Podcasts about solving problems

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 4th of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward. This series, originally aired on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast a month earlier, follows the same series flow as our conversation with Ian Fretheim. In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/InfIqtHJuNQ2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/tmwLIE95SoM3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/H2yD6MMZQ0s4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/j5WGfEwzXkQ5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/mcMti6iN64gIn this episode of the podcast, Lee and Reza delve into the complexities of quality assessment in the coffee industry.They critically analyze the new Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) and its impact on the industry, questioning whether it resolves issues relating to centralized power, inequality, and the focus on the consumer side over producers. The conversation also touches on sensory science, the disparity in pay within the coffee supply chain, and the challenges posed by dynamic perceptions of quality. Tune in to explore these pressing issues and their implications for coffee producers and industry professionals.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 3rd of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward. This series, originally aired on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast a month earlier, follows the same series flow as our conversation with Ian Fretheim. In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/InfIqtHJuNQ2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/tmwLIE95SoM3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/H2yD6MMZQ0s4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/j5WGfEwzXkQ5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/mcMti6iN64gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Reza discuss the intricacies and impact of coffee competitions on the industry. They delve into how these competitions influence perceptions of quality, the limitations and challenges they introduce, and the bias that can occur during judging. The conversation also touches on the broader implications for baristas, the significance of these events within the industry, and why some professionals dedicate their resources to competitions. Additionally, the episode explores the controversial aspects surrounding the business side of these competitions and their actual benefit to the coffee community. Join us for an insightful discussion about the dynamic world of coffee competitions.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward. This series, originally aired on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast a month earlier, follows the same series flow as our conversation with Ian Fretheim. In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/InfIqtHJuNQ2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/tmwLIE95SoM3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/H2yD6MMZQ0s4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/j5WGfEwzXkQ5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/mcMti6iN64gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Reza explore the complex topic of defining quality in the coffee industry. The discussion delves into the various perspectives scientific, philosophical, and psychological on what constitutes quality. Reza shares insights on the struggles at Origin, the importance of recognizing the broader context of quality, and how cultural and personal biases come into play. They also touch on the necessity of multiple quality systems for different stakeholders in the coffee supply chain. Don't miss this compelling conversation as they unpack the intricate layers of quality in coffee.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the first of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward. This series, originally aired on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast a month earlier, follows the same series flow as our conversation with Ian Fretheim. In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/InfIqtHJuNQ2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/tmwLIE95SoM3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/H2yD6MMZQ0s4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/j5WGfEwzXkQ5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/mcMti6iN64gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Reza delve into the topic of quality in the coffee industry. In this episode, they discuss the various tools and methodologies used to assess coffee quality, from physical attributes to sensory evaluations. They also explore the subjective nature of quality and the challenges faced by coffee professionals in different regions. Learn about the importance of education and the role of human perception in defining coffee quality. Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Summary Have you ever wrapped up your workday thinking, “I've been busy all day, but I'm not sure I actually made anything better”? If so, you're not alone, and today's guests are here to help you break that cycle. In this episode, Andy talks with Don Kieffer and Nelson Repenning, co-authors of the new book There's Got to Be a Better Way. Don is a former Harley-Davidson executive who led during some of the company's most challenging years. Nelson is a professor at MIT Sloan who studies why well-intended management tools often fail in practice. Together, they're helping leaders rethink how work actually gets done. In the conversation, you'll learn why so many teams get stuck in firefighting mode, and why that's often not a people issue but a systems issue. You'll hear how to spot the “firefighter-arsonist” pattern, why problem-solving starts with problem-finding, and what it means to “design for discovery.” We also talk about Agile, Lean, invisible handoffs, and even how these ideas apply to family life. If you're looking for insights on how to make your team's work more effective, sustainable, and human-centered, this episode is for you! Sound Bites “Most performance problems are not people problems. They're design problems.” “You get what you design for. And most work isn't designed at all. It just kind of happens.” “Firefighting is not a character flaw. It's a predictable output of a broken system.” “If you don't make the work visible, you can't improve it.” “When no one owns the handoff, it's not really a handoff. It's a drop.” “Success should be easy. That doesn't mean the work isn't hard, but the path to doing it well should be clear.” “Discovery isn't luck. It's a design choice.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Start of Interview 01:59 The Origin Story: How Don and Nelson Collaborated 07:36 Challenges in Implementing Business Tools 13:19 Dynamic Work Design vs. Traditional Methods 25:16 A Lesson from the Factory Floor 26:53 Identifying and Solving Problems in Teams 31:23 The Importance of Connecting the Human Chain 35:46 Making Work Visible: Strategies and Tools 40:34 Applying Work Strategies at Home 42:46 End of Interview 43:12 Andy Comments After the Interview 47:35 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about the book and their work at shiftgear.work/theres-got-to-be-a-better-way-book. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 249 with Aaron Dignan about Brave New Work Episode 252 with Marcus Buckingham about Nine Lies About Work Episode 162 with Jonathan Raymond on culture and leadership mindset Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Leadership, Project Management, System Design, Agile, Lean, Problem Solving, Collaboration, Organizational Effectiveness, Continuous Improvement, Work Design, Team Performance The following music was used for this episode: Music: Quantum Sparks Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 6 of Negotiate X in Rewind brings John Lowry, President of The Lowry Group, into focus as he shares top negotiation tips that transform everyday conversations into opportunities for stronger outcomes.  John explains how negotiation is not just a transactional skill but a strategic communication process central to professional success. He highlights why internal negotiations can be more challenging than external ones, and how both introverts and extroverts can leverage their natural strengths at the table.  By weaving empathy, creativity, and problem-solving together, John shows that great negotiators focus on solutions that satisfy all sides.  

