Podcasts about Liability

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Would you say your agency is truly profitable? Take a closer look and assess its structure, systems, and tools through the lens of business maturity. You may find you're still in the chaos stage, in need of structure and vision. Running an agency often starts with passion and talent, but keeping it running smoothly takes systems, leadership, and a strong operational backbone. This operational maturity doesn't happen overnight. As today's featured guest knows well, it's a process of reflection, restructuring, and relentless improvement. Harv Nagra is the Head of Brand Communications at Scoro and host of The Handbook: The Operations Podcast, where he explores how agencies and consultancies build scalable, profitable operations. As someone who has spent his career at the intersection of creativity, consultancy, and operations, he'll discuss the key stages of agency growth, the pitfalls of immature operations, and the leadership mindset required to scale sustainably. In this episode, we'll discuss: Understanding the agency maturity model. Evolving your agency from chaos to clarity. Growing your leadership to create framework. Data and the path to predictability. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Why Most Agency Founders Aren't Natural Operators Harv has been in the agency space for most of his career, working in marketing and design, and, although he currently works as Brand Communicator for Scoro, he keeps his finger on the pulse of the industry via his podcast The Handbook, where he talks to owners about running great agencies and consultancies. After speaking with so many founders, Harv is aware that operations is often the blind spot for first-time agency owners. They were very good at delivering a service and ended up being an "accidental founder". People start agencies because they're great at marketing, design, or development, not because they planned to manage P&Ls or build operational frameworks. As a result, growth often outpaces structure, and operations fall behind. Early on, these agencies prioritize sales and survival, just trying to land enough business to stay afloat. But as Harv emphasizes, there's a point where founders must transition from doing great work to running a great business. Without operational clarity, even the most talented teams end up winging it, leading to burnout, inefficiency, and missed profit. Understanding the Agency Maturity Model One of Harv's biggest turning points came when his COO introduced him to the concept of a business maturity model. It was an eye-opener. He thought the agency was doing fine, until the framework revealed gaps he didn't even know existed. It showed him that agencies, like people, evolve through stages, from chaotic startups to structured, data-driven organizations. The models vary, but there are usually 5 stages: 1. People challenges 2. process challenges 3. Data and metrics 4. Technology and tools 5. Growth strategy The early stage is where chaos reigns. Processes are tribal, training is informal ("just learn from whoever you sit next to"), and there is no consistent way of working. As the business grows, pockets of best practices emerge, but without unified systems or documentation. The most mature agencies reach a level where processes are standardized, data is reliable, and leaders can make decisions based on insights rather than gut feelings. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of agencies ever get there. From Chaos to Clarity: Building Operational Maturity When Harv stepped into an operations role, his agency was stuck between chaos and maturity. Multiple entities were working in silos with inconsistent tools and workflows. Financial reporting was messy, and onboarding was informal. Everything began to change when they hired a finance director who helped formalize budgeting and systemize financial operations. Together, they redefined how projects were quoted, tracked, and managed, bringing consistency and visibility that had been missing for years. It's a common growing pain for agencies that scale faster than their systems. As Jason recalls, before implementing time tracking, he believed all clients were profitable. The data told a different story: 60% of projects were actually losing money. That realization forced him to fix pricing, reposition the agency, and rethink sales and operations from the ground up. The Leadership Shift: From Fighting Fires to Frameworks Many agency owners reach a ceiling because they're still running their business as they did in the early days. As he moved up the ladder, Harv and his team tried to get the agency's leadership team to realize they were spread too thin, with each senior leader juggling multiple internal roles alongside client work. Once leadership saw the problem, the real work began; creating clarity, documenting systems, and assigning accountability. The key here was clarity, so Harv and this finance director documented everything from budgeting to time tracking, to reporting and resourcing. It was a huge leap in maturity and it consolidated when the founders brought an interim COO who audited operations, restructured the organization, and helped senior leaders focus on strategic leadership instead of firefighting. Finally, there was a clear understanding of where the agency is going, who it serves, and how it operates. Without that, leaders end up managing chaos rather than building growth. Data, Tools, and the Path to Predictability As Harv's agency matured, the next challenge was data and technology. Their systems were outdated, and reporting was cumbersome. Upgrading their tech stack allowed them to collaborate across borders, manage multiple entities, and gain visibility into key metrics like capacity and revenue forecasting. This shift toward being data-driven enabled proactive decision-making instead of reactive problem-solving. Alongside technology, restructuring played a key role. The agency had to make tough decisions about team composition, ensuring the right people were in the right seats. As Harv put it, "Just because someone's been there from the beginning doesn't mean they're the right fit for the next phase." It's a difficult but necessary mindset for sustainable growth. Letting Go — The Hardest Step in Agency Maturity For founders,  growth means letting go. Letting go of old habits, outdated systems, and sometimes even long-time team members. Many owners treat their agency like a baby, and it's a mistake. When leaders cling too tightly, they become the bottleneck. True maturity happens when they can trust the team, delegate decisions, and focus on leading rather than managing. As Harv summarized, agencies should think of themselves less like families and more like sports teams where each player has a role, and the lineup changes as the game evolves. The goal isn't comfort, it's performance. That's what separates agencies that evolve from those that plateau. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training How would you go about making acquisitions to accelerate your growth? Would you buy for revenue, culture fit, or client roster? Would you be willing to fire big clients that are holding your agency back? Most agency owners chase growth by saying "yes" to everything, from new services, new clients, and every new opportunity. Today's featured guest built one of the fastest-growing mobile and digital agencies in the world by narrow focusing, firing bad-fit clients, and mastering the art of strategic acquisitions. Today he'll unpack how his agency evolved from a small mobile startup in Tel Aviv to a global digital powerhouse working with brands like Google, Uber, Samsung, and Microsoft. Gilad Bechar is the CEO and founder of Moburst, a mobile-first marketing and digital transformation agency with offices in Tel Aviv, New York, and San Francisco. Since 2013, Moburst has helped startups and Fortune 500s alike scale their reach through creative, data-driven, and tech-forward strategies. Under Gilad's leadership, the agency has raised capital, acquired multiple specialized firms, and built proprietary technology that keeps them ahead of the curve in AI, mobile UX, and cross-platform performance. In this episode, we'll discuss: The similarities between the mobile boom and the new AI era. Raising capital without losing control. Using acquisitions as a growth strategy. The power of saying no and focusing on fit. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. From A Mobile-First Niche Focus to Global Agency Powerhouse When Moburst launched in 2013, the agency world was flooded with "digital experts" who claimed to understand mobile. Most didn't. Gilad noticed that agencies were simply repurposing desktop experiences for smaller screens without real mobile UX thinking, no data-driven optimization, and definitely no understanding of how users behaved differently on apps. That insight became Moburst's edge. Instead of trying to compete as another full-service digital shop, they doubled down on mobile-first marketing. They mastered app store optimization (ASO), performance tracking, and mobile UX design. That focus helped them land early wins with major clients who were desperate for expertise in a fast-changing environment. As Gilad puts it, "When you show big clients that a critical piece of their marketing is being ignored, and you can fix it, that's your entry point." The AI Parallel: Most Agencies Talk, Few Deliver Gilad sees history repeating itself with AI. Just like the early mobile days, everyone's suddenly an "AI expert." But the difference between hype and real expertise shows up fast in a conversation. He believes the proof lies under the hood. Real experts can answer deep implementation questions: which tools integrate best, how to handle data security, and what AI models perform for specific tasks. Pretenders can't. For agencies, this is a reminder that credibility is earned through insight, not jargon. Clients see through the buzzwords. And the ones who don't will eventually learn when the work doesn't deliver. Raising Capital Without Losing Control Unlike most agency founders, Gilad took venture funding, not once, but three times. But he did it differently. Instead of giving away huge equity chunks, Moburst only diluted small percentages (around 6% each round). The investors came to them after seeing how fast their clients were growing. Without that, his agency wouldn't have its current success in the US market and would probably still be a very local agency in Israel. That capital gave him the means to hire a team in New York and then eventually move there to lead that office. It was the start of many new opportunities for the agency, like building internal tech tools that set them apart. It was also the way his team has stayed ahead of the curve from competitors that are not investing in the future and stay too focused on the right here and now. Furthermore, despite having 11 investors, Moburst kept full control. Only one board seat represents all investors, and it can't override the founders' decisions. According to Gilad, that control is what allowed them to make hard but smart moves, like firing clients and cutting costs in 2017 when growth was strong but profitability wasn't. The Hard Reset That Saved the Agency and Restored Profitability In 2017, Moburst was scaling fast but losing money just as quickly. The agency was adding clients and headcount, but without the right systems to manage profitability. At one point, they were bleeding up to $70,000 a month. So Gilad made the tough call: he cut unprofitable clients, reduced staff, and rebuilt the agency around systems that supported healthy margins. "It was brutal," he admits. "We let go of big, well-known clients we loved working with. But it didn't make sense to keep losing money just to say we worked with them." That painful reset worked. By 2018, the agency was profitable again and positioned for sustainable growth. That reset set the stage for their next evolution: acquisitions. How to Use Acquisitions as a Growth Strategy (Not a Gamble) Moburst's acquisition strategy wasn't about buying revenue or chasing vanity growth. It was about buying capabilities that solved their biggest operational gaps. Their first acquisition was a video production studio they had already worked with for over a year. The partnership was strong, the culture aligned, and the collaboration was smooth. So they brought them in-house in 2019 and the agency's offerings instantly expanded. Then they looked at their next biggest outsourced expense: web and app development. So in 2022, they acquired a dev shop after a successful collaboration period. In total, Moburst has made five acquisitions, each one following a simple rule: test first, integrate later. As Gilad says, "We don't buy to solve problems. We buy what already works and multiply it." When asked about whether or not these brands keep their names after acquisition, Gilad says it all depends on their brand authority. If they do great work and have a solid team but their brand isn't as strong, then it's best to just bring it under the Moburst umbrella. In case they do have a strong brand, then they'll just make sure their website reflects they are part of a larger group. How to Structure an Agency Acquisition Deal the Smart Way For agency owners eyeing their own M&A moves, Gilad shared his preferred deal structure. Each acquisition has four key components: Cash upfront - Rewards founders for their hard work. Equity - Gives them a stake in the larger vision. Dividends - Paid yearly so they benefit from the agency's profits. Performance bonuses - Tied to the profitability of their specific business unit. This structure keeps founders motivated and aligned for years to come, without the traditional burnout that comes from rigid earnouts. Everyone wins when growth is sustainable and collaborative. Why Firing Bad Clients Helps Scale Smarter One of the biggest lessons Gilad takes away from journey is the courage to say no: to clients, deals, or directions that don't fit. Agencies often cling to bad accounts out of fear of losing revenue, but simply put, that's a silent killer. If you're not profitable on a client, you're not just breaking even; you're paying for the privilege of overworking your team. Moburst's growth didn't come from doing more — it came from doing what mattered most. By focusing, pruning, and strategically acquiring, Gilad turned a niche mobile startup into a global digital powerhouse. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

