reacting to your finances and start planning your business with confidence.Timeline Highlights[0:26] Why guessing is not the same as forecasting cash flow[1:10] Why most entrepreneurs run their businesses without a real financial plan[1:34] The dangers of the “hope and pray” approach to finances[2:12] Why forecasting sounds complicated but doesn't have to be[3:01] How Profit First helps you understand where every dollar goes[3:43] Why reserves are the foundation of effective forecasting[4:24] How three months of reserves gives you options and flexibility[5:00] Forecasting as goal management, not financial complexity[6:12] How reserves help you make strategic business decisions[6:28] Why chasing deal volume can destroy profitability[7:24] Thinking like a long-term business owner instead of a short-term operator[8:01] How dashboards and financial data improve forecasting decisions[9:18] Why business owners need the right financial data to lead effectively[10:13] How forecasting, dashboards, and Profit First work togetherKey TakeawaysForecasting is not guessing—it's planning based on real numbers.Many businesses operate on hope instead of financial strategy.Cash reserves create the breathing room needed for smart decisions.Forecasting is simply goal management for your business.Profit First helps clarify where every dollar is going.Financial dashboards turn data into actionable insights.Successful businesses plan their numbers—success is not accidental.Links & ResourcesBook a free discovery call to build forecasting and financial clarity into your business: profitrei.comClosingThanks for spending time with me today. If this episode helped you see how forecasting can bring clarity and confidence to your business, make sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with another investor or entrepreneur who's tired of guessing with their numbers. And if you're ready to build real systems around your finances with guidance and accountability, visit profitrei.com and book your free discovery call to start creating financial clarity and freedom.

On this episode of Fort Wayne Up Close, host JJ Foster welcomes Tracey Hanton for a conversation that highlights both community impact and entrepreneurship. Tracey shares about her work with the YouthBuild program, where she helps empower young people through education, skill-building, leadership development, and hands-on opportunities that prepare them for brighter futures. She discusses the importance of guidance, structure, and belief in helping youth discover their potential and direction. In addition, Tracey opens up about her entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Praiseworthy Candles, where creativity meets purpose. She talks about how candle making became more than a business — it became a ministry, a form of expression, and a way to inspire others. This episode blends mentorship, entrepreneurship, and faith-driven purpose — showing how one leader can impact both young lives and the business community at the same time. Contact information: www.praiseworthycandles.com www.fwha.org/youthbuild

Ownership Framework ain't just about buying assets,.. it's about shifting your Spirit from consumer to controller. The Market is a living ecosystem, and it rewards those who move with discipline, faith, and vision. When you step into ownership, you stop renting your lifestyle from the world and start claiming equity in it. Stocks, Businesses, Real Estate,...these are just tools. The real transformation is internal. You begin to see money as energy, circulating to those who understand patience, positioning, and power. The market will humble you if you're emotional, but it will bless you if you're strategic. Ownership is Spiritual because it requires belief before results. It's Motivational because it demands responsibility. And it's Financial because when you own the right assets, You don't just chase the Bag,... You build the system that Prints it.

Compliance and regulatory reporting used to mean endless spreadsheets, fragmented data sources, and teams drowning in manual work. Today, AI is transforming how the world's largest companies manage financial reporting, sustainability disclosures, and audit workflows—not by replacing humans, but by giving them time back to do strategic work. In this episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt sits down with Kim Huffman, CIO of Workiva, the platform used by 85% of the Fortune 100 for critical financial and compliance reporting. Kim shares her unique perspective as both a former Workiva customer and now the CIO steering the company into an AI-powered future. They explore how the office of the CFO is evolving under pressure from new sustainability regulations, how AI governance actually works in practice, and why collaboration between IT, finance, sustainability, and risk teams has become essential. Kim also discusses the changing role of the CIO, the coming wave of autonomous agents in the workplace, and why having more data doesn't always mean making better decisions.   Key Moments: 00:58 – The State of Compliance Today 02:18 – Why Standards and Regulations Matter 05:48 – The Complexity of Global Compliance 07:36 – Data Collection Across Teams 08:36 – Single Source of Truth 10:20 – The Sustainability Data Challenge 13:36 – The Endless Spreadsheet Problem 16:12 – What's Driving the CFO Office 19:46 – AI's Strategic Role at Workiva 23:02 – Beyond Repetitive Tasks 25:20 – Transforming How Teams Work 27:03 – Will AI Replace Jobs or Create Capacity? 30:00 – Measuring AI's Business Impact 33:06 – Speed vs. Data Overload 36:25 – The Evolving Role of the CIO 40:00 – Technology Leadership in Transition 43:09 – The Next Five Years for CIOs 46:14 – Managing the Coming Wave of AI Agents 50:02 – AI Will Create Its Own Security Industry 52:26 – The Sustainability Reporting Reality 55:31 – Resource Constraints and AI Consumption 57:34 – Why ESG Data Is Now Critical Business Intelligence 59:23 – Keeping NPS High While Innovating   -- This episode of IT Visionaries is brought to you by Meter - the company building better networks. Businesses today are frustrated with outdated providers, rigid pricing, and fragmented tools. Meter changes that with a single integrated solution that covers everything wired, wireless, and even cellular networking. They design the hardware, write the firmware, build the software, and manage it all so your team doesn't have to.That means you get fast, secure, and scalable connectivity without the complexity of juggling multiple providers. Thanks to meter for sponsoring. Go to meter.com/itv to book a demo.---IT Visionaries is made by the team at Mission.org. Learn more about our media studio and network of podcasts at mission.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the Season 3 premiere of Money & Wealth, John Hope Bryant breaks down a powerful truth about capitalism: the most profitable opportunities are often hiding in plain sight. From trash collection and plumbing to cybersecurity and grant writing, John reveals the essential businesses every city in America must rely on—no matter the economy. These “non-optional demand” industries create steady income, long-term contracts, and real pathways to ownership and generational wealth. He also unpacks the fundamentals of capitalism through a simple negotiation example, explaining how value, profit, and power actually move in the marketplace. If you’ve ever wondered where the safest entrepreneurial opportunities live—or how to position yourself to win in the system—this episode lays the blueprint.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Unconventional Path, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Vi Wickham, the founder of Wizard of Ads Online, to discuss how small to medium-sized businesses can navigate the complex world of digital marketing. Vai is not only a digital marketing expert and web developer but also a five-time Colorado state fiddling champion, bringing a unique, creative perspective to entrepreneurship and innovation.The transition from traditional advertising—like the local newspaper and Yellow Pages—to the digital age has created a complex environment for modern entrepreneurs. Vi simplifies this landscape by breaking down the three foundational "layers" every business owner needs to establish a credible and searchable online presence.The Website as Your Home Base: Why your website is the foundation of your online reputation and why it must communicate your purpose clearly without using "insider language" or "techno mumbo jumbo".+1The "Grandfather Test" for Business: Bela and Vi discuss the strategic importance of being able to explain your business so simply that even your grandfather would understand it.Local Search Marketing: How to use local search submissions to provide "proof" to Google that your business is a real entity deserving of a high rank in your specific town.+1The "500-Pound Gorilla" of Search: Why the Google Business Profile is the most critical third-party site for local businesses and how it controls over 90% of search traffic.Navigating Secondary Platforms: A look at the next tier of digital reputation management, including Facebook, Yelp, Bing, and the emerging challenges of Apple's business tools.Strategy vs. Wordsmithing: Understanding the difference between knowing your core message and the creative process of picking the right words to attract the customers you want—and repel the ones you don't.Vi Wickham is a web developer, digital marketer, and the founder of Wizard of Ads Online, where he helps companies establish and implement effective digital marketing strategies. He is also a celebrated musician, holding five state fiddling titles and three national runner-up titles.Our podcast is now available on YouTube. Simply search for "The Unconventional Path" to subscribe and never miss an episode.We're always on the lookout for interesting guests to feature on our show. If you know someone who has an inspiring story, unique perspective, or valuable expertise to share, please let us know. We're eager to connect with potential guests who can bring fresh insights and engaging conversations to our audience.We also love hearing from our listeners! Your questions, comments, and suggestions are incredibly valuable to us. Send us an email at bela.and.mike@gmail.com with your thoughts, and we'll do our best to address them in a future episode. Whether you have a question about a specific topic, feedback on a recent episode, or ideas for future content, we want to hear from you. Your engagement helps us shape the show and deliver content that resonates with our listeners.Thanks for listening,Bela and MikeIn This Episode, You'll Discover:About the Guest:Connect with the Show:

What builds a recruiting firm that lasts? In this Industry Spotlight, Kortney Harmon sits down with Norm Volsky, Managing Partner at DRI and leader within the Pinnacle Society, to explore why long-term success comes down to relationships—not shortcuts.Norm shares how top firms balance technology with trust, invest in operations to protect the client experience, and why reputation and delegation matter more than any single placement.Tune in as Norm breaks down what it really takes to build a recruiting firm that lasts—from choosing the right clients to investing in operations and protecting trust with every placement.______________________Connect with Norm VolskyFollow Norm Volsky on LinkedIn: LinkedIn | NormCheck out Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) hereOrganizations Mentioned in This EpisodeCheck out Pinnacle Society's Website hereCheck out Sanford Rose Associates (SRA) hereCheck out Starfish Partners hereConnect with CrelateFollow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: https://www.crelate.com/blog/full-desk-experience

