Podcasts about profitability

319: Lead Management and Client Experience Systems that Boost Profitability Joining me today is Porsche Williams, Founder and CEO of The Prototype, a business operations and client experience firm exclusively for designers. Porsche is passionate about helping design businesses streamline growth by refining their processes and elevating the client journey.   In today's episode, we're diving into client experience and lead qualification—two critical areas that can make or break your profitability. Porsche shares where the hidden profit leaks happen before projects even begin and how you can tighten your systems to create a more efficient, profitable business. Topics Mentioned: Communication Efficiency Business Operations Key Thoughts:  Three key patterns in lost leads: lack of follow-up, inconsistent communication, and avoidable mishaps during project execution. Consistent communication with clients builds satisfaction and trust in the design process. If you don't have follow up sequences for leads, focus on this before going after more leads. Focus on quality over quantity with leads. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: scarletthreadconsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele-Williams Contact Porsche: Email: porsche@theprototype.net Website: https://www.theprototype.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprototypelifestyle/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/porsche-williams/     References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go Metrique Solutions

How can independent publishers achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace? In this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” AdventureKEEN Publisher and COO Molly Merkle shares advice about the power of niche publishing and the strategies publishers can use to build loyal readers, stronger sales, and resilient businesses. You'll learn practical tactics about: - growing your backlist through publisher acquisitions and mergers - revitalizing older titles through redesign and repackaging - how to build strong relationships with specialty retailers and distribution partners - and more! Whether you're looking to grow your publishing company, strengthen your backlist, increase profitability, or better understand your target audience, this episode is packed with real-world insights and proven publishing strategies you can put into action right away. GUEST BIO Molly Merkle began her career in book publishing nearly 40 years ago as an intern during college, then moved to full-time work for Menasha Ridge Press, one of AdventureKEEN Publishing's now seven imprints. In early 2023, she was named AdventureKEEN's publisher and continues to serve as its COO. Merkle has been key to executing the company's vision for growth, including the acquisition and integration of several independent presses over the years. She's also helped lead the company through hardship and challenges, which are a fact of life for entrepreneurial publishers. Merkle serves on the board of The Publishers Cooperative, a group of established and emerging independent publishers committed to creating a strong, diverse, equitable, and inclusive publishing industry together. Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He's also passionate about indie publishing, because he's an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures. LINKS Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/ Learn more about the AdventureKEEN at https://adventurewithkeen.com/ Follow IBPA on: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-book-publishers-association Follow the AdventureKEEN on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adventurekeen/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adventurewithkeen/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@adventurekeen LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/adventurekeen/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adventurekeen Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/adventurekeen.bsky.social Blog - https://adventurewithkeen.com/blog/ Learn more about The Publishers Cooperative at https://thepublisherscooperative.com/ Learn more about the Book Industry Charitable Foundation at https://bincfoundation.org/ This episode is presented by Total Printing Systems. Learn more at https://www.tps1.com/

It's a common trajectory: Dental schools create great dentists, but they don't create good business owners. Kiera shares three critical (but attainable!) tips for creating a profitable, scalable, and enjoyable practice, so doctors can continue doing the work they love. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera. And today I'm excited to chat with practice owners, office managers, and to kind of just talk about like what every practice owner should know. But I think a lot of us learn that too late. Myself included, I feel like business owners, I feel like we are great at our craft, but at business we learn it a little too late. And so I think that like I looked at all of our students at Midwestern and they learned how to be great dentists, but they didn't.   learn how to become great business owners. And we hear this all the time. I'm not saying anything new. I just think that a lot of practices hit ceilings because it's not their clinical skills. It's the business outgrows their knowledge. It's like, hey, take me to the moon. You're like, I've never been to the moon. And so I think just being able to help practice owners today realize in office managers, like leadership systems and financial decisions really are like the core. That's why we call it the yes success model. So you, that's the leadership,   systems and earnings. Like that's really what makes up a successful practice. But I feel like that feels so easy. But I want to just walk through like what are three things that every business owner needs to know to have a profitable, scalable and enjoyable practice. You guys the Dental A Team like we work with hundreds of practices across the nation from startup practices to multi-million dollar offices. And what I realize is the challenges are all the same. Like it's fundamentally stays the same. It just gets bigger or smaller based on the size of practice that you're in. And so   I think so many people know how to work really hard. I think so many people outproduce their problems. I think so many people they just it I hear all the time when people are calling to work with us, like Kiera, I just don't know what I don't know. And so today I just want to go through like, let's just talk about three things that I feel like every single business owner needs to know and some tactical ways that you can implement this. So hopefully it takes you from being stuck to unstuck. If you've heard this in the past, maybe you're hearing it at a different time. I know for me these are three fundamentals that I go back to no matter what phase of the business I'm in.   No matter what size of practice I'm in, none of that. So number one is going to be your leadership is like completely the like growth of your business. And your business will never outgrow your leadership. And so your business is a reflection of you as the leader. I remember reading Jocko Willink's book about that extreme ownership. And it was like everything about your business is a reflection of you. And when so when I'm frustrated of the systems or the scalability or the lack of accountability, that's me. And so when we have that.   I hate this, but I love this. Is where can we get consistency? Where can we stop the firefighting? Where can we like make sure that we've got stronger accountability? And where can we make sure that the doctor's not carrying everything? Because I think so many doctors are like, I'll just do it. I got this. Like, I I'm a hard worker. I know how to GSD. I know how to get through this. But I'm like, okay, we've got to figure out how like being a leader is not just a title. How do we create more clarity and how do we create more consistency? And how do we develop leaders and owners within our organization?   And so for this, like when I look at our leadership and how for you not to get stuck in that, like being a great leader is being able to make hard decisions. Being a great leader is how do I create clarity and consistency for my team? Being a great leader is how do I make sure that my team understands the numbers and we use those numbers to guide our decisions. we were going through a whole list the other day of of topics of leadership. And I was like, gosh, I like leadership is   It's a journey. It's an evolution. It's not something that you just do overnight. and I think about Kiera as a leader when I first started and she was erratic. I was like, I was turbulent. I had so many pieces. but leadership is maturity. it's how do I get people to buy into a vision? How do I rally them and how do I get them to buy into a vision? How am I to be a CEO versus a manager and really understanding the difference of those two hats? How do I have time management where I   Truly focus on the most important things, not just because I'm capable of doing it, but because I'm the only one that can do it. How do I delegate and work through my team? How do I like learn people and work to their strengths and work to their superpowers? Working through my team, not just working with my team, using my team. How do I have the art of influence? How do I grow my team members into incredible people? How do I see that potential when I'm hiring? How do I hire better? How do I figure   like leading, managing, and holding people accountable. How do I have consistency? How am I an example, but not the one who has to do everything? how do I value my team? Do I see them as an asset or a liability? How do I help my team feel valued without being the one who does it all? Like there's a there's a there's a great quote over here today that says I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is try to please everybody. And that's by Herbert Swoop. And I thought about that as I was prepping for the podcast today of   That's I think in leadership where I'm not trying to please everybody. I'm going to make decisions that upset people, but I'm always going to make decisions that are in the best interest of the business. how do I own my mindset and make sure that I'm showing up with that clear, sharp mind? How do I have like mental health and grit and make sure I'm having that? What about creating culture, getting a team of ownership, having like my office manager, doctor, duo and having that relationship? What about performance management of my team?   So when I look at this and I think about this, like leadership, like you developing and growing as a leader. And I think that when I go back to this of like a lot of owners just think like I owned it, I got the title of a leader. But leadership is this evolution and this journey. It's becoming, it's evolving. It's all those pieces I listed off, and yet it's not a, it's not a checklist. Like, how do I learn to listen and not react? How do I learn to have my team come up with solutions rather than me?   So I rattled off a lot and all those can hit people at different phases of business. And I believe that I can check one of those off and then I can move. And then my team will double in size or our business will double in size. And I might have to go back to the beginning and the basics again of like, all right, I gotta figure out again how to work through my team. we went from having where me and our team was doing it to where now we're bringing on the C suites and the leader I need to become to manage a C suite versus the leader I needed to be.   Run when Tiff and I were just running the business together. The way I act and interact with my EA and personal assistant today versus when I first had one. It's an evolution. It's a leadership. It's an evolution of who you are. And so it's how do how do we become better at leadership? And I would say listen to podcasts, read books. some I I go back to fundamentals. I read the go giver constantly, I read traction a lot. It's so but boring. Like, sorry, Gino, it's very boring.   read the book, How to Be a Great Boss, Crucial Conversations, Discipline Without Punishment. Those are just some great books, but also look at great leaders and what do they do. For me, I'm a big mimic and mirror. So I talk to people, I talk to dentists that have really great cultures. This is why I love our mastermind group. I bring the best of the best of the best together. And I know because we work with all of them and I know our dentists personally, I have a lot of my great core leaders that I know are just dynamite leaders.   I have them share what do they do? How do they have it? How do they have performance reviews? How do they give cr like critical feedback? Some of the dentists early on in my career. I had them practice these conversations with me, like literally would have to send me voice memos. Practice your leadership skills. Use a consultant. Let's talk through how we're gonna have this conversation, how are we gonna talk to our team about this? But really I think like if I break it down to the nuts and bolts, it's how do I get a team to buy into a vision? How do I make sure that we hold accountability and ownership?   And how do I make sure that I maintain consistency and clarity? I think if I boiled it down and that's a rift on my own side, like not prepped, those would be the pieces I'd boil down. And so how do you become a stronger leader in those areas? And again, there's just indecision is worse than a wrong decision. And so just making those decisions, being more confident in yourself. someone once said like 2.0 is sitting here, and I think about Kiera 2.0, like she wasn't born, she was created.   Leaders are not born, they're created. You've got to like flex and strengthen that leadership skill because your practice can never outgrow your leadership. And if you want to get to the next level of growth, whether that's financially, whether that's profitability, you have to flex and become a different leader. If you've got pure chaos in your office, that's you. If you've got people who aren't falling through, that's you. And that doesn't mean you have to go fix it. I mean, that's you tolerating that. And that's the standards of your practice. Your business will always fall, not to what you say, but what you tolerate.   And so being that leader that raises the standards, I this year I was annoyed. I was like, okay, we're going for outcomes over activity. I realized I was tracking activity, but that's not moving our company forward. We need to be tracking outcomes. Our team is flourishing. But me as a leader, I need to be looking down the line and seeing, and I need to be developing myself as well. I go to the gym, I put myself into a complete fitness competition where I wanted to get to my best physical, like PRs, physical fitness. I went through   A cut. I've never done a cut before. I push myself physically, mentally, often because to me that's a a different pressure test that's gonna sh like allow me to show up better as a leader as well. So it doesn't even have to just be within your practice. Discipline at the gym, discipline in working out, discipline in how you show up, discipline in how you eat, those things are going to make you a far superior leader. I will tell you.   Going through a cut where I had the least amount of calories, I was the strongest, most sharpest leader I've ever been. And I was exhausted. But I knew I needed to show up and I needed to be stronger and I needed to think better ways. So those are going to be some zones hopefully that will help you on leadership. The other one that I found that a lot of people miss is we talk about so often, but systems truly do create freedom, not restrictions. And I think people think that they need to have really strong and lots of systems. And even our team was doing this, but realistically.   There's just a few core systems that need to be in place. There's not a lot of systems that actually need to be there, but they do need to be consistent. They do need to be scalable, and they do need to be followed through on. And so when we look at it, our team was going through and there's there's business fundamentals like core value, vision, mission, org chart, meeting cadences, figuring out our BAM, figuring out our projections, looking at our overhead. Like those are business fundamentals. And then there's systems. And we actually broke it down and we're like, gosh, if we just put into place like 10 core.   Most things are going to get better. Most things are going to get fixed. Most things are going to get resolved. But they're not sexy. They're not fun. They're not things that I'm like, my gosh, like, let me get on a podcast and tell everybody, like, let's just fix these seven items. But that's all it really is. But I think that what happens is we want to continue to scale. We want to continue to build. For me, I want to reinvent, reinvent, reinvent, reinvent. But that's actually not something that's going to grow us. And so it's like,   Just having KPIs that we track and monitor and we use those to make our decisions, having a solid morning huddle with an agenda, following set meeting cadences, having proper handoffs, having a proper scheduling protocol, having case acceptance protocols, having a collections protocol, working on new patients and referrals, having a period protocol, recare reactivation. Like those are really core items that if you have those systems where you follow them and we scale them and everybody's doing it the same way, 95% of your problems get fixed.   Of course, there's other ones. There's hiring, there's onboarding, there's leadership, there's all these other ones. But I think so many people don't want to just be at the basics. We want to reinvent the will. We want to do these things, like have job descriptions at the end of days. Like just do it. It's boring. It's not fun. People are like, wow, wow. We have to have a a morning huddle prep sheet. Why do pilots have checklists? Like the checklist manifesto. They create freedom, they create predictability, and they create systemization. That's all you need to do.   And I found that when offices follow it, when we have it in place. And for me, I also don't want systems to be something that people have to remember. How can I have it as a true system like Chick-fil-A where their burgers come out with three pickles every single time? How do I make sure that our schedule has the same system every single time? How do I make sure that our our handoffs have the same thing every single time? And I don't have to hope that 15 team members remember it. We're gonna put this in to where we have it consistent every single time, no matter who's doing it, no matter what new team member comes in.   That is scalability with systemization. And so have it documented, have it simple, have it repeatable. That's gonna get duplicated. So I think for offices, systemization really that that's the core. That's the systems. It's not sexy, but it is very, very effective. And then the third things that I think a lot of people don't realize, including myself, is you have to know your numbers better than anyone else. That's better than your CPA, better than your financial advisor. You have to know, and that's not just production, that's profit. Like I remember someone said,   production feeds the ego, profit feeds the family. And I think about this all the time. Like, you have to know your production. And I'm talking net, not gross, your collections, your overhead. Then within your overhead, like what is our payroll? What is our supplies? What's our marketing? What are our labs? What's our profitability? And then what's our billing and our AR? You know those numbers. You're solid. You can make so much stronger decisions. You don't, you have financial surprises, you make poor decisions, you're on reactive rather than proactive.   You grow, but you don't have profit. Like, I can't tell you how many offices I've that are singing the five, six, seven, eight million and they have no money. And I'm like, golly, you're making so much money, but you don't know how to keep the money. You gotta make the money and you gotta keep the money. All right. Like that's what we gotta do. So you have to make sure that our profit is there and we can't be willy-nilly. To me, you guys know I talk about the MMs. I do money and meditation in the morning. So triple for you morning, meditation, money. Look at it every single day. Look at your P and L.   If you don't know your overhead and your profit right now without looking, you gotta know it better. You have to. And that's a doctor and an OM. You must know this number. This number creates all the drive. Profit is the only number I actually care about. Like I can sit here, we can track all the KPIs, so many things, but if your profits down, everything else in your life is hard. Your profits up, most things in your life are really easy. Money solves a lot of problems. And so let's have profit. Let's have like I'm stressed out, I'm moving my hair around. Like   I don't enjoy this. This stresses me out because you've got to know your numbers better than anyone else. You don't sit here and lie, if your CPA is not delivering to you by the second of the month, like the second week of the month, get a better CPA. Like they work for you. You have to know your numbers. You have to be confident in them. And if things fill off, challenge it, question it until it gets right. Don't just sit here haphazardly. That is not a strong business owner. This one fires me up more than anything because I used to not know my numbers. My husband was like, Kiera, I don't get it. Why are you broke? And like,   I don't know. Well, I learned this great thing about AR. I had like a hundred grand sitting in AR that I didn't know about. We weren't collecting properly. You better believe I fixed that real fast to where I'm never gonna be in that situation again. And you layer by layer by layer, you get more and more and more financially savvy, but you have to know your numbers better than anyone else. You know your production numbers or so, I hope. If you don't know that number, but do you know your collections? Do you know your collection percentage? Do you know your overhead? Do you know your payroll percentage? Do you know your supply sip? If you don't,   You must learn that. So I'll get off my rant. But this was funny. They said production is a vanity, profitability is a reality. And I think that that's a good anchor line of yes, it is. Profitability is your reality. So your numbers are gonna tell the truth whether you choose to look at them or not. The truth is always there. Some of us don't want to like get on the scale and say weigh. I had a great trainer tell me, she's like, Kiera, that number means nothing other than giving us data and information. It's not my   Self-worth, it's nothing. Just like your profitability is just a number on a scale. It just gives us data. If we spend more money on payroll, this is the number that we get. We make better decisions if we know. But I will tell you, your success, your happiness, your stress is all tied to you knowing these numbers or not. And a lot of people are like, no, no, no, I don't want to. Yeah, right. You're sitting in stress constantly that you don't even realize. So know your numbers. Schedule a monthly financial review. Commit to knowing the story behind your numbers.   Like, do money meditation with me every morning. Just have your bank account on there. Just look at it every morning. Look at your PL every day. I don't care. Do not sit in excuses on your money. You're a business owner, you've got to know this. So I hope that wasn't too much of a rant. But I hope it gave you some good tips on how to have leadership. some good money books. I love Profit First by Mike McAllicks. I also love Money Master the Game by Tony Robbins. That was a long book, but it taught me a lot.   there's some great financial podcasts out there. there's also some really crummy ones. I The Psychology of Money was another great one that I read that was on financial. systems, the checklist manifesto is a great one. Come up for air is a great book. There's several great books based on where you're struggling. But if you notice, this is our yes success model. You as a leader, earnings and profitability, system structure and scale. That's what it is. And every single one of those will give you the yes success model.   You've got to take care of them. You've got to do leadership. You've got to do profitability. You gotta do systems. The yes success model follows constantly. So what part are you the weakest in? What part are you the strongest in? And where do you need to grow? This is the zone like you're not a great practice is not built by accident. It's intentional, it's focused, it's consistent. I had another great trainer. She said, Kiera, it's not about perfection, it's about consistency. That's I don't care if last month you didn't look at your numbers.   I do care if you consistently are not looking at the numbers. You aren't, I'm not expecting perfection, but we do have to have consistency. So how can you have more consistency? And if you're feeling overwhelmed, it doesn't mean you're failing. It just means that you've outgrown the current systems, you've outgrown where you're at, you've outgrown the knowledge. It's kind of like the Wi-Fi symbol. You're just popping up to the next level. And your next level of growth comes from working harder. Like it can, but it usually comes from knowing your business better, leading better, making better decisions with finances. So this is what we're obsessed with.   I love to help you. I love our team to help you. I love you to be a part of our community. We talk about this every single month. We talk about this in person. Come be a part of it. Like for me, I'm not going to get a six-pack without a trainer overseeing me. You might not be able to grow your business without a trainer overseeing you, an advisor helping you, somebody getting you out of the rut, somebody helping you get to that next Wi-Fi symbol. So let's help you out. Reach out. Hello at the Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. You guys, this is your life, your practice. And I feel like these things are not known. I feel like they're kind of known.   But knowing and executing are the difference between winning and losing. Are you just gonna know the facts or are you gonna actually execute on it? The challenge is there, the choice is there, and I hope that you choose to be somebody who executes. Reach out, let's get you out of the hole. Come on, let's do Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. And as always, thanks for listening, and I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team podcast.  

