POPULARITY
272 episodes with trainual
61 episodes with trainual
11 episodes with trainual
20 episodes with trainual
24 episodes with trainual
22 episodes with trainual
12 episodes with trainual
11 episodes with trainual
10 episodes with trainual
6 episodes with trainual
7 episodes with trainual
5 episodes with trainual
4 episodes with trainual
4 episodes with trainual
4 episodes with trainual
3 episodes with trainual
3 episodes with trainual
2 episodes with trainual
In this powerful episode 118, Part 2 of Going Forward, host Eric Elliott continues his conversation with Brooke Lively, Founder of Scaling Law, for a deeper look at what actually makes a law firm scalable, valuable & sustainable.Picking up from Part 1, Eric & Brooke move beyond the idea that more leads will fix everything. Instead, they dig into the numbers law firm owners need to understand if they want to grow without creating chaos. Brooke explains how firms can identify whether they have a marketing problem, an intake problem, operations problem or a cash flow problem & why the answer is usually found in the data.They discuss conversion rates, qualified leads, referral sources, appointment show rates, staffing capacity, case inventory & the financial pressure that comes with growth. Brooke also shares why some firms feel like they are growing revenue but still feel broke & why law firm owners need to understand the true cost of supporting each case before chasing the next level.The conversation also turns toward EOS, Scaling Law, and what makes a law firm more attractive to a buyer or successor. She explains why systems create value, why owner dependency lowers firm value why firms become vulnerable when too much knowledge, marketing, or decision-making depends on one person or one source.Topics include: how to know whether your firm has a marketing, intake, or operations problem; why conversion rates matter at every stage; what law firm owners often misunderstand about cash flow; why growing revenue can still leave a firm feeling broke; how case inventory impacts capacity; why systems increase law firm value; how EOS helps reduce owner dependency; what makes a law firm more attractive to a buyer & why no single lead source should carry too much of the firm's growth.Sustainable law firm growth does not come from chasing more leads. It comes from understanding the numbers, building the systems & creating a firm that can operate with discipline long after the owner steps out of the center.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericelliottspeakerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theericelliott/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricMElliottTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Brooke Lively:Website: https://brookelively.com/Scaling Law: https://www.scalinglaw.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookelively/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scaling_law/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalinglawYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingLawSupercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://www.optmyzr.com/ to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, two agencies dedicated to helping law firms build stronger brands and sustainable growth strategies. With a background in radio, television, and digital media, Elliott works with legal organizations across the country to align marketing strategy, creative storytelling & operational systems to drive measurable results.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing. VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency built to help firms become the choice in their market through strategy-led SEO, paid media, website design and development, brand strategy, and premium video production. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, VIP Marketing serves law firms nationwide. Our website provides detailed information on our services and expertise. For more information, visit vipmarketing.com.
Chris Ronzio, Jonathan Ronzio, and Sasha Robinson trade hot takes on the workforce headlines everyone's arguing about. Are companies really cutting jobs because of AI, or just using it as cover for bad decisions and overhiring? Is the war on middle management (à la GitLab's three-layer flattening) a smart move or a morale killer? And with engagement at an 11-year low and "quiet stayers" replacing quiet quitters, how much turnover is actually healthy?Then things get personal: Chris and Jonathan go head-to-head on remote vs. hybrid work—data, digital-nomad nostalgia, and all—while Sasha referees and lays out where Trainual actually lands today. Plus, why your manager shouldn't be your "guidance counselor," the case for an employee "aspiration index," and how AI is letting great managers handle 15 reports instead of 5.(The performance management deep-dive? Bumped to next week—this one ran away from us.)
The return of Organize Chaos! This time, Chris has co-hosts... Trainual Co-Founder and CMO/CRO, Jonathan Ronzio, plus Trainual's VP of People Operations, Sasha Robinson take the mic for the indefinite future of the show.Expect Chris, Jonathan, and Sasha, plus guests, to bring you all things business and tech, marketing and sales, people and culture, with behind the scenes real-time insights around how they're building at Trainual.
In this eye-opening episode 118, Part 1 of Going Forward, host Eric Elliott sits down with Brooke Lively, Founder of Scaling Law, for the first half of a two-part conversation on what it really takes to build a healthier, more profitable law firm. In Part 1, Brooke & Eric unpack a hard truth many law firm owners eventually face: growth is not always the same as health.Brooke has spent years helping law firms become more profitable, systemized, and scalable through financial strategy, fractional CFO work and EOS implementation. In this first part of the conversation, she & Eric dive into the pressures facing personal injury firms today, from rising client acquisition costs to private equity, case volume, cash flow & the temptation to chase more leads before fixing what is happening inside the firm.Together, they explore why “more cases” can actually create more problems when a firm does not have the cash, staff, systems, or litigation capacity to work those cases well. Brooke explains why contingency firms have to think carefully about the cost of carrying cases for months before getting paid, and why growth can become dangerous when it is not balanced with cash.Eric and Brooke also discuss the difference between a busy law firm owner and one who is actually building enterprise value. From vision and people to data, process, and traction, Brooke breaks down how EOS helps firms stop spinning in circles and start rowing in the same direction.Topics include: why growth can become dangerous for PI firms; how rising client acquisition costs impact profitability; why leads do not cure all; the relationship between case volume, cash flow & staffing; why insurance companies know which firms will litigate; signs a law firm has outgrown the way it is being managed; six key components of EOS; why law firms need vision, data & process to scale responsibly.In Part 2, we continue with a deeper look at intake, conversion rates, cash flow, owner dependency & more.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericelliottspeakerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theericelliott/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricMElliottTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Brooke Lively:Website: https://brookelively.com/Scaling Law: https://www.scalinglaw.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookelively/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scaling_law/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalinglawYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalingLawSupercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://www.optmyzr.com/ to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations & propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, two agencies dedicated to helping law firms build stronger brands and sustainable growth strategies. With a background in radio, television & digital media, Elliott works with legal organizations across the country to align marketing strategy, creative storytelling & operational systems to drive measurable results.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing. VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency built to help firms become the choice in their market through strategy-led SEO, paid media, website design & development, brand strategy & premium video production. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, VIP Marketing serves law firms nationwide. Our website provides detailed information on our services and expertise. For more information, visit vipmarketing.com.
In this powerful episode 117 of Going Forward, host Eric Elliott sits down with entrepreneur, ecommerce strategist, educator, and founder Ezra Firestone for a conversation that has been in the making since Eric first met Ezra in person in 2024.Known for building and leading brands like Smart Marketer, BOOM, Zipify Apps, and other ecommerce ventures, Ezra brings a conversation that goes far beyond ecommerce tactics. Together, Eric and Ezra explore what it really means to build something valuable without losing sight of your life, your people, or your purpose.From growing up on a hippie commune to building multiple successful companies, Ezra shares how his early relationship with money shaped his view of entrepreneurship. He explains why money can buy comfort but not fulfillment, why service should sit at the center of business, and how his guiding philosophy, “serve the world unselfishly and profit,” has shaped the way he builds.Ezra opens up about the lessons he learned from losing money on a failed software product, why founders often become the bottleneck inside their own companies, and how one day a week of high-level thinking can change the way a business grows. They also dive deep into modern marketing: why the best product does not always win, why the best promise often does, how social proof and manufacturing transparency build trust, and why brands need to understand the real motivations of the people they serve.Topics include: building a business around service; why money does not create fulfillment; lessons from ecommerce, software, and education; how founders become bottlenecks; the power of delegation and team autonomy; why profitability matters more than vanity growth; what makes customers trust a brand; the role of social proof in modern marketing; how to make a better promise; and what it means to go forward by enjoying what you already have.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericelliottspeakerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theericelliott/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricMElliottTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Ezra Firestone:Website: https://loverunnethover.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezrafirestone/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezrafirestone/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeetEzra/Smart Marketer: https://smartmarketer.com/Zipify Apps: https://zipify.com/BOOM: https://boombeauty.com/Supercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://www.optmyzr.com/ to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, two agencies dedicated to helping law firms build stronger brands and sustainable growth strategies. With a background in radio, television, and digital media, Elliott works with legal organizations across the country to align marketing strategy, creative storytelling, and operational systems to drive measurable results.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing. VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency built to help firms become the choice in their market through strategy-led SEO, paid media, website design and development, brand strategy, and premium video production. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, VIP Marketing serves law firms nationwide. Our website provides detailed information on our services and expertise. For more information, visit vipmarketing.com.
