Podcasts about CRM

One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make is trying to do business alone. It can feel safer, easier, or more “efficient” to figure everything out yourself. But the truth is, isolation is quietly costing you momentum, confidence, and growth. In this episode, Chris and I break down why entrepreneurship was never meant to be a solo sport and how the right community can completely change your consistency, decision-making, and standards. We talk about the power of accountability, why group environments normalize high performance (not mediocrity), and how being surrounded by people who are ahead of you accelerates your learning in ways nothing else can. Get ready to rethink how you grow, who you grow with, and why the right room can change your life and business. Check out our Sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Don't wait, protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/EarnFree. Shopify - Try the ecommerce platform I trust for Glōci, Sign up for your $1/month trial period at http://Shopify.com/happy. Brevo - the all-in-one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with customers, boost engagement, and grow your business smarter. Get started for free today, or use code HAPPY50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. Just head to http://www.brevo.com/happy. Working Genius - If you're a CEO, an entrepreneur, or anyone who wants to level up, Working Genius helps you drop the shame around your weaknesses and focus on what you naturally do best. Take the Working Genius assessment and get 20% off with code EYH at http://workinggenius.com. Indeed - Spend less time searching, and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Indeed is giving Earn Your Happy listeners a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to help get your job the premium status it deserves. Just go to http://Indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on Earn Your Happy. HIGHLIGHTS The 3 things every high-performing business owner needs to succeed. The surprising stats behind goal completion when you don't go it alone. What pickleball taught Chris about accelerated learning and business growth. The difference between a business owner and being “the service”. How mentors, peers, and masterminds raise your standards automatically. Why isolation isn't neutral and the 26% risk you don't know about. RESOURCES Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow Chris: @chriswharder Follow glōci: @getgloci

Brent Daniels and CRM expert Raphael break down the "Marketing Budget Roadmap," detailing how to scale your lead generation based on your monthly spend. They discuss the transition from "hustle season" to high-level automation, the power of Google My Business, and why mastering a single marketing channel is the fastest way to hit a quarter-million dollars in profit.They also explore advanced skip tracing techniques, the untapped potential of tax-delinquent properties, and how to use SMS and AI to nurture leads without losing the human touch. Check out the TTP Training Program.---------Show notes:(0:04) Beginning of today's episode(1:11) The "Quality over Quantity" offer strategy: why sending 4–5 high-intent offers a week beats "willy-nilly" mailing (3:20) When to use humans vs. automation: leveraging AI for long-term follow-up and lead nurturing (6:18) Expert skip tracing: using IDI, Spokeo, and private investigators to find owners no one else can find (8:20) Why out-of-country, deceased owners are the best leads in the entire business (12:54) Solving bigger problems for bigger profits: buying judgments and unwinding title issues (13:57) Scaling Google: Moving from 21st to 2nd on Google Maps through GMB optimization (17:42) The truth about Novations: achieving an average $34k fee through transparency with agents (20:20) The Marketing Budget Roadmap: What to do at $0–$5k, $5k–$15k, and $30k+ per month (26:32) How to "season" phone numbers to ensure 98% deliverability on SMS campaigns ----------Resources:Spokeo RealSupermarket.com  Ez REI Closings To speak with Brent or one of our other expert coaches call (281) 835-4201 or schedule your free discovery call here to learn about our mentorship programs and become part of the TribeGo to Wholesalingincgroup.com to become part of one of the fastest growing Facebook communities in the Wholesaling space. Get all of your burning Wholesaling questions answered, gain access to JV partnerships, and connect with other "success minded" Rhinos in the community.It's 100% free to join. The opportunities in this community are endless, what are you waiting for?

New data shows health and property insurance premiums are skyrocketing by 26%. We will analyze this "shadow inflation" and how to adjust your budget and portfolio for rising protection costs.Today's Stocks & Topics: Woodward, Inc. (WWD), Market Wrap, A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS), When to Hit the Panic Button, Barrick Mining Corporation (B), iShares Silver Trust (SLV), The "Insurance" Inflation Spike, Salesforce, Inc. (CRM), PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL), Chubb Limited (CB), Fixed Index Annuities, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL), The Housing Market.Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/INVESTAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

When a call hits Rob Levine's firm, it's instantly scrubbed against the CRM, classified as a lead, vendor, or existing client, and routed to the right person based on case type and closing performance. Nothing is random. And nothing touches intake unless it's worth closing. In this episode, Rob breaks down how his firm handles massive lead volume without leaks by using performance-based routing, real-time system logic, and a first-call-close mentality that treats intake like sales, not reception. You'll learn: Why Rob refuses to route calls evenly—and how reps are ranked instead. How he automatically separates new leads, vendors, and existing clients. Why you should never put intake calls on hold. If you like what you hear, hit Subscribe. We do this every week. Buy tickets for PIMCON 2026: pimcon.org Get Social! Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM) powered by Rankings.io is on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

How do you stop wasting money on marketing… and start building a lead engine that actually scales?In this episode of Click to Calls, John Wilson sits down with Service Scalers CEO Sam Preston to break down one of the biggest mistakes growing home service operators make:Hiring a marketing person too early — and expecting them to do everything.They walk through what your first real marketing hire should look like, why most owners misunderstand the budget math, and John's spicy take:If you're under $5M, marketing isn't complicated — you just need to execute the basics consistently.Whether you run HVAC, plumbing, or electrical, this episode gives you a clear framework for when to stick with an agency, when to go in-house, and what “good marketing” actually looks like when the board is light and you need calls fast.In this episode, you'll learn:Why “marketing is complicated” is usually an excuse under $5MThe difference between hiring a coordinator vs. a true marketing managerHow to know if in-house marketing actually beats agency economicsThe only good reasons to bring marketing inside (and the bad one everyone uses)

For years, I thought something was wrong with me. Why was I so energized by vision and ideas, but completely drained by details and follow-through? In this episode, I sit down with leadership expert Patrick Lencioni to talk about the framework that finally gave me language for what I'd felt my entire life. Pat breaks down the 6 types of working genius and shares why burnout isn't caused by working too hard, how most of us grow up believing we're lazy, behind, or not cut out for leadership when in reality, we're just trying to operate outside of how we're wired. Tune in to learn why certain tasks light you up while others exhaust you, and how to build a business and life that works for you. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Working Genius. Check out our Sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Don't wait, protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/EarnFree Shopify - Try the ecommerce platform I trust for Glōci, Sign up for your $1/month trial period at http://Shopify.com/happy Brevo - the all-in-one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with customers, boost engagement, and grow your business smarter. Get started for free today, or use code HAPPY50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription. Just head to http://www.brevo.com/happy Working Genius - If you're a CEO, an entrepreneur, or anyone who wants to level up, Working Genius helps you drop the shame around your weaknesses and focus on what you naturally do best. Take the Working Genius assessment and get 20% off with code EYH at http://workinggenius.com Indeed - Spend less time searching, and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Indeed is giving Earn Your Happy listeners a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to help get your job the premium status it deserves. Just go to http://Indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on Earn Your Happy. HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Pat's 28-year journey in leadership and building healthier companies. 03:30 Why you're not broken for struggling with certain tasks. 06:00 How Working Genius eliminates guilt and self-judgment. 09:15 What are the 6 types of Working Genius? 10:30 Why question-askers are often misunderstood. 12:15 Who is wired to build what doesn't exist yet? 13:00 Why trusting your gut is a real superpower. 14:15 The galvanizers who light the fire and get everyone into action. 17:00 The unseen glue that holds teams, families, and businesses together. 18:30 The finishers who love bringing ideas all the way across the line. 21:15 How to stop resenting teammates for doing what you actually need. 23:00 How misunderstanding creates conflict in relationships. 27:00 How to manage and hire based on Working Genius. 30:15 The language that makes hard work sustainable. 34:30 How much time should you spend in your genius? 35:45 How to let go of guilt around who you're “supposed” to be. 40:45 Why misalignment leads to burnout. 48:00 The performance review that changed a career. 52:00 There's no “good job,” only a good job for you. 57:15 Why every role looks different, even in the same profession 01:01:30 How to take the Working Genius assessment. RESOURCES Take the Working Genius Assessment and get 20% off with code EARN Apply for the Elite Entrepreneur Mastermind HERE! Get on the waitlist for Mentor Collective Mastermind HERE! Try glōci for 40% off your first order with code HAPPY at checkout - head to getgloci.com FOLLOW Follow me: @loriharder Follow glōci: @getgloci Follow Patrick's IG: @patricklencioniofficial Follow Patrick's LinkedIn: @patrick-lencioni-orghealth

Today's episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we're unpacking the mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shiftsShift 9 / Trust Is the Work NowIn today's episode, Jon and Becky welcome back Abby Falik, Co-Founder & CEO of The Flight School, for a grounding and expansive conversation on why trust is no longer a byproduct of good leadership — it is the work.As institutions fracture, technology accelerates, and certainty feels harder to come by, Abby invites nonprofit leaders to rethink trust as a core leadership practice rooted in authenticity, courage, and inner alignment. Together, they explore what it looks like to lead without false certainty, release performative control, and build organizations that are worthy of trust — from the inside out.Abby shares wisdom from her lifelong work in leadership formation, her experience building trust-based systems, and the guiding principles behind The Flight School to help leaders move from fear to flourishing. This episode is both a call inward and a call forward for leaders navigating rapid change while trying to stay human.Episode Highlights: The Importance of Trust in Leadership (02:30)Trust as Core Work in a Fractured World (05:18)Warning Signs of Losing Trust in Organizations (12:29)Building Trust in Leadership (15:48)Leading with Hope in Uncertain Times (18:13)The Role of the Next Generation in Trust (21:51)Abby's One Good Thing (24:31)Dive Deeper: Comfortable with Uncertainty / Purchase HereEpisode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/679Save your free seat at the We Are For Good Summit

