Podcasts about businesses

Gene Marks warns administrative roles face AI threats while employers prioritize AI literacy, advising businesses to update Google profiles to avoid losing significant annual revenue from outdated listings.OCTOBER 1954

Physician, healthcare entrepreneur, and founder Dr. Vivek Aranki joins me to unpack why most real success is built through failure—and why the willingness to iterate beats chasing innovation for its own sake.Most business conversations treat failure as something to avoid, minimize, or hide. This episode reframes it as a required feedback loop. Vivek and I explore how meaningful progress—especially in regulated, high-stakes industries—comes from repeated trial, error, and disciplined correction.Vivek shares his transition from practicing physician to building one of Australia's largest non-corporate cosmetic medicine groups, now spanning 20 clinics nationwide and expanding through franchising. We examine how affordability, quality, and safety are often positioned as trade-offs—and how those assumptions break down when systems are designed intentionally.The conversation moves into franchising ethics, brand trust, and why extraction-based models collapse over time. Vivek explains why their organization prioritizes long-term brand credibility over franchise fees, why lead generation must sit centrally in regulated industries, and how franchising only works when incentives are aligned.From there, we widen the lens to healthcare economics, preventative care, food systems, regulation, and why “move fast and break things” is a catastrophic mindset when human health is involved. We contrast tech's tolerance for failure with healthcare's need for boring, proven reliability—and why lagging the cutting edge can actually be the strategic advantage.This isn't a conversation about avoiding risk.It's about understanding where risk belongs—and where it doesn't.TL;DR* Failure is a necessary feedback loop, not a personal flaw* Businesses fail when they copy instead of creating real value* In healthcare, innovation without evidence is dangerous—not disruptive* Franchising only works when value flows to franchisees, not out of them* “Boring” systems outperform cutting-edge ones in regulated environments* Affordability, safety, and quality can coexist with disciplined execution* Healthcare costs are driven by bureaucracy more than care delivery* Preventative care has the highest value-to-cost leverage—but the weakest incentives* Sustainable systems must be able to self-correct over timeMemorable Lines* “Failure isn't a setback—it's a feedback loop.”* “Boring is good when people's health is on the line.”* “If innovation lacks evidence, it's not innovation—it's experimentation.”* “You can't ‘move fast and break things' when the thing is a human being.”* “Long-term value dies the moment extraction becomes the strategy.”GuestDr. Vivek Aranki — Physician, healthcare entrepreneur, and founderFounder of a national cosmetic medicine group with 20 clinics across Australia, specializing in scalable, safety-first healthcare delivery and ethical franchising within highly regulated environments.Why This MattersModern business culture glorifies disruption without consequence.But in real systems—healthcare, regulation, food, human safety—failure has a cost. Understanding where experimentation belongs and where discipline must prevail is a leadership skill few master.For founders, operators, and executives navigating regulated industries or complex systems, this episode offers a sober counterweight to startup mythology: progress comes from feedback, restraint, and building structures that correct themselves before damage compounds.Success isn't about avoiding failure.It's about learning faster—without breaking what matters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dougutberg.com

(WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE) Two cases this episode. Case #1: Where do Supreme Court Justices watch dirty movies? Case #2: Rick Springfield's Buttocks of Mass Destruction. Enjoy! >>>Use code REB for 15% at https://www.barebells.com/ ! SUPPORT MINNESOTA ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND MUTUAL AID: Donate to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: https://www.ilcm.org/donate/⁠ Donate to Pimento Relief Services or support their work: ⁠https://www.givemn.org/organization/Pimento-Foundation⁠ Donate to Neighborhood House NM or support their work: ⁠https://neighborhoodhousemn.org/community-crisis-response/⁠ Donate a gift card for the MN community via El Burrito Mercado: ⁠https://www.elburritomercado.com⁠ *** MERCH STORE IS LIVE! Shop Reb Masel and Rebuttal Pod merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rebmasel.shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to PREORDER Reb's book: The Book They Throw At You—A Sarcastic Lawyer's Guide* To The Unholy Chaos of Our Legal System, *God No, Not Actual Legal Advice *** Follow @RebuttalPod on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow @Rebmasel on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! *** 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Case #1 begins 09:18 - Case #2 begins 20:58 - THE CRUCIAL EVIDENCE PHOTO 34:02 - Reb's Rebuttal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm joined by Eric Rea, CEO of Podium. Eric breaks down how AI agents are replacing labor across sales and service, why speed is now the ultimate competitive advantage, and how fixed ops is finally getting real AI help instead of glorified answering services. This episode is brought to you by: 1. CNA National - CNA National is the premier F&I provider for dealerships nationwide. With more than four decades in the industry, we've earned a reputation for service excellence. If you are looking for stability, consistency and experience, look no further than CNA National. Register for your commitment-free F&I profitability analysis by visiting @ https://www.cnanational.com/NADA. 2. Ikon Technologies - Ikon Technologies delivers a connected vehicle program for dealers that maximizes Customer Lifetime Value by driving sales efficiency and securing non-cancellable PVR on your front end while delivering an average of 50 additional customer-pay ROs every single month for your service bays. At NADA 2026 in Las Vegas, visit Stand 1763 West to see the benefits for yourself and take your chance to roll the dice to win a Rolls Royce (terms and conditions apply; no purchase necessary). Plus, as an exclusive offer for listeners, mention “Car Dealership Guy” when you sign up at NADA to have your entire initial installation fee waived—book your demo today @ https://ikontechnologies.com. 3. Podium - 78% of customers buy from the first business that responds, yet most businesses reply an hour or more late. In 2023 Podium deployed AI Employees to close that gap. In 2025 Podium released Jerry 2.0, a massive update that completely reimagines the AI Employee. Businesses now let Podium's AI Employees handle 40% of their inbound leads, giving teams more time for their customers—and more time home for dinner. Learn what Jerry can do for you here! https://www.podium.com/car-dealership-guy Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Industry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dealership recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgrecruiting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Fix your dealership's social media ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.trynomad.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgpartner.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Industry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Request to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Topics: 01:08 How is Podium AI (Jerry) changing dealerships? 04:03 What are the software challenges in dealerships? 06:42 How is AI added to dealerships? 18:45 How does AI personalize customer service? 19:14 What makes a CRM good? 20:03 What is the future of AI? 25:30 How does voice AI help service? 30:07 What are the upcoming plans for Podium? Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠x.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Businesses don't win by selling more features or even better experiences anymore. In this episode, Joe Pine explains why the real value today comes from selling outcomes and guiding customers toward meaningful transformation. We unpack the transformation economy, how it differs from the experience economy, and why charging for outcomes changes pricing, guarantees, and business models. You will learn how both B2B and B2C companies can productize transformation, align messaging with real results, and help customers become who they want to be. Today we discussed: 00:00 Why Transformation Matters Now 11:43 Productizing Transformation 14:00 Pricing and Outcome-Based Models 16:48 Messaging Around Who Customers Become 20:16 How to Start a Transformation Strategy 24:28 Connect With Joe Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today!

Most people assume the internet is stable, durable, and ready for whatever comes next. The truth is a bit more complicated. Modern networks were never designed for today's scale, and for the first time we are seeing technology that can make them smarter, simpler, and far more reliable.In this episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt talks with Anil Varanasi, CEO and Co-Founder of Meter, about how the next era of networking is taking shape. Anil explains why traditional infrastructure struggles to keep up, how a unified approach can remove layers of complexity, and why the future of the internet is moving toward faster and more resilient systems.He also shares how natural language tools and purpose-built models are transforming the work of network engineers, and why autonomous networking may arrive sooner than most people expect. These advancements are creating a path to networks that can configure, maintain, and optimize themselves without increasing operational burden. Key Moments:00:00 – Why Modern Networks Are Broken02:50 – The Pain of Multi-Vendor Sprawl05:04 – Rebuilding the Entire Stack From Scratch08:31 – Why Meter Refused to Ship Until It Was Great11:39 – Hardware, Software, Delivery: A Single Platform13:34 – No CapEx and Automatic Hardware Refresh18:26 – How Meter Handles Growth, Migration & Space-Level Infrastructure20:32 – The Real Reason Networks Fail (Configuration + Compatibility)23:51 – GUI vs CLI: What Engineers Really Want25:56 – Introducing Command: Natural-Language Networking27:37 – Auto-Generated Dashboards and Custom Software30:38 – Why AI Shouldn't Be an Empty Buzzword32:51 – Toward Fully Autonomous Networks by 202736:46 – The Network Engineer Shortage & What Comes Next38:33 – What Autonomous Networking Actually Means41:38 – Why the Internet Will Keep Growing Faster43:02 – The Customers Who Need Meter Most45:39 – Factory Floors, Warehouses, Data Centers, and Edge48:32 – Nine New Hardware Platforms & Design Philosophy52:56 – How Meter Maintains Networks Without Downtime  -- 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.

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) reads an essay about the business of check cashing, a misunderstood industry. He explains why cashing a check is actually a "new credit extension" where the bank bets on both the writer and the payee, and why profit-maximizing institutions often decline to bank individuals who represent even a "material risk" of a single bounced check. From the manual "rituals" of endorsement to the way fintechs like Ingo Money and Cash App use persistent identity to narrow the risk envelope, Patrick examines the technical and social reasons why some people pay to access their own wages, others don't, and whether we can do anything about that.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/check-cashing/–Presenting Sponsor: Mercury Complex Systems is presented by Mercury—radically better banking for founders. Mercury offers the best wire experience anywhere: fast, reliable, and free for domestic U.S. wires, so you can stay focused on growing your business. Apply online in minutes at mercury.com.Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.–Links:Bits about Money: www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/the-business-of-check-cashing/ –Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction(2:15) Check cashing(2:57) An oversimplified explanation of check presentment(5:48) Depositing a check requires an extension of credit(10:47) How cashing a check works if you're not banked(12:16) A brief aside about endorsement(14:39) Many people hate check cashing and everything about it(17:06) The internal logic behind that pricing grid(19:59) Sponsor: Mercury(21:36) The internal logic behind that pricing grid (continued)(23:10) Persistent  identities as a KYC possibility(25:12) A brief discussion about class distinctions in America(30:45) Check cashing on phones(34:28) Outro

Guest: John Cochrane. Cochrane analyzes the inadequacy of tariffs as an economic tool, explaining why they fail to achieve their intended goals and often harm domestic consumers and businesses1965 SHANGHAI

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ingrid Jacobs. A veteran enterprise leader, former HR executive, and Chief Growth Officer for The Revenue Retreat, a luxury boutique retreat for executive women who want to build profitable businesses without burnout. She and Rushion discuss her corporate background, her unique approach to customer integration, the challenges women face in entrepreneurship, pricing psychology, common business mistakes, age-related limiting beliefs, and the transformational design of her retreat program.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ingrid Jacobs. A veteran enterprise leader, former HR executive, and Chief Growth Officer for The Revenue Retreat, a luxury boutique retreat for executive women who want to build profitable businesses without burnout. She and Rushion discuss her corporate background, her unique approach to customer integration, the challenges women face in entrepreneurship, pricing psychology, common business mistakes, age-related limiting beliefs, and the transformational design of her retreat program.