In this special episode 116 of Going Forward, we're turning the microphone around. This episode is a re-release of Eric Elliott's recent appearance on Personal Injury Mastermind with host Chris Dreyer, a conversation we found so valuable that we wanted to share it directly with the Going Forward audience.Eric, Founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, joins Chris to unpack what law firms often misunderstand about growth, marketing, and what it actually takes to compete in a crowded personal injury market. Rather than focusing on quick tactics or chasing the newest platform, Eric brings the conversation back to the fundamentals: budget, media, and message.Together, Eric and Chris discuss why stronger marketing rarely comes from simply spending more money. They explore how law firms can better align their advertising strategy with their goals, how digital campaigns can be used to test messaging before scaling into larger media investments, and why intake systems play such a critical role in whether marketing turns into signed cases.Eric also shares his perspective on the difference between a traditional marketing funnel and a true referral flywheel. For firms that want long-term growth, the goal is not just to generate leads. It is to create a better client experience, build trust in the community, and make real “community deposits” that compound over time.Topics include: budget, media, and message alignment; why more leads do not always mean more cases; how intake can quietly make or break marketing performance; using Meta ads and digital campaigns to test messaging; understanding the math behind law firm growth; building a sustainable referral flywheel; and why community trust is one of the most powerful advantages a law firm can create.This episode is a grounded reminder that sustainable growth is not built on guesswork. It is built through alignment, accountability, and a marketing strategy that holds up after the phone starts ringing.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericelliottspeakerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theericelliott/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricMElliottTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Chris Dreyer:Chris Dreyer Website: https://chrisdreyer.co/Chris Dreyer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdreyerco/?hl=enRankings.io Website: https://rankings.io/Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM): https://www.youtube.com/@pim_orgAvailable Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Chris-Dreyer/author/B008AZZ4F8?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueSupercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://www.optmyzr.com/ to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, dedicated to helping law firms build stronger brands & sustainable growth strategies. With a background in radio, TV & digital media, he works with legal organizations across the country to align marketing strategy, creative storytelling, and operational systems to drive measurable results.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing. VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency built to help firms become the choice in their market through strategy-led SEO, paid media, website design & development, brand strategy & premium video production. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, VIP Marketing serves law firms nationwide. Our website provides detailed information on our services & expertise. For more information, visit vipmarketing.com.
I'm sitting down with Jonathan Ronzio, who scaled Trainual from an idea to $30M ARR—while building a company known for its culture and still finding time to climb mountains, run marathons, and live a full life outside of work. What stood out to me in this conversation is how intentional he's been about building systems—not just in the business, but in his life. We talk about why most founders document the wrong things early, how structure actually creates freedom, and how AI is completely reshaping how companies build, sell, and operate. We also get into how he thinks about balance versus alignment, what changes (and what doesn't) after raising capital, and why the most defining moments in business are usually the ones you never planned for. If you're trying to scale without becoming consumed by your business, there's a lot here worth paying attention to. Key Takeaways (00:00) Introduction (01:28) Summiting Aconcagua vs Closing a Series B (03:01) What Is Trainual and Why It Exists (03:52) The #1 Thing SaaS Founders Document Too Late (04:59) When to Create Company Core Values? (06:48) Why Structure Actually Creates Freedom (09:57) Which Processes Deserve SOPs? (11:43) How AI Transformed Trainual's Product Roadmap (15:16) Will AI Kill SaaS? His Honest Take (18:49) Figure Out How to Disrupt Your Business (20:38) Agentic AI and the New Outbound Playbook (22:34) The Exact AI Tech Stack His Team Uses (26:05) Data Security in the Age of AI (30:11) $400K in Credit Card Debt for FB Ads (32:27) Balance vs. Alignment (34:31) Why Daymond John Joined the Cap Table (38:05) Cultural Practices That Actually Work (39:48) Project Management & Communication Tools (43:36) How to Define Culture at Scale (46:30) Mountaineering Lessons That Made Him a Better Leader (53:08) Living an Adventurous Life (58:50) Obsessive Compulsive Creative Disorder (59:43) Advice for Founders Torn Between Focus and Exploration Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q17qPXHSEC0 Let's Connect: Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook
In this honest and eye-opening episode 115 of Going Forward, host Eric Elliott sits down with entrepreneur, automation expert, and Co-CEO of Biggest Goal, Alane Boyd, to unpack what it really takes to scale a business without losing yourself in the process.Alane has built and exited multiple companies, but what she shares in this conversation goes far beyond strategy. From the painful reality that “no one owes you their loyalty” to the moment she was forced to step back from her own company, she reveals the hard truths most founders avoid until it's too late.Together, they explore the hidden costs of growth, including burnout, identity loss, and the pressure of being the “hero” inside your own business. Alane opens up about the physical toll scaling took on her health and how chronic stress forced her to rethink everything.They also dive into one of the biggest mistakes founders make: believing that being good is enough. As Alane explains, if you're not telling your story, no one knows you exist, and that misunderstanding can quietly limit your growth.From systems and automation to leadership and letting go, this episode challenges the way most people think about building a company. It's not just about scaling revenue, it's about building something that can operate without you.Topics include:The emotional reality of scaling a businessWhy employees leaving can break a company without systems in placeThe danger of “hero syndrome” in leadershipHow burnout can physically impact your healthWhy marketing yourself matters more than you thinkBuilding systems that protect your businessHow AI and automation are reshaping the future of our workThis episode is a powerful reminder that growth isn't just about doing more, it's about letting go.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericelliottspeakerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theericelliott/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricMElliottTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Alane Boyd:Website: https://www.biggestgoal.ai/Medium Articles: https://medium.com/@AlaneBoydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaneboyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hurricanealane/Supercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://www.optmyzr.com/ to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, two agencies dedicated to helping law firms build stronger brands and sustainable growth strategies. With a background in radio, television, and digital media, Elliott works with legal organizations across the country to align marketing strategy, creative storytelling, and operational systems to drive measurable results.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing. VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency built to help firms become the choice in their market through strategy-led SEO, paid media, website design and development, brand strategy, and premium video production. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, VIP Marketing serves law firms nationwide. Our website provides detailed information on our services and expertise. For more information, visit vipmarketing.com.