Building a successful business often means solving problems nobody else sees coming. In this episode of Building Texas Business, I sit down with Merrilee Kick, founder of BuzzBallz, to talk about how she transformed a poolside idea into a ready-to-drink cocktail empire she sold to Sazerac in 2024. Merrilee shares her journey from high school teacher to manufacturing pioneer who bootstrapped through engineering challenges and suppliers who refused to sell her essential components. Her approach demonstrates that when traditional paths close, entrepreneurs must forge their own. We explore how Merrilee built a family-like culture with minimal turnover through practical benefits like daily cooked meals and extended holiday breaks. She discusses why fairness matters more than equality in building loyal teams. During COVID, she created an on-site school for employees' children and manufactured hand sanitizer for hospitals, showing how adaptability serves both business continuity and community needs. Merrilee reflects on mistakes that shaped her success, from coconut cream that solidified at room temperature to trusting the wrong people. She emphasizes that entrepreneurs must trust their gut instincts and move quickly when something isn't working. Her discussion about selling to Sazerac reveals the cultural shifts that come with acquisition and why selecting the right buyer matters as much as the price. The conversation reveals how a teacher's frustration with glass by the pool became a multi-million dollar business through relentless problem-solving and genuine employee care. Listen to discover why sometimes the best business education comes from cleaning your own warehouse bathrooms. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS "S#@t doesn't smell any better with age" - why firing fast is critical to maintaining culture and performance When suppliers demand hundreds of thousands for R&D, sometimes you have to source from Canada and figure it out yourself A $10 daily lunch investment eliminated production delays and built the family culture that kept turnover near zero Creating an on-site school during COVID kept the production lines running when competitors shut down People quit managers, not companies - know your employees' kids' names and eat lunch with them Trust your gut over resumes - the West Point MIT grad who couldn't deliver taught her that credentials don't guarantee performance LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About BuzzBallz GUESTS Merrilee KickAbout Merrilee TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode, you'll meet Merrilee Kick, founder of BuzzBallz. Merrilee shares her story of going from a high school teacher grading papers to a multimillion dollar manufacturer of ready to drink cocktails by trusting her instincts, being honest and fair, and keeping sales concepts funny. Merrilee, I want to welcome you to Building Texas Business. Thank you for taking the time to come on in the podcast. Merrilee: Thanks Chris. Chris: So let's start. You founded a very interesting company called BuzzBallz. Love the name. Tell the listeners what is BuzzBallz, what is the company and what's it known for? Merrilee: So BuzzBallz is a ready to drink cocktail company. It's a manufacturing company based in Texas, and I started it back in 2009. Our first sale was in 2010 and I sold it. I ran it for 15 years and then I sold it last year, may of 2024 to Sazerac, a big company, one of the world's largest manufacturers of bourbon and alcoholic spirits. And they were very interested in us because it was the convenience store channel and it was ready to drink. And so it was a little bit different twist for them. Chris: Very good. So what was the inspiration for you in 2009 to start a alcoholic beverage company? Merrilee: I was going through some hard times with my marriage and I was a high school teacher at the time and I wanted to be more financially independent. And my high school that I was working at said that they would give me a teacher's enrichment program to where I could go get my master's in administration and be a principal. And I was like, oh my God, no, I don't want to be a principal. No, I want to go into my own field, which was business because I taught entrepreneurship, business law, international business marketing, computer science, all those kinds of wonderful subjects to high school kids, and I wanted to get my degree and get my MBA in that. So I convinced them to let me do it. Got my MBA and BuzzBallz was my master's degree thesis project. I was grading papers by the pool thinking of what should my project be for my capstone, my final project for my MBA and I had a little vo of candle with me and drinking a cocktail like a good teacher would, and I should probably not have a glass glass out here by the pool where I'm grading papers. I need to have something plastic. So I came up with the idea and the concept of a little party ball, a little ready to drink cocktail in a ball shape. Then my family and I, we sat down at dinner and we came up with the name Buzzballz. I love it. So catchy. And so that's where it came from and it stuck, you know, and it's one of those names you don't forget. So, that's the genesis of it all. Chris: What a great story. So high school teacher grading papers by the pool comes up with a cocktail and turns it into a wildly successful business. That is a coolest story I think I've ever heard. Merrilee: Yeah, we started out with six different flavors and they were pretty edgy. I'm a pretty edgy person, I guess. So, we came out with names like OJ Screamer because it was right when OJ Simpson was on trial and we had an orange juice and vodka screwdriver and we thought, okay, this will be funny, and funny sells, and it makes people laugh again. It makes it fun. So, We came up with some funny, funny names, strawberry Rum job, you know, like kind of edgy, dirty names, but funny and people loved it. Since then, it's kind of calmed the waves a little bit. We've mellowed it down a little bit, toned it down for the general grocery store shoppers, and more more family focused. But we've been through many renditions, many different flavors and sizes and things over the years. Yeah, Chris: It is really cool. Let's go back to kind of that 2009 or maybe time period. So I guess you had your MBA and you had this idea, but what did you do to get this off the ground and what kind of hurdles were you facing in order to do that? There Merrilee: Was so many hurdles. I didn't know anything manufacturing. I didn't know anything business. I was told by bankers all around Texas that I've applied for loans with that you're just a teacher, you don't have any experience, you don't have any collateral, you don't have any knowledge of manufacturing, how are you going to pull this off? And I just googled everything. Google was a really good friend, but I was looking at how many pounds per square inch does a Coke have on the inner walls of its container and will my container hold that and will this plastic have BPA in it and will it leach into my product? And what is the oxygen scavenging ratio of will oxygen permeate this plastic and degrade the product and what kind of petaloid base do I need on this? So there's a lot of engineering involved to create the container because it is a custom container. And then I was almost to the finish line and then a company, I wanted to put these metal lids on the container and a company came to me and they said, we want you to pay us hundreds of thousands of dollars so that we can r and d and see if your product really can be a good product for the market. And I couldn't afford it, so I just did it myself and I had to launch it myself and they said they wouldn't sell me any lids because of it. So I had to buy 'em from Canada. I had to buy 'em from overseas and then do it myself. So one of the things I learned is you just have to do everything yourself. You have to clean the bathrooms, you have to clean the warehouse, you have to set up the equipment, you have to do all the QuickBooks, you have to do the shipping, you have to do the billing, you have to understand all the details of this business inside now before you can pass it on to anybody. Chris: That's a very common theme amongst entrepreneurs, especially in the startup. You have an inspiration or a passion or something or idea that you believe so much in and are so passionate about that despite all the hurdles you run into, you just figure out ways over the hurdles. Merrilee: That's because if you don't, your failure to do anything and try to get it right means bankruptcy. And most entrepreneurs are going on their last thread, maxed out their credit cards. They can't afford a complete and utter failure. They can afford mistakes, but they quickly pivot and fix it and keep going. They keep swimming Chris: To that point. So you said you have to be able to do everything to get it going. Those are early days. How do you then transition once you've got some legs underneath it to start letting go of some things and bringing people in because it's your baby and you have to learn to trust some people to take care of it, Merrilee: And you make a lot of mistakes trusting people too. So you'll have a lot of duds people that you hire, some family and friends I would steer away from as much as possible unless that family is under your control, like cousins, aunts, uncles, those are more difficult to work with than your own sons because your sons will do whatever you tell 'em to do. Chris: And I know you have your sons in the business, Merrilee: But it was difficult when I hired friends because they were entitled. They thought they would be able to have more. So it's very different when you're having to hire people that are friends, Chris: That's having a strong team around you is so critical to the success of any business. What did you learn along the way? And aside from maybe don't hire friends to really hone in on your process to improve your hit rate on making sure you were hiring people that you could trust and they could do the job Merrilee: Well, sometimes you hire somebody based on their resume or their referrals or whatever, and that's a good first step, but you're going to still make mistakes. I remember I had a guy that had all the accolades in the world. He was a West Point grad, he was MIT, he had all these accolades, but he couldn't seem to get anything done and talk about delegation. I had to have my son because I was out of town. I was like, Hey, you get to fire this guy and here's this guy that's 30 years his senior and my son has never fired anyone before. And he had to have that experience. It was difficult. But one thing I've learned is crap doesn't smell any better with age. So you've got to get rid of people that are toxic or that even if you have a relationship, a friendly relationship with them, sometimes it just isn't going to work for whatever reason. Either something legal that they did or something that was immoral that they did or just basic laziness or in capability to get the job done. So sometimes if you don't feel it, it's almost like a gut feel. If it's not working right, then there's something wrong and you got to make moves. A Chris: Couple of things there, right? First I think the adage of hire slow fire fast is very true. Easier said than done. I Merrilee: Don't hire slow. I don't like that. I don't like that saying because I think sometimes you hire fast and it's okay. I think the important thing is fire fast if you have grounds to do so and try to get somebody to replace them as quickly as possible. You got to do everything fast when you're an entrepreneur. Chris: So on the fire fast side, right? I mean I think it's whether it's performance or cultural fit, if it's not working, the sooner you move, the better your organization's going to be. Merrilee: But on the cultural fit too, that's a big one because they may have the capability to do it, but maybe at their own pace or maybe not at your pace or maybe they just have a different idea of work altogether. Chris: And one of the things we say here, it doesn't necessarily make 'em a bad person. This isn't the right organization for them and they need to go find that organization that will fit them better. But speaking of culture, how would you describe the culture that you built at BuzzBallz? Merrilee: Okay, so my culture at BuzzBallz, we hardly had any turnover because I treated it like family. I think that people quit managers, and I've heard that before, but people do quit, managers and they quit companies that don't believe in them. And I think that is a big cultural learning. You've got to do things together, you got to take them to lunch, you got to talk to them, you got to get involved with their family life, know their kids' names. You need to know something about the people that report to you. Now when you have a thousand people reporting to you can't possibly do all that, but you can have parties and you can have celebrations and you can recognize people at every level of the totem pole. And I think some of the things to do to build culture, we would have a cook on staff that cooked for everybody every day because that $10 a day savings meant more to, and it meant a lot to me because they could start the lines on time. I didn't have to wait for somebody to go get a burrito down the street and come back. They could just go ahead and keep together. And it built culture that way too. They started to trust each other, they started to rely on each other. And the other thing that we did was we all rolled up our sleeves. It didn't matter whether you were the lead accountant or if you were the CEO, if something needed to get done, you go do it. Chris: I think Merrilee: That's great. So it's not that it's above you or it's somebody else's job. Chris: Yeah. Kind of lead by example, right? No task is above anyone. It's all about getting the job done. Merrilee: Correct. Chris: And I think to your point of knowing your people as best you can, when you start to scale the business as you did, I think it breaks into tier. So within your direct reports or a level or two, you have the ability to get to really know them. And then I think it's important to teach them that they take it another level down and really have good connections within their direct reports and then you can layer that through the organization so that people feel connected. And so Merrilee: One thing I learned too, Chris, is I learned that people are better managers than me. I'm more of an inventor. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm not really a good manager of people. I'm a good people person and I'm a good salesperson, but I don't like doing the management of the day to day of my car broke down or I'm sick or I need PTO approved or I need blah, blah, blah, blah. I don't like doing any of that. All the administrative stuff that comes with management I'm terrible at. It's not that I'm terrible, it's just that I don't want to do it. I would rather have somebody that's better at it do it. I think that it's really important that people see your genuine self and that you're honest and fair to them more than equal. Equality is different than fairness. And I think fairness trumps equality, fairness. Somebody who comes to work every day works their butt off every day, takes care of you, always says they're going to get it done. That person is a person I want to hire versus somebody who's complaining and moaning about equality. If you gave them a day off, I want a day off, I need a PTO day just because I just need a de-stress day, it's buzz off. I don't need you to complain about your daily work. Chris: Everybody has stuff. So despite that, we still have to get a job done and that gets lost sometimes. And that just goes back to the hiring process and making sure, and I agree with you, no hiring process is perfect. It's more of an art than a science, but if you really focus on some of the right things, you're going to have better hits. But again, like we said earlier, once you realize you've made a mistake, you got to make a move. Merrilee: And also about the speed of hiring. When you said hire slow, I've been with companies that hire too slow and they drag prospective employees on for so long doing too many rounds and they lose them Chris: For sure. I guess it slows relative, but yes, if you drag it out immersively long, if you have a good process, you know what you're looking for. And within a couple rounds of an interview, you should know whether that person's going to hit fit or not. We talked a little bit about culture and I guess one thing would be interesting is how do you believe that you've been through a transition in the last 12 months? Has that culture been impacted by that Merrilee: Tremendously? Yeah. Culture is completely different with a big company versus a small entrepreneurial company. Entrepreneur companies are more freewheeling, more giving in terms of the things they allow people to do. They help people more. Bigger companies are more rigid. They have more rules because they have to, they're just bound by more legal problems if I could say. So just they've got more issues to have to Chris: Worry, maybe legal hurdles and regulations and such, Merrilee: And they have just a bigger spotlight on them. So people are always looking at them trying to find fault and trying to sue them for anything possible. There's rules and regulations that they have to abide by that I didn't. So culture has changed also with they had to let go a lot of people and that was really hard because these are people that I loved and people that I cared very dearly about that helped me build the business, but they had their own internal structure and people already filling some of those roles so it didn't make financial sense or business sense to string them along and have two people doing the same thing. So there were some business decisions that were made that affected culture. Yes, Chris: It's almost inevitable when that type of combination happens, right? Because there's going to be some overlap and a business has to run efficiently and can't have two people doing the same thing Merrilee: And they just run it differently. It's not that one's better or one's worse. They just are different. And I tried to pick a company to buy us that would be as close as possible to our culture and I tried to pick one that was privately owned and family owned and manufacturing instead of some other kind of company. I didn't want private equity or anything like that. I wanted somebody that held some of the same beliefs I did and I think I did a good job with this company. I really like them and I think they have a lot of great ideas, but it's different than how I would've done it. Chris: Hello friends. This is Chris Hanzlik, your building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations and business leaders. Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm@boermiller.com and thanks for listening to the show. So let's talk a little bit about innovation because what you did there was nothing like it on the market. Obviously the initial concept seems unique and novel As you grew the company over those 15 years, how did you incorporate or encouraged innovation within the company to keep it going? Merrilee: We would have so much fun together. We always had happy hours after work and we would sit and brainstorm with a cocktail in our hand and just anything goes. We would talk about anything and everything and we would do fun marketing things too. Things that were a little edgy maybe too far. Like we had Buzz Ball condoms for spring break and we had crazy stuff for marketing and now the marketing is a little more toned down because it's going to the general populace instead of just craziness. So I think that that's changed for sure. Tell me again what you were asking about Chris: Kind of incorporating innovation into Merrilee: Innovation. Yeah, so it's just Chris: Propelling success. Merrilee: We would try different flavors and this tastes gross or this tastes like medicine or no, I don't like it or I don't like the color of it or whatever. So we had an r and d team and they were fun people and that was really important to me. I wanted the ability to have the science aspect of it, but I also wanted the ability, we had a good formulation going so that we could do that. Now, one thing we decided when it was around, I don't know, four or five years in, we were thinking, oh, sales are starting to slump a little bit, wonder what's going on. We should start our own vodka and our own rum and our own gin and our own bourbon and start making those. We could do that. And so we started doing that. The thing we didn't do well was marketing of those products. So those products felt flat over two or three years. We had distribution, but we didn't know how to sell it because we had been selling in a different channel in a different way. So we went back and focused on our core learning from that mistake, just innovation is something else. Do you want to make things in a different shaped container? So we came out with the biggie, the giant biggie, and I had always wanted to make a big bowling ball sized buzz ball and everywhere I went, they were like, no, the Chris: Party size, we Merrilee: Can't do it party size, we can't do it. That's what they kept saying, you can't do it, you can't make it. It won't work. We found a way to make it work and it's one of the coolest looking things on the market and we've got witches potion coming out pretty soon. We've got biggie, BuzzBallz everywhere. Chris: I think one of the things you mentioned there, just it's okay to try new things and expand, but you've got to stay on top of 'em and I guess you said with the vodka and the bourbon and whatnot, eventually we're not as good at this. So you have to know just higher or firing fast, you have to know when to cut that off and go back to your core to really just focus on what you're good at and be the best at that. Merrilee: And so what we did with all that excess booze that we made is we just drank it in our bar. We had it at our bar at work. We had a nice big bar at work, so we would Chris: Some cost savings. We had to go buy support Merrilee: Our habits. Chris: So I'd be interested to know, you said you were in the Dallas area when you started this company. Do you feel that being in Texas as a entrepreneur and startup business had its advantages that allowed you to achieve the success that you have? Merrilee: I knew that Texas is a little bit cheaper than some of the other big cities out there, la, New York, and it's centrally located, so that helps a lot in terms of shipping, but I don't think that Texas particularly helped me other than this is where I grew my family and it was home Chris: Cheaper real estate. I think typically a legislature at the state level that's business friendly. Merrilee: Yeah, yeah, it is. I think that the other thing I wanted to make a point of is we have a big labor pool, not necessarily good though, it's a big labor pool, but sometimes you have to go through a bunch of people to find the right kind of people. What's that work ethic thing? Chris: Of course. So let's talk a little bit then about leadership and how you would describe your leadership style and how you think that evolved over time. Merrilee: I'm a hugger. I walk down the hall, I smile at everybody, I talk to everybody. I give them a hug, I eat lunch with 'em. It's an open door. So I think that is one thing that's different about me. I care about my employees so much. When COVID hit, one of the things we did that I'm especially proud of was we started our own little school. So I knew I needed employees to show up for a manufacturing plant, but how could they do that if they had to stay home to take care of their kids? Their kids' school was closed, so I was like, I'll start a school. And so I started a school onsite, a buzz ball school, hired a Texas education, the agency teacher and an aide, so a TE, a certified teacher and an aide, and we converted a conference room, big conference room into a kids learning center and we got headphones and we had them get their PCs from all their different schools. We had kids' books, we had play mats, we had tents, we had all kinds of stuff. We cooked breakfast for 'em, we cooked lunch for 'em, we gave them a snack, we helped them with their homework and then their parents could bring 'em to work at 6:00 AM before school starts, but 6:00 AM We had somebody there to greet those kids when their shift started, the people working and we'd help the kids, give them a snack, give them their homework, make sure they got everything done, and then their parents could eat lunch with them if they wanted to during that day and then pick 'em up at two or three o'clock in the afternoon when their shift was over. But that's one of the things I'm really proud of. That's like a different thing that we had to do for COVID. So we did a lot of things like the lunches, the free lunches. We also gave everybody time off between Christmas and New Year's, right around December 22nd to January 2nd, I just said everybody gets that time off because of when I was a teacher. That was really important to have that family time and when you're working your job for your first year when you're out of college, or even if you never went to college, you get two weeks vacation. That's not enough for the whole year. So two weeks vacation plus a week of PTO for sick time, and then you get this extra 10 days off paid and you don't have to come to work. You can make that plan and go to New York for your family. And then we also give them a bonus at Christmas so that they could buy some Christmas presents. Some of them were paycheck to paycheck and so it meant lot. Yeah, just little celebrations, chili cook-offs and dinosaur races and silly stuff, but it was good. It was a good relationship, good culture. Chris: What you just mentioned about the school during COVID is fascinating to me and brilliant by the way, so kudos to you that would fit within my definition of innovation. Thinking outside the box and going, one, you have to keep your business going and so how can I do this given what my workforce is dealing with? And you found that is an amazing solution. Merrilee: We also decided that we would be an essential business, so we made BuzzBallz, hand sanitizer, we took some of our spirit based vodka and rum and gin and put these little toppers on them instead of the 50 ml size that's on the airplane that had a screw cap, put these tops on 'em and then made hand sanitizer, gave it out to all the lab corps, all the hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all of the grocery stores, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, spirit Airlines, we gave it out to so many people and all the hospitals and everything. So that was one way that we could stay in business made us essential. Chris: It's funny, I had some clients do some similar things with hand sanitizers during that time. Of course, looking back, if you remember the spike in alcohol cells during COVID, it seems like it would've been a natural essential business anyway, right? Merrilee: Straight answer from any kind of government saying essential business or not. I was like, we're going to make ourselves essential, and people wanted to buy our hand sanitizer and I'm like, no, we're giving it for free. We're not doing it for money. We're doing it for the betterment of mankind. Chris: At that point, it was so uncertain, right? Merrilee: Yeah, we thought we were going to die, we're going to all Chris: Die. Thank goodness that didn't happen. We've suffered that. I think there's been a slow progression back to normalcy in the business world as a result of COVID. You see it more and more the work remote versus now just this year a lot more about five days a week back in the office, which four or five years ago, you never thought that would happen. Merrilee: That really made me mad too, that everybody was expecting to work from home forever, and I was just like, that's not real life people. You need to collaborate with other people. You need to get things done. And you can't do it in a bubble unless you're like a computer programmer and that's all you do all day is sit in front of your pc. It doesn't make any sense if you're in a people oriented business. Chris: I couldn't agree with you more. And that's what our firm is, people oriented, customer service, customer facing professional services, and we say we're better together and the collaboration is key. It's where learning and training and development come from, and we think where our best client service comes from. So we got to be together. We actually got back in the office in May of 2020 in a smart and safe way, but it was that critical. Merrilee: It's changed time and leveraging technology. I've just noticed such a flowing in customer service and an accountability and when you call somebody to set up an appointment for something, you get some robot on the phone and you push one and you push two and then you push one and then you push three and then you get somebody that's a voicemail or whatever. It's so frustrating. There is such a decline in accountability. It's like somebody's always passing the buck to somebody else or that's not my department. I don't do that. And companies have gotten so big, and I'm talking about the big at ts, the big companies that don't ever answer their phone, they don't have a human that answers their phone. You can't get support. And I think that when it's just so refreshing when you have a company that actually answers their phone, that actually responds to your email that you sent, even if it's a complaint, somebody listened. Somebody responded, oh crap, I'll buy their stuff forever because of that. I was mad, but now I'm happy. Chris: So true. So you mentioned something, it was a while back, but you talked about making mistakes along the way. Can you give us an example of maybe one or two where you're like failure or mistake, but that you learned through persevered through made you better because you had that experience? Merrilee: Yeah, so I had so many mistakes. I think that it's so important to make mistakes because you don't get better unless you make mistakes. Mistakes don't mean failure. Overall. Mistakes mean it's an opportunity to change it for the better, to make your product better, to make it more solid. One of the things early on that I did was I was making a pina colada and I was using real coconut cream. A lot of these entrepreneurs come to me, I'm going to do everything with real stuff. It's healthy, it's this, it's that. It's whatever. I'm not going to use anything artificial. That's great. Okay, go for it. Is it shelf stable? Was it going to rot on the shelf? All those kinds of questions I have that come up when you do a commercial product. But anyway, I was making this pina colada coconut cream. What I didn't know, what I didn't Google was that coconut cream freezes and turns solid at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So I'm sitting here making this coconut cream. Oh my gosh, taste is so good. The pina coladas were so awesome. And then after that sat there on the shelf for about two or three months, it started to clump up and it looked like cottage cheese in the container. So when people would open it up, they're like, so that was one mistake that I learned from and had to fix, and we did and it's awesome. Another mistake I made was I was using real orange juice in my, instead of triple suck, I was using some orange juice in my tequila, Rita, it was a margarita, and I wanted just a little tad of orange juice in there. That orange juice pulp turned brown over time and you don't notice it when you make it. You don't notice it when you test it, but it looked like fish food floating around in the bottom of my container. You could see through my container Chris: Once it goes on the shelf and sits for a while right then, Merrilee: And people are going, I'm shaking it and there's brown specks going around in here. What is that? So these were all early lessons learned, just things you learned just by running the machinery or by cleaning products or by making the containers. I can't even tell you how many mistakes I've made, but I think most of my mistakes were later on more with people than with product And also just learning who to trust. Trusting your gut instinct I think is one of the most important things entrepreneurs have to do. When you feel something's wrong, it is wrong. Even if you meet somebody that seems to be nice or really important, they might just be weird or they might have a problem. So got to keep your distance. Chris: That's good. On that point, any advice you received along the way from someone that really stuck with you and helped you through the journey? Merrilee: There was lots of times I had advice, but it wasn't really framed in terms of advice. I remember when it was pretty early on, my dad came to see me and it was before we knew any level of success and he sat there and he looked at the buzz ball and he goes, I think you might have something here. And that just felt so good to me to hear that from someone else. And it wasn't because he was my dad, it was just like he was just a normal person looking at a normal product and he was judging it and I thought, wow, okay. He said that. Another one that comes to mind is Blair Casey. He was an original distributor for me, and he was the first guy to bring in my buzz ball product into Texas. He worked for Glazer's at the time, and then I hired him in 2017. He came on board and became my head of sales. Anyway, this guy was always positive. I relate him to Ted Lasso, but he's just so positive. But he always was, glass is always half full with that guy, and I always remember his way of being more than him saying the glass is half full, but the glass was always half full with Blair. And even when you focus on how it's half empty, you got to remember that it's also half full. Chris: Look for the positives in the learning though. That's great. Great stuff. Merrilee really appreciate your insights and sharing your story. A couple of things just to maybe wrap things up more Texas specific. Is there anything, having been in Texas for a long time, any traditions or things that you and your family like to do in the state or in the dallas Fort Worth area? Merrilee: I like to go to Stars games and things like that. My husband loves to play golf. My kids, I've got five grandkids now, so home is special to me. My home is the most important place to me and there isn't really, I can't say I like State Fair of Texas or the PBR Rodeo or anything like that is sticking out in my mind. I like to go occasionally, but I like to stay home a lot and I like to spend time at work a lot and I love Christmas holiday lights. Just the holiday season, seeing all the lights, it just warm my heart. It just makes me feel good. Chris: That's great. Okay. Here's a question for you. Do you prefer TexMex or barbecue? Merrilee: TexMex with lots of cheese. Chris: Lots of cheese. I can relate to that. Merrilee. This has been great. I really appreciate your time. Congratulations on just what a cool story coming from a teacher to a very successful alcoholic beverage manufacturer. Merrilee: Oh, thank you. Thank you. I'm on my new things now and I'm actually making some barbecue sauce and doing some other things with gourmet land that's a completely different new products, new company, and that's where I'm spending a lot of my time now. And RAC is carrying the torch for BuzzBallz and they're doing a great job. Chris: Well, it sounds like you meet the definition of some of my favorite people, which is serial entrepreneur onto the next thing. Merrilee: Can't stop. Chris: I love it. I love it. This has been a pleasure. Thanks again and wishy continued success. Merrilee: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Chris: And there we have it. Another great episode. Don't forget to check out the show notes at boyer miller.com/podcast and you can find out more about all the ways our firm can help you@boyermiller.com. That's it for this episode. Have a great week and we'll talk to you next time. Special Guest: Merrilee Kick.

