Podcasts about kpis

In this episode of The Persistent Entrepreneur Podcast, David Hill interviews Lee Pepper, U.S. Army veteran and author of Never Outmatched, about the difference between marketing tactics and a real strategy. Lee shares military frameworks that translate directly into business growth, including Commander's Intent, the Anvil and Hammer approach, and how freedom of movement builds stronger teams and better execution. They also dig into why many founders get trapped by vanity metrics, how to pick KPIs that connect to revenue, and how to evaluate agencies using your business outcomes instead of their dashboards. The conversation also touches on AI's impact on search and buying behavior, and why business owners who ignore the shift risk waking up to a pipeline that quietly dried up. What you'll learn: How to separate tactics from strategy in marketing The Anvil and Hammer framework and how it applies to digital growth KPIs that matter more than likes, followers, and views How to stop letting other people's opinions derail your marketing plan How to evaluate agencies with outcome-based metrics Why AI is changing search and discovery faster than most founders realize   Connect with Lee: neveroutmatchedbook.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/leepepper/ Instagram: @theLeePepper TikTok: Lee.Pepper Connect with David Hill: Website: https://www.davidhill.ai Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidihill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidHillcoach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidihill TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidihill X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/davidihill Ring Leader AI Demo: Text or call 774-214-2076

What happens when a former startup CEO brings performance management discipline into city government? In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with San José Mayor Matt Mahan about applying data-driven decision-making, KPIs, and accountability—practices familiar to tech leaders—to the public sector. Drawing from his experience running venture-backed startups, Mahan explains how focus, measurement, and feedback loops are reshaping how City Hall operates. Key topics include: Applying startup-style performance management to government Using dashboards and metrics to improve accountability Prioritizing outcomes over activity Leveraging AI to improve city services at scale Building a workforce ready to use new technology responsibly

Tiff and Monica break down what it takes to operate your practice like a CEO in 2026, including mindset (especially if you don't exactly feel like a CEO), leadership team delegation, dialing in goals, and more. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript:   The Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team I am so excited to be here. You guys know I love podcasting. It's one of my favorite things that we do throughout the month. I usually get at least two podcasting sessions in with my ladies. And today I have Monica back here with us again. Monica, how are you? I'm so excited you're here. How was this? This is a Monday. So like, how was your weekend? Did you get to rest, relax your grandbaby? What did you do? What was your, what was your weekend like?   Monica (00:25) Yeah, hi Tiff, happy Monday. Happy Monday, everyone. I'm so excited to start off my week with podcasting. ⁓ I think I just have like this new found joy and like interest and passion around podcasting and just showing up authentically and having this conversation. So thank you for inviting me. ⁓ My weekend, I had such a magical weekend. First of all, guys, December is such a magical time for me.   The Dental A Team (00:28) Thank you.   Of course.   Monica (00:56) You know, it's just tapping into all the unseen, right? The hope, the faith, the love that is never ending is all expansive. And December goes by really fast. So I made it a point to be super present in all the little things that I do and the mundane things. And I had such a magical weekend with my grandson. ⁓   The Dental A Team (01:09) It does.   Monica (01:21) I've got two grandkids, ⁓ Elijah who's 12 years old and my granddaughter Sophia who is three months old and I'm just enamored obviously with both of them but Sophia takes the stage right now. ⁓ But my grandson, know, he came over and he, you know, he's earning money to buy an electrical bike and I said, hey, you gotta earn it buddy so.   You know, ⁓ Mimi, I'm Mimi for him. I gave him a little weekend project to come and redo, re-sand, refinish my patio furniture. And we did that. We did that over the weekend and he did an amazing job. And then it turned into like this, Mimi, can I sleep over? Let's have a sleepover. You know, let's sleep right in front of the fireplace. When's the last time you did something fun like that? So.   The Dental A Team (02:03) Yeah.   my   gosh.   Monica (02:11) ⁓   it was, it was amazing. The Christmas tree lights were on, the fireplace was on and Charlie and I and Elijah were having sleepover on the couch. So that was fun. And, ⁓ we got to make breakfast the next morning and we had, you know, the magical dance in the kitchen. Yeah, that happened too. So it was just so special. And, ⁓ those are just memories that I want to hold on to forever. Those are those forever memories, you know? Yeah.   The Dental A Team (02:29) Mm-hmm.   They are, they   are. Those are the memories, those are the things that make life, life and make life enjoyable. So I'm really glad you got that time and ⁓ thank you for sharing. Thank you. You always, share your family with us. You share Charlie, who is her adorable dog. You share just all of them with us. So thank you. Thank you. On that note though, I think Monica, that's like the perfect lead in, into what we're talking about today because   Monica (02:44) Yes. Yes. Thank you.   Monica (02:57) Yeah, yeah, thank you.   The Dental A Team (03:06) what I really wanted to chat about and just get some information out for our listeners and for those of you who are here with us today, make sure that you either go back and listen to some of these pieces. We're gonna have some really good nuggets for you or you're taking notes now if you're in a place that can take notes. I always caveat that if you are driving, I drive and listen to podcasts a lot and I have to go back and listen to them. So please don't take notes while you're driving. But on that note of December and ⁓ we're recording this in December, it'll...   populate in January, which is kind of perfect because this time of year is great because we're winding down and we are enjoying the magic, like you said, and enjoying all of the love and the faith and all of those pieces. But then it turns into January, which is like a fresh new beginning and a magic of its own. And moving into January and being in January, something that I really want CEOs to start thinking about is how to think like a CEO.   Dental practice owners, doctors, don't often think of themselves, I think, as a CEO. Monica, often just, they're a practice owner, they're a business owner. But I think that CEO mindset is something that's very different. And really just looking at 2026, how can 2026 be your CEO year? And how can you start thinking like a CEO? What does it take to move and operate like a CEO? And this is something that we work on with our dental practice owners a lot. So our clients,   We're constantly bringing them back into that CEO mindset. We're really, really lucky in the fact that we have Kiera here on our team that we get to watch ⁓ move through the CEO mindset. And I've had the privilege of side by side walking with her and watching her build the business and building it with her and seeing those trials and tribulations. So being able to impact the world of dentistry with those pieces is something that's huge for us.   We're in January, it's beautiful. I feel like when I think of January, I think of like white and it's just clean and it's this beautiful, sparkly, clean slate that we can just create anything with. So as we're creating this, question that I have is really as we're building like a scalable vision, right? So we're looking forward, what's something that you like to encourage your CEO mindset doctors to really start with? Like where do you, how do we say this is where   Monica (05:24) Yeah.   The Dental A Team (05:24) This   is where I want to go. know, we've got especially a visionary mindset who just is in the clouds a lot. But how do you help them narrow that down into really thinking like a CEO and kind of time-lining that out, measurable? Like, what are all the pieces that you're looking for?   Monica (05:38) Yeah, that's a great question, Tiff. Thanks for asking. Well, first, before we dive into that, I want to say, doctors, it's you. You are the leader, right? You are the CEO and you've got to think like one. And I think ⁓ most of the time we're looking outward for the answers, but the answers are already in you. You've got to take some time to have some introspection time and say, okay,   What does the CEO do? Like, let me put my CEO hat on and bring that mindset in. what is my philosophy as a CEO? You've got to start with your philosophy, right? What does that mean to you? How am I going to achieve that, that one vision? And you got to make sure that your vision and your philosophy is inspiring enough to fire you up, to want to create a change.   right, because ⁓ it starts with you. We've got to be, we've got to be and show up as a person that we expect our leaders, our leadership team to show up as, right? So if you want your leadership team to come in and prepared and be on topic and be on the KPIs and know your numbers, guess what? You got to know the numbers. You've got to show up with that strong leadership, that inspiring, that motivating.   you know, knowing which KPIs you're going to look at, which in my mind, I think there's like the really high value KPIs and then the lower value KPIs, right? Everything is important, but we can't focus on all things at once. So what are the top KPIs that you as a CEO are going to focus on that drive, that philosophy that gave you that drive and that passion to wake up every single day fired up to, you know, tackle the day.   So if you don't have a philosophy, get one, right? Just start writing it down. I think we all have it here in our mind. You gotta put it on paper. Because if it's not on paper, you can't create it. Part of the creation process is thinking it, materializing it, and then sharing it. sharing it with your team, your leadership team. ⁓ And then seeing it, right? Like what is the process of creating that philosophy and executing that philosophy?   Doctors, it starts with you. Be the leader that you expect your leadership team to show up as. That's what a CEO does, right? Like what, who's, who's carrying the torch? The difficult part about being a CEO is that you've got the visionary and then you also have an operational piece, right? And we often say there's, there's two great leaders in any successful business, the visionary and the operational one, right? The one that carries a torch every single day. But you have to be both.   before you can delegate it. You've got to know what that feels like. You've got to know how to drive that. You've got to know how to become it before we expect our team to become it. So it starts with you doctors. Start with your philosophy. I would love to know for, you know, anyone that wants to just comment or just share, what is your philosophy? What do you wake up, you know, every single morning, what do you wake up with? What are you going to take to the office?   I think that's where we start, right? And then there's three things that I think are crucial for any CEO. You've got to be obsessed with this. Your clinical excellence, your patient experience, your culture, your team, and growth and profitability. Those are three things you've got to be obsessed about. Those are three things that you've got to be curious about every single day. Every time that you meet with your team,   We recommend that you have a weekly meeting with your leadership team. Make sure that you're touching on those three things. Those, I think, are the driver to everything. Your clinical experience and your patient experience is everything that builds trust, that builds efficiency, ⁓ that builds retention, patient retention, team retention. Yeah. What are your thoughts, Tiff?   The Dental A Team (10:00) Yeah, I love that. Thank you, thank you. And I know you have some really fantastic nuggets. So I hope you guys, if you are driving, you go back and listen and write them down. And I agree. think the philosophy, right, or translated, you can call it your mission, your vision. Like, why are you here? What is it that you believe in? We talk a lot about your, ⁓ like your patient philosophy or your clinical philosophy. So it's really just, what do you believe in? What are you trying to accomplish with what you're doing? And I love that because   If you can see what you're trying to accomplish, if you can, like she said, get it out on paper and Monica, I think that's brilliant. I do so much better when I'm like handwriting. I even got one of those journals, you know, the little, the notepads that are erasable because I think you just, you can take a picture and it uploads because I just do better with handwriting it. And when you can get it out and you can say, this is where I'm trying to get to, you can start to like build that house. It's like when you're, when you're going to, you're looking at model homes, the model home is already done.   And so it gives you a vision of what you could create if you were to build a home within that development. And so you need that model home. need something that models. you might not be, you might build your home and you might not do the same kitchen. You might have a different tile. You might have different countertops than what was shown in the model, but you're able to at least get a vision for something to start. And then you work backwards from that. And Monica, think that's...   the key there and what you said with the KPIs and the metrics and knowing your numbers and knowing your stats, watching those KPIs and really seeing if this is where I'm going, what are the top three goals that I can get to? And then scaling those backwards. And that's how a CEO works, right? We've got big goals that we scale backwards and say, okay, what are the steps? What is the plan? What's it actually going to take to get to this goal? And how can I recruit then my team to help support   Monica (11:36) Yep.   The Dental A Team (11:55) that and I think Monica, that's a huge word for me and my coaching is the support team. Like how can the team support these goals and I don't know Monica. This might be a side tangent, but something that I've experienced for sure is doctors or leaders or practice owners getting in the mindset of like worker bees like I've got worker bees under me and they are they are the ones that are going to get this instead of that mindset of really   like they're here to support me to get to these goals. How can I support them to get there? And I have to then think a clear vision. If I'm not clear on where we're going, how are they gonna support me to get there? And Monica, do you think in that transition? Because I do think that's a big switch from practice owner to CEO mindset is that really that supportive reaching the goals together, that support rather than.   I gave them tasks and they're gonna get me there. We're really kind of building this house together.   Monica (12:58) Yeah, no, that's a great point. think there's two parts to a successful practice. You've got to be able to work on the business and in the business. And you've got to really protect that time. When you're working on the business, be about that. Show up and be present. ⁓ I think, you   We're so used to multitasking and that that's our culture, right? That's the culture of dentistry is like, you've got to be able to like do a million things at once and your brain is going a million miles an hour. ⁓ you're seeing multiple patients, you're, know, you're constantly shifting and wearing various hats during the day. But to work on your business, you've got to, you've got to be present. No interruptions. Like don't.   get to the office before you get to the office, right? When you're in the office, don't get home, don't work on your personal stuff when you're in the office, work on the things that really matter. And it's difficult to kind of change gears and focus, but I think it's crucial. Working on the business really means, what's my philosophy, right? And reverse engineering that.   Here's where I want to be. Where am I now? What are the steps that I need to do next before I get there? I think having presence of mind is super important because we can't focus on all things, right? If we do, nothing gets done. And so write them down, write all the steps that you need to get there, then prioritize them. What do I need to do first before I move on to the next? And so I like to think about it as layered.   The Dental A Team (14:34) Yeah. Yeah.   Monica (14:48) Right? When you layer it, when it's written down, like create a visual for yourself. And then when it's written down, you can, it's easier to digest and you can journey that, that map per se in a much easier way. you're visual and you can go in and, and, know, add steps to it along the way. But if it's all up here, this is, this is where chaos happens. Right? This is where you get stressed out. This is where, ⁓ unease.   comes in, right, because it's all here and you can't see it. And I think most of us are visual when it comes to, you know, our practice and success and our teams. I mean, we've got to be able to see it, right, to believe it. ⁓ So I think working on the business and then working in the business, guys, that's really important. We can't expect our team to give, you know, above and beyond.   The Dental A Team (15:32) Mm-hmm.   Monica (15:44) and expect them to stay and work after hours on their own time when we're working two days a week in in tearside, right? And leading the team. No one's going to care more than you, right? Your team is there to support you, right? And your vision. So they're not the they may be the drivers, but they're not the principal. You are right. And I think we we tend to forget.   We tend to forget that we are the ultimate authority and we are the leaders. We're the go-to people, right? And ⁓ becoming a dentist and opening your practice, you automatically become a CEO whether you like it or not, right? And we're business owners, we're leaders. The team is looking to us to establish our philosophy, our vision, ⁓ the map. Where are we going, right? You've got to be the captain of your ship.   The Dental A Team (16:12) Okay.   Mm-hmm.   Monica (16:40) And if you don't take on that role, people are just waiting. They're doing the best that they can, but it's, you know, they're in uncharted waters.   I think that's when we lose, you know, the, ⁓ the passion and that fire, because we don't know where we're headed. Right. And everyone's just trying to work in their own little Island and they're, they're working in silos. And then, you know, instead of locking arms and saying, Hey, here's our vision. We're all rowing in this direction and let's go after it. Right. And we've got to be able to row in the same direction.   The Dental A Team (17:21) Mm-hmm.   Yeah, and I think that's where, to your point, the KPIs come into play, right? So you had mentioned earlier, like those measurables and those KPIs, because those are our oars. That's how we're getting there. So it's very easy, I think, for a visionary to have the vision. They know it. They're like, I can see the house. But then you've got to put that, you said, put that implementer hat on for a second, that worker hat on for a second, and say, cool, that's the vision. Now what goes in first?   Monica (17:29) Totally.   The Dental A Team (17:53) Like do we put the countertops in before we put the cupboards in? No, like how do we get there? So those are, I think Monica, to your point, those are the KPIs that are there so that the team can support that vision. So if you want increased new patients, what is the team gonna do to help support that? We've got a marketing company probably, but what can the team do asking for reviews, asking for referrals, like counting those pieces? And Monica, do you feel like that's where, I think personally,   That's where the CEO mindset really takes hold from that visionary kind of practice owner, I just wanna have a business mindset. That's that CEO tactical piece. And I think for practices I've worked with, structures I've worked with, that's the space that's like, we've gotta get over that hurdle and is sometimes the more difficult space for them to be able to see the applicable KPIs that will get us to those goals.   Monica (18:32) Yeah.   Yeah, I agree with you. think inaction equals no action, right? And so most of the time we know what needs to be done, but again, it's up here, right? And we choose for whatever the reason is, we're choosing not to get behind it. ⁓ And so, you know,   Also, sometimes we have to unpack what our limiting beliefs are. What is the story I'm telling myself about myself? That self-talk. Self-talk is super impactful, whether it's positive or negative. So what is your self-talk? What is your little voice saying? Right? Can I do this? Let's do this. Or, ⁓ nobody cares. Nobody cares as much as I do. You know, ⁓   I think self-talk is powerful.   The Dental A Team (19:50) I think   a lot of times it comes down to as well if I can see the vision but I'm not willing to share the vision, ⁓ what is keeping me from sharing that vision? Like why am I afraid to vocalize or put it on paper? What about this scares me? And that's what we're running away from, And we just replace it with the tactical do-do-dos, the checklist of like easy do's throughout the day and it holds us back from really reaching those.   personal and professional goals.   Monica (20:22) Yeah, and also, you know, to add to that, that's really valuable what you just spoke. ⁓ To add to that, think self-accountability and owning your part of it, right? ⁓ It's difficult, like the responsibility of knowing you've got this amazing practice that you've built, a place where patients can   come and seek wellness and that you are contributing to the livelihoods of your team. I mean, that's a big, and your own livelihood, right? Like this is it. That's a big responsibility. And it's a beautiful one. It's one that impacts many, many lives. ⁓ And that can be scary sometimes. What if I make a mistake? What if this is not the right choice? But what if it is?   Take the chance. You can always pivot. If you don't like the result, change it. That's the beauty of being a CEO in your own practices. You can change it. So what's stopping you from creating the change to propel you to the next level?   The Dental A Team (21:21) would have bit worked.   Yeah, I love that. Thank you, Monica. I think some takeaways I have, I always try to think of, you know, three tactical pieces, are the three action items? And I think from listening to everything that you've got today, thank you, Monica, it was beautiful. I really pulled out three, I feel tactical, I wrote down philosophy, make sure you know your philosophy, your CEO, your practice philosophy. And then like three,   Audacious goals for your one year your three year your tenure and really work backwards again ten years Where do I want to be? What will it take to get to that ten-year mark in three years from now? And then this year what do I have to accomplish? So those really those big three goals and then really breaking those down into applicable key performance indicators KPIs applicable pieces that we can work on this year to get us towards those goals and really enlisting the team to help with those things so if you're trying to switch to that CEO mindset   Like Monica said, you gotta get it on paper. Write that philosophy down first. Where is it that you're trying to get to? What are three things that you could work on right now that will help get you there? And what are the small things we can do every single day, those KPIs, that we can do every single day that will help us get to those three goals? Monica, those are my three action items I pulled from everything that you had beautifully stated. think there's also action items they can pull out on the personal side, like journal, you guys. I love your idea.   you know, what's holding me back from doing this? What are my limiting beliefs right now? And if that's scary to get it out on paper, probably back up a little bit and start there. And re-listen to everything Monica said, because she's spot on you guys. you're having trouble localizing it, you're having trouble getting it on paper, or you're scared to share it with your team, there's something internal there. And if you're scared that your team's gonna react a certain way, is that you? Or is that them and you need to go back to the right person, right seat?   that we recorded a few weeks ago. That's a good question there. So Monica, is there anything else that you would leave as a parting statement, something that can really wrap up the CEO mindset for them?   Monica (23:41) Yeah.   Yeah, thank you. actually do. And I was thinking about ⁓ what's the first thing I would do after listening to a podcast like this. And I would go back and ask great questions. Great leaders ask great questions and start with you. Go ask yourself three great questions that are going to start to unpack the CEO that's already within you.   The Dental A Team (24:11) I love that. I love that. Thank you, Monica. I love podcasting with you. You have just, your brain, I love picking pieces out of your brain, because you and I think similarly in a lot of ways in that introspective kind of world, and I think you and I could live there for hours and be so happy. So thank you. Thank you for always sharing everything with us, and...   Monica (24:20) Thank you.   I know.   The Dental A Team (24:35) bringing such amazing tools. The CEO mindset is really important and I know you work on this really, really hard with a lot of your practices. So handpicked for you. Thank you Monica for your time today and everyone here shares that sentiment I'm sure. Of course. Of course. All right listeners, you heard her earlier. She said, pop it in, pop it in your review, pop it in an email to us. Let us know what's your philosophy. Let us know what you love today.   Monica (24:49) Yeah, thanks, Tiff. This was great. Thank you. Thanks so much.   The Dental A Team (25:03) what you want more of, you can drop us a five star review below or Hello@TheDentalATeam.com or both you guys, we love hearing from you. We do get a lot of you that email in different ideas and things that you'd like to hear about. We love that. So please reach out Hello@TheDentalATeam.com and you guys, can't wait to catch you next time. Thank you.  

