Business Growth Cafe: Recent Episodes
OC Talk Radio
The decision to grow your business is easy. Making it happen, now that’s the challenge. Join us for lunch as we offer insights and actionable steps you can incorporate into your business.
Most, if not all, people can't wait for 2020 to be over.
We all know someone who has been hurt by this pandemic and has gotten COVID-19.
Lost jobs and income, feeling isolated and disconnected, loneliness, and frankly, you just want to hug someone.
But in all of this darkness, there is light. We all want and need to heal!
Today, in this podcast, we explore the power of positivity. To find light in the darkness we ask that you dig deep to find something that you are grateful for and seek words of inspiration for the world for the coming year.
To help us do that, I've invited my friend Leilani Quiray to co-host this inspirational episode, along with a variety of people to share their stories of positivity.
Please join us for this unique 2020, hour-long Business Growth Cafe podcast event to help you heal and lift your spirits.
Special Guests: Charles Antis, Chase Boehringer, Wei Houng, Ric Franzi, Joe Martin and Dawn Reese.
Michelle Seiler Tucker joins me at the Business Growth Cafe to discuss her new book, Exit Rich and the ins and outs of selling your business. We also spend time discussing why businesses fail and steps you can take to ensure you ultimately have a successful exit!
At the Cafe today is Wendy Pomerantz, the Great-Granddaughter and founder of Bertha Mae’s Brownie Company to talk about how she turned a 100-year-old recipe into a thriving and very tasty business.
Wendy talks about her journey from the corporate world to the kitchen and share advice for entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
This is a sweet (pun intended) interview...as I eat brownies and cookies throughout the interview. I couldn't resist!
For those of you looking for a great tasting treat to share this holiday season, visit Bertha Mae's Brownie Company and tell them I sent you!
Joe Martin, Author, TEDx speaker, and creative agency owner talks about his new book and process called 6 Week Cycles. Joe and I discuss how to change the way we think when it comes to time and what to do with it. Including a little time travel! You'll have to listen to figure out what the heck we mean!
Find the book on Amazon!
Do you associate Love with your business? With your employees?
Joining me at the Business Growth Cafe is Dr. Bruno Cignacco, to discuss the concept of love as it relates to business and his latest book, The Art of Compassionate Business.
If you own a business or are an HR person, this is a must listen to show!
Richard Mulholland, Founder, and Samantha Dean Leontsinis, Managing Director of the company Missing Link located in South Africa, joined me at the Business Growth Cafe to take us on a journey to help you achieve keynote worthy presentations.
Paul Mitchell, who has been telling his story of A Life in Black and White: How to Authentically Discuss Race in Business joins me at the Business Growth Cafe. This is an important discussion!
Because of his life experiences, he is uniquely positioned to provide information and understanding to people of power, primarily White people, to help support better communication and engagement with their employees, families, and expand opportunities to show empathy and compassion to the Black community.
His goal is to help provide information to those who authentically want to learn more about the challenges the black community faces in the workplace and how we can develop a true partnership through genuine understanding and knowledge, to help make our workplaces more collaborative and productive. This is a key time for business leaders to educate themselves on how to have these meaningful conversations with their employees of all races.
Brad Chisum, CEO, and Founder of the Launch Factory joined me at the Business Growth Cafe to talk about what it says on his website home page…We launch Startup companies. During the discussion, we focus on his unique approach to helping launch startups and his own unique startup experience.
My guest this week, Simone Vincenzi, Founder/CEO of GTeX, a London-based company, and I discuss how becoming an authority in your field starts with these four pillars.
Get clarity on your business model and turn chaos into simplicity and flow.
Create HIGH-CONVERTING offers that deliver a real transformation.
Expand your audience and reach to get in front of your ideal clients consistently.
Grow your influence to get access to unlimited opportunities and attract clients with ease.
To learn more, visit: https://gtex.org.uk/
If you're like so many people around the world, you’ve got a great idea for a product. You’ve been dreaming about it, and of course, the world could use it. And, you can’t wait to begin selling it. But how do you get it from an idea to a viable, marketable product?
Joining me at the Cafe is Eric Rose, Founder & President of Pinnacle Product Innovation to discuss how to make that happen.
Don't just wait until you need a lawyer. Contracts, business entities, litigation, disputes, employee issues are just some of the areas you need to make sure you are "legally" healthy.
Mahyar Ghassemian, Founder & President of Ghassemian Law Group is in court with me today or rather at the Business Growth Café to discuss a wide variety of topics when it comes to business law. And maybe a few of those topics just might resonate and keep your business out of hot water.
Joining me at the Business Growth Cafe is Tony Penn, CEO of Penn Consulting. Tony is a business owner, executive consultant & coach and is here today to talk leadership, and what and how leaders need to focus during these crazy times.
Tony also has a specialty working with leaders in the restaurant industry.
To find out more visit: https://pennultimateconsulting.com/
We are experiencing a significant worldwide health crisis, the coronavirus which has killed over 200,000 people in the US at the time of this recording. We now wear masks to protect ourselves from this virus, work at home, not socializing, and living more in isolation than ever before.