Sometimes you need to listen to the universe when it is trying to help you. Kyla Dufrense listened and survived. Dave Young: Welcome to The Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom and pop to major brands. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector, and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor, which is, well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. So here’s one of those. [Handyside Ad] Speaker 6: Told you, Brian. Brian: Told me what? Speaker 6: This is part two of last week’s episode. Brian: Oh yeah, and it was getting good. Speaker 6: If you missed it, go back and listen to part one first. Take it away, fellas. Stephen Semple: It’s funny how often we see this mistake. It’s even interesting. There’s a famous marketer, Al Rice, and Jack Trout wrote a book called The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding. And one of the things that they talk about in the book is, don’t extend brand. Look, it’s amazing how many times companies try to just go, “Well, let’s just make it this bigger thing and we’ll talk…” And it almost always never works. You’re much better off multiplying the thing that you do well than trying to add around the edges. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah, you got to keep it simple. I will tell you, it is very challenging to train one person to be the best at five different services. Really it is. Stephen Semple: Absolutely. Kyla Dufresne: We know how to train someone to be the best waxer in a five-day program. We can turn someone with the right personality, obviously, but we can turn somebody into a fantastic hair removal expert in five days. To be great at nails and lashes and hair, I mean, God, that takes a really long time. And then you want to go, okay, you have to do all of these things. How do you get one person to be great at all of those things? You’re going to be putting out a mediocre product, maybe, for the convenience of a one-stop shop. Truly, you can’t be the best at all things. Stephen Semple: Well, and I’m going to put it to you another way too, because that’s the operational challenge. I’m even going to look at it from the marketing challenge. So, what we want to be, in anytime we’re marketing a business, we want to be thought of first and we want to be like the best, right? But thought of first for what? Now, if it’s thought of first for being a salon, well, there’s lots of salons, right? Thought of first for waxing, that’s a little bit different, right? And it’s way easier than to lean into that and really be liked about, because even the whole thing, Foxy Box, people like that. Well, now it’s this other name that was a little bit safer and more conservative because we’re in this area. It was also harder to be liked for that. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So this whole strategy had of being thought of first for this thing and liked the most for this, you had to deviate from that. And I’m going to say, even if you got the operations going, I don’t think it would’ve been a success. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah, for sure. Stephen Semple: In fact, I think if you got the operations going, it would’ve been a trap because it would’ve worked okay. I actually think the universe gave you a gift of it burning to the ground, and causing you to go, wait a minute, I should just focus. I think the universe was actually looking out for you there. Kyla Dufresne: Oh, for sure. Yeah. It was bringing me back to my roots. And I mean, I learned so many lessons in there. Every experience shapes the leader that we are today. I used to lose so much sleep. I used to cry a lot and now I just don’t. I always say to people, things don’t get easier, we just get better at tackling them. Stephen Semple: Yeah, for sure. Kyla Dufresne: Your business doesn’t get easier. At the top of one mountain, you’re at the bottom of the next. Literally it’s just a constant like, okay, now what’s my next challenge I have to face? But the great thing about that experience is, I lost a lot of sleep. I got a lot of gray hairs, I cried a lot, and now I’m much stronger on the other side. I learned how to be a great leader. I learned how to lead a team, how to build a team. I got clarity on my business structure. It wasn’t all a failure. I think Harvard is probably more expensive than 30,000, so that’s my [inaudible 00:05:03] education. Stephen Semple: So you had one store, went to two stores, you’re back to the one store. What was the next step in the evolution? Kyla Dufresne: My first franchise. Stephen Semple: So what made you decide to franchise? Kyla Dufresne: I knew I wanted to franchise from day one. I said, “I’m going to start a brand. I’m going to call Fox Box. I’m going to franchise and take over the world.” My fire behind that, I had a boss at the bar that I worked at. He’s probably going to hate that I call him out quite a lot on podcasts, because I love him truly. And I learned so much from him on how to develop culture into business. But he said, “You can’t franchise this business, Kyla. People come to you. They’re not going to go, you can’t franchise this.” And I just went, “I use this as my fuel. Watch me.” Stephen Semple: Nice. Nice. Kyla Dufresne: And so I told everybody that would listen that I was going to franchise. I’m a franchise. You can buy a franchise if you want. I had no idea what that meant to Stephen. I didn’t know what franchising was. I didn’t know what that meant for my role, but everyone knew like, “Oh yeah, I’m going to sell franchises.” I didn’t have anything. I had no franchise agreement, no FTD, but I told everybody I was a franchise. So two of my top estheticians came to me and said, “Kyla, we want to be a first franchisees. We’re ready. We want to open in the West Shore in one of the fastest growing communities.” I think it was in Canada at the time. And I went, “All right, great. Let’s do it.” I reached out to my lawyers. I said, “I’ve got two of my technicians. They want to be my first franchisees.” They whipped me up a license agreement because it was much cheaper and faster. And like, this is all you need. Put it in front of them. We all signed on the dotted line and things went south from that moment forward. A few things that went wrong. Number one is that I sold a license agreement instead of our franchise agreement. Stephen Semple: Yeah, very different. Yeah. Kyla Dufresne: When you sell a license agreement, there isn’t this 160-page document called a franchise disclosure document. And in a franchise disclosure document, it outlines everyone’s roles and responsibilities in this marriage that you’re going to enter into. So we went into this blind, like, “I don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.” There was zero expectations. When it came to support, for example, for me, I thought, “Oh, if they need something, I’m going to answer.” If they text or whatever, support to them meant, “Oh, if I’m short-staffed, you come and work in my store.” So when they open their door like, “Hi, I’m short-staffed. They need you to come work.” Well, this is not what I thought I was getting into. So our expectations were just not aligned at all. The other thing that went wrong is that they were incredibly undercapitalized. Because I didn’t understand that you need a lump sum of money to start a business, because I did it organically. Stephen Semple: Because you did it differently. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah. I did it differently that I just thought, oh, everyone just figures it out and funds the business. That’s not how it works. These guys had… How much, I think they had $30,000 or something like that to their name and to open the store. 10,000 of that went to me for the license agreement. The remainder was to build out their 1,200 square foot store, market their business, and get up and running. Fortunately, the two of them both were dating general contractors. And so they were, back then too, this was almost 10 years ago, back then you could kind of whip together a space for very little, and they managed to pull off the build out, which was insane. But at the moment they opened their doors, they were strapped for cash and super stressed out. Stephen Semple: Right. Kyla Dufresne: The other thing is that I had nothing systemized. I didn’t understand that. I was in there helping them train their staff. I had no training materials put together. I whipped up an operations manual. My friend owned a franchise, which she since sold a quick service food franchise. She gave me her operations manual. I kind of copied and pasted and changed like, “Here’s your hours.” And the waxing that we do and just general shit. Anyhow, very basic stuff. I had nothing systemized. So when they opened, also I was still in my business waxing full-time. So when they needed stuff, I wasn’t available immediate to lead to them. So we opened and we just had a terrible relationship from the word, go. I realized very quickly that I had no idea what the hell I was doing and I needed help. I found a franchise business coach here in Victoria. Her dad started M&M Meat Shops, which grew to 500 locations. Her name’s Angela Cote. If you don’t know her, she’s awesome. Follow her. Her new business is AC Inc. She teaches field coaching, trains people’s field coaches. But, I reached out to her. I hired her on the spot. I stepped out of my business. We put in a manager at my store so that it could continue running smoothly, systemized everything, built in those proactive support systems, which is, I don’t just wait for you to need something. I’m giving you information to help you make decisions that impact your performance regularly. Weekly, I’m giving you KPIs. We’re meeting monthly to help support you, but we just couldn’t get that relationship back. It was too