In this episode, Parag from WebGility shares what he's observed in the profitability differences between six, seven, and eight-figure e-commerce sellers. Other than that, Parag also dives into SKU level economics, overlooked fees, and the best channels to expand to, to maximize profits. Accounting is one of the most boring things about e-commerce.  But it remains to be one of the most important parts of running an e-commerce business.  Because if you are only keeping an eye on your top-line revenue, you might be overlooking an important aspect of your profitability.  That's why in today's episode I'm joined by Parag Mamnani, the CEO of Webgility, where we talk about the most overlooked factors that affect profitability and what the biggest differences are between 6, and 8 figure sellers.  Thinking about taking some risk off the table? Or are you looking at taking an extended break from e-commerce in general? Know what your e-commerce business is worth with Quiet Light Brokerage. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to seller profitability tiers 00:29 - WebGility's role in e-commerce bookkeeping 04:28 - Differences between WebGility and competitors 07:15 - Real-time SKU level data and AI integration 09:33 - Lessons from scaling from six to eight figures 11:02 - Emerging profitable channels beyond Amazon 13:22 - Channel expansion and complexity management 16:42 - Impact of AI and brand differentiation 18:28 - Transparency and competition on Amazon 21:38 - Revenue size and scaling challenges 24:32 - Thresholds for business sophistication 28:47 - Granular expense analysis for profitability 32:36 - WebGility's SKU-level reporting and support 34:51 - The importance of accountability in financial data 35:32 - Ideal customer profile for WebGility Resources WebGility - https://www.webgility.com Quiet Light Brokerage - https://quietlight.com The Exitpreneur - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Exitpreneur Want to hear more about Parag or Webgility? You can learn more about Parag through his linkedin page here, and through his company Webgility.  As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, leave a comment down below if you're interested. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

Most home service businesses keep just 5 to 12% net profit, and most owners have no idea that is where they are. The best run HVAC, plumbing, and electrical shops keep 20%, and the gap almost always comes down to a few fixable mistakes. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Josh Crouch sit down with Matthew Mooney and Raymond Gong of Profitability Partners, a fractional CFO firm that spent years on the private equity side of the table and now helps owners find the profit already hiding in their business. They break down the real gross profit benchmarks for every trade, the labor and pricing mistakes that make your P&L lie to you, why fixing your booking rate beats spending more on ads, and how one plumbing company cut 3 million dollars a year in overhead in six months. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Upfrog, one of our show partners. Upfrog turns paid ad spend into booked, sold system replacements instead of wasted leads. Learn more at upfrog.com. CHAPTERS 0:00 – The 20% Net Margin Most Contractors Never Hit 3:49 – Meet Profitability Partners: Fractional CFOs From Private Equity 7:54 – What Private Equity Looks For in an Undervalued Business 11:00 – Gross Profit Benchmarks by Trade: HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical 15:56 – The Fully Loaded Labor Mistake That Hides Your Real Margin 18:16 – The What Is Everyone Charging Trap and the Discount Price Book 20:24 – Why Discounting Costs You More Than Spending on Ads 23:36 – Fix Your Booking Rate Before You Spend a Dollar on Marketing 27:47 – What Separates a 12% Company From a 20% Company 29:55 – Switching to Commission Pay Without Losing Your Techs 36:41 – Where AI Actually Helps a 5 to 30 Million Dollar Contractor 39:12 – The Overhead Trap: Unused Software and Oversized Leases 41:56 – Case Study: Cutting 3 Million Dollars a Year in Six Months 48:22 – The Exit Math That Turns 200K Saved Into 2 Million 52:15 – The 1% Booking Rate Worth 3 Million, and Why Your CRM Lies 55:33 – Where to Find Matthew and Raymond WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - The real gross profit benchmarks by trade, and why a 50% GP can secretly be sub 40 once labor is fully loaded - Why 20% net profit is realistic, and the mistakes keeping most shops at 5 to 12% - How discounting quietly wrecks your margin, and why 2 to 3% more on ads beats 10% off the price - Why booking rate is the first thing to fix before spending another dollar on marketing - How one plumbing company cut 3 million dollars a year in overhead in six months - The exit math that turns a 200,000 dollar expense cut into 2 million more at the sale THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY UPFROG System replacement leads from paid ads, nurtured and booked into sold jobs before your team arrives: upfrog.comBREEZY About 30 percent of inbound calls in home services go unanswered, and those are customers ready to book with whoever picks up first. Breezy puts AI agents on every call, books the job, and follows up instantly, so you wake up to booked jobs instead of missed calls. See how many jobs you are losing at https://getbreezyapp.com and use code SBM for 500 dollars toward Breezy. MARKET STORM Market Storm uses AI to catch early buyer intent and put your brand in front of homeowners before they ever search. Visit https://marketstorm.ai or text 213-575-5448. CALLRAIL CallRail assigns a unique tracking number to each marketing effort, so you know which channels bring your best leads. Try it free at https://callrail.com/sbmpod. PHONETAP Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo COMPANYCAM Capture work, track job progress, and stay connected from the field to the office with photo documentation and AI tools that keep work moving. Start a free trial at https://companycam.com/ CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS AND GUEST Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Matthew Mooney (Profitability Partners): https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mooney-54b09047/ Raymond Gong (Profitability Partners): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gongraymond/ ARTICLES WORTH READING HVAC profit margin benchmarks: https://profitabilitypartners.io/hvac-profit-margins/ Plumbing profit margin benchmarks: https://profitabilitypartners.io/plumbing-profit-margins/ ABOUT SERVICE BUSINESS MASTERY Service Business Mastery helps home service owners run better, more profitable companies. Every week, Tersh Blissett and Josh Crouch break down the operations, technology, and leadership behind growing an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical business, with the operators actually doing the work. More at https://servicebusinessmastery.com/ Want the frameworks from each episode in your inbox? Join the free Service Business Mastery newsletter: https://servicebusinessmastery.com/ Subscribe on YouTube and follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. If this one helped, share it with an owner who needs it. #ServiceBusinessMastery #HomeServices #ContractorProfit #HVACBusiness #FractionalCFO

Episode Overview In this episode, Michael D. Levitt speaks with Melissa Robinson-Winemiller about the role of empathy in modern leadership and why it is no longer optional. Drawing from Melissa's research and Michael's real-world leadership experience, this conversation reframes empathy from a soft skill into a measurable leadership strategy that directly impacts retention, performance, and organizational outcomes. The Empathy Gap in Leadership A consistent issue across organizations: Leaders feel pressure from above and disconnect below Middle managers report feeling unheard and unsupported Communication breakdowns create disengagement Melissa's research highlights this gap as a root cause of: Leadership burnout Workplace dissatisfaction Breakdown in team cohesion The pandemic accelerated this shift, forcing employees to reassess what they will tolerate in leadership and culture. Empathy Is a Strategic Tool, Not a Soft Skill Empathy is often misunderstood. It is not about emotional reaction. It is about perspective-taking and informed decision-making. Melissa defines this as a structured leadership capability, not a personality trait. Research shows the impact clearly: Productivity increases by 87% Innovation increases by 86% Profitability increases by 84% Empathy, when applied intentionally, becomes a competitive advantage. Case Study: Listening as a High-ROI Leadership Move Michael shares a practical example of transforming a toxic workplace. Approach: Conducted one-on-one conversations with team members Asked for their perspective Asked what they would change if they were leading Outcome: Turnover reduced from 90% to 6% annually No financial incentives were introduced. The shift came from: Being heard Being included Being respected Listening is not passive. It is a leadership system. Why Listening Works Listening creates: Trust Psychological safety Better decision-making It also reduces: Misalignment Rework Internal friction The investment is time. The return is stability and performance. The Real Cost of Attrition Turnover is not just an HR issue. It is a financial and operational risk. Key reality: Replacing an employee costs 90% to 200% of their annual salary Additional hidden costs: Loss of institutional knowledge Disruption to team performance Increased workload for remaining staff Retention is not a cultural initiative. It is a business decision. The Failure of Command-and-Control Leadership Traditional leadership models are breaking down. Old approach: Authority-driven Compliance-based Top-down decision making Modern workforce response: Disengagement Exit Loss of trust As Melissa highlights, today's workforce no longer tolerates environments where their voice is ignored. Leadership Evolution: From Control to Connection Effective leaders today: Seek input before making decisions Create space for dialogue Build systems that incorporate team feedback This is not about consensus. It is about informed leadership. Key Takeaways Empathy drives measurable business outcomes Listening is one of the highest ROI leadership actions Turnover is more expensive than most leaders realize Command-and-control leadership is no longer viable Perspective-taking improves decision quality and team performance Action Steps Schedule one-on-one conversations Ask: “What would you change if you were in my role?” Audit your leadership communication Are you informing or engaging? Identify friction points Where are employees not being heard? Track turnover costs Quantify the financial impact Implement feedback loops Make listening part of your operating system Closing If your team does not feel heard, your leadership system is broken. Empathy is not optional. It is a strategic requirement for performance and retention. https://eqviaempathy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainer   Book your Leadership Operating System review: https://BreakfastLeadership.com/LeadershipOS  

Hey there Voices of the Bench community, this is Trish Jones with Ivoclar. If you've been curious about fast-firing zirconia to improve efficiency but aren't convinced it can deliver predictable, high-quality results, I'd encourage you to connect with us. Our new IPS Emax Zirconia offers multiple fast-fire protocols designed to help save you valuable production time while maintaining consistent results. Time is money in every lab. Don't wait. Reach out to your local Ivoclar rep today and discover how IPS Emax Zirconia can help streamline your workflow. As full-arch dentistry continues to grow, so do the demands on today's dental laboratories. That's why Knight Dental recently launched SimplyARCH Studio, a dedicated production environment built exclusively for full-arch restorations. To support this specialized workflow, Knight invested in an XTCERA milling system and carefully evaluated multiple CAM software solutions before choosing hyperDENT. The decision came down to exceptional milling quality, minimal hand finishing, and impressive production efficiency. But what truly set hyperDENT apart was the implementation process. From the very beginning, the team provided more than software training—they shared the knowledge and experience needed to build an optimized workflow for complex full-arch cases. With proven expertise in advanced milling strategies and laboratory production, hyperDENT helped ensure SimplyARCH Studio was designed for long-term success from day one.Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership. Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep dive into his journey through the dental laboratory industry and the story behind his book, The Invisible Profession. From discovering dental technology at 16 and specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics and orthodontics to working in hospitals, developing early sleep-apnea appliances, and nearly leaving the profession altogether, Matt's career has taken some seriously interesting turns. Eventually, he helped co-found S4S, building a successful business around sleep-apnea appliances, occlusal splints, orthodontics, and more before eventually stepping away from ownership. But this conversation goes far beyond Matt's career. His book, The Invisible Profession, explores how the dental laboratory industry arrived at a place where technicians and laboratories are often undervalued, pushed into price competition, and expected to simply keep their heads down and produce. Matt shares his thoughts on the "million little things" that shaped the industry, the danger of becoming a "busy fool," and why laboratories need to stop competing solely on price and start becoming known for the value, expertise, and partnership they bring to the dental team. Elvis, Barb, and Matt also talk about the changing landscape of digital dentistry, AI, 3D printing, speed, service, and why the labs that embrace change and remain agile will be the ones positioned for the future. It's an honest, thought-provoking, and ultimately optimistic conversation about where the dental laboratory profession has been, where it is today, and where it can go next.Special Guest: Matt Everatt.

In this episode of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate Ally and Sophie are joined by Ben Briggs to discuss politics, the new Burnham government, the Farming Roadmap and the response to the Farm Profitability Review. Ally also gives his thoughts on his harvest experience so far and they discuss the weather and Farm Safety Week 2026. Hosted as always by farmers Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair. Link to newsletter sign up -Sign-up to our newsletter – RuralPod Media

Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors.Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERELaunch your tool game to the next level with Launch Tech USA! HERERecorded at Tools in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Jeff sits down with Josh Coomes of Auto Shop Therapy and technician Brian Ramsburg to discuss the realities of running a modern repair shop. Brian reflects on more than 18 years in the trade, the challenges of being a solo technician, and why he enjoys variety in his work, while Josh shares his customer-first approach, leadership lessons, and the importance of protecting a shop's reputation. Together, they explore diagnostics, pay plans, hiring, training, and building a culture that values quality over speed.Timestamps:00:00 Listen or Become a Liability 00:35 Tools in Hershey Introduction 02:37 Brian's Career Journey 04:18 Owning a Job vs. Owning a Shop 07:42 Customer Empathy and Service Standards 09:21 Turning Away Older Vehicles 14:48 Favorite Types of Repairs 18:02 Why They Avoid European Vehicles 19:40 Shop Scheduling and Profitability 21:56 Technician vs. Owner Priorities 25:38 Working Relationship Challenges 28:28 Hiring and Leadership Lessons 36:20 Mentoring and a Proof-Based Culture 40:41 Pay Plans and Team Morale 42:03 The Starter Diagnosis Debate 45:41 The Stress of Being the Only Technician 48:50 Quality Control vs. Book Time 52:40 Shop Standards and Fair Productivity 55:27 Workflow and Imperfect Data 58:51 Flat Rate Pressure Stories 01:05:10 Hiring Through Working Interviews 01:10:23 Charging Properly to Grow 01:12:44 Final Advice and Closing Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanicFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232

In this episode of Coach's Corner, Caitlin Embree interviews Paul Lowry, co-founder of Dental Menu, to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks in dental practice management: failing in-house membership plans. While dropping insurance is a common goal, data shows that unmanaged cash-pay patients only have a 12% retention rate over five years, compared to 64% for insured patients.To achieve sustainable dental practice growth, practice owners must treat their membership programs like true subscriptions (e.g., Netflix or Amazon Prime) rather than one-off "Groupon" discount bundles that cause renewal gaps. Poorly administered plans not only create massive administrative headaches but also artificially lower your practice valuation by forcing you to zero out production or write off massive adjustments.Here is your blueprint for upgrading your dental practice management through a properly structured membership plan:Stop the "Discount" Mindset: Shift from selling a bundled package of cleanings to an auto-renewing subscription model to prevent patients from lapsing for months at a time.Fix Your Accounting: Stop adjusting membership preventative care to $0, as it destroys your KPIs. Dental Menu uses a separate bank account to process monthly fees and generate internal EOBs so production flawlessly matches collections.Protect Provider Pay: Proper dental practice management requires accurate ledgers so associate dentists and hygienists receive their correct collection-based bonuses when treating membership patients.Incentivize Your Team: Drive dental practice profitability by offering your front office staff bonuses (e.g., $25 per sign-up) to consistently present the membership plan to cash-pay patients.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.

You cannot make an extra $50,000 by guessing your way through the rest of the year. In part three of Dr. Lauryn's Summer From the Vault series, we move from mindset and sales into the numbers that reveal what is actually happening inside your practice—and where your next opportunity for growth may be hiding.Dr. Lauryn explains how to separate emotion and ego from your business metrics, determine which numbers deserve your attention, and use data to diagnose problems with marketing, conversion, retention, training, and practice systems. You'll learn why weekly visits and revenue never tell the whole story, how small improvements can produce meaningful growth, and why your numbers are information—not a judgment of your success.Key TakeawaysRevenue and weekly visits do not tell the entire story. Profitability, patient value, lead quality, and the context behind each metric provide a much clearer picture of your practice's financial health.Tracking the right KPIs reveals where revenue is leaking. New patient calls, booking rates, show rates, conversions, retention, breakups, and referrals can show you exactly where to focus your attention.Established practices usually grow through small improvements. Better training, stronger table talk, more qualified marketing leads, and 1–5% improvements across key systems can create significant financial results.Your numbers are tools, not a measure of your worth. They help you make non-emotional decisions, identify operational bottlenecks, and determine whether your practice needs better systems, renewed leadership, or intentional rest.Resources:Rich Doc Summer Series: A FREE summer training lineup for docs ready to use AI, systems, and strategy to create more freedom from the clinic. Register for one, two, or all three. Add 30-day replay access for $47 for all 3.Find all things Dr. Lauryn B including ways to work with herFollow Dr. Lauryn: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInFollow She Slays on YouTubeMentioned in this episode:INSiGHT CLAThis episode is brought to you by the INSiGHT scanning system from CLA, the tool that helps chiropractors show patients objective neurological data so the value of care becomes clear, fueling conversion, retention, and growth. She Slays listeners get preferred pricing, affordable financing, and a free Getting Into Scanning guide.CLA (Current)Holistic Marketing HubThis episode is sponsored by Holistic Marketing Hub. Created by marketing strategist Molly Cahill, it's a proven Instagram system with a 500+ caption content library and a step-by-step curriculum that's helped 400+ chiropractors, acupuncturists, and other health pros fill their practices with right-fit patients. Enroll Now!Holistic Marketing HubClinic MindClinic Mind is the all-in-one EHR and practice management platform built for chiropractors — billing, documentation, scheduling, and patient follow-up in one place, whether you run a cash practice, take insurance, or are scaling to multiple locations. She Slays the Day listeners get an exclusive offer.Clinic Mind

Are you running an accounting practice that can survive independent of your personal production, or are your key successors already looking for the nearest exit? In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host David Cristello sits down with Ira Rosenbloom, CEO of Optimum Strategies, known across the industry as the "Merger and Profitability Optimizer." With over 25 years of hands-on experience as a practicing CPA and managing partner, Ira pulls back the curtain on how to navigate the complex crossroads of generational change, standardizing client management, and securing maximum value for your firm. Whether you are a managing partner trying to transition equity, a CPAs starting a firm, or an operations manager driving software adoption, this masterclass changes how you view structural firm health. Inside This Episode, We Unpack: The Valuation Multiplier Trap: Why the fastest way to explosive growth isn't just jacking up client fees—it's analyzing fee tiers to identify where leakage actually occurs. Preventing Scope Creep: How to eliminate standard-to-actual time gaps by aligning your team with automated tracking and project margin thresholds. The "Gen-Z" Partnership Disconnect: Why your "locked-in" junior leaders are turning down partnership tracks—and how to redesign firm culture around outcomes instead of clock-punching. The Real Cost of Private Equity: A look at the 50-50 staff retention reality after a roll-up and what a boardroom buyout means for your long-term team autonomy. The Alternative Practice Model: How boutique independent firms can replicate private equity structures by integrating non-CPA advisory services to remain fiercely competitive. Ira's Golden Rule Checklist: The explicit strategic milestones every owner needs to implement between ages 55 and 65 to protect firm lineage. Key Metrics & Operational Takeaways For Firm Managers: Shed Equity Early: Why passing down fractional client liaison-ships ahead of retirement protects your client stickiness from a sudden talent walk-out. Client Tier Consolidation: Shifting bandwidth away from low-margin $3,500 compliance accounts to high-value strategic advisory. Featured Guest: Ira Rosenbloom  

This one is a throwback and the lessons still land hard.Michael Jones Sr is a master technician out of Charlotte, North Carolina, with a couple of decades in the automotive world before he gave it all up to go twist wrenches on motorcycles.He spent about ten years across nearly ten different powersports and motorcycle dealerships, and he came on the show to talk about something a lot of people in this industry feel but do not say out loud: the passion has slipped, and it is costing dealers money.In this conversation with, Michael makes the case that passion and professionalism are not soft ideas. They are directly tied to how profitable a service department is, how loyal customers become, and how a dealership stands out when everyone is pushing the same metal.What we cover:Why passion starts in the employee parking lot and how to spot a disconnectThe gun store comparison: why every employee there knows their product and why motorcycle shops often do notHow employee burnout and social media scrolling quietly drain the profitability of a service departmentThe parts-guy-at-the-bench workflow that saves the mechanic time and makes the shop more moneyWhy the 10-year-and-older rule is a mindset, not a fact, and what dealers miss by turning that work awayPulling back the curtain: why engaging service customers in how things work builds loyalty and repeat businessWhy so many younger customers have never been around machines and how dealers can bring them inMichael's own story as a customer and the service manager who always tells him what is nextWhy texting a customer the owner's manual PDF beats hoping they read the paper copyThe professionalism gap that separates a confident dealership from one that gets caught flat-footedThe Chrome Mafia story: how one independent shop built a riding culture that a four-brand, 30-year dealership could not matchWhy getting 30 to 40% of your staff riding changes everythingWatch on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@dealershipfixit⁠Connect with Jacob: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-b-berry/⁠Follow the Fixit Online: ⁠https://linktr.ee/dealershipfixit⁠MotoHunt for Dealers: ⁠https://dealers.motohunt.com⁠