AI for restaurants is no longer a futuristic concept reserved for large chains or experimental kitchens. It has become a necessary response to an industry weighed down by complexity, disconnected systems, and operational blind spots. Few people understand that reality better than Alex Hult, a founder whose path into restaurant technology was shaped not by theory, but by lived experience. Alex's journey into AI for restaurants began far from Silicon Valley. After a professional hockey career that took him around the world, he shifted into restaurant ownership, opening and operating multiple bars, nightclubs, and restaurant concepts across two states. That transition exposed him to the day-to-day realities of running hospitality businesses, from staffing and inventory to customer experience and profitability. It also revealed a fundamental problem: restaurant technology was fragmented, complicated, and often worked against operators rather than for them. As Alex scaled his restaurant group, he encountered a growing stack of tools that failed to communicate with one another. Point-of-sale systems, inventory platforms, labor tools, and reporting dashboards created more noise than clarity. Instead of empowering operators, technology added friction. That frustration became the catalyst for his next chapter and the foundation for AIO. AI for restaurants, as Alex envisions it, is not about replacing people or automating hospitality out of existence. It is about simplifying operations so leaders can make better decisions faster. AIO was built as an AI-first platform designed to unify restaurant data, eliminate silos, and give operators a single source of truth across their business. The goal is not complexity masked by intelligence, but clarity powered by it. This perspective resonates deeply within an industry that has been forced to adapt rapidly over the last several years. Rising labor costs, supply chain volatility, and shifting consumer expectations have made operational efficiency more critical than ever. AI for restaurants offers a way forward, but only if it is designed with operators in mind. Alex's background as a restaurant owner gives him credibility in a space crowded with tools built without firsthand understanding of hospitality. Rather than layering AI on top of broken systems, AIO was created to rethink how restaurant technology should function at its core. By consolidating data and surfacing insights that matter, the platform helps leaders focus on outcomes instead of dashboards. This approach reframes AI for restaurants as a practical business tool rather than a buzzword. Ford Saeks brings a complementary lens shaped by decades of helping organizations grow through alignment and execution. From his experience, technology only creates value when it simplifies decision-making and supports strategy. Businesses struggle when tools multiply faster than clarity. AI for restaurants becomes powerful when it reduces complexity, strengthens accountability, and supports leadership at every level. The restaurant industry is uniquely human. Success depends on people, process, and experience coming together seamlessly. Technology that disrupts that balance can do more harm than good. Alex's work emphasizes that AI should enhance hospitality, not interfere with it. By creating systems that serve operators, teams can spend less time managing tools and more time delivering great experiences. AI for restaurants also represents a shift in how founders and operators think about growth. Instead of adding layers of management or reactive reporting, intelligent systems provide foresight. That foresight allows leaders to address issues before they escalate, allocate resources more effectively, and maintain consistency across locations. In an industry defined by thin margins, those advantages compound quickly. Alex's transition from restaurant owner to tech founder highlights an important lesson for modern entrepreneurs. The most impactful solutions often come from those who have felt the pain themselves. By building AIO from the operator's perspective, he has positioned AI for restaurants as a bridge between technology and hospitality, not a barrier. As restaurants continue to evolve, the demand for smarter systems will only increase. Operators want tools that work together, insights that matter, and technology that respects the pace of real-world service. AI for restaurants, when executed thoughtfully, delivers on that promise. Alex Hult's work serves as a reminder that innovation does not always come from disruption alone. Sometimes it comes from simplification. By addressing the broken tech ecosystem head-on, he is helping restaurants reclaim clarity, efficiency, and confidence in an increasingly complex landscape. Watch the full episode on YouTube. Join Fordify LIVE every Wednesday at 11 a.m. Central on your favorite social platforms and catch The Business Growth Show Podcast every Thursday for a weekly dose of business growth wisdom. About Alex Hult Alex Hult is the Founder and CEO of AIO, an AI-first platform designed to simplify restaurant operations and eliminate fragmented technology systems. A former professional hockey player turned restaurant owner, Alex built and operated multiple restaurant and nightlife concepts before launching AIO to solve the operational challenges he experienced firsthand. His work focuses on using AI for restaurants to create clarity, efficiency, and smarter decision-making across the hospitality industry. Learn more at AIOapp.com About Ford Saeks Ford Saeks is a Business Growth Accelerator with more than two decades of experience helping organizations drive scalable, profitable growth. He has generated over one billion dollars in sales worldwide for companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 brands by helping leaders align strategy, systems, and execution. As President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., Ford works with business owners and executives to attract loyal customers, strengthen brand positioning, and ignite innovation. He has founded more than ten companies, authored five books, earned three U.S. patents, and received numerous industry awards for marketing and business excellence. Ford is widely recognized for his expertise in modern growth strategies, including AI-driven marketing, customer engagement, and operational efficiency. He hosts Fordify LIVE and The Business Growth Show Podcast, where he shares insights and conversations designed to help leaders think differently, act strategically, and grow with intention. Learn more at ProfitRichResults.com and watch his show at Fordify.tv. .

Send a textDr. Alexandra Cook is a second-generation single family office executive and the powerhouse behind Sunburst Ventures, with operations spanning Florida and Puerto Rico. In this rare fireside chat, she shares negotiation tactics, portfolio management frameworks, and behavioral insights learned from over 30 years in finance and private investing.You'll learn:Three advanced negotiation and deal structuring strategies she uses behind closed doorsThe #1 counterintuitive secret to partnering with $100M+ familiesHow she filters deal flow and what actually gets her attention in a pitchReal-world joint venture case studies and lessons from managing across industriesHer million-dollar advice on people, personality typing, and not being a control freakA must-listen for family office executives, strategic partners, and anyone navigating deals at the ultra-wealthy level.https://familyoffices.com/

Didn't get a Wed Pros Live ticket? Get on the waiting list!Show notes:This week I'm catching up with Ciara Crossan, throughout the episode, we explore the significance of utilising technology, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, to streamline operations and enhance client interactions. We addressed the necessity of data driven decision making, as understanding market trends and client preferences can significantly impact a business's success.Ciara's Instagram WedPro Instagram WedPro TiktokTime stamps:00:23 - Introduction to Wedding Business Strategies02:03 - The Evolution of Wed Pro and the Wedding Industry10:36 - The Importance of Authenticity in Business23:57 - Navigating Chaos in the Wedding Industry24:07 - The Birth of an Idea38:44 - Understanding Wedding Trends and Marketing Strategies46:45 - The Importance of Networking at Industry Events48:45 - The Power of Connection and Community

In today's economy, your brand is your most valuable asset. Who's protecting it? The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 257 features Rosa Villa, Founder and Managing Partner at Villa Law, PLLC in Miami, Florida. A University of Miami School of Law graduate, Rosa provides bold, results-driven representation in Intellectual Property, Entertainment, Employment Law, and business contracts. Born in Cuba and brought to the United States at just four years old, Rosa built her path from immigrant roots to leading a practice dedicated to protecting entrepreneurs, creatives, and businesses. At Villa Law, she guides clients through every stage of litigation and alternative dispute resolution - from strategic case development and high-impact negotiations to strong advocacy in federal and state courts. Outside the courtroom, Rosa works closely with innovators, artists, and companies of all sizes to proactively manage risk, protect valuable brands and ideas, and resolve employment, business, and IP matters with efficiency and precision. Her approach is both strategic and practical, focused on delivering solutions that support long-term growth. This episode presented by CallRail - Integrated into your case management system, CallRail helps you: Capture every call - even after hours Spot high-value leads instantly Respond faster Get the insights you need to bring in bigger cases Join over 3,000 law firms using CallRail to follow up faster, land bigger cases, and drive growth for your firm. Start your free trial at callrail.com/lawyerstories

Equity investment analyst Drew Macklis discusses how Capital Group is seeking an edge in analysing the ever-growing world of AI.  #CapGroupGlobal This content is intended to highlight issues and be of a general nature. It should not be considered  advice, an endorsement or a recommendation. Products mentioned are not an offer of the product and  may not be available for sale or purchase in all countries. All investments have risk, and you may lose  money. Past results are not a guarantee of future results. Statements attributed to an individual represent  the opinions of that individual as of the date published and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of  Capital Group or its affiliates. For our latest insights, practice management ideas and more, subscribe to Capital Ideas at  getcapitalideas.com. If you're based outside of the U.S., visit capitalgroup.com for Capital Group insights. Watch our latest podcast, Conversations with Mike Gitlin, on YouTube: https://bit.ly/CG-Gitlin-playlist This content is published by Capital Client Group, Inc., and copyrighted to Capital Group and affiliates,  2026, all rights reserved.  For more information, including our detailed disclosures, visit www.capitalgroup.com/global-disclosures. U.K. investors can view a glossary of technical terms here: https://bit.ly/49rdcFq To stay informed, follow us LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/42uSYbm YouTube: https://bit.ly/4bahmD0 Follow Mike Gitlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegitlin/ About Capital Group Capital Group was established in 1931 in Los Angeles, California, with the mission to improve people's  lives through successful investing. With our clients at the core of everything we do, we offer carefully  researched products and services to help them achieve their financial goals. Learn more: capitalgroup.com Join us: capitalgroup.com/about-us/careers.html Copyright ©2026 Capital Group