October 30, 2025: Today's episode explores the shifting dynamics shaping business and leadership. Across industries, experience itself is being questioned as companies reject overqualified candidates, revealing how age bias and short-term thinking are reshaping hiring. Business leaders are entering 2026 with growing pessimism as geopolitical instability overtakes inflation as their top concern, and 84% now cite political and legal volatility as a major business risk. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase is using its in-house AI system to help employees write performance reviews, offering a glimpse into how artificial intelligence is changing not just operations but management itself. And in retail, Walmart's CEO warns that AI is no longer an emerging tool but a leadership necessity. Together, these stories show a world where adaptability, technological fluency, and cultural stability have become the defining traits of future-ready organizations.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training How are the new technologies and tools shaping the future of agencies? How can you create an agency that outlasts trends? When you've been around for 75 years in the ad world, you've seen it all, from Mad Men, media buying by fax, the rise of the internet, and now, AI. Today's featured guest runs an agency that has been doing full-service marketing since 1950. What's impressive isn't just their longevity but also how they've stayed relevant and human in a business that changes faster than a TikTok trend. Jennifer Spire is the CEO of Preston Spire, an independent Minneapolis-based creative agency that's been helping brands grow with full-service marketing since 1950. She's the agency's fourth CEO, starting in small independent agencies, rising through global holding companies, and bringing both worlds' lessons to how she leads today. That mix of experiences shaped her leadership style grounded in independence, driven by creativity, and fiercely protective of agency culture. In this episode, we'll discuss: Building a culture that lasts seven decades and beyond. Why independence still matters in the agency world. The future of agency talent and AI. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. How One Agency Has Stayed Relevant for 75 Years Preston Spire started as a design shop in 1950 and quickly grew to a full service advertising agency, which differs from what we think of as full service today. Over the decades, it's evolved continuously, reinventing itself with every shift in marketing. Jennifer says the real secret to their longevity is adaptability. "It's really hard to continue to evolve and stay strong, but I think there's a lot to be said for an agency that can evolve and still grow while being relevant." Now they're 25 years away from a century, which is both impressive and humbling, as well as something they want to highlight more. Surprisingly, some advisors have actually told Jennifer it'd be best to not mention their 75-year run, since some might assume a 75-year-old agency should be bigger by now. However, Jennifer has a different perspective. For her, you don't have to be one of the biggest agencies to be better and longevity isn't a weakness but rather proof of resilience and reinvention. From Big Agency Bureaucracy to Small Agency Freedom Before joining Press Inspire, Jennifer spent years inside the machine of large agencies, where shareholder-driven decisions often overshadowed what's best for clients or teams. There, she learned that you don't have to be bigger to be better, a philosophy that now fuels how she runs Press Inspire, as she has chosen to keep it small enough to stay personal but strong enough to compete with anyone. Once she left the big-agency world for an independent shop, Jennifer cut her teeth doing everything from answering phones, assisting on shoots, starting media departments, and running PR. That early experience taught her the one skill every agency leader needs — resourcefulness — something she now encourages young people to develop early in their careers. Her time at big agencies, though, showed her what not to do. "You end up making decisions that are best for shareholders, not clients," she said. "At a smaller agency, I wanted everyone to be able to chart their own path and make decisions that serve both the client and the team." Building an Agency Culture Keeps People for Deacades People stay for decades at Preston, some for 37 years, others 30, and three just recently celebrated 25-year anniversaries. That kind of loyalty is nearly unheard of in today's agency churn cycle. So what's the secret? Balance. Jennifer encourages collaboration between long-time employees and newer hires with fresh perspectives. The agency operates in a hybrid setup, with three days in-office to keep creativity flowing while maintaining flexibility. It's a rhythm that keeps collaboration alive without burning people out. "Being together helps," she said. "That human connection is something you can't replicate over Zoom." Their internal compass is guided by what they call COOP values: Courage, Originality, Openness, and Positivity. The team is encouraged to take risks, fail fast, learn, and keep moving forward. Leading with Clarity: Building Alignment and Growth Paths Jennifer may be CEO, but being at a smaller agency she's not above the grind. She manages operations, oversees HR and finance, and still maintains direct relationships with every major client. That visibility matters because, as she explains, clients need to know leadership is invested in their business. Her team structure also breaks down roles by what percentage of their time is spent leading, managing, or making. This clarity helps people grow without being shoved into management if it's not something they want for their careers. This way, they get to build their unique path within the agency, a key to keeping them happy with their work. Quarterly goals, regular feedback, and individualized growth paths keep everyone aligned and fulfilled — a framework that scales culture without micromanagement. Furthermore, constant feedback, quarterly goals, and individualized growth paths help keep everyone aligned and fulfilled. Why Staying Independent Still Wins for Some Agencies Does a 75-year-old independent agency get offers from the big holding companies? They do, actually; all the time. Jennifer says M&A emails land in her inbox daily. But she's not interested. "We've had serious talks with other agencies," she said, "but we've said no every time. Staying independent is critical to our success." If they sold, they'd probably start making decisions for investors instead of their people and be back in the big agency world she escaped. For Jennifer, independence isn't just about control, it's about protecting the culture that makes their agency different. The freedom to put clients and people first is what keeps the agency thriving. Preparing for the Future: AI's Impact on Agency Talent Jennifer's not blind to the future. She's already planning staffing and financial strategy through 2030, a move that would make most agencies sweat. One question she's wrestling with: how AI will change entry-level roles and career paths. "AI has been an incredible tool and has allowed us to be more efficient," she said. "But if it takes away too much of the junior work, where do mid-level people come from five years from now?" The truth is that the jobs won't vanish, they'll evolve. Junior people using AI can perform at mid-level. Mid-level people can perform like senior leaders. You'll just need fewer of them. Still, Jennifer sees it as a call to action for colleagues and agency leaders alike: train people not just in the AI tools, but in critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and the human side of marketing. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Text a question to Victoria!Your website might be costing you clients without you even realizing it. Discover how to tell if your website is a true brand asset or if it's actually a brand liability. As a female entrepreneur, your website is often the first impression your clients have and it can either build trust and credibility or create hesitation that keeps potential clients from booking with you.In today's episode, Victoria is sharing valuable information to teach you how to make your website work for you, not against you. From designing with user experience in mind, to creating consistent branding, and using storytelling and messaging that speaks directly to your ideal clients, you'll gain strategies to turn your website into a conversion-driving, trust-building tool. Be sure to listen all the way through because Victoria is giving you a six step framework to help you do a self audit of your website! If this still feels daunting to you, don't worry! Keep listening because there may even be a special offer to help you get personalized guidance on how to optimize your website!Like Victoria always says, you don't get a second chance at a first impression, so get ready to take notes and let's turn your website into your brand's strongest asset! Give Your Website a Self-Audit! Ask Yourself These Six Questions!1.  Can a stranger understand who you serve and how in less than five seconds when they land on your website?2. Do your visuals and messaging feel like the same brand across all platforms? 3. Would you be proud to send a high ticket customer to your website right now?4. Do you think your friends are excited to send out your website URL when they are referring someone to you?5.  Does your site guide users towards one clear action?6. Does it communicate authority and professionalism equal to your expertise?Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Get a FREE Website Audit by VictoriaWork With BrandWell DesignsLooking for Brand Clarity? Join The Branding Business School!Follow BrandWell on InstagramFor show notes, head to www.thebrandingbusinessschool.com/thepodcast/ Show notes for episodes 1-91 can be found at www.brandwelldesigns.com/thepodcast/ Follow BrandWell on Instagram. Follow The Branding Business School on Instagram. Save on your first year of Honeybook using this link! Save 50% off your first year of Flodesk using this link! Get $30 off your first month of Nuuly using this link!Get up to $150 off your first box of Factor Meals using this link!

Greg Cosell of NFL Films joins Willard and Dibs to recap the 49ers loss to the Texans, to turn the page ahead to Week 9 vs. the Giants, and more.

DEAR PAO: Recovery of carnapped vehicle does not extinguish insurer's liability | Oct. 30, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a cultural pivot that's as swift as a TikTok trend, the once-unquestioned allure of heterosexual romance is under fire—recast not as a fairy-tale endpoint but as a potential social liability. Drawing from a Vogue feature, viral podcast snippets, and a probing New York Times magazine essay,  we unpack the rising tide of "heterofatalism": a cocktail of exhaustion, irony, and quiet rebellion among straight women navigating the boyfriend conundrum. What was once a status symbol—think "Boyfriend Land" selfies flooding feeds in the early 2010s—has morphed into something subtly shamed, with singlehood emerging as the sleek, mysterious upgrade. Yet beneath the memes and eye-rolls lies a deeper malaise: men's relational anxieties are clashing with women's sharpened expectations, turning desire into a high-stakes standoff.The conversation ignites in British Vogue's "Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?", where author Stephanie Yeboah dissects the subtle sabotage of coupledom in the social media era. Gone are the days of overt "hard-launches"—those gushy couple photos that scream commitment. Instead, women opt for cryptic signals: a manicured hand draped over a steering wheel, a partner's face artfully blurred in the background, or entire fiancés cropped out of vacation reels to dodge the "evil eye" of jinxing fate. Yeboah cites cultural critic Zoé Samudzi's sharp take: straight women crave "the prize and celebration of partnership" but recoil from its "norminess," lest it paint them as basic or overly invested.

What if being emotional, vulnerable, and transparent could actually be your greatest leadership advantage?In this powerful episode, Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada's Ocean Supercluster, shatters the myth that effective leaders must separate their personal and professional lives. Leading a national innovation initiative with a majority-female team, Kendra shares raw, honest stories about adopting her daughter while climbing the corporate ladder, managing family health crises, and why scoring "high on emotion" as a CEO became her superpower—not her weakness.You'll discover:Why transparency builds trust faster than perfection ever willThe "24-hour rule" that prevents career-damaging emotional reactionsHow to reframe problems instead of falling in love with solutionsWhy purpose-driven leadership naturally creates emotional investmentHow to create truly inclusive policies (starting with your language)The truth about work-life "blend" vs. "balance"—and why it mattersWhy there's never a "perfect time" to step into leadershipThe Challenge: This week, examine one area where you're hiding your authentic self at work. What would it look like to bring more transparency to that situation? Share your insights with your team or a trusted colleague.Key Timestamps: [00:01:00] - Introduction: Can you lead effectively without sacrificing your personal life? [00:03:00] - The power of women in tech and innovation [00:05:00] - Why diversity of thought solves complex challenges [00:07:00] - The evolution from "private life stays private" to authentic leadership [00:08:00] - Kendra's adoption journey: When transparency transformed her career [00:11:00] - Remote work as a strategic talent advantage [00:14:00] - Why men need work-life blend too (and the "babysitting" problem) [00:15:00] - Language matters: From "maternity leave" to "parental leave" [00:18:00] - Being an "emotional CEO": Liability or superpower? [00:19:00] - Purpose creates emotion, emotion creates power [00:24:00] - The 24-hour rule: Sleep on it before you send it [00:25:00] - Focus on purpose, not path: Your North Star in chaos [00:26:00] - "Are you trying to be pregnant or be a mom?" Reframing the problem [00:27:00] - We need leaders in the mess—there's no perfect time [00:28:00] - Setting personal boundaries in an age of transparencyConnect with Kendra MacDonald: Canada's Ocean SuperclusterCall to Action: Ready to transform your leadership approach? Subscribe to Shedding the Corporate Bitch Podcast for weekly episodes that challenge conventional corporate wisdom. Share this episode with a leader who needs permission to show up as their whole self.Rate & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and share what you learned. Your reviews help us reach more leaders ready to embrace authentic, purpose-driven leadership.Next Steps:Subscribe so you never miss an episodeShare this with your leadership team or HR departmentJoin the conversation on LinkedIn and Instagram @SheddingTheCorporateBitch#AuthenticLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkLifeBlend #PurposeDrivenLeadership #WomenInTech #HRLeadership #ModernWorkplace #LeadershipDevelopmentSupport the show

5. The Democratic Convention: Wilson's Downfall and the Rise of Cox and Roosevelt David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Meeting in San Francisco in July 1920, the Democrats grappled with Woodrow Wilson's political liability due to his uncompromising League of Nations stance and desire for a third term. Wilson received only a grim demonstration of support, and his cabinet feared he would die if nominated. The two leading contenders were William Gibbs McAdoo, Wilson's son-in-law, and Ohio Governor John Cox. Due to the Democratic two-thirds rule, the convention took many ballots. Cox, a moderate publisher, secured the nomination after 44 ballots. After meeting with Wilson, Cox abandoned his moderate position to strongly support the League. Franklin D. Roosevelt was chosen as Vice President due to his name recognition, Navy service, and New York connections. 1929 HOOVER INAUGURAL

Patience will be the death of you. In a world that tells you it's okay to stand still, discover the truth that you are either getting better or you are getting worse, there is no in between. In episode 826 of the Savage Perspective Podcast, host Robert Sikes sits down with leadership expert and author Marcus Aurelius Anderson to discuss why most people get stuck in a victim mentality. They explore how to choose your adversity, build true resilience, find your purpose, and take immediate action. This conversation provides a straightforward guide to fixing your mindset, developing self leadership, and understanding that if you are not actively moving forward, you are falling behind.Ready to apply these principles of discipline and crush your physical goals? Join Robert's FREE Bodybuilding Masterclass and learn the system to build a superior physique. You can sign up here: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/registration-2Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQChapters:0:00 - Why Action is Better Than Reaction 1:19 - What It Takes To Put On A World-Class Event 3:23 - The Difference Between Excellence and Perfection 5:49 - How To Turn Adversity Into Victory 7:25 - How To Get Out Of Your Own Head 9:04 - Why You Must Choose Your Adversity 10:36 - The Myth of Maintenance: Are You Getting Better or Worse? 12:11 - Why Patience Will Be The Death Of You 13:12 - How To Figure Out What You Really Want 15:05 - The Brutal Truth About How Much Time You Have Left 16:55 - How To Find Your Life's Purpose 19:02 - Memento Adversis: A New Way to Think About Hardship 20:49 - The Adversity Perception Cycle: Victim vs. Victor 23:25 - You Can Choose Your Hardship, Or It Will Choose You 25:49 - The Truth About People Who Call Themselves "Victims" 28:51 - Casualties vs. Victims: What's The Difference? 30:22 - Why Life Gets Harder As You Get Older 33:06 - Nature vs. Nurture: Where Does True Grit Come From? 35:51 - A Story That Will Change Your Perspective On Hardship 39:13 - How To Help Someone Without Being Insensitive 42:40 - The #1 Mistake People Make In Conversations 45:42 - How Pragmatic Empathy Makes You A Better Leader 49:18 - Is Technology Creating a Generation of Victims? 51:55 - The "Walking Dead" Generation 53:23 - Are You An Asset or a Liability? Here's How To Know 58:55 - Can You Pass This Basic Physical Test? 1:01:02 - You Don't Rise To The Occasion, You Default To Your Training 1:02:21 - How To Carry Yourself So People Don't Mess With You 1:05:18 - The Real Definition of Leadership 1:08:41 - How To Know If You Have a Strong Belief System 1:11:20 - The Biggest Problem With The "Mindset" Industry 1:13:54 - Are You Sabotaging Your Own Success? 1:17:36 - The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do For Yourself 1:20:25 - Want To Stand Out? Be More Authentic 1:23:48 - Is The Modern World a Broken System? 1:28:06 - How To Find The Work You Were Meant To Do 1:30:45 - Why You Should Think Of Yourself As a Brand 1:33:45 - Everyone Wants To Be Strong, But No One Wants The Adversity 1:38:13 - You Have More Physical Capacity Than You Realize 1:40:02 - The Warrior Standard: Leave Everything On The Field 1:42:22 - We're Going To Workout After This, Right? 1:46:44 - The Downside of Being a High Achiever 1:50:03 - You Are The Average of The 5 Emotions You Feel Most 1:52:25 - Where To Find Marcus Aurelius Anderson