Thje CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Sarah Cunningham, Chief Retail Experience Officer of Flywheel, the commerce acceleration division of Omnicom.Follow Sarah on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cunningham-99559b1/Follow Flywheel on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flywheel-digital/Sarah answers these questions:Can you tell us about the inspiration and the WHY behind bringing this new connected commerce offering to Flywheel?What are some current trends in the commerce space that are influencing how brands approach connected commerce and how consumers are shopping?What challenges are brands facing in creating truly seamless omnichannel experiences for shoppers? What are the blind spots and how can this new connected commerce offering help alleviate the pain points?What are the core components of your connected commerce solution? How does it differentiate from existing offerings in the market?How does your platform leverage data and insights to drive better outcomes for brands and retailers?In what ways does your solution integrate with retailers, marketplaces, and media partners? How do you support brands in aligning their sales, marketing, and data teams to ensure success with connected commerce?What KPIs or success metrics do you recommend for brands adopting connected commerce strategies? Are there any early results or case studies you can share that highlight the impact of your offering?How do you see connected commerce evolving in the next few years, especially as technology and consumer expectations advance?What are lessons / mindsets you've learned and leveraged as you have grown in your career to help you?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

The difference between those who scale and those who stall isn't talent. It's the willingness to act when every instinct says quit. In the Season 6 finale of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill revisits the most powerful conversations from 2025. From David Kolbe's insights on understanding your instinctive strengths to James Amaro's blueprint for building accountability culture, James Lawrence's discipline in mastering discomfort, Verne Harnish's framework for scaling past plateaus, and Kat Cole's philosophy of relentless self-improvement, this episode distills the season's most actionable wisdom into one comprehensive guide for growth. Here's what you'll learn: Why understanding your conative strengths can prevent years of burnout and misalignment in your career and your team How deliberate discomfort and daily disciplines train your mind to refuse quitting when adversity hits What it takes to build an accountability culture that drives KPIs without sacrificing team morale or losing top talent The leaders who dominate 2026 will be the ones who stopped waiting and started executing on what they already know they should be doing. ---- 3:04 — David Kolbe explains the four action modes and how understanding your conative strengths changes everything 9:57 — Why your Kolbe result doesn't change over time and what that means for your career 13:16 — James Amaro shares how he rebuilt his firm from 6 people to over 80 after losing almost everything 17:07 — The accountability culture that took profit from 5% to 34% 23:24 — Triathlete James Lawrence reveals his genetic testing results 28:17 — Mental toughness requires doing activities you hate 36:32 — Verne Harnish on why ambitious goals drive energy while attainable goals kill it 42:09 — Founder Mode: why you can delegate everything except the soul of your business 52:18 — Kat Cole's journey from Hooters hostess to leading billion-dollar brands 56:44 — “The Hotshot Rule” for relentless improvement ---- Links & Resources: Kolbe Assessment  Amaro Law Firm  James Lawrence (Iron Cowboy)  Iron Hope  Verne Harnish  Scaling Up  AG1 ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at https://crisp.co/coach ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: Episode 423: How to Actually Scale Your Standards Episode 404: The Dangers of Premature Growth with Eric Siu Episode 365: Discipline Is a Daily Decision

Celi Arias is the CEO and Founder of The Grown Ass Business, where she guides entrepreneurs through her proprietary methodology, Key Growth Systems, to build strong business foundations. Recognized as a top coach by The Upside in 2024, Celi helps clients break free from revenue plateaus and burnout by focusing on core business principles over quick fixes. Her approach emphasizes clarity and control, optimizing essential business departments to ensure solid foundations for scaling up to seven figures and beyond. She's busy building software to scale her own business, now in beta at Get Scale.

In this episode, I dive into my top five priorities that will fuel your membership success in 2026.I share the key actions and mindset shifts that every membership owner, whether just starting out or looking to scale, should be focusing on to ensure lasting growth.From getting a grip on your numbers to embracing a results-driven approach, experimenting more, and building the right support network, I break down practical, proven advice to set you up for an amazing year with your membership business.In this episode:Why is understanding your numbers and KPIs so essential for sustainable membership growth, and how do you get started?How has the value of content changed, and why should you stop positioning your membership as just a library of resources?In what ways can diversifying your offerings safeguard your membership business and better serve your audience's evolving needs?Why is experimentation, as well as surrounding yourself with the right support network, key to overcoming industry changes and staying ahead in 2026?Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast.What's your next step?If you haven't launched your membership yet, I've made my signature Membership Roadmap Course completely FREE, walking you through exactly how to get set up for success!Already have a membership and looking to grow and scale? Join me inside Membership Academy where I'll help you take your membership to the next level.And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one!Key Quotes & Takeaways:"You can work hard all year bringing in 120 new people over the year, and you'll end the year with pretty much no increase in your member base. Because that 8% churn rate that maybe you don't realize is 8% will mean that you are just hemorrhaging as many members as you're attracting.""People want certainty. People like being sold proven formulas. That's why a lot of dodgy Internet marketers do so well, because they stand up there and say, you know what, I've got this proven formula. You just do this, then this, then this and this and you're guaranteed results. And yeah, that guarantees not worth the paper it's printed on.""We bring you that community, we bring you that accountability, that place that you can go to that is safe for you to vent about that problem member and get a little bit of advice for you to admit, you know what, I'm stuck. I've tried all these things and they have not worked.""But more importantly, you have the room to be in. You have the community that will give you that support network, that will give you the sounding board, that will cheer you on and pick you up, give you their experiences, give you the benefit of their knowledge, share what they're doing and work together to ensure that 2026 doesn't just see one or two of us growing our memberships. 2026 sees us all growing and thriving."