Stop being the bottleneck in your own company and start building an asset that high-value buyers actually want to acquire. Learn the "golden rule" of sellability and how to transition from a stressed owner-operator to a successful investor with multiple eight-figure exits. View the complete show notes for this episode. Want To Learn More?  M&A Guide | The 4 Types of Buyers of Businesses Selling a Business: A High-Level Overview  The Fungibility of Businesses as an Investment Additional Resources: Selling your business? Schedule a free consultation today. Sign up for an Assessment and Valuation of Your Business. Courses: The Art & Science of Selling a Business Download The Art of The Exit: The Complete Guide to Selling Your Business Download Acquired: The Art of Selling a Business With $10 Million to $100 Million in Revenue If you have any topic or guest suggestions, please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com.

Send a textFor decades, ERP systems have formed the operational backbone of enterprise organizations, enabling process consolidation, reducing data silos, and enforcing financial discipline. However, these benefits came with structural tradeoffs. Implementations were lengthy. Data models became rigid. Customizations and reporting required specialized skills and significant cost. As organizations move into 2026, tolerance for these constraints is declining. Businesses must respond faster to market shifts while maintaining tighter capital discipline and delivering modern user experiences. At the same time, the ERP landscape is undergoing a structural transition. Economic pressure, evolving business models, and rapid advances in AI are forcing vendors to rethink long-standing architectural assumptions. While many traditional vendors rely on incremental modernization, agentic overlays, or acquisitions, a new class of AI-native platforms is challenging the foundations of ERP design itself. This shift raises critical questions about data structures, transactional integrity, and system flexibility—separating superficial innovation from true architectural transformation.In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ provides comprensive insights into the state of ERP in 2026.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/the-state-of-erp-in-2026-ai-native-structural-shifts/Questions for Panelists?

What makes a small business attractive to buyers? In this episode, Bill Gallagher sits down with Phil Risher, founder of Flash Consulting, to unpack how service businesses can grow quickly and become attractive acquisition targets. Phil shares how he helped scale a home service company from $2.7M to $5M and sell it within two years by focusing on marketing systems, data, and repeatable customer acquisition. They explore why recurring revenue, strong margins, and systems that remove the owner from operations dramatically increase company value(05:47) You Don't Need a $10M Business to Sell*Many founders believe they must reach $10M in revenue before selling.*But smaller companies can still sell for strong valuations.*Bill shares an example of a company under $4M in revenue selling for around $21M.(18:20) Why Most Service Businesses Lose Leads*Many companies lose potential customers simply because they fail to follow up.*If someone fills out a form or calls but doesn't answer the first callback, the lead often disappears.*A simple system of texts, emails, and follow-up outreach dramatically improves conversion rates.(33:03) The “Key Person Risk” That Kills Business Sales*One of the biggest obstacles to selling a company is owner dependence.*If the owner is the primary salesperson or operator, buyers see risk.*Building a professional sales team and documented processes increases valuation.(36:50) Systems Turn a Job Into a Sellable Company*A business becomes valuable when it runs on systems instead of the founder.*Marketing, sales intake, follow-up, and operations must be documented.*When the owner steps back and the company still grows, buyers become interested.Thanks to Phil Risher for being on the show!Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philrisherLearn more about his work: https://phlashconsulting.com/about-phlash-consulting/Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshopBill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoachVisit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.Did you enjoy today's episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJSubscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00uBill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgall

Stephen Martin discusses the future of careers for dyslexics and neurodiverse individuals in the age of AI. He explores how entrepreneurship, hands-on trades, and social roles can be advantageous, and highlights the impact of AI on traditional jobs.TakeawaysImpact of AI on traditional jobsEntrepreneurship as a career path for dyslexicsHands-on trades and their future relevanceThe importance of social roles and human connectionAdapting education and skills for a neurodiverse workforceDyslexia, neurodiversity, careers, AI, entrepreneurship, trades, future jobs, innovation, technology, dyslexic entrepreneurs, ADHD, adults with dyslexia, support for adults.Join the clubrightbrainresetters.comGet 20% off your first orderaddednutrition.comIf you want to find out more visit:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠truthaboutdyslexia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/groups/adultdyslexia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Most entrepreneurs build their companies without thinking about the day someone might buy them.That's a huge mistake.Mark Sims joins Neil to break down the 5 Cs framework used by buyers and private equity firms to evaluate businesses. From competitive positioning to clean financials, from cash conversion cycles to operational capability, this conversation explains what actually drives valuation when a buyer looks at your company. If you want to build a business that sells, not just a job that pays you, this episode shows what serious buyers look for and why so many companies fail during due diligence.In This Episode, We Cover✅ The 5 Cs Framework for Business Value Mark breaks down the five factors buyers evaluate when looking at a company: competitive positioning, capability, cash conversion cycle, clean financials, and concentration risk. These elements determine how attractive a business is to investors and acquirers.✅ Competitive Positioning and Pricing Power Where your company sits in the market matters. Businesses with clear differentiation gain pricing power, stronger margins, and protection from commoditization.✅ Why Owner-Operator Businesses Struggle to Sell If the entire business depends on the founder, buyers see risk. Companies with documented systems, capable teams, and operational structure become far more attractive acquisition targets.

Most business owners have no idea what their company is really worth. They chase revenue, watch their bank balance, and assume growth equals value — until it's time to sell.    In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair sits down with Rafael Pinho, CPA and co-founder of TD Pinho Advisors, to break down how founders can turn financial data into real, transferable business value. Rafael explains why top-line growth doesn't equal valuation, how owner dependency destroys exit potential, and why clean books, strong operating agreements, and a trusted advisory team are non-negotiable if you want options.    Highlights: • What "transferable value" really means • Why revenue growth alone doesn't increase valuation • The investor's three priorities: predictability, growth, and risk mitigation • How a bad operating agreement can destroy deal value • The dangers of owner dependency • Why most founders never check the value of their biggest asset • Clean books vs "tax return accounting" • Separating revenue from real profitability • How delegation increases enterprise value • Why great leaders work themselves out of a job   Episode Resources: • Connect with Rafael Pinho • https://tdpineadvisors.com/ • Connect with Galen M. Hair • https://insuranceclaimhq.com • hair@hairshunnarah.com • https://levelupclaim.com/

An Auckland business association says the government's move on orders are "inhumane and a bad idea". Planned law changes will mean police can move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour; including those as young as 14. Karangahape Road is one of Auckland's most famous and colourful shopping and entertainment strips and it is host to some people who are effectively living on the street. But the K-Road Business Association does not support move on orders. General manager Jamey Holloway spoke to Lisa Owen.

Your shop floor and inventory management workflows might be spotless, but if your warehousing practices are poor, overall efficiency can still suffer. Luckily, tracking essential warehouse metrics provides insight into what's holding you back and why. You can learn more in this episode or read about it on our blog For more information about the MRPeasy software, visit our website: mrpeasy.com

Entrepreneurs are shifting away from traditional, rigid global expansion strategies in favor of flexible, digital-first approaches that prioritize adaptability and local market understanding. Outdated methods, such as replicating domestic models and making large upfront investments, often fail to address rapidly changing consumer preferences, regulations, and competition. Modern leaders break expansion into smaller stages, pilot offerings, and use digital infrastructure like cloud platforms and e-commerce to scale efficiently. Data from McKinsey indicates that companies leveraging digital sales channels grow cross-border revenue 1.5 times faster than those that do not. Forming partnerships with local experts helps businesses navigate regulatory and cultural complexities. Recommended actions include testing products in limited regions, using data to validate demand, hiring local talent, maintaining flexible operations, and staying customer-centric through ongoing feedback and analytics. Businesses are advised to reassess their international strategies, adopt digital tools, seek local partnerships, and focus on rapid learning and adaptation to succeed in global markets.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accenture has acquired Downdetector and Speedtest for $1.2 billion, integrating real-time outage tracking and internet speed measurement platforms into its service portfolio. Downdetector provides data on website and service outages, while Speedtest offers global internet speed analytics. This acquisition enables Accenture to deliver enhanced network performance insights, strengthen its digital transformation and cloud services, and offer proprietary data and analytics to address client needs around connectivity and reliability. Businesses are expected to benefit from improved outage alerts, faster issue resolution, and actionable analytics for optimizing network performance and infrastructure investments. The move highlights the increasing importance of real-time data in IT services and may prompt competitors to invest in similar technologies. Organizations are advised to assess their current IT monitoring strategies in light of new solutions that Accenture will offer.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