Every machine shop relies on outside processes—whether that's heat treating, plating, grinding, or coating. But every time a part leaves your building, your risk profile changes. Quality, timing, and accountability become harder to control. In this episode of MakingChips, the hosts sit down with Charlie Hushek, owner of Phoenix Heat Treating and a newly minted machine shop owner, to unpack what it really takes to manage outside processes like a pro. Charlie's experience on both sides of the fence—running a generational heat-treating company and now owning a machining operation—gives him a rare perspective on what separates smooth partnerships from painful ones. He shares the top mistakes shops make when sending parts out, how to build lasting vendor relationships, and how to turn your outside processes into a seamless extension of your own workflow. The conversation dives deep into practical strategies for planning, communication, and documentation, plus how to handle the inevitable hiccups along the way. From establishing fixed processes to verifying incoming and outgoing inspections, this episode equips manufacturing leaders with the tools they need to reduce risk, improve consistency, and strengthen their supplier relationships. If you've ever lost sleep waiting on a heat-treating order—or had a part fall off a truck—this one's for you. Segments (0:00) Highlights from the Automated Shop Conference and the rise of blue-collar value (3:40) Introducing Charlie Hushek, third-generation owner of Phoenix Heat Treating (5:00) The connection between automation, culture, and building value in acquisitions (7:09) Phoenix Heat Treating's transparency advantage: real-time client portal tracking (8:19) How each added process increases risk, scrap rate, and lead time (10:10) Real-world stories: when parts fall off trucks and lessons learned from it (11:26) Building relationships and setting expectations with outside vendors (12:57) Why “heat treat per print” isn't enough—clarity prevents costly mistakes (15:50) Inviting vendors to planning meetings to align early on risk and tolerance (17:45) The value of educating yourself about heat treating and other outsourced processes (18:27) Treating your vendors like partners—turn them into extensions of your shop (19:36) Relationship-building tips: tours, face-to-face meetings, and yes, donuts (20:31) Drill in on your workholding with SMW Autoblok (21:15) How clear documentation and fixed process numbers can save time and eliminate confusion (26:34) Using ERP systems like ProShop to manage outside processes and supplier specs (27:41) Why outgoing and incoming inspections are critical for accountability (28:57) Handling disputes over damage, missing parts, or quality issues (32:33) How ProShop automates documentation and visual tracking for outside operations (35:03) Liability and how heat treaters manage high-risk, high-value parts (38:28) The importance of empathy when resolving quality issues (39:57) Quoting faster: what information outside vendors need upfront (41:46) The “Hot Potato vs. Baton Pass” analogy—how to work as one unified team (43:40) Why relationship-building directly impacts quoting speed and quality priority (44:31) Eliminate risk by integrating your partners into your process  (46:41) Make sure you meet us at Top Shops 2025! Resources mentioned on this episode Phoenix Heat Treating's transparency advantage: real-time client portal tracking Drill in on your workholding with SMW Autoblok Get 20% off your Top Shops 2025 ticket with code MAK20 Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn  Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

This week on What The Truck?!?, Malcolm Harris kicks off a loaded four-piece Monday special with powerhouse guests and big industry takes. FreightWaves' own Craig Fuller returns fresh off an epic F3 and unloads on the ATA's “driver shortage” myth, calling for accountability and smarter policy to protect veteran drivers and restore safety across the roads. Next up, Craig Leinauer of Travelers digs into the rising broker liability crisis — from contract traps to AI-enhanced cargo theft and cluster scams — and shares critical steps brokers can take to protect their business. Then, Dan Cicerchi, GM and VP of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes MacroPoint, breaks down the future of visibility, automation, and AI-driven fraud prevention, and how trust and data accuracy continue to power smarter supply chains. Finally, Mike Beckwith of Odyssey Logistics joins the show to talk 3PL automation, capacity pain points, and market inflection, with a no-BS look at tech adoption, regulation, and how carriers are staying agile in a tightening economy. Packed with insight, candor, and a few mic-drop moments — this is one What The Truck?!? you don't want to miss. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on What The Truck?!?, Malcolm Harris kicks off a loaded four-piece Monday special with powerhouse guests and big industry takes. FreightWaves' own Craig Fuller returns fresh off an epic F3 and unloads on the ATA's “driver shortage” myth, calling for accountability and smarter policy to protect veteran drivers and restore safety across the roads. Next up, Craig Leinauer of Travelers digs into the rising broker liability crisis — from contract traps to AI-enhanced cargo theft and cluster scams — and shares critical steps brokers can take to protect their business. Then, Dan Cicerchi, GM and VP of Transportation Management Solutions at Descartes MacroPoint, breaks down the future of visibility, automation, and AI-driven fraud prevention, and how trust and data accuracy continue to power smarter supply chains. Finally, Mike Beckwith of Odyssey Logistics joins the show to talk 3PL automation, capacity pain points, and market inflection, with a no-BS look at tech adoption, regulation, and how carriers are staying agile in a tightening economy. Packed with insight, candor, and a few mic-drop moments — this is one What The Truck?!? you don't want to miss. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huawei matters, not just because it's the world's largest telecommunications company, but because it reveals so much about contemporary Chinese economics and politics. In House of Huawei, just shortlisted for the FT business book of the year, the Washington Post's Eva Dou has written the untold story of this mysterious company that has shaken the world. As much about its reclusive founder, Ren Zhengfei, as it is about the telco manufacturer, Dou tells the story of one the great economic miracles of new Chinese economy. From its scrappy origins selling telephone switches to becoming a global tech giant capable of challenging American supremacy, Huawei embodies China's transformation—and the increasingly fraught collision between Chinese ambition and Western power that now defines our geopolitical moment. And in overtaking Sweden's Ericsson as the world's dominant telecommunications equipment supplier, Huawei's rise marks a fundamental shift in global technological leadership from West to East. What was once unthinkable—a Chinese company displacing the century-old Swedish pioneer that had long symbolized European technological excellence (and neutrality)—became inevitable, revealing how quickly the old order can crumble when confronted by innovative and dynamic state-backed industrial ambition. Yeah, Huawei matters. As Dou acknowledges, the Huawei story might even offer some signposts for Western companies - like Intel and even Nvidia and OpenAI - struggling to keep up with the pace of Chinese state capitalism. 1. Huawei's Rise Embodies China's State Capitalism Model Huawei's transformation from scrappy startup to global telecommunications leader reveals how China combines entrepreneurial dynamism with strategic state support—a hybrid model that has proven remarkably effective at challenging Western technological dominance while defying simple categorization as either purely private enterprise or state-controlled entity.2. Ren Zhengfei Remains One of Modern China's Most Enigmatic Figures The reclusive founder's personal story—from military engineer to billionaire industrialist—mirrors China's own transformation, yet he has deliberately cultivated mystery around both himself and his company, making Huawei simultaneously China's most successful global brand and its most opaque major corporation.3. The Huawei Story Reveals Fundamental Tensions in US-China Relations America's aggressive campaign against Huawei, from the arrest of Ren's daughter Meng Wanzhou to equipment bans across the West, demonstrates how technological competition has become the central battleground of twenty-first century geopolitics, with telecommunications infrastructure emerging as contested territory in ways that transcend traditional trade disputes.4. Huawei's Displacement of Ericsson Marks a Historic Power Shift The fact that a Chinese company could overtake Sweden's century-old telecommunications pioneer—long synonymous with European technological excellence and neutrality—represents more than market competition; it signals a fundamental reordering of global technological leadership from West to East that seemed unthinkable just decades ago.5. Understanding Huawei is Essential to Understanding Contemporary China Huawei serves as a lens through which to examine China's economic miracle, its relationship between private entrepreneurship and state power, its technological ambitions, and the growing friction between Chinese industrial policy and Western concerns about security, sovereignty, and fair competition—making the company's story inseparable from broader questions about China's role in the world.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

The Supreme Court will hear Hencely v. Fluor on November 3, revisiting a decades-old precedent that shields contractors from state-law claims tied to military operations. Here to explain how the combatant activities exception works, and why this case could reshape risk and accountability for contractors in conflict zones is Lisa Himes of counsel with Rogers Joseph O'Donnell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textIn a rural co-op where mold and rot ruin homes, neglect and the lack of a maintenance budget, highlight the cheap construction. Can the architect be liable for this decay, years after completion?Learn why maintenance matters, how durable construction saves money in the long term, and why empathy often bests arrogance.Connect with Pro-Demnity: Leave a Review Follow us on LinkedIn Access our Risk Education Library Speak with a Risk Services Expert if you're an Ontario architect seeking guidance for a risk management issue. Thank you for listening.

Today, artificial intelligence is cemented as essential infrastructure in the legal world, marked by a record $2.4 billion in funding for legal tech startups in 2025, which signals a significant opportunity to rebuild the legal stack. This widespread adoption sees over half of in-house legal teams actively using generative AI for tasks like legal research and drafting documents. However, this revolutionary technological shift is unfolding alongside severe professional liabilities, as documented incidents reveal that attorneys and even court staff have utilized generative AI, resulting in embarrassing public failures where court filings and draft judicial orders contained fabricated citations and factual inaccuracies, often called "hallucinations". For example, one major U.S. firm publicly apologized and agreed to pay over $55,000 in attorneys' fees to compensate for the additional work required to identify and correct these AI-generated errors in a bankruptcy case. Australia sues Microsoft for misleading Microsoft 365 users about Copilot subscription options2025-10-27 | TheRegister.comRobin AI making job cuts after $50m funding setback, Sifted reports2025-10-26 | NonBillable.co.ukAI's Impact on the Legal Profession: Takeaways From Microsoft Research for Canadian Lawyers2025-10-26 | Stephen's LighthouseMore in-house legal teams use AI despite trust concerns: ACC survey2025-10-25 | Outsource AcceleratorMajor U.S. Law Firm Apologizes for AI-Generated Errors in Bankruptcy Court Filing2025-10-25 | JDJournalPaul Weiss' Top Supreme Court Lawyer Calls Trump's Institutional Attacks “Regrettable”2025-10-25 | JDJournalFree vs. paid AI options for legal work2025-10-24 | Thomson ReutersFederal Judges Admit Staff Used AI to Craft Court Orders Containing Inaccurate Info2025-10-24 | Breitbart.comAI for legal documents: Unlocking a competitive edge2025-10-24 | Legal.ThomsonReuters.comPera Chairs PLI Webinar on “The Law and Ethics of NewLaw 2025”2025-10-24 | Adams & Reese LLPWhat Some Of Legal Tech's Smartest Observers Had To About AI At Inspire2025-10-24 | Above The LawLarge US law firm apologizes for AI errors in bankruptcy court filing2025-10-24 | ReutersGoogle to pay $190 million in legal fees to Texas' law firms in privacy settlement2025-10-24 | ReutersAI Makes Inroads in Legal Industry as Funding Tops $2.4 Billion2025-10-24 | PYMNTS.comJudges Admit Staff Used AI in Error Filled Court Orders2025-10-24 | Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion | Judges Admit Staff Used AI in Error Filled Court OrdersCase Closed: Why Every Lawyer Needs to Be Listening to Podcasts2025-10-24 | LLRXAttorney Laura Smalley Explores AI and Patent Enablement Requirements2025-10-24 | Harris Beach MurthaAlternative Legal Careers: A Guide to Thriving Beyond Traditional Law Practice2025-10-24 | AxiomLaw.comHot Topics in Commercial Law2025-10-24 | Business Law TodayStates will play key role in regulation: Mallik2025-10-24 | Payments DiveJustice by Design: Can legal tech deliver on its promise?2025-10-24 | ABA JournalLegal scholars reveal 'very successful way' Trump 'destroys the efficacy of law'2025-10-24 | AlterNet.orgThe legal lowdown: insights for health and social care organisations and investors2025-10-24 | AshfordsAshfords on ESG episode 3 - The role of AI in shaping the future of ESG2025-10-24 | AshfordsMichelle M. Gervais Named to Florida Trend's List of 500 Most Influential Executives 20252025-10-24 | Blank RomeCybersecurity Awareness Month in Focus, Part II: Practical Data Rights Request Compliance Tips for Canadian Privacy Leaders2025-10-24 | Ogletree DeakinsPublication | 3 minute read Higher Education and the Next Wave of Pixel-Tracking Litigation: Lessons from the Michigan VPPA Decision2025-10-24 | Thompson Coburn LLPHiring with Confidence in the AI Era: 3 Trends to Spot and 7 Ways to Safeguard Your Process2025-10-24 | Fisher & Phillips LLP

