AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Karan Shah, Owner/Director of Ivy Experience, a company that prepares students for their collegiate futures through test prep, tutoring and essay consulting.

Karan sheds light on the impact of online learning on the tutoring industry, particularly in areas with limited access to such resources.

“In Philadelphia, New York, LA Chicago, there's a lot of college prep options, but if you go to some more rural areas, there just aren't, right? There aren't many options. There might be one tutor available and they can only handle so many kids, right? So it's really open, the internet has opened up different markets to us that weren't previously open to us before.”

The main topics of today's episode will the benefits and challenges of online learning, particularly in the context of tutoring, and how the internet has transformed the tutoring industry. Karan will also share how having other resources in the beginning allowed Karan’s company to grow slowly without outside financing. Karan will also explain having different, yet complementary, skills from your business partner is beneficial for your company’s success.

Connect with Karan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karan-shah-467075b6/ Check out Ivy Experience: https://myivyexperience.com/ Recorded on 3/12/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt, CEO of TechWerxe, a managed service provider for businesses. She discusses common misconceptions about IT services and offers valuable insights into how businesses can stay ahead in an increasingly digital landscape.

“So here's the other thing. Small, medium businesses, one in four, right? One in four gets breached. It's that simple, one in four gets breached. It's not that it hasn't happened to you.It has already happened, and you may not know about it. It will happen, and one of two things will happen if it happens. It'll get blocked because you've got the right solutions in place, or it'll get in. But it will happen. And people don't realize that.”

The main topics of today's episode will be navigating the myths surrounding IT services for safeguarding your business against potential breaches. Sejal will also tell us why it is up to the business owner to make sure a disaster recovery plan is working before disaster strikes. We will also discuss why it is critical to understand that IT is a necessity, not a luxury.

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Ben Smith, founder and president of TriTech Services Group, a company he formed in 2021 to acquire and grow small businesses. He explains why he left the corporate world after around 25 years to become his own boss.

“I no longer wanted to allow somebody else to dictate my story or what I was going to do,” he said. “I really wanted to take more control of my life, what I was doing and the quality of life that I was having.”

The main topics of today's episode will be the similarities between being a solo entrepreneur and having employees. We also chat about why you shouldn't hire just to hire somebody, hire the right person. Ben will also share the importance of giving back and mentoring young entrepreneurs.

Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminsmithttsg/ Recorded on 3/11/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Kevin Nolan, founder and CEO of Nolan Painting and partner of Nolan Consulting Group. In his new book, “Organizational Muscle,” Kevin explains how running a marathon in all 50 states has helped him with the ups and downs of running his own business.  “Have an operating system. All companies that get to any kind of success level in size have an operating system. It’s their own. It ends up being their own… Like I said, everybody knows what the operating system is. It’s got to be predictable; it’s got to be aligned with the mission, vision, and values. But you need an operating system. But it should be your own ultimately.”

The main topics of today's episode will be why entrepreneurs should be focusing on continuous improvement and disrupting their own business before somebody else does. We will also discuss why entrepreneurs need to surround themselves with smart people who can provide information about the business within moments or an hour or two. Kevin will also share why entrepreneurs should get several different perspectives and then implement the ones that work.

Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjnolan1/ Check out Nolan Painting: https://www.nolanpainting.com/

Check out the Nolan Consulting Group: https://www.nolancg.com/ Check out Organizational Muscle: https://organizationalmuscle.com/ Recorded on 2/12/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Chris Burkhard, CEO of Placers, a company that provides custom workforce solutions. A fourth-generation entrepreneur, Burkhard explains how his desire to be his own boss came early in life.

“You could say it was a family calling, but when we had Sunday dinner, my dad would say to me and my two sisters, ‘you have more control over your life if you’re your own boss; don't give that up and don't work for somebody else,’” he said.

The main topics of today's episode will be how outsourcing and third-party services are drivers in the U.S. economy. Chris will share how his staffing business actually initially grew during the pandemic due to his concentration on contract jobs, many of which were in essential industries. We will also discuss how winning awards isn’t necessarily a sign of a healthy business.

Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburkhard/ Check out Chris's book "Opposite The Crowd": https://www.amazon.com/Opposite-Crowd-Want-Must-Know/dp/B0C9S8B1CF Check out Placers: https://myplacers.com/ Recorded on 2/6/2024

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Laura Meyer, CEO and founder of JoyBrand Creative, which leverages the power of emotional intelligence and AI technology to supercharge growth initiatives. She explains how she had to pivot and start over seven years ago after shutting down her once-successful photography business.

“When you go through something like that, you learn so much that you can create something new, and you have to believe in your ability,” she said. “I think we can always reinvent ourselves. We have that ability and that permission to create something new from the ashes of maybe something that didn't work out.”

The main topics of today's episode will be why franchising is risky not only for the franchisor but for the people they are selling to. We will also talk about how being a business minimalist with low overhead can create a large margin of profit and time. Laura will also share why having the proper mindset is much more important in running a business than just having a strong skill set.  Connect with Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-meyer-creative/ Subscribe to Laura's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTwRnF0_KDlvP6xFYgq7nDg Check out JoyBrand Creative: https://joybrandcreative.com/

Recorded on 1/31/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jennifer Walzer Berkowitz, Managing Director of R&J Advisory Group, which helps CEOs and executive teams scale up. Tune in as Jennifer explains her motivation in helping others achieve success.

