Podcasts about real cost

Today on Money Talk With Tiff, Tiffany sits down with Melissa Broughton to tackle one of the most dreaded topics for entrepreneurs: bookkeeping! Melissa breaks down exactly what a bookkeeper does, why every business owner needs one (no matter what stage you're at), and how skipping this crucial step could be leaving thousands of your hard-earned dollars on the table. From decoding the roles of bookkeepers, CPAs, and fractional CFOs to real-life cautionary tales, this episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners and freelancers alike! Plus, Melissa's offering a fantastic freebie exclusively for Money Talk With Tiff listeners.Check out the full episode show notes: https://moneytalkwitht.com/podcast-show-notes/business-needs-a-bookkeeper/What You'll LearnWhat a Bookkeeper Really Does: Melissa clarifies the mystery around bookkeeping, explaining it's all about organizing your financial transactions and keeping your business tax-ready.Why Bookkeeping Is Crucial: Beyond tax time, regular bookkeeping helps you spot trends, manage budgets, and make smarter business decisions in real time.Bookkeeper vs. CPA vs. Fractional CFO: Discover the differences between each financial role (Melissa's medical analogies make it easy!), and why a bookkeeper should be your foundational hire.The Real Cost of Neglecting Your Books: Hear how business owners are missing out on an average of $7,500 in deductions by NOT having up-to-date books (and how it could be way more).Getting Started (Even if You're Small): Do you really need a bookkeeper if you're just starting out? Melissa shares who can DIY and when it's time to bring in a pro.Episode GemsTiffany's Take: “You won't get that data just going to a tax professional once a year! You need real-time insights to truly run your business.”Melissa's Pro Tip: “The expense of hiring a bookkeeper is 100% tax deductible—and makes sure taxes don't haunt you later!”Melissa's Free Gift: Download a complimentary electronic copy of The Four Hour Bookkeeper—perfect for DIYers who want to get their books in order.Links & ResourcesGrab Your FREE Copy: The Four-Hour Bookkeeper – Claim your copy here! (Go to the contact form to request your free book)Connect with Melissa: busybeeadvisors.com – Schedule your free consultation for bookkeeping or taxes.Connect with TiffWebsite & All Episodes: moneytalkwitht.comSocial: @MoneyTalkWithT on all platformsDon't let bookkeeping be the monster in your business closet! Tune in, grab your free book, and step into your CEO power with clear financials.

INFP Personality Type Explained️ Grab the 5-day INFP tutorial and join 5,000+ people getting rare weekly insights → http://geekpsychology.com/infp-5dayAs an INFP and experienced INFP coach, I share insights on how to transform vague dreams into achievable goals. Learn how to leverage your introverted feeling and extraverted intuition to stay motivated, create meaningful habits, and implement gentle accountability systems.00:00 – What If This Is Why You're Still Stuck?00:57 – The INFP Trap No One Talks About02:20 – The Secret Ingredient INFPs Avoid03:21 – Why Does Inspiration Always Slip Away?04:35 – The Real Cost of Overthinking (Ouch)05:25 – What Changes If You Do This First?07:07 – The Steps You're Skipping (And Don't Realize)08:15 – How Do You Make Motivation Last?09:42 – The Truth About Tiny Wins

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

You've achieved more than most people, but if you're honest, it's come at a cost — to your health, your relationships, your energy, maybe even your sense of peace. And here's the kicker: no matter how much you do, it never feels like enough. In this very first episode of Congruent, Lisa Carpenter pulls back the curtain on the truth about success. Why do so many high-achieving men and women deny or downplay their success? Why does “making it” rarely feel the way we imagined it would? And what does it actually take to create success that sustains you instead of drains you? Lisa shares her own story of chasing achievement while never feeling successful, and how a life-changing season forced her to embody everything she'd been teaching for over a decade. She reveals the hidden costs of “do-er mode,” the patterns that keep ambitious people stuck, and the shifts required to build a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.   What you'll hear in this episode: Why success often comes with hidden costs. The gap between how others see you and how you see yourself. The real reason nothing ever feels like enough. The difference between numbing with busyness vs. living in congruence. What congruent success looks and feels like. What to expect from this podcast each week. If you've been chasing achievement but still feel unfulfilled, exhausted, or disconnected, this episode will help you see that you're not broken — you've been conditioned. And there's a different way forward.

Welcome to another episode of The Growth-Minded Accountant Podcast, hosted by Lee Reams and Rebekah Barton. This week we're tackling one of the most urgent challenges facing accounting firms in 2025: the hidden cost of delaying AI adoption.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeThe invisible tax of doing nothing: why waiting on AI is costing you revenue, hours, and growth.AI search visibility: how platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing client discovery — and what happens if your firm isn't included.Productivity gaps: real-world examples of firms reclaiming hundreds of hours with AI for proposals, engagement letters, tax research, and client communications.Talent and retention: why Gen Z expects AI-ready firms, and how delaying adoption leads to burnout and turnover.Lessons from AI missteps: what we can learn from Bench and ScaleFactor's collapse, and how to adopt AI responsibly.Where to start today: practical, low-lift AI applications to unlock ROI immediately.Key Takeaways“AI doesn't replace people — it protects them from burnout.”“If you're not in AI search, you don't exist.”“The most expensive option isn't adopting AI. It's waiting.”

What's the Real Cost of That Evening Glass of Wine? A Sobriety Journey with Kate VitelaKate Vitela, a registered nurse, shares her powerful journey from physical alcohol dependence to over seven years of sobriety. Her story isn't defined by a dramatic rock-bottom moment but by a gradual awakening to how daily drinking eroded her sleep, career, and relationships. Now, Kate offers a hopeful perspective on recovery through neuroplasticity—the brain's incredible ability to rewire itself and form new neural pathways. “Our brains can reorganize,” she says. “We can completely transform as human beings.” This challenges the outdated notion that addiction is a lifelong disease requiring constant management.In this candid conversation, we dive into what that evening glass of wine means for midlife women. For many, it's more than a drink—it's a rebellious act of self-care, a boundary between meeting others' needs and claiming a moment for themselves. But Kate reveals the hidden costs: even one drink disrupts REM sleep, circadian rhythm, and hormones, far beyond just calories. Host, Michele Folan, shares a personal experiment, contrasting a sleep score of 62 after bourbon with 91-94 on alcohol-free nights.Kate doesn't judge moderation but offers a bold reframe: “Alcohol is ethanol—a poison. Moderation is just microdosing poison.” She argues that midlife is the perfect time to rethink your relationship with alcohol. With greater motivation and a clearer sense of what doesn't work, midlife women are uniquely positioned to embrace change.Whether you're sober-curious, exploring moderation, or questioning alcohol's role in your life, this episode invites you to uncover what drinking is truly costing you—and what freedom could look like. Through her work with women, Kate shows that true empowerment comes from self-care practices that nourish without requiring recovery.Listen now to discover how to reclaim your power, improve your sleep, and embrace a life free from alcohol's grip.You can find Kate Vitela at https://www.instagram.com/rewiredsober/Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rewired-sober/id1781739552 or wherever you listen_________________________________________

Federal cuts to the the NIH and other key research organizations have left both researchers and patients paying the price. Erika Moseson, MD, of the Air Health Our Heath podcast, talks with Mary Rice, MD, MPH, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, about how these cuts have not only hurt her research on helping patients with respiratory illnesses, but the larger impact they have on science now and for future generations. Read the article in STAT News about Dr. Rice's study: https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/08/trump-cuts-include-cost-saving-research/ 

