Podcasts about Operator

You think you're building a company that's ready for investment or acquisition. Your revenue is growing. Customers are happy. The future looks promising. But what if the very things you're overlooking are quietly destroying your valuation?   In this episode of WholeCEO with Lisa G., Lisa sits down with operator and transformation expert Mark Sims to reveal the hidden factors that separate companies that command premium valuations from those that struggle to get deals across the finish line.   You'll discover: ·        Why founders often misunderstand what buyers are truly evaluating. ·        The subtle warning signs that a deal is beginning to unravel during diligence. ·        The operational weaknesses that create concern even when growth looks impressive. ·        How technology debt and outdated systems can significantly impact enterprise value. ·        What successful post-acquisition integrations have in common—and why others fail. ·        The first areas Mark would audit if a company plans to exit within the next three years. ·        The risks leadership teams unintentionally create without realizing it. ·        Why AI is rapidly becoming part of the diligence conversation and changing buyer expectations. ·        The one thing founders should stop obsessing over and the one thing they should prioritize to maximize value. ·        The advice Mark repeatedly gives CEOs preparing for growth, investment, or a future exit.   This isn't just a conversation about selling a company. It's a masterclass on building an organization that is operationally strong, scalable, and attractive to investors long before a deal is on the table.

To get live links to the music we play and resources we offer, visit www.WOSPodcast.comThis show includes the following songs:Alexa Kate - Not Your Fault FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYSuze Harper - Lovers' Lament FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYTo The Moon & Back - Emergency FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYEvelyn Laurie - Doula For Your Dreams FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYKarelle Beaudoin - Sors De Ma Tete FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYAlessia Piermarini - Zagani Lullaby FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYCaroline Kenyon - Daddy Issues FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYDeena Maddox - Darlin FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYChelsea Ames - Traveling Again FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYLiz Reed - The Human Side FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYPaper Girl - Manchild (Rock-A-Bye) FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYKaren Gaskill - A Dance And That's All FOLLOW ON YOUTUBEWave 21 - Only Seconds FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYElevator Operator - Haha-Hoo FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYZircon Skyeband - Savior With a Razor FOLLOW ON SPOTIFYFor Music Biz Resources Visit www.FEMusician.com and www.ProfitableMusician.comVisit our Sponsor Mike Franano & Stacey Ballentine at https://open.spotify.com/track/5BnBsqymcTKgCixcZ9xg4h?si=4e0642a35b3e45d6Visit www.wosradio.com for more details and to submit music to our review board for consideration.Visit our resources for Indie Artists: https://www.wosradio.com/resourcesBecome more Profitable in just 3 minutes per day. http://profitablemusician.com/join

Brian O'Connor spent three years building a 40,000-person Twitter following, launched product after product into that audience, and made almost nothing. The turning point came when he stopped looking for clever ideas and started running a boring business where product market fit already exists. He wrote down everyone he knew, sent texts, and sold $20K of recruiting services off a single Google Doc in two weeks. Today he runs TalentHQ, a recruiting agency placing Latin American project managers into US businesses — built nomadically with a co-founder, now operating with a team of two plus AI. In this conversation: why reach and revenue have almost nothing to do with each other, how he turned a podcast into his primary acquisition channel, and what it actually looks like to build a service business from scratch in 2026. Guest: Brian O'Connor, Founder of Talent HQ Sponsor: wayfront.com/tmba Thanks to this week's sponsor Wayfront — the AI-ready operating system for productized agencies. One client portal. One team dashboard. All your data, AI-accessible. TMBA listeners get an extra free month on top of the trial at wayfront.com/tmba. Links: Business Resources Upcoming DC Events

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you still inside every client relationship because no one on your team has been given the room to own one? Have you hired people who look great on paper only to later discover the skills do not actually transfer? Today's featured guest built her agency deliberately, one client at a time, carrying systems from her years at L'Oréal before anyone told her those systems would matter. She talks about how she structured accountability on her team from the beginning, how she filters out candidates who cannot think without AI holding their hand, and why she stopped caring about working with the sexiest beauty brands and started caring about working with the right ones. Mimi Banks is the founder and CEO of MB Social, a New York-based social media agency specializing in beauty. She spent years at L'Oréal, where she was among the first people to build social media infrastructure at the company, then moved to a Paris-based startup before eventually launching MB Social. Her team of 25 now handles social strategy, community management, and content for beauty brands across the market. In this episode, we'll discuss: Starting off with a vision on accountable vs responsible Can your team do 80% of what you do? Then you're set Why she stopped chasing the wrong clients 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. Building From the Beginning with Systems, Not Just Instinct Mimi came into agency ownership with something most founders spend years trying to build after the fact: a working model for how things should get done. Her time creating social media infrastructure at L'Oréal gave her a process orientation before she had a team to apply it to. When she started bringing people on at MB Social, the systems came with her. The ways of working, the documentation, the clarity around who was responsible versus who was accountable: those were in place because she had already built them once somewhere else. For instance, she started off with clarity on the distinction between responsible and accountable. She positioned herself as accountable from day one while making sure there was always a specific person responsible for each piece of work. That structure kept her from becoming the default executor on everything, which is the trap most founders walk into when they hire without clarifying ownership. The 80 Percent Standard That Actually Frees You Mimi is far enough along in her evolution that she no longer reviews most of what her team produces. She trusts the people leading each department to make judgment calls without routing them upward. Getting there required learning to live with the gap between what she would do and what her team does, and deciding that gap was acceptable. This is a framing every mastermind member knows: if your team does 80 percent of what you would do, that is good enough. Because you cannot do a hundred percent of everything, and the cost of trying is that you stay in the operator role indefinitely. The coaching method Mimi asks her leadership team to apply is asking questions. Similar to the Mastermind's 1-3-1 method, it's basically about asking questions that will help your team come up with options they have already considered, which leads to them coming up with the solution on their own. Do that enough times and the team stops treating the founder as the answer key. Hiring for Beauty When Everyone Says They Know Social The challenge Mimi keeps running into in hiring is the gap between what candidates say they can do and what the work actually requires. Social media for enterprise beauty brands is not the same skill as posting on a personal Instagram. The strategy is more complex, the client demands are higher, and the responsiveness required is relentless. Candidates do not always know that going in, and some of them figure it out in ways that are expensive to the team. The hiring process she built with Hireflex added a video interview layer with no retry option that filters for candidates willing to do the uncomfortable thing even when it is not required. From there she takes the transcripts, runs them through AI against a scoring rubric tied to the job description, and uses that data alongside her own read to make decisions. What she is testing for is the ability to think, not just to produce a clean output with AI assistance. The perfect presentation that does not match the resume tells her nothing useful. The candidate who works through a problem imperfectly, in their own words, tells her a great deal. Designing the Agency Around the Clients You Actually Want Mimi stopped chasing the sexiest beauty brands. Not because she cannot get them, but because sexy and right are not the same thing. Payment terms that stretch to 120 days, clients who treat the team poorly, brands that want work done yesterday and deliver assets a month late: those are not problems that prestige solves. She now runs the agency with a no bullshit attitude and is quick to address when a client's behavior affects her team. That boundary is what makes it possible to keep the team she has built. The version of client selectivity that actually holds is based on being clear enough on what you are building that you can recognize a client who does not fit before the contract is signed. After all, client relationships are like dating: you have to see if you get along before you commit, because the worst version of a client relationship looks a lot like a bad marriage, and the damage it does to a team is not undone when the contract ends. 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.