This takes a toll, even on the healthiest individuals. But, it’s not just the current state we are in that is impacting mental health. It existed long before the pandemic and will exit after.
Today a please to have Sally Spencer-Thomas here with us to discuss mental health in the workplace and home. This is a timely topic as September is also Suicide Prevention Month.
Sally is a Psychologist and International Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Impact Entrepreneur and Keynote Speaker.
To learn more, visit https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/
If you’re a runner or any type of athlete, you may have heard others express the terms “runner’s high” or in “the zone” when athletes exponentially outperform their competition, or even themselves. These terms describe a neurochemically induced state of consciousness known as “flow.”
Today at the Business Growth Café I’m joined by Chris King, President & CEO of Status Flow, who says that by disrupting your flow, you can get five days’ work done in one day, all while working fewer hours, dropping your stress levels to absolutely zero.
Listen in to the conversation to hear how you can improve your life and work by enhancing your flow!
To learn more, visit: https://statusflow.net/
So you’re thinking about starting a business or maybe already have and now you are looking for investors.
You’re enthusiastic…who wouldn’t want to buy your product. After all, it’s a billion-dollar market and all you need is just ½ of 1 %. Then…you’ll sell.
But the journey from idea to an MVP to launch to growth is a long and not always straight road.
Joining me at the Cafe this week is Xandra Laskowski is the founder and CEO of OSEA Angel Investors is a membership-based, women-focused angel investment group focused on and driven by executives and entrepreneurs with diverse and successful backgrounds to shed some light on the world of investing.
Perryn Holtrop, Founder, and CEO of Pay Nation joined me at the Cafe this week to discuss the good, bad, and ugly of accepting credit cards for your business. During this conversation, we'll add clarity for those thinking of accepting cards and the areas you need to be careful you don't step in!
At the Café, I’ve invited Rich Cocuzzo, the founder and president of Sales Velocity Advisors, to talk war stories, the good, the bad, and the ugly of today’s business environment and to provide some insights on what to do and not to do when it comes to planning your sales strategies and tactics, especially during our current COVID-business environment.
Ryan Mason, CEO, and Founder, of Luxe Brands and BizBuzz, has had an incredible journey from sports to business, where one dream was crushed, yet like the phoenix, he has risen and leveraged his dedication to sports into thriving businesses. An inspirational story for any entrepreneur.
As business owners, we spend so much time working in our business thinking about sales, cash flow, employees, competition, operations, we forget to not only spend time working on our business but frankly, working on ourselves.
At the Café I have Matt DeCoursey, CEO and Founder of FullScale.io, how of the podcast Startup Hustle and Author of the book Million Dollar Bedroom here to offer up some great advice on the importance of building your personal brand.
David Oates, Crisis PR Expert and founder of Public Relations Security Services joins me at the Business Growth Cafe to discuss why every company needs to have a crisis plan in place, not only to protect your reputation but also your company.
The importance of implementing an effective digital strategy and campaign for your business
In the world of startups getting a business off the ground is not easy. There is so much work that goes into developing the plans, product, testing, etc. etc., yet in 60 seconds or less, that dream can come to an end.
Why, because their investor pitch didn’t go so well. This may have been the result of the entrepreneur themselves…or in many cases, their pitch deck didn’t communicate and the brilliance of their idea got lost in the sea of pages, numbers, and rambling that caused the potential investor to say to themselves, next!
At the Café, Jasmine Foroutan, CEO of Pitch Genius joins me to offer up some advice on what a great and effective pitch deck should include.
I was inspired by a movie I recently watched called The Ultimate Gift. It's based on a book written by Jim Stovall. Without giving the premise away, there are 12 gifts discussed in the movie that I believe are gifts we have all given, received, or wish we had. Please listen in as I believe you will find this conversation relevant given the times we are living in. Hopefully, in the end, you will find this is my gift to you!
As a business owner, you dream of cashing out one day. The big score! But what is your company really worth? Maybe not as much you believe it is? What is the right exit strategy for you? Sell the company? Be acquired? Merge? Or, as another thought, sell it to the people that helped grow your business.
At the Café, I have Chris Kramer, Managing Director of Strategic Equity Group to discuss ESOP’s (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) as an exit strategy.
At the Business Growth Café I’m excited to have Eli Eisenberg, Founder & President of Straight Line Management, which focuses on providing CFO services and financial expertise to help growing companies identify and exploit key opportunities, to discuss the importance of understanding and using your financials strategically in growing your business.
Eli has grown his business over the past 29 years and shares his experiences and guidance for high potential early-stage companies to get on the right path, the right model and the right way of thinking about your business.
It's my 100th show. I want to thank my subscribers, listeners and guests I am pleased and honored to welcome to the show Bruce Himelstein, Founder of The BJH Group. Bruce is a Sales & Marketing Expert, Speaker, Facilitator, and Consultant. His career includes…Chief Sales & Marketing Office for Ritz-Carlton Hotels, President Oceania Cruises, and Chief Marketing Officer, Loews Hotels & Resorts. And, a long-time friend of mine, but you'll have to listen to the show to hear those details!
Join us as we take a journey with Bruce from graduation to cleaning hotel rooms to CMO for major hotel chains. And, as we explore the current state of the hospitality industry.