It's easy to feel discouraged when things take an unexpected turn, especially after a string of successes. Keith Kalfas spoke candidly about how many of us lose momentum and slip from a place of focus into a phase of discouragement. The pandemic and other worldly changes affected the rhythm for countless entrepreneurs, leaving even the most driven individuals wondering, "What happened to my mojo?" But grit isn't about never falling—it's about how you get back up. As Keith Kalfas recounted, even successful people can become complacent or coast after achieving certain goals. The key is continuing to show up, do the work, and push beyond the low points.   Today You'll learn:  Real techniques for building rapport with customers, winning trust, and closing higher-value jobs by listening and being thorough in your proposals. How to handle disrespect and tough clients while maintaining your composure and not letting negative energy bleed into future opportunities. The role of faith and honoring God, especially during tough times, and how gratitude and surrender can shift your perspective. A reminder not to compare yourself to others, but to water your own grass, focus on your purpose, and trust the process.   "You have everything that it takes. You have it inside of you." - Keith Kalfas   Topics Covered 00:00:20 – Introduction: The Power of Grit Keith Kalfas introduces the theme of grit and acknowledges that while many people received the invitation to show up, only those with real determination did. He sets the stage for stories about personal growth and challenges. 00:01:04 – Business Struggles and Finding Focus Again Reflecting on the ups and downs of building a landscaping business, Keith Kalfas discusses losing momentum, dealing with discouragement, and reigniting the spark to "crush it" daily. 00:02:09 – A Year of Change: Systems, Hiring, and Sales A breakdown of how Keith Kalfas refined his business—hiring new staff, implementing CRM systems, perfecting sales processes, and improving client communication. 00:03:13 – On the Job: Quoting and Communicating with Customers Storytime: Keith Kalfas shares his customer quoting strategy, including building trust, itemizing scope, and presenting solutions that increase job value. 00:04:26 – Upselling and Turning Small Jobs into Big Wins How offering additional services and identifying new opportunities can dramatically increase job size and revenue. 00:06:14 – The Importance of Professionalism and Presence Tips on balancing being relaxed with showing you're a busy, in-demand professional—and why customers respond positively to organized, time-efficient service providers. 00:08:43 – Navigating Pricing and Customer Negotiations Keith Kalfas shares a tough story on maintaining composure and integrity during uncomfortable price negotiations, teaching listeners how to stand firm and know your value. 00:12:27 – Personal History: Overcoming Hardship and Loss Sharing personal challenges, including homelessness and the loss of his mother, Keith Kalfas demonstrates how grit is forged through real-life struggles and how it shapes character. 00:18:04 – The Demarcation Line: Choosing Who You Will Be A motivational segment about how to respond when life gets tough—choose grit, honor God, and don't let setbacks define you. 00:20:10 – Closing Big Jobs: Communication & Detailed Quotes A step-by-step breakdown of how Keith Kalfas closes high-ticket landscaping jobs with ultra-transparent, itemized quotes, speed, and clear client messaging. 00:28:36 – Managing Large Jobs: Ongoing Communication Learn why ongoing updates, daily text threads, and clear expectations keep clients satisfied and jobs running smoothly—even through unexpected construction delays. 00:32:46 – Handling Payment Issues & Staying Calm When final payment delays happen, Keith Kalfas shares the importance of staying calm and following up professionally, instead of reacting emotionally. 00:34:22 – Standing Up for Yourself: Defending Your Work Ethically Keith Kalfas describes a situation where a competitor tried to undermine his work, and how he asserted his expertise and maintained client relationships with integrity and "grit." 00:38:03 – Faith & Gratitude Through Difficult Losses Stories of loss—giving his dog CPR and the emotional aftermath—lead to advice on honoring God through both good times and hardships. 00:40:24 – The Power of Self-Talk & Comparison A closing reminder on speaking positivity, avoiding negative self-talk, and focusing on your unique path instead of comparing to others.   Key Takeaways Hold onto your grit, even in adversity: When faced with challenging clients or situations, don't let frustration or disrespect shake your confidence or authenticity. Staying rooted in professionalism and self-respect—even when emotions run high—can turn obstacles into defining moments. Remember, your response shapes your reputation and future success. Honor clear communication and integrity in your work: Detailed transparency with clients (from itemized quotes to consistent updates) builds trust and can prevent misunderstandings. When complications arise—like unexpected delays or doubts from clients—stand firm in your value, remain honest, and educate patiently. Acting with integrity, even under pressure, pays off in the long run. Never compare your journey to others; walk your own path: Whether it's hearing about others crushing it or feeling behind, putting energy into self-comparison drains you and clouds your purpose. Focus on watering your own grass—invest in your unique mission and efforts. Fulfillment and growth come from staying true to your story, not chasing someone else's. Connect with Keith Kalfas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resource Links Jobber CRM Free Trial:  getjobber.com/kalfas. Footbridge Media for Contractors: footbridgemedia.com/Keith Untrapped Alliance Application: keithkalfas.com/alliance   Written and Edited by: Ma. Teresa Catangay-Bardinas 

https://theexposuretriangle.com/ - Mentorship and Mastermind Group is now open for enrollment - grab a seat before they are gone In this week's episode, I break down exactly how I went from no bookings, to booking over 25 weddings last year. I also break down how I have gotten into a 20k+ market in the past year by doing this exact plan. This episode is special, because it is a live workshop I taught last week. Listen in as I record a live workshop to 50+ Wedding Professionals - I teach you how to get 'unstuck from the middle market' and I show you my new Exposure Triangle System - where I also now have a Mastermind Group that is open for enrollment. Want to learn more, hit the link at the top of the description

Why do some recruitment agencies collapse during recessions while others keep growing? Gerard Koolen has watched his business expand through three major crises: the 2008 financial collapse, COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine. Each time, Lugera grew. Not by working harder, but by building the business differently. Gerard is the founder of Lugera, a recruitment agency with 11 offices, over 500 employees, and €243 million in annual revenue. Operating across a region tested by economic downturns and geopolitical instability, his firm has been forced to adapt repeatedly. Instead of relying on a single revenue stream, Gerard built what he calls an “all-seasons service portfolio.” Over time, Lugera developed eight distinct revenue streams. When permanent hiring slowed, outplacement surged. When clients froze recruitment, other services stepped in. One stream compensated for another, keeping the business resilient when markets turned. That approach created a new problem. Managing eight revenue streams manually nearly broke the company. Gerard invested 10 years and €2.2 million in building technology to automate work that once required a team of 30 people. Today, one part-time employee handles what used to take an entire department. In this episode, Gerard breaks down how the model works. He explains how to monetise the 99% of candidates most agencies never place, why traditional ATS systems quietly limit growth, and how outplacement can become a counter-cyclical revenue stream. If you want to build a recruitment business that grows through uncertainty instead of being crushed by it, this conversation will change how you think about revenue, technology, and resilience. What you'll learn: Why Lugera grew 20% during the 2008 recession What an “all-seasons service portfolio” looks like in practice Why most agencies monetise only 0.2% of their candidate database How eight revenue streams reduce risk and smooth volatility Why your ATS may be capping your growth without you realising How automation replaced 30 staff with one part-time role Why does outplacement generate revenue when hiring stops Episode highlights: [03:30] Growing during the 2008 recession [05:53] The all-seasons service portfolio [08:01] Monetising the 99% of candidates you never place [14:34] The real cost of building the technology [19:42] Why most ATS platforms restrict growth [27:02] Doubling placements without doubling effort [31:33] Turning outplacement into a €1M revenue stream [45:25] Automated outreach that converts job ads into leads Sponsor This episode is brought to you by Recruiterflow. Recruiterflow is an AI-first ATS and CRM built to help recruitment businesses run and scale more efficiently. It combines ATS, CRM, sequencing, data enrichment, marketing automation, and AI agents in one platform. Many leaders in our coaching community rely on Recruiterflow to streamline operations and improve execution. Learn more or request a demo at recruitmentcoach.com/recruiterflow Guest Bio Gerard Koolen is the founder of Lugera, a recruitment and staffing agency with 11 offices across Eastern Europe, over 500 employees, and €243 million in annual revenue. After investing 10 years and €2.2 million developing proprietary AI matching technology, Gerard created the Recruitment Revenue Platform to help recruitment agencies build multiple revenue streams beyond traditional placement fees. This is Gerard's third appearance on The Resilient Recruiter. Connect with Gerard LinkedIn: Gerard Koolen Website: lugera.com Recruitment Revenue Platform: recruitmentrevenueplatform.com Special offer: Get 100 free credits plus personal onboarding at recruitmentcoach.com/staa Connect with Mark Free strategy session: recruitmentcoach.com/strategy-session LinkedIn: Mark Whitby Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach Subscribe to The Resilient Recruiter

“Buyers want a machine, a sales machine, not a mystery. If the sales machine only works because of the founder, it’s not that valuable. It’s actually quite risky.” Chris Spratling, founder of Chalkhill Blue Limited and author of The Exit Roadmap, shared this on a recent episode of the Sales Gravy podcast. He works with business owners preparing to sell their companies, helping them get operations, finances, and sales engines ready for new ownership. That insight cuts straight to the reason so many founder-led businesses hit a ceiling they can't break through.  If you are a founder who still carries most of the revenue, or you have a founder-led sales team that depends on you to close critical deals, this is bigger than exit planning. It determines whether your business can grow beyond your personal capacity. The Golden Handcuffs Problem You built the business. You know the product better than anyone. You can sell it without thinking. That is exactly where the risk starts. When major clients only trust you, when your sales process lives in your head, when new reps struggle to replicate what comes naturally to you, you aren't running a sales operation. You are running a one-person engine with a support team around it. Spratling calls this the “golden handcuffs.” It looks like success from the outside, but underneath, it creates dependency. Every time you step in to save a deal, you reinforce the idea that the business only works when you are involved. Most founders focus on how this affects valuation at exit. Fewer recognize the more immediate cost. That dependency limits how fast the company can grow right now. Where Founder-Led Sales Breaks Down The transition from founder-led sales to a functioning team is where momentum often stalls. You hire your first salesperson. They do well. Then a second. Then a third. Suddenly, deals slow down, messaging gets inconsistent, and you find yourself pulled back into conversations you thought you had delegated. They don't sell the way you do. They miss cues you catch instinctively. They hesitate where you would push forward. So you jump in, coach through objections, and close deals yourself. What feels like instinct is actually a method you developed through hundreds of conversations. The problem isn't that your team lacks talent, but that your approach has never been translated into something they can use without you standing next to them. As long as that stays true, scale will remain out of reach. Turning Intuition Into a Usable Process The hardest shift for founder-led teams is codifying what the founder does without thinking. You know which deals are worth pursuing. You know when to apply pressure and when to step back. You know how to redirect a conversation when resistance shows up. That knowledge is pattern recognition built over time, and it can be used to create a process. Start by defining how deals actually move through your pipeline. Not a generic framework pulled from a template, but the real stages your customers pass through, with clear criteria for each transition. What has to be true before a lead is qualified? What information must be present before a proposal goes out? Then look at discovery. What questions do you ask every time? What do you listen for before positioning your solution? Which objections show up consistently, and how do you respond when they do? The goal is to document the structure beneath the conversations so that someone else can navigate the same terrain with confidence. Why Your CRM Is Not Pulling Its Weight Most founder-led teams have a CRM, but they only use it to track contacts and deal size. However, a functioning, high-performing sales system treats the CRM as a learning tool. That means capturing more than surface-level data. It means recording what buyers actually say, why deals move forward, where they stall, and who influences the decision. When that information is tracked consistently, patterns become visible. You see which prospects convert fastest, which objections actually kill deals, and where momentum typically breaks down. That insight does more than improve forecasting. It gives you a concrete way to train new reps based on real deals you have closed, not abstract theory. Three Steps to Build a Sales Engine That Does Not Depend on You The objective isn't to remove yourself from sales completely. It's to make your involvement a choice rather than a requirement. Step 1: Define Clear Qualification Criteria Your team needs to know which leads are worth pursuing and which ones are a waste of time. If you’re constantly redirecting their focus, you haven’t defined “good fit” clearly enough. Get specific—industry, company size, buying triggers, decision-making structure.  Step 2: Create Documented Playbooks How do you handle discovery? What’s your approach to proposals? How do you navigate the closing process? Your team needs a framework they can adapt. Think decision trees, not scripts. “If they say X, then ask Y. If they push back on Z, here’s how to reframe it.” Step 3: Transfer Client Relationships If every major client relationship is tied to you personally, your business is fragile. Start introducing your team into those relationships now. Bring them to calls. Have them lead the follow-up. Shift trust from you as an individual to your company as a whole. What This Looks Like in Practice Record your next three sales conversations, with the customer's permission. Review them carefully. Note the questions you asked, when you asked them, and how you responded to resistance. Identify what made you confident that the opportunity was real. Turn those insights into a simple framework your team can follow. Have them use it. Watch where it works and where it breaks. Refine based on what you see. Done consistently, this process creates a system new hires can step into within months. It won't make them identical to you, but it will make them effective without constant rescue. The Real Test You will know your found-led sales team has scaled when you can step away for two weeks without monitoring email, chat messages, or “quick calls” with prospects. And when you come back, the pipeline has moved forward. If that thought terrifies you, you don't have a sales team. You have an expensive support staff for your one-person operation. Building a sales operation that runs without you isn’t about making yourself irrelevant. It’s about making your business transferable and scalable, whether you’re planning an exit in three years or just trying to grow past your own capacity right now. Because at some point, your ability to personally close deals stops being your greatest asset and starts being your biggest bottleneck. The question is whether you’ll recognize that point before it costs you the next stage of growth. If you want to start turning founder intuition into a repeatable sales system, download our free Small Business Guide to Sales Training. It walks through the frameworks that help teams scale without depending on a single closer.