strained from the beginning. They hated me. And so, we decided to have a mutual termination. I put two offers in front of them. One was, “You guys can keep your store and change your name, or the other is I’ll buy back your store from you and continue to operate.” They chose to keep their location and change their name. Thank God, because back then I went, “I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get money.” Well, you’re in your early days. You have exactly zero. Stephen Semple: Zero. Well, actually often less than zero. Yeah. Kyla Dufresne: Yes, exactly. So they chose the latter, which was a little bit of a relief for me. It was kind of heartbreaking to go like, oh my God, my very first franchise is a failure, but it was the best case scenario. They decided to keep it. They still operate in that market and we’re actually back in that market with one of our fastest growth stores in the system that’s performing very well. But then we went back to market, over prepared at that. We had everything in place like, okay, we’re a buttoned up franchise and now we can go. And I did that. I learned that all from the first location. So it’s a blessing that it was that it was just one that I went, “Okay, I’m out of my league here. I don’t know what I’m doing.” And then- Stephen Semple: How long was it from that coming to its end to then you going out and getting everything together and then getting that real first franchise going? Kyla Dufresne: Probably two years. Stephen Semple: Two years. Yeah. It doesn’t surprise me, because it’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of costs, a lot of work, a lot of time. Yeah. Kyla Dufresne: I just want to add in, that that mutual termination, I managed to work through with my franchise business coach with no lawyers. Stephen Semple: Oh, that’s very good. That is very good. Kyla Dufresne: I always kind of lean into, and I know that we’re Canadian as well, and maybe that doesn’t happen everywhere, but I always lean into that relationship piece. We’re all human beings. And so, if you can get in front of someone and try and work it out together, start there. Stephen Semple: Yeah, it’s always way better. Kyla Dufresne: And instead of going like, “Oh shit, I need a lawyer up.” Let’s start with having a conversation and seeing if we can’t agree on something together. Well, [inaudible 00:11:33]- Stephen Semple: The best way to do these things is you come to the agreement and then yeah, I get at the end, it’s got to be put into legalese words. Kyla Dufresne: For sure. Stephen Semple: But if we can do it where, okay, you and I have come to the agreement, okay, now let’s get it put into proper paperwork because you got to kind of do that. That’s always the best way to land on these things. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah. Yeah. It started with like a come to Jesus moment, which is like, “Are you happy? Because I’m not happy. I’m not happy. I’m trying here. And so if we can’t get on board, what’s our next steps? And so let’s get on this together.” But that was probably a two-year process, from me stepping out of my business to going back to separating and going back to market. We had to build a lot of infrastructure. Our FA, our ED, all of our training material had to be filmed and put onto Trainual. There was a lot of building blocks, figuring out our KPIs, our chart of accounts, our COGS, all of those things had to be flushed out before we could go, “Okay, we’re ready.” And so, now that was six years ago now is when we started to, we got our first franchise, because now we’ve had three renewals since then that have renewed for their next five-year terms. Stephen Semple: Nice. Kyla Dufresne: And so yeah, that was probably the pause. And to be quite frank, Steve, we’re kind of in that pause again at this size. We’re doing that now, which is, we’ve gotten this far. Okay, now what needs to change and pivot to be able to get to 50 locations and then get to a hundred locations? Dave Young: Stay tuned. We’re going to wrap up this story and tell you how to apply this lesson to your business right after this. [Using Stories To Sell] Dave Young: Let’s pick up our story where we left off, and trust me, you haven’t missed a thing. Stephen Semple: I see this all the time. I have clients we’ve worked with for a long time. They get to a certain revenue and then they kind of flatten out for a few years. And often it’s because there’s a whole reorganization has to happen. Some changes have to happen to get ready for that next push. You look at businesses, businesses do that. You go back, look, they grow, they flatten out for a little bit. They grow, they flatten out for a little bit. It’s just because what got you there is not what’s going to get you to the next stage. So there’s always this little retooling that has to happen. But one thing I want to just go back and revisit, this whole idea that you talked about of me and people being out in the community, when you were talking about it, made me think of a story that Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon talked about. And in the early days, he would seek out women who were like taking yoga and Pilates and things along that lines to hire as salespeople. Even if they had never done sales, because he’d be like, “You’re in that community, you understand that community, you hang out with people who are part of that community, and that community is who we’re selling to.” He would much rather hire somebody who was from that community, who had never done a sale of their entire life, than a professional salesperson who is from outside of that community. Kyla Dufresne: I always say to all my franchisees, “You should look for bartenders and servers to be your magicians.” Stephen Semple: Yeah. Kyla Dufresne: I’ll tell you why. They’re quick on their feet. They’re great at diffusing situations, they’re great at communication and they can multitask. So I actually kind of stay away from, if you hire an aesthetician, here’s what’s going to happen. The great thing about our business model, it will look different when we go into the US, but I feel like there’s a larger net of estheticians to pull from. The great thing about our industry in Canada is that the hair removal industry is unregulated. So you don’t have to be an esthetician to perform hair removal services. We have our own certification program that we put everybody through to certify them as a waxer. And the great thing is that if you hire on the right personality, and you train them to be a great magician, they’re going to have loyalty to you. They’re going to stay with you forever because our girls make great money. I think on average they’re like 37 bucks or 40 bucks an hour, with their tips and commissions, being a waxer. So to take someone that has no education, train them in this industry and build them up, they’re going to stay with you. When you hire estheticians, a couple of things. Typically, a lot of estheticians like to do facials and spas, so they might not be the right personality for Brazilian waxing. The other thing is that because they’ve invested in their education themselves, they’re going to be real quick to leave you for someone that gives them 50 cents more. Stephen Semple: Sure. Yes. Kyla Dufresne: So really I lean into, yes, it’s expensive to train your staff, but you’re going to have much less turnover if you really invest in the right candidate, and look for that personality type that is going to be warm and inviting and quick. And typically that really aligns parallel to people in the service industry. Stephen Semple: You know what’s interesting about that, one of, super successful client of mine in the heating and air conditioning business in the US, talks about how he does a lot of his recruiting from people who work in bars and restaurants. Kyla Dufresne: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Stephen Semple: For those reasons. And on top of that, like when you talk about being able to be taken away or whatnot, he’ll train them. So he’ll turn you into an AC tech and he looks at it and says, they may make more money, they may not, but here’s what you get, evenings and weekends off. He can actually give them a better life, give them a better path forward. And what he’s found is, all those things. They understand how to talk to people, they understand how to upsell things, they understand how to diffuse the situation when things go wrong and they’re great in teamwork. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Right? Kyla Dufresne: Exactly. All of those. Stephen Semple: And those are the things that are hard to teach. The technical stuff, yeah, we got books and manuals and trainers. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I think that’s one of the things when I go back to my boss who said, “You can’t franchise this business.” What I really learned from him is how to create a culture where staff want to stay as well. Stephen Semple: Yes. Kyla Dufresne: Because I could have. And at the end of my bartending career, I did go move to the place where I could make almost double the tips, because it was much higher volume. I used to get… Try to… People used to poach me to come and bartend at their bars all the time. And I say that, Lucky Bar is the name of the venue. It’s still around in Victoria. I was there for four years. I had people that I knew the bartenders made much more, try and poach me all the time, but I stayed at Lucky Bar because he created such a culture of family where I loved going to work. We all jibed. He would take us on these staff retreats all the time. It felt like a family and I really wanted to go and work there, taking that- Stephen Semple: And those are important parts to retention. Kyla Dufresne: It’s not always about that extra money. It’s about, “I’m going to be spending most of my time at work. Where do I want to be?” Stephen Semple: Yeah. And you’ve created a place that’s got some fun and things along that lines. I want to thank you for this time. If there’s a final thought, because the people who listen to this podcast, many are looking at this for ideas to help them with their business and they’ve got a smaller mid-size business. What is a piece of advice that you would give them? Kyla Dufresne: I would say, find a mentorship, really. Reach out to… Never be afraid to ask for help. I think that’s probably been one of my biggest blessings is that I have no ego when it comes to like, “I don’t know this.” You got to put your ego aside and reach out if you don’t know something. I’m constantly looking at people who are where I want to be and reaching out and going, “How do I get there?” If someone’s got a hundred locations, 150 locations, I’m reaching out to go, “When you were at my size, what did you do? What did you change?” Recently, our pause right now is I put together a board of advisors. I’ve got all these beautiful C-suite executives on my outside perspective on my brand to help guide me through, what needs to change or pivot, what suppliers do we need to add on or systems that need to be fleshed out in order to help us get to the next level. I also, on top of that, I mean, I’m an entrepreneur. I have a two-year-old. So on top of that, I have my community of moms as well. When you can connect with other business owners, or there’s also a group of, there’s 12 of us female franchisors, we’re on this text group and we meet once a month. When you can do that, it’s going to normalize some of your fears, your thoughts, your stresses, and your struggles, and it’s going to help you push through, because this is not easy. Opening a business is not easy. Stephen Semple: No, it’s not. Kyla Dufresne: It’s never going to be easy. If it was easy, every single person on the planet would own a business. So if you can surround yourself with people that are going to help push you through those challenging times or provide insight, then do that. On top of that, reach back and help the next person. I’m also a mentor for other people franchising their business. I’m always happy to provide my time and give insight of the guts, especially I love it if they come prepared to a meeting to go, “Here’s my questions.” And I do that with people who are my mentors or I reach out to, I come prepared for that and I go, “Here’s my struggles and this is what I need help with.” So my advice would be don’t just show up and go, “What do I need to know?” Come with what are your challenges right now so that you can get actual tangible advice out of it. Stephen Semple: That’s cool. That’s awesome. And if I was going to say what I think is the most valuable piece of information that people could get from this podcast, and I love how you leaned into it, was in the early days, grass roots, gorilla, face-to-face, whatever terminology we want to put towards it, that’s the biggest thing. And if I could tell you the number of meetings that I’ve had over the years with people wanting to start a business, and the first thing I’ve said to them is, “Okay, in the first year, here’s what you want to do is you want to… And I’ll give you some coaching on how to do that,” and then I never hear from them again. And then what I find out is, “Yeah, but I hired this person who’s putting together this app for me and that’s what’s going to make…” I’m like, “You don’t even understand your customer.” And so I really love the fact that you put that out there and leaned into it, because I think that’s really important in the early days. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah. Oh, for sure. Stephen Semple: And pretty much every entrepreneur I know who’s been hugely successful did that in the early days. The early days, there was a lot of precedent of the flesh. Kyla Dufresne: Yeah. I think it’s kind of a benefit, Stephen, sometimes if you don’t have that extra capital or money because you- Stephen Semple: Because you have to. Yes. Kyla Dufresne: If you felt like, “Oh, I’ve got access to this big loan or all this money, I’m just going to sit here and put it online.” It’s kind of a benefit. You should always think scrappy, always think scrappy. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Kyla Dufresne: How do I get the most return out of my time? And that is… I mean, yeah, you got to go shake your hands with babies and hold babies, and shake hands like you have to. Stephen Semple: Yeah, you really do in the early days for a whole bunch of reasons. Look, this has been awesome and thank you very, very much for your time. So if somebody wants to learn more about your business, or maybe even potentially franchise, where should they go to learn more? Kyla Dufresne: Foxyboxwaxbar.com is our website. Stephen Semple: Foxyboxwaxbar.com. Kyla Dufresne: We’ve got our franchise information. You can find me on LinkedIn, Kyla Dufresne. I’m super active on there. If you’ve got any questions to even … I’m always happy to give my time to people who are interested in franchising and have some questions. Always feel free to reach out. And follow us on social media because our brand is super fun. We’re FoxyBoxWaxbar on Instagram as well, so check us out. We’re pretty hilarious. Stephen Semple: And it’s for the dudes as well. Kyla Dufresne: It is for everybody. Stephen Semple: All right. Thank you very much. Dave Young: Thanks for listening to the podcast. Please share us, subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a big, fat, juicy five star rating and review at Apple Podcasts. And if you’d like to schedule your own 90-minute Empire Building session, you can do it at empirebuildingprogram.com.
Welcome to the Monday Minute, brought to you by Podium — your weekly reset to lead better, think clearer, and build your independent dealership with intention.Most independent car dealers are running entirely on memory. Every process, every answer, every decision lives in one person's head. And that works fine — until you try to grow.In this episode, Luke and Jeff break down why a policy and procedure manual is one of the most important tools an independent dealer can build. As your used car dealership scales, inconsistency creeps in, communication breaks down, and you become the bottleneck for every question your team should already know the answer to. The fix? Write it down.They walk through where to start, how to use AI tools to build your manual faster, and why platforms like Trainual can turn your dealership's procedures into a real onboarding and training system. A strong operations manual doesn't just protect your dealership — it multiplies your leadership, makes your results repeatable, and sets the foundation for real growth.Review this week's Sunday newsletter at TheIndependentDealer.com for the full theme and exercises.Not subscribed yet? Sign up now. https://theindependentdealer.us19.lis...Let's build this together.SPONSORED BY PODIUM: www.podium.com
In this inspiring episode 114 of Going Forward, host Eric Elliott sits down with Amber Hall, Founder and Managing Attorney of Amber Hall Law, to explore what it really takes to build something from nothing and stand out in a competitive industry.From her roots as a Division I athlete to launching her firm with little more than a laptop and determination, Amber shares how mindset became her greatest advantage. She opens up about the realities of starting from the ground up, overcoming doubt, and learning that success begins with belief before strategy.Together, they dive into the intersection of law, business, and personal branding, unpacking how authenticity can outperform even the biggest marketing budgets. Amber also shares how her identity, discipline, and commitment to serving others have shaped a brand that connects deeply with clients and continues to grow.Topics include: building a law firm from scratch; the mindset required to win in business and life; how authenticity drives modern marketing; lessons from athletics that translate to entrepreneurship; empowering others through leadership and example; and why believing in yourself is the ultimate competitive edge.This episode is a powerful reminder that you don't need unlimited resources to succeed; you need clarity, conviction, and the courage to show up as yourself.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericelliottspeakerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamericelliott/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricMElliottTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Amber Hall:Website: https://www.amberhalllaw.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambernhall/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberHallLawInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/attorneyamberhall/Supercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://hs.optmyzr.com/hs/vip to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative, two agencies dedicated to helping law firms build stronger brands and sustainable growth strategies. With a background in radio, television, and digital media, Elliott works with legal organizations across the country to align marketing strategy, creative storytelling, and operational systems to drive measurable results.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing. VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency built to help firms become the choice in their market through strategy-led SEO, paid media, website design and development, brand strategy, and premium video production. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, VIP Marketing serves law firms nationwide. Our Website provides detailed information on our services and expertise. For more information, visit vipmarketing.com.
