Help! My Business is Growing: Recent Episodes
Kathy Svetina
If you have a business that's growing and you're both excited and terrified at the same time - this is a podcast for you! You'll get actionable advice on how to grow a business in a way that is healthy and sustainable.
Employee retention lies at the heart of every successful business. It's the lifeline that keeps productivity high and morale even higher, making your team feel valued and appreciated, and motivating them to do their best.
Yet, many companies struggle with keeping their best talent. Even businesses that seem great on paper often face high turnover rates. So why is it becoming harder to retain your employees? Why is this a recurring issue? What makes people want to leave? And what can you do to really show you appreciate them in a personal and relevant way?
In this episode, Kristie Holmes and I talk about what it takes to retain great talent in small businesses. She shares the basics of employee retention strategies and provides practical tips for businesses aiming to build and maintain strong teams.
Kristie is the dynamic force behind The HR Dept. With over 15 years of profound experience in recruiting and Human Resources across a spectrum of industries, she embodies the spirit of innovation and dedication. Her mission to provide tailored HR services ensures that small businesses not only survive but thrive in today's competitive landscape.
Download her HR templates to help you get your recruitment process in place:
https://thehrdeptky.com/resources/
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:49 Why a good retention strategy is important
04:14 Common issues affecting employee retention
07:36 The perceived appreciation gap between managers and employees
08:34 Practical ways for managers to show appreciation to employees
10:02 The impact of public appreciation on company culture
11:07 Monetary and non-monetary methods to appreciate employees
16:09 Showing appreciation to remote teams
17:37 Effective methods for remote team appreciation
21:45 Employee training and development on a tight budget
24:04 Implementing an official mentorship program
25:29 Rewarding employees who mentor others
27:41 Encouraging employee-to-employee appreciation
30:19 Examples of successful employee retention strategies
36:16 Actionable steps to take to foster appreciation and gratitude
Resources:
Kristie Holmes, Owner, The HR Dept, LLC
https://thehrdeptky.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hr-dept-llc/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thehrdeptky/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehrdeptky
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Retain Your Best Employees
When your financial records are not accurate or organized, it can lead to poor decisions, financial problems, and stunted growth.
So how do you keep your books clean? What should you look for in a bookkeeper and accountant? And how do you make sure that your financial records are accurate and up to date?
In this episode, Jennifer Yousem and I talk all about the challenges of messy accounting for small businesses. We break down why this is so common, even in this day and age of accounting software and tools, and its true impact on the health of your business. She also shares tips for maintaining clean books to support your company’s growth.
Jennifer Yousem is a Fractional CFO who started her career in equity research. She pivoted into corporate finance for enterprise media and advertising companies and led teams in strategic and operational finance at Sony, Paramount, Clear Channel & Daily Mail. She was part of the team tasked with launching Verizon Hearst Media Partners and as their CFO, helped lead the merger with Complex to form Complex Networks, a multi-platform digital lifestyle brand owned by Verizon and Hearst.
We discuss: (timestamps)
03:06 Discovering messy books
04:50 Common issues with messy books
11:09 Differences between revenue, profit, and cash
16:10 Hiring a qualified bookkeeper
19:49 Tips on weeding out the wrong people in your team
28:05 Optimal month-end closing process
35:17 Actionable steps to take to keep your books organized and accurate
Resources:
Jennifer Yousem, Fractional CFO, I Love EBITDA
https://iheartebitda.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferyousem
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yousem/?hl=en
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Messy Finances and How to Avoid Them
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/messy-finances-and-how-to-avoid-them/
Expense management is a must for any business. Every dollar spent can either contribute to your growth or drain your resources. And while it seems like a simple thing to do, many businesses struggle with it - causing bigger financial problems down the road. So what can you do to avoid this in your business?
In this episode, John Krebsbach and I go very deep into effective expense management. From managing credit cards and checks to dealing with reluctant vendors, he shares practical tips and real-world examples to help you implement an effective expense management system and protect your growing business.
John is a Principal at Precision Advisors, a business operations advisory firm for companies who are growing or are looking to ignite growth. He is an experienced founder and chief operating officer who enjoys the journey of building high-growth companies with great people. He earned and refined his growth operator skill set in a variety of environments, from co-founding a startup (and shutting it down) to scaling an Inc. 5000 business and building new teams within a global corporation.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:25 What is expense management and why it matters
05:14 Managing credit card expenses and tracking spending
17:49 Expense management for check and ACH-heavy businesses
26:14 Working with vendors resistant to digital tools
28:15 Implementing expense management processes
42:21 One actionable step to take to implement an efficient expense management system
Resources:
John Krebsbach, Principal, Precision Advisors
https://precision-advisors.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkrebsbach/
Special offer for listeners of the podcast:
Get a $500 sign-up bonus from Ramp to manage your business expenses: https://ramp.com/partners/precision-advisors
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Effective Expense Management For a Financially Healthy Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/effective-expense-management-for-a-financially-healthy-business/
Transforming your construction business can be a challenging yet rewarding process.
Is it time to scale up? Well, you've got customers to deal with, suppliers to find, building codes to follow, and a team to keep on point.
All these moving parts directly affect your finances. Things can get chaotic fast, and if you neglect any of these areas, it can really hurt your financial stability and growth.
So, how do you keep everything on track in your construction business?
What areas should you focus on to boost your finances?
And what strategies can you implement to make sure all parts of your operations align with your financial goals?
In this episode, Dominic Rubino and I discuss strategies to elevate your construction business, from specific operational improvements you can make and the financial planning and analysis you need to support your expansion goals.
Dominic is a construction business coach and host of the podcasts “Profit Tool Belt” and “Cabinet Maker Profit System”. He is also a serial entrepreneur, a proud husband and father, and a horrible fly fisherman. In both shows, Dominic shares lessons, tips, and tricks from thought leaders in the construction industry. With Dominic, you’ll get reality, not theory. He uses real -life stories and colorful anecdotes that help you see what the next level looks like and know how to get there.
He’s been a business coach for over 23 years and an Entrepreneur for 25. Over the years he’s had companies in Construction Trades, Contracting, Mail Order, Pharmaceuticals, Real Estate, & Business Coaching. His commitment to you is that you’ll learn more in this interview than most businesspeople do in a year. And he wants you to go and apply it!
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:22 Common problems in construction businesses before coaching
03:26 Key issues for construction businesses aiming to grow
04:39 The benefits of having the right team
07:46 How changing your mindset can drive growth
08:52 Real-life construction case study example
16:25 Business alignment & focus
24:29 Addressing operational problems in construction
25:52 Implementing time tracking for better planning
29:53 Explaining new processes to your construction team
31:18 Actionable steps to boost construction business growth
Resources:
Dominic Rubino, Construction Business Coach and Podcast Host, BizStratPlan Profit Tool Belt
https://profittoolbelt.com/
https://cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicrubino/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ProfitToolBelt
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKVBkA9GmALX_J7W3iGIy6g
Podcast:
https://profittoolbelt.com/podcast-dom/
Podcast:
https://cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com/podcast/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Boosting Financial Growth in Your Construction Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/boosting-financial-growth-in-your-construction-business/
When people talk about business innovation, the top of their minds is new tech or new products.
However, small business innovation particularly, is so much more than that.
It's also about fresh ideas, seeing things from a different perspective - including how you use your products, making smart choices, and strategic growth.
So what does innovation look like in small businesses?
Are there any tools or techniques that can enhance innovation?
How does it drive success?
And how can you, as a leader, build a culture of innovation in your business?
In this episode, Steve Wunker and I talk about innovation, specifically in businesses. What it is, what it looks like, and real-world examples of innovative businesses. He shares practical strategies and informative insights on how you can foster innovation and stay ahead of the market regardless if you are a small or large business.
Steve Wunker is the Managing Director of New Markets Advisors, a global consulting firm focused on innovation. He was responsible for one of the world’s first smartphones, pioneered the mobile marketing and commerce industries, and partnered with a longtime colleague, Harvard Business School’s Clayton Christensen, in building the consulting firm Innosight. He’s also the author of three award-winning business books and the co-author of the new book: The Innovative Leader: Step-by-Step Lessons from Top Innovators for You and Your Organization.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:08 Exploring innovation in small businesses
03:06 The innovation process for small businesses
04:06 Managing customer expectations in innovation
09:16 Innovation as an evolutionary process
11:10 Identifying opportunities for innovation
13:02 Rebranding as a strategy for innovation
17:13 Different types of innovation beyond products and services
18:40 Questions and frameworks to jumpstart innovative thinking
20:31 Building and cultivating innovation in your business
27:05 Balancing financial prudence and innovation
31:30 Real-world example: laundromat innovation
34:56 Actionable steps to take for small business innovation
Resources:
Steve Wunker, Managing Director, New Markets Advisor
http://www.innovativeleaderbook.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenwunker/
Email:
swunker@newmarketsadvisors.com
Author:
The Innovative Leader: Step-by-Step Lessons from Top Innovators for You and Your Organization (2024) - https://a.co/d/57VXey0
Capturing New Markets: How Smart Companies Create Opportunities Others Don’t (2011)
https://www.amazon.com/Capturing-New-Markets-Companies-Opportunities/dp/0071825959
Jobs to be Done: A Roadmap for Customer-Centered Innovation (2016)
https://www.amazon.com/Jobs-Be-Done-Customer-Centered-Innovation-ebook/dp/B01HJ35YNI?ref_=ast_author_dp
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Practical Steps for Business Innovation and Growth
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/practical-steps-for-business-innovation-and-growth/
Running a business can be very stressful, as you may already know.
When stress kicks in, it can impact both your body and mind, affecting how well you work.
If it’s not managed, it can lead to loss of focus, missed opportunities, and even burnout, which can prevent your business from growing.
The good news is, there's a simple yet effective way to manage stress called Breathwork.
This technique helps you regain control and stay calm during the daily hustle.
But what is breathwork exactly?
How is it different from regular breathing?
How does it help manage stress?
And how can you make sure you're doing it correctly?
In this episode, John Hall and I break down a number of powerful strategies for managing stress, including mastering breathwork, avoiding getting locked in “survival mode” and shifting focus to positivity and gratitude.
John is a Breathwork & Embodiment Coach and a 30-year Fortune 100 tech leader. He left corporate life to cultivate the relationships and purpose that drive fulfillment. Now, he coaches executives and entrepreneurs via a science-backed methodology blending neural science, breathwork, and somatic practices to manage stress, boost self-confidence, and unlock potential.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:35 The Impact of stress on business performance
04:53 The physical effects of chronic stress
09:53 B.P.M: Breath, Physiology and Mindset
20:07 Identifying daily stressors and how to overcome them
21:15 How to shift negative thoughts
23:09 Breathwork in Action
27:37 Relaxation tips during stressful moments
30:26 Tapping as a stress-relief technique
35:26 The quickest way to get yourself to relax right now
Resources:
John Hall, Breathwork & Embodiment Coach
https://johnhallcoaching.com/
Email:
john@johnhallcoaching.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnthomashall/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/johnhallcoaching/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/johnhallcoaching/
Speaking + Media Inquiries:
https://quick.callwithjohnhall.com
Other resources mentioned in this episode:
Amy Cuddy
https://www.amycuddy.com/
Daniel Kahneman
https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Mastering Business Stress with Breathwork
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/mastering-business-stress-with-breathwork/
For your business to grow, you need a recruitment strategy or recruitment process in place to get the right team in place.
If you don’t find the people that can best fit your business needs, you might end up with higher turnover and lower productivity, making it harder to hit your goals.
So what can you do to get it right?
You can optimize your job listings, cultivate the right culture and even adjust your salary ranges to attract good candidates.
You can also bring in professional HR recruiters.
They have the expertise to find the right candidates quickly and efficiently, making sure you get the best fit for whatever your business needs.
But how do you actually work with them?
What's the process like?
How long does it take to find someone who's the perfect fit?
And what can you do to help them get you the best results?
In this episode, Kristie Holmes and I explore the essentials of successful recruitment in small businesses. We address the different parts of the recruitment process and provide actionable tips on how to set it up for businesses looking to expand their teams.
Kristie is the dynamic force behind The HR Dept. With over 15 years of profound experience in recruiting and Human Resources across a spectrum of industries, she embodies the spirit of innovation and dedication. Her mission to provide tailored HR services ensures that small businesses not only survive but thrive in today's competitive landscape.
Download her HR templates to help you get your recruitment process in place: https://thehrdeptky.com/resources/
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:27 Why it's hard for small businesses to find the right hires
05:28 How to start the recruiting process
07:40 The ideal length for a job description
08:23 Next steps after creating a job description
13:22 Using AI tools for job descriptions and resumes
14:03 Timeframe from engaging a recruiter to interviews
15:01 Shortest and longest times to find a candidate
16:57 Aligning pay expectations with market rates
21:30 How company culture affects recruitment
25:16 Being upfront about work-life balance expectations
25:30 The difference between hiring a recruiter and DIY recruiting
27:22 How recruiters charge for their services
29:04 Actionable step to take to find the right people
Resources:
Kristie Holmes, Owner, The HR Dept, LLC:
https://thehrdeptky.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hr-dept-llc/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thehrdeptky/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehrdeptky
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Hire Your Best Employees
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-hire-your-best-employees/
Workforce planning is a vital strategy for your growing business.
It makes sure that you have the right people fill the right roles at the right time.
But applying workforce planning concepts to your operations might be challenging, especially if it's something you've never had in your business before.
So, what exactly is workforce planning?
How does it integrate into your business structure?
And how do you know if it's effective or not?
In this episode, Carol Fraser and I talk about workforce planning and its significance, impact, and role in the growth and success of your business. From understanding job architecture to optimizing talent alignment, Carol also shares practical strategies on how to implement this in your business effectively.
Carol specializes in workforce planning and strategic HR leadership, offering cost-effective fractional HR executive services. With a track record spanning diverse industries, she helps organizations anticipate talent needs, optimize workforce deployment, and drive sustainable growth.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:04 What is Workforce Planning
04:43 Five essential inputs for effective workforce planning
09:29 Defining what kind of people you need in your organization
13:57 Key questions to ask when incorporating workforce planning in your operations
24:31 Common workforce planning mistakes and how to address them
30:22 What is employee experience?
32:49 Job description vs job architecture
36:56 Actionable steps to take in implementing workforce planning
Resources:
Carol Fraser, Workforce Planning Expert, Fractional HR Executive:
https://www.c4talent.com
Schedule a meeting with Carol:
https://www.c4talent.com/calendar
Workforce Planning PDFs:
Workforce Planning.pdf
HR-Opoly.pdf
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Workforce Planning and Job Architecture for Business Growth
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/workforce-planning-and-job-architecture-for-business-growth/
In the world of successful businesses, effective leadership alignment is crucial. When a company succeeds, it's often because its leaders make sure that everyone in the company understands, agrees, and works together to achieve its goals - that their strategies match the overall vision and objectives.
This alignment fuels growth and success. However, when it's missing, people tend to focus on their own agendas, which can derail progress and cause problems.
So, what exactly is leadership alignment?
How can you achieve it in your business?
And why is it so important for success?
In this episode, Andy Katzman and I talk about leadership alignment, what it is, why it’s important, and how it is a driving force in achieving sustainable business growth. He also shares tips, tools, and strategies on how you can foster this alignment with your team members whatever the size of your business.
Andy is the Founder and CEO of Andy Katzman Small Business Advising. He is a Human Resources and operations executive and expert with over 20 years of experience and has designed and implemented HR strategies for many businesses in a variety of industries and lifecycle stages.
We discuss: (timestamps)
01:55 Importance of leadership alignment
03:53 Transparent communication with employees
05:27 The negative impact of silos on businesses
07:27 Small business human resources advising
09:33 Tools to use for addressing misalignment
11:32 Creating a safe space for employee-leadership communication
13:43 Receiving and acting upon employee feedback constructively
16:11 Real-life examples of those who did not heed the advice
19:13 Upholding company values and culture
25:03 Assessing cultural fit pre-mergers and acquisitions
26:19 Cultural alignment in business acquisitions
29:42 Addressing data limitations in small businesses' human resources
30:12 Actionable steps to take in achieving leadership alignment
Resources:
Andy Katzman, Founder, Andy Katzman Small Business Advising
https://aksba.net/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-katzman-a5b92117/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Achieve Leadership Alignment
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-achieve-leadership-alignment/
When your business becomes a victim of financial fraud, specifically check fraud, it can be a total nightmare. Not only will you lose money but you'll also lose time in trying to track it down, closing your account, and talking to your bank, lawyers, and the authorities.
Depending on the size of the theft, it can affect your operations. You may not be able to pay your employees and your suppliers, damaging your reputation and it may even lead to legal action against you.
So what can you do to protect your business?
What are the red flags to watch out for?
What are the different forms of check fraud?
And what can you do to try and get your money back?
In this episode, Courtney Olson and I discuss the rising threat of Check Fraud and its impact on your growing business. We uncover common fraud tactics and share practical tips to safeguard your business finances.
Courtney is the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of First Bank Chicago and is responsible for supporting the Bank’s growth and expansion through developing strong business relationships within the local marketplace. She utilizes her background in sales, lending, and deposits to assist clients and prospects in designing a holistic banking strategy.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:04 The different types of financial Fraud
04:08 How to recognize check fraud
08:03 Prevention strategies against the check, ACH, and wire fraud
11:38 What is Positive Pay?
13:56 Addressing the limitations of Positive Pay
15:58 Managing significant Bank-Approved unauthorized transactions
22:25 How the ACH Positive Pay System works
24:20 Actionable steps to take to protect your business from check or financial fraud
Resources:
Courtney A. Olson, Senior Vice President / Managing Director, First Bank Chicago
https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-a-olson-6865b410/
Website -
https://www.firstbankchicago.com/
Contact Info -
colson@firstbankchicago.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Prevent Check Fraud
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-prevent-check-fraud/
When hiring for a new position, it's crucial to get it right. Hiring mistakes can be costly and disruptive, affecting productivity, team morale, and your bottom line. Making the wrong choice can also mean wasted time, resources, and opportunities for your company to grow.
But how do you avoid making hiring mistakes?
What are the red flags to watch out for?
And how do you pick the right people who will bring your business to the next level?
In this episode, Jamie Van Cuyk and I explore the ins and outs of Hiring Mistakes and how they can affect your growing business. We discuss what can trip up your hiring process and provide actionable tips to avoid them.
Jamie Van Cuyk is the owner and lead strategist of Growing Your Team, is an expert in hiring and onboarding teams within small businesses. Drawing from over ten years of leadership experience, Jamie teaches her clients how to hire their first team members, including employees and long-term contractors. By learning the dynamics of each company and their specific needs, she helps them find their perfect-fit, long-lasting team members and avoid the hiring and firing cycle.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:01 Common hiring mistakes by small businesses
04:52 Defining your hiring needs
07:41 Creating strategic hiring plans
10:34 The differences between hiring for tactical vs leadership positions
15:38 Interview questions to determine if candidates are tacticians or more strategic
17:20 Spotting hiring and interview red flags
22:44 Balancing gut instincts and bias when hiring
24:53 The average number of interview rounds for a position
28:30 Evaluating candidates through paid assignments
32:42 Actionable steps to take to get your hiring right
Resources:
Jamie Van Cuyk, CEO and Lead Strategist, Growing Your Team
https://growingyourteam.com/
Contact Info:
jamie@growingyourteam.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GrowingYourTeam
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/growingyourteam/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamievancuyk/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Avoiding Hiring Mistakes
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-avoiding-hiring-mistakes/
One of the most creative and simple ways to grow a business is by taking the Appreciation Marketing approach. It’s a strategy that can help you strengthen your relationships with your customers by showing your appreciation and that you genuinely care about them.
It's a common problem in many businesses. You might just be too busy to stop and take time to acknowledge your customers, partners, and even those in your network. You might be focused on making sales or just not sure how to go about building these connections without coming across as insincere or inauthentic.
But by using Appreciation Marketing strategies, you can stop yourself from alienating your customers and instead grow a loyal following. This will in turn, lead to increased engagement with your business and your sales.
The sad reality is though when companies fail to show genuine appreciation, they can alienate their customers and miss the chance to grow a loyal following. Even worse, the competition can quickly take over and leave them behind.
But what exactly is Appreciation Marketing?
How does it work?
How can you use it?
And how does it help grow your business?
In this episode, Curtis Lewsey and I discuss Appreciation Marketing and its impact on building genuine relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders. We explore what it is, how it works, and how to implement it effectively for long-term success.
Curtis Lewsey is the Author of Appreciation Marketing ® and Founder of AMcards.com. With over 15 years of experience in the sales and marketing industry, Curtis has carved a remarkable path by understanding the true essence of relationships. He is the co-author of the national best-selling book, Appreciation Marketing® - How to Achieve Greatness Through Gratitude. He then started AMcards which helps businesses implement an automated Appreciation Marketing® Strategy - a simple, inexpensive, and highly effective system for long-term follow-up with real greeting cards.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:35 What is Appreciation Marketing
03:43 The financial impact of Appreciation Marketing
13:57 Appreciation Marketing as a better approach to making sales
16:35 Building meaningful relationships through personalization
24:30 Automation can help streamline personalization.
33:30 Generic vs personalized gifts
37:32 Actionable steps to take to implement Appreciation Marketing
Resources:
Curtis Lewsey , Author of Appreciation Marketing ® and Founder of AMcards.com
https://amcards.com/
LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clewsey/
Email -
Curtis@AMCards.com
Author -
Appreciation Marketing, How to Achieve Greatness Through Gratitude
Sign up for a free card at https://amcards.com/
Get your Free Audiobook from Curtis at appreciationmarketing.com/audiobook
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Building Better Business Relationships Through Appreciation Marketing
When your business grows, expect to get busy. But what happens when there is just too much on your plate? You might need an Executive Assistant (EA).
It's a pivotal role within the organizational structure, providing crucial support to CEOs while helping steer the company toward success.
So how do you go about hiring one?
What do they do?
Do you really need one?
How do you manage their responsibilities?
And how do they help grow your business?
In this episode, Gina Cotner and I talk about the pivotal role Executive Assistants play in business growth, covering essential topics such as how to choose one, how to build trust, and, the art of delegation.