A story about turning personal frustration into breakthrough technology—and why great products come from pain you actually feel.This Episode is for SaaS founders struggling to identify their real target audience—and wondering how to separate urgent problems from nice-to-have features.Most SaaS companies don't fail because of bad tech. They fail because they try to solve problems they don't actually feel.Davit Baghdasaryan, CEO of Krisp AI, took a different path. Former head of product security at Twilio, he spent evenings in Armenia taking morning calls from San Francisco—dealing with background noise that existing solutions couldn't touch. One personal frustration became the foundation for technology that now processes over a billion minutes monthly and powers 80% of human-to-AI voice interactions.And this inspired me to invite Davit to my podcast. We explore how building from real pain creates unbeatable product-market fit. Davit shares insights about choosing problems with no alternatives, why great demos feel like magic, and how focusing on essence over speed built technology that companies like Discord and Twilio now license. You'll discover why their "marketing experiment" desktop app became Product of the Year—and how they accidentally created infrastructure that now processes over a billion minutes monthly.We also zoom in on two of the 10 traits that define remarkable software companies: – They focus on the essence – They offer something valuable and desirableDavit's story proves that breakthrough technology starts with problems that personally bother you.Here's one of Davit's quotes that captures his philosophy on problem selection:"In order to understand the pain, you need to understand the alternative. If you are in an office, the alternative is to go find a quiet room—probably not that painful. But if you're in an airport or call center with people speaking next to you, there is no alternative."By listening to this episode, you'll learn:Why understanding alternatives reveals true market urgency What separating horizontal from vertical markets actually meansWhen building hard technology first pays off long-termWhy great demos feel magical instead of technicalFor more information about the guest from this week: Guest: Davit Baghdasaryan, CEO of Krisp AI Website: krisp.ai Weekly Voice AI newsletter