I was traveling in Europe last week and found myself doing what I always end up doing on trips like this… quietly auditing hospitality systems everywhere I go. Not in a formal way. Just noticing what works, what breaks, and what quietly shapes the experience. And a lot of it translates directly into coworking. This episode is a little different — it's a solo reflection from the road — but I wanted to share a few observations that came up along the way. In this episode, I talk about: Why small hospitality gaps (like not actually offering a welcome drink that's sitting right there) change the entire first impression What "good on paper" partnerships look like vs. what actually gets experienced on the ground (gyms, tours, amenities) How easily premium spaces lose quality when no one is actively "seeing" the details anymore (dirty tables, unused areas, neglected touchpoints) The difference between teams that are executing tasks vs. teams that are anticipating guest experience A tour experience that felt completely transactional — and what was missing to turn it into real connection wA hotel that got the details right in a way you only notice when you slow down enough to pay attention The overarching theme was simple: anticipation is what separates good hospitality from forgettable execution. And in coworking spaces, it shows up in the exact same way. If you're running a space, this is worth a quiet audit of your own systems this week. Everything Coworking Featured Resources: Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Coworking Startup School Community Manager University Follow Us on YouTube

Chris Kiefer and Cody Hopkins of PaintOS powered by Boolean break down two separate ladders that determine how much value you're actually getting from AI: how you use it, and how clean your data is. They walk through real tools they've built for painting businesses, explain why understanding the true cost of AI matters more than most owners realize, and point listeners to a free scorecard to find out exactly where they stand on both. Whether you're just getting started or already deep into building with AI, there's a clear next step waiting for you.To complete the Scorecard, visit paintos.app/ai

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wealth Vibe Show, Vinki Loomba sits down with Saul Cohen, founder of The Expert Eye, to unpack the critical shift from operator to investor. From his early days at PwC to building and scaling his own advisory firm, Saul shares how entrepreneurs can break free from being trapped inside their businesses and start building true, scalable wealth through acquisitions, financial strategy, and investor-level thinking. Key Takeaways:Why many entrepreneurs unknowingly build “high-paying jobs” instead of wealth-generating assetsThe mindset shift from operator thinking to investor thinking and why identity drives financial outcomesHow stop–measure–review systems prevent “20 years of the same year” and unlock compounding growthWhy understanding business value drivers matters more than focusing only on revenue and profit (P&L vs valuation thinking)The difference between lifestyle businesses vs performance businesses—and why most founders confuse the twoEpisode Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Are you building wealth or just building a job?03:47 – Early signs founders are stuck in operator mode09:18 – Saul's journey: PwC, entrepreneurship, and lessons in execution15:51 – Corporate vs entrepreneurship and the identity shift20:13 – Stop–measure–review system and the role of coaching24:25 – Lifestyle vs performance businesses and wealth creation models27:26 – Moving into acquisitions and SME investing strategies34:04 – Book insight: Finding Gold and the SCORE framework38:05 – Rapid-fire insights and closing thoughts

Join Cihan Fuat Atkin, CEO and Founder of XCINEX, for a forward-looking examination of the structural forces rewriting the business of global entertainment. Boasting over 15 years of operational excellence, Cihan has generated $330M+ in partner revenue and scaled cross-border media-tech companies from raw concept to high-value exit. As Hollywood grapples with deep subscription stagnation, soaring production budgets, and the radical disruption of generative AI, Cihan argues that the real crisis isn't a lack of content—it's a broken distribution model. In this episode—recorded ahead of the highly anticipated July 4th rollout of VENUE+—we unpack how computer vision and automated auditing are replacing legacy tracking to give studios, live event promoters, and individual creators absolute transparency over their at-home audiences.

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For their collaborative spirit, professionalism and skill, Ocala Fire Rescue and 97.3 The SKY are proud to salute Firefighter-Paramedic Ross Gauthier, Firefighter-EMT John Pohl, Captain-Paramedic Joe Talley, Fire Equipment Operator-Paramedic Jerry Tafoya, and Firefighter-EMT Ryan Toms

In this Operator's Cut, NLW is joined by Nufar Gaspar for a practical primer on why local AI suddenly matters and where to start. They break down the forces pushing companies to rethink full dependence on frontier cloud models — rising token costs, vendor fragility, capacity constraints, data control, and resilience — then walk through the basic layers of local AI, from hardware and open models to Ollama, LM Studio, agent harnesses, and the real tradeoffs of running AI on machines you control.Register for our new enterprise-grade AI training programs: ⁠http://training.besuper.ai/⁠⁠Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kpmg.com/us/Sophisticated⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Section - Section turns AI investment into workforce transformation and ROI - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sectionai.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Outsystems - Stop wondering how AI will change your business and start building the agents that will lead it - ⁠⁠⁠http://outsystems.com/⁠⁠⁠Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://scrunch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Zenflow Work - Agents for knowledge work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zenflow.free/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blitzy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MissionCloud - Eliminate AWS complexity with end-to-end cloud and AI services ⁠⁠⁠https://www.missioncloud.com/⁠⁠⁠AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.assemblyai.com/brief⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Robots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://robotsandpencils.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.link/1680633614⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Newsletter is BACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai

At his lowest point, Jan Roos was $240,000 underwater. He had a full sales org, a director, reps, ad spend — and was barely breaking even. So he cut all of it. Today he runs CaseFuel, a high-margin agency serving 300+ estate planning law firms, with 25 people and $50K/month in profit. In this conversation he breaks down how he got there: the niche nobody else was serving, the funnel that cracked it open, and what building a genuinely high margin service business actually requires. Guest: Jan Roos, Founder of CaseFuel Sponsor: wayfront.com/tmba Thanks to this week's sponsor Wayfront — the AI-ready operating system for productized agencies. One client portal. One team dashboard. All your data, AI-accessible. TMBA listeners get an extra free month on top of the trial at wayfront.com/tmba. Links: [Jan@casefuel.com](Jan@casefuel.com) Peter Thiel — Zero to One Eugene Schwartz — Breakthrough Advertising Mike Michalowicz — Profit First Business Resources Upcoming DC Events