Send me a message Most agents think their next 100 closings are hiding inside the next shiny lead source. A new ad. A new platform. A new funnel.They're wrong.In this episode, I break down where your next 100 closings are actually sitting right now and why you've probably been looking straight past them. This is one of those perspective shifts that feels obvious once you hear it, but can immediately change how you run your business.If you've ever said things like:“These leads are dead”“They never responded”“I need better leads”“My CRM is full of junk”This episode is for you.I walk you through how to reframe “dead leads,” how to reset your expectations around lead timing, and a stupidly simple text message that can revive conversations with people you wrote off months or even years ago.This pod is tactical, actionable, and you can implement it today without spending another dollar on leads.What You'll Learn In This EpisodeWhy most agents lose deals they already paid forThe difference between a dead lead and a “not yet” leadHow unrealistic expectations are killing your conversion rateWhy long-term follow-up beats constant new lead chasingThe exact text message to send old buyer leadsThe seller version of the same text that sparks conversationsHow one simple CRM habit can unlock dozens of closingsWhy patience is one of the most profitable skills in real estate***********************RESOURCES : Free "Clients From Social" Masterclass - Learn the new formula top agents are using on social media to attract 5+ new closings, month after month. REGISTER HERE: https://members.massiveagentsociety.com/free-masterclass-registration?utm_source=podcast_notes Massive Agent Society on Skool - My coaching community giving Realtors the exact blueprint (and handholding) to attract 5+ new clients, every single month. CLICK HERE: https://www.skool.com/massiveagentsociety Manychat PRO - Automate your Instagram DM's and Get 30 days of Manychat Pro for FREE - CLICK HERE REAL Broker - Learn how we can be business partners and build a business together @ ΓEA⅃ Broker- CLICK HERE PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY

I built a tool that scans my LinkedIn connections, Gmail, calendar, CRM, and past sales calls to surface the best deals I should be going after. It ranks opportunities, suggests angles, and even drafts outreach. I built the whole thing in under an hour using Claude Code. In this video, I break down how it works and how you can build the same kind of deal-sourcing system for your own business without being an expert coder. Chapters (00:00) AI Deal Sourcer Overview (00:34) Real Deal Sourcing Story (01:21) Strategic Deal Analysis (02:45) Monetizing Your Network (03:46) Claude Code Walkthrough (04:07) Real-Time Deal Triggers (05:42) LinkedIn And Gmail Integration (07:09) AI Outreach And Angles (09:01) Scaling Relationships With AI

Today I'm joined by Annie Fallows, Head of Navigator Platform at Capital One. We dive into a massive shift in market sentiment, exploring how dealer trust skyrocketed from 44% to 70%. Annie breaks down why Gen Z is your most loyal—yet most anxious—customer and reveals the "spicy" truth that most digital processes only save five minutes of in-store time. You'll learn how to bridge the friction-filled gap between online research and the showroom floor to double your conversion rates This episode is brought to you by: 1. Amazon Autos - Sell vehicles to online shoppers who can now buy or lease at Amazon Autos. Upload your inventory of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles to our online marketplace, where purchase-ready customers can browse, purchase online, then pick up at a local dealership. Learn more @ https://sell.amazon.com/programs/autos 2. Lotlinx - What if ChatGPT actually spoke dealer? Meet LotGPT — the first AI chatbot built just for car dealers. Fluent in your market, your dealership, and your inventory, LotGPT delivers instant insights to help you merchandise smarter, move inventory faster, and maximize profit. It pulls from your live inventory, CRM, and Google Analytics to give VIN-specific recommendations, helping dealers price vehicles accurately, spot wasted spend, and uncover the hottest opportunities — all in seconds. LotGPT is free for dealers, but invite-only. Join the waitlist now @ https://lotlinx.com/LotGPT 3. CapitalOne - Many dealers believe digital tools can help boost sales. But early findings from a recent Capital One Auto survey revealed operational challenges dealers are still navigating and how trust is shaped. Listen for insights as to what's been uncovered and where the research is headed. Learn more @ https://www.capitalone.com/cars/auto-financing/dealer 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: 00:27 Why is dealer trust important? 02:55 How do you measure dealer trust? 03:49 Do Gen Z trust dealers? 04:49 How can technology support dealers? 09:00 How can customer experience improve in today's world? 16:37 How to balance automation and personalization? 20:35 How should dealers evaluate AI tools? 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

Rima Mattok is the Director of Demand Generation at Taboola, where she leads the global acquisition and engagement strategy of Realize, a performance advertising platform focused on driving measurable results for brands. With a background in user engagement, Rima brings a deep understanding of audience behavior and conversion optimization—experience that shapes her approach to helping marketers scale efficiently across channels. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:09] Getting to know the new product, Realize [02:33] Facing rising ad costs across platforms[04:22] Launching before peak season to save costs[07:10] Questioning the myth that more budget wins[09:31] Challenging the idea that AI replaces strategy[11:30] Callouts[11:40] Unlocking incremental growth on the open web[14:16] Testing new channels with wise budgets[15:17] Running quarterly moonshot experimentsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubePerformance beyond search and social taboola.com/The performance built for advertisers realize.com/Follow Rima Sherman Mattok linkedin.com/in/rima-sherman-mattok-93282739/If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

In this episode of the HR Like a Boss podcast, John interviews Jayma DuChene, a passionate HR professional and fellow podcast host. They discuss the importance of supporting employees and the need for HR professionals to take care of themselves. Jayma shares her journey in HR, her experiences with creating workflows, and her podcast 'What's in a Name?' which explores the significance of names and their meanings. The conversation emphasizes the importance of personal development and the impact of names on identity.ABOUT JAYMAJayma DuChene is a seasoned human resources professional and senior product owner at OneDigital, holding a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, SHRM-SCP certification, and SAFe® Practitioner certification. With deep expertise in project management and solutions architecture, Jayma excels at researching emerging technologies and designing CRM solutions that empower Sales, Implementation, and Service teams. She is dedicated to implementing process automation initiatives that streamline business operations and drive efficiency. Prior to joining OneDigital, Jayma held key leadership roles at Resourcing Edge, including director of training and development, lead corporate systems trainer, and senior applications specialist. Beyond her professional achievements, Jayma hosts the “What's In a Name?” podcast, pursues her passion for photography, and actively volunteers with the HRACO Workforce Readiness Committee.

In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ sits down with Dan Griggs, CFO of Intercom, to break down how finance leaders should think about pricing, forecasting, and resource allocation in the AI era. Dan explains why “it's not zero” is his guiding forecasting principle, how Intercom landed on 99 cents per AI resolution for Fin, and what it means to build an AI product that could eventually cannibalize a successful SaaS core. A candid look at managing uncertainty while still making bold bets.—SPONSORS:Brex is an intelligent finance platform that combines corporate cards, built-in expense management, and AI agents to eliminate manual finance work. By automating expense reviews and reconciliations, Brex gives CFOs more time for the high-impact work that drives growth. Join 35,000+ companies like Anthropic, Coinbase, and DoorDash at https://www.brex.com/metricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.comRightRev is an automated revenue recognition platform built for modern pricing models like usage-based pricing, bundles, and mid-cycle upgrades. RightRev lets companies scale monetization without slowing down close or compliance. For RevRec that keeps growth moving, visit https://www.rightrev.comRillet is an AI-native ERP built for modern finance teams that want to close faster without fighting legacy systems. Designed to support complex revenue recognition, multi-entity operations, and real-time reporting, Rillet helps teams achieve a true zero-day close—with some customers closing in hours, not days. If you're scaling on an ERP that wasn't built in the 90s, book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/cjTabs is an AI-native revenue platform that unifies billing, collections, and revenue recognition for companies running usage-based or complex contracts. By bringing together ERP, CRM, and real product usage data into a single system of record, Tabs eliminates manual reconciliations and speeds up close and cash collection. Companies like Cortex, Statsig, and Cursor trust Tabs to scale revenue efficiently. Learn more at https://www.tabs.com/runAbacum is a modern FP&A platform built by former CFOs to replace slow, consultant-heavy planning tools. With self-service integrations and AI-powered workflows for forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling, Abacum helps finance teams scale without becoming software admins. Trusted by teams at Strava, Replit, and JG Wentworth—learn more at https://www.abacum.ai—LINKS:Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-griggs-0970181/Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:Inside Rocket Companies: M&A, Metrics, and Mortgage Moats | Brian Brownhttps://youtu.be/ttedn4AULt8—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Cold Open00:01:03 Intro to Dan Griggs and Intercom's AI Pivot00:02:45 From Ice Cream to SaaS: Early Finance Lessons00:04:19 Learning the Business by Living the Operations00:06:26 Why Operational Reality Shapes Better Forecasts00:08:00 “It's Not Zero”: Forecasting the Unknowable00:10:09 Scenario Planning, Ambiguity, and Psychological Safety00:11:23 Sponsors — Brex | Metronome | RightRev00:14:43 Keeping a Mental Model of Key Business Metrics00:16:15 Using Mental Math to Sanity-Check Forecasts00:17:28 Core Ratios Every CFO Uses to Vet Decisions00:19:13 The Burn-the-Boats Moment for Intercom's AI Pivot00:20:53 Why AI Was an Existential, Not Incremental, Bet00:22:21 Which SaaS Categories AI Can Fully Replace Work00:23:04 Why Finance Hasn't Had Its AI Moment Yet00:23:39 Sponsors — Rillet | Tabs | Abacum00:27:05 Why Fin Needed Outcome-Based Pricing00:28:59 The Tradeoff Behind $0.99 Per Resolution00:30:46 Why Support Conversations Vary in Complexity00:32:01 What Drives the Unit Economics of AI Resolutions00:33:08 How Intercom Chooses Models as Costs Fall00:35:19 Replacing Generic LLMs With Domain-Specific Models00:36:08 Selling an AI Product That Could Cannibalize the Core00:38:50 Founder CEOs Versus Professional CEOs00:41:47 Hiring Mistakes and Acting on Instincts00:44:28 Intercom's Finance Software Stack00:45:49 The Craziest Expense Request#RunTheNumbersPodcast #Intercom #AICustomerSupport #OutcomeBasedPricing #CFOInsights This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

In this episode, Avanish and Drew discuss:Drew's early journey from systems integrator to one of Salesforce's first top sales leadersHow Salesforce's “connect the dots” sales motion enabled enterprise expansion beyond PLGWhy relationship visibility—not lack of relationships—is the real bottleneck in enterprise salesThe concept of “social capital” and why misused intros burn trust instead of creating itCTD's hybrid model for individuals and enterprises—and why both matterDrew's vision for CTD as a trust layer and emerging relationship platformHost Avanish SahaiAvanish Sahai is a Tidemark Fellow and served as a Board Member of Hubspot from 2018 to 2023; he currently serves on the boards of Birdie.ai, Flywl.com and Meta.com.br as well as a few non-profits and educational boards. Previously, Avanish served as the vice president, ISV and Apps partner ecosystem of Google from 2019 until 2021. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the global vice president, ISV and Technology alliances at ServiceNow.  From 2014 to 2015, he was the senior vice president and chief product officer at Demandbase.  Prior to Demandbase, Avanish built and led the Appexchange platform ecosystem team at Salesforce, and was an executive at Oracle and McKinsey & Company, as well as various early to mid-stage startups in Silicon Valley.About Drew SechristDrew Sechrist is a Salesforce veteran who helped grow the company from $0 to over $1B in revenue. As the #1 global sales manager and account executive, Drew mastered the art of leveraging relationships for warm introductions to close deals faster and bigger.With co-founder Ian Swinson, another Salesforce alum with deep expertise in CRM and social networks, they've built Connect The Dots™ to empower professionals and companies to harness the power of their networks. The vision? A free, intuitive way for individuals to carry their relationships with them, while helping companies replace expensive, ineffective cold outreach with strategic network intelligence.About Connect The Dots (CTD)CTD is the Relationship Activation Platform that helps go-to-market teams instantly find and request introductions to key decision-makers using real relationships from across their company, board, investors, advisors, customer champions, and more.Whether it's a warm path through your CEO, a trusted investor, a strategic partner, or even a personal connection, CTD reveals who actually knows your target buyers and makes it easy to request and track trusted intros at scale. We turn hidden networks into a repeatable, high-impact channel for modern sales teams. Learn more at www.ctd.aiAbout TidemarkTidemark is a venture capital firm, foundation, and community built to serve category-leading technology companies as they scale.  Tidemark was founded in 2021 by David Yuan, who has been investing, advising, and building technology companies for over 20 years.  Learn more at www.tidemarkcap.com.Relevant LinksFollow our host, Avanish SahaiLearn more about Tidemark