There are many reasons to protect your brand's trademark. It seems obvious, yet so many businesses find themselves letting their trademark lapse or allowing it to be modified or misused. This causes market confusion or, worse, allows your competitors to take it over potentially.
Also, if you own a business or are conducting the marketing for that business, and you use graphics or pictures from the internet, then publish them in presentation, social media, etc., you are putting your business in jeopardy.
That's crazy, you say? Well, you're crazy…if you are using the copyrighted materials, the IP, of another company or person. Why, because you are committing a crime and can be fined thousands of dollars. And, if you were sued, that money comes right from your bottom line and potential could bankrupt your business.
Today at the Café I'm excited to have Sharon Adams, Founder & President of Adams Law Offices, on our show to discuss the importance of protecting your IP and your business.
Justin Breen, CEO & Founder of BrEpic Communications, joins me at the Business Growth Cafe to discuss his journey from newspaper editor to global PR leader/storyteller and his approach for building success for brands. As a newspaper editor receiving countless press releases from PR firms, Justin recognized there was a better way to create click-worthy stories that local, regional national and global media want for their readers.
Paul Wirth, entrepreneur, EOS Implementor and Founder & Facilitator at CEO Axxess joins me at the Business Growth Cafe to discuss his new venture and the path to identity and bring a new product/service to market.
In today’s show, I wanted to get real and talk about life. There is so much happening in our world I get concerned that we are losing sight of the important things that make us who we are. I found inspiration from the author Regina Brett. The night before her 45th birthday after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she wrote down 45 life lessons and eventually turned them into a bestselling book.
I’ve used some of her life lessons, which I’ve included below along with my own personal thoughts and insights to hopefully motivate and inspire us all to be a little better and cherish what we have, not what we don’t.
I hope you find one or two thoughts in today’s episode that inspires you to want to be inspirational.
Regina’s 45 life lessons.
Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Overprepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
Always choose life.
Forgive everyone everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.
Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
https://www.reginabrett.com/about-regina
“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” – Aristotle
Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
I’m joined today by Nic Marks Founder of Friday Pulse https://www.fridaypulse.com/, a Statistician, Happiness expert, and TED speaker.
Happiness is a relatively new area of science influencing organizational development -- the science of happiness for a professional perspective on an organization's happiness.
Happiness is how we naturally talk about positivity - and all the benefits that flow from feeling upbeat. Happy is what we want for our children, and it’s what we want to be at work. Positive emotions improve physical health, intellectual abilities, psychological resilience, and our relationships.
Brian Andersen, Digital transformation specialist and founder of Telecomphrensive Solutions works with businesses to help them think through their technology strategy, focusing on customer experience, employee satisfaction, security, and ease of use in the new normal of remote workers.
Life changed two-plus months ago as employees headed home to work as a result of the Coronavirus. Who thought, including myself, that two months later we'd be working from home…hopping on endless zoom meetings would become the norm.
The question becomes, as the guidelines start to lift and it becomes safer in the workplace, will working from home be more of the norm than the occasional telecommuter.
And with these changes comes the needed and necessary communications tools and infrastructure that for most companies didn’t exist.
Listen in as we explore!
Leadership comes in all shapes, sizes, and levels of experience. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, he/she is a born leader. But I’m not sure anyone is really born a great leader. Given today’s challenges in the business world; however, leadership is even more important than ever.
Adam Mendler, CEO, of Veloz Group joins me at the Business Growth Cafe. Adam is a serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and today, my guest, to explore the importance of leadership, as well as advice for entrepreneurs about improving their leadership skills.
At the Café, I’m joined by Carl Allen, founder of Dealmaker Wealth Society, a world-class entrepreneur, investor and corporate dealmaker who has worked on more than 330 transactions worth close to $48 billion to discuss post-pandemic strategies and buying or selling a business.
Per Welinder, freestyle skateboard legend, actor (you can find him in Back to the Future), serial entrepreneur and founder of iconic skateboard brands such as Birdhouse, and now Venture Capitalist and co-founder of WelinderShi Capital to talk about his journey and his focus on helping young active lifestyle and consumer-facing brands turn into successful iconic brands.
Today at the Café I’m excited to have Scott Bailey, a seasoned of Sandler Certified Trainer in the Western Region with over 24 years of service to discuss how sales training gets the sales organization working from the same playbook… using the same communications system to drive business growth.
Marcia Riner, CEO of Bella Financial and fellow podcaster and host of Profit with a Plan joins me at the Cafe to discuss why businesses need to gain clarity, control, and confidence in order to make the best financial and marketing decisions to compete in the post-COVID world.
Today at the Café I’m talking with Gaston Martinez, a native of Mexico and founder of IZO Agave Spirits. IZO is a premium, handcrafted all-natural Mezcal distilled based on centuries of distilling tradition. Join us as we discuss taking his passion from field to bottle.
As a serial entrepreneur, this is not Clara's first venture. Inspired by travel and international tastes, Clara Paye, CEO of Unite, talks about her global-inspired brand and her journey to bring her new tasty protein bars to market. The roll-out of Unite includes fan favorites...PB & Jelly; Mexican Hot Chocolate and Churro.