Willy sat down with Robert Siegel, Lecturer in Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Operator, Venture Investor, and Author of The Systems Leader. They explored the competing pressures facing today's leaders—from balancing innovation and execution to embracing AI while maintaining organizational focus. Robert also shared why curiosity, humility, and adaptability have become essential leadership traits in a fast-changing world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when a 19-year-old tastes life-changing pizza at a Buffalo Bills game? For Joe Powers, it sparks an obsession that transforms a college freshman into the owner of Jay's Artisan Pizza by age 22. In this episode of The Hot Slice podcast, Powers shares his remarkable journey into the world of award-winning Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizza. Powers currently operates one of the most celebrated pizzerias in the country: 50 Top Pizza recently named Jay's the No. 7 pizzeria in the United States! Listeners will discover how Powers' thirst for knowledge led to innovative pizzas such as a French Onion soup pie topped with torched gruyere and served with a side of broth – or an Italian melon puree paired with radicchio and fresh mint.  From learning the ropes under the original owner's guidance to booking a spontaneous two-week trip to a pizza school in Naples, Italy, Powers details the transition from employee to Gen-Z business owner, discussing the realities of managing a staff that is mostly older than him. He emphasizes the importance of leading by example, trusting his instincts and leaning on experienced mentors. SHOW NOTES:  Jay's Artisan Pizza: https://www.jaysbuffalo.com/ 50 Top Pizza Ranking: https://www.50toppizza.it/referenza/jays-2026/ Pizza Expo Columbus: https://pizzaexpocolumbus.pizzatoday.com/

Another of our collaboration episodes for the anniversary month! This time, with our good friend Operator Starsky! Trigger warning: There is mention of intimate activities with Tatyana Montyan here. As, well, ANYTHING related to Montyan, that will probably melt your brain.And remember, donate to Car4Ukraine! https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/summer-sunshine-trucks-2026-eastern-borderAnd here's the YouTube version:https://youtu.be/4pVzEG0Wlp4Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 17, 2026 In this episode of NARPM Radio, host Pete Neubig sits down with Ryan Killian, President of RENU Property Management, to discuss why the industry has entered what he calls the "operator era." Ryan shares lessons learned from scaling some of the largest single-family rental portfolios in the country, including the importance of data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, centralization, and decision velocity. They explore how property managers can improve performance, reduce operational waste, leverage technology and AI, and build systems that drive profitability in today's market, where rent growth alone is no longer enough.

Kyle Morgan spent over 20 years in the Army as a Green Beret and Delta Force operator, serving in every kinetic conflict since 9/11 including deployments to Colombia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. He is best known for leading the hostage rescue and evacuation at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali, where terrorists killed 20 people and took 170 hostages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson break down one of the most important but often misunderstood parts of real estate investing: the capital stack. They explain how senior debt, mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and common equity shape risk, returns, and who gets paid first. For pilots and high-income professionals evaluating passive income opportunities, this episode offers a practical framework for understanding leverage, deal structure, DSCR, private credit, and why projected returns do not tell the whole story.Show notes:(0:00) Intro(1:10) Ways investors get paid(3:08) Capital stack basics(4:11) Debt drives real estate risk(7:32) All-cash versus leveraged deals(10:31) Common equity explained(18:50) Preferred equity position(21:10) Checking debt ahead(27:39) Rescue capital versus healthy deals(35:36) Operator view on structure(42:05) DSCR and cash flow cushion(57:18) OutroRelated Episode: #2 - Invest Passively in DST and Opportunity Zones with Brandon BruckmanIf you're interested in participating, the latest institutional-quality self-storage portfolio is available for investment now at: https://turbinecap.investnext.com/portal/offerings/8449/houston-storage/ — You've found the number one resource for financial education for aviators! Please consider leaving a rating and sharing this podcast with your colleagues in the aviation community, as it can serve as a valuable resource for all those involved in the industry.Remember to subscribe for more insights at PassiveIncomePilots.com! https://passiveincomepilots.com/ Join our growing community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passivepilotsCheck us out on Instagram @PassiveIncomePilots: https://www.instagram.com/passiveincomepilots/Follow us on X @IncomePilots: https://twitter.com/IncomePilotsGet our updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/passive-income-pilots/Do you have questions or want to discuss this episode? Contact us at ask@passiveincomepilots.com See you at the next one!*Legal Disclaimer*The content of this podcast is provided solely for educational and informational purposes. The views and opinions expressed are those of the hosts, Tait Duryea and Ryan Gibson, and do not reflect those of any organization they are associated with, including Turbine Capital or Spartan Investment Group. The opinions of our guests are their own and should not be construed as financial advice. This podcast does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice. Listeners are advised to consult with their own legal or financial counsel and to conduct their own due diligence before making any financial decisions.

Growth should feel like momentum. For most nonprofit leaders between $1M and $3M, it feels like barely surviving — because the organization was built for a prior stage and never structurally redesigned for the current one. Brooke Richie-Babbage calls this the Design Deficit: the measurable gap between an organization's structural capacity and what its next stage of growth actually requires. In this episode, Brooke walks through why this gap exists, why resourceful leaders unintentionally mask it, and what it takes to close it. She introduces the Stability Flywheel — three architectural pillars (Capital Engine, Capacity Matrix, Clarity Compass) that must work together for an organization to sustain growth. Listeners will learn how to diagnose which pillar is stalling their flywheel, what institution-building actually requires, and how to shift from holding the organization together personally to designing one that holds itself.What You'll Learn:The Design Deficit and why it's predictable, not personal — why organizations built at $400K buckle at $1.5M and how to recognize the structural strain before it becomes a crisis.The three pillars of the Stability Flywheel — Capital Engine, Capacity Matrix, and Clarity Compass — and the specific signals that indicate which one is stalling your organization's growth.How to shift from operator to architect — the practical difference between holding an organization together and designing one that can hold itself, including the single reframe that changes every decision about hiring, systems, and CEO time.Key Takeaways:The Design Deficit is a predictable stage, not a leadership failure. When a nonprofit grows past its original structural design, leaders experience strain that feels personal — but the real cause is an architecture that was never updated for the current stage. This happens because the same resourcefulness that built the organization actively masks the infrastructure gaps beneath it.An organization that is growing is not the same as an organization built to sustain growth. Most nonprofits between $1M and $3M function because of the people in them, not the design beneath them. At this stage, nonprofit leaders must transition from operating inside the machine to redesigning it — the Operator-to-Architect shift.The Stability Flywheel stalls at the weakest pillar — and strengthening the other two won't fix it. Capital, Capacity, and Clarity reinforce each other when all three work. When one breaks, the others compensate — and the leader absorbs the difference personally. The most effective approach is to identify the weakest pillar and start there.Want to work together? Apply for the Next Level Nonprofit Mastermind, a high-touch coaching and training accelerator for established organizations with $1M+ budgets that are ready to design for impact sustained at scale.  Budget under $1M? Join Elevate and get proven step-by-step playbooks + coaching support to build each of the core elements of your nonprofit's operating system - strategic clarity, a fundraising engine, a high-performance team, and an active and engaged board!   Connect with me!LinkedInInstagramYouTube