Gina Cotner is the CEO of Athena Executive Services, a firm that pairs virtual Executive Assistants around the United States with swamped and successful entrepreneurs and executives. Her team of high-caliber Executive Assistants work part-time, from home, taking many tasks and projects off the plate of successful people, leaving them free to spend their time where they are needed most.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:16 Introduction to Executive Assistants
04:30 When is it time to get an EA
06:27 What is a Chief of Staff?
09:32 What are the qualities of a Chief of Staff?
13:41 Core Responsibilities of EAs
16:34 How EAs can manage your inbox
20:37 What type of work do EAs generally excel in?
22:03 How much managing will EAs need?
25:54 Questions to ask to determine if an EA is the right fit
29:50 EA costs
35:13 The pros and cons of using an agency to hire an EA
36:40 Agency culture vs your business culture
38:13 Actionable step to take to figure out if you need an Executive Assistant
Resources:
Gina Cotner, CEO, Athena Executive Services
www.athenaexecutiveservices.com
LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenaea
Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/AthenaVirtualAssistants
Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/athena_executive_services
YouTube -
https://www.youtube.com/@athenaexecutiveservices5248
LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/company/athena-executive-services/
FREE RESOURCE: Schedule an initial call with Gina: https://athenaexecutiveservices.com/explore-hiring-a-va/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Finding the Right Executive Assistant
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/finding-the-right-executive-assistant/
If your small business is currently growing, it might be time to professionalize your operations.
The tools and methods that worked when you started may no longer work for you now that you're expanding.
Without upgrading your ways of working, your business can fail. Inefficient processes and disorganization can hold you back, allowing the competition to leave you behind.
So, how do you professionalize your operations?
What are the specific steps to get started?
How does optimizing your systems lead to sustainable success?
And how do you streamline, standardize, and systematize things the right way?
In this episode, Whitney Hahn and I discuss professionalizing your business operations; what it means, and why it’s important for growing businesses. She shared strategies for scaling smart and also provided insights on finding your customers and case studies on how to set up your operations for growth.
Whitney Hahn is the CEO of ProvokeBetter.com and a “Business Made Simple” Certified Coach since 2020. She is on a mission to help owner-makers grow their business while OUTgrowing their busy-ness. And guides small businesses through transformative frameworks, earning a reputation as a catalyst for thriving revenue machines.
We discuss: (timestamps)
01:54 What it means to "professionalize business operations"
4:51Managing the challenges in scaling business operations
06:59 Understanding your target market is essential for business success
11:24 Identifying and addressing your customer’s core business problems
21:36 Professionalizing business operations
25:41 The importance of documenting processes and procedures
26:29 Providing clear guidelines for success
28:25 Tools to help with optimization
29:24 Avoiding the "busyness trap"
30:23 Normalize learning from mistakes
31:58 Case study: Optimizing business operations
40:48 Actionable step to take to start professionalizing business operations
Resources:
Whitney Hahn, Small Business Advisor and Trainer, ProvokeBetter
https://provokebetter.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyhahn/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/provokebetter
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@provokebetter
Contact:
https://provokebetter.com/contact/
For a free business readiness assessment, visit https://provokebetter.com/help/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Driving Growth with Professionalized Business Operations
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/driving-growth-with-professionalized-business-operations/
Feeling the pressure as your business grows?
As you expand, expect to face new hurdles: Your old framework might no longer be the right fit.
You'll need to build an executive team while streamlining your processes becomes crucial. And what about succession planning? Who takes over the reins when you step back?
And if that's not enough pressure, you also need to make sure everything keeps running smoothly while managing all these changes.
If you don't get it right, you can slow down your progress and put the future of your business at risk.
So, how can you handle these challenges and achieve sustainable growth? When's the best time to build an executive team? How do you kickstart succession planning? Is there a more flexible way to grow? And how can you be sure you're moving in the right direction?
In this episode, Bob Green and I talk about some practical strategies on how you can manage the complex task of growing your business. He shared the importance of adapting your business framework to accommodate growth and how to get your team excited about these changes and how they can help elevate your business to the next level of success.
Bob is the owner of TAB (The Alternative Board) North Shore and has led company growth from the war room to the board room to the conference room, with allies, and it's never been a coincidence. Instead, he's curated the experiences with people from the launch of a new product or service all the way through post-merger integrations. He's organized all of these experiences into one process consisting of mindset, accountability and performance with everyone in the company, without exceptions. The outcome for the company owner is improving company value, while creating a culture of stakeholder value, without anyone having to sacrifice their life to make it happen.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:21 Why do companies often find succession planning challenging?
04:07 The optimal time to start succession planning
05:19 What are the signs that indicate the need to build an executive team?
07:23 Balancing loyalty and performance within your teams
09:06 How to build an executive team and internal vs. external recruitment for executive positions
11:45 How can businesses effectively manage change within their organization?
15:01 Building bridges between departments help with change management
15:45 Using employee insights to drive innovation when addressing customer needs
17:02 What are the limitations of the EOS framework as a company grows?
23:27 The importance of documented procedures for maintaining consistency during growth
27:22 The next step to take when exploring alternatives to EOS
Resources:
Bob Green, Owner, TAB (The Alternative Board) North Shore
https://www.thealternativeboard.com/
LinkedIn -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobgreenteams/
Email -
bob@tabnorthshore.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Overcoming Challenges in Managing Business Growth
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/overcoming-challenges-in-managing-business-growth/
Is your business missing out on valuable customer feedback?
Without it, you won’t know what they want or even feel about your business.
You’ll be operating in the dark, making decisions based on assumptions rather than data.
If you’re also not taking the time to do any customer research, you won’t get to know their needs and pain points. This could lead to missed opportunities that will eventually eat into your finances.
So how do you start doing customer research?
How do you gather customer feedback?
What questions should you ask to get useful insights?
and how do you use this data to help you make better strategic plans and decisions?
In this episode, Darlene Campagna and I talk about the pivotal role of customer research and feedback in growing a financially healthy and sustainable business. She shared why you should encourage customer engagement because it can positively impact your sales, marketing, finance, and lead to operational improvements.
Darlene is the Customer Acceleration Consultant and Owner of Direct Opinions. Before that, she spent 11 years working for a national IT consulting company that took its Cleveland operation from approximately $2 million in annual sales to over $27 million in just six years.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:42 Why businesses ignore customer research when making strategic plans
04:47 What it takes to do customer research
05:29 The time and effort required for effective customer research
11:58 Maintaining a quality contact list for customer outreach
14:17 Customers segmentation based on customer satisfaction and experiences
16:29 Response rates for customer feedback initiatives
17:50 In-person focus groups versus panel research methods
20:01 The differences between focus groups and panel research
22:52 Customer response quality via phone versus email surveys
24:19 Batching question and response processes in email surveys
27:20 Phone outreach challenges in the modern era
29:14 Examples of operational improvements driven by customer insights
35:22 Factors that affect a customer's willingness to provide feedback
37:40 Identifying key stakeholders responsible for customer research initiatives.
40:59 The value of customer feedback when selling your company
44:59 Actionable steps to start customer feedback programs effectively
Resources:
Darlene Campagna, Customer Acceleration Consultant and Owner, Direct Opinions
https://www.directopinions.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-campagna-5162515/
LinkedIn | Direct Opinions:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/direct-opinions/about/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DirectOpinions
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Driving Business Growth Through Effective Customer Feedback
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/driving-business-growth-through-effective-customer-feedback/
Change is part and parcel of running a growing business.
But with change comes resistance, disrupting operations and creating hurdles that can strain your workload and more importantly, your finances.
So what can you do to manage change effectively?
Are there specific steps to take that will guarantee a smooth transition?
And most importantly, how do you get your team to embrace change positively?
In this episode, Ursula Jorch discusses the essential elements of change management and shares her insights on how you can lead your growing business successfully through these transformational times.
Ursula Jorch is a business coach, speaker, and founder of Work Alchemy. She helps women leaders transform their businesses into profitable agents for change, create global impact, and become recognized as a powerful force for good.
We discuss: (timestamps)
02:18 - What is Change management?
03:32 - Why small businesses struggle with change management
05:37 - Common challenges faced by leaders and clients when managing change
08:59 - Transitioning from being an operational owner to delegating responsibilities
13:23 - The difference between formal and informal communications in change management
14:55 - Empowering managers to influence informal conversations positively
16:55 - KPIs to track successful change management implementation
18:58 - Specific KPIs in a real-world change management scenario
21:38 - Handling challenges in sales organizations during change
23:54 - Dealing with negative and positive informal communication
26:22 - Professionalizing the workforce and addressing reactive behavior in small businesses
30:04 - Recognizing signs that employees have embraced change effectively
31:28 - Actionable tips for easing the pain of change for employees
Resources:
Ursula Jorch, MSc, MEd, Business Coach, Speaker, and Podcast Host, Work Alchemy
http://workalchemy.com/
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-jorch-6a228
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/WorkAlchemy
Twitter
https://twitter.com/ursulajorch
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ursula.jorch/
Podcast | Work Alchemy: The Impact Interviews - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/work-alchemy-the-impact-interviews/id1035446203
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How Effective Change Management Drives Business Success
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-effective-change-managment-drives-business-success/
Struggling with poor performance in your business? Whether it's employees always running late, missing deadlines, or failing to meet expectations, it’s stressful and will eventually affect your bottom line.
So, what's causing all the chaos? Is it a communication breakdown? Are there gaps in your onboarding processes? Or are your leaders not stepping up?
Discovering the root causes of poor performance is key to implementing meaningful changes.
But how do you identify and address these challenges?
And what are the steps you need to take to foster a culture of success in your business?
In this episode, Barbara Mason shares her insights on how to identify poor performance and what you need to do to turn it around to protect your growing business.
Barbara Mason is a renowned career coach and HR insider with a passion for helping develop career-oriented teams that will help your business’s growth and workplace culture. She has a remarkable track record in positioning professionals and CEOs for significant business and career growth.
We discuss: (timestamps)
01:50 - Reasons for poor performance in business
04:09 - Employee accountability for performance improvement
06:40 - Addressing the causes of poor performance
08:58 - Managing excuses and repeated performance issues
11:21 - Importance of documentation in performance management
13:17 - Established processes for handling poor performance
15:36 - Dealing with performance issues when there are no clear expectations
17:39 - The impact of hiring and onboarding processes on performance
23:29: - Avoiding micromanagement in improving performance
25:45 - How poor performance affects finances
26:13 - Financial challenges vs performance management
28:48 - Actionable steps to take when addressing an employee performance issue
Resources:
Barbara Mason, CEO, Career Pathways Consulting
https://careerpathwaysconsulting.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerpathwaysconsulting/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yourhrinsider/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/careerpathwaysconsulting
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/careerpathways7
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Overcoming Employee Performance Issues
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/overcoming-employee-performance-issues/
When growing your B2B operations, having an effective sales process in place is key.
It serves as a guide for you and your clients - from the initial interest stage until you finally close the deal.
But in B2B operations your sales funnel is more complex. There are more decision-makers, longer sales cycles, and more barriers to sales such as company accreditation or procurement checklists and so on.
If you don't have an effective sales process in place, things can get chaotic really fast.
Without structure, your team gets overwhelmed, leads pile up, you might miss out on weeding the bad leads and deals start to fall through.
So how can you regain control?
What do you need to do to streamline your sales process and safeguard the growth and success of your business?
In this episode, Liz Heiman and I talk about the B2B Sales funnel and how having an effective B2B sales process can really set your business up for success.
Liz is the Sales Operating System Architect and the founder of Regarding Sales.
She guides “Ready-to-Scale” founders and CEOs to take the chaos out of sales and create a more sustainable growth strategy that strengthens the pipeline and streamlines their process to increase revenue predictably.
She speaks to entrepreneurs, CEOs, and sales leaders about taking the chaos out of sales and creating a more sustainable growth strategy that strengthens the pipeline and streamlines the process to increase revenue predictably.
We discuss: (timestamps)
03:02 - Real-world chaotic scenarios in B2B sales funnels
04:06 - The four key stages of B2B sales funnels
08:59 - The challenges of B2B sales funnel stages
12:34 - KPIs to monitor B2B sales funnel performance
15:56 - Balancing quantity vs. quality in B2B prospecting
18:58 - Addressing sales and marketing misalignment
21:12 - Optimizing your CRM setup for effective sales tracking
25:35 - The role of buyer personas
34:53 - Actionable steps to take to streamline your B2B sales processes
Resources:
Liz Heimann, CEO & Chief Sales Strategist, Regarding Sales:
https://www.regardingsales.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizheiman/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RegardingSales
Schedule a call:
https://calendly.com/regardingsales/intro
Email:
info@regardingsales.com
Download the Free Sales Funnel PDF from Liz: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aM8rTHzjBReD9rY4AZzG0XFSTN5MkSt9/view?usp=drive_link
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Building an Effective B2B Sales Process
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/building-an-effective-b2b-sales-process/
In tough times, many businesses feel the urge to cut back on marketing spending.
But what's the potential downside?
Your brand might start to fade away, missing chances to connect with customers and falling behind the competition.
Marketing isn't just about letting the world know about your business.
It's also a powerful tool to control your business. It directly affects your cash flow and drives your bottom line.
So, how do you make sure your marketing budget is working as hard as possible to meet your customer's needs and to grow your business?
In this episode, Sean Doyle discusses the importance of effective marketing spend and its direct impact on business finances. He shares insights on optimizing resources for growth and reaching customers closer to “cash” or conversion.
Sean is the principal at FitzMartin Inc., a leading consultancy focused on sales marketing and management, sales and marketing technology services, and revenue operations.
Sean and his team at FitzMartin are focused on long-term value creation through a sales-first, scientific approach to driving revenue.
Over a 25+ year career and more than 5,000 client engagements, Sean has amassed unmatched expertise in helping B2B companies sell more to their most profitable customers.
We discuss: (timestamps)
2:12 The significance of optimizing marketing spend rather than cutting it
2:37 Impact of Marketing Strategies on Financial Performance
10:00 The "speed to cash" mindset
Focusing marketing efforts on target groups close to making purchases
13:04 Marketing as a business tool, not just a creative or communications tool
13:38 Understanding business objectives is crucial for effective marketing
16:52 Hiring and Building a Strategic Marketing Team
23:36 Marketing budget based on top-line revenues or some variant of EBITDA
30:50 One actionable step to take to fine-tune your marketing
31:22 Centricity: Putting the buyer at the center of everything a company does
Resources:
Sean Doyle, Author, Speaker, and Advisor, FitzMartin Inc
https://seanmdoyle.com/
https://fitzmartin.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/fitzmartin/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/fitzmartinmarketing/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FitzMartinb2b
Email:
sean@fitzmartin.com
Author :
Shift: 19 Practical, Business-Driven Ideas for an Executive in Charge of Marketing but Not Trained for the Task by Sean Doyle
https://www.amazon.com/Shift-Practical-Business-Driven-Executive-Marketing/dp/1605440574
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Transforming Marketing Spend into Business Growth
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/transforming-marketing-spend-into-business-growth/
If you have a customer-centric business, it means your customers are at the heart of everything you do.
And this is a good thing because happy customers equals a thriving business.
But sadly, many small businesses struggle to make this happen beyond their team members on the front lines.
And this is a problem since customer satisfaction is crucial to your success.
So what do you need to do to make your business truly customer-centric?
What exactly does being customer-centric entail?
And how can you encourage this mindset across your entire organization?
In this episode, our guest Chris Hood offers actionable advice on building a customer-centric business. He shares how to implement it in your business to help it grow financially healthy and successful in the long run.
Chris is a keynote speaker, strategist, and thought leader in customer-centric cultures, artificial intelligence, and innovation.
He boasts over three decades of experience in business development and is the author of 'Customer Transformation,' where he provides a roadmap to customer alignment and business value, articulating a transformative seven-stage strategy.
As the Founder and CEO of Synsible AI, Chris spends his time helping businesses leverage AI and reach 10x thinking.
We discuss:
02:07 - Developing a customer-centric environment in your business
04:33 - Growing a customer-centric mindset in non-customer-facing departments
11:18 - Chris Hood’s customer-centric framework for your business
14:27 - Companies that excel in being customer-centric
18:02 - Implementing Customer-centric activities in your business
21:03 - The differences between small and large businesses in becoming more customer-centric
25:22 - Real-life examples of customer inclusion done right
29:04 - Analyzing the root causes of why customer-centricity is a challenge for many businesses
30:33 - Debunking the Customer is Always Right Myth
35:41 - Actionable steps to take to become a customer-centric business
Resources:
Chris Hood, Digital Strategist, Podcast Host and Author:
https://chrishood.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishood/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/chrishood1
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/chrishood
Author of Customer Transformation
https://chrishood.com/product/customer-transformation-hardcover-book/?swcfpc=1
Podcast | The Chris Hood Digital Show
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chris-hood-digital-show/id1671355874
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Become a Customer-Centric Business - and Why It Matters
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-become-a-customer-centric-business-and-why-it-matters/
Ever found yourself drowning in the tedium and mundane tasks of running a business, wondering if there's a way to escape and get your life back?
What if we told you that, "Yes! there is a way!" And that it's absolutely possible to lead a fulfilled life while working fewer hours, whether you're managing one successful business or multiple ventures.
Does it sound too good to be true? It's not!
In this episode, our guest Jeff Russell shares his journey of building multiple thriving businesses across different industries.
He brings his businesses to new heights of success through a combination of strategic hiring, implementing systems and processes, and mindful business evaluation.
His insights and experiences are gold and will help you sidestep getting lost in the relentless hustle and busyness so you can live the life you want while building the business of your dreams.
Jeff Russell, is a best-selling author, renowned speaker, and accomplished entrepreneur. As the founder of many successful businesses and author of his latest book, ‘Fire Yourself First,’ Jeff is an expert in helping business owners break free from the daily grind.
We discuss:
02:27 Introduction to Jeff Russell
07:17 The differences between organizational charts and role charts
09:39 Jeff’s shared service model for marketing, financial management, and operational roles
14:43 Why stepping back from day-to-day operations to focus on long-term strategy is vital
18:15 Transitioning from owner-operators to true owners by implementing systems & processes
24:47 Jeff's 11-step hiring process outlined in his book "Fire Yourself First"
33:58 Importance of reading, listening to podcasts, and attending conferences for self-education
39:34 Actionable steps to be like Jeff: not just an owner operator but a true owner
Resources:
Jeff Russell Best-Selling Author, Speaker, Serial Entrepreneur, and CEO, Oakridge Financial Group
https://www.fireyourselffirst.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejeffrussell/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088397692719
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/jeffrussellsays
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fireyourselffirst
Author of “Fire Yourself First”:
https://www.fireyourselffirst.com/book-jeff
Other Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Dan Sullivan:
https://www.strategiccoach.com/
Storybrand:
https://storybrand.com/
Dawn Fotopulos: Accounting for the Number Phobic
https://www.amazon.com/Accounting-Numberphobic-Survival-Business-Owners-ebook/dp/B00KVO2C4W
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Fire Yourself First: Jeff Russell's Guide to Successfully Growing Your Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/fire-yourself-first-jeff-russells-guide-to-successfully-growing-your-business/
Handling HR investigations can be a potential minefield for any business, especially those that are smaller but currently growing.
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when faced with employee complaints, wrongful termination claims, or accusations of workplace bullying and harassment.
Yet these investigations matter because they can make or break your business.
If resolved successfully, they'll protect your business and your employees.
If you ignore or mishandle them, it could cause you legal problems and harm your reputation.
So, how do you work your way through HR investigations without making costly mistakes?
Are there steps to take to ensure you're protected?
Who do you call for help?
And how can you resolve them professionally?
In this episode, our guest Jill Avey shines a light on HR investigations, and what are some strategies for managing complaints, when to seek legal advice and how you can protect your business through HR documentation and processes.
Jill Avey is the founder and owner of Southwestern HR Consulting, Inc. (SWHRC) and has more than 25 years of business expertise in Human Resources (HR).
We discuss:
03:46 What are HR investigations
06:46 The differences between the EEOC and the Department of Labor
07:35 Potential consequences for overlooking employee concerns
10:14 Common small business employee claims that lead to HR investigations
14:46 The ideal timing to create an employee handbook
15:28 The importance of policies and handbooks for contractors and 1099 workers
19:45 Resolution options for contractors with complaints
2352 What actions are permissible for employees and independent contractors
30:22 The steps to take to address accusations of wrongful termination
34:14: Mediation is typically more cost-effective than proceeding with an actual lawsuit
37:58 Recommended actions when your business lacks HR expertise
41:11 Actionable steps to take to protect your business from HR investigations.
Resources:
Jill Avey, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Owner, Southwestern HR Consulting, Inc.
https://swhrc.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-avey-sphr-shrm-scp-3910642a/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SouthwesternHRConsulting
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SoWeHRConsult
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/southwesternhrconsulting/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | The Impact of HR Investigations in Small Businesses
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/the-impact-of-hr-investigations-in-small-businesses/
Have you ever had that nagging feeling that you don't measure up?
Do you live in constant fear that your success is just a fluke?
Are you worried you'll be unmasked as someone without a clue what they're doing?
It's the relentless struggle known as Imposter Syndrome, and it's something that even the most successful entrepreneurs suffer from.
Imposter Syndrome doesn't discriminate. It haunts people in their personal and professional lives, sabotaging confidence and stifling potential.
But what is it exactly?
What triggers it?
Why - however irrational and false it is - does it affect so many of us?
And, most importantly, how do we beat it?
In this episode, our guest Andy Hite shares how you can help yourself - and others in your team - break free from the iron-like claws of Imposter Syndrome and unleash your full potential. He'll also provide actionable steps to foster a culture of growth, learning, and resilience in your business.
Andy Hite is a recognized leadership coach who supports entrepreneurs, executives, and their teams as they navigate the world of building lives and businesses filled with prosperity, meaning, & freedom.
We discuss:
02:48 What is imposter syndrome, and why do so many people struggle with it?
04:08 The importance of celebrating wins and accomplishments
06:58 Effective techniques that help beat imposter syndrome
08:35 How can people overcome their fear of taking courageous actions?