“I'm in a good place in my life. I don't have to be doing this. I could be on the tennis court every day. But the reality is that my whole purpose in life is to give others the same freedom,” she said. “I look at it as a partnership. My clients look at me as an extension to their team, they actually see me as a team member.” 

The main topics of today's episode will be why entrepreneurs looking for coaches need to interview several candidates with different personalities and experiences. Jennifer will also share how surrounding yourself with the right people allows you to naturally scale up. We will also discuss why you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.

Connect with Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenwalzerberkowitz/

Check out R&J Advisory Group, Inc.: https://www.randjadvisorygroup.com/

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Deb Gabor, founder and CEO of Sol Marketing, a strategy-led marketing firm. Deb talks to us about cultivating your human authority to create irrational loyalty.

“I'm in the business of creating the condition that I call irrational loyalty – when people are so indelibly bonded to a brand, they feel like they were cheating on it if they were to choose an alternative,” she explains. “Brands that create that condition of irrational loyalty scale more rapidly, more profitably, and are more focused. But the most important thing is that they earn on average – and this is just a mean – 40% more revenue than companies that don't.” 

The main topics of today's episode will be how brand relationships are something that exist for any kind of business, no matter the size or the scope. Deb will explain why authority and servant leadership are indelibly linked. We will also discuss how giving away services with the sole purpose of helping other people and uplifting them will build your customer base and bottom line.

Connect with Deb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgabor/ Check out Deb's website: https://debgabor.com/ Check out Sol Marketing: https://www.solmarketing.com/ Recorded on 1/29/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jay Sidhu, Chairman and CEO of Customers Bancorp, Inc. and Executive Chairman of Customers Bank. He is also author of “Never, Ever, Ever Give Up, ” which started as a book for his grandchildren about being a first-generation immigrant from India, but evolved into a guideline for young entrepreneurs needing inspiration

“I was very blessed that my dad had a great influence on my life, he was my mentor. And I wanted to pass on what he did for me on to others,” he said. “Now I have a goal and a mission to try to reach at least 5,000 young people in America or around the world and make a positive difference in their lives from sharing my experiences and my disappointments – everything in life – with them. That to me will be the ultimate satisfaction.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how important it is to be an authentic person and be grateful for everything you have. Jay will also share why mentoring is a virtuous circle between mentors and mentees and how bankers are in the business of having their customers succeed.  

Connect with Jay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-sidhu-2108b593/

Check out Customers Bank: https://www.customersbank.com/

Get Jay's book, "Never Ever, Ever Give Up": https://nevereverevergiveup.com/thebook/

Recorded on 2/8/24

In today’s podcast, we talk to Matthew Pollard, founder of Rapid Growth® Coach, and author of “The Introverts Edge,” a book laying out the steps on how a shy and quiet person can outsell anyone without changing their personality. 

“What makes me tick right now is helping people realize that introverts aren't second-class citizens; their path to success is just different to that of an extrovert,” he says. “The biggest fake news you've ever heard is that introverts have to have a gift of gab to be successful. They just need to lean into their natural gifts and plan and prepare.” 

The main topics of today's episode will be why entrepreneurs should build their businesses ready to sell from day one. We will also talk about how to differentiate yourself and niche down to actually get paid what you're worth. Matthew will also share how learning how to be more engaging on camera during COVID helped Matthew be a better public speaker. 

Connect with Matthew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpollardspeaker/ Check out Matthew's Blog: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpollardspeaker/ Recorded on 12/14/23

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Stacee Mandeville, founder of The Mandeville Method, a three-pillar soft skills approach that helps teams communicate with clarity and authority, use emotional intelligence to reduce stress, and develop personal influence to build relationships. 

“Everything the Mandeville Method does is concrete, actionable, practical. We talk about soft skills, but I concretize them so that you can do it,” she said. “I bridge the gap between knowing what to do and how to do it.” 

The main topics of today's episode will be how Stacee translated her gift to communicate into a business. Stacee will share how to communicate effectively through Zoom or other virtual platforms and how to adjust your facets in certain situations without being inauthentic.

Connect with Kira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdw2200/

Check out KWC CPAs: https://www.kwccpa.com/

Recorded on 11/20/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Amy Power, founder and CEO of The Power Group, a  PR, social media and influencer relations firm in Dallas, where she is also president of the EO chapter. Amy tells us how she was inspired by her grandmother at a young age to become an entrepreneur. 

“My grandmother, in hindsight, was an entrepreneur. She had her own seamstress shop in Jackson, Tennessee, and as a little child, when I visited her in the summers, I would watch her serve customers and mend clothing,” she said. Growing up, I always knew that I was going to have a different path. And I did not want the ‘nine-to-five job.’ I just knew I would create something different for myself. I just didn't have the word entrepreneur in my vocabulary.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how working for a toxic employer was a valuable learning lesson, teaching Amy what she did not want to create. We'll also hear how she learned how to delegate duties as her business grew after starting as a sole practitioner. Amy will also share how embracing tools such as social media and AI enhances her business rather than threatens it.

Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypowerpr/

Check out The Power Group: https://thepowergroup.com/

Recorded on 11/17/23

In this weeks edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jim Jacobs, CEO and Founder of Focus Insite, a nationwide market research firm. He explains how making a business plan and starting right away is the best path for entrepreneurs rather than waiting for the perfect conditions. 

“You're gonna do half the revenue, and your expenses are going to be three times what you project on any spreadsheet, right? It just happens. But you have to be in the game and you have to swing the bat,” he says. 

In this episode we will hear about how Jim’s business exploded during the pandemic because he pivoted from being a local recruiter to a nationwide recruiter. Jim share how working as a sportscaster helped him learn how to ask the hard questions. We will also hear about what happened when Jim went head-to-head at a town hall with Bernie Sanders to advocate for small businesses.

Connect with Jim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfjacobs/

Check out Focus Insite: https://focusinsite.com/

Recorded on 11/14/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Ben Herman, co-founder and CEO of Mad Fish Digital, a digital marketing agency and certified B Corporation with its roots in Portland, Oregon. He explains how watching the stress of having investors at his previous company made him take slow and deliberate growth in his own company.

“It's my wife’s and my company, and that feels really good,” he said. “It feels like we can make decisions for ourselves and we can make mistakes for ourselves and learn from them and not have a group of people that can take it away tomorrow or have to make a decision that might not be beneficial to the company.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how working remotely expanded Ben’s talent pool across the country and world, not just locally. We will also discuss the importance of taking care of your current client base while growing new business. We will also learn why innovation, rather than competition, keeps Ben up at night.

Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benherman1/

Check out Mad Fish Digital: https://www.madfishdigital.com/

Recorded on 11/13/23

Connect with Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenman/ Check out the OAKJournal Method: https://keithrobertsiii.com/blog/the-oak-journal-method Recorded on 11/1/23

Connect with Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tansom-4a440710/

Check out Arkona: https://arkona.io/

Follow Ryan on X: https://twitter.com/RyanTansom

Recorded on 10/16/23

The main topics of today's episode will be how timing and planning are key pieces to a successful transition plan and how coaching is more about personal connection than the system or modules. Len will also tell about the Four Critical Areas of Business: Time, Team, Money and Future. Connect with Len: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbruski/

Check Out FocalPoint: https://www.focalpointcoaching.com/

Recorded on 10/10/23

Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silbert/ Recorded on 10/6/23

Connect with Cassandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandraorylbailey/

Check out Slice Communications: https://slicecommunications.com/

Recorded on 10/6/23

Connect with Vik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikthapar/ Check out Cypress Growth Capital: https://www.cypressgrowthcapital.com/ Recorded on 9/26/23 The full episode airs on 11/8/2023

In this week's edition of the AmiSights podcast, we talk to Michael Brady. Michael is a consultant with LPL Financial and the managing partner of Independent Advisor Group, where he mentors approximately 35 advisors and oversees the books of business owned by IAG, which total more than $200 million in assets. He tells us how he grew his business from the ground up, starting with a bunch of smaller accounts and eventually scaling up.

“The way our industry works is you get a little bit of growth, a little bit of growth, and then a shot up,” he said. “All of a sudden, something happens, something breaks your way, and boom, next thing you know, you reach the next plateau.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how Michael reshaped his business after the sudden death of his business partner and made sure his partner’s family was taken care of, fulfilling the plan he proposed before his death. Michael will also talk about how he provides added value to his clients by offering more than just investment advice, focusing on what impacts their lives and future. He also goes on to say the way you invest your money should be based on when you're going to use it.

Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brady-553772/

Check out Independent Advisor Group: https://www.independentadvisorgroup.net/

Recorded on 9/8/23

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, I found myself as the LIVE case study when an unexpected branding exercise unfolded in this episode with our guest, Deb Gabor. Deb Gabor is the founder and CEO of Sol Marketing, a strategy-led marketing firm. Known as the “branding queen,” Deb and I talk about what companies should do, if anything at all, to respond to difficult topics such as the current crisis in Israel and Gaza.

“My hope is that we are going to help leaders navigate the thought process behind whether or not they should make a statement, and when,” she said. “And if they do decide that they're going to make a statement, how to construct that in a way that serves them, other people, the community, their employees, and people at large serves in the right way.”

There are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to take a stand on a sensitive issue. These include asking yourself if you have a dog in this hunt, and should you make a statement? How do you actually construct that statement in a way that doesn't put you in that awkward position of damned if you do, damned if you don’t? Should you use your company as a platform for precipitating a change you want to see in the world? Who is your ideal archetypal customer?