Send us a textAI is everywhere. Subscriptions are everywhere. And somehow, everyone feels more tired than helped. In this episode of the Mike & Blaine Podcast, we dig into the very real rise of AI fatigue and subscription fatigue—and why tools that promise speed and leverage often end up doing the opposite. Businesses keep layering on AI features, dashboards, and monthly tools, assuming more capability automatically means more value. Spoiler: it doesn't.We unpack how companies unintentionally train customers to cancel by over-selling potential and under-delivering practical outcomes. When software value lives in theory instead of day-to-day use, it's always the first line item to get cut. We talk about why underused tools feel expensive no matter the price, how AI has become a checkbox instead of a strategy, and why “just add AI” is not a business model.This conversation goes beyond tech trends and into real business strategy. If you're building products, pricing subscriptions, or running a company that relies on recurring revenue, this episode breaks down what real value actually feels like to customers—and how clarity, simplicity, and outcomes beat novelty every time. We also connect the dots between tool overload, decision fatigue, and why leadership teams are quietly overwhelmed even while spending more than ever on software.If you've ever looked at your stack and thought, “We should be getting way more out of this,” or wondered why customers churn even when your product is objectively powerful, this episode will hit uncomfortably close to home.Grab a drink, listen in, and if you enjoy the conversation, help keep the podcast going—visit https://mikeandblaine.com to buy us a beer

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ingrid Jacobs. A veteran enterprise leader, former HR executive, and Chief Growth Officer for The Revenue Retreat, a luxury boutique retreat for executive women who want to build profitable businesses without burnout. She and Rushion discuss her corporate background, her unique approach to customer integration, the challenges women face in entrepreneurship, pricing psychology, common business mistakes, age-related limiting beliefs, and the transformational design of her retreat program.

Some workdays leave you tired. Others leave you completely wiped, even when you have done everything right. In this episode, I explore why that happens and what it reveals about how work is really experienced. I sat down with Cherie Clonan, founder and CEO of The Digital Picnic, to talk about neurodivergence, energy, and what happens when workplaces are not designed for the people in them. Cherie was diagnosed with Autism as an adult and has spent more than a decade building a business while quietly masking in environments that drained her nervous system. We talk about what masking actually looks like at work, why some workplaces feel exhausting even when you love your job, and how leaders can create cultures that raise energy instead of depleting it. We also go deep into Cherie's hardest year in business, the moment she was forced into action, and the non-negotiables she rebuilt from scratch to protect her energy, her team, and her company. Cherie and I discuss: What masking really looks like for autistic women at work and why it is so exhausting How sensory overload, constant social decoding, and back-to-back meetings drain energy Spoon theory as a practical way to understand energy, capacity, and recovery Why businesses do not fail when they run out of cash but when founders run out of energy The cultural non-negotiables Cherie introduced to rebuild trust, respect, and momentum How removing unnecessary demands can benefit every neurotype at work Key quotes “Businesses do not go out of business when they run out of cash. They fail when the founder runs out of energy.” “Energy loss is data. It is telling you something important about what you are tolerating.” Connect with Cherie Clonan on Instagram and LinkedIn and check out The Digital Picnic. My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I video of a friend of mine and he said, “God will keep enough strife in your life so you won't forget Him.”That line lodged itself in my ribs.Because I'm living proof. When I'm struggling, I pray constantly. I call on God with the urgency of a man whose oxygen mask just dropped from the ceiling. But the moment I hit a stride, a little success, a little comfort, God gets politely set aside. Not rejected. Just… postponed.And right on schedule, the next smackdown arrives.If people were honest, most would admit they've lived this cycle. Comfort breeds amnesia. Struggle restores memory.Now here's the thing. Everyone knows tragedy will occur. Jobs end. Relationships dissolve. Loved ones die. Businesses fail. Bodies betray us. These are known risks. They're written into the terms of service of being alive.And most of those things can be overcome in one way or another. But circumstances matter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Real Estate Pros Podcast, host Micah Johnson speaks with Coach Drew Little about his journey in the real estate industry, focusing on professionalism, accountability, and investment strategies. Drew shares insights on the challenges faced by agents, the importance of specialization, and how to navigate the current market dynamics. He emphasizes the need for a sustainable business model and the significance of understanding market trends to identify opportunities. The conversation highlights the value of building relationships and providing exceptional service in real estate.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Ever wonder why some companies feel magnetic while others are just…a job? If you believe company culture is fluff, this conversation will put you on your heels. Cameron Herold sits down with Amy Emberling, Managing Partner of the legendary Zingerman's Bakehouse—a $16M+ artisan bakery with a cult following and a blueprint for employee loyalty big brands envy. Together, they pull back the curtain on Zingerman's famed “Community of Businesses,” why profit isn't a dirty word, and how even a manufacturing team can become fiercely passionate.Don't settle for endless turnover, disengaged people, or another bland org chart. Discover the real-world actions and surprising rituals that transform frontline staff into owners (and skeptics into super-fans). Listen now because one insight could radically shift your retention, results, and reputation. This episode delivers the practical and emotional gut-punch you won't find anywhere else in operations podcasts.Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Why showing vision to new hires exposes if they really want to learn (or not)[03:01] – How an Ann Arbor Deli became a multi-business giant—without franchising[07:07] – The origin myth: Saying "no" to chains and revolutionizing local growth[09:33] – Why Zingerman's refuses to franchise (and why profit wasn't the goal)[14:43] – The surprising role of vision statements and posters in a baking plant[16:10] – Handshakes over contracts—trust, ownership, and radical accountability[19:27] – Secret sauce: How weekly "appreciations" meetings melt even the toughest shells[25:43] – Culture hacks that turn hourly hires into a vibrant, all-in teamMentioned ResourcesZingerman's Community of BusinessesAri Weinzweig (Zingerman's Co-Founder)Paul Saginaw (Zingerman's Co-Founder)Zingerman's Bakehouse (Amy's business)Zing TrainZingerman's Bakehouse Book, Celebrate Every Day Book1-800-GOT-JUNK (culture reference)Great Little Box CompanyAbout the GuestAmy Emberling is Managing Partner of Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor's nationally acclaimed artisan bakery. Leading a team of 150, she helped scale Zingerman's into a powerhouse community business known for its uncompromising...