How can strategy stay intentional when planning cycles keep shrinking?In episode 263 of At The Table, Patrick Lencioni and Cody Thompson examine how the pace of change has transformed strategic planning. What once centered on five or ten-year plans now often lives within a three to six-month horizon.Rather than viewing this shift as chaotic, Patrick and Cody explain why a short-cycle strategy can be more responsible and effective. They explore how clarity of purpose and strong organizational health provide the stability needed to navigate constant change.Topics explored in this episode: (00:03:57) Why Planning Horizons Have ShrunkTechnology and the rapid flow of information have dramatically accelerated the pace of change.Businesses and industries now evolve so quickly that long-term certainty is nearly impossible.(00:07:24) Planning Without PanicA short-term strategy should not be confused with constant urgency or chaos.Leaders can use sprint-based planning and frequent reassessment to stay intentional and focused.(00:11:13) Values Replace Long-Term PredictionsClear purpose and behavioral values now anchor organizations more than long-range forecasts.Teams should focus on reaching the next base camp rather than mapping the entire journey.(00:14:08) Organizational Health Creates ResilienceStrong culture and clarity provide stability when strategies must change quickly.Healthy organizations can survive rapid shifts while competitors without strong foundations struggle.This episode of At The Table with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable. At The Table is a podcast that lives at the connection between work life, leadership, organizational health, and culture. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6NWAZzkzl4ljxX7S2xkHvu), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube). Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth, http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial, and https://x.com/patricklencioni. Be sure to check out our other podcast, The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3raC053GF5mtkq6Y1klpRU), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube). Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.

What separates coaches who feel constantly drained from those who genuinely love running their business? After several months of running my new membership, The Complete Coach, I've been watching some patterns emerge that might challenge what you think it takes to build a coaching practice.       In this episode, I'm sharing three patterns I'm seeing in thriving coaching businesses right now. If you've ever wondered whether there's a more sustainable, aligned way to grow your coaching business without burning out or forcing strategies that don't fit, this conversation will give you a new lens to consider what thriving in community actually looks like.              For full show notes and transcript, go to: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/279         Learn more about The Complete Coach here: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com/the-complete-coach           Follow along over on Instagram: instagram.com/lindsaydotzlaf

A new survey is providing a clearer picture of the challenges businesses across the Twin Cities are facing due to the two-month long surge of federal agents. Neighborhood Development Center, or NDC, heard from more than 130 businesses and shared the results with a state Senate committee in February. Almost two thirds of respondents said the impact has been “high or critical.” Nearly 80 percent saw emergency financial assistance as the top priority. Natalia Mercado, director of business services with NDC, shared more of the findings with host Nina Moini.

Get Jeff Dudan's book FOR FREE! Most businesses don't have a people problem — they have a clarity problem. In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Steve Baker (VP, The Great Game of Business | co-author of Get in the Game and the 20th Anniversary edition of The Great Game of Business) to break down why “open-book management” isn't about spreadsheets… it's about building ownership, accountability, and a winning culture. ✅ What you'll learn: Why leaders hide financials (and why it backfires) The real goal of open-book management: education + transparency How to get employees to think like owners without “boss energy” Why forecasting beats quotas (and kills sandbagging) Mini-games: the 90-day system to drive results and engagement How this applies to franchisees, franchisors, and operators

Get Jeff Dudan's book FOR FREE! Most businesses don't have a people problem — they have a clarity problem. In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Steve Baker (VP, The Great Game of Business | co-author of Get in the Game and the 20th Anniversary edition of The Great Game of Business) to break down why “open-book management” isn't about spreadsheets… it's about building ownership, accountability, and a winning culture. ✅ What you'll learn: Why leaders hide financials (and why it backfires) The real goal of open-book management: education + transparency How to get employees to think like owners without “boss energy” Why forecasting beats quotas (and kills sandbagging) Mini-games: the 90-day system to drive results and engagement How this applies to franchisees, franchisors, and operators

Podcast Show Notes – Episode 270 | 03.03.2025 Episode Title: Jeremy Jensen & Sean Barnes     Episode summary introduction: Sean Barnes sits down with Jeremy Jensen, founder of Encore Search Partners, to talk about what it really takes to build a high-performing business and a high-performing life. They get into culture and why one toxic top performer can quietly poison an entire organization, the brutal 2015 oil crash that nearly shut Jeremy's doors, and the mindset shift that comes from living below your means. The conversation turns personal as Jeremy shares how he rebuilt himself after divorce and a health wake-up call, and why real confidence comes from integrity, not optics. Then they zoom out to the executive hiring market in 2026, where AI, systems integration, and cost pressure are changing what companies hire for, and why senior leaders can't rely on yesterday's resume to win tomorrow's seat.   Key Moments 00:01:13 - Jeremy's business scale and why culture became non-negotiable 00:02:42 - “If you're a pain in my ass… hit the road”: removing toxic talent 00:07:48 - Family vs sports team: how Jeremy thinks about performance and standards 00:10:17 - 2015 crisis: revenue drops to $0 and the decision to double down 00:15:36 - Scrambling for revenue, survival creativity, and the value of a safety net 00:20:10 - Sean on financial discipline creating personal freedom and backbone 00:26:05 - Jeremy: divorce, rebuild, and the 2022 wake-up call at 284 lbs 00:31:23 - “I worked on myself for three years”: what actually changed 00:37:14 - What Jeremy wanted changed every 5 years: rich, power, fame… then respect 00:45:24 - Why people don't invest in coaching: cost vs investment mindset 00:51:06 - Sean: the leap into entrepreneurship, rebrand to Wolf Executives, restarting lean 01:07:18 - Executive hiring now: longer processes, interview fatigue, and “free consulting” fear 01:11:57 - 2026 trend: systems integration, AI, outsourcing, and profitability pressure 01:18:29 - The hiring trap: hiring “big company” execs who can't scale the next phase 01:21:11 - Sean's framework: clarity, visibility, value for career transitions 01:22:33 - Jeremy's next chapter: growth plan and May 16, 2026 wedding in Warsaw   Key Takeaways Culture beats “star power.” One toxic high performer can cap the entire team's output. When they're gone, the rest of the organization often accelerates.   Your safety net buys you options and integrity. Living below your means doesn't just protect you in downturns, it gives you the freedom to stand your ground when it matters.   In 2026, executive value is shifting toward integration and productivity. Companies want leaders who can implement systems, leverage AI, and improve profitability. If you're not evolving, someone younger and more current is already in the lane.   Guest: Jeremy Jensen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyjenson/ Website: https://encoresearch.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyjenson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@encoresearchpartners   Host: Sean Barnes Website: https://www.wolfexecutives.com   https://www.seanbarnes.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfexecutives https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/ LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7284600567593684993/   Twitter: https://x.com/seanbarnes https://x.com/wolfexecutives   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_seanbarnes https://www.instagram.com/wolfexecutives   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_seanbarnes   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theseanbarnes

This week, I sit down with Nick Richtsmeier to explore something many business owners feel but struggle to articulate: trust is eroding, and it is affecting every sales conversation.Nick challenges the traditional growth playbook. Instead of treating hesitation, resistance, or disengagement as problems to fix, he reframes them as valuable data. Distrust is not a failure. It is information.We talk about why digital systems reward speed and extraction over relationship building, and why small businesses feel the impact most. Nick introduces the idea of “trust nodes” as simple, human touch points that shape long-term loyalty far more effectively than funnels or persuasion tactics.If you have ever wondered why prospects seem more skeptical, why sales cycles feel longer, or why pushing harder no longer works, this conversation will give you language and clarity.At its heart, this episode is about returning to what actually grows business: authentic relationships built on transparency, alignment, and integrity.Key TakeawaysResistance in a sales conversation is not rejection. It is feedback.Distrust often reveals misalignment in expectations, incentives, or promises.Small relational moments, or trust nodes, matter more than automated campaigns.Traditional persuasion tactics are losing effectiveness in a skeptical market.Sustainable growth comes from strengthening relationships, not gaming systems.You can find Nick at: Culturecraft.comIn appreciation for being here, I have some gifts for you:A LinkedIn Checklist for setting up your fully optimized Profile:An opportunity to test drive the Follow Up system I recommend by checking this presentation page - you won't regret it. AND … Don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and be eligible for my complimentary LinkedIn profile audit – I do one each month for a lucky listener!Connect with me:http://JanicePorter.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/janiceporter/https://www.facebook.com/janiceporter1https://www.instagram.com/socjanice/Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode andthink that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the socialmedia buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note inthe comment section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you cansubscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcast reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us andgreatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple, whichexposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute,please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