Connect with Deb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgabor/

Recorded on 10/17/23

Connect with Miguel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-leal-240676280/

Recorded on 8/31/23

The main topics of today's episode will be what gets in people’s way while trying to communicate and why being the best version of yourself, rather than trying to act like someone else, is always the best way to get through to your audience. We will also talk about how to keep people’s attention by changing the volume and tone of your voice. And if you are a fellow podcaster listening, Laura will go into the importance of upgrading your computer’s microphone, as it makes a world of difference. Connect with Dr. Laura Sicola: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola/ Check out Vocal Impact Productions: https://vocalimpactproductions.com/

Recorded on 8/25/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Dr. Jeff Cornwall, co-founder and CEO of Entrepreneurial Mind, LLC, and Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship at Belmont University, where he founded its entrepreneurship program in 2003. Shortly after retiring, Jeff was diagnosed with cancer last year, which changed his outlook on life. “I wasn't sure I was going to retire, but between COVID and Generation Z, I decided it was time to retire from my professorship, and I planned to be pretty active. The university hired me back to do a half-time consulting job on a new curriculum program. And I'm working on a new book and was working pretty much full-time once I retired,” he says. “Then I came down with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which fortunately they caught early enough. But I guess that was the wake-up call. It was time to adjust my priorities a little bit.” The main topics of today's episode will be what’s working—and not working—in entrepreneurship education today. We will also talk about the state of mentorship for entrepreneurs, where the holes are, and Jeff’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs (hint: you don’t know everything).

Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-cornwall-a45603/

Check out Entrepreneurial Mind: https://entrepreneurialmindllc.com/

Recorded on 08/21/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Gabe Abshire, founder and CEO of Utility Concierge, a one-stop-shop for setting up utilities and home services—such as electricity, cable, internet, phone, and smart security—when moving into a new home. Gabe explains how he came up with the idea for the company and why it is of value to customers, real estate professionals, and service providers.

"We're going to save you time. We're going to talk to you, find out what you need and what you're looking for in the house, and we're just gonna say, ‘here's your options, check, yes or no.’ We go to work making all those connections and setting appointments so you don't have to do that," he explains. "We figure it's about a couple of half days on the phone, trying to set everything up. And we can do that in a 30-minute phone call, get everything taken care of for you."

The main topics of today's episode will be how the company goes up and down with housing demand and how the pandemic changed the business model from in-office to remote. We will also talk about how to retain strong company culture with employees working virtually.

Connect with Gabe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabeabshire/

Checkout Utility Concierge: https://utilityconcierge.com/

In today’s podcast, we talk to Mac Lackey, a former professional soccer player and an entrepreneur who has built and sold six companies. Currently, Mac is mentoring entrepreneurs via ExitDNA, his exclusive program for founders and entrepreneurs who want confidence and clarity on the exact steps they need to take now to create the option for a successful exit in the future. He explains how his experience as an athlete prepared him for the business world.

"Whether it's entrepreneurship or traditional business, or whatever people pursue in life, what is required to achieve success in a sport at a high level is discipline, drive, and hard work. And if it's a team sport, it requires all kinds of interpersonal dynamics, dealing with others, and communication," he explains.

Mac talks about how he turned a frustrating experience with his daughter’s soccer tournament into a company he eventually sold to NBC Sports. He stresses why it is crucial to surround yourself with team members who are aligned with not just your business goals but also your morals and ethics. We also talk about why entrepreneurs should bootstrap in the beginning and seek funding after creating something solid and what Mac considers before becoming an angel investor Connect with Mac Lackey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maclackey/ Checkout ExitDNA: https://exitdna.com/ Recorded on 07/06/2023

In today’s podcast, we talk to Wendy Lieber, Co-Founder and CEO of ContentBacon, a subscription-based company that works with companies to help tell their story through all different types of tasty custom content. She explains how her company’s niche is content storytelling.

"The best customers for us are companies that know who they are, know who they're trying to target, and utilize us to help tell that story in a compelling way," she explains. "I'm a big believer that most companies, if not all, usually have a very compelling story to tell. They're just usually doing it poorly or not at all. And we help solve that problem."

The main topics of today's episode will be how the subscription content model results in outsourced marketing for clients and how clients measure the effectiveness of her company’s services, and whether or not everything has to be measured in order to be effective. We will also chat about how to use AI tools to be more effective and efficient, rather than replacing creativity and the story behind the name ContentBacon.

Connect with Wendy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendylieber/

Check out ContentBacon: https://www.contentbacon.com/

Recorded on 06/29/2023

In today’s podcast, we talk to Mbasa and Sabu Siyaka, brothers who each run successful businesses in the township of Langa, about nine miles from the Cape Town City Centre in South Africa. Mbasa runs Mzansi Restaurant, which was started in 2008 by their parents, Nomonde and the late Vuklie Siyaka. Sabu runs Ubizo Events & Tours, which also started in 2008. 

Ami visited Mzansi Restaurant while he was in South Africa earlier this summer for EO’s global conference. While the restaurant and experience were great, the family and entrepreneurial spirit were what made it so special. 

The Siyaka brothers tell us more about their community and what they learned from their parents.

“It’s the oldest and smallest township with thousands of cultures,” Sabu says about Langa. “Whenever we have celebrations, everyone sits together; no VIPs. We all respect one another because we believe that we breathe the same air, we got the same blood.”

In today's episode, will talk about how word-of-mouth through social media and sites like Trip Advisor built their business after several years of operating at a loss. We will also talk about how learning every aspect of the business teaches an entrepreneur how to lead and how opportunities don’t come to you, but rather you need to work hard and go out and find them.