2026 UPDATES make this case even crazier. If you thought the Netflix documentary was the end... You NEED to listen to this episode.The story of Jennifer Pan and the labyrinth that she built around her life is so complex and diabolical that it takes over an hour just to scratch the surface!The Operator walks you through the entire crazy case, PLUS new information for 2026 that is only weeks old, that continues to change the face of this case.Be sure to check out the three interrogation videos of Jennifer Pan, too. They've been COMPLETELY REMASTERED so you can see and hear every detail.FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/groups/911callsX https://x.com/911CallsPodcastINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/911callspodcastYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@911CallsPodcastTIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@911callspodcastPATREON https://patreon.com/1159media====Unlimited Access, Early, Ad-free for $5For $5, supporters get everything we have to offer - every podcast, live backdoor access to watch us record, video episodes, uncut episodes, all of our PLUS podcasts, early and ad-free, and more. Support 11:59 Media's vision to build our great creators. Visit ⁠11:59 Media on Patreon⁠ ⁠https://patreon.com/1159media⁠ to sign up now. Start your support, and access everything you've been missing.

This conversation originally aired December 6, 2022.Dr. Michael Platt is a Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Marketing at the University of Pennsylvania and holds joint appointments at the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Wharton School. He is the founder of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and the author of The Leader's Brain.Preston and Michael work through the neuroscience underneath three questions: Why do emotional interventions sometimes produce learning, and sometimes just produce resentment? What does it actually mean to have a "social brain," and what happens to it when you cut people off from each other? And what are the neurological precursors to the thing teams call flow?Listen to learn the marble metaphor for habit and development, the default mode network as a muscle that atrophies without boredom, the role of synchrony in what rowers call "swing," and a standing challenge to the introverts in the audience (go talk to your neighbors).Michael's closing recommendations are three things most likely to keep your brain and your team's brains healthy under pressure.

On this Zero Limits Podcast Matty Morris chats with Jason Hiscox State Emergency Service Vertical Rescue Operator.Jason grew up in Coffs Harbour — a self-described ratbag who needed a magistrate's wake-up call to turn his life around after multiple criminal convictions.His son Nate was born in 2012 and changed he's prospective everything. Jason joined the NSW SES, became a Vertical Rescue and Road Crash Rescue Instructor, rose to Deputy Rescue Officer, and spent over a decade responding to some of the most confronting jobs emergency services will ever see — including leading flood boat crews through the 2017 Lismore floods, earning the National Emergency Medal.On February 28, 2015, he drove home from a training exercise to find three ambulances in his driveway. His son Nate, two weeks from his third birthday, had drowned in the family pool. Three months later, Jason was back in training completing Swift Water Rescue.He kept showing up. In uniform, and as a father.Send us a text however note we cannot reply through these means. Please message the instagram or email if you are wanting a response. Support the showWebsite - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=enHost - Matty Morris www.instagram.com/matty.m.morrisFor the new Zero Limits Pre workout and creatine supplements head to link belowZero Limits Supplements - www.zerolimitssupplements.comSponsorsInstagram - @gatorzaustraliawww.gatorzaustralia.com15% Discount Code - ZERO15(former/current military & first responders 20% discount to order please email orders@gatorzaustralia.com.auInstagram - @3zeroscoffee3 Zeros Coffee - www.3zeroscoffee.com.au10% Discount Code - 3ZLimitsInstagram - @getsome_auGetSome Jocko Fuel - www.getsome.com.au10% Discount Code - ZEROLIMITS

What does it actually take to build a thriving HYROX program inside your gym — and turn it into a serious revenue engine? In this episode of Future of Fitness, host Eric Malzone sits down with David Magida, Global Head of Training at HYROX, to unpack everything gym owners and operators need to know about getting into the fastest-growing fitness sport in the world. David shares how he went from running a boutique gym in DC — nearly losing it all during COVID — to overseeing a global affiliate network of nearly 16,000 gyms. From the electric energy of a 40,000-athlete HYROX event in London, to the step-by-step framework for launching a HYROX program (whether you're crawling, walking, or sprinting), David breaks down the real business case: premium add-on memberships, ads that outperform at 3-to-1, 50% of gym revenue tied to HYROX, and a community so tight your members become your best salespeople. If you're a gym owner sitting on the fence about HYROX, this is the episode that will get you off it.

Terance Frazier sits down with Philip Teresi as the City of Fresno moves to take over Granite Park. Frazier shares details about how the city has fallen short on their initial agreement and how much of his own money he has put into the park. Per a Judge ruling, The City of Fresno was granted immediate possession of Granite Park in Central Fresno. The City terminated its lease with Central Valley Community Sports Foundation in 2025 and filed eviction proceedings to remove CVCSF as the Operator. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terance Frazier sits down with Philip Teresi as the City of Fresno moves to take over Granite Park. Frazier shares details about how the city has fallen short on their initial agreement and how much of his own money he has put into the park. Per a Judge ruling, The City of Fresno was granted immediate possession of Granite Park in Central Fresno. The City terminated its lease with Central Valley Community Sports Foundation in 2025 and filed eviction proceedings to remove CVCSF as the Operator. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 188 of 'On the Whorizon' SWCEO founder and host ‪MelRoseMichaels‬ gets honest about a mistake that cost her at least $5,000 and likely far more once you factor in the years she let it sit on her to-do list untouched. This is not a story about something going wrong. It is a story about a strategy she already knew about, already believed in, and kept pushing off anyway. And what happened when she finally stopped.This episode is for the creator who knows how to make money but cannot seem to break through to the next level. MelRose breaks down why plateaus happen, what the real bottleneck usually is, and how thinking like an operator instead of just a creator changes everything about how you make decisions in your business. She walks through the decision filter she developed after that $5,000 lesson, the one variable testing method that makes growth actually measurable, and why the opportunity you need is almost always the task sitting at the bottom of your to-do list.