In Part 2, I continue the conversation with 3 new business leaders from different industries to gain their perspective on how they and others are surviving and preparing for tomorrow.
In Part 2, interviews include:
Lia Holmes - HR Professional
Karen Gee-McAuley - PR Professional servicing consumer clients including travel and leisure
Josh Walters - Talent optimization and executive search
To better understand what is happening to business owners in real-time, I conducted interviews with six different business leaders from six different industries. The goal was to gain insights for listeners, to help better understand how others are coping with the new normal.
In Part 1, interviews include:
Richard Montellano - Supply Chain Consultant
Dean Soll - Manufacturer of Insulated Metal Panels for refrigerated products
Chris Kramer - M&A and ESOP programs
We are in unprecedented times as a result of the Coronavirus. Offices and businesses are closed, and employees are now working from home. For many, this is a new experience. And, for many business leaders, this is a new experience as well.
Today at the Café, I’m going speaking with Kimberly Layne, CEO, and founder of The Kimberly Connection Company, about improving broken cultures through connected leadership. And, how a leader needs to engage with their remote employees during this crisis.
Business leaders are navigating unchartered waters in today's business climate and making decisions that can have a lasting impact on their business. Stop by the Business Growth Cafe to hear insights from my guest, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Disaster Avoidance Expert as we discuss making rational, well-thought-out decisions vs gut decisions based instincts. Protect yourself and your team from dangerous judgment errors known as cognitive biases to develop the wisest and most profitable decision-making strategies for today and tomorrow.
How to Navigate Today while Planning for Tomorrow is on everyone's mind, especially business leaders. Listen in as me, Angelo Ponzi, Fractional CMO, Rich Cocuzzo, Fractional Revenue Officer and JJ Richa, Fractional Operations Officer discuss critical elements to surviving and thriving in these uncertain times.
We three, make up the leadership of a collective of C-Suite executives called, P4 Collective. Listen as we discuss a holistic approach to address the issues and challenges facing businesses as a result of the actions taken to mitigate the Corona Virus.
Join us on April 7th, 12 - 1 PM for a webinar dedicated to this topic. Visit https://meetinglab.zoho.com/meeting/register?sessionId=1080300517 to register
Sending workers home or laying them off as a result of the Corona Virus is having a massive impact on businesses and their workers. Many of them have never had to work from home before or use video conferencing technology. Or, for many, they now find themselves searching for a new job when jobs are currently scarce. Today on the show, I'll share some tips and tricks to help you stay focused and productive, while you are home and most likely so is your entire family. Lots of distractions. Lots of challenges. Join me at the Cafe as I share my experiences and recommendations.
How we show up in life matters. Our intentions, energy, and presence matter. The impact we have on others depends on how we show up. As a leader, this is critical to our mission. Marc Koehler, President, Lead with Purpose tomorrow joins me at the Business Growth Cafe for an insightful conversation and guidance in leading today and tomorrow.
Join me, Angelo Ponzi and my guest, Stacy N. Benda, CEO of Apollonian Accounting & Business Services as we explore strategies to help you to understand the story your business financials are telling you.
Many businesses start with executing tactics without spending the time to know the dynamics of the market they are competing in.
I recommend you start by focusing on three areas: Insights, Brand and Plan.
And in that order… to become more strategic in achieving your business goals. These three pillars are key to building an effective, efficient strategic growth plan for your business.
Identifying the insights and knowledge you need to define your brand and to create a plan that helps you achieve your vision of success is essential.
To be successful in publishing a traditional print magazine requires digital, video, events, promotions, social media, awards banquets, and of course, organization. Tune in for a discussion on the changes and challenges in the publishing world with my guests Mike Dunn, Executive Editor, and Jennifer McLaughlin, editor-in-Chief of LA Travel Magazine.
What is EOS is all about? Join me and my guest, Chris Duncan, serial entrepreneur and now an EOS Implementer, explore EOS and the benefits of the program to help leadership teams Clarify, Simplify, and Achieve their vision using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
Subscribe to the Business Growth Cafe and catch up on all of the great content and advice to help your business grow.
Join me, Angelo Ponziyour host and my guests, Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO and Jennifer Tabiza, practicing optometrists and co-founders of Dr. Contact Lens to discuss their journey of starting a business, outside of their core competencies to solve a need in their industry. Bringing a new product solution to the market that helps optometrists overcome a big challenge to growing their business by recapturing lost contact lens revenue.
It is increasingly common for companies of all sizes to hire a fractional CEO, CFO, CMO or other business leaders. When you hire a fractional executive, you get 100% of their know-how, their experience and network from day one, the benefits of full of a seasoned CxO for a fraction of the cost. Matt Spooner, GigX's Fractional Chief Business Development Officer joins me at the Cafe to discuss the benefits of using fractional executives and GigX's journey from inception to revenue generation.
Today at the Café I have Patrick Erlandson, Founder and Creative Director of the See it – End It Film & Arts Festival and Sonia Bailey, YWCA of the Harbor Area Executive Director to discuss the challenges of bringing awareness, interest and community engagement to Human Trafficking in Southern California and around the world.