Send us a textWhat if your next speeding ticket came from a machine you can't question, can't confront, and can't appeal?Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele take aim at Toronto's controversial speed camera program, dissecting its implications for justice, privacy, and public policy. From discussing the opaque review process to sharing personal anecdotes of fines issued without due process, the duo explores how what began as a public safety initiative has morphed into what they argue is a taxpayer-funded surveillance scheme and revenue grab. Touching on comparisons, legal rights, and political consequences, this episode offers a passionate and provocative critique of automated enforcement and raises pressing questions about the erosion of democratic protections under the guise of road safety. Listen For2:48 Machine Justice: The Speed Camera Deep Dive5:18 The Illusion of Safety and the Real Agenda8:22 Toronto's $7 Million Speed Trap15:04 No Appeal, No Problem: The Kafkaesque Review Process30:33 What Did the Camera Ever Do? Leave a rating/review for this podcast with one click Contact UsGardiner Roberts website | Gavin email | Stephen email  

Episode Description:Kristy and Andrew went from living on credit cards, overspending on “stuff,” and barely making ends meet to paying off $140,000 in just 10 months — while also building a multi-million-dollar property portfolio.In this inspiring episode, they reveal:- The brutal honesty it took to admit their financial truth- How they cut unnecessary spending without sacrificing joy- The mindset shift that made discipline easier than they ever imagined- Why their daughter now sees money, and life, differently- This is a story of transformation, resilience, and the power of making one bold decision.

Being with a narcissist is never free—it comes with a heavy price. In this video, Lee Hammock (Self-Aware Narcissist) breaks down the true cost of toxic relationships. From wasted time and lost youth to broken health, damaged friendships, and strained family ties, narcissistic abuse drains every part of your life.More resources and join the group coaching community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mentalhealness.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Me - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.me/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I'm Lee & I've been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder ( NPD ). I've been in therapy since 2017 & It has definitely changed my life because without it, I would have lost everything. My platform is dedicated to giving you the WHYs behind the things that Narcissists do. I'm not here to diagnose ANYONE or to tell you to leave your relationship. I'm just trying to give you the information to make your own informed decisions1 on 1's and all my links - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.page/mentalhealness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Remember, It's not your fault - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/2WNtdKJ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Guest Form -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tinyurl.com/Mental-Healness-Podcast-Form⁠⁠⁠⁠

This Podcast Is Episode 645, And It's About Construction Estimates: Why Your Bids Should Spell Everything Out As a contractor, you've likely had this experience: you deliver a job estimate to a client, they accept, and you get to work. Everything goes smoothly—until halfway through the project when the client says, “Wait, I thought this included the backsplash,” or “I assumed cleanup was part of the price.” Suddenly, what you thought was a straightforward project turns into a debate about expectations. The client feels misled, you feel frustrated, and worst of all, your profit margin starts to shrink. The root problem? The estimate wasn't clear enough. In construction, your estimate is more than just a number—it's a roadmap. It tells your client what's included, what's not, and sets the financial foundation for your project. A vague or rushed estimate leads to misunderstandings, disputes, and, most importantly, lost profits. As construction bookkeeping specialists, we've seen time and again that contractors who take the time to create precise, detailed estimates consistently run more profitable jobs. Let's break down why your bids should spell everything out, and how doing so protects your bottom line. The Real Cost of Vague Estimates When your estimate is unclear, three things happen: 1. Scope Creep Becomes Inevitable If you don't define exactly what's included, clients will naturally assume more. Every “little” addition—a fixture change, extra paint coat, or a bit of demo—eats into your profit. Without a signed change order, you're essentially doing free work. 2. Client Trust Erodes A client who feels surprised by added charges won't just be upset—they'll question your integrity. Even if you're being fair, unclear estimates make you look unprofessional. 3. Cash Flow Suffers If you forget to include certain costs—like disposal fees, permits, or delivery—you'll end up covering them out of pocket. Multiply that over several jobs, and suddenly your bank account feels tight, even though you're “busy.” What Clear Estimates Do for Your Business A well-written estimate does more than avoid disputes; it also facilitates effective communication. It creates a foundation for profitability: Protects Your Profit Margin – By listing labor, materials, and extras, you ensure that nothing is forgotten and everything is accurately priced. Manages Client Expectations – Clients understand precisely what they're getting and what they're not. No surprises, no arguments. Improves Professional Reputation – A polished, detailed bid positions you as a contractor who runs a serious business. This often justifies higher pricing. Simplifies Bookkeeping & Job Costing – Clear estimates help you track actual vs. estimated costs, making future bids more accurate.   What to Include in Every Estimate To protect your profit, your bids should cover more than just the basics. Here's what to spell out: 1. Scope of Work Detail exactly what work will be performed. For example: “Remove and replace 200 sq. ft. of flooring in the living room” is clearer than “Install flooring.” 2. Materials List the materials included, specifying the grade or brand when possible. If clients want upgrades, they'll know it costs more. 3. Labor Costs Break down labor separately from materials. This not only clarifies pricing but also helps if the client questions why the project costs what it does. 4. Timeline & Scheduling Provide an estimated start and completion date, along with notes on potential delays (e.g., permits, weather, client decisions). 5. Exclusions Spell out what is not included. For example, disposal, electrical, or painting, if not part of your scope. This protects you from assumptions. 6. Change Order Policy Include language like: “Any work not listed in this estimate will require a signed change order before proceeding.” This sets the expectation from the start. 7. Payment Terms Outline deposit requirements, progress payments, and final payment due dates. Clear payment terms support healthy cash flow. A Real-Life Example Let's say you bid on a bathroom remodel at $10,000. You wrote “install new tile floor” in your estimate. Halfway through, the client says they thought you were also retiling the shower walls. You now face a choice: Eat the cost and do it to keep the client happy (losing profit), or Argue that it wasn't included (damaging the relationship). If your estimate had said, “Install new tile floor, 200 sq. ft., client provides tile. Shower tile not included,” the expectation would be clear. Any additional work would require a signed change order. No profit lost. How Clear Estimates Make Bookkeeping Easier From a bookkeeping standpoint, detailed estimates are gold. Why? Because they give you a clear benchmark for job costing, you can compare what you estimated vs. what you actually spent on labor, materials, and subs. Over time, this data makes your bids sharper and your margins more reliable. Without detailed estimates, your books become guesswork. You'll never know which jobs are profitable and which ones are draining your resources. Tips for Creating Clear, Professional Estimates Use Templates – Don't start from scratch each time. A standard estimate template ensures you never forget important details. Leverage Software – Even basic estimating tools or accounting software can help automate calculations and keep everything organized. Don't Rush – Take the time to measure, calculate, and spell things out. A rushed estimate often leads to rushed profits. Review Before Sending – Double-check that labor, materials, and exclusions are listed clearly. Keep Copies – Always save a signed copy for your records. Final thoughts In construction, profit isn't just about how well you build—it's about how well you plan. A clear estimate isn't busywork; it's a tool that protects your bottom line, manages client expectations, and sets you apart as a professional. Every time you prepare a bid, ask yourself: If someone who knows nothing about construction read this, would they understand precisely what's included and what's not? If the answer is yes, you're on the right track. Remember: Clear estimates lead to clear profits. Don't leave your success up to chance—spell it out, every time. About The Author: Norhalma Verzosa is a Certified Construction Marketing Professional and serves as the Web Administrator of Fast Easy Accounting, located in Lynnwood, WA. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is a Certified Internet Web Professional, with certifications in Site Development Associate, Google AdWords Search Advertising, and HubSpot Academy. She manages the entire web presence of Fast Easy Accounting using a variety of SaaS tools, including HubSpot, Teachable, Shopify, and WordPress.