12:19 Other tools for assisting individuals dealing with imposter syndrome
13:33 The differences between therapy and coaching
15:53 How to lead effectively and help team members overcome imposter syndrome
17:20 What is a Leadership 360 assessment
20:05 The relationship between imposter syndrome and resistance to feedback
21:02 The challenges of managing someone with imposter syndrome
22:20 The differences between leadership and coaching
23:40 Tips and tricks to help leaders become better coaches to their teams
25:22 Fostering a culture that allows short-term pain for long-term gain
29:30 Actionable steps to create a culture that values learning from mistakes
Resources:
Andy Hite, Executive and Entrepreneur Coach, and Leadership Expert
Website:
https://www.andyhitecoaching.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-hite
Email:
andy@andyhitecoaching.com
For exclusive resources for listeners of this podcast:
https://www.scalingminds.com/hmbg
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Business Owner
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/overcoming-imposter-syndrome-as-a-business-owner/
While HubSpot has many features, it can also seem overwhelming. With so much going on, it’s hard to know where to start or how to make the most of it.
And if you're not careful, you can easily get bogged down in all the (helpful) bells and whistles and lose sight of your overall goals.
So, what exactly is HubSpot?
Why do businesses love it?
What makes it different from other CRM platforms?
And how do you go about implementing it into your business?
In this episode, my guest Jenelle McGrath and I break down all things HubSpot, including discussing its versatile features and the benefits it can bring. She also shares her insights on making the most of its capabilities and offers valuable tips for those considering integrating it into their growing business.
We discuss:
03:22 Who are the ideal customers for HubSpot's marketing automation platform?
04:12 How companies benefit from HubSpot
10:56 Common challenges when implementing HubSpot
13:24 Reasons small businesses migrate to HubSpot
14:55 HubSpot's role in streamlining hiring and recruitment
18:55 Utilizing HubSpot for employee onboarding
22:12 Different types of hubs available in HubSpot
23:19 Measuring leads, revenue, and SEO impact with HubSpot campaigns
26:37 Best practices for effective data tracking in HubSpot
31:35 Key factors for successful HubSpot training, including ownership, certification, and training resources
34:34 Effective training schedules and timelines for teams adopting HubSpot
36:48 Common mistakes made by sales and marketing teams after migrating to HubSpot
38:31 Actionable steps to take to prepare for HubSpot migration
Resources:
Jennelle McGrath, CEO, Inbound Sales and Marketing Growth Agency Partner, Market Veep
Website:
https://www.marketveep.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennellemcgrath/
Free Resources:
https://www.marketveep.com/marketing-ebooks-webinars
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Successfully Implement HubSpot
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-successfully-implement-hubspot/
The art of naming may seem secondary to finances and operations, but it's incredibly important because your name can make or break your brand.
So how do you choose the right name?
What are the methods or surefire hacks to create one that clicks?
How do you craft a name that leaves a lasting impression and attracts customers?
What's the secret to unlocking naming success? And how do you ensure that this process becomes the foundation for your long-term success?
In this episode, my guest Alexandra Watkins and I take a deep dive into the world of naming. She shares her tips on creating the perfect name, including how to brainstorm and the common mistakes to avoid when choosing the right name.
Alexandra is a leading and outspoken authority on brand names with buzz. Her breakthrough creativity book, “Hello, My Name is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick,” was named a Top 10 Marketing Book by Inc. Magazine.
We discuss:
03:42 When naming a brand or business, don't prioritize matching URLs over relevant keywords to avoid confusion and unconventional spellings.
08:20 Choose names that are easy to spell, pronounce, and remember.
09:17 The S.M.I.L.E process for choosing winning names
11:12 Leverage previous knowledge, imagery, themes, and emotions to craft names.
13:52 Brainstorm for names using various techniques to jumpstart your creativity.
16:52 Multiple rounds of feedback and trademark screening are part of every name selection process.
20:55 Trademark your brand names to prevent conflicts, regardless of how long you've used the name.
21:54 Ownership of trademarks, as seen with Xerox and Kimberly Clark, offers consumer brand protection.
24:07 The S.C.R.A.T.C.H Process for Rejecting Names
29:52 Choose names that allow for future growth and changes in your business.
31:53 Be aware of the "curse of knowledge" when naming anything and prioritize clear, pronounceable names.
36:56 Pronunciation and spelling are pivotal in naming to avoid ambiguity.
38:03 Actionable Steps to Selecting the Perfect Business Name
Resources:
Alexandra Watkins, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Eat My Words
Website:
https://eatmywords.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrawatkins/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/eatmywords
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/EatMyWordsNames/
Free Test in Naming Your Brand:
SMILE & SCRATCH Name Evaluation Test
Free Brand Names Mini Masterclass
How To Create Super Sticky Brand Names Online Course
Other resources in this episode:
Episode 62 - Protecting Intellectual Property in Service-Based Businesses
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/protecting-intellectual-property-in-service-based-businesses/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Make a Business Name Memorable
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-make-a-business-name-memorable/
Sales can get complicated, especially for smaller or rapidly growing companies. Your sales process might seem like a maze, and disorganized data only makes it worse. Losing potential customers is frustrating and puts pressure on meeting targets.
So how do you build or streamline your sales process? Where do you find the right sales talent? And most importantly, how can you ensure this process becomes the foundation for your long-term success?
In this episode, our guest Dan Fantasia provides expert insights and actionable strategies to conquer these sales challenges head-on. He’ll also help unlock the potential of your sales team to ensure your business's continued growth and financial stability.
Dan Fantasia has been in the field of sales recruiting since 1997 and founded Treeline in 2001. His exclusive focus on helping companies build world-class, elite sales teams has helped to change the lives of over 3,300 sales professionals.
We discuss:
03:54 The Need for a Clear Sales Process before hiring salespeople.
06:46 What to Look for When Hiring Salespeople
08:27 Breaking down the 30, 60, and 90-day business plan/roadmap for success accountability.
11:29 The difference between B2B and B2C salespeople
14:40 Onboarding Your Salespeople to Understand Your Core Customers
15:50 Focus on essential sales skills rather than technology when onboarding salespeople.
25:18 New sales hires should be held accountable to metrics but be flexible because adjusting takes time.
30:19 Prioritizing Sales Pipeline and Forecast Management for New Hires
31:02 Establish a sales process with set rules and accountability to ensure your sales reps are truthful.
33:39 Actionable step
Resources:
Dan Fantasia, President and CEO, Treeline, Inc.
Website:
https://www.treelineinc.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danfantasia/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/treelineinc
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DanFantasia
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TreelineInc
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TreelineInc
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Hire Top Sales People for Your Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-to-hire-top-sales-people-for-your-growing-business/
Intellectual property is a vital business asset that needs protection. It includes all your ideas, creations, products/services that drive growth.
If you don't protect your intellectual property (IP), you risk competitors stealing or copying what you do, which could lead to lost revenue.
The digital age has further complicated matters. It is now very easy to accidentally copy someone else's work, thanks to the rise of AI and automation that continue to blur the lines between innovation and imitation.
But what is intellectual property exactly?
Where do you start protecting what you own?
How do you know when to use a copyright, license or trademark?
And how can you use your intellectual "assets" to increase your sales and achieve business success?
In this episode, our guest Erin Austin breaks down all aspects of intellectual property, its different categories, how to use them and how to start protecting your creations. She also shares tips and insights on using your IP assets to help propel your business forward.
We discuss:
03:55 The difference between copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents.
08:06 How copyrights work
10:05 The enforceability of copyrights
12:19 AI-generated content and copyright laws
14:04 Establishing the legal status of derivatives from your original copyrighted work
15:03 Identifying the rightful owner of copyright for AI-generated content
20:35 Exploring the distinction between "R" and "TM" in trademarks
22:56 Evaluating how long and what to consider when applying for copyrights/trademarks
27:47 Presenting individuals who leveraged IP to transform their businesses
31:05 Understanding the role of licensing, alongside copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets
33:49 Examining the current models for licensing, including ongoing payments and fixed-term arrangements
35:59 How to get started on protecting your business intellectual property
Resources:
Erin Austin, IP Expert and Attorney, Think Beyond IP
Website:
https://www.thinkbeyondip.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinaustin/
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVztXnDYnZ83oIb-EGX9IGA/videos
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ErinAustinLaw
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Protecting Intellectual Property in Service-Based Businesses
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/protecting-intellectual-property-in-service-based-businesses/
Every business faces challenges as it grows. And to manage these challenges, more and more owners are embracing EOS – the Entrepreneurial Operating System.
EOS isn't your usual business guide; it's a complete system that aligns everyone in the company.
This alignment is crucial because businesses with a united (and accountable) team tend to be more profitable and financially secure.
EOS encourages every team member, from top to bottom, to think like an entrepreneur.
This collective mindset keeps the bigger picture in mind and drives the company forward.
But how can EOS make this happen?
How does it work?
And how do you implement it in your company?
In this episode, our guest Rebecca Finken and I discuss EOS 101: what it is, what it offers, and how it works. She also shares the steps you can take to get started and apply the EOS system in your business.
Rebecca Finken is a Professional EOS Implementer with EOS Worldwide, boasting nearly 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur. She resides in both Las Vegas and Prescott Arizona.
We discuss:
04:36 What is EOS and who is it for
06:29 EOS Implementation Steps and Process
09:03 EOS common terms and their definitions
10:34 How to Implement EOS for Business Growth
12:57 Dealing with employees reluctant to make EOS-implemented changes
16:03 EOS tools (eg the people-analyzer) that are useful for businesses
18:59 Breaking down the EOS Accountability Chart
21:23 Managing culture shifts due to EOS
23:20 Measuring Employee Accountability with EOS
29:51 Falling off the EOS process
31:51 The various meeting formats of EOS and their importance
36:41 The next actionable step to take in the next week or 2 to implement EOS
Resources:
Rebecca Finken, Professional EOS Implementer, EOS Worldwide
Website:
https://eosworldwide.com/rebecca-finken
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-finken-1891a6192/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Achieving Business Growth with EOS
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/achieving-business-growth-with-eos/
Press releases aren't just words on paper. When done right, they can capture media attention, expand your audiences, and fuel business growth.
But how do you begin?
What do you talk about?
Will anyone listen?
How can you create press releases that grab both readers and journalists?
And once you've told your story, how do you share it with the world?
In this episode, Mickie Kennedy and I explore the potential of press releases for small business owners. He'll walk us through why they are important, share tricks on crafting content that will resonate with your target audience and the media, and provide actionable steps to get your story out there.
Mickie Kennedy is an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. 24 years ago, Mickie founded eReleases after realizing that small businesses desperately need a press release service they can afford.
We discuss:
03:10 What falls under the umbrella of PR
04:00 Effective Press Releases for Small Businesses
07:01 How to get your press releases out in the media
08:40 Creating Compelling Press Release Content
16:22 Steps to Producing and Distributing Press Releases
22:16 The media pick-up time frame for a press release to be considered a success
23:42 The cost implications of press releases or syndicating content
27:14 The standard, most effective press release length
28:07 Samples of major press release fails
35:00 The next actionable step that small businesses can take within the next 2 weeks to create effective press releases.
Resources:
Mickie Kennedy
PR Expert, Press Release Ninja, Media Relations Networker
eReleases
Website:
https://www.ereleases.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/publicity/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ereleases.press.release.distribution
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How Press Releases Build Buzz and Grow Your Small Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/listen/how-press-releases-build-buzz-and-grow-your-small-business/
Sustaining a business becomes challenging as labor costs rise, especially in the service industry, where people play a central role.
You must keep your eye on your bottom line but also prioritize your employees' well-being.
So how do you strike this balance? Through labor efficiency, or making the most of your workforce's talents, time, and resources to get things done smarter and faster.
But what is labor efficiency exactly?
How does it work?
How do you implement it successfully?
And how can it give your business the kick it needs to grow and thrive?
In today's episode, Herb Cogliano and I discuss labor efficiency - what it is, why you need it, and how it can make a positive impact on your business operations. He shares tips and strategies on how you can make it a part of your growing business.
Herb Cogliano leads his own advisory practice leveraging the Scaling Up Performance Platform, described in Verne Harnish's award-winning book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits-Scaling Up.
As an International Business Coach, experienced CEO Scaling Up Practitioner, and Professor of the Scaling Up Masters Business Course, he has learned firsthand what it takes to overcome many business challenges.
Herb is pursuing his passion for working with leaders of growth companies to achieve more freedom by helping them create industry-leading strategies, a culture of accountability, flawless execution, and a healthy cash flow within their organizations.
We discuss:
03:30 What is labor efficiency and why is it important for any business?
05:01 Understanding labor efficiency as ROI on people and their impact on financial returns.
06:40 Revenue-producing labor and back-office support labor (or direct and indirect labor) in the labor efficiency equation explained.
11:30 Exploring the connection between labor efficiency and operating profit: Improving labor efficiency leads to higher profits.
15:37 Boosting labor efficiency strategies such as increasing team size, improving processes, and optimizing service delivery.
18:16 Defining A, B, and C players using talent assessment and evaluating employees by rehiring and core values.
23:47 Using tools and scaling up principles can create a positive work environment for employees.
27:09 The evolution of purpose and values in creating a successful business.
29:45 Actionable and manageable next steps to improve labor efficiency and operating profits.
Resources:
Herb Cogliano, International Business Growth Advisor & Certified Scaling Up Coach, Aspire Growth Advisors:
https://www.aspiregrowthadvisors.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hcogliano
Email:
herb@aspiregrowthadvisors.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Maximizing Labor Efficiency for Your Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/maximizing-labor-efficiency-for-your-growing-business
Dealing with a messy desk while running a growing business? It can seriously get in the way of your productivity. Staying on top of your game becomes a struggle when things are scattered, lost, and disorganized.
Beyond the mess, a cluttered workspace disrupts focus, clarity, and completing tasks essential for business growth. Distractions multiply, stress builds up, and finding what you need becomes a scavenger hunt that eats your valuable time.
So, where do you start taking charge of the clutter?
What practical systems can you adopt to restore order while managing your business?
And how can you consistently maintain a clean and organized workspace?
In today's episode, Gayle Gruenberg and I discuss practical strategies to reclaim control over your workspace. We share tips for tackling clutter, implementing organizational systems, and maintaining a productive environment while managing your growing business.
Gayle is the chief executive organizer of Let’s Get Organized, an award-winning Bergen County, New Jersey organizing company. Gayle helps people living with chronic disorganization declutter and maintain organizing systems. She is a certified professional organizer in chronic disorganization, a certified virtual professional organizer, and an organizer coach.
We discuss:
02:37 Start small when clearing up clutter. The feeling of accomplishment will help build momentum.
03:34 Use categories and subcategories to help organize information visually, then sort and discard items as needed.
08:27 Establish criteria for keeping important papers so you can let go of unnecessary items.
13:00 Prioritize proximity and importance when organizing books and supplies in smaller workspaces.
18:29 Refresh your workspace with foundational pieces, intentionally placing inspiring items and finding new homes for others.
20:20 Creating an ideal workspace is an ongoing feedback, evaluation, and refinement process.
26:40 To get closer to a productive workspace, start organizing. That first step will naturally lead to progress and transformation.
Resources:
Gayle Gruenberg, CPO-CD®, CVPO™, CEO, Let’s Get Organized:
https://lgorganized.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylegruenberglgo
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/letsgetorganizedllc/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LetsGetOrganizedLLC/
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3mTqnTaJ_ZG4BlzOJjvN4A
Podcast | Make Space for Blessings
https://anchor.fm/gayle-gruenberg%20
Author:
- Let's Get Organized!: Quick Organizing Tips for Seasons and Holidays
- Let's Get Organized!: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Chronic Disorganization (CD)
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Increasing Productivity Through an Organized Workspace
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/increasing-productivity-through-an-organized-workspace
Construction is a challenging industry where human creativity works magic, turning engineering and architectural plans into actual structures.
And while they make building something easy from the ground up, hidden beneath the surface lies a maze of intricate project management complexities that you won't find in other industries.
With so many moving parts and a heavy reliance on subcontractors, success requires skillful coordination of teams, schedules, and resources.
So what can you do to ensure success in this industry that demands effective management of both people and processes?
In today's episode, John Glover and I explore the complexities within the construction industry and break down the project and people management success strategies that you can also use for your business.
John Glover is a Small Business Coach, Fractional COO and Integrator, Personal Growth Consultant, and founder of Core Integration Coaching.
He helps entrepreneurs, business partners, organizations, and individuals develop a roadmap to get what they want from their business and their life.
As a passionate coach and facilitator, he's helped many set strategic goals, develop customized plans, and execute more effectively to obtain their desired results.
We discuss:
03:54 Managing people in construction is challenging without proper processes and communication.
05:47 Establishing core values is crucial for a company's moral compass and identifying ideal employees.
08:12 Use an accountability chart, define roles, align values, and communicate clearly to avoid issues.
14:17 The steps to prevent mistakes and misquotes that can affect your profitability.
16:35 Small business owners need to delegate responsibility.
19:23 Small businesses benefit from the EOS platform when addressing major issues by implementing regular meetings, setting clear expectations, and having an effective onboarding process.
30:15 Build supplier relationships by aligning core values via due diligence and clear communications.
32:53 Vet subcontractors, like employees, assess if they're the proper fit through (legitimate) testimonials and address any issues quickly.
39:02 Accountability provides a framework that balances structure and autonomy, allowing individuals to thrive and solve problems within boundaries.
42:14 Creating a strong people process with a structured onboarding system is crucial to help you find, train and keep the right employees and drive growth and success.
Resources:
John Glover, Coach, Fractional COO & Integrator, Core Integration Coaching:
https://coreintegrationcoaching.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-glover
Schedule a Discovery Call with John:
https://coreintegrationcoaching.com/contact-me
Email:
john@coreintegrationcoaching.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Industry Deep Dive - Construction: How to Effectively Manage Subcontractors Using EOS
Does your workplace resemble a battlefield where no one collaborates, communication constantly breaks down, and productivity takes a hit?
Are your people more invested in politicking, one-upmanship, and other internal conflicts than driving the business forward?
If this sounds familiar, it's a sign that your business is grappling with dysfunctional team dynamics where power struggles, lack of trust, and poor communication make success a challenge.
But what leads to this dysfunction in the first place?
How does it impact the growth and the financial well-being of your business?
And how can you overcome this dysfunction to cultivate a healthier and more productive work environment?
In today's episode, Zach Montroy and I address workplace dysfunction and its impact on your business. We'll share practical strategies to restore collaboration, boost productivity, and improve your team's well-being, helping you maintain steady growth.
Zach is the Founder and CEO of The Intention Collective and a leadership team coach with over 20 years of experience in executive roles.
Zach’s passion for helping leaders expand their impact and build trust has led him to focus on helping entrepreneurs scale and grow their businesses.
As a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, Zach is known for his ability to distill complex concepts into actionable insights that help businesses achieve their goals.
With a deep understanding of the importance of both strategy and culture in achieving sustainable growth, Zach helps companies create high-functioning, high-
impact organizations through his innovative approach to leadership.
We discuss:
02:40 Prioritizing healthy team dynamics leads to business growth because healthy teams produce good outcomes while neglecting team wellbeing leads to burnout and frequent turnovers.
7:29 Cultural issues often stem from the lack of trust and courage, and the resulting dysfunction can lead to back-channeling, politicking, fear, shame, blame, gossip, favoritism, and nostalgia for the "good old days.
10:36 Leaders need trust, courage, and healthy boundaries to confront difficult facts within their team and to build a healthy work culture.
15:43 Leaders should apologize when wrong, create a healthy feedback mirror, prioritize clear communications, and explain their decision-making processes to build trust with their team.
20:25 Evaluate work success along the way, not just at the end, using "mile markers" and feedback.
24:25 Receiving feedback is a skill that can be learned, requiring curiosity and a willingness to become vulnerable.
32:08 Cultivate a healthier team dynamic by reassessing core values, aligning them with your desired culture, and examining and refining your existing habits.
Resources:
Zach Montroy, People, Team & Organizational Strategist, Founder & CEO, The Intention Collective:
https://www.intentioncollective.co/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharymontroy/
Email:
Zach@IntentionCollective.co
Books Mentioned:
- John Gottman: What Makes Love Last?: How to Build Trust and Avoid Betrayal
- Brené Brown: Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
- Jim Collins: Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company
- Kim Scott: Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Overcoming Workplace Dysfunction
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/overcoming-workplace-dysfunction
Growing your business is no easy feat, especially when faced with intense competition. With numerous players fighting tooth and nail for the same customer base, it's easy to fade into obscurity.
However, there's a game-changing strategy that many businesses fail to consider: Challenger Branding. This approach allows you to carve out a distinct brand identity and differentiate yourself from competitors.
But what exactly is challenger branding?
Will it work for a small business?
And how can you harness your company culture to maximize its impact?
Mike Sullivan is the President and CEO of LOOMIS, the country’s leading challenger brand advertising agency. For more than 30 years, he’s helped some of the country’s most successful companies build their brands. He is also the author of the book "The Voice of the Underdog: How Challenger Brands Create Distinction by Thinking Culture First"
We discuss:
02:03 What are Challenger brands
4:36 The importance of having radical clarity about your values on your brand positioning
9:50 The pros and cons of getting branding experts to help position your business
12:06 Why culture drives your brand and is crucial for its success
15:44 How leadership development improves culture and helps organizations become great places to work.
21:09 Why creating a stakeholder-oriented culture is key to building a successful company, according to conscious capitalism principles.
30:57 The steps, process, and insights to consider when transitioning into a challenger brand
36:05 The first actionable step to take in the next week or two to get started on building a challenger brand
Resources:
Mike Sullivan, President, and CEO, LOOMIS:
https://theloomisagency.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesullivanatloomis/
Email:
Mike.sullivan@theloomisagency.com
Author of The Voice of the Underdog: How Challenger Brands Create Distinction by Thinking
Other Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Eating the Big Fish: How Challenger Brands Can Compete Against Brand Leaders:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eating-Big-Fish-Challenger-Compete/dp/0470238275
David B Wolfe, Rajendra Sisodia, Jagdish Sheth: Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Firms-Endearment-World-Class-Companies-Passion/dp/0133382591
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How Using Challenger Branding Accelerates Business Growth
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-using-challenger-branding-accelerates-business-growth
As a small business owner, the last thing you want to worry about is a cybersecurity breach that could potentially ruin your business.