What’s the Real AI Opportunity? You know me. I think the AI thing is a bit of a sandstorm. A gold rush. There’s no question its useful (I use it for a ton of stuff actually) and there’s no question its only going to get better. But in the early stages of any new tech, there’s a lot of hype, a lot of bandwagon-joining, and a lot of waste. (Y2K? NFT’s? Anyone…?) What I can say for sure is there’s not a ton of benefit in building Custom GPT’s that will ‘replace what we do’. First of all…why would we hasten our own exit? But also, where’s the consistency of knowledge going to come from? The internet? The bad ideas peddled in certifications? Reddit? Then I hear there’s AI opportunity in binding and automating JIRA workflows, or even PO through development strands. Interesting ideas with no real contenders yet. But here’s what I DO know. Businesses, especially the biggest ones struggle with speed. They’re desperate to innovate – if only to beat their competitors to market. They have the best talent pools, and funds to build and experiment. They’re just no darned good at it. Same story. Silos, dependencies, lack of executive support, fear of failure, organizational inertia. And THAT growing distance between potential and capability is the real AI Opportunity. What Will Never Change AI will keep growing and shifting. The big surprises are still ahead of us. And you don’t need to call out what they are. What you need to recognize is that big groups of people are always slow to move. There’s a natural heaviness to large groups, and with only a few exceptions, they’re not nimble, or agile. It doesn’t matter what the next big thing is. ChatGPT went crazy almost overnight. I first heard about it early 2022 and its been all we’ve been discussing since. If it takes you 2 1/2 years to leverage the advantage, you’re behind. I’m not even sure people WANT to adopt AI that rapidly. Because in this moment, there’s a lot of fear hovering over job loss, ethical use and security. Which means the real AI opportunity will remain elusive to companies unless they learn how to manage that inertia. You could be helping them overcome that fear. If you liked this episode, you should also check out… Will AI Save Agile? Episode_272_AI_and_Agile Adam Smith of Tension – Navigating AI Disruption and Leading The Unknown **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK** Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Q1 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025!  Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.

There's been near-constant change when it comes to U.S. trade policy. Soon after entering office, President Trump raised import taxes on China, Canada and other major trade partners. On Feb. 19 of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that much of President Donald Trump's tariff policy was illegal. The next day, the White House imposed a 10% global tariff — then switched the number to 15%.Representatives from a variety of industries discuss the tariffs' impacts on business and their reactions to the Supreme Court ruling.Nik Holm is the CEO of Terry Precision Cycling, a Burlington-based women's cycling apparel company. Terry Cycling was one of the small businesses that sued President Trump and his administration over tariffs.Holmes Jacobs owns Two Brothers Tavern, a bar and restaurant in Middlebury. His recent Facebook post about the tariffs' negative impact on small businesses drew hundreds of comments. Allison Hope is the executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association. The U.S. imports syrup and sugaring supplies from Canada.Jesse Mitchell works in imports and exports with Strader-Ferris International, a customs brokerage company with offices in New York and Ontario. He says the past year has been the most challenging in the company's 75-year history, due to the tariffs.Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

"I can't think about cybersecurity this week; I'm thinking about 1099s."You're not alone. Many SMBs see the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) as an overwhelming manual for government contractors, not a local shop or startup. Jen Stone sits down with Daniel Eliot, NIST's lead for small business engagement. We break down the new NIST CSF 2.0 Small Business Quick Start Guide —a "small-chunk" resource designed for under-resourced organizations to move from chaos to a structured program. In this episode:Why having "everyone" responsible means "nobody" is.How to build a "reasonable" security program while managing payroll and daily operations.Why taking security seriously helps you win bigger contracts and scale safely.The exact steps (MFA, patching, backups, and more) that even large orgs get wrong.NIST ResourcesNIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology): https://www.nist.gov/Small Business Cybersecurity Corner: https://www.nist.gov/itl/smallbusinesscyberNIST CSF 2.0 (Cybersecurity Framework): https://www.nist.gov/cyberframeworkSmall Business Quick Start Guide: https://www.nist.gov/publications/nist-cybersecurity-framework-20-small-business-quick-start-guideContact Daniel and his team: smallbizsecurity@nist.govKey Term DefinitionsThe 6 Functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and RecoverMFA: Multi-Factor Authentication—essential for account access. Patching: Updating software to fix security "holes." MSP/MSSP: Local experts you can hire to manage IT security. Timestamps00:00 – Many hats of small business owners00:26 – Daniel Eliot and NIST's Mission02:25 – Exploring the Small Business Cybersecurity Corner03:20 – What is the NIST CSF?04:26 – The Small Business Quick Start Guide for CSF 2.006:52 – How to Identify Your Most Critical Assets09:56 – When to Seek Help: Engaging MSPs and Local Resources10:52 – Defining a "Successful" Cybersecurity Program13:21 – Essential Fundamentals: MFA, Patching, and Backups15:35 – How to Engage Directly with NIST Jen Stone (MCIS, CISSP, CISA, QSA) is a Principal Security Analyst at SecurityMetrics. With 25+ years in IT and 100+ high-level assessments, Jen specializes in making complex compliance actionable for businesses of all sizes. Outside of security, she is an aerial arts enthusiast and motorcycle rider. Request a Quote for a PCI Audit ► https://www.securitymetrics.com/pci-audit Request a Quote for a Penetration Test ► https://www.securitymetrics.com/penetration-testing Get the Guide to PCI DSS compliance ► https://www.securitymetrics.com/lp/pci/pci-guide Get FREE security and compliance training ► https://academy.securitymetrics.com/ Get in touch with SecurityMetrics' Sales Team ► https://www.securitymetrics.com/contact/lets-get-you-to-the-right-place

Businesses are pouring millions into generative AI—chatbots, copilots, “agents”—while quietly ignoring the other half of the AI stack that's been delivering measurable value for decades. Predictive AI doesn't write poetry. It predicts who's going to churn, which transaction is fraud, and which customer is worth contacting. It calculates probabilities and helps you act on them at scale. Not glamorous. Just effective.In this conversation, Eric Siegel—author of The AI Playbook and founder of Machine Learning Week—makes a subversive claim: most organizations should be investing at least as much in predictive AI as generative AI. The problem isn't the math. It's the gap between tech and business. Companies celebrate models as value. But the model isn't the value. Acting on predictions is.Related Links:Join the People Managing People CommunitySubscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcastsCheck out this episode's sponsor: DeelConnect with Eric:LinkedInGooder AICheck out Eric's book: The AI PlaybookSupport the show

Krish Palaniappan opened the conversation by framing a reality many engineering founders quietly experience: building great software no longer guarantees discovery. As a product-focused technologist, he described how teams obsess over features, architecture, and scalability—only to realize after launch that visibility is an entirely different discipline. His questions weren't theoretical; they came from lived experience. Why doesn't technically superior software automatically surface in search? When did marketing become both art and science? And at what point should engineering teams start thinking about discoverability instead of treating it as an afterthought? Jimi Gibson, VP of Brand Communications at Thrive Agency, responded from the vantage point of two decades in digital marketing, explaining that the rules of visibility have fundamentally shifted. Traditional SEO, he noted, focused on ranking pages, but the AI era evaluates trust, authority, and structured answers. Businesses are no longer competing just for keywords; they are competing to become the verified entity an AI system chooses to cite. Throughout the discussion, Jimi unpacked how Answer Engine Optimization, structured content, and visible expertise are redefining how companies get found—and why engineering-led organizations must adapt sooner rather than later.