In this powerful episode of Owning Pleasure as a Black Woman, I dismantle one of the biggest lies we've been sold: that our worth equals our productivity. If you've ever felt guilty about resting, equated being busy with being valuable, or can't sit still without your brain creating a to-do list, this episode is for you. I explore the historical roots of productivity scripts in the Black community, reveal whose voices are really in your head when you call yourself "lazy," and expose what the productivity trap is actually costing you—your connection to your body, your authentic desires, and your relationships.Key Takeaways:● The Productivity Script Isn't Yours: Those voices calling you lazy are inherited survival scripts from generations who had to work twice as hard to survive. The "strong Black woman" mythology equating struggle with worth was a survival strategy, not your identity.● Your Worth ≠ Other People's Comfort: Productivity often becomes a way to avoid disappointing others through people-pleasing tendencies. Your rest isn't stealing from anyone—their discomfort with your boundaries is information, not instruction.● The Real Cost of the Productivity Lie: Constant busyness disconnects you from your body's signals, causes you to lose touch with your authentic desires, and prevents present-moment connections in your relationships.This Week's Action Plan:The Voice Detective Practice: Every time you feel guilty about resting, pause and ask "Whose voice is this really?" Write down the exact words and ask if you'd say this to someone you love.The Values Check: Before saying yes to anything, ask yourself: "Am I doing this because it aligns with my values, or because I'm afraid of someone's discomfort?"Body Wisdom Reset: Set three daily alarms. When they go off, ask your body "What do you need right now?" and give it one small thing it's asking for.Ready to Transform Your Relationship with Rest?Join Natasha's FREE 7-Day Self-Care Reset and go from feeling guilty about your needs to confidently putting yourself first without the shame. Over seven days, you'll:Give yourself permission to matterRecognize inherited productivity scriptsQuiet the mental chatter that never lets you restReconnect with your body's wisdomRediscover what YOU actually want (not what you think you should want)Create a sustainable plan that works with your real lifeStart your transformation today: www.javerywellness.com/resetConnect with Natasha:● Instagram: @natasha_is_satisfied ● Website: www.javerywellness.comLove This Episode?If this episode hit home for you, please take 30 seconds to rate and review this podcast! Your review helps other women find these conversations and realize they're not alone. Screenshot your review and send it to Natasha on Instagram—she loves celebrating listeners who take action!

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Building Your Money Machine Show! Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on why so many hardworking people spend 40 years saving faithfully, only to find themselves broke or stressed out in retirement. Let me assure you—it's not because you didn't work hard enough. It's because you might have fallen for certain myths or made some silent mistakes you didn't even know were happening.In this episode, we're tackling the three biggest retirement myths that can derail your future and walking through 12 critical mistakes that could quietly sabotage your freedom. More importantly, I'll show you exactly how to avoid them so you can finally live the retirement you've been dreaming about.Here's the truth: earning more doesn't make you free. Building a money machine—where your money works harder for you than you did for it—does. And retirement is not the finish line, it's the starting line for a life of choice and meaning.Drawing from my own journey, I share why chasing some “magic million dollar” number can be a mirage, why you can't count on Social Security to save your retirement, and why building a plan centered around YOUR desired life—not someone else's number—is the only way to create real financial freedom.IN TODAY'S EPISODE, I DISCUSS:The 3 most pervasive retirement myths—and how they keep you stuckWhy your “magic number” needs to be based on your lifestyle, not generic rulesHow over-relying on Social Security puts your dreams at riskWhat retirement really means (hint: it's not about income, it's about choice!)12 crucial mistakes that can ruin your retirementRECOMMENDED EPISODES FOR YOUIf you liked this episode, click here to enjoy these and more:https://melabraham.com/show/The Real Cost of Pretending to be RichWhy Buying a Home is NOT the American DreamWhy Most Americans Never Escape the Middle Class TrapWhat Everyone Gets Wrong About FIREIf You Don't Understand Bonds, You Don't Understand MoneyRECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU If you liked this video, you'll love these ones:The Real Cost of Pretending to be Rich: https://youtu.be/D8DgveoFPEMWhy Buying a Home is NOT the American Dream: https://youtu.be/ERxc8qmfjlAWhy Most Americans Never Escape the Middle Class Trap: https://youtu.be/VBMqrkvvHrYWhat Everyone Gets Wrong About FIRE: https://youtu.be/OyvPksxNMqoORDER MY NEW USA TODAY BESTSELLING BOOK:Building Your Money Machine: How to Get Your Money to Work Harder For You Than You Did For It!The key to building the life you desire and deserve is to build your Money Machine—a powerful system designed to generate income that's no longer tied to your work or efforts. This step-by-step guide goes beyond the general idea of personal finance and wealth creation and reveals the holistic approach to transforming your relationship with money to allow you to enjoy financial freedom and peace of mind.Part money philosophy, part money mindset, part strategy, and part tactical action, these powerful frameworks will show you how to build your money machine.When you do you'll also get over $1100 in wealth resources & bonuses for FREE! TAKE THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM QUIZ:Take this free quiz to see where you are on the path to financial freedom and what your next steps are to move you to a new financial destiny at http://www.YourFinancialFreedomQuiz.com

Is your inventory system secretly draining your profits?Most bar owners think their inventory problems come from theft or over-ordering. But the truth is, the real cost is hiding in your systems, and it's killing your margins quietly.In this episode, I break down the real numbers behind inventory loss, the hidden costs you're not tracking, and the step-by-step system to cut waste, stop shrinkage, and keep more profit in your pocket.No more guessing. No more “eyeballing” your orders. Just a real strategy that works, even if you hate spreadsheets.What You'll Learn:

Your gut is your built-in success radar—but too many entrepreneurs ignore it. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, I reveal why trusting your instincts can be the difference between building wealth or staying stuck. Here's what you'll learn: ⚡ Why your instincts recognize opportunities faster than your mind ⏳ How ignoring your gut costs you time, money, and momentum

Welcome to another episode of the Building Your Money Machine Show! Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on a topic that's everywhere on your social feeds, but rarely talked about honestly: The Real Cost of Pretending to be Rich. If you've ever felt that pressure to keep up with the Joneses—posting exotic vacations, driving luxury cars, sporting designer gear—this episode is for you.Let's be honest: social media has become one big “flex fest.” But here's the shocking truth—most people flaunting those lavish lifestyles aren't actually wealthy. They're exhausted, broke, and trapped in a cycle of debt. Looking rich doesn't make you free; it makes you fragile.I dive deep into why the ultimate flex isn't loud—it's quiet. Quiet wealth, the kind that compounds and grows behind the scenes, always beats the fleeting sparkle of loud wealth. And I know, because I've been on both sides. As a CPA and entrepreneur, I once believed success was all about spreadsheets, corner offices, and fancy possessions. But money without meaning is just being broke in a fancier outfit.IN TODAY'S EPISODE, I DISCUSS:Why looking rich isn't the same as being freeThe true financial cost of flashy purchasesHow emotional and social costs pile up when you're living for likes instead of your own valuesWhy quiet wealth is the path to real, lasting freedomThe four hidden costs of keeping up appearancesMy three-step practical framework to align your money with your valuesHow to use the free Lifestyle Cost Calculator to uncover your TRUE cost of living and start building YOUR money machineRECOMMENDED EPISODES FOR YOUIf you liked this episode, click here to enjoy these and more:https://melabraham.com/show/Why Buying a Home is NOT the American DreamWhy Most Americans Never Escape the Middle Class TrapWhat Everyone Gets Wrong About FIREIf You Don't Understand Bonds, You Don't Understand Money7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I RetiredRECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU If you liked this video, you'll love these ones:Why Buying a Home is NOT the American Dream: https://youtu.be/ERxc8qmfjlAWhy Most Americans Never Escape the Middle Class Trap: https://youtu.be/VBMqrkvvHrYWhat Everyone Gets Wrong About FIRE: https://youtu.be/OyvPksxNMqoIf You Don't Understand Bonds, You Don't Understand Money: https://youtu.be/7d9Lz0D0uzAORDER MY NEW USA TODAY BESTSELLING BOOK:Building Your Money Machine: How to Get Your Money to Work Harder For You Than You Did For It!The key to building the life you desire and deserve is to build your Money Machine—a powerful system designed to generate income that's no longer tied to your work or efforts. This step-by-step guide goes beyond the general idea of personal finance and wealth creation and reveals the holistic approach to transforming your relationship with money to allow you to enjoy financial freedom and peace of mind.Part money philosophy, part money mindset, part strategy, and part tactical action, these powerful frameworks will show you how to build your money machine.When you do you'll also get over $1100 in wealth resources & bonuses for FREE! TAKE THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM QUIZ:Take this free quiz to see where you are on the path to financial freedom and what your next steps are to move you to a new financial destiny at http://www.YourFinancialFreedomQuiz.com