Right now, there's a rare window where law firm owners can dramatically increase profits, serve more clients, and build a stronger business without adding more people. That opportunity won't last forever.In this episode, Richard James breaks down what he's seeing after working with hundreds of law firm owners who are already implementing AI inside their firms. You'll learn why some firms are pulling ahead while others risk getting trapped competing on price as AI reshapes the legal industry.This isn't another discussion about ChatGPT prompts or AI tools, This is a business strategy conversation about protecting your law firm, increasing profitability, and positioning yourself before the market changes.Episode Highlights:How successful law firms are using AI to increase profit without increasing payrollWhy every law firm owner needs an AI strategy before competitors lower their pricesHow AI can improve law firm efficiency while creating a better client experienceThe biggest mistake attorneys make when implementing artificial intelligence in their practiceWhy building a personal brand is becoming essential for law firm growth in the AI eraHow AI assistants can help law firms automate repetitive administrative workWhy small law firms have an advantage over larger competitors if they move quicklyThe future of AI for law firms and what every attorney should do before it's too lateThe firms that adopt AI strategically will increase capacity, improve client satisfaction, and create significantly more profit.The firms that wait may eventually find themselves competing on price instead of value.The opportunity is here.■ If you're looking to build a more profitable, scalable law firm using AI, staffing, and proven business systems, click here for strategies designed specifically for law firm owners: http://thelawfirmsecret.com/

This week's Throwback Thursday episode tackles one of the biggest challenges facing retreat leaders today: Pricing. Because let's be honest... Most retreat leaders aren't struggling because they don't know how to host a great retreat. They're struggling because they're underpricing their expertise, their experiences, and the transformation they provide. In this popular episode, Shannon Jamail sits down with retreat pricing expert Erin Haag to discuss the difference between attracting price shoppers and attracting value-driven buyers. Together they explore why so many retreat leaders: charge too little work too hard take on too much risk and end up making far less profit than they should You'll learn why pricing isn't just about covering costs—it's about creating a sustainable business that allows you to serve your guests at the highest level. Shannon and Erin also discuss: Why low pricing often attracts the wrong buyers The difference between price-sensitive and value-focused guests Why premium retreats often perform better during economic uncertainty The hidden costs of underpricing How to communicate transformation rather than features Why retreat leaders need to stop charging based on fear Whether you're hosting your first retreat or your fiftieth, this episode will challenge how you think about pricing and profitability. Because transformational experiences deserve transformational pricing. What You'll Learn in This Episode The difference between price shoppers and value shoppers Why underpricing hurts both you and your guests How to price retreats for profit and sustainability Why premium retreats can be more resilient during economic shifts The importance of communicating value over cost Common pricing mistakes retreat leaders make How pricing impacts the type of guests you attract Key Takeaways Price Determines Who You Attract The guests attracted to a $2,000 retreat often have different buying motivations than those investing $7,000 or more. Underpricing Creates Problems Many retreat leaders think lower prices mean more bookings. Often, the opposite is true. Retreats Are Not Vacations You're not selling a hotel room. You're selling transformation, growth, support, community, and results. Profitability Matters A retreat that breaks even isn't necessarily successful. Retreat businesses must be profitable to remain sustainable. Value-Based Buyers Think Differently When guests understand the value of the experience, price becomes only one part of the decision.   The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Join our Mastermind in Austin! Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Get your legal docs for retreats Join our LinkedIn Group Apply to be a guest on our show Grab the AI + SEO Mini Course Grab the Pitch to Profit Mini Course   Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together!   Subscribe:  Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify ------------ TIMESTAMPS Throwback Thursday Introduction (00:00:00) Shannon introduces this archived episode with Erin Haag and explains why the conversation around retreat pricing is still so relevant today. Why Pricing Matters in the Retreat Industry (00:00:17) Shannon shares why pricing remains one of the biggest challenges retreat leaders face, especially when they are delivering transformational experiences but not making enough profit. A Retreat Is Not Just a Vacation (00:01:09) Shannon reminds retreat leaders that retreats are experiences that create change, and believing in the value of the offer is essential. Welcoming Erin Haag Back to the Show (00:01:55) Shannon welcomes Erin Haag back to the podcast and shares why they are aligned on the topic of retreat pricing, even though their pricing models are different. The Problem With Underpricing Retreats (00:02:20) Shannon and Erin discuss why retreat leaders often get stuck in their heads around pricing and how undercharging can hurt both the host and the industry. Retreats Are a Business (00:03:19) Erin explains that retreats must be profitable if they are being run as a business, not a nonprofit or hobby. The Facebook Pricing Debate (00:04:10) Erin shares the story of a Facebook post where a retreat leader asked for advice after raising her retreat price to $6,000. Higher Priced Retreats Are Easier to Sell (00:05:02) Erin explains why higher priced retreats can be easier to sell because they attract value-based buyers instead of price shoppers. Tiffany's Buyers vs. Claire's Buyers (00:05:25) Erin uses the comparison of Tiffany's and Claire's shoppers to explain how price impacts the type of buyer a retreat attracts. The Economy and High-Ticket Retreat Buyers (00:08:10) Shannon and Erin discuss why lower-ticket buyers may be more affected by the economy, while value-based buyers are still willing to invest in premium retreats. Matching Price With Value (00:09:18) Shannon and Erin clarify that higher prices must be supported by higher value, luxury experiences, and a clear transformation. Building Profit Into Retreat Pricing (00:10:31) Erin shares how she recommends retreat leaders build in a minimum profit goal and aim for healthy profit margins when pricing their retreats. Don't Shortchange Yourself or the Industry (00:11:23) Shannon encourages retreat leaders to stop underpricing and instead use their profit to support themselves, hire others, give back, or create scholarships. Why Underpricing Hurts the Market (00:12:00) Erin explains how underpriced retreats condition buyers to expect unrealistic pricing and make it harder for professionals in the industry to earn sustainably. Income Can Match Impact (00:12:49) Erin talks about why women in the retreat industry need to make money and how that money often gets reinvested into families and communities. Selling the Transformation, Not the Thing (00:15:05) Shannon explains that retreat leaders are not just selling rooms, meals, or activities. They are selling the full experience and transformation. Why Women Struggle More With Pricing (00:15:36) Shannon shares what she has noticed as a venue owner: men often charge more confidently for retreats, while women tend to struggle with pricing. Money Mindset and Limiting Beliefs (00:16:19) Erin and Shannon discuss how women have often been conditioned to see money conversations as taboo, which can impact pricing confidence. How to Shift From Low Pricing to Higher Value (00:17:43) Shannon asks Erin how retreat leaders who have been underpricing can begin to make the switch to more profitable pricing. Start With the Math (00:17:57) Erin recommends looking at past retreat numbers, cancellations, profit, hours worked, and actual earnings to make pricing decisions from data instead of emotion. Calculating Your True Hourly Rate (00:19:05) Erin explains how retreat leaders can calculate what they really earned for their time and why many would never accept that rate in another job. Bake in the Value of Transformation (00:20:32) Erin explains that many retreat leaders forget to price in the transformation their retreat provides, not just the logistics of the trip. Price Shoppers Nitpick Every Detail (00:21:05) Erin shares how price shoppers often compare retreats to what they could book on their own, missing the deeper value of the retreat experience. Attracting Value-Based Retreat Guests (00:22:24) Erin explains that higher priced retreats help position the transformation and unique experience as part of the value. How to Work With Erin (00:24:00) Shannon asks Erin how retreat leaders can connect with her and learn more about profitable retreat pricing. Erin's Free Retreat Pricing Resource (00:24:12) Erin shares her free guide with top tips for hosting profitable retreats and explains where listeners can find it. Final Thoughts on Pricing and Profitability (00:25:05) Shannon closes the conversation by emphasizing the importance of guidance, self-belief, and profitable pricing in helping the retreat industry grow in a healthy way.

- Join David's email list, RECEIVE 7 FREE GIFTS!!- https://www.DavidCBarnettList.com In this "best-of" interview, I sit down with money coach Belinda Rosenblum to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs—pricing. We explore why so many business owners undercharge, how pricing impacts profitability, the psychology behind premium pricing, common pricing mistakes, discounts and promotions, and how to build offers that create real value for customers. Whether you're launching a new business or trying to improve the profitability of an established one, this conversation offers practical strategies to help you charge with confidence and build a healthier business. **** Do Business with David using these incredible internet links... - David's Blog where you can find hundreds of free videos and articles, https://www.DavidCBarnett.com - Book a call with David and let him help you with your project, https://www.CallDavidCBarnett.com - Learn how to buy a successful and profitable business in a risk-controlled way https://www.BusinessBuyerAdvantage.com - Get help selling your business, https://www.HowToSellMyOwnBusiness.com ----- #PricingStrategy #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessProfit #BusinessCoaching #Pricing #BusinessOwner Special Xero offer: Get 90% off for 6 months using this link: https://referrals.xero.com/DavidCBarnett_xero . Terms & Conditions apply.* See the video of my Xero story here: https://youtu.be/LfaGUfwStqo Youtube music licensing code: 5PJWQOE5ZZHTQSRY

In this episode of Ortho Marketing Podcast, host Dean Steinman is joined by Dr. Adam Goodman, a legend in the orthodontic world practicing in New York City. Together they dive into the truth about orthodontic pricing: why fees in orthodontics have stayed flat while every other industry raises prices, the problem with the old-school "one fee fits all" mentality, and why individualizing fees based on case complexity is fairer to patients and better for your practice. Dr. Goodman also shares how he handles price objections without discounting, why lowering your fee can actually destroy patient trust, and his refreshingly honest take on retainers, relapse, and retreatment: orthodontics is a treatment, not a cure, and retention is about maintenance, not perfection.What You'll Learn:Why orthodontic pricing has stagnated for decades and the flaw in the "easy cases make up for the hard cases" one-fee mentalityHow to individualize your fees based on case complexity — charging appropriately for a complex impacted canine case versus a minor aligner caseHow to position a new practice: why going highest or lowest gives you a fee identity, and why a high fee only works if you can prove the value behind itHow to handle the "the doctor down the street is cheaper" objection — what's really hiding in the fine print (refinements, retainers, what's included), why holding firm on your fee builds trust while discounting erodes it, and how a pay-as-you-go model protects you on lower-fee minor casesWhy teeth shift without retainers, how to handle relapse and retreatment conversations, and why retention is about maintenance, not perfectionWhy aligners are the "tortoise that beats the hare" — how a well-programmed plan outpaces the human factor of braces, and why embracing change (longer appointment intervals, automatic payments) keeps your practice aheadAbout Adam Goodman D.M.D.Dr. Adam Goodman has been practicing orthodontics in both Riverdale and Midtown Manhattan since 1994. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and earned his B.A. from SUNY Albany, followed by his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a postgraduate orthodontic certificate from Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Goodman is known for his fully digital orthodontic practice and is widely recognized for his expertise with Invisalign. Since 2004, he has served as a speaker and mentor for Align Technology, training and certifying nearly 1,000 dentists and orthodontists. He has lectured at the American Association of Orthodontists, the Invisalign Summit, and multiple Greater New York Dental Meetings.Ready to price your treatment with confidence? Connect with Dr. Adam Goodman of Goodman Orthodontics: https://goodortho.com/Be our next guest or elevate your practice: https://orthomarketing.com/contact-us/

In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. George Hariri answers listener requests to strip away group practice bias and focus entirely on elite solo dental practice management. Many practitioners mistakenly believe that a multi-provider clinic is the only route to high-level profitability, but optimizing a solo model can create an incredibly low-stress, high-income asset. George outlines the precision growth pathways and details how transitioning from a standard solo dentist to a "productive solo" or "smart solo" can elevate your take-home pay to $400,000 and beyond.To break out of the low-revenue trap, you must learn how to manipulate the core levers of dental practice management.Implement these critical solo growth metrics and systems in your practice:Build the 2-2-2 Operational Balance: Scale your patient base to seamlessly support two full-time hygienists, two front office team members, and two dental assistants to perfectly balance your diagnostic and administrative workflow.Master Hygiene Benchmarks: Understand that there are roughly 200 active patients per day of hygiene. Target a base of 1,600 active patients to completely fill two full columns of hygiene working four days a week.Hit Case Acceptance Targets: Elevate your presentation style to consistently achieve an 80% patient acceptance rate (patients saying yes to at least one treatment item) and a 30% to 40% total dollar value treatment acceptance rate.Lock In Diagnostic Consistency: Develop clear, research-backed clinical diagnostic protocols so your hygiene team can confidently co-diagnose and tee up treatment plans before you even enter the room.Maximize Time Efficiency: Unlike group practices that focus heavily on analytical data points, a solo practitioner must treat their personal clinical time as the most valuable asset in the building by delegating every legally allowed task to auxiliaries.Transforming your solo office requires moving past basic survival and adopting highly intentional dental practice management strategies.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.