This week's episode of Wealth Formula features an interview with Claudia Sahm, and I want to share a quick takeaway before you listen — because she's often misunderstood in the headlines. First, a quick explanation of the Sahm Rule, in plain English. The rule looks at unemployment and asks a very simple question:Has the unemployment rate started rising meaningfully from its recent low? Specifically, if the three-month average unemployment rate rises by 0.5% or more above its lowest level over the past year, the Sahm Rule is triggered. Historically, that has happened early in every U.S. recession since World War II. That's why it gets cited so much. And to be clear — it's cited a lot. The Sahm Rule is tracked by the Federal Reserve, Treasury economists, Wall Street banks, macro funds, and economic research shops globally. When it triggers, it shows up everywhere. That's not by accident. Claudia built one of the cleanest early-warning indicators we have. But here's the part that often gets lost. The Sahm Rule is not a market-timing tool and it's not a prediction machine. Claudia emphasized this repeatedly. It was designed as a policy signal — a way to say, “Hey, if unemployment is rising this fast, waiting too long to respond makes things worse.” In other words, it's a call to action for policymakers, not a command for investors to panic. What makes this cycle unusual — and why talking to Claudia directly was so helpful — is what's actually driving the data. We're not seeing mass layoffs. Layoffs remain low by historical standards. What we're seeing instead is very weak hiring. Companies aren't firing people — they're just not expanding. That distinction matters. And this is where I think the big picture comes in — not just for understanding the economy, but for investing in general. When you step back, the big picture includes a government with massive debt loads that needs interest rates to come down over time. It includes fiscal pressures that make prolonged high rates politically and economically painful. And it includes the reality that if the current Fed leadership won't ease fast enough, future leadership will. History tells us that governments eventually get the monetary conditions they need — even if it takes time, even if it takes new appointments, and even if it takes a shift toward a more dovish Federal Reserve. That doesn't mean reckless money printing tomorrow. But it does mean that structurally high rates are unlikely to be permanent. And when you combine that with investing, the question becomes less about this month's headline and more about what's positioned to benefit when the environment normalizes. That's why I continue to focus on real assets that are already deeply discounted — things like multifamily real estate — assets that were repriced brutally during the rate shock, but still sit at the center of a growing, rent-dependent economy. This conversation with Claudia reinforced something I've been talking about for a long time:The biggest investing mistakes usually happen when people zoom in too far and forget to zoom back out. I've made this mistake myself. If you want a thoughtful, non-sensational, data-driven discussion about where we actually are in this cycle — and what the indicators really mean — I think you'll get a lot out of this episode. Transcript Disclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI and may not be 100% accurate. If you notice any errors or corrections, please email us at phil@wealthformula.com. Welcome everybody. This is Buck Joffrey with the Well Formula Podcast coming to you from Montecito, California. Before we begin today, I wanna remind you, uh, listen, we’re back in, uh, back in the saddle in here in, uh, 2026. I know it’s takes some time to get used to it, but we’re, gosh, we’re at the end of the month actually by the time this plays. I think we’re in February. It’s time again to start thinking about investing. And so if you are interested in potentially using this year, which I believe and which many believe to potentially be the last year, uh, big discounts, uh, in real estate and, uh, various other types of offerings. Make sure. To sign up for the Accredit Investor group, our investor club, as we call it wealthformula.com. You do need to be an accredit investor and then you get onboarded. An accredit investor is just defined by who you are. If you make over $300,000 per year filing jointly, or 200 by yourself, every reasonable expectation to do so in the future. Or you have a net worth of a million dollars outta your personal, outside of your personal residence, you’re an accredit investor. Congratulations. Join the club wealthformula.com. Interesting podcast. Today we have, uh, Claudia Sahm She’s a Big Deal, Claudia Sahm. You may recognize that last name som, for this som rule. And what is a som rule in plain English. You actually have heard of the som rule multiple times from other economists who’ve been on the show. The som rule looks at unemployment. And asks a very simple question. Now, has the unemployment rate started rising meaningfully from its recent low? So specifically, if the three month average unemployment rate rises 0.5% or more above its lowest level, over the past year, this som rule is triggered. Now, historically, that has happened early in every US recession since the World War ii. That’s why it gets cited so much. It gets cited a lot. By the way, the sum rule is tracked by the Fed treasury economists, wall Street Banks, macro funds, economic research shops globally, and when it triggers, it shows up everywhere, and that’s not by accident. Uh, Claudia has built one of the cleanest early warning indicators we have, but here’s the part that often gets lost. The som rule is not a market timing tool, and it’s not a prediction machine. Claudia, uh, emphasized that repeatedly. It was designed as a policy signal, a way to say, Hey, if unemployment’s rising this fast, wait, waiting too long to respond makes things worse. In other words, it’s call to action for policy makers, not a command for investors to panic per se. So what makes this cycle unusual and why talking to Claudia directly was so helpful? Well, it’s what’s actually driving the data. We’re not seeing mass layoffs. Layoffs remain low by historical standards. Um, what we’re seeing instead is very weak. Hiring companies aren’t firing people, they’re just not expanding, and that distinction matters. This is where the big picture comes in, not just for understanding the economy. For investing in general and when you step back, the big picture includes a government with massive debt loads that need interest rates to come down over time. It includes fiscal pressures that make prolonged high rates politically and economically painful. I’ve mentioned this before and it includes the reality that have to fed, fed, uh, if the current Fed leadership won’t ease fast enough. I am likely the case that future leadership appointed by. Donald Trump himself, uh, will, so history tells us that governments eventually get the monetary conditions they need, even if it takes time, even if it takes new appointments. And even if it takes a shift towards a more dovish federal reserve. Uh, that doesn’t mean, uh, reckless money printing tomorrow, but it does mean that structurally. High interest rates are unlikely to be permanent. Okay? And when you combine that with investing, the question becomes less about this month’s headline and more about what’s positioned to benefit when the environment normalizes. Okay? That’s really, really important, and that’s why I continue to focus on things like real estate, right? Real estate is currently. Not for long, in my opinion, but deeply discounted things like multifamily real estate, um, that were repriced brutally during the rate shot, uh, but are still at the center of a growing and, and rent dependent economy. And again, uh, this conversation with Claudia reinforced something that I’ve been talking about a long time, which is the biggest investing mistakes usually happen when people zoom in too far and forget to zoom back out. I’ve made that mistake myself. I am not immune. I have made lots of mistakes, and that’s one of them. So this is a great conversation. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, especially if you want a thoughtful, nons sensational data-driven discussion. Where we are actually at in this cycle and what these indicators really mean. I think you’ll get a lot of this episode and we will have this conversation for you right after these messages. Wealth formula banking is an ingenious concept powered by whole life insurance, but instead of acting just as a safety net. The strategy supercharges your investments. First, you create a personal financial reservoir that grows at a compounding interest rate much higher than any bank savings account. As your money accumulates, you borrow from your own bank to invest in other cash flowing investments. Here’s the key. Even though you borrowed money at a simple interest rate, your insurance company keeps. Paying you compound interest on that money even though you’ve borrowed it at result, you make money in two places at the same time. That’s why your investments get supercharged. This isn’t a new technique. It’s a refined strategy used by some of the wealthiest families in history, and it uses century old rock solid insurance companies as its backbone. Turbocharge your investments. Visit Wealthformulabanking.com. Again, that’s wealth formula banking.com. Welcome back to the show, everyone. Today my guest on Wealth Formula podcast is Dr. Claudia Sahm. Uh, she’s an American, uh, macroeconomic expert, uh, known for her work, uh, on monetary and fiscal policy and real-time economic indicators. She developed this som rule, which I think, uh, people have mentioned on this show before, so this is a great opportunity to talk to her about that. Uh, it’s a widely, uh, followed recession signal based on unemployment. She’s also a former Federal Reserve economist and senior policy advisor in government. Um, so welcome, uh, Dr. Sahm. Great. Happy to be here. Thank you. Well, let’s, let’s kind of start out with this som rule because, uh, you know, it’s funny, we, we have had a few different people, uh, at various times bring up the SOM rule, and I think one had actually said that it was triggered, but I don’t don’t think it was at any rate, let’s, let’s start with that. What is the som rule? Lemme start with why is there a som rule, and then we’ll then we’ll get to specifically what the, what the rule is itself. So when I started out on the project, it wasn’t so much about. Calling a recession, like there are some really fancy technical ways that economists like look at the tea leaves and the data and either try to forecast a recession, which is incredibly hard, or even just say we’re in a recession in real time. So like that’s a useful endeavor. But what actually was behind the development of my recession indicator was more of a call to action. How do we develop policies that, that the Congress can put into place very quickly if a recession comes? So these kind of what are referred to as automatic stabilizers, so they’re decided upon ahead of time, but then you do need a trigger that says a recession is here. So now that enhance the unemployment benefits, send out the stimulus checks, whatever it is that we kind of have as our typical tools that are used in recessions, we could have those ready to go as kind of guardrails. Then like you, you turn the policy on. So that was really my emphasis was on how do we do better policy and recessions, get the support out quickly. ’cause that’s the best chance of kind of stabilizing the situation. And then it’s like, well it was in a, it was in a policy volume that they asked for, like a really concrete proposal. So if I’m gonna say an automatic stabilizer, I need to have a proposal for what a trigger could be. So that’s really where the som rule came. So I think it is important. It’s definitely important to me to, I always remember like what the kind of reason for it’s sure. Now that also guided what the indicator itself looks like. So again, it was gonna be in, in fiscal policy. It needs to be simple, it needs to be something that we track it and it needs to, I felt it was important that it capture the reason that we. Fight recessions, why there’s such a bad, uh, you know, outcome. And so it looks at the, the unemployment rate. I use the national unemployment rate, take a three month average. ’cause we wanna smooth out, like there’s bumps and wiggles in the data from month to month. So you kind of, you know, three month average. One way to smooth it out. So you take that series of three month averages, you look at the current value, you compare to the lowest value over the prior 12 months, if you’ve seen an increase of a half, a percentage point or more. Which is really pretty modest, but half a percentage point or more. Historically, we have been in the early months of a recession, so it’s not a forecast. It’s supposed to be like we’re in it. Let’s go. It’s an empirical pattern. It’s one that’s worked in the United States. It reflects kind of our labor market institutions, the way unemployment rate moves and recessions. It historically is the case that once you get past a certain threshold of increased unemployment rate, it tends to build on itself. And in a typical recession, we see increases of. Two, three or more percentage points in the unemployment rate. Uh, so that’s, that’s what the summer rule is. And in fact, it did trigger in the summer of 2024. At that time I had said like, look around, we are not in a recession. GP is still expanding. Job creation is still happening. We don’t see the other hallmarks of a recession. And pointed to the fact that we’d had a very disrupted labor market after the pandemic in particular. You know, there had been a lot of immigration at that point. The unemployment rate is the total number of unemployed. So people who don’t have a job but are actively looking for one out of the labor force, right? And so these people that have to either be employed or looking for jobs, and so we actually saw from the pandemic. Both with the pandemic and then later with the surge and now the reversal in immigration. We’ve seen a lot of movement in the, in the labor force, which makes unemployment rate a little tricky to interpret. And then I’d also argue, we saw early in the pandemic, the unemployment rate dropped very rapidly. We even had labor shortages. So in some ways unemployment rate rising and it has risen over. I mean, it continued to rise last year in 2025. A lot of that’s also normalization. We’d had a very low unemployment rate. So I think the, the pandemic recession has a lot of features that were very unusual. We’ll talk probably more about the labor market continued to be kind of unusual. So the, you know, the somal was not the only recession indicator to fall flat on its face in the cycle. Um, but I think it’s still a useful, useful guide and I, and. You know, even if it’s not a recession, the, the unemployment rate is a full percentage point above, its low in 2023. So, I mean, that, that could, that could be a reason for policymakers to respond, even if it’s not responding to a recession. Right. That was the first time that it, that triggered and, and actually didn’t. End up in a recession, right? There’s some back in the 1950s, earlier, but it’s, it’s the first time where there’ve been some false positives in the past or, or near false positives. Like in 2003. It was kind of close, uh, is like the unemployment rate rises a little bit and then it falls back down. What we saw after it triggered in 2024 is it stabilized. Then last year it continued to rise. So this the pattern that we’ve seen since the pandemic of rapid recovery dropping unemployment rate and then it’s like gradually rising and yet has risen a full percentage point that you go all the way back in the post World War II period. We don’t see anything that looks like that. So that is a very unusual. Paris. So something’s more is going on in the labor market than just our typical business cycle, boom, bust, recession type dynamics. So what is that? What is the thing that’s happening that’s unusual right now in the labor market? Right? So the thing that is driving the unemployment rate up, I think this is a good lesson, a reminder to all of us. It’s not about layoffs. The rate of layoffs in the United States is really quite low. You look at unemployment insurance claims, they’re also quite low. What’s been pushing the unemployment rate up over the last two and a half years has been a very low rate of hiring and, and it’s, and it is something that over time will at least gradually put upward pressure on the unemployment rate and frankly. Until hiring picks up and we really don’t have many signs of it. Even as we enter 2026 unemployment rate’s gonna probably keep drifting up ’cause we’re not keeping job creation’s, not keeping up with, you know, people coming into the, into the labor market and, and that what’s, I think the puzzle right now is that hiring has been very low. But what we’ve seen in terms of consumer spending, business investment, so the kind of the big pieces of GDP, they’ve really held up pretty well, so. Business. It’s not, again, not that recession of the customers have disappeared. And so we’re not hiring, or we may even be firing workers. The customers are there for the businesses, but they’re choosing in this environment not to add, uh, to their payrolls. And that’s slowly pushing up down point rate. Yeah. Um, you know, it, it’s interesting what you’re, you’re talking about, but essentially you’re, people aren’t getting fired. They’re just, when they retire or leave, they’re just not replacing those. Individuals, you know, makes me think a little bit about what’s going on in the big, you know, in the tech push with artificial intelligence and that kind of thing, and increased in efficiency. Certainly you see that in the larger companies like Amazon and all that, where they’re just becoming massively more productive and cutting expenses essentially by, you know, using tech. Do you think that this is sort of an early indication, potentially of that kind of movement? So it. It’s possible, but I think we’re at the very front end of AI disrupting the labor market. This low hiring rate that we’ve talked about. You see this across all kinds of industries, including ones that don’t show high levels of AI adoption, and frankly, a AI adoption is pretty low. I mean, there are some sectors like tech and increasingly finance and some professional services have higher adoption rates. Uh, but in terms of it being able to explain the low hiring. I think it’s pretty tough ’cause the low hiring is such a, such a broad based, um, phenomenon. Now, AI might be, I think, indirectly contributing in that one of, one of the hypotheses about why, um, businesses have been, uh, not hiring despite, you know, economic activity. Continuing to push ahead could be that there’s a lot of uncertainty. Now there is a long list that we could draw of, of factors that might be causing businesses to be uncertain and hesitant to add to their payrolls. Uh, a lot of times you talk about things with tariffs or, you know, economic policy, regulations changing, you know, so there’s a lot going on there. But it could also be, there’s a lot of uncertainty about what this technology means for the future. Maybe you don’t need to bring on more workers because your ability to kind of use and adapt this technologies coming online. And so like that could be part of it. I think there’s another piece, you know, we have a lot of discussion about ai, but I do think that there’s, there could be a, a technology angle to this that’s, that is. Not in the AI technologies, but maybe just some of the more basic kind of automation is again, right after, you know, the, the pandemic recession as we came out of a, you know, very rapid recovery, uh, there was, there was a lot of hiring or that, ’cause businesses had done a lot of firing and they needed to bring back workers really rapidly and we actually had a period of labor shortages. There were workers moving around a lot and there were, that also put a lot of pressure on some employers, particularly in service sector, to automate more ’cause they just couldn’t get the workers, so they needed to bring technology. Online to help, you know, fill the gap. And over time, you know, businesses though, they haven’t done as much hiring, they have been firing. So the workers, they have longer tenures, have more experience, they’re probably more productive. So maybe businesses can kind of, you know, get away with not doing more hiring. ’cause the people they have there can kind of keep up with it. Um, and they’ve done some more automation. I don’t think those are sustainable. I think we’re going to need to see hiring pickup in terms of, of staying with, um, you know, as expanding, uh, demand from customers. But I won’t pretend to know what AI means for the future of the labor force. Right. So like there could be, I think that’s a big conversation about we’re headed, where we’re headed. I think it’s probably a pretty small slice of explaining. Where we’re at right now. You know, it’s interesting because obviously there was a lot of concerns about rising inflation, and particularly in the context of, you know, tariffs and, and among those types of things that were, were, um, coming down the pipe. And as it turns out, inflation seems to be coming down. How do you explain that from where you sit? Because it, it, it seems sort of to contradict a lot of what, you know, many economists believe to be likely. So when thinking about the effects of tariffs on inflation and this, this idea that it didn’t end up being as much of a factors we had really feared, uh, you know, a year ago. I think there’s a few things to keep in mind. One, the announced tariffs, uh. Didn’t come to pass fully. Right? So there’s a big difference between some of the, the, the initial announcements, whether it was on Liberation Day, April 2nd, or the initial kind of retaliation tit for tat with China, where we ended up with some triple digit, uh, tariff numbers. Those didn’t end up being where we, we ended now tariff, the effect of tariff rate. Is much higher than it was before. Right. Uh, president Trump came into office for the second time, so like, I don’t wanna minimize the, the, the increase in tariffs and the US government collected about $200 billion last year in, in additional tariffs. But there is a, there’s a good bit of daylight between what was announced and where we actually ended up. Businesses also proved very capable of trying to avoid those tariffs and not in like a. Illegal kind of way of avoiding them, but, but using inventories like trying to get ahead of them. We know the tariffs are tariffs. There’s been some evidence that, that it’s businesses are gonna start passing on the tariff cost increase when it’s actually tied to the inventories that they’re putting out in front of customers. And for some of our goods, like say apparel or things that have long seasons or come from, you know, all across the world, it actually takes quite a bit of time from the inventories being what actually shows up in front of customers. So there’s been the ability to. Kind of get around the tariffs ’cause they were rolling in. And so do be smart in terms of your inventories. And then it just takes time for those inventories to be, you know, um, to come down. Mm-hmm. By, there’s been several studies at this place, at this point that, that demonstrate that the, the tariffs, the cost of the tariffs is coming into the us. So the, it’s always the importer that pays the tariff, like literally writes the check to the US government. But it’s possible that the foreign producer could say, reduce their prices on what they’re, you know, paying or what they’re asking to be paid for that, uh, imported good. And then that would be a way of the foreign producer sharing the cost of the tariff. But everything that we see from the M Court data suggests that a very small fraction, probably less than 10%. Of the total tariff burden is being born by, at least at this point, born by the foreign producers. So it’s coming into the us. It’s sitting with either US businesses that are importing the goods or have the goods at some point in their, you know, in their supply chains and, and with us customers, the consumers we have, we’ve seen. I think you can really look at the inflation data. You can see the goods prices, which often are kind of a drag on inflation that they did turn around. They’re, they’re putting upward pressure on inflation. It’s not massive. It doesn’t explain all of these, you know, 200 billion in tariff costs, but then it is, it’s sitting with businesses. The effects still, it’s still just not that long enough to really understand. You know what, what the implications. It’s possible. I, I think that’s true with any, with any big policy change. Like it doesn’t happen overnight. I think that’s one thing that a lot of, a lot of economic models that, like, they’re, they’re very sensitive, right? Like as soon as a policy change happens, the models will kind of tell us something pretty dramatic in terms of adjustments. But this last year was a reminder, like when there’s, when there’s a big cost, there’s gonna be a lot of attempts to adjust around it to try to minimize that cost and then. It takes time, like in the real world, like the interactions are much more complex. You know, inventory lags all of the, like, it takes time to move its way through. So I think we’re not done with the pass through. I think we’ll probably still see more come to consumers, but businesses could decide to bear that cost. They, they could, you know, with profit margins. I mean some of, some of the inflationary environment in the pandemic did allow. There were very broad base increases in prices. You did see some companies be profitable from that because it was, there was a, you know, some of the costs were more targeted, but the, you know, the, the price increases were broad. So it could be a time where businesses see that, you know, consumers are more price sensitive now than they were in 21, 20 21, 20 22, so they’re not passing as much on it. Could be that that’s part of where. Like the cost businesses are dealing with that cost by maybe doing less hiring as opposed to passing it on to consumers. Uh, you know, they could be taking a hit with their profits. They, you know, so like, it doesn’t have to go all the way through to consumers. There are different levers that can be pulled. I do think we’ll still see some pass through in the, in probably the first half of this year, and that’s assuming that our whole tariff regime. Sit still, right? It looks like once again we might be, uh, increasing those tariffs, but, um, so yeah, I think it’s just tracing, you know, the tariffs through the system is really complicated. And one last thing I’ll say about the tariffs is they’re not just tariffs on goods that go to consumers. These tariffs have been broad enough that we’re also taring imported goods that are used by our manufacturers used for our, by our businesses in their production. So then it can take a really long time for that to end up with the, you know, the end customer could be a business to start with, and then it moves its way down. So I think these are just, you know, the costs are real. We can see the tariffs have been collected, the costs are there. We can see in the import data, there haven’t been import price data, there haven’t been a lot of adjustments by the foreign suppliers. So then it’s just a question of, we have these costs. Where did the cost go? I believe the last GEP was 4.3% and, uh, inflation was around 2.6, 2.7, or at least core. You’ve obviously, uh, worked at the Fed. Um, give us a sense of the situation that the Fed is trying to figure out here. Like what do they do with these numbers and, you know, all of the issues that surround them. The work at the Fed, I mean, it, it’s laser focused on the, the response, the mandates that the Fed has. So with maximum employment and price stability and with maximum employment, that’s not something that can be easily defined. It’s not like it’s a particular unemployment rate, it’s not a particular payroll number. But I mean, broadly speaking, it’s, you know, do, are, you know, the people who wanna work, are they working? In such a way that it’s not putting pressure on inflation, right? Like labor shortages that end up with wage increases that just, you know, end up with inflation. Like that would be a situation where the Fed would actually want to kind of help restrain some of the. Uh, employment growth. And we, we saw that in this cycle. I mean, the Fed raised rates a lot in 2022 and 2023. Uh, so that’s the maximum employment on the stable prices. The Fed has set a target of the 2%, uh, year over year PCE inflation. So a little different than the CPI inflation, but very much related. And, and it’s one, I mean, that’s, that’s the goal, right? And it, uh. So it starts with those two pieces and, and what’s been, I think what’s been challenging in say the last year as the Fed was, you know, trying to figure out what it was gonna do with interest rates was the fact that it, there was pressure on both sides of the mandate. Mm-hmm. Um, and not necessarily the, well, I mean, inflation itself has, was above the 2%. It continues to be above the 2%. Target has been. Since 2021. Now the Fed’s policy doesn’t have a look back, but I mean, they do worry that the longer inflation stays closer to three than two businesses. Consumers are gonna start to kind of embed three into their actions, their expectations. Then you kind of get stuck there. So like that, that both, you know, they were missing on the inflation mandate and there were, there were concerns that the, that we might see inflation get stuck above the mandate and the way you dislodge it if it gets stuck. Could end up risking a recession, right? So the Fed doesn’t want that to happen. So that’s a real concern. But then on the employment side, you know, we started out talking about the small rule, the rising unemployment rate. We’ve seen the unemployment rate rising. And then last year in particular, it wasn’t just the unemployment rate rising, we saw job creation just really take a leg down. Um. Some of that probably is less immigration population aging, so less supply of workers, which isn’t something the Fed would react to. ’cause that, I mean, if you don’t have as many people that wanna work, you don’t need to create as many jobs. But the unemployment rate was rising, so it’s clear, like there just wasn’t, there wasn’t enough job creation to keep up with, um, the workers who were there, uh, to work. And, and there was a concern that this could, could spiral out. Those small increased unemployment rate that, that very low level of job creation. And frankly, if you look at, I mean the, I mean, we have multiple months and probably more after revisions of declines in payroll employment. Mm-hmm. Like if you looked at the labor market data, you’d be like, aren’t we in a recession or like on the edge of one? Again, that’s not where we’re at, but it, it certainly gave that, that risk. Things could be slowing down. And, and the, the last piece that was really important in the Fed’s decisions was where, where’s the federal funds rate? Where are the interest rate, the policy interest rate they control? And it was still relatively high. For, for recent history, right. Not in the long history of the Fed, but mm-hmm. And so, like the Fed had raised, they’d raised interest rates quite aggressively to fight the inflation in 2022. They’d very gradually lowered it. Some was taken out in 2023 because made some pro, made quite a bit of progress on inflation in, or in 2024, they lowered the rates in 2025, the 75 basis points of cuts that the Fed did. It was out of concern. Of the labor market unraveling a risk, not a, not saying, hey, the labor market is unraveling, but saying the risk that the downside risk to employment are larger and more worrisome than the upside risk to inflation. So this inflation getting stuck, is that still the case as a going into 2026 here? So, you know, even, even last year we saw, we listened to Fed officials, there’s quite a bit of disagreement. Because it was a tough situation to read. There are some Fed officials that were more focused on inflation, some that were more focused on the employment side. Uh, and it really was just a matter of kind of reading the economy and trying to figure out this, a very unusual situation, like where, where was this headed? What did the Fed need to do? In the end, the consensus on the Fed was to do the rate cuts, kind of front load them. They talked a lot about it as insurance. They’re taking out insurance against the labor market deteriorating. And I think with that approach, in all likelihood, and there’s been certainly signaling of this, that when they meet at the end of January, it’ll, they’re unlikely to move again. That this is, this will be an opportunity to hold steady, be patient the Fed has, has taken out their restriction. So they don’t have the higher rates, so they’ve pulled rates down. We also know that early this year there’s various kinds of fiscal support that are coming online or tax cuts to households and to businesses that should give a little extra lift, uh, to the economy. So I think it’s a period of the Fed waiting to see what the effects of their policy changes are, seeing what the effects of the fiscal policy with the expectation this will be enough to stabilize the labor market. Even help get it back on track and really what the Fed would like. I mean, we’ll see what they get, but they’d really like the next cut to be a good news cut. Like inflation. Oh look, it’s moving back down again. We’re making clear progress back to 2%. I think that’s probably gonna take maybe even till the middle of this year to build that case. A strong case for the disinflation. Mm-hmm. But that’s, that’s what they would, would like to do. But they’re gonna keep an eye on the labor market. But nothing we’ve seen in the most recent data suggests that they gotta get moving like that. There’s some, you know, real pressure building. Um, in fact, the labor market looks a little bit better probably than when they met in December and inflation. Showing some signs of progress, but it, it’s pretty bumpy in terms of, there’s a lot of noise in the data at the moment. You mentioned, um, the Fed’s mandate and you know, certainly that’s something, um, that, uh, you know, that, that we know the Fed looks at these unemployment numbers that look at inflation. I’m curious though, that there’s, you know, there is this push and pull with the treasury. In particular, you know, looking at the amount of, of, of, of bonds that need to be refinanced, that kind of thing. I mean, presumably that’s one of the reasons why the Trump administration is pushing so hard, uh, on the Fed to reduce, um, you know, to reduce rates so that you know, this sovereign debt can be refinanced at a, something a little bit more palatable. How much of that actually. I know it’s not supposed to play a part in the Federal Reserve’s actions, but in reality is there, is there that kind of, you know, thinking that, you know, they have to, they, they may try to play ball a little bit with the, with the situation, with the debt. Yeah. There, the, the Fed is not playing ball right now with the administration. Uh, but, but there have been, there have been times in our past. So during World War II, there was an explicit cooperation between the Fed and the Treasury. The Fed kept interest rates low. Both the federal funds rates, so the short term interest rates, they also did, uh, some purchases of longer term to help keep longer term rates down. Right. So I mean, the, the Fed really, they, their policy was oriented exactly on this objective, keeping the borrowing cost of the US government low because it was financing the war effort. So, so there have been times where the Fed has cooperated with treasury. Now, when they came out of World War ii. What happened is, you know, treasury wants to keep interest rates low. This is good for, you know, the economy, good for growth, but it was, it really was creating a lot of inflationary pressures and it took until the early 1950s for the Fed to kind of regain its kind of operational independence from treasury and then go back to pursuing, you know, inflation as a key goal. And then also in the late seventies and maximum employment was added as an explicit goal. So we’re in a place now where. It’s employment, it’s inflation, it, there was quite, um, I mean, president Trump and some other officials have been, you know, very open about saying rates should be low to help with the deficit, with funding the gov. So like, it’s, it’s been in the discussion in the air. But that’s not, that’s not a mandate that Congress has given the Fed. That’s not what they’re pursuing. It does, you know, but things can change at the Fed. We’re gonna see a change in leadership this year with a new Fed chair. Um, the Fed always, I mean, Congress created the Federal Reserve. It’s changed its abilities, its responsibilities over time. I don’t wanna say that we’ll never get back to a place where the Fed thinks about. Its effect on the deficit. I mean, they’re watching it, they know, right? They’re tracking all these aspects of the economy. But in terms of what’s driving the Fed’s decisions about what the, the federal funds rate should be, that’s not part of the calculus right now. Yeah. Um, you know, another, just another question is for clarity. You know, the, the, um, officially right now there’s, there’s no quantitative easing. However, there is. Uh, you know, I’ve been reading, uh, about even, I think even today, there was a, a fair amount of liquidity, uh, being injected in by the Fed. Can you, for people who don’t understand the mechanics of this and what the difference in terminology is, can you explain to us maybe what the difference is between quantitative easing and what’s being done right now? So just as for context, where quantitative easing even came from. So if we go back to the global financial crisis in 2008, the Federal Reserve, in response to that recession, pulled the federal funds rate all the way to zero. Cut rates to zero And as sure many of us remember that that recession was a very deep and long recession. So, and the unemployment rate was, you know, 10% and inflation was not a problem. So the, the Fed would want in that environment to do more to support the economy. But when the federal funds rate is at zero, that’s, its, that has been its primary tool. Well, that’s, that’s. Stepped out. So then as a question of, well, what else could we do to help support the economy? And, and there, there were. Different possibilities. Uh, some European central banks looked at, you know, they actually did negative interest rates or tried to pull their policy rates, and that’s not what the US did. What was done was to do purchases of, uh, treasuries. Uh, there’s also been purchases of mortgage backed securities, and this is where the Fed is. I mean, and, and they’re creating reserves. So the fed, I guess, secretary, uh. Treasury doesn’t refer to it as magic money. Um, you know, they create reserves and then they’re going out and they’re buying tr so they’re pushing that liquidity, that demand into markets. And if you’re, if there’s a lot more demand for treasuries, well, the price of the treasuries will go up. The yield comes down. Interest rates go down. Yep. Interest rates go down. So they. They were, the Fed wanted to support the economy more. That was the tool that they used to do it. So when, when the Fed talks about quantitative easing, it’s not just the tool, the asset purchases, it’s also the intent, right? They wouldn’t do quantitative easing right now. ’cause if the Fed thought they really need to stimulate the economy more, they’ve still got like. More than three percentage points they could cut from the federal funds rate. Like if the issue were right now, we need to like get the economy going, they’re gonna like cut the funds rate and do it that way. They wouldn’t be pur like purchasing assets, purchasing treasuries to do that. But what what happened is between the global financial crisis, the Great recession, so all the asset purchases done then. There was some, some runoff of the balance sheet, but then again, in the pandemic there were a lot of asset purchases. Uh, the Fed has a really big balance sheet, and it has, uh, it, it kind of changes the way that the Fed can even just move around the federal funds rate. Like, I don’t wanna get too much into the, the technicals, but it’s, it’s just, you know, when the Fed says, well, we wanna lower the, the funds rate to 3.5%. In the old days, they could kind of do, you know, with the bank reserves and they could like, make these small purchases and it would, it would make that stick. Now with, there’s, uh, banks have a lot of reserves, so they’re not as responsive. And so just to kind of, there’s like the, the technical, the tools, the Fed has to just make it happen. In terms of operationally, it means that they have to do some purchases now and then they call their, I mean the new name they have for these are reserve management. Purchases. So it’s really about operations. It’s not about, but it does mean they’re purchasing assets. So if you’re just focused on like the Fed’s purchasing assets, they’re putting liquidity into the system. Yes, they are doing that, but it’s not with the intent to kind of push the economy to run harder. It’s just enough liquidity to keep. The federal funds rate stable at the level that they wanted to be at, to just make sure that all these operations are short in the very short term lending markets amongst banks, that it’s all kind of working as mm-hmm. As it should be. So it’s more about operations and it’s about stimulus policy. Right. A lot of our, um, a lot of our listeners are real estate owners, investors, and they’re, you know, they think about, um. Mortgage rates and that kind of thing. There was recently a, a pretty significant, well, I don’t know how significant it really was. I think it was about, was it maybe $250 billion worth of mortgage backed securities purchased by Fannie Mae. Um, that ca can you talk about the purpose of that and really the, you know, what kind of effect that would actually, we could actually expect from that. It’s certainly been, I mean it’s, it is clear. You know, we talked about one reason that the administration would want interest rates down. It’d be like financing the deficit. Right. Another reason that very much pulls into kind of the affordability debate is we want interest rates lower, one of them lower for consumers. Now the White House has put a lot of pressure on the Fed for them to lower rates even faster than they have. Has not played ball with that. But then the Fed has lowered its rates. The Feds rates are very short term rates, and the federal funds rate is like an overnight rate with between banks. Right. So it, and it has an effect on, you know. Credit card rates, short term rates, but it’s not one, it, it has an effect, but it’s really not like driving necessarily 30 year mortgage rates or you know, some of the longer term rates. There’s a lot of other factors that go into that, and so in this kind of, you know, push for lower mortgage rates. Pushing on the Fed is not the only lever to pull, right? The administration has other levers that they could potentially pull, um, in trying to influence mortgage rates. Now, there, I’d argue the administration’s tools here, like the, the $200 billion, Fannie and Freddie purchase that you mentioned. That really is about trying to reduce the spread. Between mortgages and treasuries. So in some ways it sounds similar, like, oh, fed and Franny, which are, you know, GSEs. So part, part of the, you know, government right now, at least they were privatized during the global financial crisis. You think, oh, they’re going out and purchasing this Sounds a lot like the Fed going out and purchasing. There are there, there’s some parallels, but we need to remember, Fannie and Freddie don’t create money. The Fed, when they start, when they start the process of their quantitative easing, they’re creating reserves like they’re actually creating liquidity and money supply. Fannie and Freddie have authorization to be able to make these purchases, but they’re not like the fed. They’re not creating reserves, but they can, so I don’t wanna think about them like bringing down the whole set of interest rates, but they can affect this spread between mortgages and say treasuries. Right? And so, because again, if you’re, if the. If the GSEs are going out, they’re purchasing mortgage backed securities, well that’s increasing demand for those, and that can push down the rates, that can like squeeze that spread. And, and while the announcement has been made, you know, I mean they’re, they’re in the early stages of putting that in place, but we even on the announcements, saw a response in financial markets and you’re seeing some movement down, uh, in mortgage rates now. It was. Pretty modest, right? And, and 200 billion while, you know, not nothing, uh, really pales in comparison to like the scale of say, the quantitative easing that the Fed did. Um, and there are probably other, but the, you know, the administration’s not done. It doesn’t necessarily have to be that Fannie and Freddie do more purchases. The the spread between mortgage rates and treasuries is pretty substantial. There’s other places where, you know, the fees that go into getting a mortgage are quite a bit larger than they were before the, the global financial crisis. So maybe they go in and try to chip away at the fees and, you know, so there’s, there’s different levers. And I fully expect, and I think we’re gonna get some announcements here again soon on the White Houses. Housing affordability agenda. So there may be other, other ways that they’re trying to, uh, influence, uh, the mortgage spreads. But that’s, that’s what that is all about. And it, it should have, and it looks like, you know, it’s having some effect in terms of bringing rates down, but it likely, it’d be modest, like in the 10 basis points, maybe 20 if they ramp up the program some. But like, it, you know, it’s, it, it, you know, every, every bit counts. But this is not a. Uh, this won’t be enough to, you know, move rates down, dramatic mortgage rates down dramatically, uh, when you, when you look at the economy. Um, and I, I, I think just, you know, one last question. I mean, I just in terms of, you know, the people listening to this are. They’re, they’re people, you know, with jobs and who are trying to invest their money, and they’re trying to, you know, build long-term wealth, but they’re, you know, everybody’s worried about what’s happening with the economy. What, what, what do you think, like, just as, um, um, you know, perspective for people to understand or try to have some framework for how to look at what’s going on in the economy. How they should judge it. Like what would you suggest, like just for mom and pop investors trying to, what is happening with the economy? I’m not an economist. What, what are the, what are the things that you think they should consider studying up on, looking into a little bit? One challenge for a lot of investors, I mean, frankly, it’s, it’s been a challenge that I try to deal with too. Uh, we’re, we’re in an environment where there’s just. There’s so much news coming out of DC uh, with the White House and policies and the Fed, and you know, I mean, like, there’s just, there’s a lot. The headlines are big. And like I talked about with the tariffs, we had like really big tariff announcements. The really scary numbers were, and then it like dialed back and then we pushed through it and it’s like, and it’s this remembering that, um. There’s always a tendency to have this idea that the, the president really runs the economy. I mean, that’s not just about this administration. That’s like a longstanding, you know, the president gets, uh, blame or credit for the economy when really, right. Like we have a over 33, $30 trillion economy, hundreds of millions of workers, tens of millions of businesses. Like this is not about one administration. And so we always need to be careful about. Putting too much weight on the policies coming out of dc. Uh, and you know, last year if you really just listened to all the, you know, we’re cutting immigration, we’re raising tariffs, we’re doing, you know, all, there’s a lot of uncertainty in Doge. Well then you might have missed, like, there’s a bunch of AI investment happening and we’ve got a lot of growth in the economy and while consumers are still pretty resilient, so you, it’s kind of like. Tuning down the volume, some coming out of Washington, especially the like every twist and turn. Uh, and then kind of focusing in on the fundamentals. I will say, you know, you don’t wanna turn down DC too far because we, we do have some like big picture events that could play out over many years. Right. So kind of keeping an eye on it, but for the long game. As opposed to reacting to every twist and turn, every policy announcement, because a lot of this clearly is more of a negotiation than it is like, we’re gonna actually do this. So, you know, as investors, you don’t wanna get whipped around by the latest headline, but you also can’t put your head in the sand. Like you gotta kind of try and find a way to pull the signal out of the noise. And it is really. It’s really hard. Yeah. Like this has been a challenging time and the, the US economy’s been doing things that are not typical. We talked about some of the things with the labor market and we are running some policy experiments that haven’t been run in a long time, so things could change pretty dramatically. But I think it’s just trying to absorb the information, not get too wound up about it, but like also keep an eye on like what’s good for long-term growth. Yeah. Because it’s good for long-term productivity. Thank you so much Dr. Sahm. It’s uh, it’s been a pleasure talking to you on, uh, wealth Formula Podcast today. Great. Thank you so much. You make a lot of money but are still worried about retirement. Maybe you didn’t start earning until your thirties. Now you’re trying to catch up. Meanwhile, you’ve got a mortgage, a private school to pay for, and you feel like you’re getting further and further behind. Now, good news, if you need to catch up on retirement, check out a program put out by some of the oldest and most prestigious life insurance companies in the world. It’s called Wealth Accelerator, and it can help you amplify your returns quickly, protect your money from creditors, and provide financial protection to your family if something happens to you. The concept. Here are used by some of the wealthiest families in the world, and there’s no reason why they can’t be used by you. Check it out for yourself by going to wealthformulabanking.com. Welcome back to the show everyone. Hope you enjoyed it. It was Claudia Sahm. She is, uh, she’s a very, very smart lady. And, uh, just a reminder, if you have not done so, uh, I, I don’t frequently ask to do, do this, but, uh, make sure you give the show. Five stars and a positive review because that’s how we’re getting, you know, really high quality people like Claudia on the show, I’ve been around for a long time. It helps that the show is, you know, like over a decade old and all that stuff too. But, uh, anything you can do to support would be very helpful. And also one more reminder, uh, if you have not done so and you weren’t a credit investor, make sure you sign up for that investor club. At Wealth formula.com. That’s it for me. This week on Wealth Formula Podcast. This is about Joffrey signing out. If you wanna learn more, you can now get free access to our in-depth personal finance course featuring industry leaders like Tom Wheelwright and Ken m. Visit wealthformularoadmap.com.