Checkout their business below:

• Mzansi Restaurant: https://mzansi45.co.za/
• Ubizo Events & Tours: https://ubizo-sa.co.za/

Recorded on 06/23/2023 *Due to Mbasa and Sabu Siyaka experiencing unstable internet connection, there are moments where it has caused audio lag when streaming audio.

In today’s podcast, we talk to Ian Meierdiercks, Founder and Chief Planner of IM Wealth Partners, a company he launched in 2003 to provide clients with financial planning and concierge services. He tells us how he takes a holistic approach to wealth management, considering all aspects of a client's financial life.

“There's all the things that I saw at my old firm that I thought could be done in a different way…I just put together a best hits and created something that now we call the financial concierge,” he explains. “Everybody needs to deal with tax issues and estate planning issues and business issues and cash flow issues and investing and insurance, but no one usually has a team to do that. So, we quarterback that team and either bring in our own partners to do that outside of our core competency or we deal with theirs.”

In this episode we will focus on why during rough times, you should stick with your plan and core business philosophies. We will also be evaluating how much risk you are taking as we get back near the highs and why you should understand your tax return and where the needle is moving. *Securities offered through SA Stone Wealth Management Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services offered through SA Stone Investment Advisors Inc. Recorded on 06/22/2023

In today’s podcast, we talk to Jeremy Jenson, Founder and CEO of Encore Search Partners, a 38-person executive search firm in Houston. He tells us about his journey since starting the business in 2013, and how he plans to stay the course with his talented staff despite uncertainties in the economy.“

We think that going into the face of a downturn, being fully staffed, and almost even overstaffed, is really an opportunity for us to capture market share while our competitors are laying off,” he said. “That way, when things recover, hopefully in 18 months, 24 months, or whatever the economists say, our market share percentage will actually take a much bigger piece of the pie.”

The main topics of today's episode will be learning how to delegate and work on your business instead of in it and how the recruiting business is cyclical but not completely insulated from economic downturns. We will also talk about being intentional about improving things in your life, one at a time, with an accountability partner such as a life coach.

Recorded on 06/02/2023

In today’s AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Craig Span, Founder and CEO of GlobeTopper, a prepaid B2B gift card concierge firm that helps clients navigate the ever-evolving digital payments landscape. Craig explains how being laid off from a major communications company after just nine months was the best thing that could have happened for his career, allowing him to focus on his own business.

“My years of experience in the telecommunications business kind of led me to the path of recognizing that there was something that in my previous company we weren't serving,” he said. “I was passing leads off to other companies. It was essentially recharging prepaid mobile phones. And so that was kind of the impetus to get it started.”

The main topics of today's episode will be building culture in a virtual company, how COVID was actually a positive for Craig’s company as everything moved digitally, and how a company that typically isn’t in the gift card business can utilize the gift card.

Recorded on 06/01/2023

In today’s podcast, we talk to Michelle Galligan, CEO and co-founder of Keep Financials, a firm providing outsourced accounting and CFO services for small businesses. Michelle’s company provides CFO services, conducting a monthly review of the financials and picking out the five to 10 most important things that help entrepreneurs understand where they are, what's going on in the business, and if they have any risk.

“One of the most satisfying things to me is when our clients say things to us like, ‘You helped me sleep better at night. I finally know what's going on in my business,’” she said. “Nobody gets into business so that they can keep their own books. We really exist to support entrepreneurs.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how to use a line of credit, how Michelle’s company grew from local to national, and when she made the leap from working in her business to working on her business.

Recorded on 05/31/2023

In today’s podcast, we talk to Robin Stanaland, owner of RMS, a company that helps business owners value, market, and sell their businesses. Robin, who is based in Houston, also runs eight Vistage groups, spending more than 1,000 hours a year in one-on-one coaching conversations with CEOs and business owners. While the next six to 12 months are anybody’s guess on the economy, Robin says preparation is key.

"As a CEO, you have a contingency plan already thought through, and you know what the levers are and what your actions are going to be should things start to decline," she said. "As long as you've got a good contingency plan, then you can operate with ease, going towards growth and building your company. And if things don't happen that you don't have to execute on that plan, that's great, but at least you've thought through it, and you have it for the worst case."

The main topics of today's episode will be the impact of higher interest rates on mergers and acquisitions and the value of being approachable and personable to clients. We will also talk about the themes that are resonating throughout all of Robin’s Vistage groups and the changes in SBA guidelines, including partial buyouts and equity requirements.

Recorded on 05/26/2023

I am thrilled to have Tom Spadea as our guest on the AmiSights Podcast.  Tom explains that his firm, Spadea Lignana, helps people turn successful businesses into franchises by providing regulatory guidance, franchise agreements, and structural support. They work with companies with a proven track record and high profitability, aiming to help them achieve generational wealth through franchising.

The conversation touches on the importance of having processes that can be duplicated to create consistency and brand awareness. Tom emphasizes the need for a successful and profitable business before considering franchising, highlighting that potential franchisees are attracted to the value and unique aspects of the company. 

"I think those franchisors that have real good emotional intelligence and they've taken the long view when they're building relationships and they're making their franchise successful, even sometimes at their own short-term quarrel, they're the ones who really make it", says Tom. 

We discuss the significance of selecting the right franchisees and the common mistake of selling franchises without proper screening.