Today's episode continues our 12-part series: 12 Shifts in 2026 for Social Impact. Over twelve episodes, we're unpacking mindset + strategy shifts shaping the future of fundraising, leadership, and doing good in 2026. Explore the series at weareforgood.com/12shifts.Shift 8 / Creators Are Your AmplifiersIn today's episode, Jon and Becky sit down with Kathryn Baccash, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing at To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), for a powerful conversation about why creators aren't just marketing channels — they're relationship-driven partners who can extend trust, credibility, and impact far beyond what organizations can do alone.Together, they unpack how TWLOHA has spent nearly two decades cultivating creators as collaborators rather than megaphones — prioritizing friendship over transactions, community over control, and long-term trust over short-term reach. Kat shares how creators function as core capacity inside TWLOHA's storytelling ecosystem, how relationship-first partnerships have amplified their suicide prevention work, and why letting go of rigid expectations is often the unlock nonprofits are missing.If you're ready to rethink influence, move from staff-led to community-led storytelling, and build creator partnerships that actually scale trust in 2026, this episode is for you.Takeaways: Why creators should be treated as a core capacity, not a campaign add-onHow to build relationship-first creator partnerships rooted in trust and shared valuesWhat it really means to give up control without losing your messageHow creators help nonprofits scale impact through borrowed trustWhy community depth and engagement matter more than audience sizeEpisode Highlights:Creators as a Core Capacity, Not a Nice-to-Have (2:15)Relationship-First Creator Partnerships (4:40)Borrowed Trust: Scaling Impact Through Creators (6:50)Giving Up Control to Build Real Influence (12:40)Why Community Depth Matters More Than Audience Size (21:30)One Good Thing: Create Something Yourself to Build Empathy (29:30)Episode Shownotes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/678TWLOHA Save your free seat at the We Are For Good Summit

Send us a textIn this episode of The Advanced Selling Podcast, Bryan Neale is joined by John Wechsler, CEO of Spokenote, for a conversation on why authentic, personalized video is becoming a critical advantage for modern sales teams.Bryan and John discuss the difference between messaging and moments, emphasizing that when the moment matters more than the message, authenticity wins. John shares the evolution of Spokenote, from a simple sticker concept to a dynamic video platform, driven by real demand for scalable personalization. They unpack what truly differentiates Spokenote from other video tools: modular, variable video snippets that allow sellers to personalize outreach while staying efficient and fully integrated with existing CRM workflows.The conversation also tackles one of the biggest barriers to video adoption in sales: hesitation and self-consciousness. John encourages sales professionals to embrace imperfection, reminding listeners that vulnerability often increases trust and likability.__Curious about certification in the Blind Zebra Sales Operating System? Learn more here.

Sales reps often manage deals through CRM stages while missing the buyer's internal reality: approvals, meetings, budget cycles, and shifting priorities. In this episode, Brandon breaks down the two timelines running inside every deal and explains why “random” stalls usually happen when internal motion doesn't match external progress.You'll learn the questions that surface internal decision triggers, how to anchor next steps to real calendar events, and how to stop relying on hope as your timeline. If your deals keep slipping despite strong calls, this episode gives you the framework to regain control.

Why do some recruiters stay stuck on contingent work while others shift a large portion of their business to retained without pitching harder or sounding salesy? James Cairns found the answer the hard way. James is a CPA who left a stable corporate finance career to start a boutique search firm with no agency experience, no local network, and just $30,000 in savings. His first year was brutal. Three placements. Borrowed money. Serious doubts about whether he'd made a huge mistake. Then one summer night, sitting on his back porch, James made a decision that changed everything. He eliminated Plan B. From that point on, momentum followed. Today, James runs The CSP Group, a highly respected finance and accounting search firm in St. Louis. He regularly beats national firms, fills senior roles up to CFO level, and now operates with roughly 40% of his work on retained or contained terms. In this episode, James breaks down what actually drove that shift. Not better sales tactics, scripts, or pressure. But commitment, process, and the confidence to walk away from the wrong work. This conversation offers a clear look at what changes when a recruiter stops competing on volume and starts choosing the right work. In this episode, you'll learn: Why eliminating "Plan B" unlocked consistent momentum How James moved from 3 placements to 40% retained work The candidate profiling system that generates a third of his placements Why being local and specialized beats national firms How to position retained search without pitching or pressure Why walkaway power matters more than persuasion Episode highlights: [3:44] Why a CPA with zero agency experience started a search firm [6:31] Quitting with $30K, a pregnant wife, and no local network [8:46] First-year reality: three placements and borrowed money [10:04] The back porch moment that eliminated Plan B [18:41] The candidate process that transformed responsiveness [21:51] Talent profiles and how they drive a third of placements [38:02] Why local specialization beats national firms [43:27] The CFO placement that changed everything [50:04] "This is how we work": James's retained positioning [59:06] Why walkaway power leads to more retained work James's story is proof that retained success isn't about being louder or more persuasive. It's about clarity, commitment, and choosing the right work. Guest Bio: James Cairns is the founder of The CSP Group, a boutique executive search firm specializing in finance and accounting talent in the St. Louis market. James earned his CPA license and began his career at PwC in Big Four audit before moving into corporate finance roles. He started The CSP Group in 2014 with $30,000 in savings, a one-year-old at home, another child on the way, and no local business network. After a difficult first year, James committed fully to making the business work - a decision that changed everything. Today, the CSP Group places senior-level finance professionals up to the CFO level, with approximately 40% of search assignments on retained or contained terms. Connect with James: James on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cairns-062a5b7/ The CSP Group website - https://thecspgroup.com/ Connect with Mark: Get your free 30-minute strategy session: recruitmentcoach.com/strategy-session Mark on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwhitby/?originalSubdomain=uk Follow on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach This episode is brought to you by Recruiterflow. Recruiterflow is an AI-first ATS and CRM built to help recruitment businesses run and scale more efficiently. With built-in sequencing, data enrichment, marketing automation, and AI agents, it's trusted by many leaders in our coaching community. Learn more or request a demo at https://recruitmentcoach.com/recruiterflow

Are institutional players active in the retail sector? How are single tenant properties trading? Where are cap rates today and what should we expect moving forward? How about transaction volume? Tune in as broker Michael Bull, CCIM with Bull Realty talks with real estate economist Jim Costello with MSCI to pull back the curtain on retail real estate investment intel.    TCN Worldwide Real Estate Services - A global network of over 1,500 leading commercial real estate professionals delivering integrated, expert sales, leasing, management and consulting services across 200 U.S. and global markets. https://www.tcnworldwide.com/ Buildout - Aconnected software platform built for commercial real estate brokerages—combining CRM, marketing, data, and back-office automation. https://www.buildout.com Bull Realty, TCN Worldwide - Commercial Real Estate Asset & Occupancy Solutions in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast U.S. https://www.bullrealty.com/ Commercial Agent Success Strategies - Twenty-one cloud accessed commercial broker training videos with slide deck action notes. Learn more at https://www.commercialagentsuccess.com/  

Julie Deem opens an honest and compassionate conversation about the winter blues and seasonal depression. This episode is a reminder that nothing is “wrong” with you for feeling this way and that slowing down is not a failure.Key Takeaways:Seasonal shifts naturally affect mood, energy, and motivation.Winter is a season for slowing down, not forcing constant productivity.Small, gentle acts of care can support emotional well-being in powerful ways.You do not have to fix everything to take care of yourself.This season is temporary, even when it feels heavy.Learn more about the latest tool for dynamic professionals in the self-improvement industry, LyfQuest. A mobile CRM platform that's uniquely made for you!Learn more at: https://lyfquest.io/Instagram:USW Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uswkokomo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kalena James ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@yesitskalenajames⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julie Deem ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@indymompreneur⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--------------------------------------------------USW Kokomo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Business Podcast Editor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, I sit down with Jessica Colan, who leads one of the biggest BDC departments in the country and works in the #2 Kia store in the nation. I've known Jessica for more than a decade and trained her team for years and what makes her different is simple: she doesn't chase shiny toolsshe tests them against real processes until they perform. We talk about what's actually working with AI inside a high-performing dealership BDC—specifically how Jessica has used Matador AI hands-on for the last two years to revive stagnant leads, re-engage "ghosted" customers and target low-hanging fruit without wasting human time on dead ends. Jessica breaks down her "sacred" strategies: Building custom workflows and sequences by lead source (Trader, Sam's Club, etc.) Training the AI to sound like your store—not generic dealership spam Setting up human alerts so the team tags in fast when AI hits a boundary Running CSV-based campaigns (loyalty, lease maturity, unsold visits) with the right staffing so replies don't overwhelm the team Using AI-driven engagement to turn "closed" opportunities into open, actionable leads—and pushing hot conversations into the CRM for history Pairing engagement with quick, targeted video from product specialists (30–40 seconds, not a full walkaround) once the customer shows real intent This is a real-world look at the truth most dealers are learning the hard way: AI tools don't work without a human behind them. You have to train it, guide it, and integrate it into your process because the goal isn't to automate relationships…it's to protect them. If you're a GM, BDC director, sales leader, or operator trying to revive leads and stop wasting time, you'll want to hear exactly how a top Kia store is using AI to create speed, engagement, and competitive advantage. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast |

This is a live CRM audit that breaks down the 3 rules that actually win in sales, in any market.I went back to the front lines, turned leads back on, and in days proved the same fundamentals still work. Not because of timing or luck, but because sales is a game of speed, follow-up, and emotion.In this video you'll see:• How to creates deals before competitors even wake up• The follow-up strategy that forces responses• How to work new, hot, and old leads inside your CRM• How top performers sell using emotion• The daily rhythm that keeps every stage of the pipeline movingSupport the showJoin our weekly calls so you we can help you too!