Philip Clark discusses why, amid so many recent positive developments in treatments for a variety of cancers, the brain has somehow become the poor cousin.  

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 5th of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward.In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/NoIyvxIEKHY2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/1B5XZbBgfoo3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/848P1bhuVsk4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/a_SWpLql0FU5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/7XaTBVLiNpoIn the final episode of this podcast series, Lee and Reza explore the future of the coffee industry and impact of advancing technology on roles like baristas, Q graders, and cuppers. They also touch on the emergence of brands like Luckin in the U.S. market and how social media could redefine coffee quality.With insights on technology, industry trends, and business advice, this episode offers a comprehensive look at what's ahead for coffee professionals.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 4th of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward.In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/NoIyvxIEKHY2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/1B5XZbBgfoo3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/848P1bhuVsk4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/a_SWpLql0FU5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/7XaTBVLiNpoIn this episode of the podcast, Lee and Reza delve into the complexities of quality assessment in the coffee industry.They critically analyze the new Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) and its impact on the industry, questioning whether it resolves issues relating to centralized power, inequality, and the focus on the consumer side over producers. The conversation also touches on sensory science, the disparity in pay within the coffee supply chain, and the challenges posed by dynamic perceptions of quality. Tune in to explore these pressing issues and their implications for coffee producers and industry professionals.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 3rd of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward.In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/NoIyvxIEKHY2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/1B5XZbBgfoo3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/848P1bhuVsk4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/a_SWpLql0FU5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/7XaTBVLiNpoIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Reza discuss the intricacies and impact of coffee competitions on the industry. They delve into how these competitions influence perceptions of quality, the limitations and challenges they introduce, and the bias that can occur during judging. The conversation also touches on the broader implications for baristas, the significance of these events within the industry, and why some professionals dedicate their resources to competitions. Additionally, the episode explores the controversial aspects surrounding the business side of these competitions and their actual benefit to the coffee community. Join us for an insightful discussion about the dynamic world of coffee competitions.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

This week the team travels to the home of Michael Glassman an author, designer and gardening media star. Michael shares smart solutions to common landscaping challenges, reveals his favorite "sure-fire" plants for thriving gardens, and inspires us to design outdoor spaces that reflect our personalities and bring us joy.Check out Michael at his website: Michael Glassman & AssociatesGreen Acres Garden PodcastGreen Acres Nursery & SupplyGreen Acres Garden Podcast GroupIn the greater Sacramento area? Learn how to make your yard Summer Strong and discover water-saving rebates at BeWaterSmart.info.

This episode is brought to you by Raw Beverage Trading - Your hospitality supply chain partner. Connect at sale@rawcoffee.ae••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward.In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/NoIyvxIEKHY2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/1B5XZbBgfoo3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/848P1bhuVsk4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/a_SWpLql0FU5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/7XaTBVLiNpoIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Reza explore the complex topic of defining quality in the coffee industry. The discussion delves into the various perspectives scientific, philosophical, and psychological on what constitutes quality. Reza shares insights on the struggles at Origin, the importance of recognizing the broader context of quality, and how cultural and personal biases come into play. They also touch on the necessity of multiple quality systems for different stakeholders in the coffee supply chain. Don't miss this compelling conversation as they unpack the intricate layers of quality in coffee.Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the first of a 5-part series with Reza Kosar, Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Slick Coffee Co. in Oman, on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward.In this series, host Lee Safar and Reza (originally from Iran) explore what quality is in coffee.The 5 episodes in this series are:1. The Tools That Assess Coffee's Quality - https://youtu.be/NoIyvxIEKHY2. Defining Quality in the Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/1B5XZbBgfoo3. Coffee Competition and Coffee Quality - https://youtu.be/848P1bhuVsk4. The CVA Isn't Solving Problems - https://youtu.be/a_SWpLql0FU5. The Future Technology of Coffee - https://youtu.be/7XaTBVLiNpoIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Reza delve into the topic of quality in the coffee industry. In this episode, they discuss the various tools and methodologies used to assess coffee quality, from physical attributes to sensory evaluations. They also explore the subjective nature of quality and the challenges faced by coffee professionals in different regions. Learn about the importance of education and the role of human perception in defining coffee quality. Connect with Reza Kosar and Slick Coffee Co. here:https://www.instagram.com/rezakosar_/https://www.instagram.com/slickcoffeeco/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezakosar/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

On this episode of House Rules, Rep. Paul Cutler joins DEQ Director Tim Davis to talk air quality, water conservation, and Utah's approach to smart environmental policy.They discuss how Utah has made historic progress on air quality, how the state is tracking dust from the Great Salt Lake, and how wildfire smoke is being monitored year-round. Davis outlines DEQ's new strategic plan focused on innovation, problem solving, and community growth.This is how Utah is using data and technology to protect air, land, and water as Utah's grows.