Every winter, skiers trek up to the Southern California mountain town of Big Bear to hit the slopes. But this winter, snow has been hard to come by. Rain and unusually warm temperatures have dominated and put a chill on ski resorts and businesses in the region. Reporter: Madison Aument, KVCR Every time there's a major disaster in California, the state is supposed to write a report on lessons learned. But they're years behind. Reporter: Jacob Margolis, LAist A bill to regulate unaccredited groups that help veterans access benefits is pending on Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. Reporter: Laura Fitzgerald, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hustle & Flowchart, host Joe Fier sits down with entrepreneur and systems expert Brad Hart. Together, they explore how AI and robotics are transforming business and why now is the most exciting (and urgent) time for entrepreneurs to leverage these tools. Brad Hart shares his journey—what he'd do if starting over, how to build systems for true leverage, and why small businesses must lead the coming wave of technological change. From real-life success stories to actionable frameworks, this conversation is packed with forward-thinking strategies for building scalable, future-ready businesses.Topics DiscussedA New Era of Abundance: Brad Hart discusses the potential for AI and robotics to solve age-old challenges and what a “utopia” could mean for business and society.Why Small Businesses Matter: The gap between big tech's focus and the real needs of small and medium businesses—and why SMBs can't be left behind.Building Leverage with AI: Steps to identifying processes you can automate, from onboarding to operations, and freeing up human potential.Framework for Scaling: Brad Hart unveils his 4 Ps for system-building: Plan, Prompt, Produce, Polish (and a fifth: Platformatize).Tribe Coding vs. Vibe Coding: The power of collective learning, why masterminds matter, and how “tribe coding” accelerates innovation.Real-World Case Studies: How automating a medical onboarding process cut work from 120 hours to less than one—and what that means for scale.Mindset Shift for the Future: Why every industry is about to be disrupted, how to lead change (not follow it), and the new rules for staying in business past 2030.Introducing Optimus & the Mastermind: Brad Hart's platform to connect, automate, and scale business operations without coding.The Human Element: Why it's not about replacing humans, but empowering them to be more creative, impactful, and fulfilled.Resources MentionedSee what Brad is building over at Optimus: https://buildwithoptimus.com/Get some FREE Training from Brad: https://buildwithoptimus.com/trainings/Connect with Joe Fier