Ron Huber, CEO of Achieve Internet joins me at the Cafe this week to discuss the ups and downs of growing his business and how implementing an API Management strategy can open up new revenue and growth opportunities using an asset business's already own...data. Ron also provides insights on how he grew his business and how those insights can help you grow yours.
This week's episode includes business advice from interviews with my guests over the last six months of 2019 and their answers to the questions, "what is the best business advice you've ever received and/or given if different?" Time well spent and a great way to start the year.
And if you like this, listen to the business advice show from the summer of 2019.
To end 2019 and welcome in 2020, I decided to tell you some "Host Stories." These are my stories, a chance to get to know me, and some of my experiences. These stories are not a bare all but stories that I hope will bring a smile to your face, maybe even one you can relate too. In our busy lives, we can never forget we work to live, not live to work. Finding work/life balance, which we all talk about starts with you — your choice to make it happen, because, without your commitment, it will never be achieved. I hope you enjoy this episode and we'll see you at the Cafe in the new decade.
This show highlights answers to the question..." when thinking about growing your business, what keeps you up at night."
This includes answers from 13 guests, who are business owners like yourself. Lots of insights and I'm sure you'll find at least one that keeps you up at night too.
Managing administrative needs such as health benefits, payroll, and workers' compensation can impact business owners focus on running their business and addressing more strategic issues. Join me and my guest Brandon Carl, VP Sales with Engage PEO as we explore the world of HR, employee benefits and trends facing businesses in 2020. No two benefits are alike, so don't think of them as a one-size-fits-all approach to developing your offering.
Joining me in the Cafe is Seth Avergon of Avergon Marketing, to discuss marketing, business and the stories of our experiences throughout our careers. And, do a little tasting testing with Ryan Renyold's Aviation Gin to spice up the conversation.
HR expert LeiLani E. Quiray, SPHR and the legal team of Ford & Diulio, Brendan Ford and Kristopher Diulio, answer questions and call-ins from those it might impact the most. Join me, Angelo Ponzi, at the Business Growth Cafe to hear a breakdown of the new law and guidance on how to navigate it to protect your business.
At the Cafe is Andy Goldstrom, Managing Partner, Midcourse Advisors to discuss topics including product/service differentiation, culture and creating high performing teams for businesses to grow and be successful.
I found that a journey as an entrepreneur is never in a straight line…or a path to success. Twists and turns…lots of litter or failed attempts as we continue to strive for success.
My guest today is no stranger to those struggles. In fact, it’s those struggles that have led him to a successful business and as important, to a passion of helping others.
Today at the Café I’m excited to have Dave Daley, Monster Motivator to discuss the lessons learned on his journey as a serial entrepreneur and the road that led him to his passion and motivation for the work he does today.
I am a vodka drinker. Or rather I was. And now, thanks to my guest, I drink a Rye Whiskey brand out of Baltimore Maryland called Sagamore Spirit. Join me, Angelo Ponzi, at the Business Growth Cafe for my in-depth interview with Brian Treacy, President of Sagamore Spirit, where we discuss the emergence of Maryland Style Rye Whiskey and the growth of the Sagamore brand across the US... one sip, one bottle at a time. Oh, we also do a little taste testing too!
Founder of Metaverse Law, Lily Li, joins me at the Café to explore the various data privacy and cybersecurity laws you need to be aware of and how they can impact your business
Are you ready to compete in 2020?
In this Business Growth Cafe episode, I discuss a planning framework called the "Apples Strategy Framework" to get you and your team thinking about the opportunities and challenges you'll face in 2020 and to begin to align and focus everyone in your business on the path to business growth.
Why should anyone follow you? This is the question in my guest's, Scott Miller'snew book: Management Mess to Leadership Success. This insightful narrative provides a 30-day challenge to help you discover why they should and the journey you can take to becoming the leader you would follow.
Entrepreneur and trailblazer in the medical device space, my guest, Benjamin W. Bobo, MBA, CEO of Cerenetex, recognizes that every business situation presents different challenges, providing him the ability to add value based on his ability to analyze the situation at hand, devise solutions, and work with and through others to accomplish goals. Ben is an evangelist for innovation, turning nebulous ideas into market-ready technologies that will revolutionize patient care and positively impact therapeutic outcomes.
The Newport Beach Film Festival and The Orange County Film Society have become key destinations for award-worthy films. Join me and my guest, Gregg Schwenk, CEO and co-founder of the festival as we explore the past 20 years, notable stars and events that celebrate movies and the people who make them possible.
Storytelling has been used to shape and redefine events in order to persuade and change possible outcomes in history. Even Julius Caesar famously said that the victor told the story. Storytelling evolved as a way to ensure that history was handed down from generation to generation, so historical events were retold over and over to educate and to entertain an audience.
Join me at the Cafe as I explore the value and strategies of storytelling, along with some practical advice on establishing your story's premise
From a small garage over 17 years ago to a large warehouse and distribution center and 50 employees, Newair has products for nearly every part of the home. Today, they are proud to say they are one of the most trusted names in compact appliances. Join Luke Peters, CEO, and Founder in the Cafe for insights into growing a successful business from the ground up.