Did you ever wonder why so many people didn't get out before the dot-com crash? It's an important question to ask yourself, especially if you believe you'll know exactly when to get out before any potential correction in today's AI and semiconductor stocks.   The reality is that the dot-com bubble burst only 25 years ago. Human nature hasn't changed since then. Investors today are no smarter than investors were back then, and the same emotions that drove the bubble are showing up again. There were four major reasons so many people lost money during the tech bust.   The first was that investors stopped focusing on earnings and price-to-earnings ratios. Instead, they justified sky-high valuations by looking at metrics like website traffic, page views, click-through rates, and the number of "eyeballs" on a screen. The assumption was that if revenue kept growing, profits would eventually follow. Many ignored the reality that businesses also have expenses, competition, and execution risk.   The second reason was FOMO or the fear of missing out. Between 1995 and 2000, the Nasdaq surged roughly 400%. As people watched friends, coworkers, and investors make fortunes on tech stocks and IPOs, more and more money poured into the market. Institutional investors and retail investors alike stopped worrying about valuations. They simply saw stocks going up and didn't want to miss the ride.   The third reason was the belief that "this time is different." You heard it everywhere: "You just don't get it. This is the new economy." Investors argued that traditional valuation metrics no longer mattered because the only thing that counted was gaining market share. Profitability could always come later.   The fourth reason was the assumption that capital would never dry up. Few investors paid attention to where companies were getting their money. Many businesses were surviving on venture capital rather than sustainable profits. When funding slowed and investors became more selective, those companies had no profitable business model to fall back on. Many quickly went bankrupt.   At the peak of the bubble, investors stopped asking basic questions. What am I paying for this company's earnings? What am I paying for its cash flow? In many cases, there weren't any. Yet investors convinced themselves the speculative frenzy would continue indefinitely.   The biggest lesson is a humbling one. We like to believe we'll recognize the top and get out before everyone else. But investors in 2000 believed the same thing. Human psychology hasn't changed, which is why bubbles continue to repeat throughout history.   Don't Build That Data Center in My Backyard The race to build AI infrastructure is running into an obstacle that many investors probably didn't see coming: local communities.   Across the country, residents are protesting and filing lawsuits to stop new AI data centers from being built in their neighborhoods. One of the biggest concerns is something most people never think about, the constant noise. Data centers operate around the clock, with cooling fans, chillers, and backup generators creating a continuous hum 24 hours a day. That may not sound like a major issue until you have to live next to it.   New York has become one of the focal points of this debate. While the state has plenty of available land for development, many communities are pushing back. Governor Kathy Hochul is even considering legislation that would place a moratorium on the construction of large data centers in certain areas.   Public opinion reflects that growing resistance. According to recent polling, 44% of Americans oppose additional data center construction, while only 21% support it. When the question becomes more personal and whether people would support a data center being built in their own community, opposition jumps to 57%, while support falls to just 14%.   Residents also question the long-term economic benefits. Building a data center may create thousands of construction jobs, but once the facility is complete, permanent employment may fall to just 100 to 200 workers. At the same time, these facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity. In some regions served by smaller utilities, a single data center could account for as much as 25% of total power demand, raising concerns about higher electricity costs and increased strain on the grid.   The political landscape is becoming more challenging. Lawmakers in states including Arizona, Illinois, and Ohio have restricted or eliminated tax incentives that were previously used to attract data center investment.   Even the companies building this infrastructure recognize the growing risk. The hyperscalers are expected to spend nearly $1 trillion on AI infrastructure this year, but increasing public opposition could slow those plans. Nebius Group, for example, warned in its 2025 annual report that rising resistance to data center projects in certain communities could become a headwind for future expansion.   Investors have spent a great deal of time focusing on AI demand, chips, and software. However, another risk is emerging that deserves attention: if communities continue saying, "Not in my backyard," the pace of AI infrastructure growth may not be as smooth as many expect.   Is Crypto Weakening One of America's Most Powerful Weapons? One of the United States' greatest geopolitical advantages isn't its military, it's the U.S. dollar.   Roughly 90% of global foreign exchange transactions involve the U.S. dollar. That dominance gives the United States enormous leverage. When the U.S. imposes financial sanctions and cuts countries off from the dollar-based financial system, it becomes far more difficult for them to conduct international trade, finance military operations, or access global markets.   That advantage is beginning to erode. Countries that have long opposed the United States such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies to bypass traditional financial channels. According to reports, their use of virtual currencies for cross-border transactions surged from roughly $12.5 billion in 2024 to more than $100 billion in 2025.   Crypto gives sanctioned nations another way to move money. It can be used to purchase drones, weapons, military components, and fuel, while also helping finance operations such as smuggling oil and paying suppliers outside the traditional banking system.   North Korea has become one of the world's most aggressive crypto thieves, using hacking and other cybercrimes to steal digital assets that can then be converted into funding for its military and weapons programs.   Part of the challenge is that cryptocurrency wallets are identified by long strings of letters and numbers rather than names. While blockchain transactions are publicly visible, identifying the person or organization controlling a wallet can be extremely difficult without additional intelligence. That makes enforcement of financial sanctions much harder.   Even terrorist organizations such as Hamas have, at times, solicited donations in cryptocurrency, illustrating how digital assets can be used to circumvent traditional financial controls.   This is why I believe cryptocurrency has become more than just an investment story, it has become a national security issue.   If Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were to experience a significant decline in value, it would reduce the purchasing power of those holding large crypto reserves, including sanctioned actors that rely on digital assets. While it would not eliminate their ability to use crypto, it could make this alternative financial system less effective and increase the relative importance of the dollar-based financial system.   The stronger the role of the U.S. dollar in global commerce, the more effective financial sanctions remain as a non-military tool of foreign policy. With cryptocurrencies becoming more widely adopted, policymakers will need to consider the risk of weakening one of America's most effective forms of economic leverage.   Even with oil off its recent peak, you still may not see cheaper airline tickets. You might assume that with the decline in oil prices, jet fuel costs are also declining, and airlines will pass those savings on to travelers through lower ticket prices. Oil and jet fuel prices have indeed come down, but don't expect airlines to slash fares anytime soon.   The reason is simple: demand remains strong. Even after airlines raised fares eight times since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, analysts say the average round-trip domestic ticket climbed roughly 19% to about $638 yet demand barely changed. In other words, consumers have shown they are willing to pay higher prices to travel. If people keep buying tickets, airlines have little incentive to lower fares and give up those higher profit margins.   Supply is also likely to remain constrained. Airlines aren't rushing to add flights because keeping capacity tight helps support higher ticket prices. The bankruptcy and downsizing of low-cost carriers such as Spirit Airlines has also reduced competition on many routes, making it easier for the remaining airlines to maintain pricing power.   To be fair, airline pricing should be viewed over a longer time horizon. From 2019 through 2025, overall consumer prices rose about 26%, while average airfares actually declined roughly 3.5%. So, despite the recent increases, airline tickets are still relatively inexpensive compared with the broader rise in inflation over the past six years.   The bottom line is that lower fuel costs alone don't guarantee lower ticket prices. As long as travel demand remains healthy and airlines keep capacity in check, consumers may not see much relief at the checkout screen.   Letting Air Out of the Investment Portfolio Balloon Before It Pops At one point or another, we've all seen a balloon inflated until it finally bursts. The same thing can happen to an investment portfolio.   Watching your portfolio grow is exciting, but every investor knows that markets don't go up forever. The challenge is that no one knows exactly when a portfolio has become too inflated. One of the biggest reasons investors refuse to sell is simple: they hate paying taxes. Believe me, I dislike paying taxes just as much as anyone else. But you should never let the tax bill dictate your investment decisions.   Sometimes the smartest move is to relieve some of the pressure in your portfolio before the market does it for you. There are two simple ways to accomplish this: trim oversized positions and sell investments that have become significantly overvalued.   The first strategy is reducing concentration risk. If you review your portfolio and discover that a single stock has grown to 10% or 12% of your total assets, it may be time to trim that position back to 7% or 8%. Yes, you'll likely owe capital gains taxes, but you'll also be reducing the risk that one investment can have an outsized impact on your portfolio if it suddenly declines.   The second strategy is selling investments that have exceeded your target price and can no longer be justified based on their fundamentals. If the valuation has become stretched and the company's earnings outlook no longer supports the stock price, it may be time to take profits. Again, you'll probably owe taxes on the gain, but remember that capital gains are generally taxed at favorable rates. More importantly, paying a 20% or 25% tax on your profit is often far less painful than watching the entire investment lose 20% or more in value. That 20% decline occurs on the entire position rather than just the gain.   No strategy is perfect. You may trim a position only to watch it continue climbing for another year or two. That's part of investing. Risk management isn't about perfectly timing the top, it's about ensuring that no single investment or sector can seriously damage your long-term financial plan.   Consistently following a disciplined, conservative approach won't always maximize returns during bull markets, but it can significantly reduce risk over a full market cycle. When the next major correction inevitably arrives, your portfolio should be positioned to withstand it. That makes it far easier to stay invested, avoid emotional decisions, and continue building wealth instead of panic-selling after the damage has already been done.   Successful investing isn't just about finding great investments. It's also about knowing when to reduce risk. Sometimes, letting a little air out of the balloon today is the best way to keep it from popping tomorrow.   Is AI creating the next memory boom... or setting up the next bust? SK Hynix just pulled off the largest foreign ADR listing in U.S. history, pricing its American depositary receipts at $149 and raising $26.5 billion. That isn't just a fundraising event, it is fuel for one of the most aggressive semiconductor expansion plans the industry has ever seen.   The company is pouring money into new factories, equipment, and advanced packaging capacity around the world. In the United States, SK Hynix is building its first manufacturing facility, a $4 billion advanced packaging plant in West Lafayette, Indiana, expected to be completed in 2028.   Back home in South Korea, the spending is even more staggering. SK Hynix plans to invest up to $720 billion expanding memory production, including a $390 billion semiconductor cluster in Yongin. The company has also committed roughly $7.8 billion by the end of 2027 for additional extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, the highly specialized tools needed to manufacture cutting-edge HBM chips. These machines cost as much as $400 million each, are in extremely limited supply, and are only produced by ASML. The company is even accelerating its expansion timeline by more than a decade, with four new fabrication plants now expected to be completed by 2033.   The question investors should be asking isn't whether AI demand is real. It clearly is. The real question is whether the industry is repeating a familiar pattern. Memory has always been one of the most cyclical businesses in technology. Every major technology revolution from the dot-com boom, to smartphones, to cloud computing created a surge in demand for memory chips. Manufacturers responded by rapidly expanding production. Eventually supply caught up, prices collapsed, profits disappeared, and investors who arrived late learned just how brutal the memory cycle can be.   Today feels different... but that is often what every cycle feels like while it is happening.   SK Hynix's market value has increased more than sevenfold over the past year as AI infrastructure spending has created a shortage of HBM. Revenue nearly tripled between 2023 and 2025 to roughly $65 billion, and Wall Street expects sales to surge again to approximately $235 billion in 2026.   Those are incredible numbers. But when major memory producers start announcing massive capacity expansions, history suggests investors should at least consider what happens when today's shortage eventually becomes tomorrow's surplus. AI may create years of strong demand for memory, but the semiconductor industry has a long history of building too much capacity just as demand begins to normalize. The opportunity is enormous, but so is the risk if history repeats itself.   Financial Planning: Simple vs Compounding Interest Loans Many people assume that choosing a simple interest loan over a compound interest loan will dramatically reduce the amount of interest they pay, but in most real-world lending situations, the difference is minimal. The reason is that the power of compounding only becomes significant when a balance grows over time because interest is being added to the principal. With most consumer loans, borrowers either make interest-only payments that keep the principal balance unchanged or make payments that reduce the principal over time. In either case, the interest charged during each payment period is based on the outstanding loan balance at that time, not on an ever-growing balance. Since the loan balance is remaining the same or steadily declining rather than increasing, there is little opportunity for “interest on interest” to accumulate. While compounding can become important if unpaid interest is capitalized and added to the loan balance, that is the exception rather than the rule. For most mortgages, HELOCs, auto loans, personal loans, and similar debt, borrowers should focus far more on the interest rate than on whether the loan is described as using simple or compound interest.   Too Many People Are Using Target Date Funds in Their 401(k) For years, we've discussed the drawbacks of target date funds, including their higher fees and one-size-fits-all approach. Despite those concerns, they remain incredibly popular because they are simple and require very little effort from the investor. According to Vanguard, 61% of 401(k) participants invest in target date funds.   On the surface, they sound like the perfect solution. If you plan to retire around 2045, you simply choose the 2045 Target Date Fund and let it manage your investments. The fund automatically adjusts your portfolio over time, gradually reducing your exposure to stocks and increasing your allocation to bonds as you approach retirement.   Many investors don't realize how significant that shift can be. By the target retirement date, a target date fund may hold around 50% of its assets in bonds. The adjustments don't stop there. Reaching the target year doesn't mean the fund is liquidated or that you receive your money. Instead, the fund continues along its glide path and could increase its bond allocation to 70% or even 80% over the following years.   That approach may have made sense decades ago, but retirement looks very different today. Many people will spend 20 years or more in retirement. Over that length of time, maintaining enough exposure to stocks can be critical to helping your portfolio grow and keep pace with inflation. A portfolio that becomes too conservative too quickly may struggle to provide the long-term growth many retirees need.   Another limitation is that target date funds only manage the assets inside your 401(k). They don't take into account your IRAs, brokerage accounts, pensions, real estate, or other investments. As a result, your overall portfolio allocation could end up being far different than what is appropriate for your financial goals.   The convenience of target date funds is appealing, but convenience shouldn't replace planning. A successful retirement requires understanding how your money is invested, estimating what your portfolio could be worth when you retire, and developing a strategy for how those assets will be invested throughout retirement, not just until you reach it.   Is That Really Your Son or Daughter Calling You? You know your children's voices. You talk to them regularly. Then one day you get a frantic phone call from your son or daughter. They tell you they've just been in a serious accident. They need $15,000 immediately or they're going to jail. They tell you exactly how to send the money. Without hesitation, you wire the funds because you want to help your child.   Unfortunately, you have just been scammed by AI. AI-powered scams are exploding. Reports show AI-related fraud surged more than 1,200% in 2025, and at the current pace, losses from AI scams in the United States could reach $40 billion annually by 2027. Another study found that one in four adults has already experienced an AI voice scam.   Your first reaction may be, "That could never happen to me. I don't post anything on social media." But the problem may not be your online presence. It's your children.   Many people regularly post videos on social media, and today's AI only needs about three seconds of someone's voice to create a convincing clone. Once scammers have that sample, they can make it sound like your son or daughter is saying almost anything.   So how do you protect yourself? If you receive an emergency call asking for money, don't panic. Before sending anything, ask a question that only you and your child would know the answer to. Make it something that has never been shared publicly.   For example, ask about a funny childhood memory that only the two of you remember. Don't use information like birthdays, graduation dates, wedding dates, or other facts that could be found online or in public records. Remember with all these data centers there is so much information that is being obtained and saved but used for the wrong purposes.   Even better, establish a family safe word or passphrase today. Choose something simple that everyone can remember but that would never appear online.   If you ever receive one of these calls, ask for the safe word. If they can't provide it, assume it's a scam until you can verify the situation by calling your child directly or contacting another trusted family member.   As AI continues to improve, these scams will only become more convincing. The same technology powering innovation is also giving criminals new tools to exploit unsuspecting families. Stay alert. Verify before you trust. A few extra minutes could save you thousands of dollars and a great deal of heartache.   Is It Boom or Bust for Micron? It is hard to argue with Micron's incredible stock performance. Through July 2, the shares were up 242% year to date and an astonishing 701% over the previous 12 months. Even after recently falling about 22% from their peak, investors are still debating whether the company has much more room to run.   The good news is that Micron has locked in 15 new customers under long-term supply agreements, with some contracts extending as long as five years. Many of these agreements include customer deposits, giving the company excellent revenue visibility and reducing uncertainty over future sales. For investors, that is exactly the kind of stability they like to see.   But every smart investor should also ask: What is the downside?   While those contracts provide a strong foundation, they do not guarantee that demand will remain as strong over the long term. Unless a customer goes bankrupt, the contracts are largely locked in, but technology changes quickly. High prices and limited supply often encourage innovation, and the AI memory market is no exception.   Several companies are developing new architectures that reduce or even eliminate the need for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which has been one of Micron's biggest growth drivers. As companies search for lower-cost and more efficient alternatives, demand for HBM could eventually soften.   Nvidia also signaled in June that it is redesigning portions of its upcoming Vera Rubin AI platform to use memory more efficiently. While Nvidia remains a major customer for HBM, improvements in memory efficiency could reduce the amount of HBM required per AI system over time.   Meanwhile, newly public chipmaker Cerebras has taken an entirely different approach. CEO Andrew Feldman has said the company's wafer-scale AI chips do not use HBM at all, arguing that it is too expensive and supply constrained. If other AI hardware companies pursue similar designs, it could create additional competition for HBM.   None of this means Micron's growth story is over. The company's long-term contracts provide meaningful protection, and AI demand remains exceptionally strong today. However, investors should remember that today's shortages and premium pricing often inspire tomorrow's technological breakthroughs.   The question for Micron investors is whether HBM remains the industry standard for years to come or whether innovation eventually reduces the need for it. If demand for HBM begins to slow, Micron's remarkable growth could also begin to moderate.   Companies Discussed: Caterpillar Inc. (Ticker: CAT)