Turning Customer Experience into Customer Transformation  Shep interviews Joseph Pine, best-selling author of Experience Economy, speaker, and cofounder of Strategic Horizons LLP. He talks about his new book, The Transformation Economy, and how businesses can go beyond creating memorable experiences to guiding customers through meaningful transformations that help them achieve their aspirations.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    What is the transformation economy?  What is the difference between selling a product and creating a transformative customer experience?  How can businesses guide customers to achieve their personal or professional aspirations?  What are the benefits of customizing experiences to meet individual customer needs?  What elements contribute to a robust customer experience?  Top Takeaways:    The transformation economy is about how companies can help customers change. It is about how your business can help them achieve their aspirations.   Businesses create more value when they focus on selling the end rather than the means. Go beyond selling products and services to understanding why customers buy and use that knowledge to help them reach their goals and achieve their aspirations.  Transformation is not a one-size-fits-all. It must begin with truly understanding where the customer is starting (from) and where your customers aspire to end up (to). Carefully identify the customer's current situation, needs, and aspirations to tailor experiences that produce meaningful outcomes for them.  Sell transformation, not just products. For example, people don't buy a treadmill because they want the equipment. They want to be healthier, have more stamina, or feel better about themselves. Whether you're selling a physical product, a service, or something else, shift your mindset to the customer's desired result.   In both B2B and B2C, businesses should become trusted partners, not just vendors. That means understanding clients' deeper goals and helping them achieve success, even if it occasionally means recommending solutions outside what you sell. The focus is on the customer's outcome, not just the transaction.  In the transformation economy, companies should charge for what customers value most: outcomes. Companies are moving away from pricing based on time, materials, or products. It is focused on results.  Transformative change for customers doesn't come from a single transaction. It spans the entire journey, including the preparation before the event, reflection afterwards, and ongoing integration into daily life.  Plus, Shep and Joe share insights from The Transformation Economy and discuss companies that are putting customer transformations first. Tune in!  Quote:   "Transformations are built on top of experiences. We change through the experiences that we have. "    About:    Joseph Pine is a bestselling author, speaker, and cofounder of Strategic Horizons LLP, celebrated for guiding Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups alike. He is the author of The Experience Economy, Mass Customization, and Infinite Possibility.  Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Is Scope Churn? Businesses naturally want predictability from their software organizations. Promises have been made to customers, and there are business objectives to deliver as well. Often, those things have little to no wiggle room. The head of Marketing says “This must be completed on time, because we have a trade show on March 1st, and we have committed to present there.” The head of Product says “The only way we could save this angry customer was to promise that this would be completed on September 30th. If we don't deliver, they will walk.”How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] ⁠https://www.agiledad.com/⁠- [instagram] ⁠https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/⁠- [facebook] ⁠https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/⁠- [Linkedin] ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