aiOla is pioneering speech-to-data technology that transforms unstructured speech into actionable data for enterprise operations. As a serial entrepreneur on his sixth startup, Co-Founder Amir Haramaty built aiOla after witnessing firsthand how traditional AI implementations fail to deliver ROI in enterprise settings. The company has developed proprietary technology that achieves near-100% accuracy in challenging environments with heavy jargon, multiple languages, and difficult acoustics. With strategic investors including a major airline and partnerships with Nvidia, Accenture, and USG, aiOla is addressing the fundamental challenge that 95% of enterprise AI pilots fail to show value by focusing on immediate, measurable ROI through speech-based data capture. Topics Discussed: The genesis of aiOla from consulting work revealing AI's implementation gaps in traditional enterprises Solving the triple challenge of speech recognition: accuracy in jargon-heavy environments, separating signal from noise, and converting speech to structured workflow data aiOla's "jargonic" approach: creating hyper-personalized language models for specific processes without retraining Early customer acquisition through serendipitous encounters and demonstrating immediate ROI Vertical expansion strategy from food manufacturing to aviation, travel, hospitality, and retail Channel partnership strategy refined from previous startups to achieve scale The shift from convincing customers about speech technology to being pulled into diverse use cases Building the aiOla Intelligate orchestration layer to dynamically select optimal speech recognition models GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Make CFOs your best friend, not IT departments: Amir explicitly targets CFOs rather than IT as primary buyers because "it doesn't matter how small or big you are, you still have to do more with less." While IT serves as facilitators, CFOs control budgets focused on operational efficiency and ROI. B2B founders should identify which executive truly owns the pain point and budget authority, even if IT will implement the solution. Deploy capital strategically to remove obstacles before they emerge: aiOla convinced their airline investor to provide working capital specifically to fund POCs for prospects without existing budgets. This eliminated the "we don't have pilot budget" objection before it arose. B2B founders should proactively identify and neutralize common barriers in their sales process, whether through creative deal structures, proof-of-concept funding, or implementation support. Prioritize instant ROI over long-term transformation promises: Amir explicitly avoids "digital transformation" conversations, instead selecting use cases delivering "biggest impact within shortest period of time with minimum obstacle possible." The airline baggage tracking example saved 110,000 hours immediately, creating momentum for expansion. B2B founders should resist selling comprehensive transformation and instead identify narrow use cases with quantifiable, rapid returns that create internal champions. Replicate proven use cases across customers rather than customizing: Once aiOla achieved success with specific applications like CRM data entry or pre-op inspections, they "stop, print, replicate" rather than reinventing for each customer. This approach reduced a two-hour inspection process to 34 minutes in food manufacturing, then replicated across industries. B2B founders should document successful implementations as repeatable playbooks and resist the urge to over-customize for each prospect. Channel success requires speaking the partner's economic language: When working with telcos, Amir demonstrated that his solution increased ARPU by 34% and reduced churn by 17%—the only two metrics telcos prioritize. He built predictable models showing exactly how many units each channel rep would sell by geography. B2B founders pursuing channel strategies must translate their value proposition into the specific KPIs that drive partner economics and compensation. // Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM

In this episode, I'm joined by Steve Harding, Senior Vice President of Sales EMEA at SalesLoft and global sales leader, for a deep dive into how AI is reshaping the revenue workflow. We cut through the hype to uncover the real value AI brings to sales teams, from serving as the "air traffic control" for overwhelmed account executives to accelerating pipeline creation through smarter signal prioritization. Steve shares powerful examples from his own organization, unveils practical AI use cases for prospecting and deal progression, and emphasizes the importance of keeping the human touch front and center. Tune in for candid stories and fresh perspectives on how sales teams can successfully adopt AI, avoid common mistakes, and leverage technology to enhance, not replace, the vital role of human judgment and relationship-building in sales. Outline of This Episode 00:00 AI-driven sales productivity insights. 08:08 Human-centric sales in the AI era. 10:42 Content overload challenges modern buyers. 15:48 AI-powered sales insights. 19:13 AI integration in sales workflow. 20:27 AI-driven customer outreach automation. AI in the Revenue Workflow: Separating Value from Hype Today, sales teams are inundated with tools and data, making the challenge not just about having information, but about managing it. AI has the potential to become the air traffic controller, helping teams delegate, automate, and prioritize effectively. AI's most meaningful contribution is compressing "time to insight." Instead of manually sifting data or waiting for CRM updates, AI delivers actionable guidance at critical moments in a seller's workflow. Steve outlines how, at SalesLoft, AI is integrated directly into their platform, which helps account executives instantly recognize the next best action and act at the right time. This isn't just theoretical. For example, teams can now pick up signals, both internal, like website activity or content downloads, and external, like missed payments, that indicate where attention is needed. AI then helps sort and prioritize these signals, recommending actions and automating follow-up tasks so teams spend time where it counts. The result: improved productivity and responsiveness, and ultimately, healthier pipelines. AI that Boosts Prospecting, Qualification, and Deal Progression What does this look like in practice? Steve shares a recent exercise at SalesLoft when they analyzed every major win and loss across markets and segments, mining rich interaction data captured in their system. When they fed this into the AI, they discerned clear themes that differentiated wins from losses. The findings informed improvements to their sales process, especially around discovery intent, giving teams concrete cues that new hires and veterans alike could watch for. This real-world application of AI proved results, boosting win rates and adding confidence, context, and clarity to team conversations while preserving the all-important human connection. The Human Element - Where Judgment Still Matters Most Despite the buzz, AI is not a panacea for sales relationships. At the end of the day, sales is a human-centric activity, Steve explains. AI serves best as a "wingman or copilot." It can automate certain workflows, but when the conversation gets nuanced, or the stakes are high, whether it's handling objections or building deep trust, a human's judgment, empathy, and experience remain irreplaceable. Buyers are showing up more informed, or misinformed, than ever before. But the proliferation of high-quality marketing content has led to confusion and caution. Salespeople must now help buyers navigate this information landscape and overcome the "fear of messing up", a challenge that can't be solved by algorithms alone. What missteps do organizations make with AI rollouts?  Steve stresses two dangers: Expecting AI to perform beyond the skill level of a company's most junior rep. Failing to keep humans "in the loop", validating and verifying a system's outputs. Instead, AI should recommend and automate, not dictate, with human oversight at every critical juncture. It's the old wisdom: "Trust but verify." As sales leaders consider integrating AI into pipeline generation or deal execution, Steve recommends starting with the pain points, not the tech itself. Ask where reps are wasting time, then target AI to solve those problems. Then, using AI within your systems, not on the edge (like ad hoc Copilot or OpenAI research). This keeps valuable intel connected to your CRM. While you're doing this, it's important to keep a human in the loop to protect your relationships and reputation. Where AI and Human Skill Combine for Better Outcomes One standout example is nurturing relationships when key contacts change roles or organizations. AI tools can track these moves and trigger a personalized, multi-step outreach campaign, congratulations on LinkedIn, followed by an email and a phone call. This blend of automation and personal touch lets teams act at scale, re-engage valuable advocates, and build pipeline opportunities that would be nearly impossible to manage manually. AI is transforming sales workflows, but not by replacing humans. Use AI as an intelligent copilot to prioritize, automate, and scale, but never lose sight of the human skills of empathy, and judgment.  Connect with Steve Harding Steve Harding on LinkedIn  Salesloft  Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter  Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

The hard truth about real estate is that getting your license doesn't prepare you to sell homes. It only makes you legally allowed to try. Pre-licensing only teaches us consumer protection. We learn nothing about lead generation, building a brand, running a database, using a CRM, or building a real business with staying power. Real estate success doesn't come from passing a test or "figuring it out as you go"; it comes from systems, support, and real education. The kind you get from strong instructors, the right broker environment, and intentionally building skills you weren't taught in the classroom. And if you think you can wing it because you're smart, you're in for a reality check.  There's a big difference between being licensed and being prepared, and the agents who stop confusing a license with readiness are the ones who don't flame out in the first few years.  And the kind of support you get matters; it has to set you up for success in today's industry, where AI and technology are no longer optional, but expected.  What do agents need to learn to succeed? What does being prepared actually look like in 2026?  In this episode, I'm joined by Craig Grant, one of the most respected voices in real estate tech and education, as we talk CRM, AI, relationships, and why the right rooms and the right training change everything.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The license is not the skillset Pre-licensing teaches protection, not production. Why are so many agents still shocked when they get licensed and realize they have no business model in place? Your database is your pipeline (if you run it like one) A CRM isn't optional if you want longevity. What's the cost of managing your business with sticky notes and "I'll remember"? Relationships beat automation every time Automated follow-up is the minimum; friendship is the differentiator. How do you stop treating clients like transactions and start building a real connection from day one?   Guest Bio Craig Grant is a real estate instructor, course creator, coach, and technologist. Craig Grant is considered one of the most sought-after technology, marketing & cybersecurity speakers around. Whether it be at an industry event, in the classroom, or online, one thing that fuels Craig is to help today's real estate professionals embrace and get over their fear of technology so that it can work for them and not against them. Connect with Craig on LinkedIn, and find out more about the BEATS Conference at beatsconference.com.   About Your Host Marki Lemons Ryhal is a ​​Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, and avid volunteer.  She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki's expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Washington Post, Homes.com, and REALTOR® Magazine.   Subscribe, Rate & Review Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!     

In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley and LA Williams sit down with Kelley Koliopulos for a conversation every dealer should be paying attention to, especially if your sales and service departments feel busy… but the results don't match the effort. "The blind spot that dealers have is that they're still making money… but there's going to be a ceiling there." – Kelley Koliopulos This isn't another "business as usual" discussion. It's a candid look at what's quietly changing inside dealerships right now, and why the stores that adapt will pull further ahead while others fall behind. From fixed operations to BDC structure, the conversation challenges long-held assumptions about how dealerships operate, staff, and retain customers. "Anybody could have a great idea. But what dealers want and need in 2026 and beyond is some continuity." – Sean V. Bradley They explore why retention is becoming the real battleground in automotive, what happens when the right people aren't in the right seats, and how technology like AI can either be a powerful advantage, or a costly distraction, depending on how it's implemented. "AI can't fix or answer every question, so you still need that human element." – Kelley Koliopulos If you've noticed service traffic slipping, customer loyalty weakening, or your BDC struggling to gain traction, this episode will hit close to home. It doesn't just point out the problems dealers are facing… it forces a hard look at why they're happening! This one makes you rethink how your dealership is actually run.   If you're attending NADA 2026, be sure to stop by the Dealer Synergy Booth [#3315W] for Prizes from us and to enter CallSource's Bourbon Dealer Giveaway at: https://callsourceauto.com/giveaways/   Key Takeaways: ✅ People-Centric Solutions: The current dealership climate requires a strong focus on recruiting and retaining quality staff, while also providing them with the tools and training necessary to excel. ✅ Innovative Fixed Operations: Fixed operations now require more strategic approaches in communication and engagement with customers to enhance retention and service conversion rates. ✅ BDC Strategic Integration: Properly setting up and managing a BDC is pivotal for handling leads effectively, driving more traffic to dealerships, and improving overall sales performance. ✅ Leveraging AI and Technology: While AI can improve efficiencies, it cannot yet fully replace human involvement in complex problem-solving scenarios, especially in service departments. ✅ Focus on Customer Retention: Using data-driven methodologies to retain customers through consistent follow-up is crucial, particularly as competition from independent service centers intensifies. About Kelley Koliopulos Kelley Koliopulos is a seasoned automotive industry expert, currently working with Call Source, where she primarily focuses on analytics and improving dealerships' fixed operations. Kelley's impressive career spans roles from F&I to dealership marketing with AMSI, and her vendor-side experience includes positions at Call Source and Call Revu. Her expertise centers around using data to refine processes and enhance efficiencies within the automotive sector.     Unlocking Efficiency: Overcoming Dealership Challenges with BDC Solutions Key Takeaways: High-level dealership operations can benefit significantly from a well-designed Business Development Center (BDC) strategy, optimizing both sales and fixed operations. A combined approach utilizing human resources and AI in service departments can enhance customer retention and satisfaction significantly. Outsourcing BDC services can be a more cost-effective, strategic, and results-oriented decision, delivering superior outcomes compared to traditional in-house setups. Navigating Dealership Dynamics: The Power of a BDC The automotive industry is a space brimming with potential, yet awash in complexity. This is especially evident when examining the intricate operations within a dealership. As Kelley Koliopulos and Sean V. Bradley discuss in their engaging conversation, pulling the right levers - particularly in terms of business development - can make all the difference. As highlighted, a dealership's success lies not just in selling cars but in crafting a seamless, customer-centric experience that persists long after the sale. "For every OEM dealership, there's 12 independents right in their back door," Kelley states, emphasizing the fierce competition that demands dealerships maintain exceptional service levels. The conversation initiates by exploring the fundamental issues within sales and fixed operations, where optimizing human resources and understanding the potency of a BDC play crucial roles. Sean underscores the critical role of a precise BDC framework: "If you are not a BDC architect with real BDC experience, this is not going to be easy." He highlights that the apparent complexity of creating a BDC can be simplified if one has the foresight to leverage external expertise effectively. It's all about recognizing which elements facilitate the operational efficiency and concentrating on those. Enhancing Customer Retention through Strategic Service BDC Implementation Among the many challenges dealerships face, customer retention remains a top concern, especially when analyzing fixed operations. Kelley artfully points out that maintaining service customers is pivotal for long-term success. Despite dealerships increasing their revenue by raising labor rates, she warns, "There's going to be a ceiling there," suggesting dealerships can't rely solely on price hikes for sustained growth. The conversation touches on significant research revelations: client retention decreased from 41% in 2018 to a mere 29% in 2025. This stark statistic signals the pressing need for dealerships to reassess their service strategies. Implementing a robust Service BDC could potentially reverse this trend. By restructuring service departments to better handle inbound and outbound calls efficiently, dealerships can drive transactional growth and enhance customer loyalty. Highlighting the collaborative potential of AI and human effort, Kelley asserts, "AI can't fix or answer every question. You still need that human element." Therefore, an outsourced BDC like Call Source becomes valuable, where the marriage of technology and human interaction meets customer needs, bolstering satisfaction and ensuring service longevity. The Economic Advantage of Outsourcing Your BDC Dealers frequently grapple with whether to manage BDC operations in-house or to look outward for solutions. Sean and Kelley underscore a prevalent misconception: many feel the latter is more costly. Conversely, with a closer look, outsourcing often emerges as the more economical and effective solution. "I think the perception is that it's cheaper to bring it in-house," Kelley notes, but as Sean aptly counters, when factoring in all associated costs, investing in an external BDC can unburden dealerships, reduce costs, and ultimately increase sales. Outsourcing offers none of the egocentric challenges of internal management and training, providing instead immediate expertise and scalability. "Not only do we have the agents that are making all the dials… but once they got a live person, they have a strong road to the appointment process," Sean adds, emphasizing the dynamic advantage offered by Dealer Synergy's proven model. This approach ensures leads are converted efficiently, and potential sales pitfalls due to insufficient follow-up or lack of expertise are circumvented entirely. Embracing a Virtuous Cycle of Learning and Growth The enlightening exchange between Sean V. Bradley and Kelley Koliopulos underscores the essence of thriving in today's competitive dealership landscape: seek clarity, apply strategic foresight, and choose partnerships that propel efficiency. As dealerships navigate an era characterized by digital transformation and shifting consumer expectations, aligning operations with services like those offered by Dealer Synergy and Call Source could serve as a definitive competitive edge. Ultimately, it is the prudent application of an expert-built BDC that enables dealerships to thrive — cultivating not just profitable enterprises, but vibrant, enduring legacies. By focusing on strategic partnerships and adopting a robust BDC framework, dealerships can unlock greater efficiency, higher sales, and improved customer satisfaction — key pillars paving the way for enduring success in the automotive industry.     Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.  