Recorded on 06/08/2023

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Jessica Harrington, owner of Journey to Yourself, a company she started in 2020 that provides a six-month series of interactive corporate workshops focusing on habits and tools for employees as well as 1:1 coaching for employees on stress management. Jessica tells us how keeping the small stuff under control and nipping aggravations in the bud early on can prevent burnout or damaged relationships.

"My mindset on stress is that a lot of it is self-caused on how we perceive it and how we're handling it," she explains. "And so that's what I want to teach people is what stress is, because it is every day, and making sure it doesn't become something chronic or burnout."

Jessica started her career in the drug and alcohol addiction field before going back to school and earning a master’s degree in public health. While she is not a certified therapist, she specializes in implementing actionable steps.

"My main bread and butter would be my corporation workshops. I go into offices once a month for six months, 45 minutes, no meditation, no yoga, no PowerPoints, just super interactive activities of working around what is stress, communication, time management, all those kinds of fun things, and bring that into the office place," she says.

Stress, whether in your personal or professional life, typically builds up from reactions to everyday, mundane occurrences.

"We tend to focus on the big stressors in life. We can talk about the bills, we can talk about relationships, we could talk about the drama at work, but those little things – that there's no creamer when I thought there was supposed to be creamer, the traffic, the Dunkin donut line – those things are what starts to add up and what helps in the blow up when we actually have a bigger stress," she says.

Breakdowns in personal relationships also tend to build up over a series of small things that go unchecked until it is too late.

"Those tiny things add up because that's how life works. A lot of times we all are just having our own racing thoughts that we don't even realize when we hurt or bother somebody else sometimes because we are all in our own little world," she said.

Listen here as she also discusses how to navigate perceived tone in texts and emails and the importance of face-to-face interaction in a remote world. Recorded on 05/09/2023

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Angela Pointon, Owner and President of 11outof11, a digital marketing agency that offers outsource content marketing services and HubSpot expertise and training. Angela tells us about what makes her tick and the inspiration behind her book, “Stop Blending In: The 7 Steps for Achieving Thought Leader Status and Standing Out in Your Field.”

She explains that when she was working for an agency, she was working 60-70 hours a week, commuting an hour each way and hardly seeing her then-very young children. While she climbed the ranks to COO, she was burnt out and took some time off to freelance before launching 11outof11 in 2017.

“Our business model is comprised of a lot of subcontractors – people who really own their own work-life balance and choose how much they want to work in their life versus spending time traveling or doing other things or spending time with family,” she said. “Being able to empower people to own that themselves and dictate that whatever that means for them is something that really makes me tick and gets me excited.”

She admits she didn’t know much about running a business when she first started, but loved the newness of the first few years.

“With every client that signed, I got really excited, and ‘I can't believe they want to work with us’ was more my attitude going into that, not because I didn't think that we could deliver, I was just kind of a kid in the candy store, just excited that it was taking off and growing and making money and also empowering people to build a life that they wanted,” she said. 

As the business grows, she is trying to spend more time working on her business rather than working in it, and empowering others to take control and do what they do best. 

“Delegation is a lot about trust. It was really about building the team and providing training or coaching in areas that they needed to grow,” she said. “If it's not done the way I want, I swoop back in and do it myself. That's my bad behavior from a delegation perspective. When you have people who actually do things better than you could, you get away from that feeling.”

Listen to learn about what marketing expertise her company provides, how she thinks tools like ChatGPT will affect content creation and how she sets goals.

Recorded 05/08/2023.

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Jon MacDonald, founder and president of The Good, an ecommerce conversion rate and customer experience optimization advisory that helps brands understand the clicks and movements of their website visitors, and use that data to convert more existing visitors into buyers. Jon also tells us how he spent his extra time during the pandemic writing a step-by-step book, “Opting in to Optimization.”

“I said, ‘If I come out of COVID, what is the one thing that I could really do for the business that is going to move the needle?’” he says. “The more I thought about it, the more I thought, I have time to write a book and share with the world our thought process on how we optimize over the past 15 years for ecommerce brands. I started by interviewing my teammates, my core team members at The Good, and said, ‘if you could tell the world anything, what would it be? And let's figure that out.’”

The book, available at bookstores, thegood.com, and Amazon, where it has been a bestseller the past four or five months, is aimed at ecommerce founders or managers who are at the second or third stage of growth, Jon says.

“The third level is really when they start to dial it up. You are spending money to drive traffic, it's working. Now you want to get a better return on that ad spend. Those are the folks who really will get the most out of that book,” he said. 

While his company primarily works with large companies like Nike, Adobe and Xerox, he started a new wing called The Good Ventures which provides products for small businesses, such as the UserInput tool. 

The Portland, Oregon company’s name, The Good, derived out if its “mission is to remove all of the bad online experiences until only the good remain," Jon says. 

While doing good by its customers, the company also does good by its employees and the community as it is a certified B Corporation. 

“We put a lot of emphasis on culture, making sure that we have the right teammates, who embody and are attracted to that benefit corporation where we're putting people and planet before profits,” he explains. 