Why do many Filipinos still borrow from “5-6” lenders despite the high interest? In this eye-opening episode of Chink Positive, Chinkee Tan breaks down the real cost of 5-6 lending—the hidden financial, emotional, and long-term consequences. Discover practical and safer alternatives for emergency cash, and learn steps to finally break free from the cycle of debt.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.#Stop56 #ChinkPositive #DebtFreeJourney #MoneyManagementPH #FinancialFreedomPH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager from E&I, as he hosts Sheila Lehker, President of Cizek Associates to talk about the true costs associated with filling roles with interim hires. As retirements mount and people begin leaving the workforce, higher education has turned to interim staff members to help fill vacancies. Whether this is a strategic move to intentionally fill the role or a financial move to attempt to save dollars, the impact can be felt across a campus. Hear from Sheila as she and Matt dive deep into the true impact of interim fixes.  E&I Host: Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services  Guest: Sheila Lehker, President, Cizek AssociatesCooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.Contact UsHave questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org. This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.

The AI Shortcut TrapNew AI-powered tools promise to build your ideal client avatar (ICA) in minutes. But here's the problem: they're often created by people who've never done the deep work themselves—like a web designer selling ICA tools while having no defined niche of her own.Why This Matters for CoachesWe'd never accept that someone could become a coach by chatting with a custom GPT for 30 minutes. So why do we think a generic AI prompt can solve our most foundational marketing challenge?The Real Cost of ShortcutsWhen coaches use superficial tools, they get:Superficial ICAs that apply to half the populationWasted time and money on ineffective marketingLoss of faith in marketing itselfGeneric messaging that attracts no oneThe Hard Questions You Can't AutomateBuilding a viable coaching business requires grappling with:Who exactly is your audience?What keeps them awake at night?What have they already tried to fix this?Why didn't their previous attempts work?What specific words do they use to describe their problem?The Truth About Marketing StrategyThese aren't one-line prompts; they're deep strategic questions requiring time, thoughtful consideration, and real-world context. No tool can replace the uncomfortable work of truly understanding your ideal client.Bottom LineMarketing a coaching business is a specialist subject. If your ICA could apply to anyone, you haven't done the work. Be sceptical of shortcuts - superficial strategies lead to serious business consequences.Depth matters. There are no shortcuts to clarity.Ready to Transform Your Message?Join Sarah's free 4-day "Nail Your Niche" challenge at ⁠⁠thecoachingrevolution.com/nailyourniche⁠⁠Stop being invisible. Start being indispensable.Have you enjoyed this episode? Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠

This week on the Sunlight Tax podcast, I break down the biggest misconceptions about professional accounting services and explain why relying on tax preparation alone doesn't give small business owners or creative entrepreneurs the full value they need. I talk about the importance of proactive tax planning, bookkeeping, and year-round financial strategy, and why high-quality accounting services can feel expensive but are worth the investment. That's exactly why I created Money Bootcamp, a comprehensive course package and bookkeeping setup training for freelancers, sole proprietors, and solopreneurs. It helps get you set up right for taxes, tracking the right things, and growing a giant pile of money without wasting your time.   Also mentioned in this episode: 01:00 Understanding the Value of Professional Accounting 02:19 Common Misconceptions About Accountants 03:43 What You Don't Get with Tax Preparation 06:55 The Costs of Quality Accounting Services 11:40 The Need for Accessible Financial Education 13:49 Money Bootcamp   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.   Links: Join my free class on 9/17: Make Taxes Easier and Stash an Extra $152k in Your Savings Link to pre-order my book, Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You're Self-Employed. Link to pre-order my workbook, Taxes for Humans: The Workbook Get your free visual guide to tax deductions Check out my program, Money Bootcamp

#103 Why is now the best time to start living the BDSM lifestyle? Find out on this episode of Dom Sub Living! We're addressing common excuses for delaying and sharing three factors that make this the ideal moment to start. Discover the potential risks you may not have thought about that could change the future landscape. Don't wait any longer to explore BDSM. Take action now and embrace your desires by starting your journey into the Dom/sub lifestyle!➡️ Grab your free Resource Library: https://domsubliving.com/free➡️ Show notes and more: https://domsubliving.com/004

What if the pressure to be the expert for everyone is what's holding you back the most? Alisha Manning spent years behind the scenes underwriting over a billion dollars in mortgages for top producers—until burnout and addiction forced her to hit pause and rebuild everything. In this honest, powerful episode, she shares how working 12+ hour days led to personal collapse—and how recovery, clarity, and better systems helped her come back stronger as a broker running her own business. If you've been pushing too hard for too long, this is your permission to reset. What We Cover: Templates That Scale – How email templates and simple systems protect your time and energy. Docs Up Front, No Apologies – Why setting expectations early builds trust and filters in better clients. The Real Cost of Hustle – Alisha's story of overwork, burnout, and a hidden gambling addiction. Recovery Habits That Work – How daily routines and gratitude helped her rebuild her life and business. Leading with Honesty – Why she now builds her business on transparency—and why clients love it. Being the expert doesn't mean doing it all. Boundaries, systems, and honesty are what make this business sustainable—and worth building. To connect with Alisha, check out the links below: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/scottpeckford/ I Love Mortgage Brokering: www.ilovemortgagebrokering.com Find out more about BRX Mortgage: www.whybrx.com Subscribe to my 3-2-1 Thursday Email I Love Mortgage Brokering is in partnership with Ownwell.  To see how top brokers are keeping clients engaged and generating leads from their database, visit ownwell.ca/scott.