George Wright III interviews Lane Martin, founder of Modern PurAir, about scaling a “boring but essential” indoor air quality service business through systems, technology, and franchising. Martin shares how he grew up in duct cleaning, bought into the family business in 1992, sold it in 1996, returned in 2001 after losing money in a furniture venture, and began scaling by hiring technicians despite initial resistance. Inspired by 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, he learned franchising lessons directly from Brian Scudamore and built a roadmap to expand. Modern PurAir now has 38 territories and 22 franchises across Canada with over $20M in system sales and is expanding into the U.S. They emphasize documenting everything with Loom/Scribe/Trainual, delegating to an 80% standard, and tracking KPIs like same-store sales growth and profitability guided by a three-year vivid vision.00:29 Meet Lane Martin01:35 From Duct Truck to Franchise03:07 Scaling Across North America04:21 Hiring First Tech Breakthrough05:50 Franchise Spark from Got Junk07:45 Operator to Visionary Shift09:20 Systems Beat Talent10:59 Documenting SOPs with Loom13:58 Delegation and the 80 Percent Rule18:12 KPIs and Vivid Vision Focus22:43 Boring Business Opportunities25:12 Indoor Air Quality Future and US Expansion27:36 Franchise Due Diligence AdviceThanks for listening, and Please Share this Episode with someone. It would really help us to grow our show and share these valuable tips and strategies with others. Have a great day.George Wright III“It's Never Too Late to Start Living the Life You Were Meant to Live”FREE Daily Mastermind Resources:CONNECT with George & Access Tons of ResourcesGet access to Proven Strategies and Time-Test Principles for Success. Plus, download and access tons of FREE resources and online events by joining our Exclusive Community of Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and High Achievers like YOU.Join FREE at DailyMastermind.comFollow me on social media Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | TikTok | YoutubeGrow Your Authority and Personal Brand with a FREE Interview in a Top Global Magazine HERE.ABOUT GUESTLANE MARTIN is the Co-founder of Modern PURAIR®, one of North America's fastest-growing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)companies and franchise systems. From its headquarters in Kelowna, BC, he has helped grow the business from a local service operation into a multi-location brand, expanding across Canada and into the U.S., with franchise locations in markets as small as 50,000 people, achieving over $1M CAD in annual revenue. A second-generation entrepreneur, Lane grew up in the industry and has spent over two decades building businessesfocused on service, systems, and long-term growth. Under his leadership, Modern PURAIR® has evolved into a scalablefranchise model and a category leader in indoor air quality - an often overlooked but increasingly essential part of bothhealth and home maintenance. Today, Lane is passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs to recognize the power of “boring but essential” businesses -those that quietly solve real problems, create meaningful impact, and generate predictable, recurring revenue. He is alsoactive in supporting children in need through his work with the PURKIDS® Foundation. Lane lives in Kelowna with his wifeand children, embracing the Okanagan Valley lifestyle and its outdoor pursuits whenever possible.Under Lane's leadership, Modern PURAIR® has earned numerous accolades, including Chamber of Commerce Business ofthe Year (2009), Small Business of the Year (2021) and Finalist for Medium Business of the Year (2022).Website: https://modernpurair.com/● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lane-martin-7377a114/● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@modernpurair6889● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanemartin/● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purairguy● X (Twitter): https://x.com/ModernPURAI

A local farmer is building a sustainable food business while selling natural meats and connecting consumers with products from other local farms as well. Scott Hasselmann - Owner and Operator of Hasselmann Family Farm in Marengo joins Rob Hart on the WBBM Noon Business Hour to discuss.

Robert Dow buys and sells raw land across Texas and Oklahoma — mostly sight unseen, almost entirely through direct mail. It's a lean operation built on a simple idea: take infrastructure you already have and point it at a new market. In this conversation, we get into his direct mail philosophy (why novelty beats clever copywriting, why your letter should be about the reader and not you), how he thinks about capital structure and tax efficiency, and his take on AI — that it's a powerful tool but not a durable moat. The edge still comes from domain expertise and knowing immediately which option is worth keeping. We also get into personal finance: a self-directed Roth IRA structure that's quietly been one of his best investments, and why most founders shouldn't be doing private deals. Guest: Robert Dow, founder of Remarkable Land Sponsor: [wayfront.com/tmba](wayfront.com/tmba) Thanks to this week's sponsor Wayfront — the AI-ready operating system for productized agencies. One client portal. One team dashboard. All your data, AI-accessible. TMBA listeners get an extra free month on top of the trial at wayfront.com/tmba. Links: Dan Kennedy — The Ultimate Sales Letter Seth Godin — Purple Cow Seth Godin — Linchpin Al Ries & Jack Trout — The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing Al Ries — Focus John Ruhlin — Giftology Donald Miller — Building a StoryBrand Aaron Ross — Predictable Revenue Chris Voss — Never Split the Difference Robert Cialdini — Influence Alex Hormozi — $100M Offers Jack Carr — The Terminal List Andy Weir — Project Hail Mary Andy Weir — The Martian Cormac McCarthy — The Road Business Resources Upcoming DC Events

Website: https://www.aiaiholdings.com/ NASDAQ: AIAI

Pet food looks like a food category, but it behaves like a trust category and nobody understands that better than Michael Meyer.  Rose Hamilton, CEO of Compass Rose Ventures and co-host of The Story of a Brand Show, sits down with Michael for an operator masterclass that goes far beyond pet food into the deeper mechanics of how premium consumer brands get built, scaled, and sustained.  With experience across Wellness Pet Food, Plum Organics, Restoration Hardware, I and Love and You, and Just Food for Dogs, Michael brings a rare pattern recognition that every founder, operator, and investor needs to hear. * Pet food is a trust category, not a food category. The dog or cat either eats it or doesn't. The pet parent either feels reassured or doesn't. Repeat purchase is the only real trust metric that matters, and building toward it requires discipline most brands skip. * Cats are the most underbuilt opportunity in premium pets. All the innovation went to dogs. Cat parents were always emotionally invested; the category just never gave them enough ways to express it. That is changing now, and it has to be intentional to work. * The Bobby Flay lesson every founder needs. Celebrity partnerships only work when they make the product promise more believable. Made by Nacho added depth to an existing thesis. It was not motion for motion's sake. * Distribution is not demand. Awareness is not trust. Getting on shelf is not the win. Turning and staying on shelf is the business. Scaling before your system is ready does not create growth, it creates expensive complexity. * Don't rush it. Michael's sharpest advice for founders under pressure to scale: take a breath, think it through, then come back. Speed without clarity is one of the most costly mistakes a growing brand can make. Join us in listening to this episode for one of the most practically useful operator conversations the show has ever produced. Rose and Michael cover category signals, acquisition lessons, channel strategy, celebrity partnerships, and the discipline required to scale without breaking what you built.  Whether you are a founder, an operator, or an investor, this one will sharpen how you think about building consumer brands that last.  For more on I and Love and You visit: https://iandloveandyou.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