Send us a textGrowth stalls when we expect marketing to fix what's really an operational problem. We dig into the honest math of margins, staffing, and process with Joe O'Grady of Team SPG, and we map out how to turn ad spend into predictable revenue without lighting profits on fire. From budget benchmarks to tracking discipline, the takeaway is simple: more dollars won't help if your systems can't catch them.We start by setting realistic budget ranges based on goals: 8–10% of net to stay steady, roughly 14% to grow, and up to 20% when you're preparing for a sale and need to showcase demand. Then we get practical about readiness. Can your CSRs answer and book the calls? Are your techs converting at healthy rates with consistent average tickets? If those fundamentals wobble, your marketing will only expose the cracks. Joe shares why accountability beats hype and how candid coaching helps owners fix processes before they press the gas.We walk through closed-loop tracking so every lead tells a story, from first touch to final invoice. That means unique numbers for paid tactics, tagging in the CRM, and measuring answered calls, booked jobs, conversion rates, and revenue. We tackle the love-hate with referrals—powerful yet fragile—and explain why a balanced mix matters: SEO for intent, Local Service Ads for speed, direct mail for targeted reach, brand for long-term trust, and maintenance plans for recurring revenue. Small improvements compound: a modest boost in CSR booking and tech close rate often outperforms a large budget hike.If you're ready to replace gut feel with data, align spend to capacity, and make every campaign accountable to outcomes, this conversation will give you a clear playbook. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge toward tracking, and leave a quick review to tell us where your biggest bottleneck is right now.If you enjoyed this chat From the Yellow Chair, consider joining our newsletter, "Let's Sip Some Lemonade," where you can receive exclusive interviews, our bank of helpful downloadables, and updates on upcoming content. Please consider following and drop a review below if you enjoyed this episode. Be sure to check out our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. From the Yellow Chair is powered by Lemon Seed, a marketing strategy and branding company for the trades. Lemon Seed specializes in rebrands, creating unique, comprehensive, organized marketing plans, social media, and graphic design. Learn more at www.LemonSeedMarketing.com Interested in being a guest on our show? Fill out this form! We'll see you next time, Lemon Heads!

Join Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS for a masterclass on email marketing strategies that actually drive revenue. In this session, Favour breaks down the power of segmented email campaigns, explains the metrics that matter, and shares how to build a website-first content strategy that turns subscribers into customers. Learn how to leverage free tools, automate your email sequences, and create long-term relationships with your audience through strategic, data-driven email marketing ROI.Whether you're just starting with email marketing or looking to optimize your existing campaigns, this episode delivers actionable insights you can implement immediately to boost engagement and generate sustainable revenue.What You'll Learn✓ How to use segmented emails to increase revenue and engagement✓ The difference between click-through rate and click rate (and why it matters)✓ Why your website is the foundation of successful email marketing✓ Google's E-E-A-T framework for creating helpful content✓ How to repurpose one piece of content across multiple channels✓ Which free tools every email marketer should be using✓ The "website-first" content strategy that saves time and builds SEO✓ How to create automated email sequences that work 24/7Top 7 Email Marketing Best Practices1. Use Segmented Emails StrategicallyCreate segments based on subscriber behavior and preferences. Use polls and interactive elements to gather data, then tag links to track which subscribers are interested in which offerings.2. Build a Helpful, Responsive WebsiteYour website should be fast-loading, mobile-friendly, and provide genuine value. Focus on Google's E-E-A-T framework: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust.3. Create Content on Your Website FirstPublish content on your website before sharing on social media. This builds your owned digital assets, improves SEO, and gives you more control over distribution.4. Leverage Email Metrics for Continuous ImprovementTrack who opens, clicks, and takes action. Identify your most engaged subscribers and create VIP segments for them. Use this data to refine your messaging over time.5. Implement Scheduled and Automated Email SequencesSet up automated sequences that trigger based on subscriber actions. Create welcome series, nurture campaigns, and re-engagement flows that work around the clock.6. Repurpose Content Across Multiple FormatsTake one long-form piece and break it into blog posts, social media updates, podcast episodes, videos, and email newsletters. Maximize your content creation efforts.7. Focus on Long-term Relationship BuildingNot everyone opens emails the day you send them. Be consistent with your schedule, provide ongoing value, and build trust over time rather than chasing quick sales.Key Metrics to TrackDeliverability Rate - Percentage of emails reaching subscriber inboxesOpen Rate - Percentage of delivered emails that get openedClick Rate - Percentage of delivered emails with link clicksClick-Through Rate (CTR) - Percentage of opened emails with link clicksConversion Rate - Percentage completing your desired actionPodcast Episode Timestamps[00:00] Episode introduction: Email marketing best practices that earn revenue[00:40] Why segmented emails are the #1 revenue driver[03:06] How to create segments triggered by scheduled emails[03:37] Example: Segmenting by in-person vs. virtual event preferences[06:00] Using polls to understand what your audience really wants[07:00] Revenue starts at the beginning: building systems for MRR[08:00] Click-through rate vs. click rate explained[09:00] Identifying and segmenting your most engaged subscribers[10:00] Tracking email opens and clicks consistently[10:30] Creating VIP segments for highly engaged subscribers[14:00] Re-engaging inactive subscribers through targeted campaigns[15:00] Email deliverability and its impact on revenue[17:00] Understanding spam filters and how to avoid them[18:00] Email authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC[20:00] Real case study: Client ranking page one for competitive keywords[21:42] Technical SEO: indexing, blogs, location pages, schema markup[23:00] Email marketing as direct response marketing[24:00] Why not everyone opens emails immediately (and that's okay)[25:00] Best Practice #1: Have a helpful, responsive website[25:32] Google's E-E-A-T framework: Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust[26:22] You have less than 10 seconds to make an impression[27:00] The "website-first" content strategy[27:22] Free analytics tools: Google Search Console, GA4, Bing, Microsoft Clarity[28:00] Repurposing one article into multiple content formats[30:00] Maximizing content value through strategic repurposing[32:00] Creating content pillars and topic clusters[33:00] Planning content calendars aligned with email campaigns[35:00] Balancing evergreen content with timely topics[37:00] Creating lead magnets that attract quality subscribers[39:00] A/B testing email subject lines and content[40:00] Overview of popular email marketing platforms[41:00] Mailchimp: features, pricing, and best use cases[42:00] Constant Contact for small businesses and nonprofits[43:00] Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): affordable with SMS capabilities[44:00] HubSpot: comprehensive CRM and marketing automation[45:00] Choosing the right platform for your business needs[46:00] Free tier options and when to upgrade[50:00] Advanced segmentation for e-commerce businesses[51:00] Using behavioral triggers to increase conversions[52:00] Email in omnichannel marketing strategies[53:00] Measuring ROI from email campaigns[54:00] Common email marketing mistakes to avoid[57:00] Recap of key best practices[59:00] Closing remarks and next session announcement[59:29] Tomorrow's topic: Search Engine Marketing & SEO Best Practices (11 AM Central)Tools & Resources MentionedEmail Marketing Platforms: Flodesk >> Sign up and Get 50% OffAnalytics Tools: Google Search Console, Google Analytics (GA4), Bing Webmaster Tools, Microsoft Clarity, Fathom Analytics, Matomo AnalyticsOther Tools: Eventbrite, PinterestSee 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 Owned and Operated, John Wilson is joined by Sam Preston (CEO of Service Scalers) to break down how smart home service operators should budget for marketing in 2026. They explain why one-size-fits-all marketing budgets don't work, how to reverse-engineer spend from the number of leads you actually need, and why most companies don't have a lead problem—they have an execution problem.This conversation goes deep on gross profit–based budgeting, flexible marketing spend, and the exact frameworks operators use to decide what to scale, cut, test, or deploy in emergencies.What you'll learn in this episode:Why marketing budgets should be based on gross profit, not revenueHow to calculate marketing spend by backing into daily lead requirementsThe difference between budgeting for a new business vs. a 10-year-old companyThe 4 (plus 1) marketing budget buckets every operator should useA simple kill vs. scale framework to test marketing channels without guesswork