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter speak with Marco Brucato, Head of eCommerce Europe - DTC Transformation at Beko Europe.Marco shares how he's scaled digital commerce across diverse European markets by applying a “freedom within a frame” mindset, centralizing strategy, governance, and KPIs while empowering local teams to adapt for cultural nuance and shopper expectations.He breaks down what it takes to make transformation stick inside large organizations, from securing leadership buy-in to making the cost of inaction tangible. Marco also explains why selling the problem matters more than selling the solution, how a test-small-scale-fast approach helps prove value, and why omnichannel should be a core operating principle — not a buzzword.Key takeawaysScale with structure: Centralize principles and governance while enabling local executionCreate urgency: Make the cost of inaction clear to unlock leadership buy-inProve value fast: Test ideas in small ways, then scale what works Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode originally aired in 2024. But in 2026, brands are still looking for these main KPIs and who they want to work with (different types of creators and influencers).Some brands might be looking for brand awareness, drive sales, or traffic to a website. Brands and agencies need to understand what to measure and how to measure it. Here are four top KPIs (key performance indicators) brands might be measuring in 2024:ConversionsBrand liftEngagement Quality of contentTune in to learn more about what brands are looking for with their influencer partnerships!Follow us on Instagram: @creativeeditionpodcast Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmasedition | Pinterest: @emmaseditionAnd sign up for our email newsletter.

Send us a textWhat if the trait you're most proud of—being the one who always steps in—quietly destroys your profit and peace of mind? We dive into over-responsibility as a hidden profit killer and lay out a practical plan to reclaim your time, your culture, and your margins. With leadership coach and author Roger Daviston, we break down the mindset shift that changes everything: you are responsible to your team, not for your team.We get specific about what boundaries look like in home services. From the installer who wants you to fix a supplier problem, to the friend who bypasses dispatch for a “quick favor,” to the manager who avoids hard talks, we share scripts and frameworks that push responsibility back to role owners. You'll hear how “What do you think you should do?” becomes a coaching habit, not avoidance, and how trust but verify systems prevent chaos without smothering initiative. We also tackle the painful costs of inconsistency—underperformers lingering, KPIs tracked then ignored, family exceptions eroding standards—and how documented expectations and progressive discipline restore clarity.This conversation is a playbook for building a culture of ownership: clear role ownership, process adherence, measurable accountability, and the courage to let things break so people can learn. Roger shares resources on the service call process and team alignment, and we connect the dots between healthy leadership and better marketing outcomes—because confident, supported teams show up differently for customers. Ready to stop bottlenecking decisions, reduce callbacks, and scale beyond your personal capacity? Press play, take notes, and try the questions and boundaries we outline today.If this helped, subscribe, share the show with a fellow contractor, and leave a quick review so more owners can find it. What's one boundary you'll set this week?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!

If dispatch still owns your day, this one is for you. In this episode, Chad sits down with George Eliadis from ProBook, a dispatch and AI automation partner for home service companies, to unpack what "dispatching for dollars" really looks like at scale. From running a pressure-washing side hustle in New York to riding along in TR Miller's call center and dispatch room, George shares how ProBook was built in the trenches with contractors, not in a lab. If you're leading an HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or multi-trade shop and you already track your KPIs, this episode shows how to turn those numbers into smarter scheduling, fewer reschedules, and higher revenue per truck. And if you don't know your booking rate, batting order, and capacity story yet, Chad will challenge you on that too. Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network) Additional Resources: Connect with George on LinkedIn Learn more about Probook Subscribe to CSTG on YouTube! Connect with Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Learn more about the Peterman Brothers Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Why dispatch is the "hardest problem" and the best starting point for AI in the trades How to build batting orders that balance flips, close rates, and real dollars per call A simple framework for moving away from rigid time windows without destroying the customer experience How to handle reschedules earlier, with less drama and better scripting Why tools like ProBook can't fix a business that doesn't already know its numbers

Most business owners hope next year will be better. Hope is not a strategy. If you want 2026 to be more profitable, less stressful, and more scalable than 2025, the work doesn't start in January—it starts right now. In this episode of SoTellUs Time, we break down a practical, no-fluff profit planning framework every business owner should follow before the year ends. This is not theory. This is what real operators do to increase margins, improve team efficiency, and stop running on exhaustion.

This week, we're joined by Liz Anthony, Chief of Staff at Halfdays, the fast-growing women's outdoor apparel brand redefining performance skiwear. Liz breaks down how Halfdays balances brand and performance marketing to scale a highly seasonal DTC business, including the role of founder-led content, creative diversity, and standout collaborations like HOKA in driving Q4 momentum.From there, the group digs into how the Chief of Staff role acts as a force multiplier across marketing, product, and strategy - pulling from Liz's consulting background to explore how strong operators create leverage in fast-moving brands.We wrap with a collaborative discussion on KPI ownership, dashboards, and forecasting, covering how teams use simple tools like Google Sheets to track leading indicators, align cross-functional teams, and connect marketing execution to real business outcomes.If you're scaling a seasonal brand, building cross-functional clarity, or trying to connect brand moments to measurable growth, this episode is packed with practical insight.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Find out more about the Halfdays brand in another MOperators Episode: How Halfdays Turned Community into a Growth Engine - with CEO Ariana FerwerdaChapters:00:00:00 – Introducing Liz and Halfdays' Brand Story00:03:10 – Finding Product-Market Fit in Women's Ski Wear00:08:00 – Expanding Beyond Ski: Year-Round and Omnichannel Growth00:13:30 – Defining “Her”: Core Customer, Persona, and Positioning00:19:00 – Chief of Staff Role: KPIs, Strategy, and Cross-Functional Glue00:24:10 – Liz's Operator Background and Translating Consulting Skills to DTC00:30:20 – Building the Team, Ownership Culture, and Management Style00:36:20 – Q4 and Black Friday: Hoka Collab, List Growth, and Demand00:44:30 – Content Engine, Community, and Always-On Brand Marketing00:52:30 – Channel Mix, Out-of-Home Bets, and Retargeting Strategy01:01:00 – 2026 Roadmap: New Franchises, Launch “Moments,” and Playbooks01:11:30 – Data Stack, KPIs, and Using Analytics to Drive DecisionsPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsHaus.http://Haus.io/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

As retail media spending explodes and traditional measurement methods struggle to keep pace amidst inconsistent KPIs across retailers, marketing mix modeling (MMM) finds itself at a critical crossroads. New research from MediaLink and the Digital Shelf Institute lays out the challenges and evolving best practices in MMMs to transform marketing mix models from a quarterly planning tool into a dynamic, real-time strategic asset. This is an audio rebroadcast of a webinar focused on that research, led by Lauren Livak Gilbert, featuring Ben Galvin, Sr. Director of Omnichannel Retail Sales & eCommerce at Monster Energy Corporation, Ash McMullen, Head of eCommerce at Advantice Health, and Donna Sharp, Managing Director at MediaLink.

Growing a home-service business from $3–5M to the next level isn't about more leads—it's about clarity, financial visibility, and eliminating guesswork.In this episode of The Better Than Rich Show, host Mike Abramowitz sits down with Paul Maskill, Fractional CFO and founder of Blue Collar Advisors, to break down the systems and scoreboards that unlock predictable profitability—even in uncertain markets.Paul explains why so many contractors feel stuck between $3–6M, how to define what the next level actually means for your life and business, and why accurate numbers turn every business problem into a solvable equation.You'll learn:Why most owners don't need more leads—they need better conversionHow to break down a $6M P&L and engineer $1M in profitThe KPIs every CSR, dispatcher, tech, and marketer should trackWhy online scheduling and ballpark pricing are now table stakesHow pricing mistakes and non-billable time destroy marginsWhen to hire (and when hiring makes things worse)How scoreboards eliminate stress, confusion, and reactive decisionsIf you want more cash flow, fewer surprises, and a business that's actually exitable, this episode is required viewing.⏱️ Timestamps (Retention + SEO)00:00 Intro — Mike welcomes Paul and frames the conversation01:00 “What is the next level?” — Paul's starting point with every client02:00 Why owners chase revenue without knowing why04:00 Defining success beyond “I want 8 figures”08:00 Inside a $6M P&L + the path to $1M profit10:15 Alternative scoreboards: values, impact, team income goals12:00 KPIs for techs, CSRs, dispatch, and marketing17:00 Customer journey leaks — why more leads won't fix it18:40 Online scheduling & modern buyer expectations23:00 Branding vs advertising — where owners misdiagnose problems30:00 Scoreboards: the cure for “busy but broke”33:00 Booking-rate improvements & CSR scorecards35:30 Hiring decisions: data vs desperation39:00 Pay-for-performance & technician productivity40:20 Pricing mistakes & true hourly rate math43:00 Non-billable time, load factor, and undercharging45:00 Paul's free pricing calculator + website framework47:00 What “Better Than Rich” means to Paul Maskill49:00 Closing thoughts + 2026 collaboration preview

Is it possible to build a Web3 game that's actually fun—and not just hype? Kam Punia, founder and CEO of Pixion Games, joins us to break down exactly how he's doing it with Fableborne. In a world full of bots, overfunded flops, and quick token grabs, Kam shares the gritty reality of building something that lasts.From killing 5 games before getting to one that truly clicks, to building a 400,000-strong player community without spending a cent, Kam reveals how Pixion is changing the rules of Web3 gaming. We talk community building, real KPIs, what VCs got wrong, and how his team is turning power (literally) into progress.If you're into gaming, Web3, or just love stories of underdogs doing things the right way, this episode is a must-listen.⏱️ Key Learnings with Timestamps[00:02:00] Kam's background and entry into the gaming industry.[00:03:00] The vision behind Pixion Games and Fableborne.[00:05:00] The three-stage playtesting process and why five games were killed.[00:06:00] How Fableborne mixes base building and ARPG mechanics.[00:09:00] Why most Web3 games failed: chasing tokens, not gameplay.[00:11:00] Misaligned incentives between VCs and builders in 2021–2022.[00:16:00] Lessons from launching Yu-Gi-Oh! in Europe: community-first strategies.[00:19:00] Building real community: no NFTs, no token talk for 2 years.[00:22:00] What makes the Power token different in Fableborne's ecosystem.[00:27:00] The #1 mistake Web3 game studios make.[00:30:00] When we'll see a “Silksong” level hit in Web3—and why it's close.[00:33:00] Fableborne's 2026 global launch plan and broader ecosystem goals.[00:35:00] What Kam would do differently if starting again.[00:36:00] Key metrics and roadmap for Pixion in 2026.[00:37:00] Kam's final ask: builders, partners, and talent—get in touch.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why decision quality matters more than perfect systems in today's supply chainsHow leaders are shifting from growth-at-all-costs to margin-first thinkingWhat's actually breaking inside warehouses amid labor churn and volatilityWhere AI is helping operators—and where hype still outpaces realityWhy explainability, KPIs, and guardrails matter for AI adoption in operationsHow leadership expectations are changing across supply chain organizationsWhat conversations operators are prioritizing heading into Manifest 2026HIGHLIGHTS00:00–02:35 | Why 2025 forced hard reflection across supply chain03:17–04:30 | Decisions feel heavier, mistakes cost more05:23–06:49 | The shift from growth to margin as a first principle07:05–07:43 | Why warehouse systems lag brand expectations08:08–08:58 | Recalibration after stacked volatility09:48–11:20 | Why peak season planning never really ends12:32–13:45 | Labor, churn, and execution pressure inside warehouses14:35–16:51 | AI as decision enablement—not the strategy itself18:14–21:43 | From AI fear to outcome-driven adoption22:23–25:44 | What leadership looks like in volatile environments26:47–28:16 | What leaders are watching heading into Manifest 2026QUOTES[00:03:17] “Decisions feel heavier. Mistakes are more expensive.” – Tanzil Uddin[00:05:45] “There's a shift away from growth at all costs, really a repositioning of margin as a first principle.” – Kinta Gates[00:12:32] “The complexity with labor, training of the labor, churn of the labor, weather events, and the geopolitical state really impacts warehouse services.” – Linda Ewing[00:22:23] “Leadership looks like getting in the weeds. We don't have the luxury of just delegating.” – Kinta GatesABOUT THE GUESTSTanzil UddinSVP of Content & Partnerships at Manifest, where he works closely with supply chain leaders to shape programming around real operator priorities, partnerships, and emerging challenges across logistics and technology.Kinta GatesVP of Supply Chain & Operations at Glossier, overseeing end-to-end product operations. Kinta brings a people-first, margin-aware approach to scaling fulfillment, manufacturing, and supply chain execution.Linda EwingSVP Strategy & Operations at ID Logistics with deep experience across manufacturing, supply chain, and warehouse services. Linda focuses on execution reality inside 3PL environments, labor challenges, and responsible technology adoption.LINKS MENTIONEDManifest 2026 Agenda: https://manife.st/agenda/

Amas Tenumah explains why customer service is not "broken" but intentionally designed to fail. Drawing on decades inside contact centers, historical research, and real corporate incentives, he argues that long waits, deflection, and automation-first strategies are features—not bugs. The conversation dismantles common CX myths, challenges executive complacency, and frames consumer behavior as the only force capable of triggering real change. Core Themes The Suffering Economy of Customer Service: When service is universally bad across industries, it's systemic. Incentives—not incompetence—drive outcomes. Why This Is a "How Dare You" Book: The indictment is aimed squarely at executives who treat service as a cost center while overfunding marketing narratives. Marketing Replaced Service as Trust Mechanism: Historically, service was marketing. Industrialized marketing severed that link, allowing companies to tolerate bad service and buy growth instead. Metrics That Poison Service: Deflection, containment, and avoidance KPIs reward companies for not talking to customers—while punishing leaders who try to deliver what customers actually want. Wait Times Are Engineered: Hold times are budgeted, modeled, and accepted. They are designed friction, not operational accidents. AI as Distance, Not Salvation: AI is currently deployed to protect companies from customers, not customers from friction. It scales avoidance unless incentives change. Executives Don't Experience Their Own Service: Many leaders despise customer service—just not their own. Forcing executives to call their own 1-800 numbers is revelatory and uncomfortable. The Revolt Is Consumer-Led: Change will not come from CX professionals alone. It comes when consumers punish bad service with their wallets and reward companies that respect their time. Notable Moments The opening story of the 1750 BC clay tablet complaint—the first recorded customer service grievance—reads like a modern Amazon review. The Chipotle refund anecdote exposes time theft: hours of customer labor to recover trivial amounts of money. The contrast between automation done for customers versus automation used to avoid them. Practical Takeaways For Consumers: Vote with your wallet. Pay slightly more. Wait one more day. Call customer service before you buy big-ticket items. For Service Leaders: If your CEO doesn't believe in service as value creation, your job is to change their mind—or change jobs. Data plus customer stories are the leverage. For Executives: Service is deferred revenue protection. Treating it purely as cost is strategic malpractice. Resources Mentioned Book: HOLD: The Suffering Economy of Customer Service — And the Revolt That's Long Overdue Signed Copies & Tools: waitingforservice.com Consumer scripts Cancellation guides Practitioner playbooks No email required  

In this episode of the PPC Den podcast, Michael Erickson Facchin sits down with long-time friend and business partner Gonza Martinez of Ziresquare to talk about one of the hardest — and most important — transitions founders face: moving from “doing PPC yourself” to training PPC managers who can eventually train others.Gonza shares how he went from personally managing Amazon PPC to building a team, selling and acquiring brands, and developing systems so his managers could grow into leaders. We cover mindset, hiring the right analytical people, creating processes, avoiding burnout, and knowing when PPC is no longer your “unique ability” as a founder.If you've ever wondered how to step out of the weeds and build a PPC team that runs (and improves) itself, this episode is for you.We'll see you in The PPC Den!