How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve started his first business at 16 out of his sister's garage with no money, no financial background, and no idea what he was doing. He made every mistake you can make.In this episode he shares the five lessons that would have saved him millions of dollars and thousands of hours if someone had told him earlier. Not motivational fluff. The real stuff that actually changes how you build and run a business.If you are earlier in your journey or just tired of learning things the expensive way, this is worth your time._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Welcome to Episode 162 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing Welcome to Episode #162 of “Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing” In this episode, I’m talking about the “Weekly Business Consistency Plan” I created with ChatGPT recently. If you email me at conniegreenhouse@yahoo.com, I am happy to send you the share link for this training. Concistency is the primary reason that people are not successful in their endeavors in just about any area you can think of. I dealt with this as well when I came online as an entrepreneur. Please email me at the address above and I will send you the link for the “Weekly Business Consistency Plan” so you may get started right away. I am sharing a live session of my “Really Simple Authority Blogging” ongoing training course with you and know you will benefit from the marketing strategies I am sharing and teaching here. Be sure to connect with me at https://ConnieRagenGreen.com or on X at https://x.com/ConnieGreen so I may serve you in the areas where my help could make a huge difference in your results. I’m going to share with you how much fun I’m having with creating simple courses using AI (Artificial Intelligence) in about 30 minutes. I know you can do the same thing. Keep it simple, and add the short course you create to a page on your existing website/blog. In this episode I’m discussing how to use keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) to grow your business. Your prospects and future clients, customers, and colleagues are waiting to connect with you, but if they can’t find you online it will never happen. Make it simple for your target audience to find you by using the keywords and phrases they are most likely to be searching for on Google, Bing, and the other search engines. The Power and Gift of Change”- We are all changing throughout each day, and I think we must embrace this change in order to grow and move forward. Changing can take many forms, and if you look back through your life you will come to understand that you are not the same person you were even a year ago. Here is a quote about this you may resonate with… “Growth lives outside the comfort zone. If it feels uncomfortable, you’re probably doing it right.” ~ Marie Forleo I believe that our businesses are based on the concept of serving others. When you start on online (or even a brick and mortar) business, your goal is to serve others with what you know and to benefit in multiple ways, including by earning an excellent income. I’m sharing several examples in this podcast about my own and experiences with clients over the years. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This morning I was reading the message written by outgoing Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. In it, he stated that his “parting prescription” for the American people is to cultivate a strong sense of community to help themselves and others. He added, “Relationships, service, and purpose are the time-tested triad of fulfillment that stands in contrast to wealth, fame, and power which define the modern-day triad of success.” Here are some other questions I want you to ask yourself: What is your commitment to yourself and to others close to you? Why are you focused on the things that are taking up your time? When will you begin to focus on goals that will allow you to create and leave a legacy? Whom do you trust to get you there? Perhaps my “Monthly Mentoring Program” is right for you. Motivation and Inspiration: What It Takes to Get Your Spark Back” During 2024 I went through a period where I wasn’t as motivated as I had been accustomed to being for many years. This gave me time to explore why I was feeling this way and to hopefully learn something that would help others. My inspiration to do all of the things I love in my business, including writing, creating, marketing, and mentoring was waning and I wasn’t sure why. Within a couple of months I was back on track and this is what I learned… Life isn’t easy, but then it isn’t supposed to be. Being challenged in so many ways on a regular basis makes us stronger and perhaps more appreciative and grateful for what we already have and what we know we can achieve if we believe in ourselves and have even one other person who knows we are special and tells us that as often as possible. Marie Forleo wrote a book titled “Everything Is Figureoutable” – https://ConnieLoves.me/FigureOutAble – Her precept is that if you’re having trouble solving a problem or reaching a dream, the problem isn’t you. It’s that you haven’t yet installed the one belief that changes everything. I’m at conniegreenhouse at yahoo dot com and want to hear from you on this topic, or on anything else. “Merging Your Life with Your Business” as a strategy. We aren’t creating a business we need a vacation from. Instead, we’re creating a “lifestyle by design” where we have the time and financial freedom to live in a way that few people are able to, and with choices around everything we do. If you’ve met me in person, heard me on my podcast, or read any of my books, you know that I am a very positive person. No matter what situation or circumstances arises, I truly believe there will always be a positive outcome on the horizon, and sooner rather than later. But I wasn’t always this way. This is a journey that continues… My first year online was 2006, and very quickly I connected with people I’m still part of a Mastermind with in Austin, Texas. I was invited to speak at an event there a couple of years later. It was hosted by Joe Vitale and Mendhi Audlin was also there. She shared a concept she had come up with that she calls “What If… UP!” The premise is that there is truly a silver lining in everything negative that occurs. I liken this to Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. My precept and general rule for life is that we can achieve anything we want and feel that we deserve. Others want to help us to achieve our goals, but many times we get in their way by telling ourselves stories that aren’t true. Mendhi’s precept aligns with mine, and a year or so after I first met her she published a book on this… “What If It All Goes Right?: Creating a New World of Peace, Prosperity & Possibility” by Mendhi Audlin reveals the secret to turning possibilities into a tangible reality. It works! https://ConnieLoves.me/WhatIfUp I’m discussing the importance of being willing to “Better Your Best” during this new year, as well as recommending that this be the year you finally embrace AI – Artificial Intelligence – for your business. I have been a student of and someone who uses AI almost daily since February of 2022, and I’m learning from experts Andy O”Bryan and Denise Wakeman in their ongoing AI Success Club. Asking “How Are You Defining Success?” Creating a business as an entrepreneur allows you to live a lifestyle by design, with both time freedom and financial freedom. Think about how you want to live each day and then take action to make it happen. Over the years I’ve changed many things, while others have remained the same. Instead of making changes just for the sake of change, think about what you could change up and what makes sense to remain at least mostly the same. Years ago, I used to put together my blog posts on a single topic, like copywriting or list building or creation digital products into a simple document that I referred to as a ‘Focus Guide’ and gave them away to my list and to my prospects. Each of these documents contained resources and an ‘About the Author’ page that helped me to build my credibility, visibility, and profitability. For the first time ever, I am recommending that you write a book about yourself, your niche topic, and how you serve others. I first did this in 2009 and now I have written and published twenty-eight full-length, non-fiction books on the topics of entrepreneurship, personal, development, and authorship. Life can be messy. Are their ways you can keep moving forward when your personal life is turning upside down? Yes! Finding joy in helping and serving others, as well as compartmentalizing what is currently going on in your life are just two of the ways to deal with change and situations outside of your control. I recommend that you choose two social media platforms to use for the sole purpose of helping your prospects find and connect with you online. My favorite is X – formerly known as Twitter, and I also use LinkedIn and YouTube as my favorite social media sites to grow my business. Please connect with me on these sites and let me know how I may best serve you as you build and grow your profitable business. Is your list of what you are willing to do longer than your list of what you don’t want to do? I recommend a mile-long “to-do” list and a daily schedule of no more than four things that you will work on each day in your business. Find a mentor who believes in you and get started with creating a lifestyle by design that you want and deserve. I’m recommending James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” – https://ConnieLoves.me/AtomicHabits – as a book to help you alleviate your fears. We all have hopes, dreams, goals, and fears regarding our life experiences. I have found that if we build up our confidence and have faith that everything will turn out in a way that will be beneficial to all, we can continue to move forward without negative effects. Having an online business requires confidence. These are some questions to ask yourself: Who will you serve? What are your prospects pain points? What’s your idea? How will it be created, and then delivered? How will you sell it online? Creating a simple product or online course is the beginning of living a lifestyle by design. Reach out to me any time at conniegreenhouse at yahoo dot com if you’d like to know more about getting started as an online entrepreneur. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ My first online course back in 2006 was a simple one with three audio trainings and a workbook. Then, I began creating more sophisticated, but not more complicated courses. I’ve used the “Really Simple” branding for many courses at least 25 times, as well as using other terms and phrases based on the keywords I am optimizing for with each new course. Having your own online course on a topic you want to become known for will give you leverage to grow your business exponentially over time. It’s interesting to me that we as humans sometimes take things for granted that later on we know we should have appreciated in the moment. What I’m referring to here is having an online business you can run from home, or from anywhere in the world. There’s a window of opportunity that isn’t always open, and right now this window is wide open to everyone. A lot of it depends upon economic factors. I almost went back to graduate school two years ago to study economics, but decided against it because of the film and television writing I’m pursuing, but that’s a story for another time. Someone I work closely with had posted this quote from Richard Branson the other day: “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” This does NOT apply to online business, but instead refers to starting a physical, brick and mortar business. I know several people in both of my cities who borrowed against their homes, cashed out retirement savings, and sold family heirlooms to start businesses in the community, only to go bankrupt a couple of years later. What I’m saying here is that this is the time to get your online business off the ground and up and running profitably. It’s so inexpensive in comparison, and the biggest expense I incur is what I pay mentors to guide me in the right direction. Yes, I still have a mentor and recommend you do as well. This isn’t coaching, but instead a personal relationship you’ll build over time that could lead to strategic alliance partnerships and lifelong friendships. I’m at conniegreenhouse at yahoo dot com if you want to know more about mentoring with me. The four widely accepted learning modalities (or modes) are known by the acronym VARK: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, Kinesthetic. They are sometimes inaccurately referred to as “learning styles” which implies that each learner has a “style” of learning that should be maximized in all learning situations. Focusing on consistency, productivity, and creativity makes sense for all online entrepreneurs in 2024. I’m also sharing some effective and time-proven strategies with you here that will make a difference in your business, as well as in your personal life experience. Each day I focus on writing, creating, marketing, and teaching/learning/mentoring. My writing began as short and simple blog posts and blossomed into more than twenty-five full-length books. My writing is my oeuvre, my body of work that is my legacy to family, friends, colleagues, and those who follow me. During 2023 I wrote and published more than 400 thousand words. This breaks down to one full-length book, Self-Directed: Inspire, Motivate, and Empower Yourself to the Greatness That Lies Within; the current book on marketing that is more than halfway written; 8 short reports on topics of interest to the people I work with online; one hundred thirty-eight blog posts on three different blogs I maintain; and 382 email messages to my online community. These are  practical strategies for effective time management, emphasizing the importance of creating a balance between work and personal life. Achieving work-life harmony requires effective time management strategies that allow you to balance professional and personal responsibilities. Here are some strategies to help you manage your time more efficiently: 1. Set Clear Priorities: Identify your most important tasks and priorities for both work and personal life. Focus on what truly matters and allocate time accordingly. 2. Use a Time Management System: Choose a time management system that works for you, whether it’s a digital tool like Todoist or Trello, or a physical planner. Organize tasks, set deadlines, and track your progress. Schedules vs To-Do Lists 3. Prioritize Tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix: Categorize tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Prioritize tasks based on these categories. 4. Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks together and tackle them during specific time blocks. This reduces the mental load of switching between different types of activities. 5. Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time to different activities. This includes work tasks, personal commitments, and breaks. Stick to the schedule as much as possible. 6. Learn to Say No: Be selective about taking on new commitments. Saying no when necessary helps you avoid over-committing and allows you to focus on your existing priorities. 7. Delegate When Possible: Delegate tasks that others can handle. This applies to both professional and personal responsibilities. It’s okay to ask for help. 8. Practice the Two-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. This prevents small tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming. 9. Limit Multitasking: Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can reduce efficiency and increase stress. Complete one task before moving on to the next. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ You’re starting a conversation with your emails, and building a relationship with your prospects, customers, and clients over time. I’ve been online as an entrepreneur, marketer, and writer since 2006, and while much has changed, I believe that more has remained the same. Here, I’m discussing how we marketed in those early days, and why email marketing still remains top of mind. Most recently, I’ve co-hosted an Advanced Email Marketing Conference with Ellen Finkelstein. In April of 2023, I hosted my latest live marketing event in Los Angeles, and more recently I’ve hosted my Santa Barbara Retreat for those I mentor and teach. But like everyone else, I began by attending live events, and eventually virtual events in order to find my voice, connect with other like-minded people, and learn more about building and growing my online business. Guerilla marketing is a way to drive publicity and, as a result, brand awareness by promoting using unconventional methods designed to evoke surprise, wonder, or shock. Guerrilla marketing is the creating use of novel or unconventional methods in order to boost sales or attract interest in a brand or business. These methods are often low- or no-cost and involve the widespread use of more personal interactions or through viral social media messaging. This marketing method has increased in popularity with the rise of ubiquitous mobile and connected technologies that can amplify messaging and focus on target groups of consumers. Some consumers may be more attracted by guerrilla marketing campaigns as they may be more interesting and daring, while others may be turned off because of the perceived “disruptive” aspects of this style of marketing. Please subscribe and leave me a review. And connect with me at https://ConnieRagenGreen.com. Find out more about me HERE. Becoming an online entrepreneur was the best decision I ever made. I’ve been online since 2006 and now help others all over the world to do the same or something similar. We all have times where we are feeling a little down, lost, or confused. Life isn’t easy, and no one makes it out alive! These are my recommendations for how to get back on track and feeling more happy and optimistic about your future… Write! Whether you’re already a writer or are just beginning to think about sharing your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with others, writing makes sense. I write every single day and publish much of my writing as blog posts, short reports, and full-length books. Writing opens your mind to what you want in the future, by allowing you to explore the past through your memories. You can also retell and reframe your stories in a way that will serve you going forward. Start a new project! I usually create products and courses as new projects, but this can also manifest as something you build or create with your hands. I have family members on two continents that love to put together complex jigsaw puzzles. They look forward to these as a new project on a regular basis. Volunteer! Before I started my online business, I promised myself I would volunteer my time and donate money to charitable causes… as soon as I had the time and the money to do so. Once I had my own business, I realized that I had some time and a little money to do this all along. Spend time with new people! As a part of the volunteering I now do regularly, I’ve spent time with very young children, veterans, women starting over after being in a domestic violence situation, and more. This work continues to make a difference in my life. As you can see, there are many ways to get back to your “Why?” and I hope this has been helpful to you. What’s the best niche topic to cover in your blog? I know you don’t what to hear me say “It depends.” so I won’t. Lean in, and I’ll share the very best niche for you, and it’s one that is also the most profitable, will feel more like you’re just having fun, will never go out of style, and will be the one that has absolutely zero competition. Which niche topic and target audience could it possibly be? I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. I learned when I began online 17 years ago that the best niche for anyone is the one that makes your heart sing and is probably a topic you take for granted. I had been teaching school for twenty years and my students were mostly Spanish and Tagalog native speakers. I told them if they wrote just a few sentences every single day – weekends, holidays, and school breaks included – their writing would improve. Those who followed my advice excelled, while those who didn’t floundered. During all those years, I seldom wrote anything unless it was required for my work as a teacher or for my part-time work in real estate. Fast forward to 2006, and I realized not only that I needed to write in order to succeed online, but also that what I’d done with my students would apply here as well. My niche for the next eighteen months was around helping others to write, publish, market, and sell eBooks. I wrote one on real estate farming – choosing and area close to home to connect with people who may need your services – as an example and sold it on my website. Back then, you had to sell eBooks on your own websites, as Amazon had not yet entered the world of self-publishing. My niche and website became “eBook writing and marketing secrets” and this topic took me to six figures. I was learning right along with the people who were learning and buying from me. I then moved that site over to https://ConnieRagenGreen.com to make a name for myself and to branch out to other topics. The bottom line is that you must begin by sharing what you already know something about and love. Blogging is the direct path to the visibility, credibility, and profitability you wish to have in your business. In my business, every idea begins as a blog post. This is where I think and research and brainstorm what’s on my mind in the very beginning. The blog post is ground zero for what could, and many times does become a product, course or program. Blog posts, while based on your idea, can be created with original content, private label (PLR) rights content, guest content, or curated content. While I immediately share my published posts on social media as “micro content” you’ll want to wait at least 24 hours before syndicating your content on Medium. I also teach this syndication strategy in my popular and ongoing Syndication Optimization training program. Next up in your content creation and content marketing strategy is a short report, which you may sell online or give away as a lead magnet. I teach all of this in my Really Simple Short Reports training. This is what we refer to as “cornerstone” content that is extremely valuable. The final step is creating “authority content” by publishing your writing as a Kindle or paperback book to increase your visibility and build your reputation as an expert on your topic. I typically discuss time management and productivity in regards to entrepreneurs, marketers, and authors, and I’ve even co-authored a bestselling book on this topic, entitled “Time Management Strategies for Entrepreneurs: How to Manage Your Time to Increase Your Bottom Line” where we outline in great details the steps you may take to reach a level of optimal productivity and time management as an entrepreneur. But what about everyone else? Doesn’t every person deserve to live the lifestyle they want and deserve, where they enjoy financial freedom and the time to enjoy every moment to the fullest? Of course they do, and that’s what I’m sharing during this podcast. When I began online as a new entrepreneur in 2006, I realized immediately I would need help with technology and graphics, as these were the areas where I had no experience or talent. I bartered for these services for the first year or so, and then began to put together a team of people to support me so my business could grow. When I look back over my lifetime, I see that I have always had a team supporting me, whether it was while I worked as a classroom teacher, or in real estate as a broker and residential appraiser. Even while I was growing up, I was surrounded by people who supported me, from family, friends and neighbors to teachers, clergy, and people in the community. Put together your team and watch your business grow exponentially! When it comes to your visibility as an entrepreneur, where may we find you to see what you’re doing? This expert status comes from your writing, videos and audios, and your social media presence on the most active platforms for your target audience. My three popular and active blogs are at ConnieRagenGreen.com, HugeProfitsTinyList.com, and at MondayMorningMellow.com. Credibility is about what you already know and what you are learning. We all started our online businesses as adults, so we brought our knowledge and experiences with us. It made sense for me to help people write, market, and publish eBooks in the beginning, because I had worked as a classroom teacher for twenty years prior to coming online, and was learning about marketing and self-publishing. Profitability means that you must ask “What’s for sale?” every day in your business. Create your own simple products and courses, recommend others with affiliate marketing, and look into buying the resale rights to sell other people’s products as your own like I continue to do in my own business. The final part of this information on your expert status as an entrepreneur includes productivity, consistency, and attention to detail. Get everything in place as quickly as possible, and your online business is sure to grow exponentially! During my first couple of years online, beginning in 2007 I connected with mentors Alex Mandossian and Raymond Aaron. When I inquired as to what they were doing together as strategic alliance partners, they gave me a brief explanation and told me that I was not yet ready to move up to this level. Over the next two years they helped me to grow and elevate my business and my mindset as an online entrepreneur so that I could connect with others in this way. Seek out the people and groups you wish to be involved with and show them that you have moved past tactics and on to strategies. It will make all the difference and as you uplevel everything you’re doing online in your business, your free time and disposable income will increase exponentially! When I work with people in my Incubator Mastermind Mentoring program, the goal is to move them into position to become a strategic alliance partner with me and others to share their message in a bigger way. WHY did you choose the career you started your working life with? WHY did you get married, have children, and move into your first home? WHY did you make the conscious decision to leave your career at some point and start your business? WHY do you want to be an author or entrepreneur, or coach? WHY do you get up every single day and do the work required to become more successful on an ongoing basis? Everyone must have a WHY and there are no right or wrong answers here. But if you find yourself unmotivated to work or if you find yourself procrastinating on projects, then it's time to re-examine the main reason for your business. Name Your Reason – or Your WHY – for Starting a Business Focusing on your WHY can help motivate you, so write down your reason for starting a business on a regular basis. Did you want to fill your free time? Did you want to earn some play money or contribute to the family finances? Did you want to pay the medical bills of an aging parent or a sick child? Did you want to pay for your child's higher education or private school tuition? In my case, my answer to “what's your why?” was always around having enough income to live life on my terms. Over time, I came to the realization that every choice I was making, and each time I could not do something that had meaning for me, was all related to me needing to earn a paycheck or a commission from the classroom teaching and real estate work I was involved with each day. I missed just about every family event, vacation, and other activities because I was working 60 or more hours a week in order to cover my bills and other expenses. I wasn't angry or resentful because I believed that I didn't deserve to have a better life during those decades. This all changed in 2005 when I began reading books and attending events based on self improvement and personal development principles. Writing these reasons down – no matter what they are because every person's WHY will be different – should help motivate you to work hard. You should feel driven to make your business a success. You should be willing to tackle things outside your comfort zone because you know the end result will help your business. If you're not feeling motivated, then you need to dig deeper. I worked closely with a woman who was struggling to make her online business become profitable, and she continued to tell me that she had no problems or struggles in her life, currently or during her younger years. Then, one day she told me about her granddaughter who had passed away at age twelve and the floodgates opened. We got to the bottom of things, she discovered her why, and her business grew by leaps and bounds, almost overnight! Be Open and Willing to Examine Your Inner Feelings Life is fluid and ever-changing so it stands to reason that your WHY would change over time as well. Even if you started your business because you didn't know what to do once your kids were in full day school, you can change that WHY to something more meaningful now. A mentor once shared with me that she started a service business because she was a single mom and needed to earn money to survive. She was responsible for lodging, food, and clothing for herself and her child. She didn't have anyone to rely on except herself. THIS is enough to make you cry and to hustle for work, knowing that if she wasn't working, she wasn't eating. What are you passionate about that will get you hustling? Are you passionate about a cause or charity that can benefit from your financial assistance? Do you need to pull yourself up out of financial despair? Don't be afraid to own that reason and fight for your business. This is how you will continue to get closer to understanding and recognizing the answer to “what's your why?” Don't be Afraid to Switch Business Gears to Discover Your “Why” One of my mentees admitted to me early on that even though she has been in a service business for over ten years, that she hadn't been motivated to create any classes or products as a source of passive income. She blamed her indecision on a lack of new ideas and a feeling and belief that everything she knew had already been said and done, but I questioned if it was because she didn't feel attached to her particular niche of online marketing. After some more discussion, she agreed and has since modified her services that align better with what she enjoys. I still suggested that she explore a deeper WHY but this is a step in the right direction. Plenty of businesses add or subtract products or services or modify their mission statement. If something about your business doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to make changes. I'm bestselling author and online entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green, and now I can confidently answer the question “What's your why?” with enthusiasm and conviction. My “why” is around the concept of helping others to achieve their goals and dreams with writing and having a profitable online business so they may follow their dreams and passions without having to do work that doesn't make their heart sing or worry about meeting all of their financial obligations with grace and ease. You can double your productivity and be success with a business, or with anything you choose to accomplish in your life, if you are willing to implement what you learn and take decisive action on a consistent basis. Many people come to me to learn how to successful and profitable as an online entrepreneur. But some of them end up saying “I already know that” and moving on to something else. I know that I am able to do more than I ever thought would be possible in my life because I am willing to learn, implement, course correct, ask questions, take massive action and keep moving forward with consistency. Others may be smarter or more knowledgeable, but if they hesitate to take action they will not achieve the results they are hoping for in their business or with anything else. As long as you are specific and intentional with what you want to achieve, you can do it all as an entrepreneur, just not all at once. And we must throw perfection out the window. I have a new saying… The more perfecter your goal, the less purfeckt your results. “Everything we do in our lives is preparing us for something that will arise in the future, even though we don’t yet know what that will be.” ~ Connie Ragen Green Our stories are the fabric of our life. A story sets you apart from everyone else, makes you unique and memorable, and is all you have when it's all said and done. When I was a young child a neighbor girl, seven or eight years old at the time, interrupted my mother in the middle of a story she was telling to ask, “Why do you have so many stories?” My mother hardly skipped a beat, informing the girl that “You'll have stories too, when you get older.” On that evening a part of me became a storyteller in training. Sure enough, it wasn't long before I was telling stories about everything from what I did in school that day to what happened in the neighborhood. I wore my storyteller's hat with pride and now I see that this one aspect of my life was preparing me for what I now do in my business and derive great joy from every single day. The word “praestabilis” is from the Latin and means outstanding, excellent, and extraordinary and this is the goal for you as you make your way in the online world. It took me until age 50 to step into the light and live an empowered life. I achieved this by leaving a job – classroom teaching – and a career as a real estate broker and appraiser to come online as an entrepreneur. I have no regrets about waiting so long, as everything unfolds once we are open to receiving it. There are three top strategies to help you move closer to an empowered life and they include… Writing – Every day, I want you to write! This includes blog posts, outlines, emails to your prospects, clients, and potential joint venture partners. Also, write short reports and white papers to show others who you are and what you know. Finally, write a book to solidify your expertise in your niche, and follow that up with additional books over time. Writing is crucial to our process of standing out from the crowd by sharing what we know and believe. Reach out to me if you’re interested in coming aboard for my “10 Week Author” program. Recent posts on my three blogs are at: “Broken Compass Stories We Tell Ourselves” – https://mondaymorningmellow.com/broken-compass-story/ “The eBook That Changed My Life” – https://hugeprofitstinylist.com/ebook-that-changed-my-life/ “Marketing Secrets from Creative Sources” – https://connieragengreen.com/marketing-secrets-from-creative-sources/ Speaking – I was the reluctant speaker, but once I got past my fears and insecurities you can’t get the microphone away from me. Speak about yourself and your topic to anyone who will listen. I began by speaking at my Rotary Club and I continue to recommend service organizations as a way to break in to speaking. Now I speak all over the world, in person and virtually on a variety of topics. Masterminding – Connecting with others for the sole purpose of reaching your full potential is crucial to life success. Find a Mastermind group to join, or start your own by inviting thought leaders to connect with you in this way. I have a group called the Incubator Mastermind that may be of interest to you. Hopefully, you can see that what I’m sharing with on each podcast will make a difference for you as you build and grow your business as an entrepreneur, author, and marketer. Make sure to think of marketing as a priority and get into the habit of sharing your best ideas and resources with the people who are on their way to becoming your raving fans! I’m always just an email away at conniegreenhouse at yahoo dot com if you’d like to connect with me. I promise to help you keep it simple while you grow your online business. Get started with your own eBook empire by learning how to write an eBook from the person who continues to guide me along this lucrative journey. Take a look at How to Write and Publish Your Own eBook…in as Little as 7 Days from expert and author Jim Edwards. Thank you for this opportunity to serve you as I share my beliefs, perceptions, and experiences as an author, online entrepreneur, and marketing strategist with you. Marketing has become the joy of my life as I continue to learn, grow, and share concepts with others. I'm bestselling author, marketing strategist, and online entrepreneur Connie Ragen Green and I would love to connect further with you to help you to achieve your goals. If you are interested in learning how to optimize the syndication of your content, please take a look at my popular Syndication Optimization training course and consider coming aboard to increase your visibility, credibility, and profitability. The post Praestabilis – Excellence in Marketing – 162 appeared first on Connie Ragen Green Podcast.