Your business is growing or flat or worse, losing market share and it’s time to bring in more experienced people to help you keep it in the road to growth, but, you just don’t have the money or time to invest in finding the right people. Someone recommended hiring an interim or fractional executive; however, you’re not sure how to go about it? How do you find the right person? What are the steps you can take to making that decision?
Kristen McAlister, President of Cerius Executives, Joins me, your host and fractional CMO Angelo Ponzi for an in-depth discussion on when to hire a fractional or interim executive vs a full-time person and the steps you need to take to ensure you’re putting the right person on the bus!
Join us every Tuesday from 12:30 - 1:00 PM at the Business Growth Café, where we select from a menu of topics that can impact business growth. We’ll explore influences, barriers, challenges, and opportunities with experts from a wide variety of disciplines that can, directly and indirectly, impact your growth strategies and offer insights and actionable steps you can incorporate into your business.
Many companies simply lack the experience of working with the various social media platforms and/or lack a strategy and process to manage the daily activities required of their social efforts. What’s the solution?
Neal Schaffer, Social Media Expert and Social Media Agency owner, joined me, Angelo Ponzi fractional CMO and your host at the Business Growth Cafe today to explore the impact social media can have and suggestions on ways to make it efficient and effective for your business.
We hear so much about the issues with hiring the right people, especially senior management. Yet, finding the right people continues to be a challenge.
This week at the Cafe, Josh Walters, President of Admerge joined me, your host, Angelo Ponzi to share his data-driven and scientific approach to hiring, as well as his insights on running his own small business.
Inspired by his bootlegging great grandfather, CEO Brian Christenson and me, explore the past to stepping out to start his own business, from business plan through the entire process of distilling, bottling, and marketing. It's a fascinating journey that gives insights and guidance to small to medium-sized businesses. And, we share a bottle or two of his products!
Over the year's we've all received some great advice. Maybe from your parents, friends or business associates. Some of that advice stayed with us and helped shape who we are today. This weeks' episode includes my interviews with 15 guests over the past few months and their answers to the questions, "what is the best business advice you've ever received and/or given if different?" 25 minutes of great insights in one show!
Chase Geiser Digital Ad Man, of Cube, LLC. joined me at the Cafe this week to explore approaches to developing a social media strategy and campaign, as well as the tactics for different markets and audience segments.
From Accountant to a controller to president to consultant and business owner, join me, Angelo Ponzi your host and fractional CMO and Ken LaCroix, CEO and Fractional CFO, of Insightful Partners for a discussion about the journey to launch your own business as a consultant and the role technology, plays in delivering actionable insights to business financials. Understanding your company’s financial data across departments to give you the relevant and actionable information you need to keep your business growing, achieving goals, and executing strategy.
Have you ever thought and wondered how you became an entrepreneur? What drove you to start your first business?
At the Business Growth Cafe this week, I dig into where I believe I got my start, motivation, drive to start my own businesses.
I'm calling this show, Life lessons from the #1 plumber, in the #2 business, lessons my father taught me that I never listened to, but found valuable later on in life. And, the simple lessons that translated into life-long values that continue to drive me today.
What do Honda, Subaru, Volvo, Mack Trucks, Airstream, Zoox, Embraer Executive Jets, Eddie Bauer, Ford, Levis, Samsonite, SkyLabs, and Set Design Illustrations for multiple Katy Perry videos have in common? Designs by Brian Thompson. A leader in recognizing new areas for product development, emerging trends in design and technology, Bryan has extensive experience developing and executing brand visions for companies that range from globally recognized household-name brands, to newly established brands. Bryan Thompson joins me Angelo Ponzi at the Business Growth Café this week as we take a ride on the road to building a successful design business.
Adam Miller, CEO of Vibrant Software joined me, your host Angelo Ponzi to discuss how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can impact on the growth of your business.
We all want to achieve work/life balance. And, it’s easier said than done. Joining me, Angelo Ponzi at the Business Growth Café for a truly interesting conversation is Chrissy Eblin, Founder and CEO of Carefree Concierge to discuss how to get more time back in your day to focus on your business and other important things in your life.
Subscribe today at businessgrowthcafe.com or your favorite podcasting platform, and tune in LIVE on Tuesday, June 25th at 12:30 PM PST at octalkradio.net.
LeiLani E. Quiray, SPHR, CEO of bethechangeHR and me, your host and fractional CMO Angelo Ponzi, at the Business Growth Cafe this week to explore the many HR topics that can impact your short and long-term business growth.
A discussion based on a book called “Contagious” by Jonah Berger, published in 2013.
A quick summary of the topics covered in the book and what I will talk about:
Social currency - does it make me look good?
Triggers - how are you reminded of the product?
Emotion - strong emotions = sharing
Public - what is everyone else doing?
Practical value - is it actually helpful?
Stories - is my idea/ product a relevant part of a cool story?
Charles Antis, Founder and CEO of Antis Roofing and Waterproofing joined me, your host Angelo Ponzi to discuss Corporate Social Responsibility and what ignites his passion and contributes to his success. Listen in as we set a goal of creating a better world to live in and the role businesses need to play.