Every insurance agent has a graveyard of "dead" leads; prospects you called once, got sent to voicemail, and never touched again. You think they are worthless, but you are actually sitting on a goldmine. The data shows that for every 1,000 old leads gathering dust in your CRM, there is roughly $270,000 in commissions waiting to be claimed.My guest, Michael McMillan, President of Financialize, joins me to prove why you need to stop chasing new leads and start reviving the old ones. In this episode, we break down the "Lead Revival" framework that turns cold data into six-figure revenue. Michael explains why most producers fail at follow-up (laziness), how to balance automation with the necessary "human touch" to wake up dormant prospects, and the specific math behind mining your existing database. Stop leaving money on the table.▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Callhttp://completegameu.com/agaKEY MOMENTS(00:00:00) Your "Dead" Leads Are Worth $270,000 (Stop Ignoring Them) (00:02:03) The Discipline to Change: Michael's 200lb Weight Loss Journey (00:08:18) Shared vs. Exclusive: Why You Are Buying the Wrong Leads (00:14:02) Automation Fails Without the "Human Touch" (00:21:22) The Math: Why 1,000 Old Leads = $270k in Revenue (00:26:46) You Can't Revive Leads if Your Brand Sucks (00:37:51) Sales Leadership: Stop Letting Rookies "Figure It Out" (00:41:14) The 13-Year-Old Entrepreneur: A Lesson in Modern Hustle (00:45:27) Michael's Routine: Why the Morning Starts in the WordCONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

Many SaaS teams try to use their CRM to report ARR and MRR, but this creates serious risks—especially in forecasting, retention analysis, and due diligence. In episode #349, Ben explains why your CRM is rarely the correct source of truth for recurring revenue and where ARR should actually come from to ensure financial accuracy and credibility with investors and acquirers. Resources Mentioned How to Disclose ARR: https://www.thesaascfo.com/cfos-guide-to-disclosing-headline-arr-numbers/ Ben's SaaS Metrics Course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation What You'll Learn Why CRM-based ARR reporting is often inaccurate and easy to break The difference between bookings data and revenue-based ARR What qualifies as a true source of truth for ARR and MRR How invoicing, revenue recognition, and the general ledger fit together Why CRM-reported ARR frequently fails under due diligence scrutiny When (and only when) a CRM can be trusted for recurring revenue metrics Why It Matters Prevents misleading ARR, MRR, and revenue metrics Ensures your financial systems can support investor and buyer diligence Reduces risk when calculating retention, CAC payback, and unit economics Improves confidence in Board reporting and long-term financial strategy

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam and Brian sit down with Dr. Keith Nicholson—an orthodontist, MBA, and practice transition expert—for a wide-ranging, eye-opening conversation about what dentists aren't taught in school. From learning business the hard way in private practice to earning an MBA at Wharton, Keith shares powerful insights on practice growth, smart investments, CRM systems, patient experience, and avoiding costly mistakes. With practical takeaways, real-world examples, and a few laughs along the way (yes, even white spot prevention makes an appearance), this episode will change how you think about running—and valuing—your dental practice. Don't miss it.

Want to book amazing podcast guests that actually match your ICP? In this solo episode of Pipe Dream, host Jason Bradwell shares his playbook for finding and booking ideal guests without turning the interview into a thinly veiled sales pitch. Jason starts with the elephant in the room: yes, you can invite guests who are also potential customers, but you cannot Trojan horse them. If you bring someone on the show and pitch them live, you create a bad experience for the guest, your audience, and your reputation. The rule is simple: content-first, always. Focus on a great conversation and a genuine value exchange, then let the relationship deepen naturally over time. Next, he breaks down where to find great guests. First: your immediate network. Start with executives, employees, customers, partners, and trusted connections, people who already know you and will say yes faster. Those first few episodes build credibility and social proof, which makes outreach to strangers dramatically easier. Second: your CRM. Jason recommends targeting lapsed prospects accounts you haven't engaged with in weeks or months and using the podcast as a re-engagement mechanism. If you run an ABM strategy, this is especially powerful: you can target high-fit accounts, invite the right people, and start meaningful conversations without a sales agenda. From there, Jason walks through prospecting tools. LinkedIn Sales Navigator helps with demographic and firmographic targeting, and tools like Apollo and Clay can help you build precise guest lists at scale. But the sleeper channels are Slack communities and conference speaker lists. In industry-specific Slack groups, people don't ignore direct notifications the way they do email or LinkedIn DMs. Jason notes content-first outreach can reach 60–70% response rates in the right communities. And conference speakers are already primed to share expertise, so their speaking topic becomes an easy hook to start the conversation. Once you've built your target list, Jason outlines a two-step outreach sequence. Message one is intentionally short: introduce the show, explain why you're reaching out to them, and ask if they'd like more details, no episode pitch, no long explanation. Message two comes after they've shown interest: reinforce why it's worth their time (downloads, guest lineup, maybe even payment) and share a personalised episode angle based on their experience, proving it's a real content opportunity, not random outreach. 00:00 - Introduction: Finding and booking dream guests 01:00 - The Trojan horse trap: content-first always 02:30 - Where to find guests: start with your network 04:00 - Mining your CRM for lapsed prospects 05:30 - Using LinkedIn, Apollo, and Clay for targeting 07:00 - Sleeper channels: Slack communities and speaker lists 09:00 - The two-message outreach sequence 11:30 - Message one: gauge interest only 12:30 - Message two: personalise and reinforce value 14:00 - How to get 60-70% response rates Connect with Jason Bradwell on LinkedIn Check out several tools in building guest lists: HubSpot CRM Clay Apollo Explore B2B Better website and the Pipe Dream podcast 

Todos los dueños dicen lo mismo cuando empieza el año: “En 2026 quiero crecer”. Lo que casi nadie dice es qué está dispuesto a ordenar, qué decisiones incómodas va a tomar y qué cosas ya no puede seguir tolerando si de verdad quiere liberar tiempo. Este episodio no es motivacional. Es una conversación honesta entre nosotros, los dueños, después de un año de crecimiento fuerte… y costoso. Hablamos de lo que pasa cuando: Ventas depende demasiado del marketing La falta de procesos empieza a comerse la rentabilidad y se pierde tiempo con personas que no están alineadas a tu visión Si este 2026 quieres crecer sin que tu empresa dependa más de ti, hay decisiones que no te puedes saltar... ¡Aquí te contamos las que a nosotros casi nos pasan factura! Esperamos que te sirvan mucho y que puedas poner en práctica, para ahorrarte el dinero y tiempo que nos costó a nosotros. ------------------------------------------------------------ ¡POR POCOS DÍAS! Si lideras un equipo o sabes que el inglés es un plus para crecer, esto vale la pena.

ServiceNow is one of the world's biggest SaaS and digital transformation companies is ServiceNow. When their Chief Experience Officer Amy Lokey was recently in Dublin, I caught up with her to find about what her job entails and how AI is being used by ServiceNow.Amy talks about customers user experience, how ServiceNow has embraced AI, how AI has influenced how ServiceNow use CRM's and more.More about ServiceNow:ServiceNow helps organisations connect AI, data, and workflows on one platform. Work works better for everyone across every corner of the business. Their AI platform delivers apps that predict issues, automate processes, and make time for people-powered innovation.

If your sales team is stuck at 25% conversion despite investing in AI tools, this episode reveals why most AI pilots fail - and the sales methodology audit every Revenue Leader should run first. Sales strategy expert Aleasha Bahr (author of Black Sheep Sales) walks through the 3-step diagnostic to identify broken sales processes, explains the difference between "Admin Drag" (tasks AI should handle) and "Relationship Moments" (where humans must stay in control), and shares the counterintuitive truth about taking fewer calls to close more revenue. You'll learn: Why "automating a broken process" is the #1 reason AI pilots end up in "Pilot Purgatory" How to identify if your team is wasting capacity on leads that were never going to close Where AI actually fits in a high-converting sales workflow (hint: it's not messaging) The Sales Methodology Audit framework to run before your next AI investment Aleasha's methodology has helped clients achieve 80% lead conversion rates - without pressure tactics or massive AI stacks. Over 15 years in the sales trenches, she's helped sell tens of millions in offers by focusing on what most teams skip: a repeatable, authentic process built on clarity and connection. Your sales team isn't selling. They're updating CRM fields, doing prospect research, chasing down meeting notes - spending 70% of their time on what Mike Allton calls "Admin Drag." And here's the kicker: You've probably already tried to fix this with an AI pilot. But six months later, the conversion rates are still stuck, the pipeline is still stalled, and you're wondering if you just wasted another chunk of budget on software that promised magic but delivered more logins your team ignores. Here's what nobody's telling you: The problem isn't the AI. The problem is that you're automating a broken sales process. If you can't answer the question "What does a high-converting sales process actually look like?" - then no chatbot, no cadence tool, no "AI SDR" is going to save you. This is the pre-mortem you should have run six months ago. Download the free Executive Guide to Shadow AI: theaihat.com/shadow-ai 00:00 The Problem with Too Many Sales Calls 01:17 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast 02:26 The Hidden Costs of Admin Drag 03:12 Introducing Aleasha Bahr and Black Sheep Sales 04:33 Key Elements of a High-Converting Sales Process 10:46 The Role of AI in Sales Efficiency 18:46 Balancing AI and Human Touch in Sales 34:08 Final Thoughts and Resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWhen evaluating the CRM category, our analysis intentionally moves beyond CRM modules embedded within ERP systems and instead focuses on best-of-breed CRM platforms and the full spectrum of capabilities that define modern customer engagement. This includes not only core operational CRM functions such as sales force automation and pipeline management, but also upstream marketing automation, downstream customer experience and service workflows, contact center operations, events, search, and the increasing convergence with CMS and website capabilities that anchor the digital customer journey. While vendors may brand these pillars as Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, or reposition them around AI- and agentic-workflow narratives, the underlying architecture remains consistent, and strategic orientation matters: some platforms are designed for specific micro-verticals with tightly integrated suites, while others pursue broad horizontal coverage. These choices materially affect extensibility, process design, and long-term fit, particularly across B2B versus B2C use cases, where many CRM systems struggle with complex B2B sales cycles—driving continued demand for low-code and no-code customization and deeper integration across CRM, eCommerce, and CMS ecosystems.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 CRM systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these CRM systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each CRM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBLUBdDuWQcRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-erp-systems/Questions for Panelists?

Tech has looked unstoppable thanks to AI winners—but a huge part of the market is telling a very different story. In this episode, Simon and Dan break down the brutal valuation reset hitting SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) stocks, with many major names down 30–50%+ despite still-solid underlying businesses. They explain the classic “moats” that made SaaS so powerful—switching costs, ecosystems, and data—and why AI agents and LLM-driven automation are now challenging the seat-based pricing model that many software companies depend on. The discussion moves through a rapid-fire list of well-known SaaS names to unpack what’s driving the drawdowns, where the market may be overreacting, and where the risk of disruption is real. Bottom line: some of these stocks may be turning into genuine value opportunities—but the old playbook may no longer apply, and investors need to underwrite what the business looks like 2–5 years from now, not what it used to be. Tickers mentioned: CSU, CRM, ADBE, NOW, ADSK, INTU, TEAM, WDAY, TWLO, DOCU, ADP Check out our portfolio by going to Jointci.com Our Website Our New Youtube Channel! Canadian Investor Podcast Network Twitter: @cdn_investing Simon’s twitter: @Fiat_Iceberg Braden’s twitter: @BradoCapital Dan’s Twitter: @stocktrades_ca Want to learn more about Real Estate Investing? Check out the Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast! Apple Podcast - The Canadian Real Estate Investor Spotify - The Canadian Real Estate Investor Web player - The Canadian Real Estate Investor Asset Allocation ETFs | BMO Global Asset Management Sign up for Fiscal.ai for free to get easy access to global stock coverage and powerful AI investing tools. Register for EQ Bank, the seamless digital banking experience with better rates and no nonsense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we are talking about Integrations into Drupal, Automation, and Drupal with Orchestration with guest Jürgen Haas. We'll also cover CRM as our module of the week. For show notes visit: https://www.talkingDrupal.com/537 Topics Understanding Orchestration Orchestration in Drupal Introduction to Orchestration Services Drupal's Role in Orchestration Flexibility in Integration Orchestration Module in Drupal Active Pieces and Open Source Integration Security Considerations in Orchestration Future of Orchestration in Drupal Getting Involved with Orchestration Resources Orchestration N8N https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-21877 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-21858 Drupal as an application Tools Orchestration ECA Maestro AI Flowdrop Guests Jürgen Haas - lakedrops.com jurgenhaas Hosts Nic Laflin - nLighteneddevelopment.com nicxvan John Picozzi - epam.com johnpicozzi MOTW Correspondent Martin Anderson-Clutz - mandclu.com mandclu Brief description: Have you ever wanted a Drupal-native way to store, manage, and interact with people who might not all be registered users? There's a module for that. Module name/project name: CRM - Contact Relationship Management Brief history How old: created in Apr 2007 by Allie Micka, but the Steve Ayers aka bluegeek9 took over the namespace Versions available: 1.0.0-beta2, which works with Drupal 11.1 or newer Maintainership Actively maintained, latest release just a day ago Security coverage: opted in, but needs a stable release Test coverage Number of open issues: 73 open issues, but all bugs have been marked as fixed Usage stats: 10 sites Module features and usage Listeners may remember some mention of the CRM module in the conversation about the Member Platform initiative back in episode 512 As a reminder, something other than standard Drupal user accounts is useful for working with contact information for people where you may not have all the criteria necessary for a Drupal user account, for example an email address. Also, a dedicated system can make it easier to model relationships between contacts, and provide additional capabilities. It's worth noting that this module defines CRM as Contact Relationship Management, not assuming that the data is associated with "customers" or "constituents" as some other solutions do At its heart, CRM defines three new entity types: contacts, contact methods, and relationships. Each of these can have fieldable bundles, and provides some default examples: Person, Household, and Organization for contacts; Address, Email, and Telephone for contact methods; and Head of household, Spouse, Employee, and Member for relationships Out of the box CRM includes integrations with other popular modules like Group and Context, in addition to a variety of Drupal core systems like views and search As previously mentioned CRM is intended to be the foundational data layer of the Member Platform, but is also a key element of the Open Knowledge distribution, meant to allow using Drupal as a collaborative knowledge base and learning platform