In this episode, host Josh interviews Ritu Java, CEO of PPC Ninja, about effective Amazon PPC management. Ritu shares insights on healthy PPC-to-organic sales ratios, TACoS benchmarks, and the importance of budgeting based on net margin. She cautions about the complexities of sponsored display ads and stresses the need for regular account audits. Ritu also recommends The Goal by Eli Goldratt, highlights ChatGPT as a productivity tool, and suggests following Kevin King for e-commerce insights. The episode concludes with Ritu offering a free PPC audit and sharing her contact details.Chapters:Introduction & Guest Background (00:00:00)Josh introduces Ritu Java, her background, and expertise in Amazon PPC and e-commerce.Healthy PPC to Organic Sales Ratios (00:00:58)Discussion on what constitutes a healthy PPC to organic sales ratio, with examples from different product categories.TACoS Benchmarks & Profitability (00:03:04)Explains TACoS (Total Advertising Cost of Sales), how it changes over time, and guidelines for setting targets.Calculating Net Margin and TACoS (00:06:07)Breakdown of how to calculate net margin, relevant costs, and what a reasonable TACoS percentage looks like.Budgeting and PPC Management Takeaways (00:08:08)Three actionable takeaways: budgeting for PPC, being cautious with sponsored display ads, and performing regular account audits.Book Recommendation: The Goal (00:11:26)Ritu recommends "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt and explains its impact on understanding business bottlenecks.Productivity Tool Recommendation: ChatGPT (00:13:14)Ritu shares ChatGPT as her favorite productivity tool and describes how she uses it, especially for Google Sheets formulas.E-commerce Influencer Recommendation (00:15:09)Ritu recommends following Kevin King for his innovative ideas and influence in the e-commerce space.How to Connect with Ritu Java (00:16:23)Ritu shares how listeners can contact her for audits, masterminds, and follow her content online.Episode Wrap-up (00:16:48)Josh thanks Ritu for her time and insights, closing the episode.Links and Mentions:Tools and Software  "PPC Ninja": "00:00:50"  "ChatGPT": "00:13:14"  "Google Sheets": "00:14:05"  Books  "The Goal by Eli Goldratt": "00:11:31"  People  "Kevin King": "00:15:09"  Contact Information  "Email (ritu@ppcninja.com)": "00:16:23"  "LinkedIn (Ritu Java)": "00:16:23"Transcript:Josh 00:00:00  So today I'm super excited to introduce you all to Ritu Java. Ritu has started her e-commerce journey as an Etsy seller over ten years ago. She is the CEO of PPC Ninja, a software tools and services provider managing Amazon ads for six, seven, and eight figure brands. As someone who is really passionate about data science and advertising, Ritu has dozens of PPC mastermind programs, workshops, and webinar and has even trained hundreds of Amazon sellers on PPC. She has shared her knowledge on over 100 podcasts, webinars, blogs and conferences including the Prosper Show, Global Sources Summit, Powwow, the Billion Dollar Seller Summit, and many more. So with that introduction, Ritu, welcome to the show.Ritu 00:00:50  Josh, thank you so much for having me. I am super excited to be here and to talk all about PPC today.Josh 00:00:58  What is what would you recommend from the hundreds of accounts that you viewed. The sellers that are using your platform and software. What do you see right now is a healthy balance of PPC sales to organic sales for an established brand.Ritu 00:01:14  Yeah, and I think it's very dependent on the category. Some categories are so saturated that 60, 40, 60 PPC and 40% organic is becoming the norm. For example, just to give you an example from the pet space just so crowded, like especially if you're, you know, selling any kind of like, dog toys or, you know, pet products and things like that. there's so much competition there that, you know, 50 to 60% coming from ads is pretty normal. Like, there's no chance you can compete with mainland Chinese brands with just organic. They've already got 20,000 reviews and more like, how can you, you know, how can you even compete? Begin to compete with that, right? So the ads become your only way, your only chance of being seen. And that leads to the 6040 ratio. But in some of the other categories where it's a little bit more, you know, difficult for anyone to imitate you or to provide services that, you know, require human, you know, intensive work like support or whatever, like after the fact, it's probably still okay to get like 40% from, ads and 60% from organic.Ritu 00:02:37  So let's say research heavy products or products that require or have a good margin. Right? Have a good margin, that are not so easy to imitate those categories. You're still seeing quite a healthy ratio. So it totally depends on the category. I would recommend just making a note of that number today and just watching it over time. Because just baseline it and then you'll see whether it's going up or down.Josh 00:03:04  Yeah that's good input. And on that note, while we're talking about metrics, what do you see as a healthy tacos percentage for an established brand. And I'm sure it changes based on what category you're in. For sure, if you're supplements, you're playing a much longer term game and you're playing on subscriptions and repeat customers. But let's say for an average brand, right, that has, you know, one time customers more often than not. What do you think is kind of the ballpark tacos number to ensure that they're they're healthy and competitive across the board?Ritu 00:03:39  Yeah. So that's such a great question.Ritu 00:03:41  Really $1 million question. So okay, here's what I think of tacos. Now your tacos is going to be different at different stages of your journey. So you know when you are starting off your tacos, needs to be competitive with the market. You can't be looking at tacos as a profitability metrics. It's more of like, what's the maximum I can afford to spend in order to get this business off the ground? But then as time progresses and you start to see, you know, revenue coming in, flywheels working, everything is going fine. Then you start to tweak the, you know, the tacos target a little bit to kind of make it more profitable. so I think, it's a kind of, it's a calculation that I, look for at three points. So I look at spend. I look at revenue and I look at profits. Right. So initially, when you're just starting off, you know, even the smallest amount of spend will result in a drop in profits. You know, you're starting off.Ritu 00:04:54  You're spending money on ads. All of that is eating into your profits. But at a certain point the the spend as you increase your ad spend, it's actually going to generate revenue for you. Right. So what's the sweet spot when those two lines kind of cross over? that's the target tacos that is going to shift with, with, you know, the maturity of your of your account. So, we do say that the guideline is we don't want to spend more than 50% of net margin for your for your advertising. So I guess if you can keep that just general rule of thumb in mind, you should be fine. so no more than 50% of net margin. eventually you want...

What happens when you start selling at six years old — not lemonade, but industrial machinery parts? Doug C. Brown figured out the math of leverage before he finished second grade: why work forty hours for ten dollars when you can sell one part in six minutes and make the same? That early wiring never left him. From military service to selling music equipment to Aerosmith and Paul McCartney, from nuclear medicine to telecom where he helped grow a company from $62 million to $368 million in two years as their number one rep, Doug's career is a masterclass in following the leverage.Doug joins Bill to unpack his concept of Win-Win-Win Selling — the idea that every deal should produce three winners: you, your buyer, and someone else who benefits from the transaction. He shares the origin story behind this philosophy, born from watching too many reps stuff commissions by selling clients things they didn't need, simply because they didn't have enough prospects in the pipeline. Doug explains how he built an internal partner channel at his telecom company — connecting telephone hardware vendors with his cost-saving service so that clients saved money, vendors sold more phone systems, and Doug's phone rang sixty-two times a day with inbound leads.The conversation digs into what actually separates top 1% performers from everybody else. Doug breaks it down to four things: always thinking in terms of leverage, systematizing everything, continuously building business skills, and continuously building personal skills. Bill and Doug trade war stories about the car dealership model of win-lose selling, the brutal economics of department store procurement, and the costly lesson Doug learned when he walked into a multi-million dollar meeting totally unprepared while six people on the other side had done their homework. They also explore the power of follow-up — Doug's two-year nurture that landed NASCAR, his mentor Chet Holmes' five-year pursuit of Jay Abraham and even longer play to land Tony Robbins, and why a simple quarterly "just thinking about you" message builds the kind of relationship capital that changes careers.In This EpisodeAbout the GuestDoug C. Brown is the CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and author of Win-Win Selling: Unlocking Your Power for Profitability by Resolving Objections. A military veteran, former musician, and nuclear medicine professional turned sales leader, Doug has helped companies from startups to Fortune 500s build revenue growth systems. He was the #1 sales rep at a telecom company that grew from $62M to $368M, served as President of Training and Sales under Tony Robbins, and has worked with brands like Enterprise, Procter & Gamble, and NASCAR. His mission: helping business owners and sales professionals break into the top 1% of earners.Links & ResourcesStuck? The Q20 Growth Diagnostic will give you a fresh perspective and it's free. ScalingCoach.com/Q20Our new book, Busy is Broken, coming this September. Sign up for the release at busyisbroken.comMentioned in this episode:Busy Is BrokenHave you ever had a week where you're completely slammed but somehow nothing actually moved? Is this one of those weeks? That's not really a time problem. It's a busyness habit problem. My new book, Busy Is Broken: Do Less, Scale More, is about growing by doing less, not more. Read or listen to a sample chapter, over at busyisbroken.com. That's busyisbroken.com. Also on amazon and other booksellers.

Tired of attending events that leave you inspired but unchanged? Same. That's why The Middle isn't built around speakers and note-taking. It's built around conversations, strategy, problem-solving, and real-time implementation with founders who are actively building businesses. You'll leave with more than inspiration. You'll leave with clarity, decisions, new friends, potential new clients and a plan.If your business felt messy, inconsistent, or just off this past quarter, this episode is going to normalize a lot of what you're experiencing. In this episode of The Real Truth About Business podcast, I'm walking you through my full Q2 debrief, the wins, the challenges, and the decisions that directly impacted my business strategy and revenue growth. This is for service-based entrepreneurs who are in a season where things aren't linear, where revenue might be flat, and where you're questioning what's actually working. After 9 years of experience, I can tell you this is part of business growth. Inside this episode, I break down what actually happened behind the scenes, what I learned about pricing strategy, offers, and pipeline, and how simplifying your business strategy is often the fastest way forward.What You'll Learn:Why revenue growth can feel inconsistent even when your business is workingThe difference between revenue and profit in real business strategyHow overcomplicating your offers and marketing impacts your sales processWhy simplifying your pipeline leads to more sustainable business growthThe role of intuition and decision-making in your business strategyHow to evaluate what's actually working in your businessEpisode Highlights:[00:00] Introduction: Q2 recap and what to expect[03:00] Podcast growth and audience expansion[06:00] Revenue vs. profit reality check[10:00] Event launches, cancellations, and lessons learned[15:00] The overwhelm of trying to be everywhere at once[20:00] Why simplifying marketing and content matters[23:00] Offer misalignment and creating from pressure[26:00] Losing clients and what it revealed[28:00] Restructuring offers and pricing strategy[30:00] Final reflections and moving into Q3Key Takeaways:Revenue Does Not Equal Business SuccessHere's what I see constantly. Business owners hitting higher revenue months and assuming that means everything is working.After 9 years of working with service-based entrepreneurs, I can tell you that's not always true.This quarter was a perfect example of that.I had one of my highest revenue months followed immediately by one of my lowest. And even in that high revenue month, a large portion of that money was allocated to expenses tied to events.Which means it wasn't profit.Inside the Focused Visionary Framework, this is a Pricing and Profitability conversation. If you don't understand where your money is going, your revenue growth doesn't actually translate into business growth.More Strategy Isn't Always the AnswerThis is where things really started to break down.I tried to be everywhere:InstagramTikTokThreadsEmailPodcastAnd what happened?I completely overwhelmed myself.There is a limit to how much content one person can create, even when you're “repurposing.”And when your business strategy becomes too complex, your execution slows down.This is where most service-based entrepreneurs get stuck. They think more visibility equals more revenue, but without a clear sales process and aligned strategy, it just creates noise.You Cannot Force Offers That Aren't AlignedOne of the biggest lessons from Q2 was around creating offers from pressure instead of intention.I launched something because I felt like I “needed” it, not because it made sense.And it didn't land.Not because the idea was bad, but because it wasn't aligned.This is something I see constantly. Business owners creating offers to fix perceived gaps instead of looking at what actually works.And when your offers aren't aligned, your sales process becomes harder than it needs to be.Simplifying Your Business Strategy Changes EverythingThe biggest shift in this quarter was coming back to what actually works.Not what's trending.Not what everyone else is doing.Not what feels like the “next level.”But what actually works for me.For me, that looks like:Relationship-based marketingLong-form contentDirect conversationsSimpler offer structureAnd when I simplified:My energy came backMy clarity came backMy strategy became sustainable againYour Buyers Need FlexibilityThis was one of the most important realizations.I was offering a 12-month commitment because it made sense on paper.But in reality, it was creating resistance in my sales process.So I changed it.Now there's a lower barrier to entry, more flexibility, and a structure that actually supports how people make buying decisions.This directly impacts your conversion rate. Because your pricing strategy isn't just about numbers, it's about accessibility and trust.Growth Doesn't Always Look Impressive on PaperThis is the truth most people don't talk about.On paper, this quarter wasn't the most impressive:Revenue was relatively flatThere were setbacksThere were pivotsBut behind the scenes:Clarity increasedAlignment improvedStrategy strengthenedAnd that is what sets up the next level of revenue growth.Coming Back to What Works Is the StrategyAt the end of the day, this is what this episode is really about.You don't need more complexity.You don't need more strategies.You don't need more offers.You need to:Look at what's workingLet go of what isn'tSimplify your business strategyThat's how you create consistency.That's how you stabilize your pipeline.And that's how you build a business that actually supports long-term growth.Resources MentionedSubscribe to Back Pocket Insights for FREEBook a CEO Strategy Call Learn more about The Missing Piece IntensiveLearn more about The Focused Visionary AcceleratorDownload the FREE Lead and Conversion TrackerSubscribe to the Sunday Morning Brew NewsletterAbout the Host:Michelle DeNio is a business strategist based in Sarasota, Florida, specializing in helping service-based entrepreneurs break through revenue plateaus using her Focused Visionary Framework. With over 300 podcast episodes and 9 years running her consulting business, she helps coaches, consultants, and service providers scale sustainably through strategic planning, pricing optimization, and sales process development.Connect with MichelleWebsiteThreads Instagram LinkedIn Facebook

How do you know if your tuition rates are helping your center grow, or quietly holding you back? And are you making the most of one of the most powerful enrollment tools already sitting inside your program? In this episode of the Child Care Genius Podcast, Brian and Carol answer two important questions submitted by child care owners as part of the popular Ask Brian & Carol series.   Join Brian and Carol as they discuss how to determine the right tuition rates for your market while maintaining profitability. They share practical strategies for evaluating local competition, understanding supply and demand, analyzing rates by age group, and avoiding the common mistake of undercharging. You'll also hear why annual tuition reviews are critical and how center owners can confidently increase rates without letting a few complaints derail their financial goals.   Listen in as they tackle another common challenge: creating a referral program that actually motivates families to spread the word about your center. Brian and Carol explain why referrals remain one of the most effective enrollment strategies available and share ideas for incentives, contests, and rewards that encourage parents to become enthusiastic advocates for your program.   Whether you're questioning your pricing strategy, looking for ways to increase enrollment, or simply want expert guidance from experienced child care business owners, this episode delivers practical advice you can put into action right away. Tune in and discover how small adjustments in your tuition and referral systems can have a significant impact on your center's growth and profitability.      Mentioned in this episode: GET TICKETS to the Child Care Genius LEVERAGE Conference:  https://childcaregenius.com/leverage    Need help with your child care marketing? Reach out! At Child Care Genius Marketing we offer website development, hosting, and security, Google Ads creation and management, done for you social media ads management. For social media content we have the Genius Box, which is a monthly subscription chock full of social media & blog content, as well as a new monthly lead magnet every month! Learn more at Child Care Genius Marketing. https://childcaregenius.com/marketing-solutions/  Schedule a no obligation call to learn more about how we can partner together to ignite your marketing efforts.   If you need help in your child care business, consider joining our coaching programs at Child Care Genius University. Learn More Here. https://childcaregenius.com/university     Connect with us:  Child Care Genius Website Like us on Facebook Join our Owners Only Private Mastermind Group on Facebook    Join our Child Care Mindset Facebook Group Follow Us on Instagram Connect with us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Buy our Books Check out our Free Resources

Special Offer: Get 15% OFF your first FIGS order with code FIGSUK at checkout.Shop now at https://www.wearfigs.com/———————————————————————UK Dentists: Collect your verifiable CPD for this episode here >>> https://courses.dentistswhoinvest.com/smart-money-members-club———————————————————————Your diary can be fully booked and your practice can still be quietly losing ground. We recorded this live at the Business of Dentistry Conference in Birmingham with Dr. Chetan Mathias, a seven figure dentist and practice owner who has spent years helping UK dentists install simple systems that improve profitability without compromising care.We get practical about KPIs for dental practices and why so many principals and associates avoid them: no training, fear of what you'll find, and the worry that tracking turns patients into revenue units. Chetan flips that on its head and argues that the right numbers actually protect ethics, because they stop you making desperate choices when cash gets tight.You'll hear the six “vital signs” he uses to understand practice health with minimal effort: new patient numbers and where they come from, case acceptance rate, production per hour, overhead percentage, patient retention, and team engagement through employee NPS. Along the way we dig into real examples, from wasted Google ad spend that should have been redirected into referrals, to small consultation tweaks that lift conversion, to diary restructuring that restores hourly output, and overhead leaks like clinical waste costs that quietly balloon.———————————————————————Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. For that, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. The views expressed on this channel may no longer be current. The information provided is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. Investment figures quoted refer to simulated past performance and that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results/performance.Send us Fan Mail

315: How Confidence Impacts Pricing, Profitability, and Business Success With me today is Lauren DeLoach of Lauren DeLoach Interiors, an Atlanta-area designer known for embracing timeless Southern design with a fresh, elevated approach. In today's episode, we're talking about Lauren's entrepreneurial journey—what worked well, what created challenges along the way, and how she recognized when something was no longer supporting the growth of her company. Lauren shares the mindset shifts and business changes that helped her continue moving forward with clarity and intention. It's an honest and insightful conversation about growth, resilience, and building a business that truly aligns with your vision. Topics Mentioned: Creating boundaries with clients Finding the right balance between creative and business-minded roles Intentional business growth Key Thoughts:  Formative experiences and mentorship can play a crucial role in shaping your path. Balancing a business with raising a family can be difficult. Gaining confidence in the value of the design work paired with proper compensation helps prevent burnout. Hire team members who align well with the company vision and who have a strong work ethic. Contact Michele: Email: Team@ScarletThreadConsulting.com Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL Website: scarletthreadconsulting.com LinkedIn: Michele-Williams Contact Lauren: Email: lauren@laurendeloachinteriors.com Website: https://www.laurendeloachinteriors.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurendeloachinteriors     References and Resources: Work with Me The Designers' Inner Circle - Become a Member Today    CFO2Go Metrique Solutions

On this episode of The Real Estate & More Show, host Michael Hatfield sits down with Vinney "Mr. Smile" Chopra — real estate syndicator, fund manager, and five-time Amazon bestselling author — to talk about his book Positivity Brings Profitability.   Vinney arrived in America with $7 in his pocket and a suitcase. Today he's raised $239 million as a fund manager across hospitality, senior living, and multifamily real estate. Michael and Vinney dig into why Vinney believes positivity isn't just a "feel good" concept — it's a core business strategy that drives investor trust, team performance, and deal outcomes.   Vinney also walks Michael through a 107-unit Knoxville, TN case study — a mismanaged property his team turned around, surviving a mortgage payment that jumped from $27K to $72K/month, locking in a 5.56% rate, and selling for $17.4M after buying it for $12.5M in just two and a half years.   In this conversation with Michael Hatfield, Vinney covers: ✅ Going from selling Bibles and encyclopedias to managing a $1.3B portfolio ✅ Why he pivoted from multifamily into hospitality and senior living ("apartments on steroids") ✅ The goal-setting method that separates people who achieve goals from those who just write them down ✅ How positivity directly impacts investor relationships and deal-making ✅ Why humility and a "serving attitude" matter more than ego in syndication     Timestamps: 00:00 Michael Hatfield introduces Vinney Chopra 01:00 Arriving in America with $7 03:00 Why Vinney wrote Positivity Brings Profitability 07:00 What positivity really means in business 10:00 Can positivity be learned? 13:00 Goal setting and achievement 17:00 Why relationships are everything 20:00 Handling market fluctuations and pivoting 23:00 Case study: 107-unit Knoxville turnaround 27:00 Responding to critics of "positivity" 28:00 Vinney's final advice for the audience     ----  