Sara & Ed chat with Martin Olszynski about Alberta's mounting energy liability crisis.They discuss the billions in future costs for decommissioning, remediation, and reclamation of oil and gas projects as well as the challenge in accurately quantifying government and public exposure to financial and environmental risk amid profound energy sector disruption. The question isn't whether these liabilities will materialize—it's who pays when they do. It's a lively and wide-ranging conversation that sparked a flood of audience questions.Show Notes available on the episode pageAbout Our Guest:Martin Olszynski is an Associate Professor and the current Chair in Energy, Resources, and Sustainability at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. Martin's primary research interests are in environmental, natural resources, and water law and policy. He has appeared as a witness in regulatory hearings, committee hearings of both the House of Commons and the Senate, and as counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada. From 2020 to 2025, he was a member of the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada's advisory council on impact assessment.Energy vs Climate relies on the support of our generous listenersDonate to keep EvC going Send us a text (if you'd like a response, please include your email)Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts ___Energy vs Climate Podcastwww.energyvsclimate.com Contact us at info@energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

Summer Wilson explains that serious and willful misconduct isn't insurable and stresses employers' duty to provide appropriate PPE—drawing on lessons from a fatal inhalation case and pointing to … Read More » The post PPE, Liability, and Risk Management in Cannabis Workplaces | Insuring Cannabis Summit 2025 appeared first on Insurance Journal TV.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Ever looked at your agency's bank account and thought, “We're crushing it!” only to realize two months later that half that cash wasn't really yours yet? Or maybe you've hit that milestone where you start wondering what your agency might be worth if you sold it tomorrow… but your books are a confusing mix of guesswork and gut feelings. Today's featured guest was a finance expert before falling in love with the agency world and has the experience to show how smart financial planning (not just getting more clients) can completely reshape your agency's future. From forecasting and cash flow to the hard truths about selling, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons every agency owner needs to hear. Lacie Edgeman is the partner and co-owner of PrograMetrix, a digital paid media agency that focuses exclusively on programmatic advertising. With a background in finance, she oversees operations and financial strategy. However, like most small-agency leaders, she's worn just about every hat at some point. Her unique blend of financial discipline and operational savvy has helped her agency grow smart, not just fast. In this episode, we'll discuss: The superpower too many agencies ignore. Cash vs. accrual accounting. Why you should always be tracking these two KPIs. How much cash should you keep in the bank? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. How a Finance Major Became an Agency Owner After earning a finance degree, Lacie joined a digital agency in Austin as a billing coordinator and quickly discovered she loved the chaos. “You either love it or you hate it,” she says. “I love the fast pace environment and the fact that it challenges me.” That early exposure to how agencies really work, from billing quirks to client chaos, gave her a perspective most creatives never get. By the time she joined PrograMetrix, she wasn't just another partner with ideas; she was the numbers-minded operator who could make sure every big creative idea actually paid off. Forecasting: The Superpower Too Many Agencies Ignore From a finance perspective, Lacie's biggest message for agency owners is to stop running their business off their checking account. “Future planning is where most agencies miss the mark,” she says. It's important to review your historical, of course, but Lacie recommends creating a forecast and revisit it quarterly. This way, if you want to add $1 million in take-home revenue, you can map out exactly which KPIs need to move to make that happen.. This is way, if you, for instance, want to add $1 million in take-home revenue, you can map exactly which KPIs need to move to make that happen. That forward focus creates smarter, calmer decisions; especially when things get uncertain. You can't sleep easy until you know what's coming in, what's going out, and how your pipeline will affect cash flow six months from now. Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: How to Stop Fooling Yourself About Profit When Lacie joined PrograMetrix in 2019, one of her first moves was switching from cash accounting to accrual accounting, a game changer for any media agency. Why? Because when you're handling large media budgets, those big lump payments from clients don't actually mean profit. Accrual accounting forces you to recognize revenue when the work is done, not when the check clears. “It's the only way to see what's actually happening,” Lacie explains. Otherwise, agencies can get fooled into thinking they're thriving when all they've done is temporarily hold pass-through media dollars. For anyone running paid media, she considers accrual accounting “painful but essential.” Furthermore, accrual accounting becomes critical when you're planning to sell your agency. It's not just about cleaner books, it's about protecting your valuation. In cash accounting, all incoming payments hit your revenue the moment they land, even if you haven't delivered the work yet. That can make your agency look healthier than it really is. However, a smart buyer will spot it—and they'll adjust your purchase price down to reflect any undelivered work. If you're serious about eventually selling, move to accrual accounting early so your books reflect true earned revenue. It not only helps you understand your real profitability but also builds trust with future buyers. Building the Right Financial Advisory Team for Your Agency Anyone with prior experience selling a business will probably tell you “if you're planning on selling soon, don't rely solely on a broker”. Brokers are financially motivated to close the deal fast, not to get the best terms. Instead, surround yourself with people who don't have skin in the game. Considering that most agency owners probably come from a creative background, Lacie suggests finding financial mentors or advisers who will tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. You don't have to become a QuickBooks expert, but you do need to understand what your financials are saying about the health of your business. 2 KPIs Every Agency Owner Should Track If Lacie were stranded on an island and could only get one napkin of financials, it'd include two numbers: Topline Revenue (excluding media spend) EBITDA (basically your take-home before taxes) EBITDA is very important here, because you can have great revenue but without free flowing funds to invest back in the business, you'll still be a red flag for potential buyers. Those two tell her almost everything about an agency's financial health. “You can only cut costs so far,” she says. “At some point, you have to grow the top line strategically.” The real game is in balancing both, keeping a clean cost structure while expanding profitable revenue. Owners should also understand adjusted EBITDA, which adjusts for one-off expenses, to get a clearer view of your operational performance. It's something a potential buyer would do any way to get a more accurate picture of your agency's financial health. How Much Cash Should You Keep in Reserve? Ask ten agency owners this question, and you'll get ten answers. Lacie says three months of operating cash is the industry rule of thumb, though she's heard advisers tell sellers to shrink that down to one month before an acquisition. Many would disagree with that advice, but ultimately the right number depends on your risk tolerance and client concentration. If a single client dominates your revenue, then the most important advice would be to secure a line of credit before you need it. Losing a “gorilla client” (one worth more than 20% of your revenue) can wreck cash flow overnight. A credit line buys you breathing room so you don't start saying yes to bad clients just to make payroll. Niching Down Is the Key to Profitability and Valuation For Lacie, niching down was the single best move for PrograMetrix. “When you try to be everything to everyone, you can't scale,” she says. Every one-off client that doesn't fit your core offer quietly drains profit and focus. She urges agency owners to ask themselves if they're offering the right services and double down on what they're great at, not just good at. The rule is simple: the more focused you are, the more you can charge. Start by raising prices for new clients and soon the gap between legacy clients and new ones will convince you of the need to raise prices for legacy clients too. One mastermind member added $72,000 in monthly recurring revenue simply by repricing existing clients after niching. Each year, Lacie's team audits their client roster to identify accounts they've outgrown. It's never easy—many are long-time relationships—but letting go of clients who no longer fit is what creates room for bigger, better ones. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

In this episode of the Business of Aesthetics Podcast, host Don Adeesha is joined by Dr. Alexis Delobaux, a world-renowned plastic surgeon, pioneer in high-definition body contouring, and the creator of the groundbreaking SMART BBL. The discussion, titled "Beyond Blind Injections: How Dr. Delobaux's SMART BBL is Redefining Safety and Liability," tackles the immense patient safety and liability risks associated with one of the industry's most in-demand procedures, the Brazilian Butt Lift. Dr. Delobaux provides an essential blueprint for how pioneering a new standard of care isn't just about offering what's popular, but about pioneering what's safe. Dr. Delobaux details the specific anatomical dangers of the traditional "blind" BBL, explaining how the risk of a fatal pulmonary fat embolism (PFE) comes from accidentally injecting fat into the large veins within and below the gluteal muscle. He shares the story of how a patient's question about safety sparked his journey to find a solution. The answer was the SMART BBL, a revolutionary technique that uses real-time ultrasound to transform the procedure from a tactile, feel-based surgery into a precise, visually-guided, and data-driven one. This shift allows surgeons to see every anatomical layer, ensuring fat is placed exclusively in the safe subcutaneous space and never in the muscle. Beyond preventing catastrophic complications, Dr. Delobaux explains how this visual precision leads to superior aesthetic outcomes, including better fat survival, symmetry, and contour regularity by targeting specific deep compartments. From a business perspective, adopting this technique is presented as essential for future-proofing a practice. Dr. Delobaux discusses how the state of Florida now mandates ultrasound for BBLs, signaling a new legal standard of care that significantly impacts a clinic's liability and enhances patient trust during the informed consent process. Finally, Dr. Delobaux addresses the resistance to new technology within the surgical community and outlines the manageable learning curve for mastering the ultrasound-guided technique. His key takeaway for all practitioners is an unwavering focus on "Safety, safety, safety". He makes a powerful case that when technology exists to lower the risk of an aesthetic procedure, there is an ethical obligation to adopt it, because no patient should risk their life for the sake of beautification.

 Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABEDon't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2025Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitabilityMake sure you mention: CTISUMMER to get FREE data migration!If you're ready to make a real change in your shop's success, join Shop Marketing Pros' Plan With the Pros workshop this October to connect with them and other shop owners. You'll leave with your entire year for 2026 planned out. Click here to register: https://geni.us/PlanWithTheProsShop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into one sleek, digital platform.Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Ken Miller, owner of 821 Collision and president of AASP New Jersey. Ken outlines the ongoing challenges faced in the collision repair industry, stressing the relentless pressure from insurance companies and their impact on repair quality. He shares a chilling story about uncovering dangerously incomplete repairs on a nearly new vehicle, emphasizing the importance of thorough inspections and documentation. The conversation also explores the increasing overlap between collision and mechanical shops, driven by the complexities of ADAS systems and the need for greater collaboration and education in both fields.00:00 Insurance Challenges Undermine Auto Repair05:09 Tampered Seat Belt System Detected08:00 Post-Collision Inspection Basics12:45 Car Repair Struggles and Inspections13:26 Car Imperfections and Concerns16:43 Professional Responsibility Irrefutable20:29 Insurers' Auto Settlement Practices24:50 Researching Title 17 Regulations28:22 CEO-Employee Pay Gap Concerns32:29 Dispute Over $40K Repairs36:36 Calibration and Liability in Auto Repairs40:22 Reluctance in Auto Repair Challenges42:08 Insurance Companies' Calibration Dispute46:44 Licensure Tied to I-CAR Accreditation50:01 "Advanced Auto Tools Misjudged"51:44 Challenges in Training and Labor Rates55:46 Expanding Mechanical Team in NJ58:14 Enhancing Mechanical Show Value