Shawn Lemon is the founder of The Digital Organizer, where he helps individuals and teams eliminate friction and chaos in their digital workflows. In this episode, we go deep into digital file systems, tool audits, naming conventions, AI clutter, and the underestimated cost of daily digital disorganization.This isn't about color-coding your folders for fun—it's about recovering your focus, time, and mental energy by organizing your digital life on purpose.In this episode, we cover:What Digital Organization Actually Means: It's not about perfection—it's about finding what you need in seconds, not minutes.The Core Four Systems: Files, email, passwords, and communication tools. Nail these, and everything else falls into place.Solo Business vs. Teams: Why even solo entrepreneurs create hidden chaos—and how to stop duplicating effort across tools.Avoiding the Frankenstein Stack: How tool sprawl (Google Docs + Dropbox + Box + iCloud…) is draining your time and brainpower.The Pitfalls of AI-Generated Clutter: As creation gets easier, organizing what you make becomes more important than ever.How to Tame GPT Projects and Prompts: Why you need a training folder, naming conventions, and even visual breadcrumbs for your GPT knowledge base.Digital Hoarding is Real: Most businesses only use 5% of their files regularly—find that 5% and prioritize from there.The Real Cost of Disorganization: How wasted time and duplicated work affects your bottom line—and what to do about it.How to Make Digital Organization a Project (Not a Forever Problem): Treat this like a sprint, not a slow drip. Get in, get organized, and get back to work.Focus Over Friction: Why triaging your tools, tasks, and systems one at a time is the fastest way to reclaim productivity.Whether you're a solopreneur juggling too many tools or a leader managing team chaos, Shawn's approach can save you hours a week—and a ton of mental load.Start with his quiz at thedigitalorganizer.com/beyond to find your digital organization score and get free access to his file organization guide and resource library.Connect with Erik:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast is Powered By:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript 101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Castmagic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ecamm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rodecaster Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Top Productivity Books List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make sure to grab Shortcasts from Beyond The To-Do List by Blinkist. A Shortcast is a 7-10 min version of a podcast where you get the core takeaways. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner   When profit is slipping, most businsess owners look to cut costs or push sales harder. But what if your biggest drain isn't on the P&L at all—it's in your people?   In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Pam Meissner—COO and CFO at CathCap—pulls back the curtain on why “right people, right seats” isn't just an HR slogan. It's one of the most powerful levers for profit growth that most companies ignore until it's too late.   The Gap: Why Profit Leaks Hide in Your People: You can have a stellar product, growing sales, and tight cost controls—and still lose money. The reason? People issues that don't show up as a neat line item on your P&L. Pam sees it all the time: companies hanging on to team members who no longer fit, tolerating culture-killers because they perform well in one area, or promoting loyal employees into roles they can't succeed in.   The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Know: Pam breaks down the four categories of employees, based on competency and alignment with core values: Stars – High performers who live your values. Puppies – Aligned with values but lack skill; worth investing in if trainable. Rats – Low competency, no values alignment; they have to go—fast. Gremlins – Highly competent but toxic to your culture; they hold you hostage and quietly drain profit. Ignoring the “rats” and “gremlins” doesn't just hurt morale—it actively drives away your stars.   Why Core Values Aren't Just a Poster on the Wall: Most companies have core values, but few hire, fire, and promote based on them. Pam's advice: Define your values clearly. Interview with them in mind (AI tools like ChatGPT can help craft questions). Involve peers in hiring to assess fit. Hold quarterly conversations so performance and alignment are never a surprise.   The Real Cost of a Bad Hire: Replacing someone can cost multiple times their salary—especially if you use recruiters. But the hidden costs of keeping the wrong person are even higher: Lost productivity Star employee turnover Extra resources to “work around” problem employees Pam stresses: The cheapest solution is to hire right the first time—and act quickly when you don't.   The Profit Plan: Align People, Process, and Purpose: To plug these hidden leaks: Audit your team using the four quadrants. Invest in “puppies” with clear timelines and training plans. Remove “rats” immediately and plan a strategic exit for “gremlins.” Keep your stars engaged and appreciated.  

How do you go from a cultural icon like the yellow wristbands to building AI products?  Livestrong's CEO Suzanne Stone argues that the through line is a focus on survivorship, the life you live from diagnosis onward. This is the leap from story to community to software and back again.Highlights01:34 Mission: Survivorship Over Cures06:18 The Wristband as Community Signal12:39 Fertility Program and Real Cost of Cancer14:34 Copycats and What Persists 25:20 From Guidebook to Ellis, a Trusted Closed-Loop AI38:56 Guardrails, Swim Lanes, and Safety51:35 Revenue Engines and Scaling01:02:40 What's Next Austin? Guest BioSuzanne Stone is a Texas Christian University graduate and Louisiana native whose career began in television, earning a regional Emmy Award for her work in Dallas. In 1998, she transitioned from producing television to teaching it in the nonprofit sector, leading public access television initiatives in Naperville, Illinois, and later in upstate New York.Beyond media, Suzanne spent four years as Head Coach of a New York Community college women's basketball team while simultaneously managing a local TV station. Her passion for impact-driven work led her back to Texas, where she has since dedicated her career to leading nonprofit organizations across the state, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Children's Miracle Network, Lake Travis Education Foundation, and Susan G. Komen Greater Central and East Texas.In 2019, she joined Livestrong to spearhead its mission initiatives, and in November 2023, she was named President & CEO. Today, she leads the organization in its commitment to ensuring that anyone affected by cancer has the resources and support they need to live the highest quality of life possible, regardless of the diagnosis.Guest LinksSuzanne Stone: LinkedInLivestrong: Website, X, Ellis, Livestrong Challenge 2025 -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Time is the one resource you can't get back — and if you don't take control of it, it will control you. In this episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, Bernadette Boas reveals why so many leaders struggle with time management, the hidden costs of poor productivity, and actionable strategies to reclaim your focus, sanity, and performance.Packed with tools like time blocking, the Eisenhower Matrix, SMART goals, and boundary-setting, this episode gives you a proven roadmap to beat burnout, boost productivity, and lead with clarity.If you're tired of feeling overwhelmed by your calendar, buried under endless to-do lists, or stuck in the trap of “busyness,” this episode is your blueprint to take back your time — before it masters you.⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps:[00:00] The Real Cost of Poor Time Management[02:15] Stress, Burnout, and the Leadership Crisis[05:30] Self-Inflicted Time Traps Leaders Create[07:45] Why Multitasking Is a Myth[09:20] Your Calendar Is Too Full — Here's How to Fix It[11:40] Distractions and Mental Fatigue in Leadership[14:00] The Hidden Impact of Overwhelm on Teams & Business[20:00] Master Time with Proven Tools & FrameworksSMART GoalsThe Pareto PrincipleEisenhower Matrix (Do, Delegate, Delete, Delay)Time BlockingTwo-Minute Rule[27:00] Setting Boundaries That Stick[31:00] Reflection and Progress Tracking for Lasting Change[34:00] Final Leadership Takeaways & Next Steps

Mati Staniszewski is the Co-Founder and CEO of ElevenLabs, the world's leading AI voice platform. Since launching in 2022, ElevenLabs has raised over $350M, most recently at a $3.3BN valuation, making it one of Europe's fastest AI unicorns. The company counts Andreessen Horowitz, Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Sequoia Capital among its backers. Today, Mati announces that the company has hit a staggering $200M ARR. ElevenLabs took 20 months to hit $100M ARR. 10 months to hit $200M ARR. Can they do $300M in 5 months… AGENDA:  [00:00] $100M in 20 Months?! ElevenLabs Untold Growth Story [12:20] Are AI Models Already Plateauing—or Just Getting Started? [14:00] Why OpenAI Can't Beat ElevenLabs  [17:30] The Talent Wars: How Do You Retain World-Class AI Researchers? [23:10] PR vs Product: Why Most Startups Botch Their Launch [36:00] Are U.S. VCs Playing a Different Game Than Europe? [44:00] The Real Cost of AI: Why ElevenLabs Built Its Own Data Centers [59:00] Voice Agents = Multi-Billion Dollar Business of the Future? [01:05:00] Buy OpenAI or Anthropic? Which Foundation Model Wins? [01:09:30] Europe: Strengths, Weaknesses and What Needs to be Done  