In this special "After Hours" episode, hosts Damien Greathead and Penny Breslin sit down with Steven Ladd — recovering engineer, serial entrepreneur, and small business advisor — to explore what it really means to serve small business owners beyond the debits and credits.Steven shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur to advisor, and how working with small businesses during COVID revealed a hard truth: most owners don't have a financial foundation — and most advisors don't know how to connect with them on a human level.In this episode, you'll hear about:Why speaking plain English (not EBITDA) changes everythingThe "Lemonade Stand" model for helping owners understand their own businessWhat the Catalyst program looks like in practice — and what real value delivery looks like in the first 90 daysThe difference between a compliance mindset and a true advisory relationshipWhy the best advisors ask great questions rather than have all the answersWhether you're an accountant looking to move into advisory, or a bookkeeper ready to offer more value, this conversation will give you the confidence and framework to take that next step.0:00 – Introduction & Welcome 0:22 – About the "After Hours" format 0:54 – Recap of previous episode: Defining Advisory Services 1:51 – Penny introduces Steven Ladd 4:17 – Steven's background: Engineer → Entrepreneur → Advisor 5:09 – Working with small businesses through COVID 8:28 – How Steven describes what he does: "Love and Systems" 10:40 – Why jargon (like EBITDA) gets in the way 16:35 – What the Catalyst program looks like in practice 17:10 – The "Lemonade Stand" model for business clarity 24:15 – After the Catalyst: bookkeeping options & the fork in the road 29:13 – Empowering owners to become the Operator 31:15 – How big is Steven's company? (The answer may surprise you) 32:44 – A client success story: from skeptic to $250K loan 35:46 – Wrap-up & connect with Steven on LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of The Collision Vision, driven by Autobody News!   I'm Cole Strandberg, and today I'm joined by David Black, chief operating officer of Body by Cochran and an industry veteran who has worked nearly every side of this business: independent owner, consolidator leadership, and now a dealer-owned MSO. We trace Dave's road from a "grunt kid" in his dad's West Virginia shop to helping grow Body by Cochran from five separate dealer body shops into a 13-location, roughly $80-million MSO. We get into the operational rebuild behind that growth including a collision-only parts warehouse that cut parts cycle time from 11.5 days to 1.3 — why the business now runs like an independent while keeping its dealer backing, his approach to brand specialization and developing the next generation of technicians, and the legacy he hopes to leave the industry.   Let's get into it.

Today, Steve speaks with Dustin Dobbyn, an internationally recognized security expert, Marine Corps veteran, former SWAT operator, and the CEO of a fast-growing private security and executive protection firm. The two discuss management under pressure, the value of training and preparation, and awareness of supply chain risk. Dustin also makes the case for agility and flexibility in the workplace.  Key Takeaways: Physical security and cybersecurity are no longer separate arenas and organizations must realize all forms of security impact one another.  Intelligence is your greatest friend when building organizational resilience.  Work schedule flexibility can significantly improve productivity.  Tune in to hear more about: Securing all levels of your supply chain (8:15) A skill that veterans can bring to the cybersecurity industry (14:05) Dustin's resilience roadmap for the next five years (18:02) Standout Quotes: “If you think you know it all, it's time to get out of the business.” - Dustin Dobbyn “So we're seeing, especially in the corporate world for corporate security, a lot of people working remote on a flex schedule, and we're seeing a lot more productivity because of it. For leadership out there who's listening, absolutely just take that into consideration, as sometimes people work better at certain times of the day based on their schedule. And if you can get them in an environment where they're less stressed, you're going to get better work output out of them.” - Dustin Dobbyn “Knowledge is power. Intelligence is what's going to keep you safe because if you have the intelligence, you're aware of what's going on, and you can prepare for worst-case scenarios.” - Dustin Dobbyn Read the transcript of this episodeSubscribe to the ISF Podcast wherever you listen to podcastsConnect with us on LinkedIn and TwitterFrom the Information Security Forum, the leading authority on cyber, information security, and risk management.

Stuck on the entrepreneurial roller coaster where sales spike, operations crash, and you're still working 80-hour weeks? In this episode, Jason Swenk breaks down the stages from operator to owner and shows how to build a business that can finally run without you.Jason Swenk is a prominent digital agency coach, keynote speaker, and author of Operator to Owner. After launching a digital agency in 1999 and scaling it into a multimillion-dollar firm serving brands like AT&T, Hitachi, and LegalZoom, he successfully sold the company in 2011. Drawing from his experience, Jason founded Agency Mastery and created the "Founder Evolution Framework," a five-stage roadmap designed to help seven- and eight-figure founders transition from hands-on operators to true owners. Today, he also hosts the Smart Agency Masterclass Podcast, helping entrepreneurs build scalable agencies that run seamlessly without them.Connect with Jason Swenk:Website: https://operatortoownerevolution.com/ Instagram: instagram.com/jswenk YouTube: youtube.com/jasonswenk TurnKey Podcast Productions Important Links:Guest to Gold Video Series: www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/gold The Ultimate Podcast Launch Formula- www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/UPLFplusFREE workshop on how to "Be A Great Guest."Free E-Book 5 Ways to Make Money Podcasting at www.Turnkeypodcast.com/gift Ready to earn 6-figures with your podcast? See if you've got what it takes at TurnkeyPodcast.com/quizSales Training for Podcasters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-training-for-podcasters/id1540644376Nice Guys on Business: http://www.niceguysonbusiness.com/subscribe/The Turnkey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turnkey-podcast/id1485077152

Red Apple Media Owner & Operator John Catsimatidis joins Sid live in-studio for his weekly Monday morning appearance to recap Friday evening's TALKERS Magazine 2026 National Talk Media Industry Conference at Hofstra University, where both John & Sid were featured as guest speakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@mreapodcastWhat if growth is not the thing that creates freedom?Liz Landry has spent 16 years as a MAPS coach, completed more than 35,000 coaching calls, and helped some of the top real estate agents in the industry solve one of the biggest problems in business: people.Today, Liz joins us to unpack the path from operator to owner. She breaks down the four levels of leverage, from doing it all yourself to building leaders who can build leaders. We talk about why task leverage can trap us, how to hand off outcomes instead of chores, and why the best leaders stop being the answer machine.Liz also gives us simple language we can use right away with our team. When someone brings us a question, we do not need to fix it. We can help them think. We can ask for possible solutions. We can connect each task to the bigger vision. And over time, we can build a business where people own results, not just check boxes.This is a bold, clear conversation for any real estate agent who wants freedom inside their business, not freedom from it.Resources:Interest List for Operator to Owner: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Running a Business That Doesn't Run You by Liz Landry: fromoperatortoownerbook.com Order the Millionaire Real Estate Agent Playbook | Volume 3Connect with Jason:LinkedinProduced by NOVAThis podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not  Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.WARNING! You must comply with the TCPA and any other federal, state or local laws, including for B2B calls and texts. Never call or text a number on any Do Not Call list, and do not use an autodialer or artificial voice or prerecorded messages without proper consent. Contact your attorney to ensure your compliance.