But what do you do if you've already been attacked and your systems are taken hostage?
Do you pay the ransom?
Do you ignore them and start again from scratch?
Do you find a friendly yet quirky hacker to help you take the thieves down like in the movies?
What can you do to protect your data and save your company?
In today's episode, our guest Bryant Tow and I discuss the importance of cybersecurity, how to respond if your systems are compromised, and steps you can take to safeguard your business from cyber threats.
Bryant is the Chief Security Officer at Leapfrog Services. For over 25 years, Bryant has held responsibilities as an entrepreneur and senior executive in all aspects of risk management, including thought leadership in cyber security, award-winning development of security solutions, and managing large global cyber and physical security teams.
He has also held executive leadership positions in multinational consulting firms and has been involved in several startups. Recently, he was the Chief Security Officer for CSC’s Financial Services Group and was responsible for securing 143 applications in 52 countries.
Bryant’s leadership positions across the security industry include the Department of Homeland Security Sector Coordinating Council, ISSA, and ISACA, and as a board member and vice president of InfraGard National Members Alliance.
He is recognized as a Distinguished Fellow by the Ponemon Institute, the industry’s leading research organization.
He has also published several books and articles on cybersecurity topics and has received several awards, including the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security Award for Exceptional Contribution in Recognition of Outstanding Support of Tennessee’s Counter Terrorism Program.
We discuss:
02:00 The sources of cybersecurity breaches in small businesses are almost always found within their processes and policies
06:03 Preparing for Cyber Extinction: The Incident Response Process
12:52 Why small businesses need to have set Incident Response Plans in place
14:31 How to create a Cybersecurity Plan for your small business
18:57 Should a company under attack pay or not pay ransomware?
22:53 The importance of having "backdoors" set to ensure your company's cybersecurity
25:34 Weak admin passwords are often the reason or "smoking gun" for security breaches
27:04 The benefits - and pitfalls - of password managers
34:10 Immediate and Actionable steps to take to build a strong cybersecurity foundation
39:14 How understanding your business needs and processes can save you money on cybersecurity investments
Resources:
Bryant G. Tow, Chief Security Officer, Author, and Speaker of Leapfrog Services:
https://leapfrogservices.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanttow/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/leapfrogservices/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeapfrogServices
Email:
Bryant.Tow@LeapfrogServices.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Businesses
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/cybersecurity-essentials-for-small-businesses
Guest podcasting is an excellent strategy to leverage the power of podcasts for business development, expanding your network, and building your brand.
Not only does it allow you to showcase your expertise, but you’ll reach new audiences through valuable and engaging content.
But with so many shows available, how do you select the right one to guest in?
And if you're hosting, how do you choose the ideal guest?
In today's episode, our guest Tom Schwab and I will explore the ins and outs of guest podcasting, from preparation and creating resonating content to making the most of your time on air, whether you're a guest or a host.
Tom is an Entrepreneur, Author, Podcast Interview Marketing Pioneer, and Founder of Interview Valet.
He believes the best things in life come from conversations. It’s these powerful, sometimes awkward conversations that propel us from where we are personally and professionally to where we dream of being.
As an engineer, a Navy Veteran, and Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator, Tom thinks differently. Tough Minded, Skeptical, sometimes even Cantankerous, but always technically competent, always thinking - ”What if” is how the head of the Nuclear Navy described it.
As a small business owner and entrepreneur, he understands the unique challenges of business owners. This led him to be an early pioneer in using inbound marketing for eCommerce and targeted podcast interviews for marketing that connects.
We discuss:
02:36: Guest podcasting and how it started
04:54: The benefits of using podcasting as a business development tool
12:16 When to consider working with a podcast marketing agency
17:20: Top factors to watch out for when vetting podcast agencies to ensure they align with your brand
20:59: Setting guest podcasting KPIs, including the ideal number of podcasts to guest on per month
28:11: How to prepare for guest podcasting, especially if you're new to public speaking in this medium
33:56: Tips on how to provide value to the audience in a non-salesy, self-serving way while guesting on a podcast
37:17: The first actionable step to take in the next week or two if you're new to guest podcasting and interested in getting started.
Resources:
Tom Schwab, Entrepreneur, Podcast Interview Marketing Pioneer, and Founder of Interview Valet
https://interviewvalet.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasmschwab/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ThomasSchwab
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/interviewvalet
Resources:
https://interviewvalet.com/growing/
Author:
Podcast Guest Profits: Grow Your Business with a Targeted Interview Strategy
One Conversation Away: A Manifesto for a Rich Life and a Profitable Business.
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to be a Great Podcast Guest
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-be-a-great-podcast-guest
Difficult conversations with employees and clients are inevitable.
These conversations could range from addressing a team member's poor performance or behavioral issues or managing missed deadlines or disagreements with a client.
They can get awkward and stressful, but avoiding them may cause bigger problems down the line.
In today's episode, our guest Sheila Lambert and I discuss these “difficult conversations”, and she shares valuable insights on making them less intimidating and more productive for all parties involved.
Sheila Lambert is the President and Founder of Lambert Leadership Coaching, LLC and she brings over 30 years of experience as a therapist and Executive Coach, empowering thousands of women who advanced in their careers and are at the forefront of their companies through self-discovery.
Sheila works creatively and collaboratively with organizations to help elevate and advance their leaders. Aside from having over 450 hours of academic training and over 1700 hours in ongoing continuing education training, Sheila has an MS in Organizational Leadership and an MS in Counseling.
She is a Licensed Counselor, a Certified Workplace Wellness Professional and a Stress Mastery coach. She is a COVID-19 Transitional Leadership Course graduate, which positions her to lead and support organizations strategically.
She is a Speaker and a Leader’s advocate. She supports and donates percentages of proceeds from her business to many nonprofit organizations, especially the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, as she has had many people in her life succumb to Cancer.
We discuss:
03:04 Preparing for difficult conversations with employees and clients to ensure positive outcomes
05:07 How to better understand and gaining perspective in difficult conversations
07:52 Real-life example of preparing for a difficult conversation and its outcome
12:41 How to support employees through difficult conversations
16:25 Effective ways to manage employee during company changes
19:50 Addressing disruptive behavior during meetings through structured conversations
22:02 Giving effective feedback in difficult conversations via neutral phrasing and objectivity
27:19 Guidelines for navigating cultural differences during difficult conversations
33:06 The immediate and actionable next step to take to make difficult conversations easier
Resources:
Sheila Lambert, President and Founder, Lambert Leadership Coaching, LLC:
https://lambertleadershipcoaching.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-lambert-ms-mladc-lcs-cwwa-3a074531/
Email:
sheila@lambertleadershipcoaching.com
Program:
Rise Up: A Women’s Leadership Program for Women on the Rise - A strong program designed to deepen your leadership skills, execute your impact and accelerate your career!
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Navigating Conflict in a Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/navigating-conflict-in-a-growing-business
Unique content is critical to growing your business.
But with AI like ChatGPT on the rise, staying ahead of the game is a challenge.
So, how can businesses keep up? How does AI impact thought leadership content?
What opportunities and obstacles come with using it?
And most importantly, how can you leverage this technology to drive business growth?
In today's episode, our guest Stephanie Nivinskus and I discuss all things AI, particularly ChatGPT, and how - if used properly - it can help you with your marketing efforts
Stephanie is the CEO of SizzleForce Marketing, a Fractional CMO agency that services scaling companies. Since 1995 she’s been developing brand-building marketing campaigns that have been used by companies including Starbucks, Quiksilver, The National Football League, Cox Communications, and thousands of privately owned companies.
Stephanie has written for Forbes and Entrepreneur magazines and is the author of the international #1 best-seller, Absolutely Unforgettable: The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Creating A HeartCentered Brand And Standing Out In A Noisy World.
Known for her ability to humanize commerce and market products and services in an authentic & powerful way, she delights audiences with attention-grabbing stories and strategies that connect the dots between people and profit. Her raw, heart-centered approach to creating meaningful conversations gives scaling companies a big voice in the marketplace.
Stephanie speaks nationwide. When she’s not helping brands showcase their sizzle, Stephanie enjoys time with her husband and three teenagers in San Diego.
We discuss:
03:40 How can Chat GPT be leveraged to develop thought leadership content and improve content quality?
05:54 What are some practical ways to use Chat GPT to enhance content ideation for a blog while incorporating one's thought leadership and experience?
10:07 What measures should be taken to verify the accuracy of the information generated by AI tools and ensure the reliability of sources used?
12:28 What measures can you take to ensure the ethical and effective use of AI and Chat GPT by marketing agencies?
18:30 What are some clear indications or "dead giveaways" that suggest an individual or organization has simply taken Chat GPT's output and passed it off as their own content, without additional modifications or thoughts?
23:10 What other ways, besides content creation and marketing, can individuals or organizations effectively use ChatGPT to their advantage?
31:07 What would be the next actionable step for someone just starting to use AI to ensure they are using it effectively and efficiently?
Resources:
Stephanie Nivinskus, CEO, Author, and Speaker, SizzleForce Marketing:
https://sizzleforce.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanienivinskus/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sizzleforce/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SizzleForce/
Author of Absolutely Unforgettable: The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Creating A HeartCentered Brand And Standing Out In A Noisy World
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Content Creation for Businesses in the Age of AI
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/content-creation-for-businesses-in-the-age-of-ai
Many seasoned entrepreneurs pour years of blood, sweat, and tears into building a successful company. But with time, priorities change, and circumstances shift.
Whether it's retirement, a new endeavor, or handing the company over to your successor, exiting your business requires careful planning and execution.
So what steps do you need to take to ensure a smooth transition?
How do you prepare yourself emotionally for this major life change?
Joining me in today’s podcast is John Ovrom, the President and founder of Exit Consulting Group, which provides consulting and brokerage services for business owners to prepare for and execute their exit.
We explore why emotional preparedness is essential when exiting your business and share tips on handling this monumental transition.
John specializes in creating roadmaps for business owners anticipating a transition, whether transferring the business to family or employees or selling to a third party. He’s also the author of "Exit & Answers: Navigate Your Business, Exit Like An Expert"
We discuss:
04:49 When is the major change felt in the process of exiting a business, and is it before signing the agreement, during the process, or after the agreement has been completed and the payment has been made?
09:50 What other business exit strategies can business owners consider aside from selling the company or their job?
12:23 How can business owners effectively transition from being the central figure to empowering employees to take ownership and lead the business through its different stages of growth?
14:32 What helpful strategies and techniques exist to emotionally prepare yourself or your clients to separate from their business and navigate the exit process successfully?
18:51 How can businesses manage the emotional impact on employees during an owner's decision to exit, and maintain team dynamics during the transition period?
22:16 What actionable steps can owners take to reassure employees during the exit process and provide effective change management support to ensure a successful transition?
25:19 Can transitioning from being an owner to an employee affect the team dynamic, and how does it work in practice?
36:25 What practical steps can business owners take in the next week or two if they are thinking of exiting their business, aside from preparing for the emotional transition?
Resources:
John Ovrom, President, Founder, and Author, Exit Consulting Group:
https://exitconsultinggroup.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/exit-consulting-group
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ExitConsultingG/
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxBy-BxehkPy6vu_KqewJeg
Contact Number:
+1 (619) 990-4770
Email:
JOvrom@exitconsultinggroup.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Mastering the Emotional Side of Exiting Your Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/mastering-the-emotional-side-of-exiting-your-business
Starting and growing a business can be incredibly fulfilling but can quickly overwhelm many owners.
Managing the increased complexity across all aspects of your operations becomes crucial as your business expands.
Not only will it help increase revenue, but also help you avoid stress, burnout and even potential resentment towards your customers.
So what can you do or set up, so you are better prepared to deal with these "growing pains" both in your professional and private life?
In today's episode, our guest Jessica Yarbrough and I talk about how to build or create systems that will support your professional and personal lives during times of growth. We explore where to start and what to expect from these support systems.
Jessica Yarbrough is a Business Strategist and Growth Expert. She quickly developed a reputation for being one of the best business strategists for coaches and consultants who want to sell and scale ultra-high-end services. Her background is in international business, and she has built multiple companies.
Jessica is a genius at showing entrepreneurs how to build an expert platform, rapidly raise their value, build credibility and attract high-paying clients. She loves teaching entrepreneurs how to grow their influence and make the income and impact they desire.
We discuss:
02:59 What is the biggest problem faced by clients when their business grows?
04:05 Are there commonalities in the "growing pains" experienced by those who seek help, and how do you prevent them from recurring?
10:02 What specific qualities or attributes do you seek when interviewing potential team members for your own company?
10:57 During interviews, how do you determine if a candidate may have loyalty or value issues that could impact your business?
12:35 Why is it important to have both internal and external systems to support the growth of a small business, and how do they aid owners in their private life?
18:01 How can business owners create systems and processes without sacrificing their personal lives?
20:39 Have you observed "unruly growth" in businesses as they expand, and is this what happened with this particular client?
22:08 What is the next actionable step to take in the next week or two if you want to establish effective internal and external systems in your professional and private life?
23:10 How do you identify high-value activities for your business, especially when it seems like all the tasks on your calendar are equally important?
Resources:
Jessica Yarbrough, Business Growth Strategist, and Growth Expert:
https://jessicayarbrough.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicayarbrough-bizconsultant/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jessicayarbrough
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Building Professional and Personal Support Systems to Grow Your Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/building-professional-and-personal-support-systems-to-grow-your-business
As a business owner, you know the importance of planning for success. But have you ever thought about planning for the end of your business journey?
Exiting a business is a critical process that requires careful preparation.
With a solid exit strategy, you can maintain control of the outcome and get all the rewards for your hard work.
Whether you're looking to retire, start a new venture, or sell your business, developing an exit plan ensures a smooth transition and the best possible conclusion for all concerned, including your employees and stakeholders.
The sooner you begin planning, the more successful your exit will be.
In today’s episode, our guest Patty Block unlocks the doors on how to develop an exit plan for your business: what are the first steps to take, is there a process, and what to consider so that you can reach your exit goals?
Patty is a business advisor and pricing expert who believes that consistent business success comes from leveraging your hidden advantage, making informed decisions, communicating powerfully, and taking calculated action.
Since 2006, Patty has empowered women business owners who are experts in their fields to turn up their power to price, sell, and run their businesses on their terms.
Patty is the founder of The Block Group Inc. and author of "Your Hidden AdvantageTM: Unlock the Power to Attract Right-fit Clients and Boost Your Revenue."
We discuss:
02:33 What are some different ways you can exit the business?
04:26 What's the difference between exiting and selling a business?
08:48 The importance of building assets and intellectual property.
11:27 Besides hiring, what else should you think about as you're trying to build assets in your business?
14:54 The importance of building systems and processes to support the business.
29:01 How do you determine what is intellectual property?
32:19 Why are intellectual property and branding valuable?
38:13 How do you catch yourself overdelivering?
42:09 What's the one actionable step that someone thinking about exiting their company in the future can do in the next month to get them closer to that goal?
Resources:
Patty Block, Pricing Expert and Business Expert, The Block Group Inc.:
https://www.theblockgroup.net/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/theblockgroup
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theblockgroupinc/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheBlockGroupInc
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TheBlockGroup
Contact Number:
713-826-0302
Email:
pwblock@theblockgroup.net
Author of Your Hidden Advantage: Unlock the Power to Attract Right-fit Clients and Boost Your Revenue
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | The Art of Exiting Your Business:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/the-art-of-exiting-your-business
Having a solid sales infrastructure in place has the potential to make or break your growing business.
If designed - and implemented - correctly, it can help you achieve goals, increase sales, and stay ahead of the competition.
But building one requires careful planning and execution, and key elements must be in place to support business growth.
So what steps do you need to take to establish a sales infrastructure? And how can you ensure that it will take your business to the next level?
In today's episode, our guest Eric Balis and I break down how you can build up an effective sales infrastructure for your business.
Eric is a Fractional VP of Sales and the Founder of Top Tier Sales Advisors. He helps founders realize their company's maximum value by accelerating revenue production and helping their sales teams achieve excellent and repeatable results.
He concentrates on helping small and mid-size companies optimize their sales strategy, process, and education. Eric helps companies transform their sales culture, implement new sales processes and procedures, and instill best practices. He focuses not just on the strategic level but also on the tactical level to help companies achieve record-breaking sales results.
We discuss:
02:13 What does it mean to have a sales infrastructure? What does it look like?
04:49 What is the role of content marketing in educating buyers and supporting sales efforts in service-based businesses?
07:55 Do you have an example of a business that you helped where its marketing and sales efforts were focused on attracting high-quality customers and that it drove business growth and increased revenue?
11:41 What changes did the company in your example make to its messaging that improved its sales process?
13:31 What is considered a good open rate for email campaigns? Is there an industry standard for what is considered average or low?
15:09 After setting the foundational pieces of having the correct messaging and positioning, is finding the best CRM system the next step in building your sales infrastructure?
16:39 What personality traits, attitudes, and qualities do successful salespeople tend to have?
20:01 Is it possible to train someone to actively listen and ask insightful probing questions in sales conversations, and is it a skill that can be taught, or is it innate to a specific personality type?
22:55 When does a business determine if it has reached the tipping point where it needs to implement a sales process?
24:17 What are some common mistakes businesses make when they try to handle challenging projects on their own instead of hiring a consultant or expert?
28:35 What is one actionable step that a business can take in the next month to improve its sales infrastructure if they already have some pieces in place, such as a CRM system and the right messaging and positioning?
Resources:
Eric Balis, Fractional VP of Sales and Founder, Top Tier Sales Advisors:
https://salesxceleration.bullseyelocations.com/salesxceleration/advisors/eric-balis/31190015
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-balis-0a170a1/
Take the Free Sales Agility Assessment:
https://salesxceleration.com/sales-agility-assessment/?locationid=31190015
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog Post | How to Build a Strong Sales Infrastructure:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-build-a-strong-sales-infrastructure
Staying on top of day-to-day operations can be daunting and this can be especially challenging for small businesses with CEOs often juggling multiple roles to keep their companies running smoothly.
But what happens when growth takes off and those responsibilities become too much to handle?
This is where a fractional COO can be a game-changer.
Their expertise and guidance can help optimize your operations and free up valuable time for you to focus on driving business growth.
But what exactly is a fractional COO, what do they do and how do they help take your business to the next level?
In today’s episode, our guest Valerie Hayes and I discuss the role of a Fractional COO and how they can drive business growth by optimizing operations, including managing remote teams.
Valerie is on a mission to help overburdened entrepreneurs, small business owners, and CEOs establish their businesses as industry leaders without working 24/7/365 days a year.
As a Fractional COO/EOS Integrator, she helps untangle everything that's not working smoothly, sorts them out, and puts it all back together. No more late nights stuck at your desk trying to figure it all out.
She is here to give us some actionable insights on how you can balance running day-to-day operations with implementing your ideas to grow your business.
We discuss:
03:49 How do you describe your role as a fractional COO and how do people find you?
12:03 What are some of the biggest issues that prompt people to seek a fractional COO for their business?
15:26 How does having the right people affect the impact of processes and procedures on a business?
16:59 When you begin working with a new business, how do you prioritize which areas to focus on first, given the many issues that need addressing?
20:07 Have you ever encountered a situation in which employees were resistant to change, resulting in an exodus of personnel who disagreed with the new direction?
26:41 How does managing a virtual team differ from managing an on-site team, and what are some key considerations to consider when leading remote workers?
33:36 What strategies do you recommend for effectively managing the work and workflow of virtual teams?
37:05 How do you measure the effectiveness of creative work being done by remote team members, such as an offshore marketing person who is responsible for planning, conceptualizing, and strategizing?
40:12 What factors should a business owner consider when deciding whether to let an employee go or to move them to a different role within the company?
42:38 If someone struggles to manage their virtual team, what is one actionable step they can take next week to improve their ability to manage the team effectively?
Resources:
Valerie Hayes, Fractional COO, EOS Integrator & Entrepreneur. Valerie Hayes and Company:
https://valeriehayes.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriemhayes/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/valeriemhayes
Email:
Valerie@ValerieHayes.com
Phone:
+1 (832) 465-6268
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Maximize Business Growth by Hiring a Fractional COO
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-maximize-business-growth-by-hiring-a-fractional-coo
When running a service-based business, one of your highest costs is your labor cost.
You'll need to track your employee's time to ensure your business stays profitable.
Timesheets or time-tracking software protects your company, keeps you compliant, and increases productivity. You'll also see how much time each employee is spending on a particular client, which can help set the correct fees for future clients or projects.
But if poorly implemented, time tracking can alienate your staff, cause resentment, especially amongst members of your creative team, and negatively impact your business.
So what are the benefits of time tracking, how do you motivate your employees to use timesheets, and how can it help with your profitability?
In this episode, our guest George Wiedemann walks us through how to manage profitability in a service-based business, in relation to managing your people's time.
George was the founder and CEO of Grey Direct - a global subsidiary for Grey Advertising - for 21 consecutive years of worldwide growth. He was also the CEO of pioneer Silicon Valley email platform Responsys; and CEO of The DRUM Agency.
He is the founder and CEO of Relationshipping Consulting, focusing on bringing efficiencies to large-scale enterprises through deep budgetary analysis and process alignment. He also works with agencies on their strategies and plans.
We discuss:
02:45 How do you manage profitability in a service-based business like an agency specifically?
04:27 What are some of the best practices when using timesheets?
08:20 What did you log into these time sheets?
10:16 How did you use all collected time tracking data?
12:48 How did weekly client meetings look like? What was the agenda, and what was discussed?
17:05 Does finance play a part in the process? From contract signing to client meetings?
20:17 What happens when you spend too much time on one client and go over the budgeted hours?
24:34 What happens when you don't spend as much time on your client and have tons of time left over?
25:51 How do you manage working with creatives, who might feel restricted, and their time sheets?
28:25 What is the next actionable step to take this week to get one started in tracking time and how to manage it successfully?
Resources:
George Wiedemann, Founder, and CEO, Relationshipping Consulting:
https://www.relationshipping.org/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-wiedemann
Email:
george@relationshipping.org
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Time Tracking and Profitability in Service-Based Businesseshttps://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/time-tracking-and-profitability-in-service-based-businesses
Growing a marketing agency is extremely tough. Beyond finding (and retaining) a steady stream of clients, you also need to hire (and keep) experts, manage time spent on projects, and keep an eye out for profitability.