Ready for calmer projects and stronger profits? Join our free February 24 web class to learn the six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams while maintaining a balanced life. Reserve your spot: https://trybta.com/CGMFB26To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP259 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL259 Systems and documentation don't have to kill your creativity—they are actually the secret to getting your life back.In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Ronzio, Co-Founder and CMO of Trainual, to dismantle the biggest myth in the contracting world: that SOPs are just "boring paperwork."If you're constantly procrastinating on your systems and processes because they feel overwhelming or restrictive, Jonathan reveals the massive mindset shift you need to make. Learn how to stop being the bottleneck in your business, empower your team to run without you, and finally achieve the freedom you started your business for.In this episode, we cover:Why "boring" systems are the gateway to creative freedomThe simple framework to stop procrastinating on SOPsHow to build a business that runs on process, not just peopleThe first steps to automating your operations today00:00-Intro01:33-The Genesis and “Magic” of Trainual and Customer Base10:33-Overcoming Procrastination and the Owner's Mindset Shift for Documentation17:41-Balancing Systems and Creativity in Business19:44-Applying Lessons from Adventure to Business Leadership22:46-Creativity in Marketing30:32-Trainual's Perspective on AI36:05-Wisdom for a Younger Entrepreneurial Self
In this episode, Virginia talks with Logan Lyles about:Logan's path from journalism (2008) to B2B tech sales, then podcasting and demand genWhy webinars still work—when you treat them like a conversion system, not a one-off eventLogan's best-fit clients: B2B (especially agencies, professional services, SaaS)Client acquisition on LinkedIn“Starting a new position” post + profile optimizationResearch survey outreach as a conversation starter (and pipeline generator)Webinar promotion that actually worksLinkedIn Event strategy (including inviting up to 1,000 connections/week)Boosting event posts with event adsCold email as a webinar registration driverPartnerships/newsletter placements to reach warm audiencesEvergreen vs live webinarsLogan's approach: go live first, then convert to on-demand and keep promotingRe-promote the best-performing webinar instead of reinventing each monthScaling a service business the smart wayDocument first, then delegate/automateAvoid delegating before you've refined the processResources mentionedDemand ShiftLinkedIn EventsWebinarSurvey research projectNever Split the Difference by Chris Voss“Do it, document it, delegate it” (referenced from an interview Logan did with Trainual's cofounder)Connect with LoganLinkedIn: Logan LylesWebsite: Demand ShiftKey Questions(01:34) Thanks for being with us today. How did you get to where you are today?(04:16) So how do you get in front of those people? (07:04) If you're wanting to go there, we can definitely do that.(09:30) What are your thoughts on evergreen webinars or the pre-recorded webinars? Or are you all for doing them live in the moment?(11:04) What are some big goals that you have in the next year or two?(11:57) What do you feel like is your number one roadblock?(13:06) What's the best advice, the other best advice that you've ever been given?(14:37) What's the best advice you've ever received saved?(16:23) Is there something that we haven't touched on that you would like to talk about?(17:38) Yeah, for sure. Everything has changed a lot. Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?Logan Lyleshttps://demandshift.co/https://linkedin.com/in/loganlylesVirginia PurnellFunnel & Visibility SpecialistDistinct Digital Marketing(833) 762-5336virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.comwww.distinctdigitalmarketing.com
In this episode of Going Forward, Eric Elliott sits down with Jason Myers, CEO of Legal Conversion Center, for a no-BS conversation about leadership, empathy, and the unseen moments that define a company's reputation.Jason shares his unlikely path from answering phones for minimum wage to leading a 100+ person organization built on one simple philosophy: dignity and respect. Together, they unpack why empathy isn't a soft skill, but a competitive advantage, especially in an industry where calls often come on the worst day of someone's life.They also tackle the reality of AI in legal intake. Jason breaks down where automation works, where it fails, and why the most important calls; the ones that shape trust, reputation, and outcomes still demand a human voice.This episode is about people, culture, and responsibility. About earning profit the right way. And about remembering that behind every phone call is a human being who needs to feel heard.Connect w/ Eric Elliott: Website: ericelliott.com LinkedIn: @eric-elliott Instagram: @ericmelliott Twitter: @ericmelliott Email: Eric@EricElliott.com Text: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Jason Myers: Website: https://legalconversioncenter.com/Supercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr! Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://hs.optmyzr.com/hs/vip to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is a self-made entrepreneur and marketing expert with extensive experience crafting impactful brand narratives for clients across industries. He is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative. In 2009, Mr. Elliott started VIP Marketing with almost no resources. VIP now has a global team and is recognized as one of the top branding agencies in the USA by Clutch. co. He founded Craft Creative in 2015, a full-service video production company providing premium services to clients across the US. Eric is also the host of Going Forward, a podcast moving conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders that inspire, motivate, and challenge you to embrace possibility and make a difference. Mr. Elliott is the author of numerous articles and an active contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, and Medium. Recognized as a pillar of his community, the city of North Charleston established Eric Elliott Day to honor his name and legacy to inspire others.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing.VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency based in Charleston, SC. Our mission is to partner with our clients to make them the choice in their market, not just a choice. We're focused on helping them thrive in the digital age by providing a comprehensive suite of services specifically tailored to their needs including: digital marketing services such as SEO and PPC; brand strategy and identity design; website design and development; and premium video production. At VIP Marketing, we elevate the marketing presence of law firms, helping them stand out in competitive markets.
Every year leaves behind a trail of ideas worth returning to. In this Best of 2025 episode, we've gathered the moments that carried us forward throughout the year. We had exceptional guests whose conversations sparked clarity, challenged comfort zones, and pushed us to think bigger and act more intentionally in our own communities and beyond. These are the lessons that defined the year for us, and the ones we'll be carrying into what comes next in 2026.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-elliott-45704745/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://x.com/ericmelliottLinktree: https://linktr.ee/ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Supercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr!Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://hs.optmyzr.com/hs/vip to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is a self-made entrepreneur and marketing expert with extensive experience crafting impactful brand narratives for clients across industries. He is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative. In 2009, Mr. Elliott started VIP Marketing with almost no resources. VIP now has a global team and is recognized as one of the top branding agencies in the USA by Clutch.co. He founded Craft Creative in 2015, a full-service video production company providing premium services to clients across the US. Eric is also the host of Going Forward, a podcast moving conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders that inspire, motivate, and challenge you to embrace possibility and make a difference. Mr. Elliott is the author of numerous articles and an active contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, and Medium. Recognized as a pillar of his community, the city of North Charleston established Eric Elliott Day to honor his name and legacy to inspire others.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing.VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency based in Charleston, SC. Our mission is to partner with our clients to make them the choice in their market, not just a choice. We're focused on helping them thrive in the digital age by providing a comprehensive suite of services specifically tailored to their needs including: digital marketing services such as SEO and PPC; brand strategy and identity design; website design and development; and premium video production. At VIP Marketing, we elevate the marketing presence of law firms, helping them stand out in competitive markets.
Webinar: See what your contacts are doing on Zillow - Mon, Dec 8 - https://followupboss.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-jOL8Gu3TZ2IWR_atbijlA#/registrationWhich is the better direction for you: real estate team leader or independent brokerage owner? Or even: independent teamerage owner.Get practical tips and helpful ideas to help you figure out which is right for you from Brad Nix, who helped turn two teams into brokerages. Go inside Path & Post, a brokerage that runs as a unified team of 6 staff and about two dozen agents - with a focus on onboarding and training professional Strategic Guides, creating your own systems and processes, and on making decisions based on core values.Their ultimate metric: 5-star reviews.Watch or listen to this conversation with Brad for insights into:Being open to being wrongThe path to Path & Post, an independent teamerage of 30 peopleWeighing real estate team vs independent brokerage vs independent teamerage for you and your businessMakers, doers, followers, and complainersBuilding systems to handle what your brokerage was doing for youThree core values: Respect, Unity, and the Golden RuleOnboarding and training Strategic Guides rather than real estate agents and the one metric that lets them know it's workingThe evolution of their onboarding and training from WordPress plug-in to Trainual to GuruHow to thoughtfully sequence and structure your training materials (in their case: 500 pieces of content over 90 days)How AI helps their agents become more effectiveThe 6 staff positions on their “lean, mean" teamerageHow exit strategy and consolidation weigh into the future of your real estate businessThe simple process of surprising and delighting your clientsAt the end, learn about season tickets, a bag closet, board games, and a healthy diet for your mind.Mentioned in this episode:→ https://realestateteamos.com/bot→ https://www.getguru.com/→ https://reformationbrewery.com/Connect with Brad Nix:→ https://pathpost.comConnect with Real Estate Team OS:→ https://www.realestateteamos.com→ https://linktr.ee/realestateteamos→ https://www.instagram.com/realestateteamos/
Today, we'll hear about: • A son concerned that his dad runs his $50 million business like a start-up • A mother-in-law whose controlling behavior is destroying the family business • A business owner who doubled her revenue in one year by taking Dave's advice • A young owner trying to grow his business quickly Next Steps: ·