In this episode of Pathmonk Presents, David Murimi, Co-Founder and CEO of TrueHost, shares how his team helps small businesses launch, grow, and convert online without overspending. TrueHost goes beyond traditional web hosting by offering an AI website builder, Google Business profile optimizer, and practical go-to-market tools designed for early-stage founders. David dives into why conversion optimization matters more than pouring money into ads, how content marketing drives qualified traffic, and why fast, functional websites often outperform flashy designs. If you're a founder or marketer focused on extracting more value from your existing traffic, this conversation will reshape how you think about your website's role in growth.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Randy Nornes, the 2025 Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award Winner, about his career. They talk about uncertainty and a long-term approach to risk. Randy won the 2025 Goodell Award for his lifetime achievements. He is a problem solver. Randy advises risk professionals not to focus on what they did yesterday, but on what is happening today, and to stay current with risks such as AI and cyber risk. Randy talks about how staying with Aon for years has given him the latitude to look across the company and focus on the next risk. Listen for tips on laying the groundwork before the risks.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:16] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is 2025 Goodell Award Winner Randy Nornes. We will learn all about his fascinating career and his risk philosophies. But first… [:42] RIMS Virtual Workshops. On March 10th and 11th, we have a two-day course led by John Button for the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep. [:53] On March 17th and 18th, RIMS will align with AFERM for a two-day RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Course. [1:01] On March 4th and 5th, we have a virtual workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", with Joe Milan. On April 15th, we have a virtual workshop covering "Emerging Risks", led by Joseph Mayo. [1:18] Register today and strengthen your risk knowledge. RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:26] Webinars. On March 6th, RIMS presents "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management". We'll be joined by a Chief Risk Officer, an underwriter, and a broker. [1:40] They will explore their career paths, risk and safety philosophies, and lend some insight as to why this is the time for the next generation of leaders to rise. [1:51] For a quick preview, check out last week's episode with Cynthia Garcia. She is the Chief Risk Officer from Bernards, who will be joining us on that exciting panel. [2:00] On March 12th, Global Risk Consultants returns with "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes". Register for these and other webinars by visiting RIMS.org/webinars and the links in this episode's show notes. [2:20] On with the Show! Our guest today, Randy Nornes, is the 2025 Harry and Dorothy Goodel Award Winner. [2:29] Named after the first President of RIMS and his wife, the Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award honors an individual who has furthered the goals of risk management and the Society through outstanding service and lifetime achievement. [2:41] Randy Nornes exemplifies all that and more. He has been with Aon for 38-plus years. Currently, Randy is the Executive Vice President and Enterprise Client Partner for Technology, Media, and the Communications Industry. He has done some volunteer work, which we will talk about. [3:00] Randy has a fascinating career. We're going to learn about it as well as his leadership style, his risk philosophy, and how he is keeping Aon at the forefront of AI innovation. [3:09] [If you've been to RISKWORLD, you've seen Randy in the halls and the educational sessions. He has been an ever-present force there. And he is a highly-regarded member of the Chicago RIMS Chapter. Let's get to it! [3:23] Interview! 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes, welcome to RIMScast! [3:44] Randy is proud of that award. He wonders, after receiving a lifetime achievement award, what's next? Retirement? Should he write a book? [4:11] On the day of the award, Randy was backstage with Martha Stewart and had a chance to visit with her and discuss risk management. [4:21] Randy's wife and one of his sons were in the audience. When Martha Stewart came out and spoke, she referred to their conversation. Randy gained credibility at home that Martha Stewart listened to what he had to say! [4:52] Justin says that RISKWORLD 2025 was fantastic! Randy says he has probably attended three dozen RISKWORLD conferences. He says they get better and are different every time. You can see, decade by decade, what's important. [5:31] There is a wonderful profile on Randy Nornes, written by Russ Banham, in the special Awards edition of RIMS Risk Management Magazine. It is still available online. That's how Justin got to know Randy Nornes before this interview. [5:57] Randy always tries to link up with what the next big thing is. Since late 2025, Randy has been leading Aon's AI infrastructure efforts, from the financing of data centers, to the construction, to the development, to the operation, and to the energy attached to that.  [6:28] AI is the next big thing. Randy says that 40% of GDP is coming through the lens of building AI infrastructure. Aon has a big team for it, and that's what Randy does every day. He says it's massive, exciting, and relentless. [7:03] Randy says, Because it's coming so fast and furious, it's not something you have time to sit back and think about. He says we're seeing this thing evolve week by week. It's global. Risk management is at the center of making it all work. [7:27] Randy says there's a different lens depending on where you sit in the AI infrastructure world. Everyone is thinking about the risks of the construction, the operation, the access to power, and the climate. It's all melded into one thing. [7:48] Randy calls the Chicago RIMS Chapter big and vibrant. Chicago is unique in having representation from so many different industries. It's not highly concentrated. People have a lot of lenses to look at risks through. It makes for good conversations. [8:11] Justin notes that last year's Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack, was from Chicago. The Rising Star, Megan Smalter, was originally from Chicago. Randy has spent time on the West and East Coasts, and he finds the Chicago Chapter unique, with 25 different industries. [8:49] Justin gives a shout-out to Julie Bean, the 2024 Heart of RIMS Award Winner. Justin says Randy is in great company. The talent coming out of Chicago brings something special to RIMS. [9:27] Randy was going to be a banker. A banker manages risk around lending and projects. It's not a huge leap to get to the world of risk management from there. [9:44] In the 1980s, it was a turbulent time for banking. We had just come out of a tough inflationary period, with real estate bankruptcies and banks and savings and loans going under. His advisor told him not to go into banking. [10:18] Randy interviewed someone from Chubb. Chubb was scaling up a new product, Directors' and Officers' insurance. Randy was good at case studies in business school. Underwriting D&O insurance is a case study. Randy thought he could do that job. [10:54] Randy started at Chubb and ended where he is today. In 1987, Randy moved to Frank B. Hall, acquired by Aon in 1992. He was young and a good worker, so he was kept by the company. He says it was a trip working alongside Pat Ryan and learning the business at Chubb. [11:48] Pat Ryan took Randy and others under his wing. He is a great mentor. Randy credits him for access. Randy mentions other early supporters, Al Diamond and Skip Dunn. With Pat Ryan, Randy was always looking for the next big risk to come along or a new framework. [13:00] In the 1990s, governance, Sarbanes-Oxley, and enterprise risk frameworks came to the forefront, following bankruptcies of major companies that had appeared to be successful. [13:28] When enterprise risk became a thing, it needed frameworks. That led Randy to build one of the first enterprise-risk-focused teams to help companies think about it. This was before COSO. [13:55] Randy says a lot of the clients they dealt with in those early days were in industries where someone had already gone through some trauma, and they wanted to make sure they weren't next up. It was a lot of, "Hurry up and make sure we're OK!" [14:26] Randy says, in the 1990s, they were doing risk modeling. The reinsurance teams had risk models that ran on AS400 mainframe computers. They had to book computing time to run a scenario with a set of assumptions. They would run 10,000 simulations in a day. [14:55] If they wanted to change the assumptions, they had to book another time. [15:02] Now it's all on the laptop. The quality of data is significantly higher. They can do it in real time. Risk managers today may not recognize how lucky they are. [15:24] Randy says, We're always trying to decide what problem we're trying to solve for and what we know about that particular issue. The modeling is the entry point to know what to do or what matters. [16:10] Randy thinks risk is a terrible word. We risk professionals have a hard time communicating with people who aren't in our space when we use the word risk. Everyone has a different definition of risk. Randy says everyone can get on board with certainty and uncertainty. [16:34] Randy says, what we're doing with modeling is trying to understand what the distance between certainty and uncertainty looks like. Then, we have to decide what's comfortable and where our tolerance is. Then, decide what to do with the part that we want to get rid of. [16:48] That's at the core of risk management, and it hasn't changed in decades. The tools we have now have changed dramatically. [16:56] Justin cites Christy Kaufman from the profile article, who said that Randy is far more than a traditional broker; he is a thought partner and a problem-solver. Justin asks what allows Randy to move beyond transactional work into a strategic advisory mindset. [17:19] Randy says insurance is a complete waste of money, unless you can show how you're adding value. You can get there by showing this uncertainty spectrum and understanding it. [17:58] Randy says the mindset is, "I've parachuted in. What do we have going on?" If I did that today, I'd be looking at supply chain issues. It's amazing when you have that lens. Early on, he looked at a supply chain that was "perfect, end-to-end" on spreadsheets. [18:27] Everything was manually entered. Managers were judged on average inventory levels, and wanted to keep the levels as low as possible. To game the system, they ran inventory at the lowest level.  [18:57] They would raise the inventory at the end of the month to make it look like they were on target. It was not a real-time inventory. It looked like risk management was fine, but the chance of a stockout or a long-term impact was pretty great. [19:24] A Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. [19:43] Booth sales are open now. General registration and speaker registration are also open right now. Marketplace and hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes, and be sure to check out RIMS.org for more information. [20:02] Save the dates March 18th and 19th, 2026, for the RIMS Legislative Summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C.! Join us in Washington, D.C. for two days of Congressional meetings, networking, and advocating on behalf of the risk management community. [20:19] Visit RIMS.org/advocacy for more information and to register. Also, check out the prior episode of RIMScast, Episode 378, featuring RIMS General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs, Mark Prysock, as we discuss the top priorities for RIMS in 2026 and beyond. [20:39] The Second Annual RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held in San Antonio from August 10th through August 12th. [20:46] The call for submissions for educational sessions is open through March 18th. Check out the link in this episode's show notes and make a pitch! Hopefully, you get selected, and we'll see you in San Antonio! [20:59] Let's Return to Our Interview with 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes! [21:19] Justin asks how Randy delivers good or bad news to a high-level executive. Randy says he was gifted by his radio announcer father with a very calm demeanor. You're delivering what it is, based on some fact. Randy has had to deliver a lot of crazy facts over the years. [22:29] Early in his career, Randy had a financial institution client. They had some major issues. He was standing outside the boardroom, ready to go in to tell them whether they had insurance or not. They did not. He was on the phone with London, working out some coverage. [23:28] He got the message while he was in there that they had managed to land something for the client, so he could pivot. His colleagues said they couldn't believe how calm he had been, going in. [24:11] Randy says it's best to set the landscape with executives before extra risk is taken, showing alternatives and strategy, so if something happens, it was foreseen, you were just unlucky in that year. [24:53] If you hadn't done the front-end work and gotten everybody onboard to see why it was the right strategy, then the news of unanticipated issues gets a lot harder to deliver. [25:04] There's a lot of front-end work to do. To drop bad news on people without any prep is going to be a lot harder. Being transparent and on the same page, especially with finance people, makes communication easy. This flows up to the CFO and higher. Set the foundation. [25:51] Randy has 100s of people focused on data centers. They have analysts and use AI for some things. There are people from the financial institution vertical, construction, operations, cyber, AI, energy, and renewal. They gather together. It's multidisciplinary, under one umbrella. [27:05] Randy says his leadership style is collaborative. He tries to lift the whole team, orchestrating how it comes together. He lets them have the success they deserve. Randy is a strong proponent of mentorship. It's the secret to his success. [27:50] Randy has worked with some people for his entire career, as clients, colleagues, or competitors, and he stays connected with them. Hundreds of people fit that profile. [28:17] Another Quick Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's Risk Manager on Campus application period will open on April 1st, 2026, and it will close on June 30th. Grant awardees, colleges, and universities are typically notified in September. [28:43] The Course Development Grant application deadline for Interval Number 2 will be on June 15th, 2026. Award notifications will be sent out in late July. [28:57] General Grant applications will open on May 1st, 2026, and the application deadline is July 30th. Internship Grant applications open on August 15th and close on October 15th. [29:10] Links to each of these grants are in this episode's show notes. Visit SpencerEd.org for more information. [29:18] Let's Conclude Our Interview with 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes. [29:39] Randy worked with Pat Ryan to lead the Risk Management and Financial Guarantee Team for Chicago's 2016 Summer Olympic bid. Randy says when Pat retired as CEO of Aon, he took on this project to head Chicago's Olympic bid. He invited Randy to the project. [30:19] In an Olympic Bid, the city has to sign a Host City Agreement that says they will take on the risks of delivering the Games. There's an effective financial guarantee. Globally, it is often done on a country level. That's not how it operates in the U.S. [30:43] Pat and Randy had to figure out how to de-risk the games so that what the city's guarantee would look like was limited because the team had built insurance and risk management. On the construction side, they had contractors take on risks. [31:03] They created a de-risking model. It was the first time anyone had done that for an Olympic Games. Chicago was not successful, but the work the team did on de-risking the Games became the model that a lot of Western cities took on for their Olympic bids. [32:03] Randy says you start with a line-item budget that the bid team puts out. A big part of it is the construction of venues, living spaces, technology, including massive broadcast bandwidth, tens of thousands of volunteers to transport and train, and secure. [32:35] Randy says they took the line-item budget and worked on each item separately, to create certainty and shrink the distance between certain and uncertain, so that when they put the umbrella guarantee on top of it, it touched a lot fewer things and had a lot more certainty. [33:01] The biggest thing the umbrella policy covered is delivering the Games on a certain date. No delays. All the costs are front-end. If, for some reason, the Games don't happen: terrorism, global war, or pandemic, you're stuck with all those front-end costs. It's the worst case. [33:39] The closer you get to the event, the more risk you have. Then you have the three or four weeks when you're delivering the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. [33:49] Randy says it was interesting. They did a white paper on it, "How to De-risk Games." It was done to encourage cities not to be afraid to host the Games. [34:19] Randy says, over the years, when cities in North America are bidding for Winter or Summer, they reach out, and Pat and Randy give them the template. San Francisco, LA, Boston, and Calgary all asked for it. [34:51] Most of the people on the Bid Committee were on the City level. It was Mayor Daley, his staff, and 50 aldermen. Randy says, We gave them lots of transparency into what we were doing. [35:16] Randy says they provided 1,200 pages of material, in 3-ring binders, for each of the aldermen. They also put all the text on discs to search electronically. Later, an alderman called Randy, angry because he couldn't listen to the disc in his car. Randy explained it to him. [3:24] Randy thinks a city should be thankful to host the Olympic Games. They make the city sparkle. The city gets a big influx of outside money. Chicago would have gotten a lot of Federal money. The transportation system would have been upgraded. It would make the city better. [36:49] Randy describes how London and Paris were improved by hosting the Olympic Games. If you're thinking of bidding, it's worth it. Randy wishes Chicago's bid had been successful. [37:33] Justin and Randy comment on the Milan Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The next Winter Olympics will be on the French side of the Alps. [38:01] Justin says that Chicago is known for its colorful history of notorious characters. [38:45] Justin asks Randy about Project Six. Project Six came out of the Olympic Bid. Seeing corruption in the city government, Randy and a few committee members put together Project Six, referring to the six business leaders who partnered with Elliot Ness to go after Al Capone. [39:44] They set up Project Six as a nonprofit whistleblower organization so people could come to report corruption. They got hundreds of whistleblower tips. They published things and gave information on criminal activity to Federal prosecutors. [40:07] Some things were not criminal but unethical. When the Chicago Cubs were playing in the World Series, public officials paid face value for Cubs tickets instead of the market price. Project Six brought it to the ethics committee, and they changed that practice for tickets. [41:31] Randy says they did not make a lot of friends in public office. Project Six is closed. [41:47] Randy talks about angering a bunch of people in public office. They went after Project Six because they weren't getting whistleblower tips on Republicans. There might have been one Republican commissioner in Chicago. [42:20] Randy says some of the senior people they ruffled went after donors. So it was a better idea to shut it down. It ran for three and a half years. [42:41] Randy says the biggest frustration was how slow things move. It takes years for some convictions to go through. You would like justice to happen faster. Randy hopes that when high-profile people go to prison, others pause to consider. [43:59] Randy gives his advice on what separates a good risk manager or problem solver from a great one. He says not to get too focused on what you did yesterday. Every day, step back and ask, Am I still doing the right stuff? Am I focused on the right thing? [44:26] You have a fixed amount of money to spend to solve your risk problems. You're insuring your buildings for fire, but over time, you've engineered them to be fire-resistant. There is less risk. At the same time, you have AI, cyber risk, and new things that come in. [44:48] Is it better to direct money to solve cyber risk and take on more risk for property? Don't get hung up on what you did yesterday. Stepping back and staying on top of what's happening with the business has never been more important. [45:17] Businesses are transforming before our eyes, and AI is leading the transformation. Make sure you're interacting with your business to stay current on what the business is all about. [46:02] Randy says being at Aon a long time has given him a lot of latitude to do all the things he has done. He can look for new things, cut across the towers that exist and think about risk at the broadest level. [46:40] If you move company to company, you'll step into the new role, fix a few things, and move to the next company. You won't have the latitude to experiment with new things or ask what comes next. You're there because you're needed at that time. [47:07] Randy says, That can be comfortable. But don't get too comfortable and make sure you're staying current. [47:17] We really appreciate you joining us here on the show. I want to wish you congratulations again on the Goodel Award. It's a big honor here at RIMS, and you certainly deserve it. [47:27] I look forward to meeting you in Philadelphia, from May 3rd through the 6th at RISKWORLD! Thank you so much for joining us here on RIMScast, Randy! [47:40] Special thanks again to 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes, for joining us here on RIMSCast! A link to his profile in RIMS Risk Management Magazine's Awards Edition 2025 is in this episode's show notes. [47:57] He's one of our men in Chicago. Check out ChicagoRIMS.org. They have a live event coming up called "Nuclear Verdicts: Live Mock Trial for Evaluating Litigation Risk and Strategy"  at the Aon Center (Chicago), on March 11th. You might see Randy there! [48:14] We've got the Chicago RIMS Annual Golf Outing on September 21st, and the 11th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum on September 24th at the Old Post Office in Chicago. They're one of our most active and vibrant chapters, so check out those events and visit ChicagoRIMS.org. [48:34] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [49:02] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [49:20] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [49:37] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [49:54] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [50:08] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [50:20] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS Legislative Summit — March 18-19, 2026 on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. | Register now! RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! Spencer Educational Foundation — Scholarships and Grants RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2026 Education Content Submission — Deadline March 18, 2026! RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | April ‒ June 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RIMS Compensation Survey 2025 — Download Today RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute | Awards Edition 2025 RIMS Now RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Video Series Featuring Joe Milan! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS-CRMP Story, featuring John Button RIMScast Canada — Episodes Now Live RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam PrepMarch 10‒11 | April 21‒22 | June 9‒10 RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM | March 17‒18 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS Virtual Workshop – Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making | March 4‒5 | Register Now Risk Appetite Management | March 25‒26 Claims Management | April 7‒8 Emerging Risks | April 15 | Register Now! Upcoming RIMS Webinars: Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management | March 6 | Presented by RIMS Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes | March 12 | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Investing In Yourself with RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla" "RIMS 2024 Goodell Award Winner Eamonn Cunningham"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Manny Padilla!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Randy Nornes, at Aon   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.