Have you ever considered the difference between fixing the problem or solving the problem? In this episode of The Financial Coaches Podcast, Cody shares an experience he had where he a realization on this topic and how it can tie into the coaching world.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a business owner looking for ways to grow? In this episode of The Guild Live Show, host Tyson Mutrux explores key strategies for modern leaders and marketers. The episode highlights top AI hacks for business growth, practical happiness-boosting techniques, and research-backed advice on buying time for greater well-being. Tyson chats about how leaders can use Reddit to advertise to potential clients. Reddit's new ad tool is a cheaper option for entrepreneurs to advertise. The live forum space allows for business owners to communicate back and forth with people to get them to understand what your business is and provide some insights before someone decides to seek you out for help. It is important to understand the active communication piece as many might not be willing to put energy into it. If you are not able to, ensure someone on your team is able to take it on as a task.Tyson delves into the six steps to get a team motivated. It is easy for people to become de-motivated and lose their edge when working in the legal space. There are six things firm owners can do to get people back on track. The first thing is to reassess and diagnose before you act. It is important to understand the issues that exist within a business. The second step is to build trust and create a safe space, especially if team dynamics are not aligned. The third step is to re-envision to determine the purpose of the team. Talk to your team about what their goals are and highlight challenges. The fourth step is to re-contract and clarify the team's ways of working. The fifth step is to re-energize and build on success. Ensure to highlight the positive things your team is doing to make them feel good about their work. The last step is to re-adjust in order to sustain momentum.Take a listen to learn more!Tune in to today's episode and checkout the full show notes here. 05:58 Six Steps to Re-motivate Teams11:16 Solving Problems for Your Team 17:28 25 AI Hacks for Business21:15 Happiness: Mindset Shift22:11 Brain Hack for Optimism 23:16 Buying Time Increases Happiness 

In this conversation, Brad Lea shares his transformative journey from a self-centered pursuit of wealth to a fulfilling life dedicated to helping others. He discusses the keys to effective training, the importance of building self-worth and confidence, and the necessity of eliminating negativity from one's life. Brad emphasizes the power of personal branding and the significance of solving problems for success. He also offers insights on finding the right partner and the importance of self-value in relationships.This episode is proudly sponsored by https://ContentRemoval.com — the global leader in removing images, videos, search results, fake accounts, leaked content, and more.Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankielee/ Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background00:33 Transition from Self-Focus to Helping Others01:54 Discovering the Keys to Effective Training03:35 Creating Lightspeed VT05:11 Transition to Collaborating with Trainers06:26 The Power of Helping Others06:43 Transformation of Net Worth08:02 Steps to Increase Self-Worth10:47 Weeding Out Negative Relationships14:01 Mapping Out Success and Visualization15:22 Importance of Continuous Learning17:21 Building a Personal Brand23:29 Realizing the Importance of Personal Branding28:29 Documenting and Creating Valuable Content33:43 Solving Problems to Achieve Success35:48 Finding the Right Vehicle for Success36:18 Keys to Success37:46 Finding the Perfect Partner40:34 Knowing the Right Partner42:03 Building a Strong Relationship44:08 Roles and Responsibilities in a Relationship46:50 Choosing the Right Partner50:46 Valuing Yourself Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, Canadian Premier League, and Canadian Championship chat and we're joined this episode by AFTN writer Felipe Vallejo. Football brings highs and lows and if you're a Whitecaps fan, you've had some pretty wild swings of those in the past week as the team scraped by CPL side Valour FC in the Canadian Championship, lost heavily in MLS to Colorado Rapids, then bounced back in style and started to look a little bit like their old selves in a big win at Houston Dynamo four days later. We delve into the talking points coming out of those three matches and happenings off the pitch, as Pedro Vite gets transferred to Mexico and a new Peruvian is coming to town. Are the 'Caps set up for the season run-in? What are the expectations now? And what help is still needed? Plus there's still time to look at the upcoming Canadian Championship semi-finals and the tough task facing the Whitecaps, we cast our eyes over the first half of the 2025 CPL season, and talk about the FIFA Club World Cup final. All of this and music-wise, Frank Black continues his residency as our Album of the Month, we've Britpop songs from Longpigs and Heavy Stereo, and My Brother Woody return in Wavelength. Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.27: Intro - Vancouver Rise, Club World Cup 10.47: Whitecaps results rollercoaster in full swing in Colorado and Houston 40.00: Whitecaps San Diego preview and the lie of the land in MLS West 56.18: Milkshake Man - Emmanuel Sabbi 58.46: Whitecaps transfer comings and goings 75.25: Canadian Championship semis set 93.30: CPL midseason review 111.00: Wavelength - My Brother Woody - The A to Z of Football

What motivates someone to learn how to code as a scientist? How do you harness the excitement of solving problems quickly and make the connection to the benefits of coding in your scientific work? This week on the show, we speak with Ben Lear and Christopher Johnson about their book "Coding For Chemists."

In a world where creativity is reserved for artists and leadership is reserved for extroverts, this episode challenges both assumptions. Adrian and Bri pull back the curtain on a deeper, more integrated view of creativity, one rooted not in flair, but in function. From basketball courts to boardrooms, from faith to finance, they explore how real creativity emerges, sometimes out of desperation. It's about solving problems, building what's missing, and refusing to wait for permission. Together, they tackle why most people underestimate their creative potential, how fear and anxiety suppress imagination, and why black-and-white thinking keeps us from designing real solutions. They also reflect on how leadership without creativity is obsolete and why the future belongs to those who can build what hasn't existed yet. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or just trying to believe in yourself again, this conversation will ignite your sense of ownership and remind you: you're more creative than you think.

We're live from the Stayntouch booth at HITEC with a powerhouse guest — Bill Fanning, Chief Revenue Officer of Stayntouch. From rolling out 139 properties in 90 days to launching new grab-and-go kiosk tech, Bill shares how Stayntouch is redefining PMS innovation in the hospitality industry.Tune in as we cover the latest innovations, guest experience enhancements, and the real impact of customer-led product development.In this episode, you'll learn about: How Stayntouch scaled across 139 Cobblestone properties in under 90 daysA new way to manage booking, reporting, and operations at scaleHow their self-service kiosk is transforming the late-night guest experienceWhy Stayntouch stays in its PMS lane — and thrives with over 1,200 integrationsHow hotelier feedback directly shapes new features and partnershipsListen now to hear how Stayntouch is leading the charge in hospitality tech and what's coming next in their roadmap.Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aBpJR-LyJng This episode is sponsored by Stayntouch: https://www.stayntouch.com/ Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfanning1/Stayntouch: https://www.stayntouch.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/169Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it mean to embracing change in the  Fourth Industrial Revolution? Our special guest talks about the skills and mindset we need to embrace. Welcome to our summer series on the future world of work. We kick it off with Ann Nakaska. Ann Nakaska M.Ed. CDF has a background in psychology, education, and business. She specializes in career decision making and career planning with a special interest in career opportunities of the future. She believes that by people can prepare for the fourth industrial revolution workplace by developing a GET (Global, Entrepreneurial and Technological) Ready Mindset.  Connect with her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-nakaska-ba-med-52315747/ https://constructivecareer.com/ Learn more about our series partner: We are so thankful to our sponsor Alongside, learn more about the critical research they are doing and join them for a special webinar on June 26th. Join Dr. Elsa Friis, Ph.D., Head of Product and Clinical at Alongside, veteran educator Jess Bell, M.Ed., and teen advisor Priya Antony for a candid conversation on the year's biggest mental health trends.Inside the report: Inside the report: > Teens are struggling with sleep more than ever > School-life balance feels out of reach at every age > Boys are looking for new ways to ask for help > Confidential, self-guided tools are resonating deeply with students. Save your seat now and be among the first to receive the full report. Sign up today. Chapters 00:00 Navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution 04:45 The Importance of a Get Ready Mindset 10:04 Integrating Entrepreneurial Skills in Education 14:12 Understanding Industry Dynamics 19:38 Focusing on Work vs. Job 25:25 Finding and Solving Problems 32:40 Researching Opportunities in a Changing World    

In software development, the real challenge often isn't coding—it's solving the right problems. In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche tackle one of the most overlooked but costly traps in tech: solving problems in software projects that don't need solving, while missing the ones that do. With the help of AI, they explore why teams often get stuck fixing symptoms instead of addressing root causes, launching features that don't matter, or optimizing performance before users even exist. Through candid examples and sharp insights, they demonstrate how developers can shift their mindset to deliver meaningful and lasting solutions. Solving Problems in Software Projects with AI This episode begins with a lighthearted intro: No, AI won't send killer robots to your house—but it can help you become a better developer. Rob and Michael let AI help set the topic: solving problems in software projects without actually solving the problem. They explain how developers often confuse motion with progress. Writing code doesn't mean you're building value. Launching a feature doesn't mean it's needed. These illusions create technical debt and user frustration. Michael compares this to marketing tricks, such as offering gift cards to attract users instead of improving the site to keep them engaged. Solving the Right Problem in Software Projects A quote from Einstein sets the tone: “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem.” Rob and Michael emphasize the importance of understanding before acting. Too many developers rush to fix bugs without asking: What's broken? What does the user expect? Michael draws on insights from Dan Heath's "Upstream" to emphasize the importance of preventing issues, rather than just reacting to them. Effective developers think ahead and solve problems at the source—not just in the code, but in the system design and user flow. Avoid Quick Fixes When Solving Problems in Software Projects Rob warns against “band-aid fixes”—temporary solutions, such as increasing timeouts or adding unnecessary features. These surface-level patches don't address the core issue and often exacerbate the problem. Michael provides examples from the gaming world and enterprise software, highlighting instances where shipping buggy systems is done solely to meet a deadline, only to spend months patching them. Instead, they advocate for delivering a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that truly addresses user needs. Why Listening Solves More Than Writing Code Michael shares a powerful technique: shut up and let your customer talk. Developers often assume they understand the problem after hearing a few words. But real insights come from listening deeply and asking open-ended questions. Rob adds that great discovery comes from dialogue. Clients often reveal critical needs casually—things you'd never hear if you rushed through the requirements checklist. Strategic Planning vs Feature Bloat Planning is vital, but discipline is equally important. Michael recommends an early brainstorm to throw every idea on the table. Then, trim down ruthlessly to only what's needed for your MVP. Rob warns against premature optimization: spending hours adjusting colors and layout before functionality is in place. Significant development is about timing—doing the right work at the right stage. Final Thoughts on Solving Problems in Software Projects The episode concludes with a call to action: focus on outcomes, not output. Don't measure your value by lines of code or number of features. Measure it by the clarity, stability, and usefulness of the solution you deliver. Sometimes, the best move is to slow down, ask more questions, and think more deeply. Rushing to implement can lead to rework and frustration. Thoughtful, deliberate problem-solving builds better developers and better software. Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development. Additional Resources One Offs, Side Projects, and Veering From Standards Setting Realistic Expectations In Development The Importance of Properly Defining Requirements Building Better Developers With AI – With Bonus Content