Listen here to learn how Jon’s larger-than-average shoe size prompted him to delve into ecommerce optimization, how Obama’s first presidential campaign changed digital optimization, and how The Good was prepared for what was coming when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit China.

Recorded 04/11/2023.

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Chris Earley, an ex-franchisee, founder and president of Liberty Inspection Group, based in Media, Pennsylvania. Chris tells us how he started his own home inspection company after getting his feet wet with a franchise. He also talks about diversifying his business to make it through the fluctuating real estate market. If your business is or isn’t experiencing shifts because of economic factors, let Chris’ story inspire you on how to navigate economic landmines.  

“The franchise was good for us for a couple years; the business-in-the-box was really, really good – kind of got me going faster than I would have ordinarily,” he explained. “But after a few years, it was just kind of like a waste of my royalties. I'm giving them 11% of everything I make, and I'm not getting any value in return.”

He was one of the first franchisees to leave the company and was only in year eight of a 10-year non-compete agreement. So, he switched the name and kept the number and kept all the same clients. Although the franchisor came after him and he had to pay their attorney fees, it was worth it for him as he made back the money that he would have paid in royalties within a year.

Although the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 took its toll as he didn’t have any income coming in, people began to “buy houses like crazy” and everybody was getting an inspection. But for the past 12-18 months, not only has the volume of sales down, but people are waiving inspections.

To compensate, he decided to start a handyman division, Canopy Building Services, with a separate C corporation and separate employees from the inspection side. Both companies share resources and have the same leadership team. The business model is also similar to Liberty’s as they both incorporate Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and operate on traction.

Listen here as Chris also discusses what people should be aware of before selling their house, how his peer groups helped him through tough times, and the possibility of franchising his business.

Recorded 04/10/2023.

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Marissa Levin, a five-time, 30-year entrepreneur, speaker, best-selling author, mindset expert, and globally recognized growth and spiritual strategist. In today’s episode, she tells us about her latest venture, I5 Conscious Leadership, a leadership education and consulting firm guided by a mission to elevate the consciousness of the world through leadership.

"At the heart of all of us is a beautiful spirit, and my spirit is definitely one that is here to uplift and empower others," she said. "My lifetime legacy mission – LLM – is to empower 1 billion people to live their most joyful lives. And I do that through the work that I do, through 30 years of entrepreneurship of helping people move past their self limiting beliefs, their deeply ingrained patterns that hold them back, and really step into their highest potential and remember who they are."

The impetus for this mission goes back 30 years to when she branched out on her own after working for a man who capped her value way below her worth, despite her education and how much money she was bringing into the company. She started her first business, Information Experts, a strategic communications and education firm. She launched the firm as a solopreneur with a $35,000 contract and grew the organization to approximately $14 million in revenue and 75 employees until she exited in 2012. 

The model for her latest business, I5 Conscious Leadership, is intention, identity, integrity, insight, and inspiration.

"The first thing is you have to create a baseline, you have to know what you’re working with," she said. "We start with an assessment of the organization in terms of where they are with their leadership. So many of the problems that can be avoided come from having the courage and the awareness to do the work to bridge the gap between how the leaders see themselves and how the employees see themselves."

The gap leads to disengagement, which according to research through Gallup and other sources, is high. The research finds that only 21% of employees are engaged at work, 90% of employees are fully miserable and 60% of employees are emotionally detached. 

Listen here to learn more about the types of businesses I5 serves (hint: all types and sizes), how Marissa’s public speaking boosts her business, and the importance of building a trusted team around you.

Recorded 04/07/2023.

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Joe Torres, CEO and president of Developmental Therapy Associates, based in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. He also runs a software development company and a real estate group and holding company. In this episode, Joe tells us how a near-fatal incident changed the trajectory of not only his career but also his life. 

In 2012, he was riding his motorcycle to the gym when he was hit head-on by another vehicle, changing his life forever. He spent a month in the hospital and three months in a wheelchair and was introduced to the industries of physical, speech, and occupational therapy and rehab. 

"I didn’t know anything about it because up to that point, I never broke a single bone, and in that one accident, I broke over 22 of them. Both femurs, which I now have titanium rods and screws everywhere," he said.  "I was introduced to this amazing industry that I would argue till I'm blue in the face helped me live whatever my normal, my new normal, would be." 

A year later, he met his wife, who was, incidentally, a speech therapist. 

"I immediately was enamored with her even more so because of her profession, and what it just did for me a year prior to even meeting her," he said. 

A few years after that, the company his wife worked for went up for sale, and he put in the sweat equity to explore ways of making it happen.  

"It was a multitude of different things. One, I took some of my other investments that I had and liquidated them and put that towards the purchase. The other was an SBA loan," he said.  

While learning the ins and outs of an SBA loan and business acquisition was a challenging experience, he was comfortable in the decision because of his wife’s experience and knowledge of the company.  

While he is not a clinician, he believes that actually helps in running the business.  

"What happens is a clinician, whether it be a medical doctor, primary care, dentist, it doesn't matter, they're actually clinical first, their mind is not business. Their first thought is, ‘I want to help people.’ And then what starts to happen is they find themselves in the middle of this business that they have no real earthly idea of running," he said. 

Although the company is growing with four locations in North Carolina, hiring licensed practitioners continues to be the biggest headwind. 