In this webinar turned podcast, Scott Becker is interviewed by Becky Robinson, founder and CEO of Weaving Influence on his upcoming book “Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks, and Scale with Confidence”.

Bradley sits down with Greg Crabtree — CPA, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits, and founder of a consulting practice that grew from a $1M local firm to a $7M national operation — for a candid, data-driven conversation about what it actually takes to build a profitable business in today's economy.Greg shares what 40+ years of working with entrepreneurs has taught him, why the old playbook no longer applies, and what the numbers say is separating thriving businesses from struggling ones right now.Key TakeawaysPay yourself a market-based wage. Greg's research is clear: every time a business owner raises their salary to a true market wage and builds profitability on top of it, they make more money — far exceeding the payroll tax cost. It's behavioral economics: you fight harder to protect payroll than you do to protect profit.Stop spending money to save on taxes. If you didn't need that piece of equipment for 52 weeks, you don't need it now. You can't spend a dollar to save 40 cents and come out ahead. Make more money and pay the tax — that's how you build wealth.The growth-gets-you-out-of-jail strategy is broken. In a no-growth economy, you can't count on revenue to bail you out of over-investing in people, technology, or overhead. The move: cut costs to get profitable with what you have, then grow.The black hole has expanded. Greg's 100-company model shows the toughest profitability squeeze is now hitting the $3M–$10M range — not just the $3M mark. Businesses in this zone are incurring enterprise-level costs without enterprise-level scale.Management efficiency is the separator. The businesses pulling ahead right now are lean on management labor. Many are early AI adopters — using software agents to do more with the same dollars and freeing up management bandwidth to actually use data rather than just collect it.

In this episode, Virginia sits down with serial entrepreneur and author Italia Tornabene to talk about: How survival shaped Italia's first real entrepreneurial moves Building timeless brands across beauty, wine, and education Who her ideal clients are for Bene Bellezza, Tornabene Wine, and Baxter Learns to Save Why entrepreneurs should show up on every relevant platform The unexpected power of LinkedIn for connection and growth Business goals: translations, toys, cartoons, and international expansion The reality of pivoting (tariffs, shipping holds, state-by-state licensing) Why “pivot” is not failure—and how to keep going when platforms change the rules Managing nine businesses with systems, manuals, and team structure Letting go of control and delegating without losing the vision “Reinventing” vs evolving—and what it takes to let go of what doesn't serve you Mind, body, soul habits and where Italia finds clarity Italia's nonprofit: Empower Her Journey (25% of proceeds from every business) Episode link:https://entrepreneurconundrum.com/italiatornabene Italia Tornabene www.italiatornabene.com www.suitstostilettos.com www.tornabenewine.com https://benebellezza.com/ @italiatornabene Virginia Purnell Funnel & Visibility Specialist Distinct Digital Marketing (833) 762-5336 virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

Immigration policy has significant impacts on businesses, and the debate over wise immigration policy includes many economic and political considerations. This panel will discuss the most significant challenges that immigration policy poses for businesses, including the future of H-1B visas and I-9 enforcement.Featuring:Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, The Heritage FoundationJames Rogers, Senior Counsel, America First LegalPatrick Shen, Vice President, Immigration Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceChris L. Thomas, Partner, Holland & Hart(Moderator) Randel K. Johnson, Immigration Academic Fellow, Cornell Law School

Just over three months before the World Cup descends on Kansas City this June, small businesses are preparing to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors. That means updating menus and websites to accommodate international travelers, and getting staff trained for the expected crowds.

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Ethan Ouyang, Head of the U.S. Department of Atoms at DeepWisdom, to discuss a new class of AI innovation: autonomous AI teams capable of building, launching, and operating real businesses from a single prompt. Ouyang described Atoms as a next-generation AI business solution designed to move beyond copilots and task-based agents. Rather than assisting humans with discrete workflows, Atoms functions as a coordinated, multi-agent system that can plan, execute, iterate, and grow revenue-generating products. The platform leverages open-source models and modular architecture to deliver enterprise-grade performance while maintaining cost efficiency and flexibility. A central theme of the conversation was the shift from “AI tools” to “AI organizations.” Ouyang explained that Atoms is structured to simulate functional teams—product, engineering, marketing, and operations—working collaboratively to bring an idea to market. This approach enables faster experimentation, shorter development cycles, and measurable business outcomes. For telecom, MSP, and channel audiences, the implication is significant: AI is no longer just about automation within existing businesses—it may also become a mechanism for creating entirely new lines of revenue. Ouyang also addressed the economics of AI deployment. As infrastructure costs and model usage scale, enterprises are increasingly seeking performance-per-dollar advantages. Atoms is positioned to deliver competitive output quality while reducing operational expense through optimized model orchestration and autonomous workflow design. The result, he suggested, is a more sustainable path toward AI-driven growth. Looking ahead, Ouyang framed Atoms as part of a broader transformation in how organizations think about productivity and entrepreneurship. As AI systems gain the ability to operate with greater autonomy, the competitive advantage will shift toward those who can effectively deploy and govern these digital teams. For technology providers and partners, that represents both a strategic opportunity and a call to rethink traditional business models. More information about Atoms and DeepWisdom's autonomous AI initiatives is available at https://atoms.dev/.

This Day in Maine for Monday, March 2, 2026.

Send a textRyan Pineda interviews Brian Moran about the explosive rise of AI, as Brian shares how he built a fully functional app in 45 minutes to prove AI's power to his resistant engineering team, highlighting why entrepreneurs must trust their instincts and adapt quickly or risk being left behind.⁣⁣Connect with Brian - ⁣https://www.instagram.com/brianmoran13/?hl=en⁣__________⁣If you want to start your real estate investing business, we'll give you 1:1 coaching, seller leads, software, & everything you need. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com⁣⁣If you're a business owner who wants to get in peak physical shape, we can help! https://www.boardroom-athlete.com/apply⁣⁣Join our private mastermind for elite business leaders who golf. https://www.mastermind19.com⁣⁣Join free Bible studies and workshops for Christian business leaders. https://www.tentmakers.us⁣__________⁣CHAPTERS: ⁣0:00 - AI Is Moving Faster Than Anyone Expected.⁣2:10 - Layoffs, Fear, and Why Ignoring AI Is Dangerous.⁣4:33 - The 45-Minute App That Changed Everything.⁣6:57 - Trusting Your Gut as a Visionary Leader in the AI Era.Learn how to invest in real estate with the Cashflow 2.0 System! Your business in a box with 1:1 coaching, motivated seller leads, & softwares. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com/Want to work 1:1 with Ryan Pineda? Apply at ryanpineda.comJoin our FREE community, weekly calls, and bible studies for Christian entrepreneurs and business people. https://tentmakers.us/Want to grow your business and network with elite entrepreneurs on world-class golf courses? Apply now to join Mastermind19 – Ryan Pineda's private golf mastermind for high-level founders and dealmakers. www.mastermind19.com--- About Ryan Pineda: Ryan Pineda has been in the real estate industry since 2010 and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. He has completed over 700 flips and wholesales, and he owns over 650 rental units. As an entrepreneur, he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. Ryan has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generated over 1 billion views online. Starting as a minor league baseball player making less than $2,000 a month, Ryan is now worth over $100 million. He shares his experiences in building wealth and believes that anyone can change their life with real estate investing. ...

The Devil Within Wings of Prophecy — Part Two: The Final Witnesses At 5:04 PM on December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River. In less than a minute, forty-six lives were lost. But in the days leading up to the disaster, the people of Point Pleasant believed they had been watching something — or something had been watching them. In Part Two of Wings of Prophecy, we follow the Mothman legend to its devastating conclusion, tracing the final sightings, the growing sense of unease across the town, and the tragedy that forever linked folklore with one of America's deadliest infrastructure failures.  Mothman 2 As winter closed in, witnesses reported that the sightings were changing. The creature that once appeared suddenly and vanished just as quickly now lingered in plain sight — perched, watching, almost as if standing vigil. One of the final reported encounters came just days before the collapse. By then, Point Pleasant had transformed. National attention brought curiosity seekers, investigators, and skeptics. Businesses leaned into the legend. Others resented the spectacle. Beneath it all, anxiety spread — strange dreams, unusual animal behavior, and a growing sense that something was wrong. Then came the engineering reality. Unseen inside the bridge's structure, a microscopic crack in a critical steel component had been growing for months — invisible to inspections at the time. Each passing vehicle added stress. Each day brought the structure closer to failure. On a December evening filled with Christmas shoppers, commuters, and families heading home, that hidden flaw reached its breaking point. The collapse was sudden. Catastrophic. Irreversible. In this episode:     •    The final reported Mothman sightings before the disaster     •    How Point Pleasant changed during thirteen months of national attention     •    The structural failure that caused the Silver Bridge collapse     •    Eyewitness accounts from the moments before and after the tragedy     •    How folklore and trauma became permanently intertwined in the community In the aftermath, the sightings stopped. The creature was never reported again. But the legend remained — not just as a monster story, but as a way for a grieving community to make sense of sudden, senseless loss. Because sometimes the mystery isn't whether something supernatural happened. Sometimes the mystery is how people survive what did.