Our guest for today's episode of Help! My Business Is Growing is Thomas Padula, President and CEO of Padula Media Digital Marketing Agency.
Thomas has been recognized as one of Chester County's 40 Under 40 millennial superstars, and his agency, Padula Media, is one of the best advertising agencies in Pennsylvania.
He's our featured founder for our mini-series "How I Grew", featuring CEOs, leaders, and founders who have successfully grown their businesses.
Padula Media's success comes from taking a client-first approach, acting as an internal CMO, and offering the best and highest ROI-driven services for each client. The company has established a growth pattern through data-driven decisions, including hiring the right people and placing them in the right seats, which has been critical to its success.
In 2018, Thomas began following the model of meeting transparent, determined, and selfless people, regardless of whether they could be a client. By expanding his network and building impactful relationships, Thomas has created networking groups, cultivated strong professional relationships, and driven his own personal network to be more successful.
We'll talk to Thomas and hear his story and discuss tips, resources, and other valuable insights he can share on how you can grow your business.
We discuss:
02:07 How was it like when you started your business?
04:02 What were some things you implemented in your business that were helpful when you decided you needed to hire more people to grow?
05:40 What specific advice did the "money people" you hired provide?
08:51 How is having a deeper understanding of your numbers and gaining financial control different from when you were smaller vs. today? How has it evolved?
10:31 What do you mean by good revenue and bad revenue?
13:10 What works best for you to track employee time spent on the project?
13:52 How has implementing ClickUp helped your business grow?
17:52 How did implementing systems and processes evolve for you?
19:39 When did you realize that you needed a Director of Operations?
21:26 How do you maintain a consistent culture even if the company and its team members have grown and evolved?
23:04 Who helps you with your corporate culture? Do you have a fractional HR person working with you?
24:29 What has worked well for your organization(meetings or events) to bring that cohesiveness of the team together?
25:56 Has the work-from-home phenomenon positively or negatively impacted your team and culture?
28:19 What do you think has made the most significant impact on your business so far?
30:07 What tip would you give other business owners that would positively impact their business?
31:50 Where did you find your mentors?
Resources:
Thomas Padula, President and CEO, Padula Media Digital Marketing:
https://padulamedia.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasjpadula
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/padulamedia/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How I Grew: Thomas Padula, President and CEO of Padula Media
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-i-grew-thomas-padula-president-and-ceo-of-padula-media
Growing your business means making operational changes to keep your workers and workflows efficient. These adjustments are necessary for your business to adapt and thrive.
But in any organization, there will always be employees resistant to change.
So how can you make transitions smoother and easier for everyone?
In today's episode, our guest Jeffrey Edwards and I talk about how effective communication with all your team members will ensure that they are aligned with your business expansion goals.
Jeffrey is a business consultant, leadership coach, and culture change expert. For over 20 years, he has been helping small to Fortune 500 companies create inclusive teams that thrive from the inside out. He loves to build strong relationships with clients and help them create a positive workplace culture. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
We discuss:
02:53 Why do companies struggle with change, and how to communicate that change to their employees/teams?
07:38 How would you prepare your team to accept organizational change and to make them understand how it will affect them daily?
09:23 How do you communicate to your people that you are also unsure of the outcome of this impending change?
13:33 Would you communicate this in the form of team or one-on-one meetings?
14:43 Do you have any advice on how to pick these champions?
16:25 When do you bring the champions into this conversation?
18:03 Do you have an example of a company that has undergone a significant amount of change that was successfully implemented?
20:48 What about an example of when the change management process failed spectacularly?
24:14 What are some things they could have done at the beginning to avoid such a fallout?
28:10 What is one small step that people who are about to implement change in their business can take in the next week to ensure that it will be successfully communicated to their people so that everyone is aligned and committed?
Resources:
Jeffrey Edwards, Founder, and Managing Director, The MakeWell Performance Group:
https://themakewellgroup.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Makewell_Coach
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MakeWell-Coaching-815991488475042/
Podcast | The Leader’s Chair:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leaders-chair/id1529378857
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Positively Communicate Changes to Your Employees
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-positively-communicate-changes-to-your-employees
Having a self-reliant team is crucial in growing your business.
When your employees can function and thrive under minimal supervision, you can focus on more important areas that will push your business to the next level.
But with employees heavily depending on you to guide their every step, you'll have less time and energy to concentrate on higher-level tasks.
How can you train your workers to have enough competence and confidence to complete their work independently?
In today's episode, our guest Lauren Goldstein and I discuss how you can grow a team that can work independently and effectively.
Lauren is the founder and CEO of the award-winning and globally recognized boutique business consulting firm, Golden Key Partnership.
Since 2011, Lauren has been helping business owners achieve true entrepreneurial freedom by optimizing their teams and operations to successfully transition from day-to-day business "operator" into business owner - running their business instead of the other way 'round.
We discuss:
03:23: What is the main obstacle to having self-reliant team members in your business?
06:06 What do you look for to ensure you hire people who can do the big-picture thinking for you?
07:45 Are there specific questions to ask or qualities to look for if you want to recruit players vs worker bees?
11:25 Regarding the "Four C's", the first one is Clarity, but what are the other three C's that you want to use in your business?
14:28 What is unrelated work? Can you give us examples, and how do you recognize if someone is doing unrelated work?
17:12 How should you coach your team members? Do you take advice from management books and resources? Or do you consider your personality and your unique business needs when building your team?
21:29 What is the "Rule of Three"?
27:52 What can you realistically do to get your people to the 90% level wherein they can practically just run everything without your involvement?
30:19 What are some things you would put on the Scorecard?
31:24 Do you have a Scorecard for a specific person, the company, team members, or all of the above?
34:43 What is the realistic next step leaders can take in the next week to develop self-reliant team members?
Resources:
Lauren Goldstein, Founder, CEO, and The Business Doctor, Golden Key Partnership:
https://www.goldenkeypartnership.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenegoldstein
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenKeyPartnership/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gldnkey/
Podcast | The Biz Doctor:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biz-doctor/id1618773779
Scorecard:
http://www.goldenkeypartnership.com/scorecard
Bullseye Hiring:
https://www.goldenkeypartnership.com/bullseye
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Coach Your Team to Become Self-reliant
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-coach-your-team-to-become-self-reliant
One of the most challenging aspects of starting and growing a business is transitioning from employee to entrepreneur.
As an employee, you're focused on your core skill set. But in your own company, you're responsible for sales, marketing, finance and managing your people.
Managing all your new tasks can get complex, but it's exciting when you get it right and can drive growth.
In today's special first-anniversary episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, we welcome Fatimah Abbouchi, Founder and CEO of Agile Management Office, a high-powered boutique project management agency.
She's the first guest of our new mini-series, "How I Grew", where we feature CEOs, leaders and founders and ask what specific steps they took to grow their businesses successfully.
Fatimah is also the founder of Return of the Panda®; a not-for-profit focused on improving the mental health of millions of anxiety sufferers worldwide.
Today, she generously shares her success story, tips and resources you can apply to your company, and other valuable insights on growing your business.
We discuss:
01:46 What made you leave the corporate world?
05:55 How were those first years for you running your own company? How was the transition from employee to business owner?
07:57 How did your business processes look at the start, and how did they evolve as your business grew?
10:15 What kind of financial support did you have? Did you hire a bookkeeper or accountant or have an outside payroll company?
12:38 How is it making financial decisions now that you have the proper financial systems compared to previous years?
15:00 What are some examples of important questions you ask or things you look at in your financial statements that are relevant to you?
17:48 What financial decisions or forecasting do you make when hiring people?
20:23 Where do you find these experts? Are there special sites or via your network's recommendations?
22:28 How did you manage to bootstrap your business to seven figures?
25:56 How did you go about "productizing" parts of your business?
28:43 Do you have plans to productize more of your company in the future?
30:03 What were your biggest growing pains in the past and today?
32:49 Where do you see your company in five years?
34:02 What got you into the mental health space?
35:54 How do you manage your mental health?
Resources:
Fatimah Abbouchi, Founder and CEO of Agile Management Office:
https://fatimahabbouchi.com/
https://agilemanagementoffice.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatimahabbouchi/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FatimahAbbouchi8/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/fatimahabbouchi
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fatimah_abbouchi/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How I Grew: How I Grew: Fatimah Abbouchi, Founder and CEO of Agile Management Office
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-i-grew-fatimah-abbouchi-founder-and-ceo-of-agile-management-office
If running your business feels like you're in a hamster wheel, you might find it challenging to cultivate growth.
When you're bogged down by admin-related to-do's, serving customers, managing your people, and more, you're missing out on opportunities that can boost sales - and your business.
This is where systems and processes come into play, and having them in place can help you achieve sustainable expansion across your entire operations.
But how do you go about developing systems and processes? And how do you set them up to ensure the success of your business?
In today's episode, our guest Jordan Schanda King gives us her insights on the importance of SOPs in your business, whatever the size.
Jordan is a serial entrepreneur and expert in business optimization. She runs a Contract COO + Team agency specializing in full operations management for coaches and service providers. With an all-female team of VAs, Copywriters, Marketers, Social Media Managers, and Tech Gurus, they help female founders scale without burning out so they can build a sustainable business they love.
After learning the hard way how to run a business that she loves (while also growing her family), Jordan is excited to share her expertise with other women on this entrepreneurial journey.
We discuss:
02:06 Why should your business have systems and processes in place?
04:49 How do you create SOPs? Are there specific tests and formats one must follow?
06:10 Are there different types of SOPs?
09:10 How can you create SOPs for creative work such as graphic design or content writing?
13:03 Do you document your business vision, mission, values, and principles?
18:25 What is the best way to go about creating these SOPs?
20:25 Who is the best person to create these SOPs?
22:32 How often should you go back and revisit your SOPs?
26:52 What is the next step to take this week to get started on creating SOPs for your business?
Resources:
Jordan Schanda King, Contract COO and Founder of Easy Scaling:
https://www.easyscaling.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-schanda-king
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jordanschandakin/
Email:
hello@easyscaling.com
Tom Ferriss | The 4-Hour Workweek:
https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Develop Systems and Processes
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-develop-systems-and-processes
Effective delegation is the trait of a successful leader. They know there is work to do and trust their teams to handle what needs to be done.
Delegation empowers your people, encourages innovation, and increases productivity.
Yet many business owners struggle with letting go of work, leading to burnout.
So how can you delegate properly to focus on growing your business?
In this episode, our guest Barbara Churchill and I discuss delegation as she shares tips on overcoming the barriers preventing you from delegating your work successfully.
Barbara Churchill is a confidence and leadership coach for high-achieving professional women. Through her Lead It Real™ Confidence Coaching Program, she helps leaders and entrepreneurs break through their blocks and own their power so they can create the career and life they crave.
Barbara has mentored career professionals for over 25 years and is a frequent television guest in Minneapolis/St. Paul market. She has been featured on several leadership podcasts and in major publications such as Star Tribune, Renew Everyday, and Good Enough Mother.
Barbara lives in the Minneapolis area and will do just about anything for dark chocolate.
We discuss:
03:19 Why do business owners struggle with delegation?
09:04 What does it mean - and feel - to be out of sync with the business?
22:19 To avoid micromanaging, how do you handle changes in job scope, description, and expectations when a business grows?
29:56 How can we learn to let go and trust others and stop micromanaging?
37:49 What can someone who struggles with delegation do in the next week to be able to do so effectively?
Resources:
Barbara Churchill, Executive Leadership Coach, Barbara Churchill Coaching and Consulting:
https://barbarachurchill.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-churchill-64137013/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraChurchillCoaching/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/barbarachurchillcoaching/
Barbara’s Coaching Program | Lead It Real™ Confidence Coaching Program:
https://barbarachurchill.com/coaching/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Delegate Effectively
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-delegate-effectively
A major key to success is Adaptability.
Now that your business is growing, it's time to make systemic changes. How can you improve operations? And how can you prepare your workforce?
Major adjustments require careful planning and risk assessment. You also need to keep the company culture intact as you transform your business.
All these can be done if you have an organizational change management strategy in place!
In this episode, our guest Nikki Rogers and I discuss effective change management strategies that ensure transformational success in your business.
Nikki Rogers is a transformation coach and the CEO of Bladen Group. She is an experienced management consultant who has worked across multiple industries and is passionate about creating sustainable organizations through people-powered change.
Nikki is a Project Management Professional (PMP®) and a Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP) and hosts the “Women Thriving in Business” podcast.
We discuss:
03:35 What is change management?
06:24 How can you make organizational change easier?
10:30 How can you prepare your business for change?
12:08 How do you structure change management for businesses with only 20 to 30 employees?
15:25 What do you ask to get employee feedback about your change?
19:22 How do you reassure employees when you are not 100% sure what your company landscape will be post-change?
22:43 How do you manage employee resistance to change?
29:16 How do you discuss potential compensation/commission changes with employees?
38:19 What can you do right now to start change management in your business?
Resources:
Nikki Rogers, Founder/CEO, The Bladen Group
https://bladen-group.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-rogers/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nikkirogersofficial/
Podcast | Women Thriving in Business Podcast:
https://www.womenthrivinginbusiness.com/wtib-podcast
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Successful Change Management Strategies for Your Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/successful-change-management-strategies-for-your-growing-business
An efficient sales team is vital to a profitable business, and it's a problem if people keep leaving. It might be time to dig deep into what's going on with your sales team or need to rethink your work culture.
So how do you retain and motivate your top salespeople, who are keys to your business success?
And for non-performers, do you try to turn them around, or is it better to let them go? How can you do it properly and without drama?
In this episode, guest Judy Hoberman shares how to retain top salespeople when high commissions and monetary rewards might not be enough motivation.
Judy is a successful speaker, consultant, entrepreneur, and the President of Judy Hoberman and Associates, a company focused on empowering professional women.
She is an award-winning international speaker, best-selling author, trainer, and leading authority on women in leadership. With over three decades in business, she combines wisdom and humor with her behavior-shaping insights impacting audiences of thousands as well as small groups and individuals through her 1:1 executive coaching and mentoring. Judy works with companies supporting their diversity and women's initiatives in leadership, recruiting, training, coaching, mentoring, and retention. She has written four books and is also a TEDx speaker.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:46 What are the signs of a deeper retention problem with your salespeople?
04:41 Regarding "silent" salespeople, how do you uncover issues brewing underneath the surface?
07:08 What questions can you ask to help uncover any silent issues?
13:28 What are other non-financial motivators for salespeople?
14:37 How do you implement a "recognition culture" in your business, especially for salespeople?
16:49 Any examples of sales rep recognition programs that have failed or did not work?
18:36 What can you do in advance to prepare yourself and your sales rep so that letting them go won't come as a shock?
24:19 What signs or situations might cause you to let your big producer go?
27:36 What can you do to make it easier to have difficult conversations about letting people go?
32:33 What's the one step to take right now to ensure good employee retention rates?
Resources:
Judy Hoberman, Successful Speaker, Consultant, and Entrepreneur
Judy Hoberman and Associates, Selling In A Skirt:
https://www.sellinginaskirt.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyhoberman/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SellingInASkirt
Email:
judy@sellinginaskirt.com
Author of Walking On the Glass Floor:
https://walkingontheglassfloor.com/
The Greatest Missed Opportunity | Judy Hoberman | TEDxTurtleCreekWomen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgk-3QEM6tw
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Retain Great Salespeople & to Dismiss Those That Need to Go:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-retain-great-salespeople-to-dismiss-those-that-need-to-go
Over the last few years, there has been a sharp rise in video content, thanks to smartphones that make it so much easier to make videos and all the video-related apps now part of our daily lives, like Youtube, Snapchat, Instagram Stories and Reels, and TikTok.
Video is a powerful tool in your marketing strategy, offering the opportunity to attract, engage and inspire your audience in a very real and human way.
It brings your business to life so you can connect with them, evoking feelings and emotions until they become loyal customers and spread the word about your business.
But what if you're uncomfortable doing Live videos and don't know where to start?
How do you create video content if you're camera-shy?
How can you conquer your fear of the camera and confidently face your audience, so your business grows?
Today, guest Elaine Williams gives tips on gaining confidence in front of the camera so you can rock live videos or when speaking to a crowd.
She is a Performance Coach, Comedian, Author, and Founder of Captivate the Crowd.
Her clients have gone from never doing video or speaking live to having YouTube Channels, doing International Book Tours, and speaking for NASA.
She is an Award-winning Comedian with credits like Saturday Night Live, and America’s Got Talent and has also been featured in The New York Times, Hay House Radio & the Huffington Post.
Elaine combines her Debbie Ford/JFK University coaching certifications with her 30-plus years of performing professionally in theatre, film, tv, voice-over, radio, and standup comedy to transform her clients into “Captivating Speakers.”
We discuss:
03:14 What's a good place to start if you want to begin creating videos?
14:58 Are there specific things besides breathing and standing to help you warm up?
19:56 How much should you rehearse before going on video or stage to speak to an audience?
23:39 What does "staying in a character" mean when speaking to a live audience or on video?
27:09 Is there a process to follow once you've decided to start with videos?
37:50 What can you do this week to get closer to making videos?
Resources:
Elaine Williams, Performance Coach, Comedian, and Author:
https://captivatethecrowd.com/
Still Human Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/still-human/id1517885527
Youtube Channel | Captivate the Crowd
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdaDOA8vF64MYJovKthm0sw
Elaine's Books:
Stop the Madness: How to Identify Addiction Warning Signs in your Friends…and What To Do about it.
What Every Student Needs to Know Before They Leave for College: How to Stay Safe and Stay Smart.
Nothing but Net: Creating Your Customer’s Wow Experience with Humor!
Confidence on Camera Checklist
https://videovisibility.kartra.com/page/CTCTIPS2
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Conquer Camera Fear and Get Started with Video Content
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-conquer-camera-fear-and-get-started-with-video-content
As the world evolves, it brings new markets, technology, and consumer preferences that will impact your business. To succeed, you need to adapt and keep up.
With strategic planning, you develop a roadmap for business success. It's a deep dive into your business operations to find standards that boost work efficiency and productivity.
But what happens during a strategic planning session?
How do you conduct a successful session where you define your business strategy and develop actionable plans so things get done?
In this episode, guest Michael Haynes outlines the essential steps, people involved, and general methodology of running a successful strategic planning session to hit your goals.
Michael Haynes is an SMB Business Growth Specialist and author. His focus and passion are empowering CEOs of service-based companies to acquire business (B2B) clients and achieve the growth and impact they seek through BUSINESS innovation and sales.
Michael is based in Sydney, Australia, and works with companies globally.
We break down the specific steps on how to conduct a strategic planning session:
04:17 Schedule your strategic planning session.
06:27 Identify the participants.
10:04 Do the Pre-Work.
- 07:54: Company analysis:
- 09:13: Listening summary
- 12:07: Assign various team members to put this together about a week before.
- 12:22: Send this information out, as pre-reading, to everyone who will attend so everyone's up to speed
16:37 Nominate a facilitator to guide the discussions.
20:42 Start with a company overview.
21:31 Present the business overview.
22:07 Go over the listening summary piece.
22:34 Key in on your customers or buyers.
25:38 Determine your priorities in terms of business growth and customer needs.
27:06 Identify your overall objectives and the key strategic initiatives to make them happen.
31:19 Develop action plans using the five innovation initiatives.
33:23 Develop criteria for each innovation/action plan.
36:46 Schedule breakaway sessions for each action plan if needed.
39:14 End of Session.
Resources:
Michael Haynes, Founder and Principal Consultant of Listen, Innovate, and Grow:
https://listeninnovategrow.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhhaynes/
Email:
michael@2excell.com
Michael's Book | Listen, Innovate, Grow:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6RQNLX/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Strategy Execution Framework:
https://listeninnovategrow.com/resources-b2b-library/
Innovation Initiative Checklist:
https://listeninnovategrow.com/resources-b2b-library/
Episode 4 | How to Innovate: a Blueprint for Your Business
https://podcasts.apple.com/hu/podcast/how-to-innovate-a-blueprint-for-your-business/id1579116066?i=1000535665348
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How To Run an Effective Strategic Planning Meeting
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-run-an-effective-strategic-planning-meeting
Marketing your growing business today can sometimes get overwhelming.
There seems to be a never-ending list of new social media tactics and platforms to embrace.
New marketing trends also pop up every few days and seem to die overnight!
When surrounded by all these shiny bright objects in the form of so-called new and cutting-edge digital marketing ideas, we sometimes forget that old-school marketing strategies work too!
And in today's digital chaos, kicking it “old school” might be more effective than tying your marketing down to social media.
So what are some examples of these "old-timey" marketing tactics, and how can you implement them today to help grow your business?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing; I talk to our guest Nedra Rezinas about old-school or traditional marketing techniques that can help grow your business.
She shares her insights on how it is possible to cultivate leads and grow sales using timeless, tried, and tested techniques that have slowly been forgotten or ignored over the last years.
Nedra Rezinas is a marketing consultant who helps service-based entrepreneurs learn to delegate and outsource to scale their business and do more work in their "zone of genius".
She has over 20 years of direct experience in marketing and online business, specializing in developing custom marketing strategies that attract high-value clients.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:33 What are some other ways people can market themselves that aren't exclusively attached to social media or having a social media presence?
05:10 What do you see that works for your clients who might not have that big of a social media presence?
07:49 Do you have clients who completely unplug from specific platforms like Instagram?
11:17 For people who want to send something personal or reach out via mail, should you have an existing list or database of leads or previous clients?
12:53 How important is CRM when it comes to marketing?
14:08 What things should you track on your CRM?
15:36 What CRMs do you recommend or find particularly helpful for you and your clients?
18:49 What is referral partner marketing?
21:35 How do you go about finding these referral partners? What do you use? Where do you find them?
23:47 Where do you find network groups, and how do you vet them?
26:50 How do you craft a "reaching out" or "just saying hi" email that is warm and sincere, offers value, and is beneficial to your customer?
36:51 If someone wants to move their marketing away from social media, what is the next, tangible step they can do in the next week or two to get them closer to all these "old-school, yet new-school, innovating tactics we discussed?