Get my new book: https://bronsonequity.com/fireyourselfDownload my new special report - How to Use Inflation to Your Advantage - www.bronsonequity.com/inflationJoin host Bronson Hill for this special webinar replay from The 2026 Passive Investors Summit on the Mailbox Money Show. In this expert panel, Bronson is joined by four seasoned operators and investors sharing real talk on navigating the current multifamily market, capital deployment, due diligence, cash flow strategies, and emerging opportunities amid economic shifts.Panelists:Tyson Cobb (Timberview Capital) – orthopedic surgeon turned investor, focused on building physician networks and strong deal flow.Param Baladandapani (Generational Wealth MD) – retired radiologist and mentor helping physicians achieve financial freedom through real estate.Mike Morawski – 30-year real estate veteran with a focus on southeast multifamily and market cycle timing.Aleksey Chernobelskiy (GP LP Match) – founder connecting LPs with high-quality GPs and providing deal flow transparency.The panel discusses everything from vetting operators and conservative underwriting to AI applications in real estate, tax strategies, and why disciplined, long-term investors are well-positioned for the next cycle.TIMESTAMPS0:43 - Episode Overview | Wealth Forum2:01 - Host and Panelist Introductions3:48 - Current Market Overview: Threats, Opportunities, and LP Capital Trends5:01 - Panelist Backgrounds10:00 - Investor Psychology, Market Cycles, and Recovering from Losses15:54 - Deal Diligence and Vetting Lessons from Recent Years21:33 - Poll Results and Wire Fraud Warning22:36 - Bronson's Deal Evaluation Framework (Market > Operator > Deal)23:44 - Importance of Cash Flow in Today's Market28:34 - Broader Opportunities, Risks, and Geopolitical Factors (Oil, Baby Boomers, Senior Housing)32:33 - AI's Impact on Real Estate, Jobs, and Investor Tools41:41 - Personal Investments Outside Core Business (Precious Metals, Crypto, Asset Allocation)46:50 - Q&A: Spotting Operators with Realistic Projections51:42 - Lightning Round: Is This Like 2008 in Multifamily?52:01 - Panelist Contact Info and Closing RemarksConnect with the Guests:Tyson CobbWebsite: timberviewcapital.comMobile: 563-209-8488Email: tyson@timberviewcapital.comParam BaladandapaniWebsite: gwcapital.comPassive Investment Due Diligence Resource: gwcapital.com/guideMike MorawskiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mikemorawski2Instagram: @mike.morawski.54Email: mike@mikemorawski.comAleksey ChernobelskiyWebsite: gplpmatch.comEmail: aleksey@gplpmatch.com#MultifamilyInvesting#PassiveIncome#RealEstateDueDiligence#CashFlowStrategies#WealthBuilding

Gerard and Laurent have the pleasure of welcoming Fintan Slye, CEO of NESO — Great Britain's National Energy System Operator.  In a lively and wide-ranging discussion, we explored NESO's governance and its critical role across the British energy system: from real-time system operation — balancing supply and demand every second — to whole-system planning, market design, and transmission network operation.  We covered an extraordinary breadth of topics: balancing costs, electricity prices for consumers, energy security, and the challenge of delivering Power 2030 in a system increasingly reliant on renewables. We discussed batteries, the evolution of balancing markets, the explosive growth of datacenters, and the ever-growing grid connection queue — and, above all, how to keep the entire system stable and efficient through this transformation.  One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation focused on datacenters. NESO is currently facing more than 100GW of connection requests, while Fintan estimates that only 8–12GW are likely to materialise. He shared the three key criteria NESO uses to prioritise and filter applications — a crucial issue as electricity demand enters a new era.  Fintan is also a strong advocate for interconnectors. We discussed the strategic value of the current fleet and the long-term vision for expanding connections through the North Sea Islands and potentially even towards Canada.  Throughout the conversation, one message came across clearly: there is a highly competent team at the helm of the GB energy system, and the grid will continue to improve through investment, innovation, and digitisation.  Fintan embodies the calm confidence you want from the person helping run one of the most complex energy systems in the world. The ultimate “cool” operator.   NESO operates today's electricity system and designs tomorrow's energy system to deliver reliable, clean and affordable energy for Great Britain. Find out more here: https://www.neso.energy/    

True situational awareness isn't just about looking around; it's about understanding the subtle shifts in the atmosphere around you. Using his first intense jungle deployment as a backdrop, Clark Impastato details how sensory overload can paralyze an untrained mind. Learn how elite special operations forces manage fear, filter out noise, and maintain razor-sharp focus under extreme duress.

AI is making it possible to build richer versions of the files knowledge workers send every day: decks, memos, spreadsheets, reports, proposals, training materials, and more. This has gotten even easier this week with the release of OpenAI's "Sites" feature in Codex. In this practical Operator's episode, NLW walks through 10+ examples of work outputs that are often better as living, shareable, updateable, interactive links than static documents.Sign up for AI Executive Catchup: ⁠⁠⁠https://aiexecutivecatchup.com/⁠⁠⁠Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kpmg.com/us/Sophisticated⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bolt - Claim a free month of Bolt Pro - ⁠⁠https://bolt.new/partner/aidb/⁠⁠Outsystems - Stop wondering how AI will change your business and start building the agents that will lead it - http://outsystems.com/Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://scrunch.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Zenflow Work - Agents for knowledge work - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zenflow.free/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blitzy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.assemblyai.com/brief⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Robots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://robotsandpencils.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.link/1680633614⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Newsletter is BACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Alexis Sikorsky, an accomplished author and strategic advisor who has successfully navigated the complex world of scaling and exiting businesses. With a rich entrepreneurial background that began in his teenage years, Alexis shares his journey from founding a banking software company in Switzerland to achieving a nine-figure exit with private equity.Listeners will gain valuable insights as Alexis discusses the common pitfalls founders face when preparing for an exit, emphasizing the importance of understanding the private equity landscape and the misconceptions that often cloud a founder's judgment. He reflects on his own experiences and the lessons learned during his transition from operator to advisor, revealing the critical steps entrepreneurs should take to position themselves for success.Throughout the conversation, Alexis introduces his APEX methodology, designed to help business owners assess their companies effectively and plan for growth. He highlights the significance of recognizing when a founder is stuck in operator mode and offers practical advice on how to shift towards a more strategic CEO mindset.As Alexis prepares to release his second book, he shares his vision for helping others navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and exit strategies. This episode is a must-listen for founders and entrepreneurs seeking to build wealth and freedom while avoiding common mistakes.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- The journey from entrepreneur to strategic advisor- Key misconceptions about private equity and exit strategies- The APEX methodology for assessing business growth- Signs that indicate a founder is stuck in operator mode- The psychological impact of exiting a business and preparing for the next chapterFor more information on Alexis Sikorsky and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn and check out his books available on Amazon.Support the show