Spills don't wait for business hours, and neither should your coverage. We dig into transportation pollution liability with Mike Padula, President of Starwind Environmental, to discuss why relying solely on MCS-90 or CA 99 48 can leave painful gaps when real-world logistics meet environmental scrutiny. From remote cleanups to loading dock mishaps, we break down how TPL delivers true risk transfer, rapid response, and specialized claims handling that standard endorsements simply can't handle alone.We explore hidden exposures many teams overlook: loading and unloading, staging, third-party carrier use, and non-auto modes like rail and watercraft. If you advise motor carriers, shippers, or anyone moving goods, this conversation will help you turn compliance into real protection and keep operations moving when the unexpected occurs.Subscribe for more specialist insights from CRC Group and share this episode with colleagues who handles transportation risks. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What would happen if one client lawsuit, one hacked account, or one missed renewal completely wiped out your agency? Have you ever stopped to think about how exposed your business really is even if you're “doing everything right”? Today's featured guest started his career working in the insurance industry and eventually found a love for marketing. He talks about the side of agency life most people ignore: protecting what you've built, and breaks down how to safeguard your business with the right insurance, why every agency should have cyber liability coverage, and how a “give first” mindset has helped him land major clients like Daymond John, Chris Voss, and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Draye Redfern is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Redfern Media and FractionalCMO. Over the past decade, he's built and sold multiple companies, including a $40M insurance agency acquired by one of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries. With 15 years in risk management and a passion for modern marketing, Draye now helps businesses scale smarter while protecting their downside. In this episode, we'll discuss: How “Growth Blindness” Can Hurt Your Business. The Hidden Risk Most Agencies Ignore. Why You Probably Need a Cyber Liability Insurance. How to Get Big Clients by being in the Right Rooms. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. The Unlikely Path From Insurance to Marketing Draye grew up in a household where entrepreneurship was a way of life. His dad owned a business, and by age 12, Draye was doing the grunt work: filing papers, scanning documents, and learning what it really meant to keep a company running. He had a front-row seat to the chaos and grit of small business. Over time, Draye realized he had a knack for marketing. His early ideas sometimes outperformed everyone else's, and by his early 20s, he was leading the marketing division of a $28 million firm. Under his direction, they scaled past $40 million in annual revenue. That success led to the company's eventual sale to none other than one of the Berkshire Hathaway companies. Stop Being Growth Blind and Start Protecting the Downside While most marketers are obsessed with lead flow and growth, Draye brings a completely different mindset to the table: protect the downside first. After spending 15 years insurance and the risk management world, he learned that too many businesses are “growth blind.” They're chasing top-line numbers while leaving themselves totally exposed if something goes wrong. For his part, Draye thinks about how to mitigate downside risks first and then, once he has that locked down, then he starts thinking about growth. Admittedly, it's backwards from how most people do it, but it's what makes the most sense to him.  The Hidden Risk Most Agencies Ignore Why does Draye prioritize mitigating downside growth? Most agencies don't think about errors and omissions (E&O) insurance until it's too late. One poorly worded ad, a leaked password, or a miscommunication with a client could lead to a lawsuit that costs hundreds of thousands—if not millions—in legal fees. That's why he recommends a basic “risk protection stack” for agency owners: General Liability – Covers physical damages or slip-and-fall type issues. Employment Practices (EPLI) – Protects against HR-related claims. Errors & Omissions (E&O) – Covers mistakes or oversights in your work. Cyber Liability – Protects against data breaches and hacks. As Draye puts it, marketing agencies hold the keys to dozens of client kingdoms. If you get hacked, they get hacked. Protect yourself first, then scale. Why Every Agency Owner Needs Cyber Liability (and What Happens If You Don't) Most agency owners assume general liability insurance has them covered. Slip-and-fall in the office? Sure. But what about when a client's site gets hacked because one of your team members reused a password? Or when a campaign you ran unintentionally exposes customer data? That's not covered: this is where cyber liability and errors & omissions (E&O) insurance come in. Here's where most people go wrong: they forget to renew. Unlike car or home insurance, E&O and cyber liability policies are “claims-made” policies. That means you're only covered if the policy is active when the claim is filed, not when the incident happened. So if you let your policy lapse, even for a few weeks, you could lose coverage for everything that happened in previous years. That's why many experienced owners “tail out” their policies when they sell or sunset a business. Tail coverage locks in past protection for a set number of years. It costs more upfront but prevents millions in potential exposure later. Keep your coverage active, review it annually, and don't cut corners to save a few hundred bucks. Think of it as part of your agency's operating system, not an optional add-on. Lessons From Selling to Berkshire Hathaway When Berkshire Hathaway came calling, he learned just how deep corporate due diligence can go. “They fly out all their MBAs and basically give your business a financial colonoscopy,” he joked. But that process forced him to see business from a different lens—as an asset, not a job. He walked away with not just a successful exit, but also a new appreciation for how structure, systems, and compliance create enterprise value. How to Get Big Clients: Ask Questions, Be in the Room, and Give First Draye's agency has publicly traded companies in its current client roster, with some notable names including Dr Benjamin Hardy and Chris Voss, and almost all of those brands came to his agency because Draye was in the right rooms to strike up conversation. As he puts it, successful people like to hang around other successful people. To him, his job in the agency at this point is figuring out how to get invited into the room with the right people, which includes joining masterminds and attending events. Even with big clients, Draye recommends offering value first without expecting anything in return. I'll give them an idea of the work you do and, if they like it, they'll have you in mind the next time they need agency services. For instance, after attending a talk by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Draye had the chance to chat with him and learned he was pulling in over 30,000 email opt-ins a month but wasn't monetizing them. Instead of pitching a retainer, Draye built him a simple funnel — for free — that started generating $10,000 a month in passive revenue. A few months later, Hardy came back and asked, “What else can you do?” That turned into a long-term partnership and a roster of launches that ran for years. How to Stand Out and Make People Feel Seen Draye's other secret weapon is personalization. Not the lazy kind where someone drops your name into a cold email template. Real personalization. When a prospect says they're interested, his team clones a landing page, updates the name in the headline (“Welcome, John!”), and records a 30-second video personally greeting them. The whole process takes fifteen minutes, but it makes people feel like they matter, and that's the part most agencies forget. That simple touch has led to multiple referrals, long-term clients, and lasting loyalty. As Draye puts it, “People don't want to feel like a number. They want to feel like they matter.” This type of simple gesture is usually something clients talk about non-stop, because the more automated the world gets, the more human connection stands out. Old School Is the New Advantage While everyone else is obsessing over AI and inbox deliverability, Draye see a lot of potential on a forgotten channel: direct mail. “People's inboxes are full, but their mailboxes are empty,” he explained. “So, when something real shows up, it stands out.” He's seen massive ROI from direct mail, especially when paired with personalized URLs (PURLs) and custom video. It's more expensive upfront, sure, but it cuts through the noise. Something to keep in mind for agency owners trying to stand out at a time when your client's emails are probably inundated with the same offers everyone is sending out. From his own experience, he says “if I were to look at our client base across the various businesses, the vast majority came from direct mail.” Protect Your Business and Hang Out in Different Rooms Draye shares two pieces of advice for agency owners: You never know what's around the corner, so protect your business. Spend the couple thousand bucks on proper coverage. Don't risk your agency's future over something preventable. Change your rooms. If you only hang out with other marketers, you're limiting your reach. Take Jay Abraham's advice and go fishing in someone else's swimming hole. Attend events for other industries, add value, and you'll be amazed at who you meet. In short, Draye's philosophy blends practical protection with proactive growth. Be bold enough to give first, smart enough to protect what you've built, and intentional enough to show up where the right people are. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

DEAR PAO: Liability of restaurants in food poisoning cases | Oct. 19, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein#TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of AD Nauseam, Amy and Daniel explore the topic of individual liability as it relates to FTC cases, and the importance of listening to complaints and responding appropriately from the start.Questions & Comments: amudge@bakerlaw.com or dkaufman@bakerlaw.com

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Ever wonder why some brand podcasts blow up while others die after five episodes? Or why a few companies seem to build die-hard fans while other can't seem to connect? Today's guest specializes in helping brands create podcasts that deliver true value. He explains how brands can use podcasting to build real connection, not just rack up downloads. From breaking up with the traditional ad world to creating top-ranked shows for global brands, he reveals why consistency, authenticity, and a bit of weirdness might be your secret weapons. Roger Nairn is the Co-Founder and CEO of JAR Podcast Solutions, a brand podcast agency based in Vancouver, BC. With a 25-person team, Roger helps brands like Amazon and Sage create shows that connect deeply with their audiences. After spending over two decades in the advertising world at top agencies like DDB and Cossette, he's now on a mission to show companies that the real ROI of podcasting isn't downloads, it's attention and connection. In this episode, we'll discuss: What brands really want in a podcast. Why consistency beats quick wins. Audiences prefer audio podcasts over video ones. Why is that? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. From Ad Exec to Agency Founder Before podcasting, Roger spent more than 22 years in the traditional advertising world and loved the culture, but he noticed the industry shifting. Programmatic ads were taking over, budgets were shrinking, and the whole game was turning into a race to the bottom. Around the same time, Roger started podcasting as a hobby, mainly as an excuse to talk to people he admired like Seth Godin and Stefan Sagmeister. When he eventually connected with his co-founders, they realized there was a wide-open opportunity for brands to use podcasts in a smarter way. JAR Podcast Solutions was born. The idea wasn't just to launch shows, but to help brands understand their audiences and create the kind of binge-worthy audio content that builds trust over time. What Brands Really Want in a Podcast One of Roger's first steps was sending out message to ten different businesses on LinkedIn. The second response he received referred him to the head of marketing of Sage, a brand whose audience wanted to explore wellness beyond traditional medicine. A few days later they sat down to discuss what a podcast could look like for that brand and ended up creating Well Now, a show about taking control of your health through alternative approaches and powerful personal stories. The show took off, so much so that it briefly outranked Oprah in Apple's health and wellness category. The key wasn't just producing episodes, it was research. Roger's team uncovered what Sage's audience really wanted and built the podcast around those needs. This is true for every brand wanting to launch a podcast: stop creating content for yourself, and start with what your audience actually cares about. Consistency Beats Quick Wins Contrary to what many think, podcasting is not an overnight growth hack. Too many brands think they'll see results instantly. The reality is building an audience takes time. The good news is that, according to Roger, the podcast industry remains incredibly friendly and willing to collaborate, which is a great way reach new audiences. Other important steps to grow include pitching your show to big platforms like Apple Podcasts and getting them to feature it, as well as the actual merchandizing of the show. All of this, however, will amount to nothing without the most important element: consistency. If you want to stay consistent, do not compare yourself with the big players out there. This is the biggest enemy of consistency and will only lead to frustration. Don't expect to be the next Joe Rogan in year one or you'll end up disappointed and unmotivated to keep posting. Instead of focusing on vanity metrics like downloads, Roger recommends focusing on consumption. Without a doubt, creating a podcast might be the single most important things you can do to build your brand. If your listeners are spending two hours a month with the brand, that's two hours of intimate attention—something no other marketing channel can match. Why Audio Wins Over Video While many companies want both video and audio, audio tends to outperform. According to Roger, this happens because listening to a podcast is intimate. It's you in someone's ear while they drive, work out, or walk the dog. It's “me time,” not multitasking. Compare that to video, where distractions are constant and attention spans are short. Unless you're a celebrity like the Kelce brothers or Joe Rogan, most people aren't going to watch two talking heads for hours. They'll sample a short video clip, but they'll actually consume the full conversation in audio. The portability of podcasts makes them an executive's favorite medium, because you can take them anywhere, from the car to the gym to the airport lounge. In fact, new research shows that people will switch how they're watching throughout the day. They may start watching it on their TV and later switch to audio while they're at the gym. The Real Secret: Authenticity Over Perfection Beyond consistency, Roger emphasized that the best podcasts bring personality and vulnerability to the table. Listeners don't want a polished corporate message. They want the real you with flaws, mistakes, and all. Listeners often recall personal details Jason's mentioned on the show, like anecdotes about Aspen. That intimacy is what makes podcasts such a powerful trust-building tool. The trick is to stop trying to sound like someone else. Early on, stop trying to be the next Gary Vee and see how much better authenticity works with the audience. As long as you're being yourself and keep consistent with posting, you can become that reliable friend that is now part of their routine and consistently delivers value to them. Once they're loyal listeners who trust you, joining your community - or even buying from you - becomes a natural next step. The Weird Side of Podcasting Of course, every podcaster has their weird stories. For his part, Roger recalled recording with a guest who had to set up shop in a hotel closet, surrounded by pillows and blankets, just to dampen the echo. Not glamorous, but it worked. Jason has also recorded a podcast at a hotel room, when right after a speaking event he was approached by two attendees who said they inspired him to start their own podcast and would go buy the equipment right that moment and wanted him to be their first guest. They saw the opportunity and took it. This is the reality of podcasting: it's not about perfection, it's about connection. If you're waiting for the perfect studio setup or production conditions, you'll never start. Get scrappy, launch, and let the consistency carry you forward. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

From internet service providers facing billion-dollar lawsuits for their users' file sharing to Amazon's smart displays turning into ad machines, the future of your connected life is up for grabs. If you want to know who's really pulling the strings in tech and where the battle lines are being drawn, this is the episode you can't miss. October Term 2025 Supreme Court denies Google's request to pause Play Store changes while it appeals Epic case I Want A New Drug. A Vaccine Even. And A Functioning FDA, CDC, NIH, Etc... AI videos of dead celebrities are horrifying many of their families Amazon's giant ads have ruined the Echo Show Chat Control: Germany says NEIN Apple Banned an App That Simply Archived Videos of ICE Abuses China Flexed. Trump Hit Back. So Much for the Thaw. Taiwan sees no significant impact on chip sector from China rare earths curbs FCC Chair Brendan Carr says major US online retailers have removed several million listings for prohibited Chinese electronics as part of the agency's crackdown Windows 10 support ends October 14, but here's how to get an extra year for free California bans loud commercials on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services Synology Reverses Policy Banning Third-Party HDDs After NAS sales plummet TiVo Exiting Legacy DVR Business - Media Play News Introducing Figure 03 Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Cathy Gellis, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, and Gary Rivlin Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fieldofgreens.com Promo Code "TWIT" NetSuite.com/TWIT shopify.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit expressvpn.com/twit

From internet service providers facing billion-dollar lawsuits for their users' file sharing to Amazon's smart displays turning into ad machines, the future of your connected life is up for grabs. If you want to know who's really pulling the strings in tech and where the battle lines are being drawn, this is the episode you can't miss. October Term 2025 Supreme Court denies Google's request to pause Play Store changes while it appeals Epic case I Want A New Drug. A Vaccine Even. And A Functioning FDA, CDC, NIH, Etc... AI videos of dead celebrities are horrifying many of their families Amazon's giant ads have ruined the Echo Show Chat Control: Germany says NEIN Apple Banned an App That Simply Archived Videos of ICE Abuses China Flexed. Trump Hit Back. So Much for the Thaw. Taiwan sees no significant impact on chip sector from China rare earths curbs FCC Chair Brendan Carr says major US online retailers have removed several million listings for prohibited Chinese electronics as part of the agency's crackdown Windows 10 support ends October 14, but here's how to get an extra year for free California bans loud commercials on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services Synology Reverses Policy Banning Third-Party HDDs After NAS sales plummet TiVo Exiting Legacy DVR Business - Media Play News Introducing Figure 03 Host: Leo Laporte Guests: Cathy Gellis, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, and Gary Rivlin Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fieldofgreens.com Promo Code "TWIT" NetSuite.com/TWIT shopify.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit expressvpn.com/twit