Resources:
Nedra Rezinas, Marketing Strategy & Business Coach:
https://www.nedrarezinas.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nrezinas/
HubSpot
Zoho
Less Annoying CRM
Cloze
Spark Toro
Gift.Grow.Win
Giftology by John Ruhlin
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Traditional Marketing Strategies That Still Work in Today's Digital Age
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/traditional-marketing-strategies-that-still-work-in-today-s-digital-age
Business growth requires a sound marketing plan so your company can thrive, survive, and stay successful - and relevant - in fast-changing trends and technologies.
But if you don’t have the time or workforce to focus on marketing, an external marketing agency can do the heavy lifting for you. Their marketing experts can help you expand your client base, improve branding, and boost revenue. At the same time, you attend to other business matters like developing new products and services and closing sales.
But the process isn’t as simple as doing a quick Google search on “marketing agencies near me” and choose the one on top of the list. Hiring the right agency takes time, patience, and a lot of vetting, as well as taking a hard look at your business to see what you need and what needs work.
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, my guests Alicia Williams and Chris Viscomi and I discuss how your business can benefit from hiring a marketing agency to how you know if it’s time to say goodbye and part ways if things are not working.
Alicia and Chris also demystify the entire hiring process, providing tips on choosing the right agency to match your business needs, and what red flags to watch out for. They also share what you can expect when your actual working relationship begins and touch on your agency’s scope of work.
Alicia Williams is the CEO, and Chris Viscomi is the Co-Founder of Aliste Marketing, a boutique marketing agency that helps companies build tactical marketing plans consisting of out-of-the-box marketing techniques, cutting-edge videos, and social media strategies that give brands a voice to attract new clients.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:30 Why would a business choose to obtain the services of a marketing agency over hiring an in-house marketing person or working with a freelancer?
07:42 What are some of the common mistakes that you see people make when they're vetting potential marketing agencies?
08:53 Should a company do any pre-work before they hire a marketing agency? Should they hire someone who's focused on brand strategy first?
11:06 What would be a realistic expectation for any marketing activity or strategy to start working?
11:24 What are the signs that the marketing agency you hired is doing a good job, even though all your marketing activities or strategies are still in development?
15:10 How often do you need to align or have conversations with your marketing agency?
16:11 How involved should your marketing agency be during strategic planning? Where do they come in during these planning processes?
18:14 Can a marketing agency help you with your long-term strategy?
23:34 How do you decide on which marketing trends to try?
30:39 What is the next tangible step someone can take in the next week to get them closer to hiring the right agency for their business?
Resources:
Alicia Williams & Chris Viscomi, Co-founders and Marketing Experts, Aliste Marketing:
https://alistemarketing.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aliste-marketing/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alistemarketing/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AlisteMarketing/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Hire a Marketing Agency
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-hire-a-marketing-agency
What is franchising all about? And how can it work for your business?
If your business is cost-effective and easily replicated, chances are you’ll have no problems attracting franchisees. Through this strategy, you can boost profits and expand operations without substantial capital costs.
But before jumping on the franchising bandwagon, you need to do a lot of prep work and planning. You may also need to shift your perspective on how you’re running the business as well.
So what do you need to get started and how can you ensure your success as a franchisor?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing; I talk to our guest April Porter about all things Franchising.
She shares her insights on how you can start turning your business into a franchise, what to expect from the whole process, what businesses are a great fit, and even the qualities you need to become a successful franchisor and more.
April Porter is a business growth strategist, advisor to hundreds of franchisees, and CEO of Ask April Porter. She helps franchise owners accelerate their growth and profits in record time.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:25 Are any specific types of businesses particularly well suited for franchising?
03:45 Are any industries particularly well positioned for franchising, similar to the fitness and restaurant industries?
05:48 If someone is thinking of turning their business into a franchise, where do they start? What is the process?
07:43 If you don't mind the cost and want to shortcut the learning curve, do you hire a coach, or is there a specific company that can help you learn all about franchising?
11:37 What are the foundations that you need to have in your business to be a successful franchise or to be able to offer to your franchisees?
15:57 What does a successful relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee look like?
18:18 Can you compare and contrast the differences between an employee and a franchisee?
21:08 As a franchisor, do you have any input on the day-to-day operations of the franchisees?
22:51 What do franchisees need to be successful? What exactly is in the franchisee's playbook? Does it include processes, procedures, brand image, or all of the above?
26:08 What have you seen people go through as they transition from being business owners of multiple units to becoming franchisors? Is it an abrupt change? How do people adjust to that type of thinking? And what are some of the specific things they struggle with?
29:17 Do you have a specific example where everything went wrong with their franchise business, but after switching their mindset, things got so much better?
34:34 What next step can business owners take this week to get them closer to turning their business into a franchise?
Resources:
April Porter, Business Growth Strategist, and CEO
https://askaprilporter.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilporterbrands/
Host of The Infinite Franchisee Show:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-infinite-franchisee-show/id1570422370
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Turn Your Business Into a Successful Franchise
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-turn-your-business-into-a-successful-franchise
Running a business can get highly stressful.
Sure it's a lot of fun when you start, and it's very rewarding to see yourself achieve your goals and overcome all the hurdles in your way.
But as your business continues to grow, your workload naturally gets heavier, your obstacles more challenging, and it feels like there are more and more responsibilities coming your way.
You're stretched thin and unwittingly become the source of any - and maybe all - bottlenecks at work. Entrepreneurial burnout sets in, often hurting one's emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
So how can you avoid entrepreneurial burnout and manage its impact?
And how can you use it to help you grow into a better and more effective leader?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing; I talk to our guest Priscilla Stephan about entrepreneurial burnout: what it is, what are its signs, and what it's trying to tell you about how you work.
She gives us tips on how to avoid and overcome burnout and embrace it as an opportunity for reevaluation, realignment, and a repositioning of your role and your role in the business.
Priscilla Stephan is an Intuitive Business Strategist and creator of the Soulfluent® Leadership Archetypes. She helps soul-driven women entrepreneurs create sustainable, world-changing businesses that support the greater good.
Through a powerful combination of practical business strategy and soul guidance in the Akashic Records, she excels at helping people identify their zones of genius, step into powerful leadership, and live their purpose profitably.
She is the author of the international bestselling book "Soulfluent® Leadership Business Guide: Amplify your Message, Visibility, and Profits by Leveraging your Archetype", which supports leaders to stay grounded in their vision and primed to lead themselves and their organizations boldly into the future with confidence, courage, and sustainable growth.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:41 What is "burnout", and what are some signs you see when working with people experiencing entrepreneurial burnout?
06:33 What is burnout telling you about how you currently work and how you should reevaluate your mindset about work?
10:33 What are some of the ways, or small tweaks, you can do to help prevent entrepreneurial burnout?
17:04 While in the middle of burnout, is it more beneficial to stop and take a break from your business or to deal with it head-on?
31:39 If someone is on the verge of burnout or already there, what is the one actionable step they can take this week to address it?
Resources:
Priscilla Stephan, Founder, and CEO of Soulfluent LLC.:
https://priscillastephan.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillastephan/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/priscilla.stephan.1
Priscilla's Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Soulfluent-Leadership-Business-Guide-Visibility/dp/0578358808
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How To Identify, Avoid, and Overcome Entrepreneurial Burnout
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-identify-avoid-and-overcome-entrepreneurial-burnout
Your relationship with yourself is the most important and consistent relationship you will ever have. It will have a direct impact on how you lead your growing business.
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing; I talk to our guest Tomika Snodgrass about why cultivating a good relationship with yourself is vital to running a growing business.
She walks us through the benefits of this relationship, not just to your business but to almost every other aspect of your life, and gives us actionable tips on how to start.
Tomika Snodgrass is the Founder and CEO of Confident Heart Coach. She is a Certified Business Coach, Relationships Strategist, Elite True Colors Facilitator, and Motivation Speaker, known to set the stage on fire as she powerfully delivers on topics that include leadership, women's empowerment, and the power of positivity.
As a result of her relationship and business development programs, Tomika's clients push beyond their doubts and fears, walk boldly in their purpose with an abundance of joy and happiness, and show up in every aspect of their lives fully and unapologetically, with confidence and enthusiasm. Tomika's mission is to help every phenomenal woman to spark joy & happiness in her personal and professional life.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:09 Why is cultivating a good relationship with yourself essential to someone who is running a growing business?
04:19 What are some of the things happening in a growing business when the owner/founder realizes they need to cultivate a relationship with themselves?
06:23 What is the process of cultivating a good relationship with yourself? How does it develop self-esteem, self-worth, and confidence?
09:00 Does having an accountability partner or group help you achieve the things you need to accomplish that are important to the business?
10:43 Where can you find accountability partners to help you achieve your goals?
13:07 What other tools and techniques can you use to develop a better relationship with yourself?
17:03 How can you help founders and business owners who work all the time, including the weekends, to stop cold and take a break?
19:46 What are some great examples of people taking care of themselves? What have you seen that helped beyond setting rituals, taking breaks, and finding accountability partners?
21:26 What is the next tangible step to take this next week if you want to start having a better relationship with yourself?
Resources:
Tomika Snodgrass, CTACC; Founder and CEO, Confident Heart Coach:
https://confidentheartcoach.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomikasnodgrass
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/confidentheartcoach
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Building a Better Relationship With Yourself & Your Businesshttps://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/building-a-better-relationship-with-yourself-your-business
CRM or Customer relationship management software is vital for any growing business.
CRM is an extremely powerful tool that allows you to focus on your customers by building relationships with them, providing solutions, and meeting - and exceeding - their expectations.
CRM makes it easier to close sales if you harness the data it gathers about customer behavior and preferences. And with pipeline information, it also helps to predict your financial performance.
But seamlessly integrating your CRM with your current systems and workflow may not be smooth sailing.
There is a lot of prep work involved to get it right.
So how do you decide what is the right CRM for you and/or if it’s time to update your existing one?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, my guest Maryanne Renzetti talks about Customer Relationship Management (or CRM) Solutions and how they can help you forge meaningful customer relationships that will inspire customer loyalty and retention.
Maryanne is a CRM specialist and founder of Virtual CRM Solutions, catering to entrepreneurs that need Help streamlining their systems, integrating, and setting up their CRMs.
Essentially, she enjoys taking disorganized, high-level information and breaking it down into manageable steps--making sure business systems work for business owners, not against them.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:50 What are some operational benefits of having a CRM in place?
05:19 How do you determine which CRM is appropriate for your business and the particular stage it's in today?
07:38 What are some examples of CRMs that businesses in the $1M to $10M revenue range use that is not complex to use but still provide the same benefits?
08:52 What are the main differences between HubSpot and Salesforce?
10:20 What are some common mistakes that businesses make when they're trying to integrate a new CRM into their operations on their own?
11:56 How should businesses prepare before buying a CRM? Should they map out all the systems and workflows on paper first?
15:12 How do you prepare your team for a new CRM? How do you manage that transition?
17:37 What is the best way to structure how your team should learn your new CRM?
19:58 What are some examples of how to keep staff accountable after giving them time for change management with a new CRM?
20:52 How do you deal with clients that implemented their CRMs on their own, which went horribly wrong?
24:53 What tangible next step can businesses take next week to get them started on implementing a CRM?
Resources:
Maryanne Renzetti, CRM Consultant and Founder of Virtual CRM Solutions:
https://www.maryannerenzetti.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryanne-renzetti-3a891126/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/maryannerenzetti/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Choose a CRM
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-choose-a-crm
Over the last few years, the concept of personal branding has taken the business world by storm. Fueled partly by the rise of social media and the need to rise above the rest of the pack, it establishes your public persona for your target audience.
It is your thoughts, beliefs, and values and how you present them to the world, keeping you in control over how people should perceive you - and by extension, your business.
Personal branding brings many benefits, such as increasing your visibility and making you stand out amongst the crowd. It also helps grow your network, gain customer trust, and spread your influence.
But most importantly, it directly impacts your business, helping you attract opportunities that ensure success.
So how do you develop your personal brand and leverage its power to help grow your company?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Erica Castner and I talk about Personal Branding, what it is precisely, and how it can benefit not just your life but also your business.
She shares how you can successfully build your personal brand and tips on leveraging it to grow your confidence, influence, and business.
Erica Castner is a Brand Strategist and Founder of Castner Consulting. For over two decades, she has helped business owners + personal brands expand their reach and online presence.
Her business, Castner Consulting, specializes in helping business owners and creators find, connect, and convert prospects into clients. She is also the host of the Voices of Impact podcast and recently became an Ironman.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:53 What is personal branding? And how do you leverage it to grow your business?
05:25 How do you expand your reach and personal brand beyond social media or LinkedIn, such as summits and face-to-face interactions?
12:17 What are some other ideas for expanding your reach besides connecting with other people, providers, and complementary businesses?
15:25 What are the steps to take if someone wants to speak on a bigger platform such as a TEDx talk, for example?
20:11 What was the process for starting on videos? What is that journey like, and how can one get good at doing them?
24:35 What are some significant and positive changes in the business when the owners or founders successfully implement personal branding?
27:00 How is personal branding different from paid ads?
29:37 What is the one tangible thing a founder or CEO can do this next week to get them closer to building their personal brand?
Resources:
Erica Castner, Brand Strategist and Founder of Castner Consulting:
https://ericacastner.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericacastner/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ericaqueeniecastner/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How Personal Branding Helps Business Growth
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-personal-branding-helps-business-growth
What happens when your branding doesn't work as well as you would like?
Maybe it doesn't differentiate your business from the rest of the pack, or your company has evolved, and your existing branding no longer represents what your company is today.
This can be a sign that you might need to rebrand your business.
And while the process may seem easy enough on paper, it might cause more harm if not done right.
An effective rebrand will not only provide your company with a new look or logo but also a new brand identity, one aligned with your business values and the service you provide your customers.
If not, it can alienate your loyal customers and confuse everyone else.
So how do you successfully rebrand your business?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Kelly Wittman shares her valuable insights on strategic brand building, particularly rebranding, and how - if needed - it can benefit your growing business and lead to continued success.
Kelly Wittman is a Brand Strategist, Visual Designer, and Owner of Witt and Company, a brand strategy and design studio that helps small business owners amplify their purpose through consistent and cohesive branding. Before the unplanned start of her business in 2017, she spent six years in marketing, event management, and fundraising, specifically in the nonprofit and startup space.
Now, she happily wears the title of ‘unemployable’, is proud to have a business that supports her life, and is on a mission to help entrepreneurs create their version of success.
In this week's episode, we discuss
03:38 What are some of the issues businesses face that trigger a rebrand?
05:25 Is there more to branding beyond its visible elements, namely the colors, logo, and website? Is there anything else that can change how people think and feel about your brand that might not be as obvious?
07:54 How can a company find the balance between the founder's personal tastes and the clientele they're trying to serve when rebranding?
09:35 How should the management or marketing team document the different elements of a company's brand like the brand voice, and brand personality to ensure that everyone in the company is on the same page?
13:30 What is a realistic and reasonable timeline to evaluate the effects of a company rebrand?
15:56 What are some examples of rebranding that have gone exceptionally well?
17:55 What are the different goals people can have for their website, and how does that drive how the website is created?
19:40 How would two websites with different goals, like booking a consultation versus subscribing to an email list, differ? What elements would each have to drive the audience to the desired action?
21:20 What do businesses struggle with during the rebranding process?
24:38 What are some valuable techniques to help companies figure out how people are experiencing their brand to help them figure out what direction an impending rebrand should take?
26:23 What is one tangible thing that founders and businesses can do next week to get them closer to achieving a successful rebranding?
Resources:
Kelly Wittman, Brand Strategist, Visual Designer, and Owner, Witt, and Company:
https://wittandcompany.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellymsnyder/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Rebrand Successfully
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-rebrand-successfully
One of the biggest weapons in your marketing arsenal is copywriting, and it uses words, images, and video to tell the world about your products and services.
It tells your story, evokes emotions, and engages attention as it ultimately persuades, influences, and convinces your audience to buy.
Sounds easy enough, but it's not. Excellent and effective copywriting is both art and science and a great way to boost your profits.
So how can you make the most out of copywriting to help your growing business?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Samantha Burmeister and I chat about the importance of copywriting and how you can maximize its benefits to fuel the growth of any business.
Samantha Burmeister is the Founder and Lead Copywriter of Nomad Copy Agency, crafting bespoke copy for her many clients to help them turn their sales process into a hands-off, high-conversion experience.
Sam has worked on dozens of online service provider launches, which earn the client six figures (or more!). Ultimately, her goal is to empower the entrepreneurs she works with to sell more - so that they can focus on delivering & designing the life of their dreams.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:01 What is the difference between copywriting and content writing?
03:15 What makes a good copy?
04:43 What does the A/B testing process in copywriting look like in practice?
06:35 How does the copywriting process like?
09:01 What are the usual copywriting issues that push companies to hire copywriters?
10:33 What are the benefits of having a copywriter versus getting the services of a marketing agency?
14:01 What is the vetting process for a copywriter? What are some of the qualities or characteristics to look for?
18:14 Is the current rise of AI copy a threat to the entire industry, or is it something that might enhance what copywriters are doing right now?
21:23 How do copywriters find the right brand voice, especially if there hasn't been one developed before? And how do you refine it if it is muddled due to the number of copywriters who have worked on it before?
28:12 What can clients prepare or give to newly hired copywriters to make the writing onboarding process easier?
30:47 What is the next tangible step founders and leaders can take in the next week if they want to hire a copywriter to develop sales copy? What can they do to ensure they have a great copywriter and are prepared for them?
Resources:
Samantha Burmeister, Founder and Lead Copywriter of Nomad Copy Agency:
https://nomadcopyagency.com/
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaburmeister
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nomad.copy/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Find and Work with a Professional Copywriter
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-find-and-work-with-a-professional-copywriter
One quality that many successful growing businesses share is that they have engaged leaders who like to ask employees questions about what's happening in their company.
For these leaders, failure or missteps are opportunities to learn. And they use these lessons as a guide to help their teams improve operations, products, and services.
However, to match this leader, a successful business must also have employees who are curious, who want to learn and take both positive and negative feedback with open hearts and minds, or, precisely, employees who have a growth mindset.
These are employees who delight in learning and working hard, thrive on challenges, take responsibility for their actions, and see setbacks as a springboard for improvement and growth.
Hiring people with a growth mindset, on top of the right skills and experience, is a sure way to guarantee the success of your business - even when things are tough.
But how do you hire people with a growth mindset? And what does it look like in the day-to-day operations of your company?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Christopher Gittings shares his experience of how hiring people with a growth mindset helped him drive his business to grow by leaps and bounds.
He shares his tips and insights on how your business can benefit from having a team who wants to grow, improve, and become more effective over time.
Christopher Gittings is the Founder and President of Cogent Connections, a young sales consulting and marketing firm that helps businesses build genuine, thoughtful, and productive professional relationships.
He helps clients connect with the right people, initiate productive conversations, and nurture their network.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:15 What is the background of your company, and how did you make it grow?
05:10 Regarding advisors, what type are the best, and when should they come in? At the beginning stages of establishing a business or further down when there are issues that need external help to address?
06:38 How did he use advisory relationships to grow the business and how did that look like?
08:22 How can a business cultivate a culture in a remote and freelance employee/internship setup?
16:44 How much does a background in psychology affect running a business? Does it provide marketing insights and influence hiring decisions?
25:26 How can companies test potential employees for the presence of a growth mindset? Is there a series of tests or questions? Is there a practical way to determine this at all?
31:55 How can companies develop a higher level of trust with their teams?
35:13 What does the process of hiring and managing interns full-time look like daily? Are there still regular team and individual one-on-one meetings?
37:29 What is the one thing leaders, and founders can do this week if they want to start hiring employees with a growth mindset? How do they become more attuned to this quality, and what processes can they implement to become standard?
Resources:
Christopher Gittings, Founder, and President of Cogent Connections:
https://www.cogentconnections.io/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-gittings-21a752191/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Run a Business with a Growth Mindset
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-run-a-business-with-a-growth-mindset
Hiring the right people is the biggest challenge to successful and sustainable growth for many companies.
Putting the right people into the correct positions is crucial to the health of your business - and, of course, your employees too.
When employees are in the right seats, working within their expertise or zone of genius, they stay happy, engaged, and productive, leading to increased sales and revenues.
But when you hire the wrong people or, worse, assign work that's not within an employee's wheelhouse, you open up a pandora's box of costly mistakes: Employee morale will drop, absenteeism increases, or you'll have zombie-like employees just going through the motions.
All of this translates into decreased productivity and lost profits.
So how can you choose the right person for the right role in your company? And once and for all, remove the barriers that make hiring them difficult?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Danielle Levy and I talk about how to get the right people into the right seats in your company.
We try to get to the root cause of why this is such a struggle for many a growing business, and Danielle provides insights and actionable tips on how you can get hiring right to boost the growth of your business further.
Danielle Levy is the CEO and Founder of The Boardroom League. She is a sought-after executive who has helped six and seven-figure businesses expand with clarity and efficiency by providing a Boardroom of trusted industry professionals to help them implement and scale their businesses.
An Integrator at heart, Danielle believes in helping business owners build a trustworthy ecosystem of professional resources so they can focus on their zone of genius instead of being distracted by day-to-day business obligations.
She holds an MBA, is certified as a Project Management Professional, and is a Certified Online Business Manager.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:26 What does it look like when businesses put the right people in the right seats - and when they don't?
08:59 How do you converse with an employee struggling with tasks you gave them to do that is not in their wheelhouse or scope of expertise?
12:03 Why do many founders or leaders struggle to put the right people in the right seats? What are the barriers that prevent it from becoming easier to implement?
14:50 What are some tips to ensure a better way of hiring people? Are there specific questions to ask or preferred recruitment sites or channels? Where are the best places to find them?
20:24 What works well in integrating systems and processes in a growing business?
23:19 What are the best practices for setting team or employee metrics?
26:12 What can business owners do, and what actionable steps can they take in the next week to get them closer to having the right people in the right seats?