This week, I'm pulling back the curtain on the realities of starting and scaling a medical aesthetics practice. Fresh off the heels of my five-day SPARK Sprint intensive, I'm sharing insights from hundreds of conversations I've had with female entrepreneurs navigating today's shifting landscape, private equity roll-ups, increased restrictions, and the pressure of a contracting economy. I'll talk about why exceptional clinical skills alone aren't enough to guarantee business success and break down the hidden costs, time commitments, and mindset shifts required to truly thrive as an owner. From proof of concept and financial planning to leadership, team building, and the art of resilience, I'll walk you through the unglamorous but necessary steps behind creating a sustainable and profitable practice. Whether you're dreaming about launching your own business or reevaluating if now is the right time, this episode will give you clarity on the trade-offs, the opportunities, and the mindset you'll need to lead with confidence. Thinking about purchasing your ticket for ALT 2026? Our 3-day in-person experience for ambitious women in aesthetics and wellness is happening next spring. But if there's one thing we know, it's that success is more sustainable when you aren't going it alone. So, mark your calendar for Monday, September 22 when because the Injectorpreneur Bestie Bundle is happening. Register for ALT with your bestie and you'll each save $250—because growth is better when it's shared. This is your chance to step away from the chaos, gain clarity, and reconnect with the leader you want to be (with your BFF by your side). Let us know your bestie at klcconsultants.com/altbesties to get early access when the offer goes live. Resources → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: ●      Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. ●      Subscribe to The Blueprint: Weekly insights for founders building magnetic, trusted, and wildly profitable brands. Tune in to hear what it really takes to build a business that aligns with your vision, and why the journey, though challenging, is one of the most rewarding you'll ever take. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

Break free from stress and reclaim your power! In this transformative episode of Walk In Victory, host NaRon Tillman welcomes Jennifer Kenney Smith—a certified yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, and former corporate high-achiever. Discover how yoga and mindfulness helped both NaRon and Jennifer overcome trauma, redefine success, and find true self-awareness.Explore actionable tools for healing, breathwork, grounding, and navigating the pressures of high performance. Whether you're battling burnout or seeking a new mindset, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical guidance for personal and professional growth.What You'll LearnHow yoga and mindfulness can heal trauma and anxietyBreathwork and grounding techniques you can use todayThe hidden costs of high performance and chasing external validationReal-life stories of transformation from the corporate world to holistic wellnessConnect with Jennifer Kenney Smith

In this explosive episode of Talk Dirt to Me, we go off on the growing hatred toward American farmers, and we don't hold back. From the endless attacks over subsidies to the ignorant comments about “too many farmers,” we set the record straight and unleash the truth. We break down what the U.S. would look like if a massive percentage of farmers went broke. What happens if 20% of farmers disappear? What about 60%? The scenarios are nothing short of chaos, skyrocketing food prices, restaurant closures, fuel spikes, clothing shortages, and an unraveling of America's food security. This episode dives into: The devastating ripple effects of farmer loss on food, fuel, clothing, manufacturing, and more How inflation, shortages, and foreign dependence would crush the U.S. Why ignorance fuels anti-farmer rhetoric, and why we're saying “f*$k you” to the haters If you care about where your food, fuel, and everyday goods come from, this episode is a wake-up call. Farmers aren't the problem, they're the reason you can afford to eat. Support the Show & Your Tractor Cab: Head over to https://tractormat.link/td2m and use the code TALKDIRT to save 15% on an American-made floor mat built tough for your tractor. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com 

On the outside, moving to Bali might look like a dream. Palm trees, beaches, and adventure. But what most people don't see are the sacrifices, the grief, and the persistence required to make that dream real.This is a story about what it truly costs to follow a vision. From saying goodbye to beloved pets, to unexpected home repairs, to letting go of sacred spaces and lifelong belongings — the path to Bali has been layered with both liberation and loss. I've had moments of tears, temper, and total surrender. Yet through it all, one truth remains: the bigger the sacrifice, the bigger the reward on the other side.If you're walking through your own transition — whether it's letting go, starting fresh, or pursuing a big dream — this episode is for you. It's a reminder that grief and growth can coexist, that shedding skins is part of transformation, and that courage will always ask everything of you… but it will give you everything, too.“Always choose courage over comfort. That's the path to your dreams.”For more inspiration, you may also enjoy:• 140: The Bali Dream - https://youtu.be/ZcqwPvCU9tE• 133: Holding On While Letting Go - https://youtu.be/cLtx8986-Hw

He gave the Army 20 years, 8 months, and 8 days, nearly all of it in special operations. From Ranger Regiment to Green Beret team sergeant, Joshua Daniel lived and breathed the mission. But when the wars ended, so did the mission, and he felt it in every bone, every memory, every unfinished story. Rather than fade out, he built something bigger than himself. In this episode, Joshua opens up about the pain of stepping away, the harsh words that forced him to rethink his exit, and how he turned guilt into leadership with Hero Games Charity and Counterculture Solutions. From one-on-one mentoring to purpose-driven events honoring Gold Star families, he's proving there's still work worth doing, and it starts with refusing to settle for half a life. Timestamps: 00:00:30 - From 134 pounds to Green Beret: Building grit through the suck 00:06:00 - The moment a younger soldier called him out-and why it changed his path 00:10:00 - Starting over with Hero Games and finding new purpose 00:19:45 - Why honoring one family a year matters more than doing it all 00:38:00 - The hard truth about veterans wasting their lives post-military Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.counterculturesolutions.com/ https://herogamescharity.com/ Follow Joshua Daniel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDxHGCxCCS Follow Joshua Daniel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdxhgcxccs/ Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

In this solo episode, I'm sharing a tough-love truth that might sting a little. It all started during a recent hiring process, where I was struck by how many candidates showed up unprepared for a life-changing opportunity. It got me thinking: how often do we, as creatives, fail to do the basic work our dreams require? I'm digging into the idea of "permission to play" as the baseline preparation and knowledge that's your ticket into the game. We're not talking about perfection; rather, we're focusing on honoring your future self with the simple act of showing up ready. We'll explore why talent without preparation is just potential and how over-preparing is one of the most profound acts of self-love you can practice.  If you're ready to stop abandoning your future and start building earned confidence, this one's for you.   Chapters 00:00 - The Interview Story That Stung 01:43 - What Is Your 'Permission to Play?' 02:30 - The Real Cost of Being Unprepared 03:25 - Sending a Love Letter to Your Future Self 04:25 - How Preparation Changes Your Identity 05:15 - What People Say When You're Not in the Room 06:20 - A Final Word: Your Future Self is Counting on You   Check out the full Video Podcast on our YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/YR449TnmbrI   Support the Show Website: www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives  

In this episode, I uncover the real cost of being the bottleneck in your organization. I challenge CEOs to recognize how getting stuck in daily tasks prevents them from focusing on their true responsibilities—developing their teams and shaping strategic vision. By examining how they spend their time, leaders can see the hidden ways they may be slowing down both their own growth and their company's. I break down the financial, organizational, and personal costs of this bottleneck effect, sharing real-world examples from my coaching practice. More importantly, I offer strategies to break free, shift from operational overload to empowered leadership, and unlock true scalability. Listeners are also invited to a free training designed to accelerate this transformation.