In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ sits down with Maria Izurieta, CFO of Huntress, to unpack what it really means to lead finance as a connective tissue across the organization. Drawing on experience across VC-backed, PE-owned, and public companies, Maria shares how she balances impact versus perfection, builds trust through small wins, and helps teams move from transactional finance to insight-driven decision making. They dig into data transparency, centralized BI, partnering with sales and marketing on revenue, and why the best CFOs unblock friction instead of becoming the “no” department — all while bringing a deeply people-first lens to scale.—SPONSORS:Abacum is a modern FP&A platform built by former CFOs to replace slow, consultant-heavy planning tools. With self-service integrations and AI-powered workflows for forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling, Abacum helps finance teams scale without becoming software admins. Trusted by teams at Strava, Replit, and JG Wentworth—learn more at https://www.abacum.aiBrex is an intelligent finance platform that combines corporate cards, built-in expense management, and AI agents to eliminate manual finance work. By automating expense reviews and reconciliations, Brex gives CFOs more time for the high-impact work that drives growth. Join 35,000+ companies like Anthropic, Coinbase, and DoorDash at https://www.brex.com/metricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.comRightRev is an automated revenue recognition platform built for modern pricing models like usage-based pricing, bundles, and mid-cycle upgrades. RightRev lets companies scale monetization without slowing down close or compliance. For RevRec that keeps growth moving, visit https://www.rightrev.comRillet is an AI-native ERP built for modern finance teams that want to close faster without fighting legacy systems. Designed to support complex revenue recognition, multi-entity operations, and real-time reporting, Rillet helps teams achieve a true zero-day close—with some customers closing in hours, not days. If you're scaling on an ERP that wasn't built in the 90s, book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/cjTabs is an AI-native revenue platform that unifies billing, collections, and revenue recognition for companies running usage-based or complex contracts. By bringing together ERP, CRM, and real product usage data into a single system of record, Tabs eliminates manual reconciliations and speeds up close and cash collection. Companies like Cortex, Statsig, and Cursor trust Tabs to scale revenue efficiently. Learn more at https://www.tabs.com/run—LINKS:Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-izurieta-909a3b/Company: https://www.huntress.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:How the Best CFOs Lead Without Being the CEO | Ken Stillwellhttps://youtu.be/O4cx9NBqQso—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:01:01 Maria's Background00:03:09 People-First Team Building00:05:16 People, Process, Systems at Scale00:07:13 Removing Friction Outside Finance00:09:15 Data Transparency & Decision-Making00:11:06 Sponsors — Abacum | Brex | Metronome00:14:22 Forward-Deployed Data00:16:21 Centralized Data vs. Silos00:19:23 Finance as Data Steward00:21:08 Cost-to-Price Feedback Loop00:22:35 Curiosity Builds Credibility00:23:43 Sponsors — RightRev | Rillet | Tabs00:27:12 Trust First, Then Impact00:30:27 Celebrating Small Wins00:31:21 From Transactions to Insights00:33:00 CFO at the Revenue Table00:34:32 Educating the Org on Metrics00:36:21 Customer-Level Margin Reality00:37:13 Using Facts to Change Decisions00:38:27 Ownership Mindset in Growth Companies00:39:10 VC vs. PE vs. Public CFO Tradeoffs00:41:02 Operating Inside Constraints00:42:18 Finding Your Stage Fit00:44:17 Building a Personal Advisor Network00:46:43 Visibility and Women in Leadership00:47:44 Work–Life Integration, Not Balance00:48:45 Lightning Round: Biggest Mistake00:50:10 Advice to Younger Self00:51:36 Finance Tech Stack00:52:01 Craziest Expense Story00:52:44 Credits#RunTheNumbersPodcast #CFOLeadership #ScalingCompanies #DataDrivenDecisions #ExecutiveLeadership This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank Sohn sits down with Vinay Toomu, who leads both ScaleFluidly (CPQ / quote-to-order platform) and CommerceCX (a systems integrator working with Salesforce and Conga). Since Vinay's last appearance in 2023, ScaleFluidly has matured into a full quote-to-order revenue orchestration platform—built on a composable core engine that customers can extend with their own apps. Vinay shares what he sees across real implementations: the biggest wins come from improving adoption, reducing friction for sales teams, and putting the right governance in place. They discuss support for direct sales, partner sales, and ecommerce, ScaleFluidly's low-code/no-code approach, and how their architecture differs for SMB (multi-tenant)versus enterprise (environment separation). The episode also covers newer capabilities like role-based controls, security certifications (ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2), and a Chrome assistant designed to streamline CRM workflows. Finally, they unpack ScaleFluidly's practical view of AI in CPQ—where it works today, what's harder at enterprise scale, and how consolidation in the CPQ market could influence innovation.

⭐ INTERESTED IN FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP? Schedule a call with one of our coaches today!  https://www.francoach.net/ 

Today I'm joined by Brian Macdonald, CEO & President of CDK Global. We explore the massive scale of the CDK's automotive data ecosystem and what it means to have a touchpoint with nearly 90% of car owners in the country. Brian breaks down how dealers can transform this historical database into a functional asset to improve operations and capture market share. This conversation reveals the strategic power of connectivity in an increasingly data-driven industry. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Lotlinx - What if ChatGPT actually spoke dealer? Meet LotGPT — the first AI chatbot built just for car dealers. Fluent in your market, your dealership, and your inventory, LotGPT delivers instant insights to help you merchandise smarter, move inventory faster, and maximize profit. It pulls from your live inventory, CRM, and Google Analytics to give VIN-specific recommendations, helping dealers price vehicles accurately, spot wasted spend, and uncover the hottest opportunities — all in seconds. LotGPT is free for dealers, but invite-only. Join the waitlist now @ http://Lotlinx.com/LotGPT 2. OPENLANE - The world's best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more @ http://openlane.com/cdg 3. Nomad Content Studio - Dealers—big news. CDK just leveled up their CRM in a massive way. We're talking next-gen AI baked right into your daily workflow: Automatically following up with internet leads, surfacing buyer insights, and giving you instant AI-generated summaries of every customer interaction—no more digging through notes. And CRM Video is here. Record, send, and track personalized videos to customers—all inside the CRM. Check out the AI enhanced CDK CRM: Visit @ AI enhanced CDK CRM to learn more. 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: 00:55 What is Google Syndication? 01:35 What are Brian's bold predictions? 02:35 What is the current dealer economy? 04:29 What are the affordability trends? 06:29 How is AI innovating the industry? 07:12 What are CDK's data solutions? 18:31 What are the future industry predictions? 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

Wait.... AI can do THAT now?

Are you secretly worried your growth will wreck the “family” vibe in your business or that tighter systems will make top talent leave? In this episode, Sivana Brewer interviews Erica Wright, COO of VRA Realty, whose systems-first playbook catapulted the brokerage from 85 to 115 agents, spanning five states.They dig into the raw truth of building infrastructure for explosive scale (without losing loyalty), balancing tough accountability with real compassion, and leading teams remotely while launching new ventures abroad. Discover how Erica harnessed her psychology and sales background to build trust, manage visionaries, and create a culture where hard conversations actually drive growth.Don't miss this episode if you want to avoid costly attrition, burnout, and lost culture. Listen now for exclusive, actionable insights. These proven moves aren't taught anywhere else!Timestamped Highlights[00:00] – Erica's bold entry: transforming chaos into compliance with her first CRM rollout [05:51] – How a psychologist became an operations powerhouse (and opened 8 offices in 6 months) [09:45] – Balancing ambition and deep family ties after personal loss—the surprising lessons for remote executives [13:46] – Color-coded calendars and time-blocking rituals: how Erica runs five business lines from Mexico [16:01] – Her step-by-step playbook for deciding what to delegate, outsource, or tackle solo [19:11] – The “idea overwhelm” dilemma—how to hold visionaries accountable to the real mission [21:37] – Inside the first 90 days: building trust, rolling out new systems, and avoiding agent revolt [25:27] – The truth about “family cultures”: love, accountability, and how to fire without guilt [28:07] – Why being COO feels lonely (and what to do about it, ven if you're building a team abroad) [31:31] – Emotional management, therapy sessions, and creating radical honesty in a high-turnover industry [39:28] – Erica's regrets—and #1 advice for any new COO about setting boundaries with their CEO [41:05] – Her next big move: remote work, funds management, and two brand-new business launchesAbout the GuestErica Wright is the Chief Operating Officer of VRA Realty, a fast-growing boutique real estate brokerage now spanning five states and over 115 agents. Known for her powerhouse systems mindset and global operations expertise, Erica engineered VRA's scale through smart hiring, process revamps, and authentic relationship-building. She brings a rare blend of psychology, direct sales, and hands-on leadership from international markets, transforming loosely organized teams into high-accountability, high-loyalty cultures. Erica is also the founder of Steven's Wings, a nonprofit for underserved youth, and is launching “This Might Be a Bad Idea”—a podcast about life and leadership abroad.

Josh Snow built Snow Oral Care by doing what most entrepreneurs won't: taking on the household-name giants head-on—and bootstrapping his way to nine figures in sales. In this special Money Mondays episode (recorded during the $100M Mastermind experience), Josh breaks down how to win shelf space against “the whole aisle,” why adversity can become your superpower, and what really makes a brand pop when customers walk past Colgate and Crest.He also goes deep on celebrity partnerships (what founders should know before chasing big names), shares his blunt investing filter (“don't do it” unless you can stomach the loss), and explains how to choose philanthropy that actually means something instead of checking a box. And of course—he answers the signature Money Mondays question with an answer you won't forget.Want the systems to turn these lessons into booked calls and consistent revenue? If you're ready to automate follow-ups, capture leads, and keep your pipeline moving without living in your inbox, check out GoHighLevel—the all-in-one platform for CRM, funnels, email/SMS, calendars, and automations. Start your free trial or book a quick demo using the link in the show notes.