Listen here to learn more about how Joe and his wife divide the business duties based on their individual strengths and how a strong leadership team allows him to balance all of his business interests, as well as a few hobbies, too.

Recorded 04/04/2023.

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Tom Bronson, founder and president of the Business Transition Summit, as well as Mastery Partners and Mastering Mergers and Acquisitions. All three companies empower business owners to maximize business value and serve business owners in different capacities to help them achieve their dream exit. In this episode, we focus on what every business owner needs to know about business exit strategies for business success.

“I am what most people call a serial entrepreneur. I have owned, operated, and sold 100 businesses in my career,” he said. 

For every business that comes on the market, only 17% of them actually reach a closing table, meaning there's an 83% failure rate for businesses that attempt a transaction.

“My team and I started thinking about the things that we did in our businesses to make them more attractive and more valuable and prepared them for going on the market,” he said. “And so we developed our own intellectual property around this where we do an assessment of the business, then we build a roadmap to get the business from where they are today to where they want to be, then we help that business owner and team execute that roadmap and ultimately reach a transaction.” 

His theory is that entrepreneurs should be thinking about their exit strategy when they first start up or buy a business, if not before.

“I have never gotten into a business without first thinking through what my exit strategy is going to be because I know that I'm not going to own this business forever,” he said. “Every business on the planet will eventually transition, because we have an expiration date.” 

In order to be ready for a successful exit, a business must avoid owner dependency at all costs. He advises owners to document the tasks that only they know how to do, then teach somebody else how to do them and watch somebody else do some of those things. 

“I get rid of all of those non-strategic things that I'm doing so I can spend more time thinking about strategy, and the business just starts improving,” he said. “If you can't take time out of your business, then your business is owner-dependent, and you need to find a way to solve that. That is deal killer number one.”

Listen here to learn what Bronson believes are the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make, who makes a good candidate to sell your business to, and how to transition the leadership team.

Recorded 03/28/2023.

In today’s podcast, I talk to Rich Trotter, a U.S. Army veteran-turned-entrepreneur who has led Rosati Ice for over 25 years. We talk about the catastrophic consequences caused by the pandemic shutdowns and how his employees pulled together to keep the company afloat. By having such loyal and dedicated employees, Rich has been able to continue his legacy and stay true to his value of “Mission First, People Always.”

After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point and serving five years as an artillery officer, Rich eventually joined his dad's soft pretzel business. When the company was sold, Rich bought Rosati Ice – the "best Italian ice company" – in 1997 and adjusted the business model.

Instead of making the highest profits of the year just during the three or four months of summer, he focused on selling to K-12 schools to give him steady profits throughout the year. That model worked fabulously – making up 70% of the company's sales – until schools were suddenly shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“When the pandemic hit, it dropped our revenue by more than 50%,” he said. “On paper, the company became bankrupt very quickly.”

Support from his friends, family, and peer group kept him going during tough times. But it was his dedicated employees who saved the business. In December 2020, after asking the bank not to foreclose on the company, he laid off the entire staff, including himself. Half of the employees arrived the next day knowing they wouldn't be paid.

"They knew that if they stayed away, the business would certainly not stay in business. And they did whatever they needed to to help keep us afloat,” he said. “And to them, I'll be forever indebted.” 

He also is forever grateful to his wife of 41 years, Debbie, who provided a respite at home from the grueling days at work. 

"The support and space she gave me were off the charts," he said. "It allowed me to catch my breath when I did come home. She allowed me to stay completely focused on the business. And when it came to the family, all she wanted me to do was enjoy it, my kids and grandkids." 

Now that schools are back in session, Rosati Ice still has a big hole to climb, but sales are inching toward pre-pandemic levels. 

Rich is entirely hands-on, tracking the business' cash daily and constantly traveling to reconnect with customers he hasn’t seen in a few years due to the pandemic.

Recorded 03/31/2023.

In today’s podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Kent Gregoire, Co-Founder of Stakeholder Business, which is on a mission to help entrepreneurs transform their companies for maximum impact. In addition to his work with Stakeholder Business, he is also the Founder and CEO of Symphony Advantage. Being one of seven certified conscious capitalism consultants around the world, Kent wants to create more opportunities and solve more problems for stakeholders. The main topics of today’s discussion will be conscious capitalism and stakeholder capitalism.

"Conscious capitalism is a way of being able to express, through business, how to elevate humanity to solve worthy problems for society and the planet," he explains. "Conscious capitalism itself is also a theory where stakeholder capitalism becomes the practice around creating companies that not only just say they do good, but their representation of what is happening is also doing well for other people."

While it may seem that conscious capitalism consists simply of giving a percentage of profits to a particular charity or creating a foundation, Kent says it goes deeper than that. It is a deliberate operating model set in place from the get-go rather than waiting to see if the business turns a profit. And it doesn't just have to relate to sharing profits. 

"You can engage your stakeholders to help them innovate, find out what their purpose is, help your stakeholders be successful," he said. "If your stakeholders are successful, it's going to help you innovate in your organization, help you get access to products from other organizations faster, and help you with retention."

Learn more as Kent explains the five elements of stakeholder capitalism and how it changes business for good.