Want To Watch The Matt King Show?Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/@mattkingatx Join Anthony Tolliver as he shares his incredible journey from playing for 11 teams in 13 NBA seasons to becoming a successful entrepreneur with over 50 businesses. Discover his thoughts on legacy, work ethic, and how GoBundance has helped him forge strong networks.Moments From The Show00:00 Overcoming NBA Rejections00:16 Building a Legacy Beyond Basketball01:49 Family Influence and Work Ethic04:32 The Journey to Professional Basketball06:34 Navigating NBA Challenges16:03 The Importance of Team and Tribe19:17 Business Ventures and Lifelong Learning22:08 Balancing Family and Career32:42 Lessons from NBA Legends47:33 Relentless Drive and Business Success48:50 Golfing with Legends51:41 The Greatest of All Time Debate59:43 Transitioning from Basketball to Business01:10:01 Joining the GoBundance Community01:21:01 Solving Problems and Building Legacy01:28:41 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsConnect With Anthonyhttps://www.anthonytolliver.me/ Connect With Matthttps://themattking.com/ Learn More About Gobundancehttps://gobundance.com/tribe Thank You To Our Partners!Lauletta Birnbaum, LLC. - Doing Business Justice®https://www.lauletta.com/ Gobundance Members Email: Gobundance@lauletta.comMyOutDesk - The Workforce That Workshttps://www.myoutdesk.com/ APEX Functional Health -  Take Control of Your Health https://www.apexfunctionalhealth.com/The Matt King Show is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the untold stories of high-achieving individuals—entrepreneurs, athletes, investors, and visionaries—who have forged their own paths to success. Hosted by Matt King, the show goes beyond surface-level interviews, diving deep into the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and lessons that shaped their journeys. With an engaging and thought-provoking approach, The Matt King Show isn't just about success—it's about the experiences, challenges, and philosophies that define extraordinary lives. This is where ambition meets authenticity, and where listeners gain insights they won't hear anywhere else.

Send us a textThis episode is a special repost of my conversation with Stu McMillan on the ALTIS Podcast, originally recorded as a lead-up to the ALTIS Speed Summit where I will be presenting.  If you're attending the Summit this weekend, this will give you a preview of what I'll be covering in my talk on Saturday, June 7th. The session will be titled "This is Not a Drill: Developing Speed Through Problem Solving." We cover a wide range of topics—everything from designing adaptable athletes to unlearning rigid drill-based models. Whether you're new to ecological dynamics or deep into it, this conversation bridges theory and real-world coaching.The ALTIS Speed Summit kicks off on Friday, June 6th, and my presentation is on Saturday, June 7th.Key Topics Discussed:✅ Why repeatable outcomes matter more than repeatable movements ✅ How to build learning environments that guide problem solving ✅ What coaches need to unlearn to truly develop adaptable athletes ✅ The role of perception, variability, and context in speed training ✅ Transitioning from traditional  models to ecological dynamicsResources & Mentions:ALTIS Speed Summit Info: altis.worldThe Adaptable Athlete Podcast: theadaptableathlete.comEmergence Website: emergentmvmt.com“How We Learn to Move” – Rob Gray: Buy on AmazonCredits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io Let's Chat!Twitter: @thecoachjavIG: @thecoachjav

In This Episode We Cover:✅ The one email that launched a multimillion-user marketplace✅  What really happens when big brands say no (and how G2A pivoted)✅ Why culture beats strategy (and how to build it)✅ What G2A looks for in acquisitions today⏱️ Chapters:[1:58] The Origins of G2A: An Email That Started It All  [5:41] Why Passion, Not Profit, Drives G2A  [9:22] The Real Job of a CEO: Solving Problems  [10:21] Culture Eats Strategy: Building Team-Driven Growth  [13:00] Why Lifelong Learning Matters More Than Credentials  [17:39] The Digital Powerhouse Strategy and M&A Criteria  [19:13] Why G2A Invests in Gaming Education  [24:44] How G2A Uses AI Across the Organization  [26:03] AI in Cybersecurity: A Double-Edged Sword  [27:24] Why Marketplaces Offer Better Protection Than Solo Sellers   

Join us in this episode as we explore the world of complex problem-solving across industries with Hunter S. Gaylor, an executive partner, financial expert, and author. Hunter is a highly accomplished business leader with a diverse range of expertise spanning mobile banking, corporate strategy, private aviation, and international relations. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University, is the Founder of Spencer Pruitt, and is the author of Planes Plants and Politics: A Mental Framework To Help Overcome Challenges in Any Industry. Click play to find out: The one thing that kills more strategies more than anything else. The importance of being able to accurately articulate what you're doing and why you're doing it. The driving force behind discipline and action. Why identifying the motivating factors behind specific goals. Discover the strategies behind Hunter S. Gaylor's guidance that drives worldwide business success – join the conversation now! You can follow along with Hunter on X @HunterGaylor and LinkedIn. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

Join the crew this week and listen as they solve the World's problems. We are loading up for Expo, but still get in a new episode! Turn the speakers up, this episode is nuts!Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.facebook.com/p/AB-Livestock-Supply-100057208731268/https://www.facebook.com/lazyhbeadwork/https://jimmysnaturals.com/www.optiwize.com

Today we look at the coaching exercise Rose, Bud, Thorn as a way of getting perspective and solving problems in life.If you found this episode helpful, you can support the podcast by leaving a rating or review, or by buying a coffee here https://ko-fi.com/joannemallonJoanne Mallon is the author of several self help books including How to Find Joy in 5 Minutes a Day, Find Your Why and How to Find Calm in 5 Minutes a Day. She's been coaching clients around the world for over 20 years and is one of the UK's most experienced life and career coaches.Joanne's books are here on Amazon https://amzn.to/3D0rn6ZGet in touch on Bluesky and Instagram @joannemallon or email joanne@joannemallon.com Joanne specialises in life and career coaching for people in media and creative industries. To find out more about one to one coaching with Joanne, visit her  website here: https://joannemallon.com/

GTO Wizard - The best way to learn and practice GTO!Use this link to sign up: https://gtowizard.com/p/junglemanThis week I'm with Wayne Yap, who literally dominated the Asian poker scene as the former #1 in Singapore, stacking up over $1.3M in tournaments and $3M+ in cash games before making a hard left into business. Seriously, why would someone leave crushing it at the tables? We dug into applying hardcore poker thinking – the EV, the polarization – to the business world, and turns out, most business folks are missing this crucial stuff. He breaks down why you actually need to repel some people to attract the right ones, a wild concept that makes a lot of sense once you hear it.Beyond the strategy, we touched on some deep and unexpected territory: intense spiritual journeys, what it's really like buying and running businesses without prior experience, and the brutal lessons about who to trust along the way. If you've ever wondered if poker brains are wasted just playing cards, or how to find leverage and value in unconventional places, this is the conversation.Check out Wayne's X linked below for more unfiltered thoughts.https://x.com/wayneyapCHAPTERS00:00 - Wayne Yap: Poker Pro to Business Guru & Spiritual Explorer01:00 - The Spiritual Rabbit Hole: Meditation & Transcendent Experiences02:26 - Crushing Poker: Singapore's #1 and Big Wins03:08 - Why Leave Poker at the Peak? Climbing a Higher Mountain04:40 - Lessons from Life: Bowling, World of Warcraft & Obsession06:05 - Poker Skills for Business: EV & Polarization08:45 - Why You Need People to Like & Hate You11:24 - First Business Acquisition & Fighting Industry Norms15:19 - Finding & Exploiting Opportunities (Business vs. Poker)19:05 - Bouncing Back: Overcoming Poker & Business Setbacks20:49 - The Leap into Buying Businesses23:16 - Solving Problems & Motivating Teams Without Experience26:48 - Different Types of "Genius" in Life & Work28:29 - The Inner Game: Motivation & Self-Talk29:39 - The "Star Principle": Finding a Winning Market Niche32:42 - If I Started Over: Poker as a Hobby?34:40 - Business vs. Poker: Risk, Rewards & Finding Your Path38:08 - Getting into Business Without Money: Apprenticeship & Acquisitions44:16 - The Dangers of Partnering with the Wrong People45:40 - Is Business for Everyone? Finding Your Archetype50:00 - Deep Dive into Spiritual Experiences & Joe Dispenza55:09 - Experiencing Energy & Questioning Miracles57:25 - Samadhi, Unity, and Out-of-Body States1:01:42 - Integrating Spiritual Insights into Business & Life1:05:35 - Evaluating Tony Robbins: Value, Manipulation, and Ethics1:09:38 - Connecting & Collaborating: Wayne's Community & Future Vision1:12:21 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find WaynePINNED COMMENTWhat do you think of Wayne Yap's decision? Smart? Crazy? Drop your thoughts below...