In Episode 318: ADHD Productivity: Before You Switch Planners Again, Do This,  You Will Discover: Why our ADHD brains seek new planners, apps and tools The very real cost of switching systems The one powerful question I love to ask before adopting something new Work With Me:

Send us a textEver find yourself staring blankly into your fridge at the end of a long day, wondering what to eat? That daily struggle disappears when you embrace meal prepping, even if you don't particularly enjoy the process itself.The concept seems simple enough: dedicate a few hours on the weekend to prepare your meals for the upcoming week. Yet a constant misconception exists that eating healthy is somehow more expensive than grabbing fast food or throwing together random meals. We tackle this head-on with actual numbers, revealing how a basic meal prep of chicken and rice can cost as little as $20-30 per week, a fraction of what you'd spend eating out.Time savings are equally impressive. The math doesn't lie: spending 2-3 hours meal prepping once versus 7+ hours cooking individual meals throughout the week. Plus, there's the mental relief of eliminating decision fatigue around food choices. For those worried about eating the same thing repeatedly, we share practical strategies like preparing proteins plain and adding different seasonings daily to create variety without additional work.We also explore how different fitness goals can coexist, addressing whether someone can successfully combine running with powerlifting. Drawing from personal experience, we discuss how strategic scheduling, proper recovery, and adequate hydration make this combination not just possible, but potentially successful.Looking ahead, our powerlifting team is gearing up for PLU Nationals in Texas next May, and we're inviting interested lifters to join us. Ready to transform your nutrition approach and reclaim hours of your week? Give meal prepping a genuine try, your future self will thank you when you're opening that first perfectly prepared container on Monday morning.Support the showThanks for listening! Please remember to subscribe to the podcast, leave us a rating and share it with your friends so we can continue to grow!-You can now become a Fortis After Hours Supporter by using the link below! This will help support the podcast as we continue to grow and we will give you a shoutout on the next episode after you subscribe as well as give you top priority for different topics or discussions you'd like us to have on the podcast. Thank you for your support!https://www.buzzsprout.com/1369834/support-Follow us on social media for daily fitness and powerlifting content including workouts, helpful tips and client success stories!@fortisfitnessstudio-HOSTED BY@lizribaudo_fortis@nateribaudo_fortis

Dr. Angela Jackson, the founder/CEO of Future Forward Strategies and a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explains the REAL cost of turnover in organizations, and the numbers may surprise you.Hear Dr. Jackson's full interview in her special bonus episode of The Action Catalyst.

What if the biggest thing holding you back from making bold money moves... was your own inner voice saying you should be doing something else? In this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Frew—mom, stepmom, ex-wife, wife, and the bold action-taking creator of The BOLD Logic and author of Shove Your Shoulds. We're unpacking the hidden price tag of indecision and the financial weight of those “shoulds” that keep so many women stuck in careers, relationships, and money patterns that no longer serve them. Jessica shares her personal journey through divorce, remarriage, and entrepreneurship, and how she learned to break free from inherited money beliefs and make aligned financial choices that feel good and make sense. If you're constantly second-guessing your financial decisions or over-researching every move, this episode is the permission slip you've been waiting for. You'll walk away with: Why “shoulds” cost you money, energy, and confidence How to spot decision debt and what it's doing to your financial progress The 3-step method Jessica teaches to make bold, aligned decisions Why waiting for “clarity” might be costing you more than you think How to create emotional safety around money decisions What it actually means to make confident, values-aligned financial moves Be sure to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Follow us on Instagram @Everyonestalkinmoney to stay in the know of everything ETM.  Thank you to our sponsors!  Policygenius - Head to policygenius.com to compare free life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save.  Ava - Help build your credit score with Meetava.com. Use promo code: Money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all heard it: “Invest in yourself if you want to grow your business.” But here's the hard truth - sometimes what we call “investing” is really just shopping with a business excuse. In this episode of Fox Talks Business, I'm breaking down: ✅ The 4 hidden costs of bad investments that no one talks about ✅ How to tell if something is an actual investment or just a shiny distraction ✅ The mindset shift that can save you thousands and rebuild your confidence If you've ever bought the course, joined the mastermind, or signed up for the “magic bullet” program only to feel stuck and frustrated, this one's for you.   And—if you're ready to finally stop wasting money on “shelf-help” and learn how to make smart money moves in your business, join me on September 16th for my free Revenue Reset Workshop.

Here's a question about sales territory disputes that'll make your head spin: What do you do when overlapping territories and shared relationships turn your sales team into a collection of lone wolves fighting over who owns what? That's the exact predicament faced by Kayla Lujan, VP of Sales at Down to Earth Landscape and Irrigation, in Orlando, Florida. Her team manages defined territories, but their business model creates inevitable crossover with HOA managers who oversee multiple properties spanning across different reps' territories. As she put it: "I've really seen the team kind of lose focus on working as one or team selling and more of … a what's mine versus working together." If you're nodding your head right now, you're not alone. Territory disputes are one of the most destructive forces in sales organizations, and they're costing companies their collaborative culture and their best deals. The Psychology Behind Sales Territory Wars Salespeople are wired to win. And when territories overlap, that competitive drive turns inward, creating internal battles that hurt everyone. I learned this lesson the hard way when I was a VP of sales managing local and regional account executives. We had big regional accounts sitting in local territories, and the fighting was relentless. Local reps would work around the system, hide opportunities, and go through back doors to protect "their" accounts. The result? We lost major deals because the wrong person with insufficient skills was working them solo, or we'd win the business only to have explosive commission disputes after the fact. But here's what shocked me most: When we gave people the choice between money or credit on the ranking report, they fought harder over the credit than the commission. They'd forgo 100% money but wage war over who got recognition for closing the deal. That tells you everything you need to know about sales psychology. It's not just about money—it's about winning, recognition, and status. The Real Cost of Territorial Thinking Territory disputes create uncomfortable team meetings and destroy your sales effectiveness in three critical ways: Lost Deal Value: When the wrong rep works a deal alone because they're protecting their turf, you lose the collective expertise that could close bigger opportunities. Relationship Damage: Customers get confused when multiple reps approach them without coordination, making your organization look disorganized and unprofessional. Top Performer Exodus: Your best salespeople get frustrated with the politics and infighting, leading them to seek opportunities at companies with better team cultures. The companies that figure this out win big. The ones that don't hemorrhage talent and revenue to organizations that actually know how to build high-performing sales teams. The Solution: Strategic Commission Pools and Clear Ownership For Kayla's HOA challenge—and similar overlapping territory situations—here's the framework that actually works: Assign Relationship Ownership: The rep with the core relationship (the HOA headquarters contact) owns account retention and expansion. They're responsible for keeping that account long-term and get compensated accordingly. Create Local Opportunity Roles: Local reps in each territory focus on building relationships with on-site contacts—facility managers, groundskeepers, community center staff. They get compensated for new project acquisition and spot opportunities within their geographic area. Implement Commission Pools: Instead of fighting over who gets what percentage, create a commission pool for each major account. The pool gets divided based on roles and contributions, not territorial claims. Force Up-Front Agreements: Here's the crucial part: Make involved parties agree on commission splits before any work begins. Post-deal disputes are exponentially harder to resolve than pre-deal agreements. The Leadership Mindset Shift

Are you a “time optimist” putting off your retirement plan? In this episode of Beyond The Money, Jackie Campbell explores the emotional and financial costs of procrastination, the importance of stress-testing your retirement plan, and how to avoid legacy battles like those seen in celebrity estates. From tax-smart strategies to long-term care and estate planning, Jackie shares how a 360-degree retirement roadmap can help you move forward with clarity and confidence—no judgment, just results. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 352-251-1015 or visit www.mycampbellandco.com! Follow us on social media: Facebook | YouTube | X | InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Organize & Cherish, we take a compassionate but clear-eyed look at the true cost of storage. Whether it's a rented unit or boxes in the garage, storage comes with more than a price tag—it requires our space, time, energy, and emotional bandwidth. We explore national statistics on storage usage, how clutter impacts our stress levels, and why postponing decisions might be costing more than we think. This episode offers both insight and a gentle nudge to revisit whether the things we're storing are still serving us.In this episode we talk about:The financial reality of paid storage and why the industry continues to grow The emotional toll and decision fatigue that comes with keeping things “just in case” How to evaluate whether your stored items are truly worth the space they takeMentioned in this Episode:The U.S. Self-Storage Industry Stats (2024) and average cost breakdown A UCLA study linking clutter to increased cortisol levels Other episodes in our storage seriesReview full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If every win creates more strain, you're likely underfunding infrastructure.