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What do you do when your career takes an unexpected left turn? And how do you know when it's time to stop hustling like a freelancer and start leading like a CEO? Today's featured guest found herself in that situation and made the bold choice to go from career misstep to becoming an agency owner. She'll dive into what it really takes to go from a one-woman shop with dial-up internet to leading a team with vision, systems, and staying power. From handwritten letters with a 15% close rate to breaking free from client dependency and leveraging AI without losing the human touch, she shares the hard-earned lessons every agency owner needs to hear. Kriston Sellier is the President and Founder of Id8, a specialized branding agency based in Atlanta. With more than 25 years in the business, she's built a reputation for helping food, beverage, and manufacturing brands stand out and thrive. Kriston is passionate about research-driven branding, cultivating strong communities, and proving that the human side of leadership is just as critical as the strategy. In this episode, we'll discuss:                                    Starting over after being fired. Outgrowing freelance mode. What do agency owners need to grow? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Thriving in the Agency World After Being Fired Kriston didn't step into agency ownership with a clean, corporate plan. She was fired. After leaving IBM to co-found an agency, she found herself pushed out after a handshake deal gone wrong. At 20-something, she was suddenly unemployed and staring down two options: get another job or finally chase her dream of starting her own shop. It wasn't easy, but that leap turned out to be the right one. Starting out with no clients, she set a modest goal of making $35,000 in her first year. Instead, she closed out her first nine months with $90,000. That was the moment she knew she wasn't just freelancing; she was building something real. From Cold Calls to Handwritten Letters: Building the First Client Base Kriston started with just a basement office and dial-up internet. Since this was the 90s, if her husband picked up the phone line upstairs it would disconnect the whole system. She started out making cold calls to every food and beverage brand in the Yellow Pages. Additionally, she also sent handwritten letters pitching her services, yielding an impressive 15% close rate. In today's digital-first world, that kind of return sounds impossible, but back then it got her first wave of clients. It's a reminder that persistence and a personal touch can cut through the noise, even if the tools have changed. Outgrowing Freelance Mode and Thinking Like a CEO Like many agency owners, Kriston spent the early years acting more like a freelancer than a CEO. That all changed in 2006 when one client made up 75% of her business. The sleepless nights and anxiety from being handcuffed to a single account forced her to rethink everything. A colleague recommended working with a business consultant, so Kriston hired one and for four years, she worked with a full-time consultant who helped her transition from operator to CEO. That shift meant putting systems in place, committing to sales, and most importantly, diversifying her client base. Within the first year of working with her consultant, she added 25 new clients and broke free from the one-client trap. What Agency CEOs Need to Grow? Kriston strongly believes that CEOs should surround themselves with subject matter experts. Every agency owner needs a good advisory board that tells them the truths they doesn't necessarily want to hear, which is why she recommends relying on financial, HR, and sales consultants that can help you look at things from a different perspective. Regarding her role as CEO, Kriston definitely sees herself as more of a coach than a manager. For her, leadership is about helping team members uncover the real issues behind their challenges and guiding them to their own solutions. Likewise, the best team members are those who show they're coachable and open to feedback. She doesn't see failure as the end of the road but as a symptom of something deeper. Her job is to help her team ask the right questions, recognize the root cause, and take ownership of the fix. That shift from micromanaging tasks to coaching outcomes not only freed her up as a leader but also empowered her team to make better decisions without her constant oversight. AI, Research, and the Future of Agencies Running a research-based agency, Kriston is a big fan of Perplexity, a research-focused AI she uses 20–40 times a day for everything from writing stronger emails to analyzing massive datasets. But she's quick to point out that AI isn't a replacement for agencies—it's an enhancer. Where some fear AI will eliminate agency work, Kriston agrees that companies will still want experts to navigate the complexity and not DIY everything themselves. Clients may use AI for certain tasks, but they'll still rely on agencies for strategy, creativity, and execution.. AI + human expertise is the winning formula. And with large organizations outsourcing more marketing again, Kriston believes the future is bright for agencies that bring innovation, research, and personal connection to the table. Cooperation Over Competition Kriston wants agency owners to stop treating each other like competitors and start seeing each other as collaborators. She believes the industry's future depends on agency owners being open, honest, and willing to share both wins and lessons learned. Most agency owners see every other shop as a threat when they're starting out, fearful of competition instead of open to collaboration. At some point, however, through masterminds and peer groups, they come to realize the real growth comes when owners start to build community and create strategic partnerships. For Kriston, it all comes back to community, the same mission she set when she started ID8 decades ago. Build the community, and the business will follow. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Dog bites, slips and falls, tenant injuries... what's typically covered (and what isn't) under homeowner and landlord policies. Then a quick primer on the Fourth Amendment: when police can (and can't) enter your home, and why not opening the door matters unless there's a warrant or exigent circumstances.Learn how to invest in real estate with the Cashflow 2.0 System! Your business in a box with 1:1 coaching, motivated seller leads, & softwares. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com/Want to work 1:1 with Ryan Pineda? Apply at ryanpineda.comJoin our FREE community, weekly calls, and bible studies for Christian entrepreneurs and business people. https://tentmakers.us/Want to grow your business and network with elite entrepreneurs on world-class golf courses? Apply now to join Mastermind19 – Ryan Pineda's private golf mastermind for high-level founders and dealmakers. www.mastermind19.com--- About Ryan Pineda: Ryan Pineda has been in the real estate industry since 2010 and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. He has completed over 700 flips and wholesales, and he owns over 650 rental units. As an entrepreneur, he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. Ryan has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generated over 1 billion views online. Starting as a minor league baseball player making less than $2,000 a month, Ryan is now worth over $100 million. He shares his experiences in building wealth and believes that anyone can change their life with real estate investing. ...

This conversation provides a comprehensive overview of tort law, focusing on the various types of damages, including compensatory, punitive, and nominal damages. It delves into the complexities of calculating damages, the role of vicarious liability, and the distinctions between wrongful death and survival actions. The discussion also covers important defenses such as mitigation of damages and the implications of statutes of limitations and repose. Overall, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding tort law and preparing for related exams.Imagine you're preparing for a torts exam, and one concept stands out as the linchpin of it all: damages. Whether it's negligence or intentional torts, the remedy is crucial. This post explores the intricacies of tort law, focusing on damages and vicarious liability.Compensatory Damages: Compensatory damages aim to address the actual loss or injury. They are divided into economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. Understanding the distinction between lost earnings and loss of earning capacity is vital, as the former looks backward while the latter gazes into the future.Punitive and Nominal Damages: Punitive damages serve to punish and deter, requiring proof of an "evil mind." Nominal damages, though symbolic, confirm a legal right was violated, potentially unlocking significant attorney's fees.Vicarious Liability: Vicarious liability holds one party responsible for another's actions due to their relationship. The doctrine of respondeat superior is key, determining if an employer is liable for an employee's torts. The distinction between a frolic and a detour is crucial in assessing liability.Advanced Claims and Defenses: The post delves into wrongful death and survival actions, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between them. It also covers the economic loss rule, maintaining the boundary between tort and contract law, and the statutes of limitations and repose.Tort law is complex, with damages and vicarious liability at its core. Understanding these concepts is essential for anyone studying or practicing law. As the legal landscape evolves, staying informed is crucial. Subscribe now for more insights into the world of law.TakeawaysTort law revolves around remedies, primarily damages.Compensatory damages aim to make the plaintiff whole.Punitive damages serve to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct.Nominal damages are awarded to acknowledge a legal wrong without substantial harm.The collateral source rule prevents defendants from benefiting from the plaintiff's insurance.Future damages must be reasonably certain to occur to be recoverable.Non-economic damages are subjective and often capped by state laws.Vicarious liability holds employers responsible for employees' actions within the scope of employment.Loss of consortium claims are derivative and depend on the main injury claim's success.Statutes of limitations and repose set strict deadlines for filing lawsuits.tort law, negligence, damages, vicarious liability, compensatory damages, punitive damages, wrongful death, survival actions, legal remedies, law exam preparation

Watch the full coverage of the live stream on  ⁨@TheEmilyDBaker⁩  YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/xJUJNoRx2DU Join us as we dive into the dramatic second part of the Cardi B trial, where unexpected twists and courtroom confrontations take center stage. The other two eye witnesses took the stand. Tierra Malcolm, the front desk receptionist at the doctor's office, provides a detailed account of the altercation, including being caught between Cardi B and Emani Ellis. Tierra describes being scratched on her forehead during the chaotic encounter. Though she can only assume it was Emani who scratched her because Cardi B was behind her the entire time. Dr. David Finke, Cardi B's OBGYN that day, was allowed to testify. He recounts demanding Emani Ellis multiple times but she would not follow his orders until a long time. This was the only time something like this happened in his practice. The jury reaches a unanimous "no liability" verdict in favor of Cardi B on all counts, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. Hear Cardi B's powerful post-verdict statement, where she firmly denies the allegations and issues a warning against frivolous lawsuits. The plaintiff, Emani Ellis, expresses disappointment with the verdict, attributing it to a flawed justice system RESOURCES Cardi B Trial Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCqlINOcqaMDonna Adelson Trial - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gL0_OPy2AliqyEjGcI8QzBu STAY IN THE LOOP WITH EMILY D. BAKER Download Our FREE App: https://lawnerdapp.com Get the Free Email Alert: https://www.LawNerdAlert.com Case Requests & Business Inquiries: TeamEmilyDBaker@wmeagency.com Help with the shop: https://www.lawnerdshop.com/pages/contact Mailing Address: Emily D. Baker 2000 Mallory Ln. St. 130-185, Franklin TN 37067 LAW NERD MERCH! https://www.LawNerdShop.com LONG FORM CONTENT https://www.youtube.com/@TheEmilyDBaker The Emily Show Podcast on YouTube: https://emilydbaker.com/TheEmilyShowPlaylist Apple Podcasts: https://emilydbaker.com/AppleTheEmilyShow Spotify Podcasts: https://emilydbaker.com/SpofityTheEmilyShow On your favorite podcast player Mondays EMILY ON SOCIAL @TheEmilyDBaker Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheEmilyDBaker Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/TheEmilyDBaker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEmilyDBaker MY YOUTUBE TOOLS **My Favorite YOUTUBE TOOL VidIQ https://vidiq.com/LawNerd Follow My Cats on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredandgeorge_cat Emily's glasses lenses are Irlen tint https://www.irlen.com *This video is not legal advice; it is commentary for educational and entertainment purposes. Some links shared are affiliate links, all sponsorships are stated in video. Videos are based on publicly available information unless otherwise stated. Sharing a resource is not an endorsement; it is a resource. Copyright 2020-2025 Baker Media, LLC* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on “Run a Profitable Gym,” host Mike Warkentin talks with attorney and former gym owner Matthew Becker of Gym Lawyers PLLC about how to use AI safely in your business without creating massive liability.Matthew breaks down the legal risks gym owners face when using AI tools, including operating outside their scope of practice, violating privacy laws and infringing on copyright.Improper AI use can even increase exposure to lawsuits and eliminate liability protection.So how can gym owners use AI without endangering their businesses?Matthew recommends fitness entrepreneurs use AI as a research and education tool, not as a substitute for professional services, and leverage it to streamline admin work, generate ideas and polish client-facing materials.Check out the full episode to find out how to save time with new technology while keeping your gym insulated from legal risk.You can get in touch with Matt at Gym Lawyers PLLC via the link below. LinksGym Lawyers PLLCGym Owners UnitedBook a Call3:06 - Scope of practice dangers7:32 - Increasing exposure & liability14:23 - Skipping professional support17:12 - Uploading confidential information25:34 - How to use AI safely

Is your AI built on quicksand? Learn how bad data, poisoned datasets, and deep fakes threaten your AI systems, and what to do about it.In this episode of CXOTalk (#896), AI luminaries Dr. David Bray and Dr. Anthony Scriffignano reveal the hidden dangers lurking in your AI foundations. They share practical strategies for building trustworthy AI systems and escaping the "AI quicksand" that traps countless organizations.

Chamarri Conner has been a liability in pass coverage full 384 Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:43:50 +0000 9gHYELiwpKH3RT0kEN7LCZYaGkU45ZJ1 nfl,kansas city chiefs,society & culture Cody & Gold nfl,kansas city chiefs,society & culture Chamarri Conner has been a liability in pass coverage Hosts Cody Tapp & Alex Gold team up for 610 Sports Radio's newest mid-day show "Cody & Gold."  Two born & raised Kansas Citians, Cody & Gold have been through all the highs and lows as a KC sports fan and they know the passion Kansas City has for their sports teams."Cody & Gold" will be a show focused on smart, sports conversation with the best voices from KC and around the country. It will also feature our listeners with your calls, texts & tweets as we want you to be a part of the show, not just a listener.  Cody & Gold, weekdays 10a-2p on 610 Sports Radio.  2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Society & Culture False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?