Events sit at the crossroads of joy and heartburn for B2B marketers. The magic of getting customers together in real life is real, and so is the pain when sales skips the pre-work and ROI gets fuzzy. With every dollar under scrutiny, CMOs are treating events as strategic bets that have to earn their spot on the plan. In this episode, Drew talks with Charles Groome (Insightful), Jamie Gier, and Lorie Coulombe (Equity Shift) about how they decide which events to do, design experiences people remember, and turn field time into pipeline. They cover event portfolios, sales pre-work, and the simple tools that keep everyone aligned before, during, and after the show. In this episode:  Charles sorts events into three buckets, leans into a listening circuit with smaller meetups, and looks at target-account impact to decide where bigger bets belong.  Jamie frames events around getting discovered, creating memorable experiences, and driving deals, with customers on stage and pods focused on key accounts.  Lorie sets clear goals for each event, does deep homework on audiences and geographies, and locks in sales pre-work and follow-up expectations. Plus:  Build an event portfolio that blends big shows, listening trips, CABs, and customer moments.  Use themes, news hooks, and customer voices to stand out in crowded halls and drive recall.  Align sales and marketing via pods, shared KPIs, and simple scoreboards.  Tighten spend with regional focus, partner co-hosting, and clear criteria. If events are on your 2026 budget and you want them to pay in pipeline, this episode will help you pick, plan, and prove them with more confidence.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

In this episode of Friday Fiduciary Five, Eric Dyson encourages plan fiduciaries and advisors to set structured, written goals for 401(k) plans in 2026, contrasting them with the low success rate of New Year's resolutions. He cites a Harvard MBA study showing that only 3% of the graduating class had written goals. Their success far exceeded the remainder. Eric emphasizes the importance of specificity, measurability, and accountability in goal setting. He shares personal experiences with fitness apps and discusses key performance indicators (KPIs) for defined contribution plans, such as average projected income replacement ratios. Connect with Eric Dyson: Website: https://90northllc.com/Phone: 940-248-4800Email: contact@90northllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ The information contained herein is general in nature and is provided solely for educational and informational purposes.It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation of any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, financial advice, or legal advice.The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan specific circumstances.

Send us a textHappy New Year, Diamond Effect Podcast listeners.In today's first episode of 2026, we're talking about goals—but not in the fluffy, “new year, new you” way. We're focusing on the mindset that actually helps you follow through past January… and definitely past February.Because setting goals isn't just about writing down a number. It's about becoming the kind of leader who can stay consistent, make better decisions, and keep moving forward even when the plan gets messy.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the New Year is a powerful moment to set goals (even if you don't “wait for the perfect time”)The 3 categories of goals that keep you motivated and groundedHow to stop letting timelines sabotage your belief and momentumWhy progress goals (KPIs) are the real secret to achieving big outcomesHow to build the habits, systems, and mindset that make consistency easierThe 3 types of goals to set (and how to think about each):Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs)Your 3–10 year vision that fuels you. These goals help you focus less on “how” and more on who you need to become.Short-Term Goals (Annual goals)Your 12-month target (revenue, number of clients, etc.) that should feel ambitious—but still believable enough that you can stand behind it and take action.Progress Goals (KPIs)The weekly/daily actions that keep you on track—so you can measure what's working, adjust quickly, and celebrate consistent progress.A mindset shift I want you to take into 2026:If you don't set goals because you “just want to see what happens,” you're leaving your future to chance.And if you don't set goals because you “don't want to be disappointed,” that's not protection—it's avoidance.The real work is building a healthy relationship with goals: using them to guide you, not judge you.Mentioned in this episode:EP # 231 (Dec 12, 2025) - From Idea to Action: The Small Business CEO's Guide to Making Things Happen in 2026EP # 213 (Aug 1, 2025) - Stop Playing It Safe with Your Dreams: Why 10-Year Goals Should Scare You Into ActionEP # 130 (Jan 5, 202$) - How to Achieve Your GoalsWant help planning your 2026 goals?If you're listening before January 13, I'd love to invite you to my complimentary online event:Design Your Success 2026Jan 13–14, 2:00–5:00 PM EESTWe'll set your 2026 goal, identify your top 3 focus areas, and map out the actions you'll take weekly and monthly to make it real—without overwhelm.To join, email me at: maggie@stairwaytoleadership.com

Selling premium landscape services means hearing “no” more often—and waiting longer for the right “yes.” In this episode of The Landscaper's Guide Podcast, Jack Jostes sits down with Chris James of Perfect Cut Landscaping to talk candidly about rejection, long HOA sales cycles, and how top sales professionals stay confident through it all.Chris shares real-world lessons from selling residential, commercial, and HOA landscape services in South Florida, including how to follow up without damaging relationships, why professionalism pays off months or years later, and how mindset, systems, and communication separate average sales reps from top performers. They also cover how AI, KPIs, and industry events are helping sales pros buy back time and close higher-quality work.You'll Learn:How top landscape sales pros handle rejection without losing confidenceWhy long HOA sales cycles are an advantage when handled correctlyHow professional follow-up leads to premium work laterPractical ways AI can save time in estimating and communicationHow sharing KPIs helps align crews and leadershipConnect with Chris James