Sales activity is the lifeblood of your career. But for too many salespeople, it's the very thing holding them back. You're generating a ton of activity, your calendar is packed, your inbox is overflowing, and by the end of the day, you're drained.  But your numbers aren't moving. You're not gaining ground; you're just driving in circles. As Ron Karr, author of Velocity Mindset, says, the difference between amateurs and top performers isn't how fast they move, but whether they're moving with a clear, defined direction. The problem isn't laziness. It's that you're mistaking motion for momentum. And that's why you feel stuck. The Problem: Sales Activity Without Purpose Most salespeople today are trapped in a cycle of sales activity that leads nowhere. Instead of pursuing long-term, meaningful outcomes, they chase short-term wins: a quick meeting booked, a proposal sent, a Request for Proposal (RFP) answered. But those wins don't move the needle. They pull you onto a field controlled by competitors. You're responding to bids, filling out forms, and competing on price. That's not selling—it's order-taking. And order-taking will keep you broke no matter how much activity you pile on. The Real Cost of “Busyness” Busyness isn't just about wasted time. It's about emotional avoidance. The reason you bury yourself in low-value sales activity is that it feels safe. These tasks create the illusion of productivity while shielding you from what you're really afraid of: rejection. Instead of calling the prospect who's gone cold, you refresh your CRM. Rather then reaching out to the big account you've been circling, you tidy your inbox. Instead of pushing into a tough conversation, you polish the proposal one more time. You're not lazy. You're working hard. But effort without purpose is like a car spinning its wheels in the mud. Lots of noise, lots of energy, but no forward motion.  The Solution: High-Leverage Sales Activity Not all sales activity is created equal. Some actions produce a 10x return. Others are pure waste. Top performers know the difference—and ruthlessly prioritize the former. Here are three high-leverage sales activities that separate pros from amateurs: Proactive Prospecting Your sales pipeline is the fuel tank for your career. If it's empty, you're not going anywhere. Prospecting isn't a side task you do when you have extra time. It is the job. That means making outbound calls, sending personalized emails, and using LinkedIn to connect with people who aren't already in your orbit. Stop waiting for the phone to ring. Go make it ring. Meaningful Conversations Once you get a prospect's attention, the goal isn't to rattle off product features. It's to have a value-driven conversation. That means asking discovery questions that uncover their goals, their pain points, and their motivations. It means showing up as an expert and positioning yourself as a trusted advisor, not another vendor. When you consistently create conversations that center around the customer's needs, you become indispensable. Prospects should feel like they'd be foolish not to work with you. The Power of “No” Not every opportunity deserves your time. Amateurs say yes to every opportunity and demo request. Top performers say no. Qualify hard; disqualify fast. The hours you spend chasing a dead deal are hours you could invest in finding a stronger one. Being busy with the wrong opportunities makes you broke. Saying no to the wrong leads frees you up to say yes to the right ones. Your Action Plan To Go From “Just Busy” To Productive Breaking the cycle of wasted sales activity requires intention and discipline. Here's how to start: Step 1: The Activity Audit For one week, track everything you do—calls, emails, meetings, busywork. At the end of the week, review your log and ask: Which of these activities directly moved a deal forward or created new pipeline? Most of what you thought was productive won't make the cu...

A surge in cyber attacks is increasingly hitting small businesses, the backbone of the U.S. economy. According to a forthcoming survey from Mastercard, nearly half of business owners have experienced a cyber attack, and nearly one in five that suffered an attack then filed for bankruptcy or closed their business. WSJ cybersecurity reporter James Rundle and Seyoung Jeon, lead cyber analyst at Security Intelligence Provider Dragonfly, discuss the vulnerabilities of small enterprises, what these attacks mean for the greater economy and what businesses can do to defend themselves. Kate Bullivant hosts. Further Reading Hackers Target Eldercare Homes For Some Companies, the Real Cost of a Cyberattack Is Telling Everyone About It New York Orders Local Governments to Start Reporting Cyberattacks Microsoft Alerts Firms to Server-Software Attack U.S. Tells Companies to Prepare for Iranian Cyberattacks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here are some shocking (and staggering) stats on what a divorce really costs... Hint: it's not just the money...

Over the last 100 years, we have streamlined the process of food production. A hundred years ago, 99% of people were engaged in the agricultural process in some way. Today, that number is 1%. As a result, our relationship with food has become desperately impersonal. But what are the consequences of all that efficiency? Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of our food systems with Jeff Tkatch (CEO of the Rodale Institute) and host Ron Steslow. In this captivating conversation, we dig deep into the living soil beneath our feet, our disconnection from nature, and the mechanisms driving our extractive farming systems. Jeff provides a comprehensive understanding of the difference between soil and dirt, explaining why one gives life while the other is lifeless. He shares his personal journey towards regenerative agriculture and elaborates on the role Rodale Institute plays in shaping the future of farming. Segments to look forward to: (2:10) Understanding the difference between soil and dirt: "If soil could talk to us, what would it be saying right now? Feed me. Rest me. Water me. Feed me. Rest me. Water me. I'm a living, breathing organism just like you. And by the way, you depend on me for life." (03:30) Jeff's journey into regenerative agriculture and the role of the Rodale Institute (13:30) How we became disconnected from nature and our food (15:30) Who feeds the world? (16:20) A deep dive into the extractive farming system and the need for sustainable agricultural practices (19:50) Unraveling the incentives that have shaped our agricultural system (23:00) The various faces of agriculture: sustainable, regenerative, and organic regenerative (27:35) The cost of organic food and the unseen cost of not eating organic (30:00) “Agriculture is the great healer of our time” (37:15) Policy changes that could revolutionize farming and an overview of the Pennsylvania State Farm Bill (40:52) The challenge of organic food fraud (51:10) How changing our understanding of food production could reduce polarization: “It starts with gratitude...when we begin to see our brother and sister through food, we're creating a metaphorical table. We're actually sitting down at a table every moment of every day here in this country and hopefully around the world." Learn more about the Rodale Institute: https://www.rodaleinstitute.org/ Get involved and connect with local farmers near you. As Jeff says, "Everybody should get to know a farmer." Follow Ron on Twitter:  ⁠https://twitter.com/RonSteslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Republicans passed their big domestic policy bill just over a week ago, they kept making the same argument about sweeping changes to Medicaid: that the measures, including new work requirements, would encourage able-bodied adults to earn their health care, ultimately creating a fairer system for everyone. Critics said the opposite: they have predicted that millions of working people who need health care will lose it.The truth will emerge in rural and often Republican-voting areas where cuts to Medicaid funding will be felt most deeply. Natalie Kitroeff spoke to a family doctor in one of those places, western North Carolina, about what she thinks will happen to her patients.Guest: Shannon Dowler, a family physician and health advocate in western North Carolina.Background reading: In North Carolina, President Trump's domestic policy law jeopardizes plans to reopen one rural county's hospital — and health coverage for hundreds of thousands of state residents.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicted that the Senate's version of Trump's bill would mean that 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Kaoly Gutierrez for The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.