Want an aligned business that doesn't leave you feeling burnt out? In this throwback episode, we return to my conversation with Natalie Ellis of Bossbabe, AKA the QUEEN of community building and viral content. She shares insider tips behind consistent viral growth and how to leverage it to drive sales and scale your business faster. Plus, we reveal the secret formula to increase profitability without the burnout, optimize and de-stress your launches, and shift away from chaos mode and into your most expansive season yet!   HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 How Natalie got her start community building before Bossbabe. 07:20 The secret to growing a thriving business and community. 11:50 Natalie's exact formula for viral growth. 15:45 How to leverage virality to drive sales. 19:50 What are the mindset shifts for an optimized, burnout-free launch season? 25:25 How to decrease stress and increase freedom with systems. 27:40 The quickest way to find + bring out your aligned goals. 33:20 What was the most transformative part of your healing journey? 37:05 What is the first step towards expanding into your next identity? 43:55 What are you most excited for as Natalie? 45:40 Celebrating Natalie's Powerhouse moment of signing a book deal she manifested.   RESOURCES + LINKS Get involved with the Bossbabe community! https://bossbabe.com/ Save $200 on your ticket for the 2026 Powerhouse Women Event HERE!   FOLLOW Bossbabe: @bossbabe.inc Natalie: @iamnatalie Powerhouse Women: @powerhouse_women Lindsey: @lindseymarieofficial Visit the Powerhouse Women website: powerhousewomen.co Join the PW Community Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/powerhousewomencommunity

In this episode, Dr. Karen Litzy hosts Will Humphreys, a seasoned physical therapist-turned-entrepreneur, to explore practical strategies that healthcare clinicians can use to build thriving practices. From mastering recruitment to leveraging virtual assistants, Will shares actionable insights to elevate your business, improve profit margins, and strengthen team dynamics.   Main insights include: ·       The significance of team building and how Knicks' teamwork mirrors successful business practices ·       Differentiating purpose and profits for sustainable growth ·       Creating an ideal hire profile and utilizing job scorecards for effective recruiting ·       Leveraging relationships with PT schools and students to build a pipeline of future hires ·       The importance of systems for lead generation and hiring consistency ·       Navigating firing with integrity and fostering alignment within teams ·       How virtual assistants can offload administrative burdens and boost profitability ·       The critical role of ethical billing and a healthy relationship with money ·       Reframing profit as a driver for mission fulfillment and industry impact ·       Practical steps to start implementing change today Timestamps:   00:00 - Welcome and the importance of teamwork in practice success 02:20 - Lessons from the Knicks: team energy as a business asset 03:44 - Connecting purpose, profits, and team fulfillment 05:33 - Reflecting on the struggles and breakthroughs of building a practice 09:08 - Strategies for turning around a failing business 11:45 - How to create an effective recruiting process for healthcare practices 13:09 - The importance of defining your ideal hire with a clear profile 15:13 - Utilizing job scorecards to measure candidate success early 16:40 - The difference between lead generation and hiring in practice growth 18:23 - Building relationships with PT schools and students for pipeline development 22:41 - Systematic recruiting leveraging university connections and mentorship 23:07 - Recognizing when it's time to let someone go and how to do it ethically 24:00 - How to handle firing with dignity and preserve reputation 26:25 - The mindset of stewardship and continuous alignment with team members 27:51 - Regularly evaluating if your team is a "hell yes" to stay 29:17 - Handling difficult conversations and letting go with compassion 33:00 - The role of virtual assistants in reducing administrative overload 34:44 - Offloading tasks to virtual assistants to enhance profitability and free time 36:34 - The link between ethical billing, profitability, and purpose 38:39 - Strategic reinvestment and industry impact through profitability 40:35 - The importance of aligning money, purpose, and team success 41:35 - The opportunities brought by technology and AI to practice growth 42:04 - Gratitude for physical therapists' contribution to industry and patient care 43:10 - The quickfire lightning round for practical tips   Resources & Links: ·       Virtual Rockstar ·       Rise, Stand and Lead ·       The Willpower Podcast ·       The E Myths Revisited by Michael Gerber ·       Jim Collins' Good to Great ·       Topgrading and Brandon Smart's Job Scorecard Connect with Will Humphreys: ·       LinkedIn ·       Instagram ·       Virtual Rockstar Instagram More About Will Humphreys: Will is a passionate entrepreneur, physical therapist, and dedicated family man. With over 26 years of experience, he has built multiple businesses, including Virtual Rockstar, which helps medical entrepreneurs thrive by outsourcing non-clinical tasks. Known for his humor, inspiring leadership, and drive to transform healthcare, Will focuses on empowering others to scale their impact while staying true to their purpose. Beyond business, he cherishes his wife and four sons, seeks adventure, and finds fulfillment in helping others succeed. Jane Sponsorship Information: Book a one-on-one demo here Mention the code LITZY1MO for a free month   Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media: Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn   Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart: YouTube Website Apple Podcast Spotify SoundCloud Stitcher iHeart Radio

A Special Podcast Swap with Allyson's In the Field Podcast This week, April and Stephen Smith of 3 Pie Squared and the ABA Business Leaders Podcast joined Allyson's In the Field: The ABA Podcast for a special podcast swap episode. April and Stephen share the story behind building and operating their ABA practice for 12 years before transitioning into full-time consulting. The conversation explores the realities of starting an ABA business, scaling sustainably, building leadership teams, creating operational systems, and maintaining ethical profitability. The episode also discusses the challenges of delegation, founder identity, work-life boundaries, and why many BCBAs® are unprepared for the leadership demands of business ownership. Key Topics ✔ Starting an ABA practice without a business background ✔ Why founders need a clear vision before scaling ✔ Building systems that support delegation and growth ✔ The relationship between profitability and ethical practice ✔ Developing BCBAs into effective leaders Key Takeaways You don't know what you don't know when starting a business. Vision should guide growth, not follow it. Systems create consistency, scalability, and freedom. Profitability supports ethical clinical practice. Leadership skills must be intentionally developed. Founder identity should extend beyond the business itself.  Resources & Links Grab Stephen's Book Here!: "The ABA Business Leader's Guide: How to Start, Grow, and Sustain an Ethical ABA Practice Without Losing Your Soul" by April and Stephen Smith Free Consultation Booking Link  &  Business Essentials List Listen to Allyson's Podcast SideKick Learning ABA Business Leaders Support Group: 

Farm+Food+Facts host Joanna Guza talks with Dr. Bruno Basso, professor of earth and environmental sciences, at Michigan State University, and Jeff Sandborn, a fourth-generation farmer in Michigan. They discuss yield stability analysis and how Jeff uses the data to inform his nutrient management decisions, lower his costs and increase profits.     USFRA's study with Dr. Bruno Basso and Dr. Jerry Hatfield: Enhancing farm profitability through nitrogen efficiency and yield stability  To stay connected with USFRA, join our newsletter and become involved in our efforts, here.  

“Entrepreneurially immature people won’t deal with unpleasant emotions, which is why they just end up trapped in this cycle of mediocrity their whole life.” – RJon Robins, from The Exponential Entrepreneur podcast This week we’re doing something a little different. Instead of our regular Profit First for Lawyers format, we are sharing a special episode from The Exponential Entrepreneur podcast hosted by Erika Ferenczi. The clip in this episode was originally recorded as part of the Practical Profitable Mindset program while RJon was recording the Profit First for Lawyers audiobook. This lesson explores one of the most surprising obstacles to business growth: the fear of profit. Profit Requires Discomfort According to RJon, profit requires doing things that feel uncomfortable: Raising prices Sending invoices Collecting payments Making difficult hiring and firing decisions Having honest conversations Fear naturally tells us to avoid discomfort. But when we avoid discomfort, we wind up avoiding profit as well. And there is science to back up this instinctive behavior. Drawing on the science behind the fight-or-flight response, RJon explains how fear affects our thinking, why our brains begin rationalizing emotionally safe decisions, and how those decisions can quietly limit both personal and financial growth. What Kind of Profit Are You Choosing? One of the most thought-provoking ideas in this lesson is that every voluntary exchange creates some kind of profit. Some entrepreneurs choose emotional profit over financial profit. One example is undercharging a client or failing to send invoices because they want to avoid rejection. By recognizing these patterns, business owners gain the opportunity to make more intentional decisions that align with both their personal values and their business goals. The question is not whether we are making a profit. The real question is: What kind of profit are you choosing? Mentioned The Exponential Entrepreneur podcast Break Through Your Profit First Mindset Blocks with Erika Ferenczi Take Flight: Elevate Your Mindset to Profitability with Alejandra Leibovich Does Your Accountant Have An Entrepreneurial Mindset? with Oscar Ferenczi Connect Subscribe to the Profit First for Lawyers podcast Watch episodes on YouTube And most importantly, order your copy of Profit First for Lawyers today!

Cash flow and profitability are often used interchangeably, but they tell two very different stories about a dairy operation. In this episode of Dairy News & Views, we break down the differences between cash flow and profitability, explain why both are essential for financial decision-making, and discuss how understanding these metrics can help dairy producers build a more resilient business.   Addational Resources can be found here: https://shop.iastate.edu/extension/farm-environment/animals-and-livestock/dairy-cattle/da3130.html

Matt Greene is the CEO and founder of Happy Innovations - bootstrapped to mid-eight figure revenue, selling personal care products under the Happy Nuts, Happy Curves, and Happy Soles brands.Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Matt Greene's journey in building Happy Innovations and its brands (Happy Nuts, Happy Curves, Happy Souls).The importance of product development and R&D in creating effective personal care products.Strategies for launching and succeeding on Amazon, including targeting broad search terms and utilizing PPC.Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including production delays and shifts in marketing strategies.The significance of diversifying sales channels beyond Amazon, including Shopify, TikTok Shop, and retail.Insights on the complexities and long-term commitment required for retail expansion.The role of affiliate marketing and creator partnerships in driving sales and brand awareness.The impact of seasonal demand on Shopify sales and the need for effective ad strategies.Recommendations for e-commerce entrepreneurs on focusing on profitable sales channels and leveraging TikTok for growth.The necessity of continuous product innovation and differentiation for long-term success in the market.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with Matt Greene, CEO of Happy Innovations, whose personal care brands have reached mid eight-figure revenue. Matt shares his journey from product development to scaling across Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, and retail. Key insights include the importance of product innovation, building and supporting affiliate creators, approaching retail only after reaching ~$20M in revenue, and prioritizing profitability on each channel. Matt also recommends leveraging TikTok as the easiest post-Amazon expansion and emphasizes patience, operational excellence, and continuous product improvement as foundations for long-term success.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Win one channel before expanding Dominate Amazon first (optimize PPC, reviews, profitability) and use it to fund growth—don't diversify until you've built a strong revenue and ops foundation. Use TikTok Shop for scalable growth Build a creator engine with small retainers, consistent posting (30–60 days), and content ownership you can reuse across ads and other channels. Differentiate through real product innovation Go beyond competitor gaps—invest in R&D, solve a specific problem deeply, and continuously improve to drive repeat purchases and long-term brand value.Timestamps:00:00:42 Podcast & Guest IntroductionHost Josh Hadley introduces the show and guest Matt Greene, founder of Happy Innovations, a mid-eight-figure personal care brand.00:02:34 The Origin of Happy NutsMatt shares how the brand started from a personal need, focusing on a year-and-a-half-long product development and branding process.00:04:16 Starting on AmazonThe decision to launch on Amazon was driven by its low customer acquisition cost for an innovative, low-priced product.00:05:21 Amazon Success StrategyHow they found success by targeting existing search terms for related problems like anti-chafing and sweat protection.00:07:40 Diversifying Beyond AmazonAmazon is still their core channel but now represents less than 60% of their total business revenue.00:08:33 Profitability in New ChannelsMatt discusses early struggles with Shopify and the importance of ensuring every new sales channel has a path to profitability.00:10:11 Early Foray into RetailMatt explains the long and complex process of getting into retail, which started years before getting on shelves.00:12:11 When to Expand Sales ChannelsMatt's philosophy on focusing on one channel until $5-10M in revenue before expanding to reach different customer segments.00:15:25 Why TikTok is the Best Next StepMatt recommends TikTok as the first channel to expand to after Amazon due to cheap traffic and similar operations.00:16:08 Building a TikTok Shop StrategyMatt details their journey on TikTok, from early struggles to a successful strategy focused on supporting and developing affiliates.00:17:38 How to Work with TikTok CreatorsThe strategy involves coaching new creators, setting expectations for a 30-60 day ramp-up, and providing continuous support.00:19:29 Incentivizing New CreatorsUsing small retainers and performance bonuses to encourage new creators to consistently post content and build momentum for the brand.00:27:30 A Targeted Shopify StrategyTheir Shopify approach focuses on specific, high-intent periods like holidays and seasonal campaigns rather than an always-on strategy.00:30:38 The Realities of Entering RetailMatt advises waiting until your brand is stable and recognizable (around $20M) before tackling retail's high costs and complexities.00:34:12 Driving Sell-Through in RetailHow they succeeded in retail as a bootstrapped brand through strong on-shelf branding, product quality, and a TikTok halo effect.00:38:13 Three Actionable TakeawaysThe host summarizes key lessons: master one channel first, expand to TikTok next, and approach retail with caution.00:42:19 Matt's Book RecommendationsMatt shares two influential books on SEO and life prioritization, including "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry."00:42:49 Favorite AI ToolMatt explains how they use Claude for data analysis, creating dashboards, and developing landing pages for their website.00:43:54 Admired E-commerce PeersMatt shares his respect for other brand owners in his network rather than big-name figures from a different era.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Shopify": "00:04:32", "00:40:21""TikTok Shop": "00:01:03", "00:15:25""Expo West": "00:10:11""Amazon PPC": "00:06:28""Meta Ads (Facebook Ads)": "00:09:09""Amazon MCF (Multi-Channel Fulfillment)": "00:14:56""Discord": "00:26:06""Google Forms": "00:26:06""