Is your practice patient- or production-driven? The answer should be purpose-driven. Kiera talks about how shifting your core values in a certain way can actually grow everything else. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: The Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and I am excited. This is a podcast built just for you by you. If you ever want me to make a podcast for you, just email in Hello@TheDentalATeam.com or go to our website, TheDentalATeam.com and click on the podcast tab. You can submit topics for me to record for you. And today is a great one and I'm super excited about it. Someone asked production focus versus patient focus striking the right balance.   Does it have to be both? So is your practice driven by numbers or by people? And does it have to be a choice? I'm super jazzed. I'm super excited because this is the type of juicy stuff I like to get into because this is what offices talk about all the time. Oh my gosh, we're production focused. Well, that means you're not patient focused. Oh my gosh, you're patient focused. That means you're not production focused. Does it have to be? There's tension. It's tension. It's like, are you on the right side or the left side? Are you blue or are you Which side are you on?   Like there's tension here, production focus versus patient focus. Does it really have to be this debate? So I love this. Email me. You guys are love a good pen pal. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. I like pen pals. You guys remember that? If you want to write me a letter, you can send me a letter. It's in Verdi, Nevada on the website, P.O. Box. I think it's 635 Verdi, Nevada. No clue what it is, but I will get it and I'll send you a postcard back. So pen pal for real, email us.   You guys, really do love a good pen pal. I will seriously send you a letter back. So ⁓ write me. I would love to hear from you. But I'm curious, does it have to be production focus or patient focus or can it be both? Is it the chicken or the egg? I definitely think that there has to be a way because the most successful practices integrate production and patience. So the answer is yes, it can be both. And I don't care what side of the coin you're on. I'm gonna teach you that you can actually be on both sides of the coin and still maintain your ethics.   like your ethical integrity, all of that. You guys, this is the Dental A Team. I'm obsessed with dentists. I'm obsessed with dental teams. I'm obsessed with making you happy. I'm obsessed with positively impacting this world in the greatest way possible. And that's why we built this podcast free for you to give you all the tips and tricks. And all I ask in return is that you leave us a review and share this with somebody that can change their life. My goal is to have this podcast into the hands of every single dental office out there. And guys, you are crushing it. We are in the millions of downloads and I can't do that without you. So please today.   share, download, or leave us a five star review. That means the world to me and I do read those reviews. So thank you. Thank you for everybody who reads those reviews. I appreciate each of you. So today I want to talk about patient focused version of production focused because you know, I got a pen pal out there. production focused means that we're focused on high volume, goal driven, and we're going to probably have burnout. Like that's the drive. It is a lot of times ego. That's okay. So when I'm talking to you.   You can test yourself right now. Are you ready? I'm gonna say, hey, what is your production? Now, to answer that, what's your production? If you just told me your number in gross, you're a little ego driven and I love you for it. And I'm gonna tell you that that is one of the worst things to do because there's no way for us you to ever collect it. I was talking to a practice the other day and they're like, yes, Kiera, we are a $7 million practice and we had a million dollars worth of write-offs. And I was like, well, shoot. So.   You're actually, think they actually have two million. So you're not a seven million, you're a five million. That's a bit of a minute. So you're actually a five million dollar practice and I'd rather talk about real numbers because then I can actually truly get you to seven million rather than feeding your ego at this. So that tends to be the case where you're, if you, you might be a bit production. If you're presenting those in gross, ⁓ present them in, it's okay to your buddies. You can present in gross. To me, to here, to this conversation in real life.   please, please, please present them in net, what you can actually collect. Now, if we're too patient focused, we tend to run at a slower pace, high trust, but we risk a lot of inefficiency and you actually risk the, like, you really do run a risk of you're not looking at the numbers and you actually can create a really, really, really scary spot where you actually are in like profit row where you have no money. ⁓ And so you gotta have both.   We've got to have production where we're able to serve our patients and we've got to care about our patients. We've got to make sure that both of those come together because that's a true business. This is what we're looking for. So I just want you to look at yourself right now and I want you to audit you and your practice. Where do you lean more? Okay. So do you lean a little more left? Do you lean a little more right? Do you lean a little more production focused or do you lean a little more patient focused? It's okay. There's no right or wrong. I just want you to like really look at yourself and assess what route do you fall?   because it's gonna help you, okay? So where are you? We're not like all patient or all production, but which way do you lean? I want you to answer that. You can pen pal me. Remember, I got pen pals out there. So be another pen pal for me. And then step two is I want you to marry metrics with meaning, which isn't that cute? Yes, chat GPT helped me on that one. Marry metrics with meaning, I love that. I was like, that is such a good way to bring this to the table. So we want you guys to be like in the middle, we're not production, we're not patient, we're purpose.   Did you love that? Another P, we're not patient, we're not production, we're purpose driven. So what this is going to be is you can actually like increase case acceptance to outcomes, not quotas. So it's not like we need 20 crowns, we need to help this many patients. help team members see, like I love Tiff, she said this, she was like, production is the measuring stick to see how many patients we're serving. That feels so much better than like we got to hit 150,000.   No, 150,000 shows is how many patients were able to serve. Let's quantify that up to how many patients and now let's put that up to 200,000 and serve that many patients. So we'll help you guys see that like this is a reflection of care. It's not like just, I don't know, like a number on a scorecard. It's people. You guys, all that production was people that we were able to change their lives. That's what we do in Dental A Team. I literally like, when we talk about our numbers, for a while I put up numbers and it was just a number.   So you can tell it's a little bit more production focused rather than patient focused. And it didn't matter to me. And then when I was like, okay, we're going to go out and I want to serve, like I want Dental A Team to serve 500 dental practices. Like in one year, I want us to have that many that to me, like think of how many lives we're going to change. Cause my ultimate goal is impact to possibly impact this world in the greatest way possible. So I was like, all right, let's put an audacious goal out there. I want to serve 500 offices. Yeah, you can join us. Yes, of course.   And like now it became funds. Like the number is tied to people. Cause I ultimately care about people. care about impact. Money can have impact, but it doesn't drive me. What drives me is changing people's lives. Life is my passion, dentistry is my platform. So how can you help your team see that? So we have to help them see like for me with teams, case acceptance, I'm just saying like that's how many smiles you were able to like truly benefit. There's so many lives you're able to change. I believe the case acceptance is life changing. I was the patient on the other side of that coin.   who literally had my life changed by identities. So when we shifted like KPIs are metrics, yes, but metrics have meaning and their purpose. So what does this case acceptance actually reflect? What does this production actually reflect? What did these new patients numbers actually reflect? And when we look at it as this like patient centric, it becomes so much more fun. I did this in a team meeting the other day where, gosh, we were sitting there and I was like, all right, rattle off to me like why you guys go to Chick-fil-A? And they're like talking about it. Not one of them said price.   Not one of them. Not one of them when I talked about McDonald's said price. So when I looked at this, I thought, okay, people go to Chick-fil-A for the experience. And I thought, how can we become a more patient centric practice that uses metrics to see how we're doing of serving those patients? That's what it is. That's how you marry metrics with meaning. These numbers on a KPI scorecard are telling me the vitals of how good we're serving our patients.   So when I look at our hygiene, I wanna know, are we diagnosing perio or are we doing bloody profies? When I look at Florida, you guys, I'm a huge proponent of Florida. If you're not, that's okay, we can still be friends. I'm here to also teach you holistic. I love Florida. Florida changed my life. It prevented so many cavities for me, like truly was life-changing. So I'm like, absolutely, give it to patients. So when I look at your hygiene numbers, I'm not looking at like, did you get your eight out of eight today? I'm looking at like, did you help proactively prevent decay on all of your patients today?   Of course, if they don't want it, that's fine. But like, let's use our words, words are free. Let's set it up in a way to help more patients say yes. I am patient centric with production numbers and using words to get the results I'm looking for. I'm looking for outcomes, not effort. One of my favorite, favorite, favorite lines, and it's probably gonna become like a core value. My team doesn't know this, you guys, is we measure our, we measure by outcomes, not activity. ⁓ we measure it by outcomes.   not activity because I can sit here and say, I served this many patients, but if I didn't close any cases, I did not get the outcome of helping truly get them the smiles and the health that they deserve. Bottom line. So then step three is you got to change your culture. You got to have a culture that supports both. It's got to be efficiency and empathy. It's got to be production and patient. It's got to be like truly driven. And I've got so many offices like Kiera, I don't want to my team about the numbers. That's fine. You don't have to.   But can't we also help them see that the numbers are helping more patients? Every team I've ever gone into has told me the reason they're in tennis tree is to help change patients' lives. That's why they're here. So when I look at this, I'm like, okay, if that's why we're all here, how do we know that we're actually helping the number of patients that we could? Like genuinely somebody tell me, how do we actually know in a tangible, non-emotional way? How do I know? So we've got to help people see that like, okay, fantastic. We have a culture where when we hit our numbers,   We know we serve the patients that we're set here to serve. Period. You're not gonna go away from that and helping people see that numbers equate the outcomes we're looking for. Numbers help us serve patients. And on the flip side, when we, like you guys, there's a book called Unreasonable Hospitality. Have your team do fun things like that where we celebrate the birthdays, the weddings, the anniversaries, the celebrations. We have like a little gift basket on the side where we can quickly go and have some fun with those people to make this magic moment for our patients.   have magic moments that produce results. Team training, we gotta do patient and production language. We've gotta be empathetic. So for me to say like, my gosh, I'm so excited that you don't work with Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones is incredible. They're gonna take great care of you. Let's get you scheduled for this appointment. I know Dr. Jones definitely wants to get you back. I've got Monday or Wednesday, which works best for you. That was patient and production centric, both in the same exact equation.   when I talk to them about case acceptance, it's like, perfect. So here's the treatment that Dr. Jones diagnosed for you. This is your total out of pocket. This is your insurance estimate. This will be your total when I see you on Wednesday. What questions do you have for me? I want you to be rock solid moving forward. Again, production and patient focus. I want them to be so solid. I'm genuinely so concerned about them. I really want them to be solid. If they tell me they got to talk to their spouse, absolutely, 100%. I want you to talk to your spouse.   Help me what questions they're going to ask. That way I can make sure you're fully prepped when you chat with them. That's production and patient focused. A cancellation calls in. my gosh, what's going on? Tell me, like, ⁓ I've been so worried about you. Like help me understand where you at, what's going on. Like, are you okay? Tell me like, you're sick. Like, my gosh, what's going on? I know there's been a bug going around. Someone says I can't make it from work. my gosh. Like, I'm so sorry to hear that. Tell me what's going on. Let's find a solution. I know Dr. wanted to see you.   I can't wait to see you and I know there's gonna be a solution for us. Production and patient focus. And I think when teams see that you don't have to be one or the other, production focus can come across aggressive, patient focus can come across non-aggressive and very like twiddling my thumb sometimes. And so I'm like the true win is the middle ground. The true win is where we see that patients need to feel loved.   and important and that they're humans. And they also need to see that we love them so much. And we're going to make sure that they get the treatment that they need to get done. And we're going to help use our words to make sure it's easy for them to say yes. Both are doable. Both are right. Both are necessary. This is how you guys are able to have it. And so I think you guys can have conversations with the team. How can we be patient and production focused? How can we marry the two because we know the best practices are both.   They are, there's not one lever that's stronger than the other. Both are married together as a perfect whole, two perfect complete whole. How can we be more, if you know from, remember we did an audit, if you know you're a little more production focused, how can you be a bit more patient focused? Have that come up in the team. If you know you're a bit more patient focused, how can we be a bit more production focused? And I know you might be bristling on both sides. Production focused people might think that, my gosh, it's a complete waste of time to be patient focused.   Patient focused people, they're like, my gosh, you'll maybe be aggressive and like force these people into treatment. The answer is no to both of those. Us treating people like human beings, production focused teams will actually make those patients want to be here more. Our teams that are more patient focused, turning more production focused, it's gonna help us make sure that we're not missing things on the patients, that we're not doing inadequate care. And that actually that patient's not leaving confused and that they truly know what they need to do. And it's very clear of next steps for them.   Clear is kind. Being direct is kind. Loving people as people is kind. So I'd really encourage you to adopt this into your practice. And if you struggle with this, if your doctor is like, ⁓ I am not having that team meeting, I'm not having that conversation, great. That's why we have a job. That's what we love to do. Our job is to align doctors and team members to help team members see that production is patient focused and to see that patient focus is production focused. Both sides are necessary.   You need both of them. And so to be able to help you and your team get there, I think is a beautiful thing. So I would really, really, really encourage you to be patient and production focused, both of them. Look to see where you could be a little bit more on whichever side you don't naturally lean to. I know you can already do more on the side that you naturally lean to. Go the other side. I want you to think about it. I want you to bring that into your culture. And I'd really encourage you. And if you struggle with this or you're like, I don't really know how to do this, reach out. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com.   It's not just about this. It's about other goals. It's about other spaces. It's about other awkward conversations that you just don't know how to navigate. It's about getting your team and you doctors rowing in the exact same direction. And that's what we're here to do. So reach out. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. And as always remember, patient and production is purpose driven dentistry. And that's what you're here to do. And I know that you're here for that. I know that you care so much about your patients and that's why I wanted to really bring this up. So thanks for the pen pal. Thanks for writing. I'd love to hear from more of you. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com.   Go to our website, give me some more topics and reach out. I'd love for you to be one of our 500 practices. We get to help love serve and have that be the purpose to positively impact and change your life for the better. Not just your practice, but you as a person. Because at the end of the day, I care about you as a human being. I care about you thriving. I care about you having the practice of your dreams and having the team of your dreams because I care about you as a human. So reach out and as always know that I'm rooting for you. Know that I care about you.   Know that I adore you as always. Thanks for listening. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.  

In episode 595 of the Lawyerist Podcast, we're revisiting Stephanie's conversation with Lawyerist financial coach Bernadette L. Harris about the financial KPIs every law firm owner should understand as a new year begins. We're bringing this episode back because it's especially timely for firms setting their strategy, goals, and financial benchmarks for the year ahead. It's important to continue finding a clear, practical approach to understanding the numbers that drive a healthy firm.  Unlock a clearer view of your law firm's financial health in the latest Lawyerist Podcast. Join host Stephanie Everett as she dives into the essential key performance indicators (KPIs) that can transform how you understand your practice, guided by the expert insights of Bernadette Harris, Lawyerist Lab's finance coach.  You'll gain practical knowledge about five crucial areas that directly impact your firm's success. Understand your net profit margin like never before – not just the surface numbers, but the true profitability that informs your strategic decisions. Explore utilization rate and discover how to optimize your team's time for maximum productivity. Learn the critical importance of your realization rate and practical steps to ensure you're capturing the revenue you've earned. See how mastering AR aging can directly impact your cash flow and create financial stability. Plus, uncover the strategic advantage of understanding your revenue by practice area, empowering you to make smarter choices about your firm's financial future.  For straightforward, actionable insights into these vital financial indicators – the kind that can immediately help you manage your law firm more effectively – tune in to hear Bernadette Harris share her expertise.    Listen to our other episode with Bernadette Harris:  #457: Healthy Profits: Understanding the Story Your Numbers Tell, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify |  Lawyerist  #523: Financial Red Flags: Are You Hiring Too Soon?, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast |  Spotify | Lawyerist  #418: More Income, Fewer Taxes, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast |  Spotify | Lawyerist    Have thoughts about today's episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.    Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Chapters:  00:00 Why We're Remastering This Episode for the New Year02:55 Law Firm KPIs and Financial Health05:21 Net Profit Margin for Law Firms09:38 Utilization Rate and Team Capacity14:35 Realization Rate and Getting Paid20:05 Accounts Receivable and Cash Flow24:19 Revenue by Practice Area27:16 Using Financial Metrics to Set Strategy 

Most people think money fixes everything. It doesn't. It just exposes what you never defined in the first place. My recent conversation with Sharran Srivatsaa (Acquisition.com President) starts with a quiet tension: building something big while trying not to lose the people who matter most. Fatherhood. Money. Ambition. Guilt. All colliding at once. The truth is this: More income without a framework doesn't buy freedom. It buys anxiety with better branding. In this episode, we go deep on what actually works: • Why freezing your lifestyle is the real cheat code • The exact definition of financial freedom (no vibes, just math) • How to run a family P&L like a real business • Why most entrepreneurs are chasing income instead of equity • The parenting framework that removes guilt without quitting the mission • How to stop "working harder" and start diagnosing what's broken • The difference between growth and scale (and why confusing them keeps you stuck) Not with SMART goals. Not with KPIs. Not with OKRs or any of that MBA bullshit. But with simple rules, clear scoreboards, and decisions you can actually live with. One line hit hard: "If you don't know what 'enough' is, you'll never feel like you're winning." This isn't theory. It's lived experience. Five exits. 20+ years. Millions made (and millions lost). And a framework that now runs: the business the money and the family (without everything bleeding into everything else). If you're building fast but feeling off… If money keeps increasing but peace doesn't… If you're winning on paper but questioning the cost… This episode is for you. Watch it slowly, and take notes. Then decide what enough actually means for you.

In episode 595 of the Lawyerist Podcast, we're revisiting Stephanie's conversation with Lawyerist financial coach Bernadette L. Harris about the financial KPIs every law firm owner should understand as a new year begins. We're bringing this episode back because it's especially timely for firms setting their strategy, goals, and financial benchmarks for the year ahead. It's important to continue finding a clear, practical approach to understanding the numbers that drive a healthy firm.  Unlock a clearer view of your law firm's financial health in the latest Lawyerist Podcast. Join host Stephanie Everett as she dives into the essential key performance indicators (KPIs) that can transform how you understand your practice, guided by the expert insights of Bernadette Harris, Lawyerist Lab's finance coach.  You'll gain practical knowledge about five crucial areas that directly impact your firm's success. Understand your net profit margin like never before – not just the surface numbers, but the true profitability that informs your strategic decisions. Explore utilization rate and discover how to optimize your team's time for maximum productivity. Learn the critical importance of your realization rate and practical steps to ensure you're capturing the revenue you've earned. See how mastering AR aging can directly impact your cash flow and create financial stability. Plus, uncover the strategic advantage of understanding your revenue by practice area, empowering you to make smarter choices about your firm's financial future.  For straightforward, actionable insights into these vital financial indicators – the kind that can immediately help you manage your law firm more effectively – tune in to hear Bernadette Harris share her expertise.    Listen to our other episode with Bernadette Harris:  #457: Healthy Profits: Understanding the Story Your Numbers Tell, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast | Spotify |  Lawyerist  #523: Financial Red Flags: Are You Hiring Too Soon?, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast |  Spotify | Lawyerist  #418: More Income, Fewer Taxes, with Bernadette Harris Apple Podcast |  Spotify | Lawyerist    Have thoughts about today's episode? Join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X!  If today's podcast resonates with you and you haven't read The Small Firm Roadmap Revisited yet, get the first chapter right now for free! Looking for help beyond the book? See if our coaching community is right for you.    Access more resources from Lawyerist at lawyerist.com.    Chapters:  00:00 Why We're Remastering This Episode for the New Year02:55 Law Firm KPIs and Financial Health05:21 Net Profit Margin for Law Firms09:38 Utilization Rate and Team Capacity14:35 Realization Rate and Getting Paid20:05 Accounts Receivable and Cash Flow24:19 Revenue by Practice Area27:16 Using Financial Metrics to Set Strategy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, we drop into the breakout room at the 2025 Dental Success Summit for a no-fluff, straight-talking session with financial strategist Jake Conway. Known for his motocross grit and deep financial insight, Jake unpacks the real financial stressors dentists are facing in today's market—and more importantly, how to take back control. He walks through the different financial avatars practices fall into, how mindset impacts business decisions, and why viewing your practice like an ATM instead of a performance engine can stall your growth.   You'll learn how to track key financial KPIs, optimize hygiene as a true profit center, and reframe the role of associates so they contribute meaningfully to your bottom line. With hard numbers, practical strategies, and a refreshing dose of real talk, this is a session every practice owner needs to hear. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Vincent A. Lanci discusses the cyclical nature of personal development, especially during the summer months. Lanci shares three brutal truths that entrepreneurs must confront: the disconnect between growth and cash flow, the need for resilience in adversity, and the importance of building systems for long-term success. He encourages listeners to reflect on their failures and to focus on creating a legacy through effective systems and processes. Also, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning as we approach the end of the year.As you listen: 00:00 The Cyclical Nature of Personal Development00:47 Strategic Planning for the New Year02:40 Financial Truths: The Apple Struggle03:37 Resilience Through Adversity06:27 Building Systems for Long-Term Success09:15 Growth and Business Analytics12:03 Global Reach and Audience Insights

Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast. It's the last day of 2025, a perfect time to reflect on what worked, what didn't, and what needs to change. Today, we're joined by Pete Neubig, CEO of VPM Solutions, to talk about building virtual teams that actually support growth. If you're planning to hire your first virtual team or scale smarter in 2026, this episode is for you. In this episode, we chat about… Pete's journey from a 20-year employee to building and selling a property management company How virtual team members evolved from simple task roles to leadership positions The real cost difference between US-based hires and global remote talent When entrepreneurs should stop doing everything themselves and start hiring How VPM Solutions helps business owners hire, train, and manage remote teams The difference between direct hire remote workers and agency-managed VAs Why structure, KPIs, and clear job roles matter more than location Key Takeaways: You don't need to be "ready" to hire, stress and overload are already signs Remote team members can own full roles, not just small tasks Clear job descriptions and KPIs reduce hiring mistakes Virtual talent is often college-educated, bilingual, and career-focused Hiring globally allows you to scale faster without killing your cash flow Training and management are required even with great people The right systems help founders work on the business, not just in it   Resources from Pete LinkedIn  |  Email | vpmsolutions.com  Resources from Mike and Nichole Check out our latest project here: Barcelona Hotel Fund LinkedIn  | Gateway Private Equity Group | Nic's guide  

In this New Year's Eve edition of Driving Inspector Success, Mike Crow shares how to turn planning into implementation and set your inspection business up for record-breaking success in 2026. He covers key strategies like using lead KPIs, leveraging AI, and applying time-tested Big Bang marketing principles that still outperform digital-only methods. Mike also talks about Mission 26, his upcoming annual event packed with proven systems and networking with top inspectors, and how to build not just a million dollar company, but a million dollar life.Get your tickets to Mission 26 and have your best year ever!Mission 26 Unlock the Power of Mike's #1 Referral-Generating Marketing SystemGet full details here... BBM+ Who is Mike Crow?Mike Crow is a Marketing and Business Expert who has built and managed multiple 7-figure businesses, including two 7-figure inspection firms.For the past 15 years, he's coached thousands of other inspection business owners and has personally helped 100+ companies grow to $1,000,000+ in annual revenue. He has also helped multiple single-inspector operations earn 6-figure annual revenues (some surpassing $300,000).Mike can teach any entrepreneur how to systematize and market their business to achieve their personal and professional goals.

In this New Year's Eve edition of Driving Inspector Success, Mike Crow shares how to turn planning into implementation and set your inspection business up for record-breaking success in 2026. He covers key strategies like using lead KPIs, leveraging AI, and applying time-tested Big Bang marketing principles that still outperform digital-only methods. Mike also talks about Mission 26, his upcoming annual event packed with proven systems and networking with top inspectors, and how to build not just a million dollar company, but a million dollar life.Get your tickets to Mission 26 and have your best year ever!Mission 26 Unlock the Power of Mike's #1 Referral-Generating Marketing SystemGet full details here... BBM+ Who is Mike Crow?Mike Crow is a Marketing and Business Expert who has built and managed multiple 7-figure businesses, including two 7-figure inspection firms.For the past 15 years, he's coached thousands of other inspection business owners and has personally helped 100+ companies grow to $1,000,000+ in annual revenue. He has also helped multiple single-inspector operations earn 6-figure annual revenues (some surpassing $300,000).Mike can teach any entrepreneur how to systematize and market their business to achieve their personal and professional goals.

How prepared is your board for the speed of change with AI?There is no single AI tool that works across an organization. Employees may already be experimenting with non-sanctioned AI LLMs, often without leadership visibility or governance oversight.Listen in as host Natalie Benamou is joined by Beth Grimm, an AI Governance and Risk Expert. Beth has extensive experience in life sciences, quality, and risk management. She brings a practical, grounded perspective on what boards and senior leaders need to understand about AI literacy, oversight, and accountability as adoption accelerates.Together, they discuss why AI governance is about enabling growth while managing risk. From defining use cases before selecting platforms to recognizing where exposure shows up when employees adopt tools informally, this conversation ties AI decisions directly to board oversight, trust, and long-term value creation.This episode is essential listening for board members, executives, and leaders navigating AI decisions that carry long-term strategic and fiduciary impact.3 Key Takeaways:AI strategy begins with the problem, not the toolLeaders must define use cases, business outcomes, and KPIs before selecting platforms or signing enterprise contracts.AI governance cannot sit with one personEffective oversight requires cross-functional champions across legal, IT, business, HR, and risk, not a single owner working in isolation.Oversight is continuous, not one-and-doneAI systems require ongoing human review, monitoring, and ROI measurement to ensure they behave as intended and deliver value.You are invited to attend Assessing and Building Trust in Unregulated AI World.Join Beth Grimm, Janice C. Haith and Lisa Agapis on January 2, 2026, 12 PM CT.REGISTER Keep shining your light bright. The world needs you.Thank you Beth for being a guest and valued member of HerCsuite® and NEXT2LEAD AI.About Beth GrimmBeth Grimm works with organizations to successfully navigate complex risk landscapes and foster leadership growth. Beth is a certified AI Governance Professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She builds upon a career with roles in risk management and medical governance at a major pharmaceutical company. Beth is a trained coach and volunteers as leadership coach to prepare college students to land a strong first job after graduation.Connect with Natalie BenamouNatalie Benamou is Founder of HerCsuite®, women's leadership network and portfolio career company. She also serves as President and CEO of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit bridging the care communication gap and improving health outcomes for women.

Four Big Lessons from 2025 for Cash-Based PT Owners In this year-end episode of the PT Entrepreneur Podcast, Dr. Danny Matta shares the four biggest lessons he learned in 2025. From a small revenue dip at PT Biz to the rise of corporate cash clinics, the longevity wave, and why happiness cannot be tied to "winning," Danny breaks down what actually matters for clinic owners who want a sustainable, meaningful business and life. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why PT Biz saw its first year-over-year revenue decline and what actually caused it The danger of chasing brand polish while neglecting core sales and marketing fundamentals Why corporate and private-equity backed cash and hybrid clinics are coming fast How to decide if you should stay small and lifestyle-based or grow and compete Why "health is wealth" is both a mission and a major business opportunity How to think about long-term performance, longevity, and lifetime value in your clinic Why happiness cannot be tied only to hitting revenue goals or "winning" in business How gratitude, perspective, and boundaries at home change how you lead at work Lesson 1: The Year Revenue Went Backwards For the first time outside of COVID shutdowns, PT Biz saw a year-over-year decline in top-line revenue. It was not a crash, but it was the first dip in an otherwise steady climb. Going into 2025, the team made a big bet: double down on brand and visibility. That meant more clinic tours, more travel, more polished content, stronger YouTube presence, and a much more professional public-facing brand. The upside: the brand looks sharper, more consistent, and more aligned with what PT Biz actually delivers. The downside: attention and effort shifted away from core sales and marketing fundamentals that had been driving client acquisition for years. The brand got better. The KPIs that actually bring in new owners slipped. The lesson: do not starve the fundamentals to fund a big bet. Brand polish is great, but not at the expense of the boring systems that quietly keep your pipeline full. Momentum is effort multiplied by accuracy, and this year the effort was high, but the target was slightly off. Lesson 2: Corporate Cash Clinics Are Coming Regional cash and hybrid groups are already growing in multiple markets. They have strong brands, smart operators, and they are learning how to scale performance-based services across locations. As interest rates fall and borrowing becomes cheaper, larger groups and backers are going to look at cash-based PT the same way they looked at in-network PT years ago: fragmented, profitable, and ripe for consolidation. That creates a fork in the road for small clinic owners: Stay small, stay lifestyle: Keep a lean, owner-operated practice, accept your capacity ceiling, and focus on doing great work with a small team. Grow and compete: Commit to becoming a true business owner, not just a great clinician. That means learning hiring, leadership, cash flow, marketing beyond yourself, and building a place where people want to work long term. Either path can be a win. But "average" business skills will not cut it in crowded markets where well-funded competitors offer better recruiting, benefits, and systems. Lesson 3: Health Is Wealth (and Your Biggest Opportunity) There is a cultural shift happening around health and longevity. People are listening to three-hour podcasts on sleep, VO2 max, and zone 2 training. Functional medicine clinics are everywhere. High-end "longevity programs" are popping up inside luxury gyms. For movement-based, performance-focused cash practices, this is a massive opportunity. Your patients no longer just want to get out of pain. They want to stay strong, independent, and capable for as long as possible. They are looking for a guide who can help them preserve function, strength, and energy for decades, not weeks. This is where you can step in as the long-term quarterback of their health and performance. That might include: Strength and mobility programming designed for longevity Clear testing and reassessment around performance and function Coaching on sleep, recovery, lifestyle, and training hygiene Long-term continuity options and proactive care plans Done right, this dramatically increases lifetime value per client and creates deeper, more rewarding clinical relationships that match why you went into this profession to begin with. Lesson 4: Happiness Is Not Tied to "Winning" For many high achievers, revenue is the scoreboard. Hit the goal and you feel like a winner. Miss it and you feel like a loser. In past years, missing a big target would have poisoned Danny's entire year and bled into family life at home. This year, even with a small revenue decline, he is as content as he has ever been. The difference is perspective. When you zoom out, the "loss" on the scoreboard sits next to: Rebuilt personal health after knee surgery and a return to the activities he loves A stronger marriage built over nearly two decades together Healthy, growing kids who are ambitious, kind, and thriving A real sense of community and friendships at home The lesson: your mood and your identity cannot be chained to one metric inside your business. You can care deeply about your goals, push hard, and still refuse to let a missed target turn you into a miserable person for the people you love. Gratitude is not a fluffy quote. It is a practical tool. When business feels heavy, you can actively ask: what went well this year, what am I proud of, and what in my life would I never trade for a slightly bigger number on a spreadsheet? Action Steps for Clinic Owners Review the year honestly: where did effort get misdirected away from proven fundamentals? Decide which race you are running: lifestyle solo practice or growth business that competes with bigger players. Start building a true long-term health and longevity offer for your best-fit patients. Schedule time to reflect on what went right, what you learned, and what you are grateful for outside of money. Ready for Help With Your Next Step? If you want help figuring out what to focus on next and how to build a business that matches the life you actually want, set up a call with a PT Biz senior advisor. They will look at your numbers, your goals, and your current plan, then help you map out your next moves. Book a free discovery call: https://vip.physicaltherapybiz.com/discovery-call Free 5-Day Part-Time to Full-Time Challenge If you are still in the early stages and building your practice on the side, Danny's PT Biz Part Time to Full Time 5-Day Challenge will help you: Get clear on exactly how much income you need to replace Know how many people you need to see and at what visit rate Pick a path to go all in based on your current situation Learn the basic sales and marketing systems you will need Build a simple one-page business plan so you can take action Join the free challenge: https://physicaltherapybiz.com/challenge Remove Your Documentation Burden With Claire If documentation is burning you out and pulling attention away from your patients, try Claire, the AI scribe built for physical therapists. Claire listens, structures your notes, and gives you back your time so you can focus on the person in front of you. Try Claire free for 7 days: https://meetclaire.ai

DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF JEFF'S Book Discernment Is AI going to replace service companies… or make the best ones unstoppable? In this episode of Unemployable, Jeff Dudan sits down with Matt Tait, CEO of Decimal, to talk about the real future of accounting, bookkeeping, and tax—and why “AI-only” businesses struggle without trust, accountability, and credibility. We get into: - Why the winners won't be pure tech OR old-school firms (the hybrid model wins) - How AI is compressing software cycles from years… to months… to days - What small business owners actually need (hint: not more spreadsheets) - Outsourcing + global teams (Philippines/India/South America) and where it's heading - Why most owners don't even open their P&L—and what to do about it - The advisory that matters: KPIs, margin leaks, pricing, payroll, and exit readiness - Benchmarking traps: “average” doesn't mean “good” - What Decimal is building: an AI-enabled bookkeeping + tax franchise model CONNECT WITH MATT TAIT: LinkedIn Decimal.com Matt's podcast (After the First Million) SUBSCRIBE for more episodes on franchising, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, and building companies that last. DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF JEFF'S Book Discernment#Unemployable #JeffDudan #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Accounting #Bookkeeping #TaxPlanning #FinancialOperations #CashFlow #Profitability #KPIs #BusinessAdvisory #AIinBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #Automation #Outsourcing #Philippines #ProfessionalServices #Franchising #FranchiseBusiness #BusinessSystems #Leadership #Scaling #ExitStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF JEFF'S Book Discernment Is AI going to replace service companies… or make the best ones unstoppable? In this episode of Unemployable, Jeff Dudan sits down with Matt Tait, CEO of Decimal, to talk about the real future of accounting, bookkeeping, and tax—and why “AI-only” businesses struggle without trust, accountability, and credibility. We get into: - Why the winners won't be pure tech OR old-school firms (the hybrid model wins) - How AI is compressing software cycles from years… to months… to days - What small business owners actually need (hint: not more spreadsheets) - Outsourcing + global teams (Philippines/India/South America) and where it's heading - Why most owners don't even open their P&L—and what to do about it - The advisory that matters: KPIs, margin leaks, pricing, payroll, and exit readiness - Benchmarking traps: “average” doesn't mean “good” - What Decimal is building: an AI-enabled bookkeeping + tax franchise model CONNECT WITH MATT TAIT: LinkedIn Decimal.com Matt's podcast (After the First Million) SUBSCRIBE for more episodes on franchising, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, and building companies that last. DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF JEFF'S Book Discernment#Unemployable #JeffDudan #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Accounting #Bookkeeping #TaxPlanning #FinancialOperations #CashFlow #Profitability #KPIs #BusinessAdvisory #AIinBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #Automation #Outsourcing #Philippines #ProfessionalServices #Franchising #FranchiseBusiness #BusinessSystems #Leadership #Scaling #ExitStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Predictable B2B Success, Vinay Koshy interviews Adam Callinan, a serial entrepreneur who built Bottle Keeper from the ground up to over $8 million in revenue without employees or debt, secured a “Shark Tank” deal, and achieved a successful acquisition. As the founder of Pentane, Adam now focuses on simplifying profitability for e-commerce and consumer brands. Adam Callinan discusses the origins of his “profitability first” approach and how automation and data-driven decision-making have shaped his success. He shares lessons on avoiding distractions, leveraging KPIs for real-time guidance, and recognizing the risks of unchecked growth. The conversation includes practical strategies for operational clarity, determining when to automate or hire, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. This episode offers candid stories and actionable insights to challenge your perspective on growth and profitability, providing strategies to help you drive your business forward with purpose. Some topics we explore in this episode include: Genesis of Pentane: How Adam Callinan's Bottle Keeper experience led to creating a profitability platform for e-commerce.Financial Pitfalls for Startups: Common reasons startups fail and how Pentane addresses cash flow and financial clarity.Intentional Business Operations: The importance of using structure, math, and process over guesswork for growth and profitability.Managing Operating Expenses: Dangers of adding headcount and expenses without understanding their impact.Automation vs. Hiring: Scaling with automation, Adam Callinan's “hire nobody” strategy, and knowing when tech hits its limits.Rejecting ‘Growth at All Costs': Why sustainable, profitable growth matters more than chasing scale blindly.Real-Time, Actionable Data: Using leading indicators and live dashboards (like Pentane) for smarter decisions.Customer Experience with Automation: Ensuring quality and a “wow” experience, even in highly automated businesses.Pricing and Gross Margin Strategy: Data-driven approaches to pricing, margin, and customer acquisition cost.Go-to-Market & Partnerships: Driving growth through agency partnerships, customer education, and personal brand-building.And much, much more...

Avoidance of accountability does not blow your business up overnight. It quietly lowers the bar, one unchecked behavior at a time. Peterman's Andrew Hasty walks through why avoiding accountability is one of the most dangerous dysfunctions on a team and how it slowly creates a culture of mediocrity in HVAC, plumbing, and home service businesses. Using real stories from the field and everyday life, this episode shows how "little" things like late arrivals, missing equipment data, sloppy paperwork, and skipped debriefs are not one-off issues. They are signals that standards are slipping and that leaders are choosing personal comfort over team success. If there is a tech coasting, a teammate with endless excuses, or a high performer who ignores process because "they produce," this episode will help frame and initiate the conversations that have been avoided for too long. Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network) Subscribe to CSTG on YouTube! Connect with Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Learn more about the Peterman Brothers Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Avoiding accountability slowly destroys team standards. Small misses today become the new normal tomorrow. Accountability is shared ownership, not top-down punishment. Leaders hurt culture when they choose comfort over honesty. Clear expectations and KPIs make accountability feel fair. Peer accountability is the strongest sign of a healthy team. Consistent feedback keeps growth and high performance normal.

This week, we're joined by Lily Comba, Founder & CEO of Superbloom, who opens up about how she got her start in influencer marketing and why she approaches influencer through a performance lens. Lily shares her journey from building in-house programs to launching Superbloom, and what she learned scaling influencer across some of the most recognizable consumer brands.From there, we go deep on measurement, attribution, and negotiations. Lily breaks down how to think about ROAS, CPA, multipliers, and code leakage, along with how she models performance upfront to negotiate smarter creator deals and build paid usage rights and whitelisting into every partnership. We talk through practical frameworks for forecasting results, setting realistic KPIs, and holding influencer partnerships accountable without burning relationships.We also dive into YouTube and channel expansion, including why YouTube is one of the most underrated influencer channels, how to negotiate effective integrations, and what longer-form creator content unlocks for both performance and brand lift. We wrap with how influencer fits into the broader media mix, common mistakes brands make when launching programs, and what operators should be focused on if they want to scale influencer the right way.If you're trying to make influencer more measurable, negotiate better deals, and turn creator content into high-performing paid media, you're gonna love this one.If you have a question for the MOperators Hotline, click the link to be in with a chance of it being discussed on the show: https://forms.gle/1W7nKoNK5Zakm1Xv6Chapters:00:00:00 – Scaling Influencer Spend and Proving ROI00:03:53 – Lily's Background and Building Super Bloom00:08:45 – From Seed Health to Launching an Agency00:13:05 – Brands, Categories, and Who Influencer Marketing Works For00:14:03 – Performance-First Influencer Programs and Service SKUs00:19:31 – Organic Influencer KPIs vs Paid Performance Metrics00:22:01 – Full-Funnel Impact, Halo Effects, and AOV Considerations00:25:16 – Discount Code Leakage and Attribution Challenges00:30:13 – Using Multipliers to Translate Influencer Performance00:34:38 – Modeling ROAS, Click-Through Rates, and Incrementality00:41:31 – Awareness vs Performance Across Different Brand Types00:47:19 – Influencer Negotiation Frameworks and Deal Structuring00:52:47 – High-AOV Products, Long Consideration Cycles, and Measurement LimitsPowered by:Motion.⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/pricing?utm_source=marketing-operators-podcast&utm_medium=paidsponsor&utm_campaign=march-2024-ad-reads⁠⁠⁠https://motionapp.com/creative-trendsRivo.https://www.rivo.io/operatorsPrescient AI.⁠⁠⁠https://www.prescientai.com/operatorsRichpanel.⁠⁠⁠https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source=MO&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ytdescAftersell.https://www.aftersell.com/operatorsSubscribe to the 9 Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@Operators9Subscribe to the Finance Operators Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@FinanceOperatorsFOPSSign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/

**JOIN THE PRINT YOUR THING LIVE CHALLENGE FOR FREE** 5-Day LIVE Challenge to Learn How to Create + Sell Your Own Planner, Devotional, or Journal of your Dreams! With Horacio Printing Founder, Polly Payne WHEN: January 12th - 16th 9:00 AM PST • 10:00 AM MST • 11:00 AM CST • 12:00 PM EST www.horacoioprinting.com/print Ready to learn how to plan your business dreams without overwhelm? In today's episode, I'm teaching you my 5-step business dream planning process so you can move into the new year with clarity, confidence, and peace. ✨ Episode Summary: This is one of the most requested episodes of the Dream Printing Podcast—and for good reason. I'm walking you through exactly how I plan my business goals and dreams every year, using a blend of data, reflection, prayer, and strategy. You'll learn how to: Review your KPIs to make grounded, data-driven decisions Reflect on the past year to dream wisely for the next Audit your funnels to eliminate leaks and confusion Create projections that actually make sense Build a KPI system that becomes your business scoreboard Whether you're running a product-based business, a service-based business, or dreaming of starting one—this episode will give you the clarity you've been craving. About me: I'm Polly Payne, the CEO and founder of Horacio Printing. I've sold more than 45,000 Dream Planners worldwide along with Bible studies and journals. I now help other dreamers do the same through Print School.

[Original air date: May 8, 2025]When it comes to investor relations, an organization's communication strategy should be a key instrument to support its business strategy. While this may seem obvious, so often we get this wrong. In this episode, CJ hosts a masterclass on investor relations with Samuel Levenson of the Arbor Advisory Group and Jon Neitzell of Andruil Partners, focusing on the strategic role of IR in driving company valuation. They cover what “audience opportunity” really means and what to do when you've attracted the wrong investors. They talk about metrics, KPIs, and OKRs, plus why management credibility and conveying conviction can make or break your IR strategy. They also discuss what has changed in the IR profession over time and what hasn't (but probably should) before suggesting changes you can make to drive impact immediately.—LINKS:Samuel Levenson on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/samlevenson/Jon Neitzell on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-neitzell/Arbor Advisory Group: www.arboradvisorygroup.com/Anduril Partners: https://www.andurilpartners.ai/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:Investor Relations as a Strategic Weapon: A Masterclasshttps://youtu.be/ac9xmURhAqE—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:02:22 Welcome to Sam and Jon00:03:12 Linking Business Strategy and Communication00:05:01 Proactive vs. Reactive Investor Relations00:06:39 Tailoring the Message by Investor Type00:08:05 Audience Opportunity and Ideal Shareholders00:11:05 When the Investor Base No Longer Fits00:12:21 Shifting Investors as Industries Change00:13:16 Optionality Comes From Patient Shareholders00:14:40 Conveying Conviction Through Credibility00:17:03 Why Investor Days Build Trust00:18:02 Metrics Versus Storytelling in IR00:19:10 Choosing Metrics the Market Actually Rewards00:22:30 Valuation Disconnects and Investor Confusion00:23:17 Finding Metrics That Truly Drive Value00:25:33 Avoiding Bad Capital Allocation Decisions00:26:20 Disclose Versus Guide: Confidence Intervals00:27:35 Knowing What You Don't Know00:29:33 Science Versus Art in Storytelling00:33:11 When Algorithms Become Your Audience00:33:56 Passive Investing Now Dominates Markets00:35:16 Linking OKRs to Value-Driving KPIs00:36:42 Closing the Strategy-Metrics Feedback Loop00:38:07 When Investors Sense Operational Confidence00:39:47 Why IR Becomes Strategy Consulting00:41:28 Why IR Teams Stay Undersized00:43:23 Sam's Accidental Entry Into Investor Relations00:44:34 Mentorship Over Formal IR Training00:46:18 How Markets Outpaced IR Practices00:47:01 Investor Days Go Virtual00:49:34 Designing a High-Quality Earnings Call00:50:41 Investor Days as High-ROI Investments00:51:45 IR Websites as Investor Onramps00:53:42 World-Class Investor Day Examples00:54:20 Using AI to Prepare Investor Communications00:56:19 Building a Proactive IR 2.0 Strategy00:58:33 Why IR Requires Full Executive Buy-In01:00:51 Data Transfers Conviction to Investors01:03:31 Closing Reflections on Trust and Valuation#RunTheNumbersPodcast #InvestorRelations #CapitalMarkets #ValuationStrategy #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

When you're working harder than ever and still getting questioned, most leaders assume they're the problem. But what if the real reason you're exhausted isn't lack of effort...it's that you're trying to win inside a model that was never designed to show your impact?This episode is part of a 5-part series exploring the journey B2B revenue leaders take from reactive chaos to finally understanding, measuring, and transforming their entire Revenue Factory. Each stage represents a critical inflection point and the exact moments that separate leaders who consistently hit targets and drive real, provable results… from those who spend every quarter scrambling, duct-taping reports, and wondering why nothing is working.This episode explores Stage 3: The Breaking Point, AKA the most emotionally charged and career-defining moment in the entire transformation journey.What We Cover in This Episode:Why Stage 3 is the moment leaders either break down, or break throughWhy constant scrutiny, unclear reporting, and cross-functional finger-pointing aren't personal failures, but symptoms of a broken data modelThe exact frameworks that explain why you're stuck and what has to change to unlock real revenue clarityWhy duct-taped reporting, activity-based KPIs, and siloed metrics guarantee misalignmentHow top-performing GTM teams rebuild their entire foundation, and why it transforms everything from credibility to win ratesThis is the episode for every revenue, marketing, or GTM leader who has ever thought:I'm exhausted from constantly defending myself.”“I KNOW we're making an impact, so why can't I prove it?”“What if the problem isn't me… but the entire system?”