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode 412 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden GUEST: Cassie Kellner DESCRIPTION In this conversation, Peter Boulden and Cassie Kellner discuss the importance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in dental practices. They explore how SOPs can enhance efficiency, improve onboarding, and create a better work environment. Cassie shares insights on using Trainual to develop and manage SOPs effectively, emphasizing the need for team involvement and the integration of technology. The discussion also includes success stories and practical tips for implementing SOPs in dental practices. TAKEAWAYS SOPs are essential for creating structure in dental practices. Digital SOPs are more effective than paper manuals. Micro learning is key to engaging team members. Start with the most frequently asked questions to create SOPs. Team involvement in SOP development increases buy-in. Technology can streamline SOP management and training. Creating a playbook is crucial for onboarding new staff. Regular updates to SOPs are necessary for ongoing relevance. AI can assist in creating and managing SOPs. A well-structured playbook enhances patient experience and team clarity. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to SOPs in Dentistry 04:29 The Importance of Digital SOPs 07:29 Understanding SOPs and Micro Learning 10:44 Onboarding and Employee Retention 13:30 Overcoming the Daunting Task of SOP Creation 16:26 Building a Foundation for Your Practice 19:27 Creating Team Buy-In for SOPs 22:33 Templates and Tools for Startups 23:53 Embracing Growth in Dentistry 29:18 The Importance of a Playbook 29:38 Success Stories: Transforming Practices 34:55 Leveraging AI for Efficiency 41:21 Finding Clarity and Support 43:03 Outro REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind BPTRAINUAL.com
Want to stop the revolving door of teachers and create a rock-solid childcare team? Kris talks with Jami Hartmann from Trainual about how the right systems can transform your center's operations. They dig into practical strategies for finding great staff, training them effectively, and keeping them motivated. Jami shares some great insights on getting your whole team aligned, creating smooth onboarding, and using technology to make documentation easier. If you're struggling with staff turnover and want to build a more consistent, high-performing center, this episode is packed with real-world solutions that can help you level up your team. Key Takeaways: [5:00] Kris launches her new book, The Antidote to Fear! [9:02] Alignment is at the core of what Trainual offers, and to think of it as a digital version of your childcare center. [10:05] The need for operational consistency to deliver exceptional customer service and meet parent expectations. [10:35] Jami shares her professional journey, including her transition to Trainual, impacting the maternity leave policies, and the challenges of balancing work and motherhood. [12:35] The beauty of Trainual's supportive work environment. [17:33] Fun fact — Jami was on Wheel of Fortune as a teenager! [19:30] Jami explains how Trainual helps childcare centers by providing a centralized platform for documenting and training staff. [22:09] Graduating from Google Docs and how Trainual allows for the creation of standard operating procedures and having a well-documented and accessible playbook for childcare centers. [26:33] Successful documentation needs everyone on the leadership team to contribute and take ownership of their processes. [28:54] More about the AI component of Trainual, including the content creation piece. [33:31] Jami identifies the top challenges in the childcare industry, including finding and retaining staff and managing parent communication. [35:47] It can be a red flag when a center has constant turnover and a revolving door of staff. [41:55] Jami shares Trainual's plans for future product development, including enhancing AI capabilities and integrating with other tools. [44:33] The feature of a public share link that parents can always refer back to. Quotes: “At the core of what we do is really about alignment.” — Jami [9:06] “The inconsistency, or consistency in operations based on how your staff knows the playbook, is the cornerstone for going towards great customer service and giving parents that exceptional experience. It's very difficult to do that if you aren't all on the same page together.” — Kris [10:19] “At the core of that growth is that we genuinely care about our customers, and our success is dependent on our customers' success.” — Jami [13:17] “Trainual works really well for any people-powered business.” — Jami [30:42] Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course! Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray @iamkrismurray The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy The Child Care Success Summit Grow Your Center Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal Trainual Jami Hartmann LinkedIn
In episode 112 of Going Forward, Eric Elliott is joined by Michael Scarpati, co-founder and CEO of RetireUS, to expose the hard truths behind financial planning today. From the myth of “set it and forget it” retirement accounts to the hidden toll of financial stress, he explains why doing nothing may be the most dangerous decision of all.Together, they unpack why 85% of financial professionals aren't required to act in your best interest, how trust in big-name institutions can leave families vulnerable, and why financial wellness is really a form of mental wellness. As Michael shares, financial stress doesn't stay in your bank account, it bleeds into your health, relationships, and leadership.Eric and Michael dive into how fintech is opening access for the 98%, how independent fiduciaries are reshaping trust, and why clarity with money is the key to leading with confidence in uncertain times. Whether you're early in your career, preparing for retirement, or leading a business through chaos, this conversation will give you the clarity to stop "crockpotting" your future and start planning it with intention.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-elliott-45704745/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://x.com/ericmelliottLinktree: https://linktr.ee/ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Michael Scarpati:Website: https://retire.us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-scarpati/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retire.usSupercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr!Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://hs.optmyzr.com/hs/vip to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is a self-made entrepreneur and marketing expert with extensive experience crafting impactful brand narratives for clients across industries. He is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative. In 2009, Mr. Elliott started VIP Marketing with almost no resources. VIP now has a global team and is recognized as one of the top branding agencies in the USA by Clutch.co. He founded Craft Creative in 2015, a full-service video production company providing premium services to clients across the US. Eric is also the host of Going Forward, a podcast moving conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders that inspire, motivate, and challenge you to embrace possibility and make a difference. Mr. Elliott is the author of numerous articles and an active contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, and Medium. Recognized as a pillar of his community, the city of North Charleston established Eric Elliott Day to honor his name and legacy to inspire others.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing.VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency based in Charleston, SC. Our mission is to partner with our clients to make them the choice in their market, not just a choice. We're focused on helping them thrive in the digital age by providing a comprehensive suite of services specifically tailored to their needs including: digital marketing services such as SEO and PPC; brand strategy and identity design; website design and development; and premium video production. At VIP Marketing, we elevate the marketing presence of law firms, helping them stand out in competitive markets.
Today, we'll hear about: • A business owner wondering how to distribute the company's shares to his sons • Dave Ramsey's tips on determining when an employee deserves a raise • How Wes Henderson worked with his family to create two innovative bourbon brands Next Steps: ·
In episode 112 of Going Forward, Eric Elliott is joined by Michael Scarpati, co-founder and CEO of RetireUS, to expose the hard truths behind financial planning today. From the myth of “set it and forget it” retirement accounts to the hidden toll of financial stress, he explains why doing nothing may be the most dangerous decision of all.Together, they unpack why 85% of financial professionals aren't required to act in your best interest, how trust in big-name institutions can leave families vulnerable, and why financial wellness is really a form of mental wellness. As Michael shares, financial stress doesn't stay in your bank account, it bleeds into your health, relationships, and leadership.Eric and Michael dive into how fintech is opening access for the 98%, how independent fiduciaries are reshaping trust, and why clarity with money is the key to leading with confidence in uncertain times. Whether you're early in your career, preparing for retirement, or leading a business through chaos, this conversation will give you the clarity to stop "crockpotting" your future and start planning it with intention.Connect w/ Eric Elliott:Website: https://ericelliott.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-elliott-45704745/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericmelliott/Twitter: https://x.com/ericmelliottLinktree: https://linktr.ee/ericmelliottEmail: Eric@EricElliott.comText: 843-279-5843Connect w/ Michael Scarpati:Website: https://retire.us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-scarpati/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retire.usSupercharge your online advertising campaigns with Optmyzr!Streamline management, optimize performance, and boost your ROI. Visit https://hs.optmyzr.com/hs/vip to discover how Optmyzr can revolutionize your digital marketing.Also, as a special treat for our listeners, sign up with the code GOINGFORWARD20 and enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on your first year with Trainual! Seize this opportunity to supercharge your operations and propel your business forward!Eric Elliott is a self-made entrepreneur and marketing expert with extensive experience crafting impactful brand narratives for clients across industries. He is the founder of VIP Marketing and Craft Creative. In 2009, Mr. Elliott started VIP Marketing with almost no resources. VIP now has a global team and is recognized as one of the top branding agencies in the USA by Clutch.co. He founded Craft Creative in 2015, a full-service video production company providing premium services to clients across the US. Eric is also the host of Going Forward, a podcast moving conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders that inspire, motivate, and challenge you to embrace possibility and make a difference. Mr. Elliott is the author of numerous articles and an active contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, and Medium. Recognized as a pillar of his community, the city of North Charleston established Eric Elliott Day to honor his name and legacy to inspire others.Going Forward is brought to you by VIP Marketing.VIP Marketing is a law firm marketing agency based in Charleston, SC. Our mission is to partner with our clients to make them the choice in their market, not just a choice. We're focused on helping them thrive in the digital age by providing a comprehensive suite of services specifically tailored to their needs including: digital marketing services such as SEO and PPC; brand strategy and identity design; website design and development; and premium video production. At VIP Marketing, we elevate the marketing presence of law firms, helping them stand out in competitive markets.