In this episode of Business Growth Cafe, we will explore Matt Everitt, CEO of World of Dance,’s journey from CFO for a PR agency, marketing executive, business coach, and entrepreneur that led him to his current position, and the best advice he ever received early on that shaped his business future.
This week in the Cafe, Matt Everitt, CEO of World of Dance, joined us to discuss the ups, downs, and growth strategies for a sustainable business whose primary product is entertainment, building a platform that inspires people to come together and share this common passion.
In this Business Growth Café episode, I explore the reasons and recommendations as to why you should establish a competitive intelligence program. Don’t wait until it’s too late to react to a competitive attack or strategic move. It’s time to be proactive with gathering and analyzing competitive insights.
Lauren Feehrer, Founder and President at LoyaltyCraft Consulting joins me, your host, CMO and Brand Strategist, Angelo Ponzi at the Business Growth Café to discuss the importance of developing these key, strategic tools to help you become more competitive and develop sustainable growth for your business.
At the Café, Jenny Dinnen, President of the market research firm, MacKenzie Corporation joined me to discuss the importance using market research to truly know your customer, define market opportunities and product strategies to create sustainable business growth.
Cary Potter, Chief Valuation Officer of Deal Valuation joined me, Angelo Ponzi at the Business Growth Café, where we discussed the good, bad and ugly truths about selling your business and the steps you can take to prepare yourself for a higher valuation.
Being effective at persuasion requires you to become an active listener regardless of who you are speaking with. In this interview at the Business Growth Café with author, Jeff Tippett, of Unleashing Your Superpower: Why Persuasive Communication Is The Only Force You Will Ever Need, we breakdown the difference between Manipulation and Persuasion in order to move people, as well as discuss tips you can implement for you and your team to become masters of persuasion.
Dirtbag Clothing’s CEO, John Alves’ core values have remained the same - work hard to hone your craft and believe in yourself even when others doubt you. In this podcast, we discuss what it means to be Dirtbag and how a decision to get into the clothing and lifestyle business 23 years ago, changed his life’s passion.
CEO and co-founder of Pedego Electric Bikes joined me, Angelo Ponzi, at the Business Growth Café to discuss how he helped transform a lifelong love of bicycles and a dislike of hills and headwinds into the #1 electric bike brand.
JJ Richa, CEO of Business Vision Advisory and me, Angelo Ponzi your host at the Business Growth Café and fractional CMO, discuss how business owners early on in their company’s growth need to focus on building their valuation and the establishing the foundation of planning their exit strategies.
Serial entrepreneur and current CEO of Teamknit, Nick Panhwar, discusses his journey from business concept to funding to growth to the sale of a business, as a well as investing in new business opportunities.
Marketing is marketing, for both profit and nonprofits alike. So, how important is brand building for a nonprofit? Extremely! Let me ask a question, as a leader of a nonprofit are you segmenting your messages to your various audiences? After all, there is no one-size fits all approach when it comes to messaging. Are your approaches to marketing as effective as you’d like? Generating awareness, interest and donations? Well, listen in as I ask these and many more questions about the business of building a nonprofit in our special, third episode with Maricela Rios, CEO, Human Options and Dawn Reese, CEO, The Wooden Floor at the Business Growth Café.
Do nonprofit’s need to change the way they think and approach the business of running their nonprofit? How important are your boards? And, how do you manage your all volunteer board to keep them focused on your needs? These and many more answers are discussed in this podcast with Dawn Reese, CEO, Wooden Floor and Maricela Rios, CEO, Human Options in our discussion at the Business Growth Café.
Has the role of the public relations professional changed over the recent years? And, if so, what’s driving that change? What does it take these days to get an article placed in your industry’s trade media? Or, to get your client on TV, radio or even a podcast? In some cases, due to the changing landscape of PR and the impact to digital platforms, what used to be a “no no” has now become more common place…Pay for Play! Check out my conversation with Chief Visibility Officer and Founder, Teri Sawyer of T&Co.
Compliance with laws governing employees, talent acquisition, training, employee compensation, screening are just of few of the areas that fall into the HR bucket. Using HR as a strategic resource to grow your business is just as important as your sales and marketing strategies. And, as a small business owner, some of your best practices should include knowing how to properly recruit, retain, and engage millennial employees. Tailoring workforce management strategies (recruitment, engagement and retention) to target millennials is now essential for small business growth.
To build a success-driven culture for your business and your employees you need the tools to measure the impact of each employee’s contribution to the success of your business. And, compensation and performance practices for small, high-growth and mid-size companies is a necessity for today’s workforce. Join me, Angelo Ponzi and Tim Silvera, President of Optimum Comp Advantage at the Business Growth Café to explore the value and benefit of performance-based compensation strategies for both the company and employee.
You’ve heard it...print is dead! Not so fast buckaroo! Magazine advertising is alive and well in today’s digital world especially when it comes to specific audience segments. When building any strategic communications plan you need to know your audience and how they consume information. President and Publisher Christopher Schulz of Orange Coast Magazine join me at the Café for an in-depth discussion on why print and events are strategic channels of communication in today’s digital world. Don’t miss out, subscribe today at businessgrowthcafe.com or your favorite podcasting platform.