Some days the problem isn't your KPIs. It's the fact that you've been staring at your own brand so long you can't read the label anymore. That's where this conversation with Charlie Sells got interesting. We dug into how easy it is for business owners to chase goals, tweak dashboards, and sprint through to-do lists while completely missing the bigger opportunity hiding in plain sight: curiosity. Charlie, the founder of Clarity Over Everything, spends his days helping leaders step back far enough to see what's actually going on. And let me tell you, he's right. I've lived this one myself. Takeaways Curiosity beats KPIs every time. When you stop assuming you already know your customer, your competitors, and your message, you finally spot blind spots you've been tripping over for months. Throw out assumptions and go look again. Competitors shift. Platforms shift. Markets shift. If you haven't audited your landscape in a few months, you're already behind. Not all ideas deserve your Time Once curiosity uncovers new possibilities, you need a simple roadmap so every shiny new idea doesn't hijack your business. Leaders don't need to get out of the way. They just need to stand in the right place. It's not about consensus; it's about alignment. When the team agrees where you're going, disagreement stops being drama and becomes fuel. Specific Actions You Can Use This Week Do a 20-minute assumption purge. Write down everything you think you “already know” about your audience, competitors, and message. Then test one of those assumptions with real data. Run a quick clarity audit. Click through your top three competitors' websites. Look for changes in their messaging, offers, or positioning. Note one thing you should reconsider. Set a 12-week priority filter. Pick one quick win and one long-game improvement. Everything else goes in the “later” column until those two are done. Yes, everything. About Charlie - In his own words Hi I'm Charlie, the face behind Clarity Over Everything and a brand positioning and clarity strategist who helps leaders and teams get clear, move faster, and set their brand up for success. For the last 15 years, I've worked across copywriting, content marketing, branding, and strategy—helping national brands, local businesses, nonprofits, and small teams turn complexity into clarity. I uncover the hidden things causing confusion and misalignment, then partner with businesses to cut through the noise, simplify what matters, and get aligned and prioritized around what's next. I also collect vintage vinyl records. Book a free discovery call and learn more about hiring me as your collaborative marketing and branding partner.  https://clarityovereverything.com   More than a Few Words  - A Marketing Conversation A bite-sized marketing podcast that cuts through the noise and delivers actionable ideas, with no fluff and no jargon. Send a note or record a message https://morethanafewwords.com/contact/  

Wie wird deine Marke in ChatGPT und Co. sichtbar? Marius Meiners, Gründer der AI-SEO-Plattform Peec AI, gibt konkrete Taktiken. Er erklärt die neuen KPIs wie „Visibility“, warum Listicles jetzt Gold wert sind und welche Art von Content in der KI-Ära überhaupt noch funktioniert. Was du lernst: Der einfache Trick, um deinen bestehenden Content für KI-Suche relevant zu machen Die 3 neuen KPIs für AI-SEO: Visibility, Sentiment & Position Die größten Low-Hanging-Fruits: Listicles & Comparison-Sites Für welche Unternehmen AI-SEO irrelevant ist Warum Margen und Defensibility in der KI-Welt trotzdem wichtig sind ALLES ZU UNICORN BAKERY: https://stan.store/fabiantausch  Mehr zu Marius: LinkedIn: de.linkedin.com/in/mariusmeiners  Website: https://peec.ai/  Join our Founder Tactics Newsletter: 2x die Woche bekommst du die Taktiken der besten Gründer der Welt direkt ins Postfach: https://www.tactics.unicornbakery.de/ 

As the year wraps up, we are replaying some of our favorite conversations from 2025, including this one!Customer lifetime value is a critical KPI, but with customer acquisition costs rapidly rising, what can brands do to successfully build long-term value for the business?Agility requires seeing past vanity metrics to the durable value hidden in customer relationships. When customer acquisition costs climb and privacy affects easy targeting, only nimble brands—those that align teams, data, and KPIs around lifetime value—stay ahead.All of this (and a few more things) are discussed in the recently-released Klaviyo B2C Report. To discuss it, I'd like to welcome Jamie Domenici, CMO at Klaviyo. About Jamie Domenici Jamie is Chief Marketing Officer at Klaviyo, the only CRM built for consumer brands. She has served as the Chief Marketing Officer since August 2023. With more than 20 years of experience in SaaS Marketing, Jamie has become a pioneer in SMB Marketing and a champion for small businesses. Prior to Klaviyo, Jamie served as the CMO of GoTo, a provider of SaaS and cloud- based remote work tools for collaboration and IT management, and before that, she held various marketing leadership positions at Salesforce for over ten years. Jamie holds a B.A. in International Relations from California State University, Chico. Jamie lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two daughters. Jamie Domenici on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdomenici/ Resources Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://ratethispodcast.com/agileConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Welcome to episode 311 of Grow Your Law Firm, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Tim McKey, CEO and co-founder of Vista Consulting, a longtime CPA and law-firm operations expert who has spent more than 15 years helping plaintiff firms improve efficiency, profitability, and long-term stability. Through Vista, Tim has worked with nearly 300 firms to build stronger systems, enhance financial reporting, implement accountability, and navigate major transitions including mergers, acquisitions, and succession planning.  What you'll learn about in this episode: 1. Disruption in Today's PI Landscape - How aging ownership, new capital sources, and ABS laws are reshaping the industry - Why institutional investors are moving aggressively into plaintiff firms 2. Understanding MSOs and Ownership Changes - How Managed Service Organizations work as an alternative structure - When selling to an MSO makes sense—and when a traditional sale is better 3. Competing in a Market of Roll-Ups and Mega-Firms - Why differentiation—not spending more—is the key to survival - How boutique firms can win even as consolidation increases 4. Building a Firm That's Valuable  - The operational ratios healthy firms monitor - The importance of systems, processes, and a true second-in-command 5. Using AI, Metrics, and Accountability to Improve Margins - Why AI and offshore support are pushing labor ratios down - Why every team member needs KPIs and clear expectations to drive performance   Resources:  Website: vistact.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timmckey Facebook: facebook.com/Vistact Instagram: instagram.com/vistaconsultingteam   Additional Resources:    https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind AI for PI Expo:   www.pilmma.org/ai-for-pi-expo

I don't make bold promises lightly. But after decades in orthodontics and thousands of conversations with docs like you, I know what we truly crave: real connection, no fluff, no sales pitches—just practical, honest, transformational growth. That's exactly what the OrthoVanguard meeting is designed to deliver. No lectures. No vendors. Just you, 99 other doctors, and conversations that will change how you practice, lead, and live.In this special episode, I walk you through why OrthoVanguard is the most powerful event I've ever put together. Whether you're a new grad or 40 years in, this is the meeting I wish I had earlier in my career. You'll sit at curated roundtables with doctors just like you—solving real problems, sharing tech hacks, dissecting KPIs, and walking away with an AI-generated personalized 90-day plan. Oh, and yes: it's all moderated by me and the brilliant Victor Antonio. This isn't hype. It's the future of orthodontic meetings.QUOTES“If it's not the most impactful meeting you've ever attended, I'll give you every penny back. That's my free limo guarantee—and nobody's taken me up on it yet.” — Dr. Glenn Krieger“You'll walk away with a 90-day plan, personalized by AI, based on everything you discussed—so you're not just inspired... you're activated.” — Dr. Glenn KriegerKey TakeawaysIntro & The Free Limo Guarantee (00:00)Why OrthoVanguard replaces Summit—and raises the bar (00:35)How this meeting is unlike anything you've attended (01:20)Curated, strategic roundtables—not lectures (02:22)How you'll be grouped and what we'll discuss (03:00)Treatment planning, hot seat coaching & tech hackathons (03:40)The power of real-time idea sharing and AI-driven takeaways (04:30)Marketing, KPI Rescue, dream teams, and more (05:10)The real value: connection, clarity, and next-level growth (06:00)Additional Resources

Send us a textWhy Vanity Metrics Are So TemptingClicks, impressions, and giant top-line numbers feel good—and they're easy to measure. Anthony explains that brands and agencies often lean on these because they make progress look “sexy” in a deck, even when they don't connect to business outcomes.The Metrics That Actually MatterKendra presses on what marketers should track instead. Anthony breaks it down by funnel stage and business model:For B2B and lead-gen teams:Lead volume and lead qualityConversion behavior after the click (time on site, page depth, engagement paths)Feeding those quality signals back into ad algorithmsFor e-commerce:Revenue per campaignCost per acquisition (CPA) vs. customer lifetime value (LTV)Target CPA thresholds to ensure profitabilityAnthony's bottom line: The two most important metrics are CPA and LTV—and every other KPI should support them. When Algorithms Work Against YouA huge chunk of the episode is about how campaigns go sideways when the wrong signals are optimized. If you optimize for clicks, the algorithm finds more clickers—not buyers.They dig into how metrics aren't bad—they're just often misused.Examples Anthony gives:ROAS is critical for shopping/e-commerce conversion campaigns.Video view-through rate matters for awareness campaigns, since the goal is warm-audience building.Target impression share is valuable in branded search as a defensive move, ensuring competitors don't steal your brand traffic. Competitor Bidding: Old Advice vs. NowKendra asks about the old-school thinking that bidding on competitor names doesn't work. Anthony clarifies the difference between:Branded defense campaigns (protecting your own name)Competitor conquesting campaigns (showing up as an alternative in a buyer's search)He argues conquesting can be effective because you only pay on clicks, yet still gain impression value and market-share opportunities. Balancing Short-Term Pressure with Long-Term GrowthB2B cycles are long, and clients want fast wins. Anthony recommends a full-funnel budget split:Some spend for the 1% ready to buy now (lower funnel)Significant investment to warm the other 99% (awareness + consideration)Biggest Lesson Learned: Simplicity ScalesAnthony closes with his core marketing takeaway: The best campaigns aren't the busiest—they're the clearest. When you focus on the right audience, the right offer, and the right KPIs, everything improves: creative, reporting, and results that compound over time. If you want to connect with Anthony or learn more about Volo Media, check out the links below.  And if you've ever been sold a pretty dashboard full of meaningless numbers… this one's for you. Connect with Anthony:Website: https://www.vallomedia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonychi Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube. From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain. Watch here

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP232 In episode 232, Coffey talks with Margarita Ramos about the importance and future of the employee relations function following the $11.5 million SHRM discrimination verdict. They discuss the SHRM jury verdict and its implications for HR credibility; the role of employee relations at the intersection of compliance and employee experience; proactive versus reactive approaches to workplace conflict; multiple complaint channels and manager escalation obligations; why dismissing concerns as "not illegal" undermines trust; investigation failures highlighted in the SHRM case; investigator neutrality, training, and experience requirements; when and why to use outside investigators or counsel; leadership accountability and the role of the CHRO in employee relations; the three-legged stool of employee relations, HR business partners, and employment counsel; building ER infrastructure with case management systems and data analytics; handling high-performing but high-risk leaders; transparency in employee relations processes; reducing gossip through consistent and fair investigations; and the future of employee relations including responsible use of AI in investigations. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Margarita Ramos is a highly respected Global Employee Relations executive and employment attorney with more than two decades of experience across technology, SaaS, and financial services. She is trusted by CHROs, HR Business Partners, and C-suite leaders to build scalable ER infrastructures, stabilize organizations through change, and elevate the employee experience through disciplined governance and operational excellence. With a foundation rooted in JD-trained employment law—including roles as In-House Employment Counsel at Merrill Lynch and Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft—Margarita developed deep legal expertise in compliance, risk mitigation, and workplace investigations.  She later translated this expertise into senior ER and HR Compliance leadership roles at VMware, Splunk, RBC, and Bank of America, where she supported complex global workforces navigating rapid growth, cultural transformation, and organizational change. Throughout her career, Margarita has been brought in to create structure where ambiguity exists. She has built and led global ER Centers of Excellence, developed investigations and performance-management frameworks, and implemented modern case-management systems such as Workday, HR Acuity, and AI-enabled governance tools. Her approach blends empathy with operational rigor, ensuring ER functions are both employee-centric and aligned with business strategy. A skilled investigator and ER strategist, Margarita advises senior leaders on workplace investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, DEI&B, and global employment compliance. She is known for her ability to translate data, case trends, and cultural signals into actionable insights—leveraging ER metrics, KPIs, and reporting to influence leadership decisions, drive fairness, and strengthen organizational culture. Her data-driven approach enables leaders to make well-informed, consistent decisions that reinforce trust and accountability across the enterprise.  Margarita has also led M&A HR integration efforts at VMware and Splunk, overseeing cultural alignment, workforce assessments, and change-management strategies during periods of significant transformation. Her leadership in these environments reflects her commitment to creating workplaces where clarity, belonging, and operational excellence coexist. Beyond her corporate work, Margarita is deeply committed to developing future talent. She has mentored first-generation college students and contributed to organizations such as Girls Who Code, Year Up, and Hobart & William Smith Colleges. At Microsoft, she provided pro bono support for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). Outside of work, she enjoys ballroom dancing and cooking. Margarita is passionate about shaping modern, strategic, tech-forward ER functions that support organizational values, reduce risk, build leadership capability, and create an environment where employees can do their best work with trust, fairness, and accountability. Margarita Ramos can be reached athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/margarita-ramos/ About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teach...

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Jeremy Dinkin to talk about what growth actually looks like behind the scenes. Jeremy shares the real story of building a profitable practice out of the corner of a gym, resisting the urge to scale too fast, and eventually moving into his own space the right way. We dig into the decisions that protected his profit, the chaos of a build-out no one prepares you for, and the leadership mistakes that show up once you start hiring. We also talk honestly about the identity shift from clinician to leader, the pressure that comes with growth, and the moment family forced a hard look at how the business was being run. In this episode, you'll learn: - How to think about space, rent, and profit before you expand - What most clinic owners get wrong about hiring and leadership - Why simpler communication and fewer KPIs create better results - How personal brand impacts your ability to hire and scale - If you're building a practice and feel stuck between growth and burnout, this conversation will hit close to home. Connect with Dr. Jeremy Dinkin: Instagram (Personal): @RSMAthleteDoc Instagram (Practice): @RSMSportsMed Website: rsmsportsmed.com Follow me on Instagram: @justinrabinowitz Want to go deeper? Join us at our next live event to learn how to scale profitably, lead with clarity, and build a business that supports your life.