Dan interviews John Karsant, founder of Level Up Leads, a 73-person outsourced SDR agency doing about $6.5M/year revenue, built while living abroad (Argentina, now Barcelona). John shares how he found remote work early via Craigslist, then spun out a list-building service that nearly failed due to one-off sales before pivoting into full appointment setting—eventually cold calling, which raised value, doubled average sale while keeping churn steady, and enabled $15K–$20K/month packages. He explains why radical honesty wins deals, how a strong ops leader and an in-house client dashboard improved transparency, and which metrics matter most (dial-to-connect, meetings booked, show rate, and pipeline movement). In this episode: John discusses hiring ahead of the curve How he compensates reps based on client retention The decline of email outreach John's inbound engine that drives 80–90% of leads Practical AI uses for role play training, transcript analysis, playbooks, and script generation The value of an experienced CEO coach John's approach to investing and family life Thanks to this week's sponsor Wayfront — the AI-ready operating system for productized agencies. One client portal. One team dashboard. All your data, AI-accessible. TMBA listeners get an extra free month on top of the trial at wayfront.com/tmba. Links: Level Up Leads More Business Resources Upcoming DC Events

In this episode, we're continuing the conversation from Episode 268 and breaking down what it really means to move from store operator to store owner. If your business still feels heavy—even after years of growth—you're likely operating in "jobby mode" without realizing it. I walk through why growth often feels like more weight instead of more freedom, how the milestone mindset keeps retailers stuck, and what actually needs to shift for your business to run without everything routing through you. This episode will help you identify where you are right now and what needs to change to move into true business mode. For show notes, including links to the documentary and resources I mentioned in this episode, visit SavvyShopkeeper.com/Episode276  Kathy Cruz is an Independent Retail Coach who helps store owners work smarter, profit more, and grow their brick and mortar businesses. Connect with Kathy and learn more here: Website: Savvy ShopkeeperInstagram: @savvyshopkeeperMastermind Group: Master Shopkeepers  

In this episode of Green Side Up, Jordan and Jason sit down with Zack Pitchford, owner of Wilcox Nursery & Landscape in Largo, Florida, to unpack his unconventional journey from high school nursery hand to retail nursery owner and landscape leader. Zack walks through his early days in environmental horticulture at UF, sweating it out on Jordan's maintenance crews, his eye‑opening internship at Valley Crest, and the multiple times he launched (and quit) Pitchford Design & Landscape before ultimately acquiring the historic Wilcox Nursery. He shares how he navigated the numbers, financing, and risk of buying a land-heavy business, rebuilt the team and hierarchy from the inside, and grew both the retail and services divisions. The conversation dives into leadership development, promoting from within, marketing strategy (Google Ads, SEO, email, and video content), and what he's seeing in today's softer design/install market. Zack also breaks down his water-conscious irrigation approach and lawn philosophy, talks about the rise of native plant demand and fine gardening maintenance, and reflects on building a business that can run without him while still serving his community and family. Connect with Zack:

Points of Interest 00:00 – 02:12 – Jason Swenk's Agency Journey: Jason shares how he accidentally started an agency in 1999, grew it to more than 100 employees, sold it after 11 years, and eventually transitioned into coaching agency owners worldwide. 02:12 – 06:22 – Designing a Lifestyle Business: Jason explains how agency owners often aspire to more freedom and flexibility, sharing how he structures his own workweek and prioritizes experiences outside of work. 06:23 – 10:14 – Escaping the Operator Trap: Jason introduces an exercise that helps founders identify the tasks they dislike and begin designing their business around their strengths instead of remaining stuck in daily operations. 10:15 – 13:19 – The Manager Stage and Delegation Challenges: The conversation explores why many founders struggle after hiring employees and how poor delegation often creates more work rather than less. 13:20 – 16:50 – Building Trust and Better Decision-Making: Jason explains the 1-3-1 framework for problem solving and discusses how leaders can develop trust while allowing team members to learn through small mistakes. 16:51 – 19:41 – The CEO Identity Shift: The discussion focuses on how founders must evolve their role as the business grows, moving from execution toward vision, coaching, and strategic leadership. 19:42 – 22:17 – Becoming an Architect: Jason outlines the Architect stage, where leaders create systems, processes, and frameworks that allow teams to operate independently without constant oversight. 22:18 – 24:09 – AI as a Founder Knowledge System: The conversation explores how agency owners can use AI to capture expertise, document decision-making processes, and reduce dependency on the founder. 24:10 – 27:31 – Avoiding the Rubber Band Effect: Jason explains how founders often sabotage growth by reverting to old habits and stepping back into roles their team is capable of handling. 27:32 – 30:31 – The Difference Between CEO and Owner: The discussion examines the Owner stage, where the business no longer relies on the founder for day-to-day decisions and leadership functions. 30:32 – 34:30 – Growing Leaders Within the Organization: Jason shares insights on helping employees develop their own careers while recognizing that not everyone wants to move into leadership positions. 34:31 – 41:02 – Building a Business Around Your Goals: The episode concludes with Jason discussing his book, Operator to Owner, and emphasizing that agency owners should intentionally design businesses that align with their desired lifestyle and ambitions. Show Notes Agency Mastery Website Operator to Owner book details Smart Agency Masterclass Podcast The Seth Godin Episode Upcoming Events Epic Friday Jason Swenk on LinkedIn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Erik Brooks is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Ethos Capital, a middle-market private equity firm built to bring seasoned C-Suite operators into every aspect of the investment process. Erik's experience prior to founding Ethos in 2019 spanned privatizations in Eastern Europe, value investing at Baupost, and twenty years at Abry Partners. Our conversation covers Erik's path to private equity, lessons learned about risk, the importance of betting on people, and the evolution in his thinking that led to forming Ethos. We then cover Ethos' focus on durable business models, one-deal-a-year cadence, operating system to evaluate and improve companies, and an investment example that brings it all to life. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership   Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)

John Catsimatidis, Red Apple Media Owner & Operator, joins Sid live in-studio for his weekly Monday morning appearance to recap yesterday's Israel Day Parade in NYC, before he speaks on the current state of the economy and addresses protesters and New Jersey State Police clashing again last night near Delaney Hall despite a 9 p.m. curfew imposed by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is 2026 the year you finally run paid ads? Something shifted at DC Mexico this year — more founders than ever are seriously considering paid ads as their next acquisition channel. Between AI making creative cheaper to produce and competitive research easier to do, the barriers are lower than they've been. Max Sinclair has run a paid ads agency for eight years. In this episode he breaks down what actually works for founders spending under $30K a year — how to start, what to expect, and whether it's even worth it for your business. Plus: how Max used AI to turn his agency's internal tools into a product, and what that transition looks like in practice. Guest: Max Sinclair — Snowball Creations & SaaS Ads Studio Sponsor: wayfront.com/tmba Thanks to this week's sponsor Wayfront — the AI-ready operating system for productized agencies. One client portal. One team dashboard. All your data, AI-accessible. TMBA listeners get an extra free month on top of the trial at wayfront.com/tmba. Links: Business Resources Upcoming DC Events