On today's episode, Supply Chain Leaders Brian Hastings and Justin Maines sit down with Chadd Olesen, CEO and founder of AVRL, to discuss his unconventional entry into the logistics industry and his work with top brokerages. Topics include automation, change management, and strategies for transforming midsize brokerages into industry powerhouses. Chad shares insights on the complexities of spot bidding, the impact of emerging technologies, and the importance of educating brokers. Join us as we explore how AVRL is revolutionizing the transportation sector and what the future holds for brokerage companies.The Logistics & Leadership Podcast, powered by Veritas Logistics, redefines logistics and personal growth. Hosted by industry veterans and supply chain leaders Brian Hastings and Justin Maines, it shares their journey from humble beginnings to a $50 million company. Discover invaluable lessons in logistics, mental toughness, and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit. The show delves into personal and professional development, routine, and the power of betting on oneself. From inspiring stories to practical insights, this podcast is a must for aspiring entrepreneurs, logistics professionals, and anyone seeking to push limits and achieve success.Timestamps: (00:31) - Chadd's Journey into Logistics(00:46) - Early Projects and Key Partnerships(02:06) - Breaking into Transportation(05:02) - Automation in Transportation06:13 Growth and Change Management(07:31) - Solving Problems for Shippers and 3PLs(14:34) - Future of Technology in Logistics(19:33) - Challenges and Opportunities in Automation(21:13) - Intern's Quick Adaptation to TMS(22:39) - Building a Unique Culture at AVRL(25:37) - Challenges in Technology Adoption(27:27) - The Role of Change Management(33:49) - Client Expectations and Long-Term Success(37:07) - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsConnect with Chadd Olesen!▶️LinkedIn | WebsiteConnect with us! ▶️ Website | LinkedIn | Brian's LinkedIn | Justin's LinkedIn▶️ Get our newsletter for more logistics insights▶️ Send us your questions!! ask@go-veritas.comWatch the pod on: YouTube

Welcome back! This is part three of a three-part series to help you make real progress on your healing journey. In the first episode, we talked about five key skills every man needs to stop using porn. In the second episode, we looked at five relationship skills that help couples rebuild trust and feel close again. Today, I want to share a simple framework that shows why people get stuck—and how to move forward faster. When I work with someone, I look for what's in the way of their progress. It usually comes down to one of two things: A knowledge gap – they don't know what to do. An emotional block – they do know what to do, but something inside stops them from doing it. In this episode, I'll walk you through three real-life problems couples often deal with, and show you how this framework can help you figure out your next steps. For therapy with Sam: I will work with you for 12 weeks to help you eliminate pornography use and resolve the root cause so it doesn't come back. If after the 12 weeks you haven't fully overcome it, I'll work with you for free until you do. Click here for info to work with me directly.   Have questions you want me to address on future podcast episodes? Email me here:  sam@healingcouples.org   Get access to my trust building workshop: Rebuild Trust Workshop   Want access to a free course I created for my podcast listeners? Click the Couples Healing website and in the course you'll learn some top strategies to find healing from addiction and trauma, rebuild trust, experience freedom, and begin to reconnect with each other in the relationship.   Follow Me on Instagram for daily tips and tools you can implement to overcome pornography addiction. Tune in to get clarity, encouragement, and actionable steps to support your relationship! 

When I started my business, I thought more clients and more money would mean more freedom — but it didn't. It just meant more work. If you're stuck below seven figures and feeling like your business owns you instead of the other way around, this episode is your wake-up call. I'm breaking down the real reason you can't scale yet — and it's not because you need to work harder. I'll show you how to shift into true ownership, build a team that's aligned with your vision, and create a business that's profitable, sustainable, and doesn't burn you out. If you're ready to grow without losing your mind, you need to hear this.

In today's episode, I'm joined by Andrew Sheaff—coach, educator, and the author of A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching. We dive into one of the most important skills for adult swimmers and triathletes: learning how to self-coach.  Whether you're swimming solo, training without feedback, or stuck on a plateau, Andrew shares a practical roadmap to finally break through. You'll learn why progress isn't about doing more drills—but choosing the right ones. We talk about how to create built-in feedback loops, what to do if you feel like nothing's changing, and why slowing down and being intentional could be your fastest path forward.  Andrew also shares one of his favorite drills—“power pulls”—and how it reveals exactly what's working (and what's not) in your stroke. If you're someone who trains alone, or you've been working hard without seeing results, this episode could be the turning point. If you enjoy this conversation and want to dive deeper, Andrew's Stroke Fundamentals course is a fantastic next step. It breaks down the key elements of freestyle technique in a simple, actionable way—and as a listener of the podcast, you can get 50% off. Click this link to get Stroke Fundamentals for 50% off —> www.coachandrewsheaff.com/effortless 01:58 Self-Coaching In Swimming 04:06 Setting Clear Goals For Improvement 06:22 Effective Drills For Feedback 10:35 Understanding Pressure and Technique 14:30 Improving Rotation in Freestyle 21:00 Identifying and Solving Problems in Training 23:43 Mastering Breath Timing in Swimming 26:03 Identifying and Addressing Common Mistakes 28:30 Challenging Drills for Skill Improvement 31:01 Integrating Skills and Training Effectively 36:16 Creating Engaging and Purposeful Workouts 38:57 The Importance of Consistency in Skill Developtment 41:24 Fundamentals of Effective Swimming Techniques  

Lex interviews Josh Reeves, co-founder of Gusto, a company specializing in payroll, HR, and benefits solutions for small businesses. Josh shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and strategies involved in building Gusto. The discussion covers the evolution of technology from Web 2.0, the importance of understanding customer needs, and maintaining strong unit economics. Josh emphasizes Gusto's mission to simplify payroll and HR tasks for small businesses, aiming to improve their survival rates and overall efficiency. The episode underscores the significance of product quality and customer satisfaction in navigating industry competition. Notable discussion points: 1. Solving Payroll as a Massive, Underserved SMB Pain Point: Reeves highlighted how in 2011, 40% of small businesses were fined annually due to manual payroll errors. Gusto addressed this pain using cloud and mobile tech, making payroll fast, accurate, and accessible—especially for non-experts. 2. Product Sequencing and the Power of a Payroll-Centric Ecosystem: Starting with payroll, Gusto built a sticky, horizontal product with strong retention. From there, they expanded into benefits, time tracking, and more—adding products based on customer pull and reinforcing their ecosystem. 3. Organizational Evolution: From Founder-Led to Functional and Matrixed: Gusto grew from 3 co-founders to 2,600+ employees by evolving from a hands-on team to a matrix structure. Reeves emphasized hiring leaders suited to each stage and giving small, focused teams autonomy to drive new product development. MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION Topics: Fintech, Gusto, Payroll, HR, Zazzle, SMB, CAC, Customer, Scaling, Growth, Web2.0 ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 

Morning Mantra: “My life isn't perfect but I find ways to be happy about it.”Some people think happiness is a life without problems, but that doesn't exist. EVERYONE has problems. Life is just a series of problems; from small ones like what you'll have for dinner, to huge ones like an illness.To believe that happiness means no problems sets you up to be unhappy every time you have one. Which is every day of your life. The secret is to not get stressed over every little problem so you will have enough energy to tackle the bigger ones.You get to decide your degree of happiness because you get to decide how much of your time, energy, and emotional response each problem deserves. And that feeling of solving even the little problems, like what you'll wear today or what you'll watch on TV tonight, creates a feeling of happiness.Start to notice this and pay attention to your growing sense of happiness.#BeOkWithProblems #BeHorsey #BeHippie #HorseHippie #MorningMantra #WordsToInspire #InspirationalQuotes #HorseHippieBoutique #SmallBusinessOwner #WomenOwned #HorseHippieBoutique

As I get ready for trial this week, I don't think I could have asked for a better conversation to help remind me that creativity and consistency go hand-in-hand. As lawyers, it can be easy to rely on a strategy that's worked in the past, and in some ways it's necessary. But if there's anything standing in front of a jury will teach you, it's that having to adjust your message while maintaining the mission is a core part of what it means to be a leader.  My guest this week is Marty Strong. A combat veteran of the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, he earned his graduate degree in Management from National University and would go on several VP roles as a financial advisor and is no stranger to Leadership. Over the course of his career, Marty has helped to build and lead multiple companies and is currently the CEO of Legacy Care which specializes in providing post-acute treatment to patients in need. A sought-after guest speaker and consultant, he is the author of the Amazon best-seller, Be Visionary: Strategic Leadership in the Age of Optimization, and the recently published Be Different: How Navy SEALs and Entrepreneurs, Bend, Break, or Ignore the Rules to Get Results.We discuss the differences between the academic leader and the practitioner leader, the value of reminding others of the potential you see in them, and why all of the practical training in the world can't help if someone doesn't understand their purpose. Enjoy the show!

OpenAI has successfully raised $40 billion in what is believed to be the largest private technology funding round ever, boosting its valuation to $300 billion. This funding round was predominantly led by the Japanese investment firm SoftBank, which has now surpassed Microsoft as OpenAI's largest investor. Despite the impressive growth in revenue and user base, OpenAI continues to face challenges in achieving profitability, as it invests heavily in infrastructure and user acquisition. The company has announced plans to release its first open-weight language model since 2019, marking a strategic shift to adapt to competitive pressures from open-source alternatives.The podcast also highlights significant advancements in AI applications across various sectors. Researchers are leveraging AI to accelerate drug repurposing, enabling faster exploration of treatment options for patients with limited choices. American Express has integrated AI into its internal IT support, achieving a remarkable reduction in IT escalations and enhancing travel assistance for its elite customers. These examples illustrate the potential of AI to deliver tangible business value and improve operational efficiency.However, the integration of AI is not without its challenges. Bloomberg News has faced difficulties in generating accurate AI summaries for articles, leading to corrections and concerns about the reliability of AI-generated content. This underscores the importance of maintaining quality control and human oversight in AI applications, particularly in fields like journalism where accuracy is paramount.The episode concludes with a discussion on trends towards simplifying complex processes in business. Innovations such as rapid business valuation tools, enhanced customer communication through Rich Communication Services, and streamlined cyber insurance solutions reflect a broader movement to improve efficiency and accessibility in various industries. These developments highlight the ongoing evolution of technology and its impact on business operations, emphasizing the need for strategic implementation of AI and other technological advancements. Three things to know today 00:00 OpenAI's Rollercoaster Ride: Big Money, Open Models, and Profit Puzzles06:29 AI Wins and Woes: Curing Disease, Solving Problems, and Sometimes Missing the Mark10:41 MSPs Get a Boost: Faster Insights, Smoother Communication, and Insurance Made Easy  Supported by:  https://getnerdio.com/nerdio-manager-for-msp/  Join Dave April 22nd to learn about Marketing in the AI Era.  Signup here:  https://hubs.la/Q03dwWqg0 All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