What if building wealth didn't mean starting from scratch—or doing it alone? In this episode Syama sits down with investor, advisor, and mentor Jeanne Wang to explore a powerful (and still under-discussed) path to wealth: buying and operating existing businesses. Jeanne shares her journey from growing up in a small Pennsylvania farm town, to Wharton, to decades in private equity—before intentionally shifting her focus toward supporting women as owners, operators, and investors. Together, Shama and Jeanne unpack the emotional, financial, and identity-level decisions that shape women's wealth journeys, especially mid-career. This is a conversation about legacy, risk, confidence, and why women owning businesses isn't just good for returns—it's good for communities. Key Topics: Why signing bonuses and performance guarantees matter more than base salary in your first negotiation The power of choosing diverse experience and strong culture over the highest-paying job offer How to evaluate career opportunities through the lens of working with highly motivated people The critical difference between building a business from scratch and buying an established one How to build wealth through alternative assets while maintaining a risk-averse mindset The importance of financial literacy education and creating investment competitions with your family Why legacy is measured by the number of women you help into ownership, not personal accolades Connect with Jeanne Wang online: Website: https://www.villagesearchpartners.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannewang1/  Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/?hl=en Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com  

Episode 224 of The Hitstreak, a podcast where we talk about anything and everything!  This week we are joined by Globally Recognized Scientist, Chief Science Formulator at The ROOT Brands, Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian, Dr. Christina Rahm, as well as, an Oppositional Defiant Innovator and The Architect and Designer Of The Root Brands, Clayton Thomas!Episode in a Glance:In this episode of The Hitstreak, Rhiannon and I get to sit down with the founders of Root Brands, Dr. Christina Rahm and Clayton Thomas, discussing their journey in the health and wellness industry. We explore the importance of nutrition, the new food pyramid, and the dynamics of running a business as a couple. This episode emphasizes the need for education in dietary choices, the impact of processed foods, and the significance of trust in food sources. We also discuss our experiences with vaccines, the introduction of their health product line, and the science behind these products. The conversation emphasizes the need for trust and transparency in health products, the unique value each product offers, and how to incorporate them into daily life for better health outcomes.Key Points:- Successful partnerships require clear role definitions and teamwork.- Nutrition education is crucial for families to make informed choices.- Family dynamics play a key role in dietary habits and choices.- Personal choices play a crucial role in health and wellness.- Businesses have a responsibility to give back to society.- Trust in health products is essential for consumer confidence.- The future of health and wellness relies on informed choices.About our guests: Clayton Thomas and Dr. Christina Rahm are the visionary founders of The ROOT Brands, a global leader in health, wellness, and human optimization. Clayton brings over 25 years of experience in integrative health, environmental toxicology, and preventative wellness, while Dr. Rahm is a globally recognized scientist, patented innovator, and CEO of 22 companies across 89 countries. Together, they created a people-first wellness model that combines science-backed health solutions with a social platform prioritizing transparency, contribution, and long-term well-being. Their work spans biohacking, environmental detoxification, and human performance, helping individuals and communities reclaim control over their health through education, innovation, and proactive solutions. With a focus on ethical leadership and scientific integrity, Clayton and Christina are redefining the wellness industry globally—empowering people to make informed health decisions and live healthier, more meaningful lives.Follow and contact:Instagram: @drchristinarahm | @theclaythomas | @therootbrandswww.drchristinarahm.com | theclaytonthomas.com |  therootbrands.comSubscribe to Nick's top-rated podcast The Hitstreak on Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/NickHite⁠rFollow and Rate us on Spotify: ⁠https://spotify.com/NickHiter⁠Follow and Rate us on Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/NickHiter⁠Follow and Rate us on iHeartRadio: ⁠https://www.iheart.com/NickHiter

Rob Rowsell is an award-winning Las Vegas-based entrepreneur and real estate investor who went from homelessness and addiction to faith-driven success in business and life. Now a bestselling author of Addicted to Life and founder of the ATL All-In Community, Rob coaches others on business ownership, wealth, health, relationships, and spiritual growth while sharing his journey through speaking, investing, and social media.   Here's some of the topics we covered:   From Rock Bottom to Boss: How Rob Beat Addiction and Built a Business How Faith Helped Rob Break Free from Addiction for Good The Massive 2026 Opportunity to Buy Cash-Flowing Businesses The Exact First Moves to Buying Your First Business Rob's Go-To Strategy to Finance a Business with Little to No Money Price vs. Terms: The Real Way Deals Are Won (and What You'll Actually Pay) EBITDA Made Simple: What Every Smart Buyer Must Know How to Train AI to Work Like Your Best Employee The Top AI Tools to Use for Explosive Business Growth   To find out more about partnering or investing in a multifamily deal: Text Partner to 72345 or email Partner@RodKhleif.com    For more about Rod and his real estate investing journey go to www.rodkhleif.com   Please Review and Subscribe  

In this episode, I explore the concept of the Multiplier CEO and how this leadership model differs from the traditional, operationally driven approach. I share why sustainable growth requires a mindset shift from doing everything yourself to empowering and developing the people around you. As businesses scale, leaders who invest in their teams reduce micromanagement, relieve burnout, and unlock collective performance. I also announce a free training for CEOs focused on overcoming burnout and building businesses that thrive without constant founder involvement. This episode is an invitation to adopt the multiplier mindset for long-term, scalable success. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 1:55 Shift from Operator to Multiplier 2:55 The Role of a CEO Coach 4:17 Developing Leadership Across the Company 4:56 Upcoming Free Training Invitation From Operator to Multiplier CEO Most CEOs approach growth by working harder, refining strategy, or hiring more people. While these tactics can create short-term gains, they often lead to burnout, time scarcity, and rising costs. Operator-style leadership eventually hits a ceiling; there are only so many hours in a day, and only so much energy to give. True, sustainable growth requires a different lens. The real constraint isn't effort, strategy, or headcount, it's how the CEO shows up as a leader. What Multiplier CEOs Do Differently A Multiplier CEO shifts focus from "What can I do?" to "How do I engage and develop my team?" Instead of solving every problem personally, they build alignment, strengthen leadership systems, and empower others to make decisions. This mindset allows the business to grow beyond the founder. Small improvements come from working harder, but long-term, scalable growth comes from multiplying the capability and ownership of the entire organization. Building Leadership That Scales Multiplier CEOs intentionally develop leaders across the company so the business no longer depends on a single hero. They create shared leadership language, accountability systems, and decision-making frameworks that enable people to lead confidently. When leadership is distributed, CEOs regain space to think strategically, step away when needed, and avoid burnout. This episode isn't a how-to; it's an invitation to reflect. If growth feels heavy or burnout is creeping in, it may be time to embrace the multiplier shift. Key Takeaways Sustainable growth doesn't come from working harder it comes from multiplying leadership and capability across your team. Operator-style leadership creates short-term gains but eventually leads to burnout, time constraints, and rising costs. Multiplier CEOs shift their focus from solving problems themselves to engaging, developing, and empowering others. Hiring alone is not leverage; leadership systems, alignment, and accountability create true scale. Businesses that grow beyond the founder are built by developing leaders at every level—not by relying on a single hero. Adopting the multiplier mindset allows CEOs to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on long-term impact. Ideal For: Founders, CEOs, executives, managers, and anyone committed to elevating their leadership capacity. Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at training.coreelevation.com to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance.  Explore More: training.coreelevation.com  Listen to the Full Episode: Growth Think Tank Podcast

Unlock real ROI with predictive AI in this episode of Future Tech featuring Pecan AI CEO Zohar Bronfman. While GenAI dominates headlines, Zohar breaks down how predictive models are quietly transforming decision-making and operations across industries. From data democratization to actionable use cases, this episode is a must-listen for leaders ready to use AI to solve real business problems — not just chase trends.