Resources:
Danielle Levy, CEO, and Founder of The Boardroom League:
https://danielleclevy.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielleclevy/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/danielleclevy.co/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/danielle_c_levy/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Hire the Right People for the Right Roles
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-hire-the-right-people-for-the-right-roles
Happy employees are motivated employees: They'll help your company achieve its business goals faster and drive revenues up.
And while there are tons of project management, chat, and time tracking tools out there to help increase team productivity, these tools can't do it alone. They need your help!
And one of the best ways to do so is to establish clear communications.
Feedback is vital to the well-being of your employees - and in turn - the well-being of your company.
It is an opportunity to improve internal processes, give corrections constructively and connect with your employees with compassion.
And holding regular one-on-one meetings is an effective way to have these meaningful conversations with your employees and stay in the loop regarding their morale, performance, and lives.
So how do you run one-on-meetings that don't waste time and focus on feedback, performance, and personal connection?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Debbie Rosemont, and I take a very deep dive into one-on-one meetings with your employees and how they can boost your team's productivity.
She'll discuss how they are vital to your employee's well-being and give actionable tips on how you can structure them to ensure maximum productivity to benefit your growing business.
Debbie Rosemont is a Productivity Consultant, Trainer, and Founder of Simply Placed, helping busy women who feel overwhelmed and overloaded prioritize what matters, plan their time and produce valuable results with confidence and ease.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:22 What do businesses struggle with the most regarding the productivity of their teams?
04:40 How should business owners define employee goals and KPIs to measure productivity?
08:47 How would you communicate with your employees or get regular updates about specific objectives to track them effectively?
11:09 How do you structure one-on-one meetings with your team members, so they are productive and don't waste time?
17:42 What are some things that you should avoid or never discuss during a 1:1 meeting?
19:52 During one-to-one meetings, is there a difference between talking to employees about their (pre-identified) priorities and giving them updates on their current projects?
24:07 How do you make an easy and stress-free transition from not holding one-to-one meetings to suddenly having regular, structured one-to-one sessions?
27:08 What are some examples of the benefits employees can expect from structured one-on-one meetings?
28:34 What are the benefits of one-on-one meetings to your company if you've never done them before and are only starting to implement them now?
31:01 How do you structure one-to-one meetings when your company is growing, and you have a larger number of employees?
33:58 What is one actionable step business owners can take this week to get closer to implementing efficient and productive one-to-one meetings with their employees?
Resources:
Debbie Rosemont, Productivity Consultant, Trainer, and Founder of Simply Placed:
https://www.itssimplyplaced.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbierosemontsimplyplaced
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simplyplaced/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How To Lead Effective One-on-One Meetings
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-lead-effective-one-on-one-meetings
Team meetings are an integral part of every business. They're a venue for your employees to bond, exchange ideas, and collaborate to help hit your business goals.
They also give you, the founder, a transparent platform to share news, updates, and plans about the business and your industry, and to give and receive feedback.
But sadly, not everyone is excited to attend team meetings. Many employees whine and gripe about how meetings are often boring, unnecessary ("this meeting could have been an email!"), and a black hole sucking their time and productivity into oblivion.
When done wrong, "bad meetings" can lead to feelings of isolation, lower employee morale, or even a big drop in sales.
So what do you need to do to get meetings right? What skills should you have as a leader, and what structure should be in place to ensure that you'll have productive team meetings that will motivate your team?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Danny Hadas breaks down the importance of team meetings and how to structure them to the benefit of your growing business.
We'll discuss how holding meetings will not only foster a sense of collaboration, teamwork, and camaraderie amongst your employees but also have a direct effect on your business finances as well.
Danny Hadas is an entrepreneur and former advisor to the world’s most iconic brands. He is also a #1 best-selling author, and his work has impacted millions of people across 500+ companies worldwide, including Disney, BMW, and AT&T. As the founder of The Emovation Project, Danny teaches service-based small businesses how to double their revenue without doubling their effort using Minimalist Leadership.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:03 What happens in businesses that don't have regular team meetings?
04:22 How often should you have team meetings?
06:40 How do you effectively communicate to your team that there will now be regular meetings so they see it as a good thing versus feeling micromanaged?
09:19 What is the best way to structure your team meetings? Is there an optimum or best time to hold them?
14:39 What is the second item or step on the meeting agenda once you're done revisiting the company brand, values, and mission?
16:43 Is it possible to overshare KPIs or financials?
18:57 What is the third item on the agenda now that you're done sharing KPIs and how the business is doing?
21:16 What happens if no one shares or contributes - how do you solve this issue?
22:53 After revisiting the vision/mission, sharing KPIs and wins and challenges, what should be the fourth and final item on your meeting agenda?
25:34 Can you break the rules of these four-step meeting items and change their order?
27:08 What's the best way to wrap up the meeting?
30:39 How do you structure meetings with a larger number of employees? Is a meeting with 100 people the same as 30 or 50?
33:56 For one-on-one meetings, how long and how often should they take place?
34:48 Should you follow the same structure of team meetings when conducting a one-on-one meeting?
36:20 What is one tangible step business owners can take this week to get closer to getting into the habit of having regular, efficient, and productive team meetings?
Resources:
Danny Hadas, Founder, and CEO of The Emovation Project:
https://www.emovationproject.com/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us
Blog post | How to Have Effective Meetings:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-have-effective-team-meetings
When running a business, you're busy keeping an eye on its finances, ensuring stable production, and implementing your sales and marketing campaigns for its continued growth. This approach makes complete fiscal sense, and it focuses on aspects of the business that will keep it healthy and sustainable.
But what about your Human Resources (HR)? Is it something you're also looking at and actively working on? Sadly, despite it being an essential and crucial foundational piece of any business, it often falls behind and is not prioritized.
HR is every person working for your company, and it is also the department that will manage them. It is payroll, benefits, compliance - and finding and keeping the right people. It will also have a lasting negative impact both operationally and financially on your business if you don't have a long-term HR strategy and don't set up the proper HR infrastructure.
So how do you develop an effective and scalable HR infrastructure for your growing business?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Milly Christmann and I take a very deep dive into the importance of establishing an HR infrastructure for the success of your business.
She'll discuss how having a comprehensive HR Infrastructure can help you attract and retain top talent, support your company's operational and financial plans and align resources to help you hit your business objectives.
Milly Christmann is a Fractional HR Leader and owner of Marathon Growth Management, a Human Resources consulting business that supports small to medium-sized businesses. Recognized for collaborating with leaders to achieve their business goals by unleashing the power of an engaged workforce, Milly uses process improvement, technology, and strong, passionate people skills to attract, develop, and retain top talent, driving change that matters.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:48 What are the signs that it's time to plan and implement an HR infrastructure in your business?
06:29 What does a "people plan" look like in planning and growth for your business?
14:50 Should you start thinking about having a dedicated HR professional on your staff when you hit the 50+ employee mark, or is a fractional HR service or an outsourced provider enough to help you manage?
18:25 How are business owners not maximizing their payroll company to its total capacity. What are some examples, and what does this look like?
22:12 What is the scope of a Fractional CHR professional's role in your business? Are they able to provide leadership coaching and advise the CEO on change management?
25:21 What about smaller businesses with less than 50 employees? What HR structure should they implement? Do they need it for compliance and beyond? What is that process like in their space?
30:29 What is one tangible step business owners can take this week to get closer to having an efficient and effective HR structure?
Resources:
Milly Christmann, Fractional HR Leader and Founder of Marathon Growth Management:
https://www.marathongrowthmgt.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-christmann-mba-sphr
Email:
milly@marathongrowthmgt.com
Contact Number:
(949) 202-7258
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Develop an Effective and Scalable HR Infrastructure
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-develop-an-effective-and-scalable-hr-infrastructure
Behind every successful growing business is a vibrant and motivated team that works together to make it happen. And while founders and managers hope that employees get along with each other, this is sadly not always the case.
Employee-related issues are part of any organization. Either conflict arises, they may not meet company expectations, or they are no longer a good fit with the company culture. Eventually, you'll need to have a difficult conversation with your team member to address the problem.
"Difficult conversations" are inevitable in the workplace. As much as you want to ignore the situation, avoiding difficult conversations can lower employee morale and eventually create a toxic work environment. So how do you manage difficult conversations with employees, and how can you make them effective and productive?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Ron Reich gives us actionable tips on approaching and navigating these difficult conversations constructively.
He demonstrates how you can transform them from points of conflict into opportunities for personal and professional growth and development - both for you and your team members.
Ron Reich is the President and founder of RLB Training and Development. He is a trainer and coach with almost three decades of experience working with major organizations across various industries, focusing on leadership and management development, corporate training, and organizational development. Ron is also a well-respected and sought-after faculty member of the American Management Association.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:45 What is the best approach for a company undergoing changes to minimize the potential "pains" and issues for its owner and employees?
05:35 Is there a difference between crafting a vision and mission statement for a small company vs. a bigger company?
07:38 What steps should you take to develop a vision and mission statement for your business?
12:09 Why is it so challenging for leaders to try and implement the company's vision and mission statement alone?
13:14 What is the difference between a vision and a mission?
16:38 So, you've successfully developed your vision and mission statement. Where do you go from there? How do we use it in everyday situations?
27:20 How do you prepare and structure going about a difficult conversation with team members to ensure it stays positive, productive, and not emotionally draining?
36:55 What is a tangible step founders and managers can take this next week to bring them closer to being a thoughtful and responsive leader who cares and is proactive in how to structure their team?
Resources:
Ron L. Reich, President, RLB Training and Development
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-reich-7809829
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/leadership_rlb/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Navigating Difficult Conversations With Your Employees
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/navigating-difficult-conversations-with-your-employees
Being a leader is no easy feat.
You're always "doing" because of the never-ending list of things to accomplish in your quest to hit all the KPIs or goals.
It gets even more challenging during times of change and uncertainty.
You have to grow your business successfully, but you also need to ensure that your most valuable company resource, your team, stays happy, engaged, and motivated even when the going gets tough.
However, suppose you're stuck in the "doing space." In that case, your team members are feeding off your energy and following your lead, which could lead to burnout, low employee satisfaction rates, and potentially higher turnover levels, all of which will hurt your finances.
Enter an emerging new concept of leadership - the Human-Centered Leader.
These leaders put employees first, recognizing their fears, frustrations, and needs. They encourage their team's personal growth and provide the resources to succeed professionally.
These will all, in turn, help the business achieve greater - and more sustainable and long-lasting - success.
So how can you become more human-centered in your leadership approach?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Rachel Lipton fleshes out what being a human-centered leader means and what it looks like in actual, tangible terms. We also touch on taming our inner critics so you can break free from its limiting messages and effectively lead your team (and their inner critics) and your business to the top.
Rachel Lipton, MPP, CPCC, ACC, is the Founder and CEO of Rachel Lipton Coaching. She has a decade of experience working with organizations to significantly elevate their leadership development and organizational effectiveness strategies.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:13 What is our inner critic, why does it exist, and how can we silence it?
05:56 What can someone do to stop or prevent their inner critic from making decisions?
10:30 Does your inner critic come out more when you are in that "doing" mode vs. "being"?
14:35 What does it mean to be a human-centered leader? What does that look like exactly?
18:22 What does being vulnerable in the business sense look like, and are there tips on how to be susceptible appropriately?
Resources:
Rachel Lipton, MPP, CPCC, ACC, Founder, and CEO of Rachel Lipton Coaching:
https://rachelliptoncoaching.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachellipton
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rachel.lipton.coaching/
Email:
rachel@rachelliptoncoaching.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Human-Centered Leadership and Your Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/human-centered-leadership-and-your-growing-business
As the owner of a growing business, you're probably extremely busy, juggling to complete all the tasks and projects you currently have underway.
To avoid unnecessary heartache and stress, using a proper project management system can help you stay on top of everything that needs to be done.
It allows you to conceptualize, outline and implement the steps to take, down to the last detail if you want to, to ensure that all the pieces you and your team are currently juggling fall into the right places.
Fortunately, and thanks to recent advances in workplace technology, there are tools and apps that can give even the most stellar project managers a helping hand.
But finding the right one is crucial to your success. While a good tool can increase productivity and motivate your teams, a bad one can also slow down progress and waste time and resources.
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Meagan Beltekoglu unlocks how you can take advantage and harness the power of productivity tools to ensure the continued growth of your business.
Meagan, a Certified Director of Operations and Vetted ClickUp Consultant and expert, shares her love for breaking big visions down into focused, manageable projects and tasks using her favorite productivity tool - ClickUp!
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:57 What are the common issues, struggles, or tipping points for businesses to decide to use a project management tool?
07:32 What are some of the other project management tools available and how do they compare to ClickUp?
09:11 What are some of the challenges when using Asana?
12:19 Why become a ClickUp specialist? Is it the company values, budget, and features?
17:11 What is the easiest way to implement ClickUp and what are the common mistakes businesses make when trying to implement it?
20:09 What are some examples of how ClickUp's custom fields and views can increase productivity, enhance team workflows, and more?
22:38 Are there other ClickUp "must-use" features that can prove to be extra valuable to project managers and businesses?
24:57 What is the ClickUp "Task Location" feature and how to set it up.
26:40 What are some real-life examples of how ClickUp has transformed business operations in a positive way and with positive results?
34:09 A shortlist of other helpful productivity and project management-related applications for growing businesses.
38:40 What is the next tangible step that business owners and founders can take today to get them closer to or as-near a perfect state of project management in their business?
Resources:
Meagan Beltekoglu, Certified Director of Operations and Vetted ClickUp Consultant:
https://www.newleafdigital.net/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/newleafdigital
Other Project Management Tools:
ClickUp
https://clickup.com/
Asana
https://asana.com/
Trello
https://trello.com/en
Jira
https://jira.atlassian.com/
Miro
https://miro.com/
Freedom.to
https://freedom.to/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Find the Right Project Management Tool:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-find-the-right-project-management-tool
Many businesses struggle to craft and deliver the right message for their target audience. Unfortunately, this struggle also has a very real impact on the financial health of a company. Poor messaging will not just confuse and possibly alienate the intended audience, but it is also equivalent to wasting money on a lot of marketing tactics that won’t work.
Clear and strong messaging that will engage customers to listen, trust - and try - a brand is crucial to the growth of the business. It can spell the difference between success - connecting with new customers, finding investors, attracting strategic partners, and the right team members - and failure to earn revenues and turn a profit.
So how can businesses harness the power of clarity and create messages that can effectively rise above the marketing clutter and reach their target audience?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Orly Zeewy unravels the "mysteries" of why (and how) creating a clear message that can help grow your business.
Orly, an author, keynote speaker, educator, and brand architect shares her experiences and insights on building the DNA of startup brands and creating messaging that helps founders cut through the noise and scale in months, not years.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
02:12 Why do a lot of businesses struggle (and waste money) getting effective marketing right?
07:21 What are the main differences between traditional and "lean marketing"?
11:19 How the idea of building and joining a community, a traditional aspect of the B2C space, has now entered the B2B space as well.
13:07 Is there a process - separate from the marketing exercise of coming up with the ideal customer persona - that helps companies define the ideal customer?
21:28 Insights about gated content
25:24 How to build relationships with potential strategic partners
29:08 Strategic partnerships as a brand extension
32:20 Tips on how to determine pricing within the sphere of clear messaging
36:02 What is the next tangible step that business owners and founders can take to get closer to crafting a clear and tight message that will resonate with their market?
Resources:
Orly Zeewy, Author, Keynote Speaker, Educator, and Brand Architect:
https://zeewy.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlyzeewy
Orly's Book | Ready, Launch, Brand: The Lean Marketing Guide for Startups
https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Launch-Brand-Marketing-Startups/dp/0367466627
Other Books Mentioned:
David Aaker | Building Strong Brands
https://www.amazon.com/Building-Strong-Brands-David-Aaker/dp/002900151X
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog Post | Grow Your Business With Clear Messaging
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/grow-your-business-with-clear-messaging
Many entrepreneurs start their businesses to create a better life for themselves, their families, and their community. But the reality is that as a business grows, so does your involvement in it. There are literally hundreds of things to do and decisions to make!
Pretty soon, you're drowning in work; it's consuming all your time, effort, and energy - not to mention resources. And your initial goal of starting a business is to have the freedom to spend quality time doing what you love to do and living your best life gets lost in the chaos.
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, our guest Amy Pocsik shares what you should do - and not do - when building a business that will help you achieve all your dreams and live your best life today.
Amy, a business coach, and CEO, gives valuable insights on the importance of taking the time to rest and giving yourself space to breathe while immersed in the work and how you can make growing your business easy and fun.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:20 What is it like to work with businesses where the founders forget the ultimate goal of freedom that made them start the business in the first place?
5:49 How do business owners and leaders identify which areas they need help on that might not be so obvious?
7:32 What is the best advice for entrepreneurs who are not passionate about managing their team?
10:18 What is the process of finding people / potential new team members that really want to work with you?
13:50 What are some of the other things, besides ensuring their professional development and having them do the things they are good at, that founders do or can do to support their team?
14:51 When planning for professional development for your team - should you consider the personal development of employees or only the benefits it can give your business?
16:01 What is the philosophy and meaning behind "Let it be easy and let it be fun" and how can we reflect that in our daily work lives.
21:36 How should entrepreneurs and founders take time to rest?
26:34 What are the steps to take to get back on track when running a business that is chaotic and overwhelming?
32:56 What is the next tangible step that business owners and founders can take to get to that dream business they originally had in mind when they started?
Resources:
Amy Pocsik, Business Coach, CPA, CEO & Co-Founder of the Women's Business League & CEO of Bold Moves:
https://womensbusinessleague.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypocsik
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/amypocsik/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Design a Business That Supports the Life You Want to Lead
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-design-a-business-that-supports-the-life-you-want-to-lead
Even if you think of taxes (both planning and paying them) as a "necessary evil," you can also make them work for you. Taking the time to plan your taxes and incorporating advanced tax strategies is a practical way to help your business save money.
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, Tax Planning Expert and CPA Ronica Brown share how you can dig deep into the tax code and find a gold mine of methods to save on your taxes.
Ronica is a CPA, tax planning expert, speaker, and owner of RBA Tax Advisors. She helps organizations of various sizes rethink their tax strategies and reduce taxes by 30% by focusing on strategic tax planning. She is also a wife and mother and is passionate about gardening and cooking.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:10 How is a CPA specializing in advanced tax strategies different from regular CPAs that business owners are used to working with?
04:24 How would you find a CPA that provides advanced tax strategies and who can support the current stage your growing company is in?
07:18 What is the process of determining how to maximize tax credits based on a company's financial statements such as a P&L and balance sheet?
15:17 When is the right time to move from an LLC to an S, or even a C Corp?
17:09 What are some of the advanced tax strategies that have made a dent in people's tax bills?
19:02 How can business owners find strategic partnerships that give them a tax advantage?
24:12 What does the IRS look for in case you do get audited? What are some of the documentation you need to have if you end up hiring your child as a tax strategy to prove that they are actually doing things in the business?
27:10 What can business owners and founders do today that will take them closer to having a sound tax strategy in place?
Resources:
Ronica Brown, CPA, Tax Planning Expert, RBA Tax Advisors:
https://rbataxadvisors.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronicabrowncpataxandacounting
Subscribe to Ronica's channel:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCapjVwFkaQhyvyWQBu3s8CQ
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Advanced Tax Strategies For A Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/advanced-tax-strategies-for-a-growing-business
Breaking into the international market is a great way to expand your customer base and generate more revenue. It elevates you, your brand, and your business, but...it can be really complex.
There are not just the legal and financial aspects to think through, but also cultural differences that you need to be aware of - a part of going global that can either make or break your efforts.
"But where do I start and how do I go about this?"
"I'm not an enterprise-level business - I won't stand a chance out there."
In this episode of Help, My Business Is Growing, global & personal branding strategist, Brigitte Bojkowszky, Ph.D., will share some of her expert insights on what to consider when thinking of expanding internationally.
Brigitte is a branding expert - both for global and personal brands, an author, teacher/professor, founder of BridgetBrands, and the host and producer of the podcast BrandsTalk. She empowers brands to unleash their full potential in their home markets and beyond.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
04:32 Some of the major reasons companies fail when they try to take their brands internationally
08:07 Examples of companies that thought they would experience "slam dunk" success in the geographically close market but failed due to unexpected socio-cultural and psychological differences
20:41 Things to keep in mind when researching how to expand in the international arena. What to look for and what to focus on especially when the budget is tight for extensive research.
24:57 Markets that are easier for a US-based smaller business to penetrate when growing internationally
26:18 Who can help with global brand building and businesses planning to expand abroad
27:52 Is it possible for a company to customize their products and services when entering a new market that almost becomes unrecognizable from its original form and brand? How can business owners balance that - especially when trying to develop one global brand that's also still recognizable in other markets?
36:49 What to consider when modifying the company’s logo for global expansion
Resources:
Bridget Bojkowszky, Ph.D., Global & Personal Branding Strategist, Founder of BridgetBrands:
https://bridgetbrands.com/
Email:
hello@bridgetbrands.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Successfully Take Your Business Global
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-successfully-take-your-business-global
Today, it is our smartphone, tablet, and computer webcams that allow us to connect with our teams as well as suppliers, clients, and sales prospects.
This is the current reality of our daily working lives, video calls and meetings are now the norms.
And since we are keeping it real, distractions - whether you realize it or not - are now also part of your meeting agenda!
The physical disconnect makes it that much easier for your audience to drift away to deal with other work, the dog, the kids, dinner or to take a quick peek at Tiktok.
So how do you keep your audience engaged and how do you ensure they are still taking you seriously from the other side of the screen?
In this episode of Help, My Business Is Growing, International Communication Consultant & Presentations Coach Pam Wigglesworth reveals how you can nurture, build and develop your executive presence. And in this "Age of Zoom," we are currently living through, it is even more critical to have an executive presence and to ensure that you project it when the camera starts rolling.
Pamela Wigglesworth is an American, Singapore-based, International Communication Consultant & Presentations Coach, Speaker, Author, and the CEO of Experiential Hands-on Learning. She works one-on-one with senior leaders, C-suite executives, small business owners, and more to help establish their executive presence; structure a clear, concise presentation message; and deliver their thoughts and ideas with style, confidence, and authority.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
3:07 What is executive presence? And why is it so crucial for business owners or founders to spend time cultivating it?