Today, we'll hear about: • A son frustrated with his dad for not updating his will with directives for the family business • A farmer deciding if he should sell his house to pay down business debt • How to lead with conviction when your team disagrees with your decisions • A son aiming to buy out his parents' half of the business . . . for the right price Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A woman whose team thinks they deserve more PTO • A business owner deciding if now is the time to sell her business • How Dave Ramsey handles a disengaged team member • A man unsure if he should hire someone to fill a key role in his side hustle Next Steps: ·
Why do so many managers struggle to let go of tasks, even when they know that holding onto everything stifles their ability to scale? The secret is to document things so clearly that others can succeed without you.Fortunately, today's guest is an expert at helping leaders let go. Chris Ronzio is the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a platform reshaping how businesses onboard, train, and scale their teams. A lifelong entrepreneur, he helps leaders unlock growth by mastering the art of documenting and delegating. Chris is also the bestselling author of The Business Playbook: How to Document and Delegate What You Do So Your Company Can Grow Beyond You. Beyond work, he's a husband, father, and passionate Phoenix Suns fan.In this episode, Chris shares frameworks and strategies to help managers create clarity, engage their teams in documentation, and free themselves up to focus on what matters most.In the extended conversation, Chris explores how to turn documentation into a team sport, cascade delegation across levels, and troubleshoot when processes aren't followed—revealing practical ways to finally stop doing it all yourself.Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week's episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.Join the conversation now!Conversation Topics(00:00) Introduction(02:34) Why managers struggle to let go(06:23) Delegation tools and frameworks(14:38) Training and ramp-up expectations(17:31) Tools and systems for documentation(19:15 ) The Four Ps of a business playbook(22:40) Building culture through documentation(25:56) Keeping documentation alive(29:47) Documentation as a team sport (Extended Episode Only)(32:43) Delegation cascades across the team (Extended Episode Only)(34:18) When processes aren't followed (Extended Episode Only)Additional Resources:- Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month- Read the full transcript here- Follow me on Instagram here - Visit my website for more here- Upskill your team here- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel hereKeep up with Chris Ronzio- Follow Chris on LinkedIn here- Follow Trainual on Instagram here- Learn more on his Website here- Explore Trainual's platform here Guest Bonus: FREE PDF: The 4 Ps: What to DocumentWhile not an exhaustive list, this extensive 4-page PDF will give youa good starting point when deciding what policies you need to document first. To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.---------------------The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won't miss an episode!
Today, we'll hear about: A son frustrated with his dad's way of thinking A manager whose team is upset they didn't receive profit sharing A business owner wondering what makes a good business coach A woman whose husband hid $80,000 of debt from her Next Steps:
Today, we'll hear about: • A businessman wondering if he should share his financials with his leadership team • A butcher looking to increase cash flow in his business • Why hiring someone quickly is not a smart move • A business owner unsure whether his company should hire an HR employee Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A business owner dealing with two employees who continually fight • A woman trying to protect her family from her bad business decision • A man frustrated that his team is taking advantage of him • A young lawyer who's been offered a partnership at his law firm Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A business owner unsure if it's the right time to purchase a building • A father hoping to create a business his kids will want to join • Dave's perspective on good versus bad conflict • A young businessman struggling to find talent Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A leader who is unsure if he's giving his team the right pay raises • A man wondering about buying a business with a silent partner and employee he can't fire • How Dave Ramsey manages business risk • A son who inherited his father's business but has zero experience Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A business owner considering potential layoffs due to declining revenue • A leader struggling to talk to his team about their pay differences • An employee wondering how to best support his leader • A business owner who is considering moving or selling his business Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A woman whose niche business doesn't make a profit • A business owner considering adding commissions to her pay structure • Dave Ramsey's take on how to properly demote an employee • A man looking to increase his revenue above $1 million Next Steps: ·
Today we'll hear about: · How Montana Knife Company grew from a passion project in one man's garage into a coveted American brand—and the lessons its founder, Josh Smith, learned along the way Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: Dave Ramsey's take on why no business is better than bad business A business owner looking for ways to attract quality talent Why you don't need a business degree to be successful A young man wanting to know how to approach his grandfather about his business ideas Next Steps:
Today, we'll hear about: • How Trump's tariffs may affect a Canadian business owner • An employee considering leaving his high-paying job for a business he'll get for free • A son looking for advice on how to earn respect at his father's business • A woman wondering how to move forward with a new partnership Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A business owner dealing with his office manager taking on too much • A man considering whether he should hire his own team or stay with contractors • A leader struggling with how to delegate to his team • A business owner seeking advice on how to compete for talented employees Next Steps: ·
Today we'll hear about: • A young man considering if he should sell the family business • A business owner weighing the cost of hiring W-2 employees • A man dealing with the consequences of bad financial decisions • A woman wondering when it's time to disclose the business's revenue with her son Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A business owner considering if his employee deserves a raise • Dave Ramsey's advice on how to fix cash-flow problems • A businessman struggling to decide which employee to promote • A businesswoman wondering if buying a building is the next right move Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A son trying to decide if he should stay in the failing family business • A woman concerned that she's giving too much grace to her team • Dave Ramsey's simple way to get your team to communicate effectively • A businessman struggling to delegate to his team Next Steps: ·
Today we'll hear about: • A project manager wondering if it's ethical to give gifts to earn business • A leader at Chick-fil-A looking for ways to get his team to be proactive • A business owner struggling with the requirements of a large government contract • A dentist considering if she should pay off her building with her cash reserves Next Steps: ·
Today, we'll hear about: • A CFO whose leaders are unclear on his role in the organization • A man looking to hire a key employee to help with his $5 million side hustle • A young business owner whose employee wants ownership stake in his company • A father seeking on advice on how to divide his estate between his children Next Steps: ·
Today we'll hear about: A grandson struggling to get his grandpa on board with his ideas A businesswoman looking for an insurance loophole to save money A woman concerned about the legacy of her business An owner seeking advice on where to keep his $100,000 emergency fund Next Steps:
Dave Ramsey talks about the nobility of business and why success isn't evil. Next Steps:
Today, we'll hear about: A business owner deciding on fair compensation for his office manager A young leader who was promoted after a tragedy A woman trying to get her branch managers aligned with the company mission A business that gets 90% of its revenue from one customer Next Steps:
Today, we'll hear about: How family drama is impacting a highly profitable business A business owner dealing with an underperforming employee What humility really is according to Dave Ramsey A business owner looking for advice on an effective digital marketing strategy Next Steps:
Today we'll hear about: A business owner wondering how much of her revenue she should allocate to payroll The key differences between a controller and a CFO Why Dave Ramsey hates job descriptions and what he thinks is a better option How to give money to charity with business profits Next Steps:
Today we'll hear about: An owner looking to leverage debt to rapidly expand his business A businesswoman who's trying to avoid bankruptcy after a costly mistake How customer service defines company success A father hoping to bring his kids into the family business Next Steps:
Today we'll hear about: A business owner wondering if he should offer company vehicles to his employees A man considering if partnership is the right move A woman looking for advice on how to pay off business debt A son looking to hire the right team for his business while waiting for his father to sign it over Next Steps:
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