Many small business owners feel frustrated when sales don't reflect the quality of their work. They're showing up consistently, offering thoughtful services, and doing everything they've been told to do, yet something still feels off.Often, the issue isn't visibility, effort, or even clarity. It's friction.Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly Zugay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠With Grace and Gold®⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brand It, Build It Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a chart-topping small business marketing podcast, equips you to build and grow your creative small business with purpose and strategy.Podcast Show Notes: https://withgraceandgold.com/category/podcast/With Grace and Gold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withgraceandgoldFree Resources from With Grace and Gold: https://www.withgraceandgold.com/freeHonored as Showit Designer of the Year, With Grace and Gold® has proudly served thousands of small businesses and creative founders worldwide through award-winning, elevated, purpose-driven brand and ⁠⁠⁠Showit web design⁠⁠⁠ since 2014. For custom brand design services, custom Showit web design services, and easy-to-customize Showit website templates for fine art photographers, event planners, wedding professionals, interior designers, and creatives, please visit With Grace and Gold: www.withgraceandgold.com

In this episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed is joined by Virginia Juliano, marketing and strategy consultant, and Marie Protomastro Patel of Girl on the Ball Solutions. Together, they reflect on a recent HAYVN Marketing Hub gathering and unpack the marketing shifts shaping how business owners and leaders should think about growth as we move into 2026. “Clarity is something that's never been out of style, but I think it's becoming even more important.” — Virginia Giuliano A central theme of the conversation is that marketing is no longer a separate function — we're all marketers now. From solopreneurs to established businesses, everyone is responsible for how their expertise, message, and value show up in the world. Key insights from the conversation include: AI is no longer optional — it's foundational.AI isn't a standalone tool or trend; it's woven into everything from strategy to content distribution to how people discover businesses. Like the early days of the internet, the shift is about integration, not resistance. Clarity is king — and always has been.No amount of clever tactics or polished content can compensate for a lack of clarity. Being clear on who you serve, what you do, and why it matters is the bedrock of effective marketing and strategy. Strategy must come before tactics.Business owners often get lost in execution — platforms, posts, tools — without anchoring decisions in strategy. Marketers add value by asking the hard questions that help cut through the clutter. Perfection is no longer the goal. Authenticity is.The pressure to constantly perform or produce flawless content is easing. Audiences are responding more to real, human moments than overly polished marketing. Showing up matters more than showing off. You don't need to be a content machine.Content stewardship is replacing content overload. Businesses should focus on what feels aligned, comfortable, and sustainable — and then use AI to repurpose and extend what already exists. Marketing is relationship building at its core.Whether through newsletters, speaking, podcasts, or in-person events, trust and connection drive long-term success. Community and human connection are becoming more valuable than noise and volume. AI amplifies good input — it doesn't replace thinking.AI can enhance strategy and execution, but only when the inputs are clear. Without clarity, goals, and intention, even the best tools fall flat. This conversation reinforces a powerful shift in modern marketing: less pressure, more alignment; fewer tactics, stronger strategy; and more humanity at every touchpoint. As AI becomes embedded in how we create and discover information, the business leaders who stand out will be the ones rooted in clarity, authenticity, and genuine relationships.  “Marketing works best when it feels sustainable, not performative.” —  Marie Protomastro Patel Marketing isn't about doing more — it's about doing what matters, consistently and in ways that feel true to who you are. Interested in implementing some of these marketing shifts into your marketing strategy? Give this custom ChatGPT a try. It's formulated from the recent 2026 Marketing Shifts presentation at HAYVN's Marketing Hub in January and this article based upon responses from marketers and creatives doing the work.  Also, want to know more about HAYVN's Hub for Marketing? You can join the group monthly in person for “Ask the Experts” for marketing advice and insight as well as an opportunity to connect with smart marketers and creatives in the area.  Connect with Nancy LinkedIn  Instagram Website Connect with Virginia LinkedIn Website Connect with Marie LinkedIn Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LA Mayor Karen Bass gets ready to deliver the State of the City address. Orange County businesses are taking a big hit in the wake of federal immigration raids. Bad Bunny pays tribute to immigrants during his historic night at the Grammys. Plus, more from Morning Edition. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com

Send us a text Ep 272 -- In this jam-packed gossip dump, I'm breaking down the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City reunion part 3 tea starting with Dan Cosby reaching out with exclusive information about Mary Cosby's TLC docuseries and exposing every single business that funded her money from church members. Then I'm getting into Bronwyn Newport being spotted alone and disheveled at Sundance—plus why I believe her Todd Bradley marriage storyline was fake from the start—and wait until you hear what I discovered about Todd's new investment firm Niobrara Capital where he's partners with Mike Pompeo, Trump's former Secretary of State and CIA Director. The reunion recap covers Heather Gay being outed for allegedly sharing pills, Whitney Rose's suspicious marriage troubles, Brittani Bateman's antisemitism drama with Meredith Marks, and why Meredith is having her Camille Grammer moment calling out production. I'm also revealing tea on Lisa Barlow and Heather both allegedly working with finsta accounts—so why is only Lisa getting called out? Then we dive into the massive Epstein files drop where Elon Musk got exposed asking about the "wildest party" on the island despite claiming he refused invitations, Ghislaine Maxwell calling Prince Andrew "sweet pea" and him using the email name "The Invisible Man," Steve Bannon's hundreds of texts with Epstein, and a shocking Bill Gates draft email. I'm also reading you the explosive Congressional letter to Pam Bondi about Ghislaine Maxwell's five-star prison treatment including a puppy, room service, private CNN viewing, and unsupervised laptop access—plus disturbing whistleblower allegations of sexual abuse and retaliation at FPC Bryan. Finally, I'm introducing you to the Colleen Ballinger scandal and how this Miranda Sings creator allegedly had inappropriate relationships with underage fans including Adam McIntyre—this rabbit hole goes deep and involves some truly disturbing allegations about her inner circle. Full episode only available at Dishing Drama Dana Patreon,it's only $6.00 a month, join the fun! https://www.patreon.com/cw/DishingDramaWithDanaWilkeySupport the showDana is on Cameo!Follow Dana: @Wilkey_Dana$25,000 Song - Apple Music$25,000 Song - SpotifyTo support the show and listen to full episodes, become a member on PatreonTo send Dana information, show requests and sponsorships reach out to our new email: dishingdramadana@gmail.comDana's YouTube Channel

The episode centers on practical approaches for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT leaders assessing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, with David Espindola detailing the crucial distinction between “maker,” “shaper,” and “taker” strategies. David Espindola emphasizes that organizations must intentionally decide their role in AI development and use—whether building proprietary systems, shaping solutions atop existing models, or simply consuming pre-built capabilities. This decision, he notes, is foundational for aligning risk tolerance, investment, and technical capacity with business goals, especially given the rapid pace and inherent uncertainty in AI's evolution.Supporting this framework, David Espindola references insights from a Small Business Administration project, which found that most small businesses are struggling to define applicable use cases for AI and tend toward risk-avoidant stances despite external pressures to adopt the technology. He stresses that AI implementation should not be a solution in search of a problem; rather, an organization's readiness, risk, investment capability, and specific industry context must determine its approach. Key recommendations include conducting readiness assessments, appointing internal AI champions, and starting with small, low-risk pilot projects to build internal understanding and governance processes before scaling.The discussion broadens to ethical and governance considerations, with both David Espindola and the host cautioning that responsible AI adoption is a business necessity rather than a compliance checkbox. They advocate for formal employee training, the establishment of clear usage policies, and strict controls over tool access to mitigate risks such as data leakage, hallucinated outputs, and misaligned communications. The emphasis is on building practical safeguards rather than pursuing AI for its own sake, reflecting a pragmatic, risk-managed approach tailored to each organization's context.For MSPs and IT service providers, the practical takeaways are clear: pursuing AI adoption requires a methodical, risk-aware strategy focused on business relevance, operational governance, and targeted experimentation. The harms of rushed deployments, poor change management, or lack of internal education are underscored, with the implication that long-term value and reduced exposure are found in deliberate, well-governed adoption efforts. Readiness assessments, pilot programs, and robust policy frameworks emerge as the primary enablers of sustainable outcomes in this rapidly evolving landscape.

You don't need another degree—you need ownership.Rich sits down with Brian Luebben, founder of The Action Academy, to break down how everyday people can buy their freedom through small business acquisition and real estate investing. From leaving corporate America to building multiple seven-figure businesses, Brian shares the mindset shifts, income strategies, and frameworks that helped him replace his paycheck and live life completely on his own terms.They cover:Why 9–5 jobs keep high performers trapped—and how to escapeThe “Freedom Framework” every entrepreneur needs to scale sustainablyHow to buy your first small business using creative financingThe truth about risk tolerance and why most partnerships failWhy business builds freedom—and real estate builds wealthIf you've been stuck in a job that feels too small for your potential, this episode gives you the roadmap to break free.Let's go.Connect with Brian on Instagram: @brianluebban

Entrepreneurship isn't about quitting your job tomorrow. It's about creating options, leverage, and time freedom.

Activists called for a nationwide shutdown of economic activity Friday, Jan. 30, following another killing by immigration officials. But in this unforgiving economy, small business owners who support the cause faced a difficult decision. Today, a few told us how they navigated the moment. Plus: Sluggish big oil earnings show why Venezuela investment isn't popular, Trump announces his pick for Fed Chair, and parents pay a price for snow days.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Activists called for a nationwide shutdown of economic activity Friday, Jan. 30, following another killing by immigration officials. But in this unforgiving economy, small business owners who support the cause faced a difficult decision. Today, a few told us how they navigated the moment. Plus: Sluggish big oil earnings show why Venezuela investment isn't popular, Trump announces his pick for Fed Chair, and parents pay a price for snow days.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In this webinar turned podcast, Molly Gamble joins Scott Becker to share insights into the book they co-authored “Building Great Businesses: Create Momentum, Overcome Setbacks & Scale with Confidence”.

Thomas Cox was this week's guest on Success Profiies Radio. He is the owner of Cox Capital and host of the Owners Table podcast. He helps business owners, real estate investors, and high-income earners deploy millions of dollars through private money lending and Infinite Banking strategies that build wealth, reduce taxes, finance growth, and protect capital. We talked about why some people are wealthy and others aren't, developing a mindset for wealth, what wealthy people do differently than everyone else, and why some families lose their wealth within two generations. In addition, we discussed how you can become your own bank through the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC), how it is used by the wealthy to fund real estate and business ventures, how it can minimize taxation, client success stories, and much more. You can subscribe and listen to the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, Audible, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and at https://toginet.com/shows/successprofilesradio/

email chris@drchrisloomdphd.com with "Podcast freebie" to book a coveted FREE guest spot on the show. To book a PREMIUM spot on the Podcast: ⁠https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/_paylink/AZpgR_7f⁠Book a 1-on-1 coaching call: ⁠https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/booking-calendar/introductory-session⁠ Become a member of our Podcast community: ⁠https://www.drchrisloomdphd.com/membership⁠Subscribe to our email list: ⁠⁠https://financial-freedom-podcast-with-dr-loo.kit.com/⁠⁠Click here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): ⁠https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphd⁠Click here to purchase my books on Amazon: ⁠https://amzn.to/2PaQn4p⁠Click here to purchase my audiobooks, visit: ⁠https://www.audible.com/author/Christopher-H-Loo-MD-PhD/B07WFKBG1F⁠To help support the show:CashApp- ⁠https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphd⁠Venmo- ⁠https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4⁠Buy Me a Coffee- ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJx⁠Disclaimer: Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show.  