7:49 How does one build an executive presence?
9:58 Tips on how to get gravitas and executive presence to shine through the camera.
13:52 How do you look at the camera, pay attention to facial expressions, and maintain eye contact with another person?
18:24 How to structure a presentation so that it's engaging and valuable to your audience
26:45 Time-tested tricks to eliminate filler words
30:45 How important is good appearance when working in a virtual environment?
38:58 Helpful books and resources
41:03 How does EQ or emotional quotient tie into executive presence?
44:47 What is the one tangible next step to take to cultivate executive presence?
Resources:
Pamela Wigglesworth, International Communication Consultant & Presentations Coach, Speaker, Author, and CEO of Experiential Hands-on Learning.
Website: https://experiential.sg
LinkedIn:
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/pamelawigglesworth
Instagram: @pamelawigglesworthcoach
Pamela's Free Resources | Executive Presence:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11jYf6UIkV8qKJL3ODx2KAWV0DK-4Cwpd?usp=sharing
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Build Your Executive Presence in the Zoom Era
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-build-your-executive-presence-in-the-zoom-era
It's easy to get lost in the blur of what needs to get done when you're running a growing business. You feel constantly pressed for time because at any given moment, there is another call to answer, meeting to attend, or fire to put out.
The overwhelm is real, and many driven founders like you, who are goal-oriented and hell-bent on achieving success, will (in desperation) resort to multitasking and overworking.
It's a highly stressful situation, leading to eventual burnout and possible major health issues.
When you're forever stuck in the hustle, your productivity drops, and it will harm your revenues too.
Thankfully, there is an escape plan from this cycle of hectic work, frantic stress, and mental exhaustion.
Being Mindful can help you create calm so you can be fully present and aware of what is happening at the moment and, of course, how you're feeling. Mindfulness will also empower you to respond to the daily chaos of your work environment positively and effectively so you can continue to grow your business sustainably.
In this episode of Help, My Business is Growing, CEO Sensei and mentor John Fenton, share how practicing mindfulness daily, will make you a more confident and effective leader. He reveals the many benefits of breathing exercises and intentional meditation, including how they can help us center ourselves and rediscover our focus and clarity.
John J. Fenton is a Brain Management Consultant who works with CEOs who love growing their business and leading their teams but hate all the stress these bring. He is also an award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and mentor to C-Suite Executives, helping them achieve more and be the best leaders they can be.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:56 What does the statement "to do more, we actually have to do less" mean, and how does this work in practice?
6:31 When is that pivotal moment when you can or have to say, "Okay, I am spinning out of control here. I have to slow down."?
9:23 How would one start small in becoming more mindful? Are there certain steps to help someone who's never done meditation, knows nothing about Tai Chi or mindfulness?
33:16 How do you center yourself once again? Is there a specific tip or trick that you use when you get really angry or triggered by something?
43:00 What are the next tangible steps that people can take in the next week to get their organizations to become more mindful?
Resources:
John J Fenton, CEO Sensei, Brain Management Consultant, Award-Winning Speaker, Influencer, Best Selling Author
https://www.johnjfenton.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjfentonceocoach
John's Book | 5 Minute Mastery™: The Surprising Secrets for Transforming Your Stress to Success and Mastering What's Important
https://www.amazon.com/Minute-MasteryTM-Surprising-Transforming-Mastering/dp/1732552703
John's Free Resources | Your Free CEO Guide
https://www.johnjfenton.com/CEOguides
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Take Care of Yourself as You're Growing Your Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-take-care-of-yourself-as-you-re-growing-your-business
Running a business is a lot of work, and you and your team are probably extremely busy right now, making sure things keep moving and get done.
And that's how it is, right? We need to stay busy and attend all the meetings because we think this will help the business succeed.
Well, not quite. If you and your employees are too busy to the point of near burnout, that's a problem.
Increased employee stress levels and poor work-life balance can cost your company thousands and even millions in annual revenue.
In fact, it is employees engaged in efficient and effective work that make a bigger impact and drive your growing business to even greater heights - and they are usually not "crazy busy."
But how do we focus on and keep track of meaningful work and break away from being constantly busy?
In this episode of Help, My Business Is Growing, the Queen Bee of Anti-Busy, Julie Hyde, shares life-changing tips and insights to busting the busy and how it is crippling your business (and how you're ironically too busy to see it).
Julie is an author, speaker, and leadership guru who believes that 'busyness' is code for burnout. With more than two decades' experience in business leadership and coaching, Julie is a powerful people enabler who helps leaders make big things happen.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
03:49 What does “being busy” really mean and what is "bad" busy?
7:05 Why do you think that being busy is so addictive?
10:27 How does busyness affect a growing business with a "Let's be constantly busy" culture?
16:56 How do you cultivate a culture of non-business? What steps should an organization, especially a growing business, take to enable employees to be effective and productive and not just busy?
23:16 What is the "Urgent-Important Matrix", and what does it look like daily?
27:03 How does sleep, nutrition, and general well-being feed into the busyness?
31:25 What are microbreaks?
33:39 What is one tangible step you can do immediately to get away from the busyness and start doing things that matter?
Resources:
Julie Hyde, Queen Bee of Anti-Busy, Leadership Guru, Author, Business Coach & Speaker:
https://juliehyde.com.au
Julie's LinkedIn:
https://au.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How Being "Busy" is Crippling Your Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-being-busy-is-crippling-your-business
A productive workforce is the key to increasing the efficiency and profitability of your growing business.
It's a win-win situation when your team is productive and focuses on the right type of work: stress levels are lower, they can deal with customers better, they are motivated and satisfied, plus - things just get done!
However, many small business employees - and founders too - can't entirely focus on deep work. They get distracted or get swamped with busy work. And not focusing on the right type of work, work that moves the business forward, will eventually affect the finances of the business.
So how can we stay productive? And as business owners, how can we help our team identify and overcome the obstacles that are getting in the way of them being efficient, working smarter, and staying productive?
In this episode of Help! My Business Is Growing, productivity ninja Dawn O' Connor and I look at which skills will help you become more productive. She breaks down the specific steps you can take to boost your productivity to help benefit your growing business.
Dawn O'Connor is a Master Productivity Ninja and the founder of Focus Bubbles. She is also a productivity trainer and process improvement consultant with over 30 years of experience helping more than 10,000 clients worldwide enjoy being more organized and less stressed and achieving their personal productivity best.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
3:06 Why are we working longer hours and struggling with ending the workday, despite the many productivity tips and tools to help us?
5:54 What is the scientific explanation behind when either taking a shower or being in nature and taking a break that nurtures your brain's "idea neurons?"
8:05 What are "focus bubbles?"
12:09 How do you cultivate these focus bubbles within your own company?
16:00 What is energy management?
17:48 Is mindless social media scrolling considered a “zombie” task?
20:57 What is “eating the frog”, and how is it helpful for increasing productivity?
25:49 What is the ADD process and how it helps?
29:02 What are some of the steps to take to implement the ADD process?
33:22 What is batch processing, and how can we use that to boost our productivity?
38:39 What are some of the mistakes people make when using time blocking as a productivity tool?
39:42 How scheduling for daily little life breaks (bathroom breaks, lunch breaks, etc.) into your schedule is both realistic and necessary.
42:02 What are the differences between how introverts and extroverts work and schedule their day?
43:41 What is a tangible step to take immediately to become more productive and focused at work?
Resources:
Dawn O'Connor, Chief Focus Bubble™ Host & Master Productivity Ninja:
https://www.focusbubbles.com
Dawn's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnoconnorcalgary/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Increase Productivity the Right Way
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-increase-productivity-the-right-way
Other Resouces Mentioned:
Dr. Andrew Huberman | Huberman Lab Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huberman-lab/id1545953110
Brian Tracy | Eat the Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
Deep Work Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
Susan Cain | Quiet: The Power of Intro
Hiring the right people - and keeping them - is such a crucial piece in ensuring the success of your growing business.
Bringing in people who will rock for your business from the get-go will improve efficiency, motivate colleagues and help your company take advantage of that growth.
On the other hand, a bad hire can be demoralizing, disruptive, mentally stressful, and will cost you precious time and money. When you hire the wrong person, everyone - not just the job - suffers.
So how can you, as a business owner, founder - and Boss - hire the right people? What is the most effective way to vet potential candidates?
How do you bring them into the company the right way, and once they are there, how do you manage them and help them succeed?
In this episode of Help, My Business Is Growing, my guest Talmar Anderson shares valuable insights on how to identify what your business needs, attract the best candidates for the job and assemble an effective team to scale your business.
Talmar Anderson has over 30 years of experience leading growing and designing kick-ass teams for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She's also a published author, the thought leader of the Boss Muse, and CEO, and founder of Boss Actions. Talmar believes that any business owner can learn to build a kick-ass team to grow their business. In fact, it is required. Through her groundbreaking Bossification program, she's led over 100 entrepreneurs to do exactly that.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:55 Why do business owners struggle to place the right people in the correct positions and have the proper management in place?
4:20 How would a founder, who is getting ready to hire - and especially hire multiple people - figure out who and how they should hire?
10:22 How would a successful vetting process look like?
16:21 How important is it to involve your team members in making hiring decisions?
21:15 What does a good onboarding process look like?
25:25 What are the essential or bare minimum documents or processes that will ensure the successful onboarding of a new team member?
31:20 How do we manage our employees well and how does that look like?
34:30 Is there a way to structure meetings to tackle work and give employees space to say what's on their minds and what's happening in their lives?
36:50 How do you schedule one on one meetings when you don’t have the capacity for 1:1 meetings with everyone on your team anymore?
41:45 If someone is getting ready to hire right now, what is the one tangible step they can take in the next week to bring them closer to that perfect hire?
Resources:
Talmar Anderson, aka The Boss Muse, CEO & Owner of Boss Actions, Hiring Strategist & Boss Best Practices Expert for Business Owners:
https://bossactions.com/
Talmar’s Free Assessment | Which Boss Are You?
https://www.bossification.com/which-boss
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Hire the Right People and Grow Your Team
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/hire-the-right-people-and-grow-your-team
Data - specifically financial data - is vital to the financial health of your business.
It provides you with the insights you need to make better business decisions, increase sales and profits, and productivity as well - as long as you can make sense of it!
Data overload or unclear data can get confusing. Choosing to ignore your financial data - or even worse - making decisions using wrong or muddled data - can cost you a lot of money.
So how can you turn your data into profit? What does it look like, and what are the steps to take to make it happen?
In this episode of “Help! My Business Is Growing”, my guest Lynn Corazzi and I take a closer look at how to get the most of your data so you can make the best decisions possible.
Lynn Corazzi is called "The Data Magician" and is the owner of Data2Profit Consulting. He helps small and medium-sized businesses make more money with their data by sharing financial ideas and tools typically only available in large corporations. He brings his unique ability in helping clients think of the big picture while at the same time digging into the details of their results.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:50 What's the difference between accounting and finance?
3:55 What are some of the misconceptions business owners have when it comes to data and making decisions?
5:25 What to look for, what to process and what steps to take when using financial data (profit and loss statements, income statements, etc.) to come up with your sales strategy.
9:30 When does it make sense to sell certain products or services at a loss?
15:30 What are the steps to take to become proactive versus reactive when running a growing business?
23:50 How do business owners and founders develop financial confidence?
27:07 How are revenue, profit, and cash different and why is it important to know the difference?
32:50 When you get a new client, what do you focus on when you start working with a business?
38:55 What is the next tangible step business owners can take in the next week or so to get them to be more proactive and have clean data in their business?
Resources:
Lynn Corazzi, Data Magician, Fractional Finance Expert, Financial Confidence Coach, and Owner of Data2Profit Consulting:
https://www.data2profit.net/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Use Financial Data to Grow Your Business:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-use-financial-data-to-grow-your-business
Starting, growing, and sustaining a business is challenging, especially if you want to keep costs down. The last thing you want is for your business to grow at a rate where it won't be able to sustain itself.
Growing your business in a lean way ensures that it grows at a healthy and sustainable pace, increasing value and productivity and decreasing waste.
So what does a lean business look like?
Why is it important to keep your business lean, and how does it affect your company's financials?
In this episode of Help, My Business Is Growing, my guest Crista Grasso shares deep insights and helpful, actionable tips to lean out your business successfully.
Crista is a strategic planning expert for global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale and is the creator of the "Lean Out Method", which helps companies achieve accelerated results and increased profitability. She hosts the "Lean Out Your Business Podcast," a show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and simplify success.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:15 What is a lean business, and how does it apply to businesses, not in the manufacturing space?
3:33 What does a lean business that is significantly growing in a very short amount of time look like?
5:12 Why is it, when running a business, important to sometimes say "No?"
7:44 What are the steps that founders can take to get them to lean out their business?
13:13 What should founders prioritize in their business?
15:40 How does a lean business work when hiring & putting teams together?
19:15 What are the common mistakes that small businesses encounter when in the process of leaning out?
22:15 How to successfully implement changes in business
24:15 How do you stay true to the lean method when your business is growing? Is the "lean" going to look different when you hit the $5 or $10 million mark?
27:40 Give us an example of how one of your clients successfully implemented the lean method and its impact on their business growth
31:15 What is the next tangible step someone who wants to implement the lean method into their business can take right now?
Resources:
Crista Grasso, strategic planning expert, creator of the Lean Out Method, and podcast host:
https://www.leanoutmethod.com/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to "Lean Out" Your Business For Next Level Growth:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-lean-out-your-business-for-next-level-growth
New opportunities, increased revenue, and more employees are all signs of a growing business. But for founders, an uptick in legal expenses is a sure sign of growth too.
Bringing the right in-house counsel into your business delivers advantages, including knowing your business better and responding quickly to all your legal concerns and requirements.
So when is it time - and what is the process - of hiring an in-house legal counsel?
What should you look for in an applicant, and what is a realistic budget for this investment?
In this episode of Help, My Business Is Growing, my guest Amy Rowland and I examine the art of recruiting legal counsel into your business, from fractional legal help to hiring an in-house counsel full time.
Amy Rowland is a legal recruiter and founder of Varia Search, a boutique legal recruiting firm that fills legal department roles, from general counsel to paralegals, in startups and tech companies.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:00 How is a Fractional Talent Acquisition Consultant different from a recruiter specializing in the legal field?
3:00 Definition of terms: What is an outside counsel? What is an in-house counsel? And what is general counsel?
5:00 When do you know it's time to hire someone to be your in-house counsel vs. just an outside counsel?
6:25 Is there a difference between a startup needing in-house counsel versus an already established business?
7:15 What quality should business owners look for when hiring an in-house counsel?
8:30 Is it beneficial to hire someone with prior experience working with the smaller companies/startups versus someone who's been in larger companies?
11:15 What is a realistic budget to have, inclusive of recruitment fees and fully loaded benefits to offer to a successful in-house counsel applicant
12:40 How do fractional legal counsels work?
13:45 What roles are founders recruiting more of as their companies are growing?
15:11 What is it that makes a great salesperson?
16:45 What does the process of involving a Fractional Talent Acquisition Consultant in a growing business look like?
18:00 What is the difference between a contract manager and a junior lawyer?
19:02 If trying to budget, can startup founders or business owners combine hiring an in-house junior lawyer with a more senior outside counsel?
21:07 What is the next tangible step to take to determine if your business needs in-house legal counsel?
Resources:
Amy Rowland, Founder of Varia Search, a boutique recruiting and consulting firm:
https://www.variasearch.com/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Recruit Legal Counsel For Your Growing Business
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-recruit-legal-counsel-for-your-growing-business
Your salespeople play a crucial role in the growth of your business.
The more effective your sales team, the better it is for your company financially and otherwise.
But how do you set up your new - or even existing - sales department for success?
My guest Harry Spaight and I talk about the concept of "Selling with dignity" and why absorbing it into your company's culture is essential and beneficial for your future growth. He also shares practical tips and insights on how to sell well and how to manage your salespeople.
Harry has been an award-winning multi-million dollar sales producer and sales leader for over two decades. He is also a keynote speaker, coach, and the author of the book "Selling with Dignity - Your Formula for Life-Changing Sales Results." He works with sales teams and executives to elevate their selling skills, empowering them to succeed with dignity.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:55 What are some of the mistakes that business owners make with their salespeople? And how does that reflect in the overall business?
12:40 What makes a good salesperson?
18:33 Are there any red flags that would indicate major issues with your new sales hires down the road?
25:48 What does selling with dignity mean? And how does that look in practice, not just for a salesperson but for a business owner as well?
29:40 The importance of developing the right corporate culture to implement selling with dignity.
32:13 What are some of the financial benefits of selling with dignity?
36:12 What are three to five pieces you should have in your business to support the concept of selling with dignity and implementing it effectively?
Resources:
Harry Spaight, Sales Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Author of “Selling with Dignity”:
https://harryspaight.com/
Harry's Book | Selling with Dignity: Your Formula for Life-Changing Sales Results: https://us.amazon.com/gp/product/1956353011/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | Sell With Dignity & Set Your Sales Team Up For Success
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/sell-with-dignity-set-your-sales-team-up-for-success
Business innovation is usually defined as when a company comes up with something new - be it products and services - for the market.
However, innovation encompasses other things including new processes, new collaborations and partnerships and so much more.
So how should you, as a business owner, innovate? Where do you start? Where do you focus your efforts? And how do you make it happen?
My guest today, Michael Haynes, founder of Listen, Innovate and Grow, reveals specific and practical steps to take to successfully innovate and affect positive change in your growing business.
He empowers CEOs of service-based companies to acquire B2B clients and achieve the growth and impact they seek through business innovation.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
1:55 What is innovation and why is it important for a small and growing business?
2:47 How does innovation differ in B2B and in B2C?
6:40 What would the process look like for someone who wants to innovate, but has no idea where to start?
10:18 How would you do market research and your listening in the context of innovation
15:23 Is there a difference in how you do research/listening if you are a B2B targeting smaller vs bigger businesses?
20:45 How do you fit the innovation process into your company's strategic planning? Is there a specific process to move into that innovation type of thinking? Do you listen on a regular basis or is it scheduled eg annually?
26:55 The shift of B2B buyers formerly getting insights/information/data from one source of authority to now consulting/asking their peers and members of their network.
29:55 Are there tactics that work well universally or does it depend on the industry as well as the company?
34:00 Why does collaboration and co-creating content with clients and partners work so well?
35:57 In the B2B market, does education come first and selling second?
39:20 What does organizational innovation look like, particularly in a growing business space?
43:42 What does process innovation -within the company - look like?
47:40 Are there any common misconceptions and mistakes when going on this innovation process/journey?
50:20 Change as an obstacle: the importance of change management in a growing business.
Resources:
Michael Haynes, Founder and Principal Consultant:
https://listeninnovategrow.com/
Michael's Book | Listen, Innovate, Grow:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6RQNLX/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How to Innovate: A Blueprint for Your Business:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-innovate-a-blueprint-for-your-business
Setting up systems and processes are essential in driving business growth.
Not only do they keep your operations efficient and organized, but they also directly affect your bottom line.
In today's episode, my guests Meagan Ruppert & Athena Quinones, owners of Scale Business Consulting, reveal how your systems and processes are vital to sustainably scaling your business.
They help female coaches build empires with the delegation, systems, & simple strategies they need to uplevel to true CEOs
In this episode, we look into:
02:45 What is the difference between scaling and growing a business?
04:35 What are some common mistakes businesses make when trying to scale and grow?
07:23 Sustainable Infrastructure: What does it mean, and what does it look like?
11:15 Who does / Who should come up with the business processes?
13:18 What are Visionaries and Integrators?
27:03 Tips for growing a CEO mindset.
31:30 Advice for those who have a hard time letting go and empowering someone else to make decisions on their behalf
Resources:
Meagan Ruppert & Athena Quinones, Professional Training & Coaching: https://www.ladieswhoscale.com
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How To Build Systems and Processes That Will Support Your Growing Business:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-to-build-systems-and-processes-that-will-support-your-growing-business
As your business grows and you start to hire dedicated salespeople, you're going to need a competitive commission plan.
Not only is it vital to your sales organization, but your commission structure also directly impacts your financial strategy.
In today's episode, my guest Chris Michel brings over 30 years of sales and management experience to help me dissect how sales commissions & the right compensation plan drives growth and affects your business.
Chris is an Outsourced Sales Manager that coaches and guides business owners who are self-managing sales and should not be.
In this episode, we look into:
02:05 When is the best time to start hiring dedicated salespeople for your business.
03:50 Why finding a business/marketing/financial/sales coach is key.
07:50 What should an owner or founder look for when hiring salespeople?
12:40 What are the elements of a good commission plan/structure?
18:40 Building your compensation plan into your pricing.
20:40 The disadvantages of overly complicated & frequently changing compensation plans.
30:10 When is 100% commission the best way to compensate a salesperson?
35:30 Should a Sales Manager also be placed on 100% commission?
37:10 How do you structure the commissions when there are two salespeople working on one deal together?
Resources:
Chris Michel, Outsourced Sales Manager & Coach:
https://coachchrisconsulting.com/
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/
Blog post | How sales commissions and the right compensation plan help you grow your business:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-sales-commissions-the-right-compensation-plan-help-you-grow-your-business
Your company's culture is an important part of running a business and can spell the difference between success and failure. The lack of culture and leadership will inevitably show up in finances.
We break down how culture and leadership affect your growing business and what steps you should take to avoid the lack of leadership and business culture.
My guest on this episode is Lindsay White. She is a Leadership Coach, People Strategist, and founder of High Voltage Coaching - a company that coaches and guides female business owners as they navigate their personal leadership journey.
02:50 Defining "workplace culture"
06:20 Identifying leadership issues and their impact on culture
10:50 Leadership extremes: Micro-management vs Hands-off management
18:00 Culture & effective recruitment strategy
26:00 The importance of employee boundaries
29:30 Managing employees who are also family members or friends
36:35 How to figure out your leadership style
Resources:
Lindsay White, Leadership Coach, People Strategist:
www.highvoltagecoaching.ca
Kathy Svetina, Fractional CFO:
www.newcastlefinance.us
Blog Post | How culture and leadership affect your business growth:
https://www.newcastlefinance.us/post/how-culture-and-leadership-affects-your-growing-business