Leanne addresses the current challenges with employee engagement, pointing out that despite increased leadership training, engagement remains at an all-time low. She highlights the disconnect between what organizations think their teams need and what employees truly want, advocating for a more collaborative and listening-focused leadership approach. Leanne shares personal stories from her early leadership experiences, reflecting on the mistakes made by not fully listening to her team. The conversation also covers the power of collaboration and generosity in the workplace, along with Leanne's new daily podcasting journey and how it's helping her grow both creatively and professionally.About our guest:Leanne Hughes is a dynamic consultant, speaker, and facilitator who specializes in maximizing team potential through impactful and contagious work experiences. With a background in Marketing and a deep passion for Group Dynamics and Psychology, she designs and leads workshops that foster meaningful change, enhance performance, and build cultures of success. Leanne is particularly skilled in virtual events, offering both live delivery and behind-the-scenes coaching. As an author of The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint and The First Time Facilitator, Leanne empowers leaders to create engaging experiences that drive results. A keynote speaker and podcaster, she champions transparency, innovation, and experimentation across industries including construction, mining, tourism, and education. Recognized for her contributions, Leanne was inducted into The Million Dollar Consulting® Hall of Fame in 2022 and was awarded Learning Professional of the Year at the 2021 Asia Pacific Learning Impact Awards.Follow Our Guest:Website: https://www.leannehughes.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leannehughespage/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannehughes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leannehughes/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeanneHughesFollow Us On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestevehodgson/https://www.instagram.com/sharewithsteve/Episode Highlights:01:09 - Transitioning from Corporate to Consultancy05:46 - Understanding Team Needs07:40 - Solving Problems in Business10:43 - Authenticity in the Age of AI11:24 - Launching a Daily Podcast

Send us a textAre you tired of going around in circles trying to solve problems in your head? Discover the transformational power of transferring your thoughts to paper. In this video, Adrian shares how using paper can help you organize ideas, simplify complex problems, and find clearer solutions. Learn how this method can enhance your productivity, creativity, and overall thinking process. Grab a notebook and start experiencing the benefits of thinking on paper today!Support the show

In this episode of the Jared Briggs Show, Jared interviews Tim Smith, a dynamic figure in the insurance industry who's leveraging TikTok to revolutionize his business. Tim shares his journey from being a college basketball player to becoming an independent insurance agent, highlighting how he transitioned from traditional marketing methods like direct mail leads to a full-fledged social media strategy. They delve into the importance of reinvesting in your business, finding mentorship, and constantly adapting to new methods and technologies. Tim also emphasizes the value of building personal relationships with clients and partners, which has significantly contributed to his business growth. Whether you're in the insurance industry or any other field, this episode is packed with actionable advice on leveraging social media, understanding market trends, and building strong professional relationships to excel in your career.00:00 Welcome to the Jared Briggs Show00:15 Meeting Tim Smith: A TikTok Connection02:30 Tim's Journey into the Insurance Industry03:31 The Power of Social Media Marketing06:09 Traditional Marketing vs. Social Media07:53 Building Relationships for Business Success10:13 The Importance of Adaptability in Social Media13:31 Handling Leads and Building a Team16:52 Navigating Medicare and Insurance Challenges20:35 Adding Value and Personal Development29:39 The Power of Networking and Learning30:15 Embracing Infinite Banking31:10 Solving Problems for Pharmacies34:19 Building Referral Networks37:36 Local Market Focus40:52 Advice for New Agents41:32 Transitioning to Online Sales45:19 The Importance of Mentorship49:54 Leveraging Free Time for Success54:08 Future of Social Media and AI57:04 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Welcome green thumbs! This week Kevin meets local master gardener and flower lover Janey Santos to discover the lessons she's learned by sharing her gardening journey on YouTube and finding her community of plant lovers. Follow Janey on YouTube at DigPlantWaterRepeat and check out her new book Solving Problems in the LandscapeWatch Janey talk about her favorite Proven Winners on YouTubeGreen Acres Garden PodcastGreen Acres Nursery & SupplyGreen Acres Garden Podcast GroupIn the greater Sacramento area? Learn how to make your yard Summer Strong and discover water-saving rebates at BeWaterSmart.info.

In this episode of the Cornelius Seed podcast, Juan and James Cornelius discuss the challenges of managing crop residue and introduce the concept of Residue Release. They explore its benefits, application techniques, and the biological processes involved in residue breakdown. The conversation emphasizes the flexibility of the product, its compatibility with other farming practices, and the potential for improved soil health and crop yields. 00:00 Introduction to Residue Release05:15 Application Timing and Benefits10:34 Biological Processes in Residue Breakdown14:21 Practical Application and Flexibility16:52 Solving Problems for Farmers20:05 Final Thoughts

Mariah Parsons hosts Taylor Hall, the Marketing Manager at Bagphic, a company specializing in pre-loved authentic designer handbags. Taylor discusses her background in B2B marketing and her role at Bagphic, which involves bridging the gap between Japan and the US. She highlights the meticulous process of authenticating luxury items, emphasizing the importance of customer experience and loyalty. Taylor explains their marketing strategy, focusing on lifestyle and live selling, particularly on platforms like Whatnot and Poshmark. She also touches on the importance of customer retention through personalized service and maintaining a seamless shopping experience.Episode Timestamps:5:01 Taylor's Journey to BagphicTaylor explains how she found the job at Bagphic, highlighting her background in B2B marketing and her dual heritage.She describes the company's structure, noting that it is a brand of a much larger company based in Japan.Taylor shares her excitement about transitioning into a role that leverages her cultural and global perspective.She discusses the intimidating nature of joining a large company and her initial fears about working with luxury handbags.6:40 Bagphic's Product Offerings and SourcingTaylor elaborates on the unique nature of luxury handbags from brands like Dior, Fendi, Chanel, and Hermes.She explains the meticulous process involved in creating these items and the importance of authenticity in sourcing.Taylor describes the rigorous inspection process for authenticating pre-loved items and the expertise required to identify genuine materials.She highlights the sustainability aspect of selling pre-loved luxury items and the rarity of finding certain pieces.18:35 Marketing Strategy for BagphicMariah and Taylor discuss the nuances of marketing luxury handbags, focusing on the lifestyle and experience rather than specific products.Taylor explains how Bagphic leverages the notoriety of luxury brands and emphasizes the unique selection and customer experience.They talk about the importance of inventory management and the challenges of maintaining up-to-date stock information.Taylor emphasizes the role of social media and live selling in keeping customers informed and engaged.19:50 Customer Acquisition and Social MediaTaylor shares insights on how Bagphic uses social media to promote a lifestyle and build customer confidence.She discusses the effectiveness of live selling in providing a more authentic shopping experience, especially for luxury items.Taylor explains the different platforms Bagphic uses for live selling, including Whatnot and Poshmark, and the benefits of each.They talk about the importance of community building and the role of software like OBS for multicasting live sessions.37:14 Customer Retention and ExperienceTaylor outlines the key factors for customer retention at Bagphic, focusing on experience, impression, and relationship.She emphasizes the importance of providing a seamless experience and building trust with customers.Taylor shares her belief in mutual support and loyalty, both from the brand's perspective and from customers.They discuss the emotional connection between brands and customers and how it contributes to loyalty.45:01 Solving Problems and Future PlansTaylor talks about her approach to solving new problems, emphasizing the importance of understanding the customer's perspective.She mentions the value of research, feedback, and leveraging her network to find solutions.Taylor hints at some exciting collaborations and events in the future, including a Whatnot seller event.Mariah expresses excitement for the upcoming developments and thanks Taylor for sharing her insights.

Creating a Cash Infusion: Tips and Strategies for Business Owners In this episode, Pat Rigsby discusses the importance of embracing sales as a value exchange and offers practical strategies for generating cash flow in business. He shares insights from a conversation with a coach who had an aversion to selling and emphasizes the benefits of viewing sales as the start of a partnership. He recounts a successful 21-day cash infusion challenge and suggests various ways to create additional revenue, including offering specialty programs, selling add-ons, and charging enrollment fees. Pat Rigsby also highlights the importance of solving more customer problems and being proactive in sales to build a sustainable business model. 00:00 Introduction to Cash Infusion 00:22 Overcoming Aversion to Selling 02:03 The Value of Ethical Selling 02:29 Exploring Cash Infusion Strategies 03:37 Subscription Models and Beyond 04:00 Solving Problems for Additional Revenue 04:55 Specialty Programs and Workshops 05:31 Maximizing Client Engagement 07:15 Leveraging Enrollment and Maintenance Fees 09:09 Creative Cash Generation Tips 10:10 Conclusion: Embrace Proactive Selling --- Ready to grow your clientele & revenue? Download "The 20 Client Generators" PDF now and get instant access to strategies that will fill your calendar with potential clients. No complicated tech, no lengthy processes—just real strategies that work. https://info.patrigsby.com/20-client-generators   Do you want to stop chasing leads and start attracting them instead?   Get Instant Access To The Weekly Client Machine For Just $5.00!   https://patrigsby.com/weeklyclientmachine   Get Your FREE Copy of Pat's Fitness Entrepreneur Handbook!   https://patrigsby.com/feh

Friday Nights in the fall to the common person is about Friday Night Lights, “the boys of fall,” and the 11 v 11 competition on the field. For the coaches on the sidelines, Friday nights are just an “unstandardized test.” We've studied all week, and now we just have to solve the problems as they come along. On this episode Joe and Daniel talk with Jackson Wiggins to cover common Friday Night problems, usual ways that they solve those problems and others, and how to implement changes in the heat of the game!

Ever wondered how a man who started with just $7 in his pocket built a $1.6 billion real estate empire?   Discover the secret law that transformed Vinney Chopra's life and business.   ---   [00:00:00 - 00:01:00] Introduction and welcome [00:01:00 - 00:03:00] Background on Vinney Chopra [00:03:00 - 00:06:00] Law of Reciprocity [00:06:00 - 00:10:00] Giving and Receiving in Business [00:10:00 - 00:12:00] Book Promotion [00:12:00 - 00:16:00] Receiving in Business [00:16:00 - 00:21:00] Understanding Client Needs [00:21:00 - 00:25:00] Solving Problems for Wealthy Investors [00:25:00 - 00:28:00] Upcoming Events and Closing   ---  

What if one small act of help could spark a legacy? Darren Hardy shares how solving one problem can lead to incredible opportunities. Discover the key to creating impact in this inspiring episode!