In this week's episode, we offer 7 tips indie authors can use to help their audiobooks turn a profit on production costs. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Ghost Night series at my Payhip store: JUNENIGHT The coupon code is valid through July 13, 2026. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 309 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is June 26th, 2026 and today we are sharing seven tips for audiobook profitability for indie authors. Before we get to that, we will have Coupon of the Week and an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. First up is Coupon of the Week and this week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Ghost Night series at my Payhip store. That code is JUNENIGHT. And as always, the coupon code and the links to my Payhip store will be available in the show notes for this episode. This coupon code will be valid through July the 13th, 2026. So if you need a new ebook series to read this summer, we have got you covered. Now let's have an update on my current writing, publishing, and audiobook projects. I am pleased to report I am on the second editing pass of Blade of Thieves. I am about 13% of the way through that. And so if all goes well, I think the book will be out after the 4th of July weekend/second week in July, if all goes well. I have a few real life things to do that might slow that down, but I am very, very keen to finally have this book out after the 4th of July weekend. After Blade of Thieves is published, my next project will be Cloak of Frost, the 15th book in the Cloak Mage series. I am 17,000 words into that and I am hoping that will be out in August, if all goes well. I have no audiobooks currently in production, but that will change next month because Brad Wills will be recording Blade of Thieves once it's done. Hollis McCarthy will be recording Cloak of Worlds and Leanne Woodward will be recording Dragon-Mage. So we'll go from having no audiobooks being worked on to a bunch being worked on all at once. Funny how things tend to bunch up like that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing and publishing and audiobook projects. 00:01:59 The Economics of Audiobook Production for Indie Authors [All money amounts mentioned are in USD.] Now today I want to talk about a very advanced level indie author topic, namely audiobook production and the economics of it. Recently there's been some controversy because ACX (which is Amazon's audiobook production platform) has been changing its royalty model and rolling out what they call synthetic voice, which is basically an AI generated voice. Some writers have been using it because it's a lot cheaper than a good human narrator, but the flip side is that not many people like listening to it and won't pay money for it. Admittedly, synthetic voice is not fundamentally a new technology. Text to speech has been around forever. Macs have had it since I believe 1984, back when 120 kilobytes of RAM was a lot. As a brief digression, I wish the term AI hadn't been bandied about so liberally. Before the public backlash began against generative AI and data centers, the term AI was trendy, so it got slapped on a lot of things that are actually wildly different than generative AI. I saw a post where someone was complaining about the locations in Starfield being AI generated, when in fact they're procedurally generated, which is something totally different. Anyway, synthetic voice is just a more advanced version of the text to speech technology that's been around since the early 1980s. The fear is that AI generated audiobooks will swamp the market and dominate most of ACX's payment model. Now, while that is a valid fear, I strongly suspect that it is not going to work out that way, given the hostility I have observed towards synthetic voices, especially in fiction. I think what'll happen is authors who use synthetic voice will save a lot of money by not paying a narrator, but then they won't actually make any money because no one will want to buy these machine voiced audiobooks. I have some basis for that because in the early 2020s, I experimented with making synthetic voice versions of my Silent Order science fiction series and putting them on YouTube. The overwhelming response was that people liked the story but hated the computer generated voice. It might be different for nonfiction. A romance novel with a synthetic voice would obviously be quite flat, but that wouldn't matter as much for a primer on tax law or agriculture or something similar. So there's a lot of uncertainty on whether or not audiobooks can still be profitable for indie authors. However, I suggest this is nothing new. Audiobooks have always been indie publishing on hard mode, partly because they're expensive to produce and partly because they're harder to sell than ebooks and sometimes even paperbacks. That said, I'm on my eighth year of self-publishing audiobooks and some of them have made back their production costs and turned a profit. So I thought it would share seven tips on how to have profitable self-published audiobooks. #1: Think long term. If you want your audiobooks to be profitable, you need to think in the long term. ACX has this program called Royalty Share where rather than pay a narrator, you and the narrator split the royalties on the audiobook for the next seven years and after those seven years are passed, you get all these subsequent royalties. I've never taken this option, but I cite it here because I think seven years is not an unreasonable amount of time for an audiobook to earn back its production cost. People always blanch a bit when I say that, but I've been doing self-published audiobooks for eight years now, so let's see how some of them have done. The Frostborn audiobooks, 100% of them have earned back their production cost. Of the 24 Ghosts books in audio, about the first 10 have earned back their production cost. For Cloak Mage, of the 12 Cloak Mage books currently in audio, about the first three and a half have earned back their production cost. For Dragonskull, of the nine Dragonskull books, the first three and a half have earned back their production cost. For Malison, of the four Malison books, they have 100% earned back their production cost. It helps that they're short. For The Shield War, of the six Shield War books, the first one has earned back its production costs, but I only started the series in 2023. The Linux Command Line Beginner's Guide (my one nonfiction book) has totally earned back its production cost. So I don't think seven years is an unreasonable length of time to earn back the production cost for an audiobook. That means you have to think long term, almost like a small business owner buying a new piece of equipment. Depending on the business, the owner might budget for the equipment making back what he paid for it in four or five years, or if he has to take out a loan to buy the equipment, he'll calculate how long it'll take to pay back that loan. Like for example, I just had to pay a lot of money to have these struts in my car fixed and I expect the garage owner carefully considered how much he would spend on his vehicle hoist since I believe a new vehicle hoist and installation typically costs between $7,000 and $12,000 and how long it would take him to make back that money. All successful small business owners have to think like this. Now this mindset is a bit tricky for indie authors because we often have a strong tendency to think in the short term, especially new indie authors who want their books to make a ton of money right now. But as I said above, audiobooks are self-publishing on hard mode, so you need to decide whether it is worth the investment and if you're comfortable waiting a few years to earn back the production cost over time. The reality is that if you are paying a professional narrator to create an audiobook, you're paying $200 per finished hour or above, which is a small business expense. So for that kind of money, you need to think about the audiobook like a small business owner. #2: Deductions First off, I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice and I am not an accountant and this is not investment/financial advice. If you want financial/investment advice, you should talk to an accountant or financial planner properly certified with the tax laws of your state, province, and nation. If you want legal advice, you should talk to a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. The way my writing business is set up, I can take the production cost of audiobooks as a deduction against my taxes. This initially was one of the reasons I got into self-published audiobooks in the first place way back in 2018. I realized that if I was going to have to pay the money in taxes anyway, I might as well spend some of it on audio production instead, since that way I'll at least get a revenue generating asset out of it. Other small businesses will sometimes do this when they approach the end of their fiscal year and realize they have more tax liability than expected, so it's probably time to invest in some new equipment or upgrades that they would need anyway. Like maybe the garage owner we mentioned earlier has a really good year so he decides it's a good time to spend that $12,000 on a new vehicle hoist so he doesn't have quite so high a tax bill at the end of the year. I once had someone tell me rather self-righteously that this was a tax dodge and therefore immoral, but that's ridiculous. [Transcriptionist's side note: I wish I had that person's level of unearned confidence. I'd use it for cliff diving or starting a library just for puppies and the weirdest, clumsiest orange cats. Literally anything else.] No less of an authority than Jesus Christ himself said that to render under Caesar what is Caesar. If Caesar says that audiobook book production is a deductible business expense, it is a deductible business expense. Business deductions are the government's way of saying, "spend this income on something that benefits the national economy or will take it as taxes." To a more immediate point, the IRS itself says you have the legal obligation to pay exactly the amount of taxes you owe, but there are also legal ways such as business deductions to reduce the amount of taxes you owe. Besides, no matter what you do, the government gets its cut anyway. At the end of the year, I have to file 1099s for the narrators because their payments are taxable income and every time one of the audiobooks sells, the government gets sales tax, the stores owe taxes on that income, and I owe taxes on the payment from the store. Uncle Sam has a lot of practice at getting his cut and he's very good at it. So depending on your business structure and the local tax laws where you live, audiobook production might be a deductible expense, which is very helpful on the financial side of it. #3: Promote the ebook. The easiest way I found to sell an audiobook is to have the audiobook of an ebook that sells well. Admittedly, this is a bit of a chicken and egg problem, isn't it? However, that can help you choose which titles to make into audiobooks. Like I mentioned above that Frostborn has paid back 100% of its production costs, and that's because it's my most popular series. It was easy for the audiobooks to sell well because the ebooks were selling well. By contrast, an ebook that sells more slowly will have a harder time selling audiobooks. One of the reasons I experimented with using synthetic voice on YouTube with the Silent Order series earlier in the 2020s was because I knew I would never make Silent Order into actual audiobooks because the series didn't sell well enough to merit it. So if you want your audiobook to sell, the easiest way to do it is to promote the ebook. If the ebook sells well enough, it will likely generate some audiobook sales as well. This can also help you determine whether or not you should even produce an audiobook of a particular ebook. If the ebook does not have strong sales, it is probably not a good idea to make an audiobook out of it. #4: Diversify We started out by talking about ACX, but ACX is not the only game in town. The other big audiobook distribution platform is INaudio, which is owned by Spotify. It was previously known as Findaway Voices, but then Spotify bought it and changed the name to INaudio. ACX will get your audiobook into Audible, Amazon, and Apple. INaudio will get your audiobook into every other platform: Google Play, Kobo, Storytel, Chirp, the library distributors, and a bunch of others. So if your audiobook is not exclusive to ACX, it's a good idea to use INaudio as well. That said, Google Play and Kobo now have direct upload for audiobooks and if your audiobook is not exclusive to ACX, it's a good idea to use the direct upload for Google Play and Kobo instead of relying on INaudio. There are a few significant advantages to this. First, you make a little bit more money since INaudio is not taking its distribution fee and the cumulative effect of that over time can be significant. Second, your audiobook will be eligible for Kobo Plus, which can generate extra revenue. I've had some of my best months on Kobo in 2026 thanks to Kobo Plus. Third and perhaps most importantly, you won't be completely dependent on INaudio because INaudio is frequently quite glitchy and in my frank and unbiased opinion, has gone downhill noticeably in quality since Spotify took over. Every single problem I've ever had with INaudio has come after Spotify bought Findaway and turned it into INaudio. I'm afraid that Spotify, like many other publicly traded corporations in the US, has the chronic problem of an upper management class who are buzzword prone MBA drones with an unhealthy enthusiasm for generative AI and indulging in self-destructive cost cutting and layoffs right before it's time to file quarterly reports. Very frequently, the QA process on INaudio will go berserk and declare that a book is AI generated and ineligible for distribution even when it's not. So direct upload to Google Play and Kobo avoids that problem. Because of these problems, another distributor called Author's Republic has been growing, but I haven't tried that out yet. Despite these problems, INaudio also gets you access to Chirp, which is our next bullet point. #5: Chirp Deals I said earlier that the best way to promote your audiobook is ebook promotion, but the one exception to that is Chirp. Chirp is run by BookBub, which is an email newsletter service that offers discounted ebooks to its subscribers. BookBub wanted to expand to audiobooks, but Audible very famously does not let indie authors control their prices and definitely doesn't let them do discounts. So to get around that slight problem, BookBub started its own audiobook store in the form of Chirp, which does let indie authors control their prices and therefore offer discounts. I've had some excellent results with Chirp deals over the years, usually with Child of the Ghost and Cloak of Dragons. In May, I had a Chirp deal with Dragonskull: Sword of the Squire, but since the dashboard on INaudio only updates every 30 days for Chirp, I'm not sure how it did yet. If you get a Chirp deal and you want to take a big swing with it, you can also set temporary discounts on the subsequent books in the series. For my earlier Chirp deals for Cloak of Dragons and Child of the Ghosts, the price for Cloak of Dragons was at $0.99 and I set the price of the subsequent two audiobooks at $2.99 each. I got good results from that and some of my best months on INaudio. For the recent Dragonskull deal, Sword of the Squire was at $0.99 and I temporarily set every other audiobook in the series at $2.99 on Chirp. It was the biggest swing I've taken with a Chip deal, so I'm curious to see how it plays out. #6: Direct sales It's a good idea to have a direct sales platform of some kind, whether it's Shopify or Payhip or Gumroad or a similar platform and offer direct sales of your audiobooks. There are numerous advantages to this. You can set your own price, which as we mentioned above, ACX does not let you do. You can very easily run sales and discounts. If you're a regular reader at the site, you know I do a different Coupon of the Week for my Payhip store every week and it's often for audiobooks. As I mentioned with the problems with INaudio, it provides a platform to get your audiobook to listeners even if the other stores are having technical problems. Sometimes ACX processing can take weeks and the site's past troubles sometimes stretched [it] into months. The difficulty is getting people to actually use the store. The term vendor lock-in means that the more a customer uses the platform, the less likely they are to switch. If someone has been building up their Kindle library or Audible library since 2009, they're unlikely to switch to a competitor. Most of my direct sales come from a combination of Coupon of the Week and new releases to people who don't like DRM. So having a direct sales platform is a long haul, but still worth doing. Besides, everything in audiobooks is a long haul. #7: Direct reader relationship via Patreon or a similar site. I've never done this myself so I don't have any specific tips, but I have seen some writers do it quite successfully. That said, you should only have a Patreon or a similar site if you're willing to put in the work. Readers are very unforgiving of a writer who does not live up to his or her Patreon obligations. However, if you include audiobooks as one of your patron tiers that can go a long way towards audiobook profitability. A regular Patreon type income can help fund regular audiobook production. Conclusion Audiobooks are indeed indie publishing on hard mode, but hopefully these tips will help increase the chances that your audiobooks will be profitable. Lastly, thanks to everyone who has listened to one of my audiobooks. So that's it for this week. Thanks for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com, often with transcripts. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

Many agency owners work harder every year yet struggle to see profitability improve. Daniel Metcalf and Mike Stromsoe explore the three profit rules that separate highly profitable agencies from those stuck in constant firefighting. They discuss how client segmentation, employee engagement, operational design, and technology can work together to create more capacity, stronger retention, and better financial performance. Through practical examples, they challenge agency leaders to rethink long-standing habits, identify where profit is really generated, and build systems that allow their teams to focus on the work that creates the greatest impact.Key Topics:  • Why the Pareto Principle reveals hidden opportunities inside most agencies  • How client segmentation helps agencies deliver the right service at the right level  • The connection between employee engagement and agency profitability  • Why repetitive work should be redesigned instead of assigned to more staff  • The role community involvement plays in building stronger client relationships  • How batching work improves focus, productivity, and service consistency  • Using dashboards and KPIs to identify the activities that drive growth  • Why challenging long-standing agency habits is essential for future scalabilityConnect with Daniel:LinkedInWebsiteConnect with Mike: LinkedIn TwitterProfitability is rarely the result of working harder. Agencies that understand where profit is created, eliminate operational friction, and focus their teams on high-value activities position themselves for sustainable growth and long-term success.

With the surname “Kentish,” Nic carries his family's potato growing legacy. While it's one of pride, the journey has certainly not been easy.  After returning to the family farm in South Australia, he found himself confronting one of the biggest challenges many farming families face: how to build a profitable, sustainable business in an increasingly volatile industry. In this episode, Nic Kentish unpacks his lessons learned from decades in farming, including a difficult transition into organic potato production that ultimately left the business carrying significant debt. Nic speaks candidly about the financial and emotional pressure that comes with succession, the realities of running high-risk agricultural enterprises, and why understanding your gross margins matters just as much as understanding your soils. Now an educator with RCS's Grazing for Profit program, Nic explains why he believes agriculture must be viewed as a connected system: where soil health, profitability, relationships, livestock management, and technology are all intertwined. The conversation explores regenerative agriculture, biological farming, and why Nic prefers to focus less on labels and more on outcomes. Sarah and Nic discuss: Why “great technology” still has to solve real on-farm problems The lessons Nic learned from transitioning to organic farming Gross margins, debt, and the hidden pressures of succession Why soil health and profitability are deeply connected The role of observation and intuition alongside agtech Why family relationships are often the biggest risk, or strength, in farming businesses How farmers can build resilience in increasingly variable conditions     Useful Links: The Warble Podcast | RCS Change Agent: The maverick agronomist who changed grazing methods - ABC News Optiweigh Low Stress Stock Handling - Farmsafe Arden Andersen - Soil Learning Center Halter's $2 billion question, with founder Craig Piggott Regen Ag Series Australian Rural Leadership Foundation For more information and resources, visit our website.  The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness. [12:00:00] Sustainable farming has to be profitable. [00:23:00] Regen ag is about outcomes not labels. [00:37:00] Good tech supports farmer intuition

What if the client you love the most… is quietly costing you the most money? In this eye-opening episode of the CEO Glow Show, Sheila Bella breaks down one of the biggest hidden money leaks in the beauty industry: the "nice client." You know the one. She's easygoing. She trusts you. She never complains. She says "whatever works for you." And because she feels emotionally safe, you unconsciously start bending your boundaries, undercharging, extending time, skipping price increases, and quietly discounting your business without realizing it. This episode isn't about becoming cold or transactional. It's about understanding the difference between a nice client and a profitable client—and why structure, policies, and pricing systems matter more than your emotions. If you've ever stayed underpaid because someone was "so sweet," this episode is going to completely change the way you think about boundaries, pricing, and profitability. Because loving your clients and charging properly were always allowed to exist in the same sentence.

Sara Sugarman turned her family's rug business into Lulu and Georgia, a home brand that grows 20% to 30% a year, with no debt and a repeat-purchase rate double the industry average. She breaks down the inventory bets, infrastructure mistakes, and financial discipline behind building it all herself. For more on Lulu and Georgia and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

Twilio (TWLO) CEO Khozema Shipchandler discusses the company's shift beyond messaging into a broader engagement platform built for agentic A.I. He highlights voice A.I. growth and Twilio's ability to deliver ROI for customers like Lyft (LYFT) and IBM (IBM). Shipchandler also outlines Twilio's neutral platform strategy and path to durable profitability.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the WTR Small Cap Spotlight podcast, Dr. Wang, Chief Financial Officer of Lotus Technology (Nasdaq: LOT), joins Tim Gerdeman (Vice Chair, Co-Founder & CMO, Water Tower Research) and WTR Analyst Eric Goldstein.Founded in 1948 and reborn under Geely, Lotus Technology has evolved from a legendary British sports car maker into a global intelligent and luxury mobility company. In FY2025, Lotus deliberately stepped back from low-margin, discounted volume — gross margins more than doubled, the net loss narrowed 58%, and adjusted EBITDA loss improved 63%. Management is now targeting double-digit gross margins in 2026 and luxury-peer profitability by 2028.Dr. Wang walks through the margin expansion strategy, the global ramp of the 900V super-hybrid lineup (FOR ME in China, Eletre X in Europe), the Focus 2030 strategy under the new Geely-aligned board, the path to North America via Canada, and the key milestones investors should be watching.Subscribe and visit watertowerresearch.com for open-access small cap research, podcasts, and conference schedules.

At HITEC, I talked with Michael Grove of HotStats, which is now part of Duetto, about why hotel performance has to move beyond rooms revenue. Michael came with actual numbers on profitability, but the conversation went quickly into how owners and operators should read the business. Demand and rate only tell part of the story. Profit depends on where revenue comes from, what it costs to capture it, and which parts of the operation deserve more attention. We got into U.S. profitability, global travel shifts, food and beverage pressure, wellness, golf, ancillary revenue, and why Michael likes the phrase "performance engineering." I like that phrase because it gets closer to how owners and operators actually need to think. Revenue is one piece. Profitability tells a much fuller story. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Most business leaders approach networking completely wrong—and it is costing them real revenue. They show up to events, hand out business cards, and try to sell directly to the room, wondering why nothing ever converts into sustainable growth.In this episode of Lead The Team, host Ben Fanning sits down with Dave Collins, the Chief Operating Officer of BNI.Dave oversees a staggering global network of 355,000 members across 76 countries that generated over $27 Billion in self-reported closed business over the last 12 months alone.Dave shares the exact structural behaviors and core mindset shifts required to transform casual interactions into a relentless, highly profitable referral machine. If you are relying purely on automated digital outreach or cold algorithms to scale your pipeline, this conversation will completely reframe your approach to modern leadership and business development.The "Selling Through" Mindset: Why you should never go to a room to sell to your network, but rather to teach them how to sell through them.The VCP Framework: A definitive breakdown of how deep Visibility leads to executive Credibility, which directly unlocks compounding Profitability.The Power of the Specific Ask: Why broad pitches fail and how targeting hyper-specific niche market seats transforms your sales pipeline.Human Networks vs. AI Disruption: Why face-to-face accountability is becoming a leader's ultimate defense against synthetic content, deep fakes, and automation fatigue.The 30-Day New City Playbook: Dave's exact operational strategy for leveraging an established network to seamlessly break into an entirely new market.[ABOUT THE GUEST]Dave Collins is the Chief Operating Officer of BNI, the world's largest business networking and referral organization. With over 41 years of sustained global growth, BNI helps small businesses, solopreneurs, and elite executives build powerful, long-term relationship pipelines that drive massive revenue impact.[CONNECT WITH BEN]Get vital leadership insights delivered straight to your inbox: benfanning.com/insightDiscover our 5-step Profitable Podcast Framework for your organization: BenLeads.com/schedule-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Business Edition Podcast, co-hosts Gary McCreadie and Furman Haynes from WorkHero sit down with TJ O'Connor, President at Farmington Consulting Group to discuss key findings from the 2025 Contractor of the Future Report. Based on insights from over 1,000 HVAC contractors across the United States, the conversation explores what separates the industry's most profitable and forward-thinking businesses from the rest. Topics include sales strategies, marketing investments, pricing models, job costing, field service management software, and the growing role of AI in HVAC contracting. TJ O'Connor specializes in HVAC industry research, contractor growth strategies, profitability improvement, and business operations. TJ works closely with contractors, distributors, and manufacturers to identify best practices and emerging trends shaping the future of the HVAC industry.   Expect To Learn: - Why the most successful HVAC contractors focus as much on business operations as technical expertise. - How offering four or more proposal options can significantly improve close rates and profitability. - The marketing strategies top-performing contractors use to accelerate growth. - Why many contractors are leaving profit on the table through improper pricing. - The difference between divisor pricing and flat-rate pricing models. - How to use job costing to improve profitability and business decision-making.  - Where AI is creating the biggest opportunities for HVAC contractors today.   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:47 - Why Most HVAC Contractors Leave Profit on the Table 02:39 - Understanding Divisor Pricing vs. Multiplier Pricing 06:07 - The Case for Flat Rate Pricing in HVAC Service 07:46 - When Flat Rate Pricing Works and When It Doesn't 09:22 - Building Accountability Through Pricing Systems 10:45 - Job Costing: Tracking True Profitability on Every Job 12:07 - Why Accurate Job Costing Data Is So Difficult to Manage 12:49 - How Contractors Are Underutilizing Their FSM Software 15:20 - AI Adoption in HVAC: Current Trends and Challenges 17:12 - Practical AI Use Cases Contractors Should Consider First 20:20 - Closing Thoughts   Follow our Guest TJ O'Connor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjoconnorfcg/  Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmington-consulting-group/  Company Website: https://farmingtonconsulting.net/    Follow Gary McCreadie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/  Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/    Follow Furman Haynes:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/furmanhaynes/  WorkHero: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workherohvac/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workhero__/  

In this Ask George episode, we tackle the ultimate debate in dental practice ownership: have you built a highly profitable business, or just a high-paying job? Dr. George Hariri breaks down the reality of "key man risk," proving that if your office relies on your personal clinical energy to generate revenue, you are acting as an employee. For a future owner, making the shift to CEO requires mastering advanced dental practice management so your team performs efficiently without your oversight.This ultimate survival guide for mastering dental practice ownership shows you exactly how to shift from a stressful owner-driven clinical model to an autonomous, team-driven powerhouse. To achieve sustainable dental practice growth, implement KPI accountability:Missed Call Rate: Track front office metrics to capture inbound leads.Reactive Retention: Consistently monitor your overdue recare efforts.Proactive Retention: Push daily hygiene reappointments past a 90% target.To cement your dental practice ownership, delegate case acceptance entirely. When hygienists are calibrated to co-diagnose, they educate patients before you arrive, massively boosting dental practice profitability. We also highlight why the associate to owner transition fails without an Office Manager handling HR and payroll, ensuring scaling does not create more work. Embrace entrepreneurship for dentists by building systems that leverage your team's time.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.

Liz Peek discusses SpaceX's $1.78 trillion IPO, questioning whether valuations for AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are sustainable. She notes that Starlink's profitability supports Elon Musk's moonshots. Despite inflation concerns, strong domestic private investment is currently driving U.S. economic prosperity while Europe struggles with over-regulation and high energy costs. (1)1954

The "Busy" Trap in DentistryFor Future Dental Practice Owners, a packed schedule feels like success. Yet, a booked day lacking strategic production leads to clinical burnout. Dr. Andrew Clingan and Caitlin Embree reveal why being merely "busy" destroys dental practice profitability. Moving from clinician to empowered CEO means stopping the cycle of stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. This requires mastering dental practice management through intentional scheduling.Your Scheduling Survival Guide:If your days are chaotic but collections are stagnant, your systems are failing. Allowing patients to cancel restorative work without consequence is why dental practice profitability drops. You cannot achieve sustainable dental practice growth if your team scrambles for supplies instead of prepping same-day treatment. To implement elite dental business strategies, engineer your operations:Implement Block Scheduling: Define daily "rocks" and "boulders" to hit goals before filling gaps.Enforce Front Desk Protocols: Separate doctor time from assistant time to end bottlenecks.Demand Accountability: Stop absorbing no-shows by collecting upfront deposits for major cases.Optimize Back-Office Systems: Standardize inventory so your team can add same-day treatment.Dr. Clingan shares how these systems turned a routine limited exam into a prepaid $17,000 case in ten minutes. This operational mindset lays the foundation for scalable dental business ownership and predictable dental practice profitability. It is vital for the associate to owner transition.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.