The sisters owned a Dairy Queen and paid their employees every two weeks, but the law in NY required weekly paychecks - a law many people did not know about. Lawsuits by employees exposed the owners to $6 million in liability but they eventually settled for less. The law has also been changed. https://www.lehtoslaw.com

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you really implementing AI in your agency the right way? Adding a random tool just to say you “use AI” isn't the game changer many agency owners hope it will be. In fact, chasing shiny AI solutions can waste time, drain resources, and create tools your team never actually uses. Many agency leaders, especially those aiming to build a sellable business, assume any form of AI integration will automatically boost their agency's value. But today's featured guest strongly disagrees. He's seen firsthand how agencies fall into the trap of building solutions first and searching for problems later, a costly mistake that does more harm than good. Instead, he's here to share how to approach AI adoption strategically, in ways that actually stick and drive real results. Ken McLoud is the CEO of Laconic Technologies, a business that aims to help agencies figure out how to make AI actually useful. His specialty is finding high-leverage spots in your agency where AI can unlock growth without bloating your headcount. Ken helps owners avoid wasted tools and instead roll out AI that gives their teams real superpowers. In this episode we'll discuss: How agency owners are forcing AI integration the wrong way. When to use custom code. A case study of real world wins and misses. The future of AI in agencies. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Stop Forcing AI Where It Doesn't Belong Ken specializes in helping agency owners start to think strategically about AI. One of the first things he warns about is the “solution in search of a problem” trap. Too many agency owners decide, “We need to be using AI somewhere,” and then jam it into the wrong part of the business. That usually leads to tools that sound cool but don't move the needle, or worse, meet resistance from the very team that's supposed to use them. Instead, Ken suggests starting with the business itself. Are you demand-constrained (needing more leads) or supply-constrained (too much work, not enough capacity)? His litmus test is simple: if a fairy godmother doubled your clients overnight, would you cheer or panic? That answer tells you where the bottleneck really is, and that's the exact spot where AI should be applied. Case Study: Smarter Finance Insights with AskQuick.ai Ken worked to build AskQuick.ai with Nate Jenson, a fractional CFO who worked with tons of agencies. Nate had deep financial expertise but needed a way to scale his brain. Together, they built AskQuick.ai, a chatbot trained on Nate's own textbook of agency finance. The result was a tool that taps into a client's QuickBooks data to deliver specific insights, like spotting which clients are actually losing money. After a rebrand, he is now marketing the product as a simple, agency-friendly tool rather than a complex back-end. No-Code Tools vs. Custom Code: Where's the Breaking Point? Every agency owner has been tempted by tools like N8N, Zapier, or Make.com. According to Ken, these tools are perfect for simple workflows and stuff you could explain in one or two sentences. These tools are often pitched as something anyone with a computer and no experience ca n use, but once your automation starts piling up with dozens of nodes, things break constantly, and you spend more time fixing than benefiting. That's when it's smarter to build custom code. Ken compares it to driving stick shift: more control, less frustration, and often a way faster solution. AI As a Superpower Not a Replacement For Ken, the real promise of AI isn't replacing people, but rather upgrading them. He calls it “giving your team superpowers.” By offloading the repetitive, low-value work to AI, you free up your people to focus on strategy, creativity, and client impact. Instead of fearing AI, most teams welcome it. Nobody loves repetitive tasks, and when you use AI to clear that away, your staff gets to spend more time on what actually lights them up. Real-World Wins (and Misses) If you're wondering how some agencies are using AI right, Ken has seen quite a few examples. For instance, an Australian medical agency built a custom chatbot trained on years of proprietary medical content. The tool now helps their writers quickly draft accurate, technical marketing content; something that would have taken hours of research before. Huge win. On the other hand, this agency built a classic example of a solution in search of a problem. Basically, the owner wanted an elaborate folder system to organize AI chats. It sounded clever, but the writers never actually needed it. Why? Because new AI queries were faster than digging through folders. A perfect example of chasing a solution before identifying a real problem. The Future of AI in Agencies in Plain English Looking ahead, Ken sees AI becoming a tool to replace code and processes. Many things we used to hardwire with messy “if-this-then-that” logic can now be handled with prompts. That means non-technical agency owners can adjust systems in plain English instead of hiring a developer every time they need a change. These tools can make all the difference for agencies that get hundreds of deals come through every day and need a quick way to sort through the ones that can be most profitable from those that likely won't. In these cases speed is everything and AI can deliver in a way that human response cannot. However, Ken is also clear that not every problem should be handed to AI. High-value, low-risk areas, like grading prospects or filtering opportunities, are perfect testing grounds. Mission-critical, high-risk functions will probably still need human oversight for a while. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Most agencies don't make it 25 years but Bill Swanston's has. From surviving 9/11 to leading a 30-person team through COVID, Bill shares how Bosun (formerly Frederick Swanston) adapted, learned to love KPIs, empowered their team, and even pulled off a successful rebrand. His story proves you can survive the toughest agency seasons and come out stronger—if you track the right numbers, avoid “superclient” risk, and learn to truly let go. What You'll Learn Why resilience (not just growth hacks) is the real agency survival skill How ignoring KPIs almost cost the agency big—and how to avoid that mistake Why letting go of control is the only way to grow past founder-dependence What a rebrand really signals about an agency's maturity and leadership shift The hidden dangers of relying on a “superclient” Key Takeaways Keep overhead light in uncertain times—it gives you room to maneuver when crises hit. Track your KPIs like a client project: salaries as % of AGI, AGI per employee, revenue per client. Don't rely on a single client for survival—client concentration is a silent killer. Empower your team early—you can't scale if you're reviewing every deliverable yourself. Rebrands work when they reflect a cultural shift—not just a new logo. What does it really take to keep an agency alive through market crashes, pandemics, and the endless grind without burning out or losing your edge? Today's featured guest will unpack his journey from starting in a basement with a couple of clients to leading a 30-person team through some of the toughest seasons an agency can face. From navigating financial blind spots to learning how to actually let go and trust his team, and the reason the agency's 25th anniversary actually marked a big shift with a new rebrand. Bill Swanston is the president and founder of Bosun, an Atlanta-based agency that just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Formerly known as Frederick Swanston, the agency has weathered market crashes, client shakeups, and a pandemic while building a powerhouse team with deep creative and digital chops. In this episode, we'll discuss: The challenges that really tested the agency's resilience. How learning to love KPIs saved the business. Why rebrand after 25 years? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Building Through Adversity and Surviving 9/11 After moving back to Atlanta from New York, Bill was freelancing at BBDO and thinking about switching to smaller agency. As he saw it, it was better to be a big fish in a smaller pond. Unfortunately, his gig at the smaller agency was short lived, since the agency shut down for good. Instead of packing it in, Bill and his partner Scott Frederick grabbed a few clients, set up shop in a basement, and got to work. Built-in revenue gave them a smoother start than most scrappy entrepreneurs, but reality set in quickly. By the early 2000s, they were hit hard by 9/11 and its ripple effect on corporate events. It was a reminder that whether you're at a big holding company or running your own small shop, stability is often an illusion. Surviving those first waves meant keeping overhead light, grinding it out, and learning how to adapt before the word “pivot” became a business cliché. The Challenge that Really Tested the Agency's Resilience Partnerships can make or break an agency and Bill admits the early years with his partner had their rough patches, not as creatives, but as business owners learning how to disagree productively. Over time, their different strengths meshed into what became a powerful leadership duo. But nothing tested the agency quite like COVID. With a staff of 30 suddenly looking to them for answers, the partners had to act fast. They slashed salaries, cut their own pay completely, and relied on federal relief programs like PPP loans to keep the team intact. That lifeline, combined with quick adjustments, got them back on track. As Bill put it, “It was the absolute worst period of time for the agency. But we came out stronger because we had no choice but to figure it out fast.” From Gut Instinct to KPIs That Saved the Business Like a lot of creative-led shops, Bill and his partner weren't exactly obsessed with financial metrics at first. According to Bill, they mostly leaned on QuickBooks, check-writing, and gut instincts. That worked until it didn't. By the time they realized improprieties had slipped under the radar, they knew it was time to upgrade. Today, they track everything from salaries as a percentage of adjusted gross income to AGI per employee to recurring revenue versus project-based work. They also look at revenue per client to ensure there isn't any one account that is overwhelming the team. Like many agencies, they had this happen at one point, with a client that accounted for 50% of their billing. He remembers being scared once this client started to dwindle as a result of the ‘08 crisis, which taught him the danger of relying on superclients that can walk away and take half your revenue with them. Bill stresses that KPIs aren't about being a math whiz, but about having clarity. Knowing your true profitability by client or department means you stop guessing and start making better decisions. “We do it for our clients,” he said, “so we've got to do it for ourselves too.” Nowadays, he works with an external CPA and an internal comptroller who help him keep an eye on the agency's finances. Pro tip: If you're not yet at the point where you can have a CFO but don't know where to start to assess your agency's financials, use askquick.ai. It's a tool developed by Jason and his team that'll help you figure out your most profitable clients, assess your financial red flags, measure your KPIs, and more. Learning to Let Go and Empower the Team For the first decade, Bill and Scott were deep in the weeds, reviewing every creative output, managing every account, carrying the business on their backs. Eventually, the workload became too much and they had to learn how to trust others. Empowering team members to make real decisions wasn't easy. It started organically as new hires took over account management, media, and digital responsibilities. Over time, Bill realized the work improved when people felt ownership and felt empowered to shape the agency. “The ability to let go and trust others is essential to grow your agency,” he says. This trust not only gave the agency room to grow but also gave Bill and Scott the freedom to step back from being prisoners of their own business. Why Would a 25 Year Old Agency Rebrand Now? After two and a half decades as Frederick Swanston, the founders made the bold move to rebrand as Bosun to better reflect what they'd become. The decision was about more than a new logo. According to Bill, keeping their surnames in the brand felt too self-centered and didn't reflect the agency's culture. The rebrand signaled a shift: it's not about Bill or Scott anymore. It's about the team, the clients, and the relationships that actually fuel the work. While rebrands often make clients nervous, Bill said the transition was seamless. In fact, many partners celebrated alongside them, proving that strong relationships matter more than the name on the door. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