Entrepreneur and martial arts instructor Gary Engels joins me to unpack what it really means to rebuild when everything is stripped away—and why modern resilience requires more than grit.Most stories about reinvention soften the edges. This episode doesn't. Gary and I walk through what happens when loss is not metaphorical but literal: a house fire that destroyed everything he owned while raising three children under five, leaving him with nothing but insurance paperwork, a hotel room, and the responsibility to keep going.Gary shares how that moment forced a recalibration of risk, preparedness, and identity. From running a martial arts school for over two decades to building and exiting businesses across marketing, gig work, corporate networks, and professional services, his story is less about hustle and more about designing a life that doesn't collapse under stress.We explore how personal catastrophe reshapes perspective on money, why low burn rates matter more than high incomes, and how the gig economy has quietly become a resilience layer—not a side hustle—for over half of the U.S. workforce. Gary explains why independence isn't about chasing upside, but about reducing fragility.The conversation spans entrepreneurship, minimalism, family pressure, leadership, and the illusion of security in both “safe” careers and high-status wealth. We dig into why many high earners are more trapped than free, how possessions quietly tax attention and energy, and why preparedness—financial and psychological—is a leadership skill, not paranoia.This is not a motivational comeback story. It's a sober conversation about optionality, responsibility, and how repeated resets—business failures, market shifts, personal loss—can either hollow you out or harden your foundations.The lesson isn't optimism.It's realism: life will break your plans.Your job is to build systems that still function when it does.TL;DR* Total loss reframes what actually matters faster than success ever does* Low burn rates increase options more than high income* Gig work isn't instability—it's distributed resilience* Independence starts with expense control, not income growth* Every possession adds hidden management cost and stress* Most “security” is illusionary and fragile* Leadership is about preparedness, not bravado* You either win or you learn—but both require staying in the fightMemorable Lines* “I'd rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.”* “Everything you own becomes a job.”* “Most people don't lose because they fail—they lose because they're unprepared.”* “Freedom comes from lowering the rock before trying to lift it.”* “It doesn't matter what happens to you. What matters is what you do next.”GuestGary Engels — Entrepreneur, CEO, and martial arts instructorCEO of MyGig, focused on helping independent workers and businesses access professional-grade services without corporate dependency. Veteran founder across brick-and-mortar, marketing, corporate networks, and gig economy platforms.Why This MattersThe modern economy rewards flexibility, not loyalty.Jobs disappear. Businesses reset. Income streams vanish overnight—sometimes literally in flames. Most people are taught to optimize for growth without understanding fragility.This episode reframes resilience as a design problem, not a personality trait.For founders, operators, and executives navigating volatility, this conversation offers a clearer lens: success isn't avoiding collapse—it's building systems that let you recover quickly without sacrificing family, health, or identity.Stability doesn't come from comfort.It comes from preparedness, discipline, and the willingness to rethink everything when the ground gives way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dougutberg.com

In this episode of the Real Estate Pros Podcast, host Micah Johnson welcomes Tryf Christoforou, co-founder of 3CRE Advisors, to discuss his decade-long journey in the real estate industry. Tryf shares insights into his diverse business units, which include commercial and residential real estate, property management, and capital markets. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the foundational aspects of real estate, such as financing and relationship-building, which have been crucial to his success. Tryf also highlights the strategic growth of his company, adapting to market changes, and the significance of providing value to clients through a comprehensive suite of services.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Roadside signs engage in a battle of wit. On today's Odd News+ we visit a town where signs are doing all the talking. Plus, news on an autograph scheme and topiary gardens. Businesses in Morehead City ,North Carolina are engaged in a very punny battle. If you collect autographs from celebrities at conventions, we have news about a recent scheme that is rocking the collectibles world. Sculpting realistic people and animals out of vegetation is hard. The Middle-Aged Farmer's Almanac may be able to help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is Friday, January 30. Here are the latest headlines from the Fargo, North Dakota area. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. For more news from throughout the day, visit InForum.com.

(WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE) A motorcycle club. A fight club. A kidnappers club. Three men, one victim. But only one of them is convicted. Reb breaks out her DIY whiteboard for a very helpful visual aid of this very absurd kidnapping story. Spoiler alert: A Hail Mary motion is filed and...wins?!?! This is United States v. Cornelius Green (2024). SUPPORT MINNESOTA ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND MUTUAL AID: Donate to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: https://www.ilcm.org/donate/  Donate to Pimento Relief Services or support their work: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Pimento-Foundation  Donate to Neighborhood House NM or support their work: https://neighborhoodhousemn.org/community-crisis-response/. Donate a gift card for the MN community via El Burrito Mercado: https://www.elburritomercado.com *** MERCH STORE IS LIVE! Shop Reb Masel and Rebuttal Pod merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rebmasel.shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to PREORDER Reb's book: The Book They Throw At You—A Sarcastic Lawyer's Guide* To The Unholy Chaos of Our Legal System, *God No, Not Actual Legal Advice *** Follow @RebuttalPod on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow @Rebmasel on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! *** 00:00 - Intro / Important context 05:34 - Case begins 08:01 - The Motion that never gets granted 09:15 - ALL OF THE DRAMA! 18:36 - The trial (and everything wrong with it) 29:23 - Verdict / Appeal 42:12 - Reb's Rebuttal * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Built for the Hobby, Brett sits down with Scott Lock, CEO and Co-founder of InfernoRed Technology, for an unscripted conversation on AI and its impact on the sports card hobby. There was no outline. No talking points. Just a real discussion on what AI means right now for collectors and hobby businesses.This is not an episode about hype or fear. Scott breaks down AI as a tool, where it is already showing up in the hobby, and why waiting for things to go back to how they were is not realistic. The conversation touches on speed, trust, human judgment, and why AI works best when it supports people instead of replacing them.If you collect cards, run a hobby business, or want to understand what is changing beneath the surface, this episode will help you think more clearly about what comes next and how to approach AI with intention instead of resistance.Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeStart your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Equipment financing scams target busy entrepreneurs who need tools and machinery to grow. The most dangerous scheme? Companies advertising impossibly low rates, then demanding upfront fees before securing actual approval. Contracts contain hidden clauses making these payments "non-refundable" when real terms arrive much worse, or never materialize. Other red flags include automatic lease renewals requiring cancellation within narrow windows (miss it and pay another full year), deposit schemes where companies simply disappear, and interim rent manipulation, adding phantom months to your bill. Protect yourself: Never pay significant fees before final approval. Verify companies through BBB ratings and complaint searches. Read every contract clause about renewals and refunds. Ask when the lender gets paid—legitimate companies earn commissions only upon successful financing delivery. Work with lenders who have dealer referrals and established reputations. If rates seem unbelievable or pressure tactics emerge, walk away. Your business deserves transparent financing partners, not predatory traps. Robert Misheloff

A number of Rochester businesses are banding together in support of anti-ICE protesters across the nation. On Friday, a group of businesses will close in a show of solidarity, while others will donate proceeds to organizations that support immigrants. Hundreds of businesses in Minnesota made similar decisions last Friday. This hour, we talk to some of the local owners about why they made this decision and what they hope it accomplishes. Our guests: Bob Hartman, co-owner of AltBar Niraj Lama, owner/operator of Happy Earth Tea Rob Nipe, owner of Grass Fed Molly Hartley, owner of Scratch Bakeshop Katarina Eddy, owner of Katboocha Jenna Kirchner, owner of The Unreliable Narrator Michael Solis, executive director of Writers & Books ---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.---Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter. Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.---Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

You might feel like holding steady is the smartest move right now. Don't rock the boat. Don't make big changes. Just survive the noise. That instinct could cost you everything.In this conversation, Rick breaks down why the real risk in business right now isn't change. It's staying exactly where you are. From pricing conversations with customers to owners refusing to evolve, Rick walks through what actually happens when leaders avoid hard decisions while the world shifts underneath them.He also pulls back the curtain on acquisition conversations, service pricing, and why people say they want safety but keep choosing the most dangerous option. This episode is about looking straight at risk... without denial, without comfort stories, and without selling yourself short.What Rick explores in this episode:* Why staying the same quietly becomes your biggest liability* How selling on price exposes you and your customers to more risk* The difference between perceived safety and real protection* Why emotional decisions always come before logical ones* What happens to businesses that refuse to change in shifting marketsFollow Rick's Socials:Instagram | LinkedIn | RickJordan.TVKeywords: business risk, leadership decisions, fear of change, pricing strategy, value over price, selling on value, risk mitigation, business growth mindset, entrepreneur truth, hard business decisions, msp leadership, cybersecurity business, economic uncertainty, founder mindset, acquisition strategy, staying comfortable, avoiding change, business clarity, executive pressure, long term thinking

A.M. Edition for Jan. 28. The dollar is steadying following its biggest one-day decline since April's global tariff turmoil. That's after President Trump said he wouldn't mind a weaker currency. WSJ editor Alex Frangos explains why that statement caused such a selloff. Plus it's a big day for the AI trade as Nvidia begins selling its chips in China and suppliers post record earnings. And two Middle East leaders say they won't help the U.S. in a possible attack on Iran as allies in the region reconsider their ties with Washington. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would make a 30-year-old with a corner office, a clear path to CEO, and more money than he ever imagined… walk away from it all?That's the question at the center of this conversation with Daniel Harkavy.Daniel spent his 20s grinding in the mortgage banking world, chasing deals, money, and success. By 30, he was next in line to run the company—but a quiet inner voice told him this wasn't the life he was meant to live. So he walked away.For the last three decades, Daniel has helped high-performing leaders do what this show is all about: build successful businesses without sacrificing their life in the process. As Founder of Building Champions, he's coached CEOs and executive teams at organizations like Chick-fil-A, Pfizer, and Bank of America.We talk about why so many leaders burn out after they scale, how culture and leadership behavior quietly shape everything, and what it really means to do business and life by design.5 of the biggest insights from Daniel Harkavy…#1.) Walking Away Wasn't Quitting, It Was ClarityDaniel walked away at the height of his career because success didn't feel sustainable anymore. A one-year sabbatical forced him to realize that continuing would have meant building a life he didn't want, no matter how successful it looked.#2.) A Smart Approach to Hiring Top PerformersDaniel built his team by intentionally spending time building relationships with his competitors — learning their goals, understanding where they were stuck, and finding ways to help them improve. By genuinely helping competitors grow where they were, he built trust, loyalty, and credibility. And when the time came, people chose him willingly.#3.) Scaling Without Vision Is How Advisors Get StuckA lot of advisors scale because they think they're supposed to. But if the “why” isn't clear, growth just adds complexity, stress, and people problems. Scaling only works when you're being pulled forward by a clear vision — not pushed by ego, comparison, or fear of missing out.#4.) Emotional Volatility Quietly Destroys CultureEmotional blowups cost more than most leaders realize. The energy spent repairing internal damage is energy not spent growing the business. Over time, volatility wears down culture, momentum, and trust, even when intentions are good.#5.) Fear Loses Power When You Zoom OutWhen you really ask, “What's the worst case?” most of the fear driving decisions starts to shrink. Failure is part of building anything meaningful, but it's rarely the disaster we imagine. Perspective changes the weight of decisions and helps you build with intention instead of fear.SHOW NOTEShttps://bradleyjohnson.com/153FOLLOW BRAD JOHNSON ON SOCIALTwitterInstagramLinkedInFOLLOW DBDL ON SOCIAL:YouTubeTwitterInstagramLinkedInFacebookDISCLOSURE DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations. The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Please visit Triadwealthpartners.com for more information. Triad Wealth Partners, LLC and Triad Partners, LLC are affiliated companies.TP01255162010 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.