What happens when you choose a normal birth with twins?In this episode, I speak with Nicole, a mother from South Africa now living in the U.S., who chose sovereignty in one of the most medicalized and “high-risk” experiences imaginable: an identical twin pregnancy. From the very beginning, she was met with fear-based narratives—warnings of stillbirth, premature labor, and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. But after enduring traumatic experiences in hospitals and with midwives, Nicole knew she would not birth her twins within the system.Instead, she underwent a profound process of deconditioning and committed to trusting her body. With the steady support of her husband, a Radical Birth Keeper graduate, and a community of women walking this same path, Nicole carried her twins to 40 weeks and welcomed them at home, in embodied sovereignty.Nicole shares the raw reality of holding responsibility for twins outside the system: the constant conversations about risk, the deep conviction it took to turn away completely, and the profound freedom of reclaiming birth on her own terms.Inside this episode:What Nicole witnessed in the hospital that made her vow never to returnHow she carried her twins to full term, trusting her body's wisdomThe support she found in a community of sovereign mothersWhat labor with twins looked like at homeThe double standard of blame when outcomes differ at home versus in the hospitalThe freedom and healing that come with birthing twins in sovereigntyTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[02:59] Two miscarriages and lack of support and answers from the medical system[07:05] Receiving news of a third unviable pregnancy and deciding not to take the pill[09:02] Discovering that the medical system was wrong about her third pregnancy, and that her baby was alive and healthy in her womb[11:19] Birthing her first son in a birthing center with a midwife, forced interventions, a fourth degree tear, and newborn separation[21:36] Postpartum hospital trauma, overreactions and threats[25:15] Another miscarriage and humiliating hospital treatment[32:13] Finding out she was pregnant with twins, midwife refusing to provide care, and choosing freebirth[1:00:00] Freebirthing her twins at home with her husband and birth attendant presentIf you want to connect more with Nicole, follow her on Instagram.Find more from Emilee on Instagram, YouTube and the Free Birth Society website.Disclaimer: Free Birth Society, LLC of North Carolina shares personal and educational stories and experiences related to freebirth and holistic care. This content is not medical advice, and we are not a licensed midwifery practice. Testimonials reflect individual experiences; results may vary. For services or scheduling, contact info@freebirthsociety.com. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you still thinking of AI as just “ChatGPT with a better prompt”? Or maybe you've played around with Zapier automations and thought, yeah, that's good enough. Today's featured guest knows that the agencies pulling ahead right now are building full-on AI agent networks that replace routine tasks, streamline data pipelines, and give their teams superpowers. She's re-engineering her agency around AI and will talk about where she finds top-tier talent and why you don't need to code to lead your agency into the future. Jennifer Bagley is the CEO and founder of CI Web Group, a fully virtual digital marketing agency registered in 22 U.S. states with clients across the United States and Canada. A former corporate operator turned entrepreneur, Jennifer started in real estate and mortgage brokerage before leaning into the marketing work she built to support those businesses. Today she runs a modern, tech-forward agency that's rebuilt its stack around AI, centralized data, and agentic networks, all while carrying the scars and lessons of scaling, pivoting, and re-founding a business from the ground up. In this episode, we'll discuss: Feeling trapped by the business. Hiring, firing, and the people reset AI, reskilling, and the end of “middle” roles What does this talent cost? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. From Corporate Ladder to Accidental Agency Founder Jennifer came from an operations background, a self-proclaimed black belt in Six Sigma and certified project manager. Having built that corporate background, she had made a promise to herself (“by 30 I'll be an entrepreneur”), and started to build the side hustle that became the main event. She started in real estate and mortgage brokering where she had to learn marketing the hard way; not because she wanted to be a marketer, but because the survival of her businesses depended on it. Initially, Jennifer didn't set out to build a scalable agency; she built a team to support her broker network. When the market collapsed in 2008, the same team that did marketing for agents suddenly had a market outside real estate. That “we'll just help this painter or HVAC company” phase is where the web group was born: small, service-focused, and useful to people in her network. That accidental turn became a business by solving real, pressing problems for paying clients, then leaned into that. Trading Time for Freedom: The Hard Pivot For the first five years, Jennifer describes the business as a “lifestyle” operation, profitable maybe, but trapping her time. She was trading billable hours for income and was reaching her limit when she hired a coach that forced a reckoning: if entrepreneurship isn't buying you time, money, and freedom, what's the point? So she made the brutal choice of cutting consulting contracts and burning the bridge to the “safety” of hourly work, and effectively gave herself a mulligan. This is the classic founder pivot: you have to choose between growth that keeps you doing the work and growth that scales the business without you. Jennifer's reset wasn't pretty, for a while she lost everything and she and her son lived in an office for a while, but it bought her the permission to build something salable, not just sustainable. Agency owners who feel trapped in delivery need to remember that sometimes you have to give up short-term revenue to create long-term value. Feeling Trapped by the Agency and Becoming a CEO Those first five years, Jennifer continued to run a business that started as a supply chain consulting and eventually turned into a sales supply chain consulting. This change meant the business was now a good lead generator for the agency but it also meant Jennifer was essentially selling her image and her time. Until she ran out of time. Once she felt trapped by the business, Jennifer actually hired a business coach that helped her change the model from “selling Jennifer with marketing on the side” to an actual sustainable business. She had to go back to the basics and remember she, like every entrepreneur, started the business with the idea of having more time, money, and freedom. It took losing everything, but Jennifer knew she didn't want a lifestyle business, she wanted a sellable business. The antidote was delegation plus systems. If you want growth and a future exit, you need to own those CEO responsibilities and be comfortable with letting go of the day-to-day. Hiring, Firing, and Resetting the Team Jennifer's talent strategy has evolved with each stage of growth. Her early hires were the classic “friends, family, fools” bootstrap crew; later she invested in developers, content teams, project managers, and over time, more strategic hires like CFOs, chief of staff, BI teams, and AI engineers. Each five-year arc brought a new set of needs and a new level of sophistication in hiring. Now, she divides her time between promoting her agency's work in podcasts and content and thinking of ways to navigate her business in these volatile and exciting times. Her most recent addition to the team was a technology and transformation team that is revisiting all of the agency's processes, investments, and infrastructure. As a result, she has downsized her team from over 300 W2 employees and refocus the team. The takeaway for agency owners: be honest about whether your people are builders or maintainers, and hire accordingly. The workforce you need for growth is not the same as the workforce you need for stable operations. Building AI Agent Networks with Centralized Data Jennifer's agency shifted from WordPress to Webflow and built agentic networks: hundreds of AI agents that crawl competitors, do strategy homework, and automate tasks that humans used to do. More importantly, they rebuilt infrastructure into a hub-and-spoke model with a centralized min.io data layer and ETL pipelines feeding analytics and BI. Two big lessons here. One: invest in your tech stack deliberately so you're not a Frankenstein of five different platforms that don't talk to each other. Two: design your data architecture so your people (and your AI agents) have a single source of truth. That's how you get from fire-fighting in six dashboards to proactive, predictive signals that tell you when a client engagement needs attention. AI, Reskilling, and Shrinking Middle Roles Jennifer draws a hard line: the agency now tends to hire either very seasoned client-facing leaders or AI engineers; the middle is shrinking. With agentic networks giving junior staff “superpowers,” the agency can afford fewer mid-level “lever pullers.” At this level there's no room for slow execution or elementary work. That's a cultural and ethical challenge, both for hiring and for workforce development. For agency owners, this raises practical HR questions: do you reskill your people, or replace them? Jennifer suggests building agent-driven systems that augment humans, and being brutally honest about who can grow into that future. It's also a call to action for how we prepare the next generation: schools won't teach this; companies will need to. Playing with AI Platforms: Why Leaders Need to Just Know Enough to Be Dangerous Jennifer started like a lot of agency owners dipping into AI, playing around on tools like n8n, Make.com, Relevance, and Longchain. Her dev team laughed, calling her an “elementary school kid on a tricycle,” but here's the point: she didn't need to master the tech. She needed to know enough to point her team in the right direction. Instead of obsessing over code, she framed the problem differently: “Here's what I don't want a human doing anymore. Can you make that happen?” That mindset shift is key for agency owners. You don't need to be a full-stack AI engineer to lead an agency into the future; you just need to clearly define outcomes and invest in people who can deliver them. Find Real AI Talent in Unlikely Places This is where most agencies get stuck. You're not going to find your next AI architect on Upwork. Jennifer leaned on her network, starting with her cousin Chris, a hardcore developer who initially thought AI platforms were “rookie business.” Once Chris realized the power of agentic networks to scale his expertise, he became the backbone of CI Web Group's transformation. Now, she hunts talent in unconventional places: hackathons, LinkedIn, and especially YouTube. Forget the flashy “10x growth hack” videos — she looks for nerds with four views, geeking out about orchestrators and ETL pipelines. Those are the builders who care about solving real problems, not just building hype. Her tip: if you find one, reach out immediately. They don't want sales, they just want to build. Designing AI Agents Like an Agency Org Chart Jennifer compares AI agents to a company org chart. You don't hire one person to do everything, that's a recipe for burnout. Same thing with AI. Each agent should tightly focus on a single task, with checks, auditors, and orchestrators overseeing the system. The payoff was massive efficiency gains. Instead of six different platforms that don't talk, her agency built a centralized hub with min.io, ClickHouse, and AI layers on top. That's how you go from patchwork automation to true predictive intelligence. The Real Cost of AI Talent If you're wondering how much this all costs, the answer is… a lot. On the high end, seasoned AI engineers can run you a quarter million in salary. On the low end, Jennifer tests new hires on project-based sprints, maybe $6K for a 10-hour challenge. The point isn't to cut costs; it's to prove quickly who can deliver and who can't. Her recruiting process is brutal but effective: give candidates a project, a tight deadline, and see how they perform. If they stall, they're out. If they screen-share fast and solve problems live, they're in. No fluff, no endless interviews. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

How LITTLE can you do for your halloween decorations?  Also, what's REALLY going to scare some people? 

3/4:  HEADLINE: Recommendations for Countering Chinese Tech Acquisition and Liability for COVID-19 GUEST NAME: Brandon Weichert 50 WORD SUMMARY: Brandon Weichert suggests US responses to China, including classifying tech transfers as bribes and empowering CFIUS to block Chinese acquisition of high-tech firms. He argues Washington is slowly grasping the threat, though political conflicts persist. He insists on seeking recompense from Beijing for covering up the COVID-19 outbreak and notes that reckless US research was transferred to WIV. Biohacked: China's Race to Control Life. Brandon J. Weichert  (Author) 1942 USA

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training What does it really look like when employees step up to buy the agency they've helped run for years? Today's featured guest will share how she and her partners carried forward the 30-year legacy of an agency founded in the days of print and stamp, a business that has not only survived but thrived through three different ownership handoffs. You'll hear how they transitioned from licking envelopes to leading digital campaigns, navigated buying the business during COVID, and tackled the imposter syndrome that comes with suddenly being “the boss.” If you've ever thought about selling your agency, or buying one, this conversation is packed with lessons on culture, succession, and keeping an agency alive for the long haul. Alyssa Ash is one of the principals and co-owners of AOR, a creative and digital agency focused on branding, marketing, and web, with a strong focus on real estate development, municipalities, and economic development projects. Think housing solutions, community connections, and projects that shape cities—that's their sweet spot. Alyssa and her two business partners are the third generation of owners keeping AOR alive since its founding in 1992. A rare kind of legacy in agency land. In this episode, we'll discuss: How employees can be groomed into ownership. Lessons from buying an agency during COVID. Why imposter syndrome is normal (and even healthy). Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. A Legacy of Print and Culture Back in '92, AOR wasn't cranking out websites or SEO strategies. It was the time of print design, direct mail, licking stamps, and die-cut lounge chair mailers that made people long-time clients. It's not common that an agency that gets acquired lives on like this, but the founders had built something special. Each generation of owners didn't just grow the client list—they protected the culture. When the founders sold 13 years after starting the business, keeping that culture intact was non-negotiable. Fast forward again, and Alyssa's crew inherited not just an agency, but a philosophy: honor the people and the community as much as the work. Transitioning from Employee to Owner Unlike an outside buyer swooping in with an SBA loan, Alyssa and her partners were homegrown leaders. They'd each put in 10–15 years, running departments in strategy, sales, and operations. By the time the second set of owners started floating the idea of selling, the trio was already running day-to-day operations. At first, the conversation was casual, “Would you even want to own the agency someday?”, but over time it got real. The financial side was initially not even part of the conversation, although they did give a reasonable runway of five to ten years for the acquisition to happen. The fact that three of them shared the load made the acquisition possible. While the thought was intimidating at first, the gradual handoff built their confidence. By the time the deal closed, ownership felt less like a leap and more like the next natural step. Navigating an Agency Acquisition During COVID If you've ever thought about buying or selling an agency, you know the financing part can get tricky. For Alyssa and her partners, COVID hit right in the middle of negotiations. On one hand, this made it somehow easier for her and her partners to step even more into their roles as heads of the agency. While the owners stepped back from daily operations, Alyssa and her partners made the transition to their new roles. On the other hand, the pandemic did complicate things as SBA loans looked risky with interest rates climbing. Thankfully, the old owners worked out a five-year owner-financed note instead. That decision didn't just save them financially, it cemented trust. The outgoing owners wanted the next generation to succeed and structured the deal so everyone won. As Alyssa put it, “It didn't feel like a big shift… because we'd already been doing it.” Fighting Imposter Syndrome (and Why That's Healthy) Even with 15 years in the trenches, Alyssa admits stepping into ownership brought its fair share of imposter syndrome. She was still quite young, even though she felt comfortable leading day-to-day operations. This is where the former owner's trust really helped. They put her in a position to succeed and trusted she could make it. Ultimately, every agency owner feels that, no matter the stage of their career they're at when becoming an owner. In fact, it's the ones who don't who usually get tripped up by ego. Preparing the Next Generation So, is Alyssa grooming her team for eventual ownership? Not yet, it's too soon. But she is watching for the traits that made her and her partners natural fits: entrepreneurial thinking, leadership instincts, and a bias for taking responsibility. Her advice to other agency owners thinking about succession: Don't overlook your employees as potential buyers. Give them time and a runway to grow into the role. Protect your culture by keeping it in the hands of people who already live it. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Asset protection is a game-changer for real estate investors, and Mauricio Rauld is pulling back the curtain on how to structure your LLCs for maximum security. With over two decades of experience as the founder of Premier Law Group, Mauricio is a trusted authority in asset protection and tax strategies for real estate professionals. In this episode, he dives deep into the importance of setting up LLCs properly to protect your assets and minimize liability risks.Mauricio breaks down step-by-step how to structure your LLCs to shield your wealth from potential threats, offering actionable advice whether you're new to real estate or a seasoned investor. He also reveals how the right legal framework can help you navigate both liability protection and tax efficiency—crucial elements for building long-term wealth.Rich Somers offers his perspective on how structuring LLCs and protecting assets has been a crucial part of his own real estate strategy, enabling him to scale his portfolio to $80M AUM.Gain key insights into LLC structures, risk minimization, and safeguarding your assets against unforeseen challenges in this must-listen episode.Join our investor waitlist and stay in the know about our next investor opportunity with Somers Capital: www.somerscapital.com/invest. Want to join our Boutique Hotel Mastermind Community? Book a free strategy call with our team: www.hotelinvesting.com. If you're committed to scaling your personal brand and achieving 7-figure success, it's time to level up with the 7 Figure Creator Mastermind Community. Book your exclusive intro call today at www.the7figurecreator.com and gain access to the strategies that will accelerate your growth.

If “legal talk” (and literally the title of this episode) makes you nervous or feels dry—this is a MUST LISTEN. Attorney Paige Hulse is back with her easy-to-understand approach to law for entrepreneurs, sharing tips to keep your Etsy business—and you—out of trouble. From common legal mistakes and business structure to protecting your creations from copycats, she's got you covered. **“How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy” is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy.com    STUFF I MENTIONED:  ➡️Check out ProfitTree's new product research tool ETSY RADAR: https://lifetime.profittree.io/?via=lizzie87 Get the best profit tracking tool to help you know your numbers AND a product research tool for a one time fee of $67. (completely insane) ✅FREE Etsy Ads Masterclass: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/request-etsy-ads-masterclass    ⭐ FIND PAIGE: https://paigehulse.com/ @paige.hulse.law   ⭐Legal Templates recommended by Paige for your Etsy shop:

Joining Dr. Scott Steele today on Behind the Knife is Steve Crandall, a former medical negligence DEFENSE lawyer who, for reasons we will discuss, switched sides and now represents the patient who is suing care providers.  He is a founding partner of Crandall & Pera Law and also has been ranked as both one of the Top 5 Lawyers in Cleveland and Top 10 best Lawyers in Ohio for over 15 years. Crandall, a seasoned plaintiff attorney specializing in medical malpractice, joins the hosts to illuminate the key factors behind common lawsuits in surgery, the pivotal role of informed consent, standout cases with crucial learning points, expert witness strategies, and practical advice for surgeons to stay out of legal trouble. Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen Behind the Knife Premium: General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-review Trauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlas Dominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkship Dominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotation Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Surgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-review Cardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Download our App: Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049 Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US