Is poor communication costing your brand money? Are you confusing your prospects and even worse, your customers as to what your brand stands for? Does your brand’s story or message focus more on the rational aspects of your brand or do you have a deep emotional connection with your audience? Jayson Duncan, Chief Storyteller at Miller Farm Media joined us to discuss how to take your storytelling to another, more strategic level to ensure your communications are truly communicating!
Sales (and marketing of course) are the engine that drive business growth. Rich Cocuzzo, CSL, Founder & President of Sales Velocity Advisors joined me at the Café on Tuesday, February 19th to discuss on unlocking the potential of your sales team by focusing on People, Process and Performance. For insights on determining the right strategy to achieve your goals and overcome the obstacles you might face on the road to success, this conversation is a good place to start.
Two of Orange County’s leading non-profit CEOs, Dawn Reese of The Wooden Floor and Maricela Rios-Faust of Human Options joined me at the Café this week to discuss how strategy, financial stability and leadership is essential to the growth and sustainability of a non-profit. You can join us too, download this show on your favorite podcast platform.
Hiring the right people for your business is a challenge. Retaining those people becomes even more challenging, especially in today’s employment environment. What is the right mix of employee benefits you offer to attract and retain top talent? In depth discussion with Elena Viera, Vice President, Director of Client Information with Wood Gutmann & Bogart.
How effective is your digital strategy? Want answers? David Mistofsky, Director of Strategy at Rhythm Agency joined us in the Café to answers these questions and many more such as: Do you include Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube or the other numerous digital channels to deliver your messages in your strategy and how effective are they?
In thinking about growing your business, what keeps you up at night? Sales? Marketing, your employees? The needs and expectations of your customers? Finance? Or, maybe it’s all of these! Planning for growth is easy, it’s the implementation that’s the hard part. And, sticking to the plan is even harder. In this episode of Business Growth Cafe, Angelo Ponzi discussed ideas keep your business moving in the right direction.
How do you define your customer’s journey, and why is it important to do so? Why should you think locally to expand globally? JoDawn Whitlock-Karnowski, Global Marketing Director of UPS Capital, joined us in the Café to discuss these topics and more.
What aspects of your business keep you up at night? This week's episode features selected highlights of 2018 Business Growth Cafe show guests answering this question.
Selected guest highlights from 2018 Business Growth Cafe Shows. Listen to get an overview of the insights you may have missed and hopefully they’ll pique your interest to revisit early shows.
Bad hires are among the most costly events a company can experience, particularly when repeated. However, companies don’t choose to make bad hires -- they are an unintended consequence of unstructured processes. Rick Girard, CEO of Stride Search, joined us in the Cafe for an insightful discussion on how to avoid negative unintended consequences in your hiring process.
Entire industries are collapsing as new (mostly digital) business models provide better outcomes for fewer dollars. Disruptive innovation generally comes from the edges of industries, not the center. How is your company positioning itself for the future? Patrick Schwerdtfeger, Business Futurist & Keynote Speaker on Technology Trends, joined us to discuss this topic and more.
Wage hour class action litigation is presenting an existential threat to many California businesses big and small. It only takes one former disgruntled employee. Be proactive and don’t wait until it’s too late. Bob Yonowitz of Fisher Phillips, LLP, joined us at the Café to discuss.
What does it take to take an idea and grow it into a business with multiple employees, serving clients in a wide variety of industries in a very competitive market? CEO Gary Saner of software developer Primero Systems joined us to share insights that will benefit any business in its efforts to build an enduring brand.
Asset acquisition, stock acquisitions, mergers... Michael Carroll, Managing Partner at CorpGen Counsel, joined us in the Cafe to discuss exit strategy and how to effectively grow your business through through acquisition.
Did you ever use a picture you grabbed from the internet in a presentation or on your website or other marketing materials? That “free” picture might cost you up to $150,000 and a definite impact on your bottom line. Stephanie Pottick Esq., President of Pottick Law, joined us in the cafe to talk all about IP, trademarks and copyright!
Steve Pitchford, Senior Account Manager of Search Optimizers, joined us in the Cafe to discuss SEO, content and other digital strategies that can drive sales and growth within your organization.
How do you determine the health of your brand? Angelo Ponzi went on the air to provide an in-depth look at the importance of "living it" every day, and keeping your finger on your brand’s pulse to make sure it stays healthy and keeps beating. While you may think your brand is doing well, i.e. sales are up, it is crucial to receive feedback from those who interact with your brand, both internally and externally. Don’t assume just because you’re putting your story out there, everyone truly knows and understands it.
Richard Franzi, CEO of Critical Mass for Business, joined us in the Cafe to share his unique insight on leadership best practices to move your brand in a positive direction, towards sustained growth and longevity.
Denyse Drummond-Dunn joined is in the Cafe to discuss the contents of her book Winning Customer Centricity, and the importance of developing a customer-centric brand.
2018 changes to the tax laws will affect not only C-Corporations, but non-C corporations as well, such as S-Corps, LLC’s and, of course, every individual in the US who files and pays taxes. Don’t wait to get prepared for the 2018, Paul Peffer, CEO of Tax Relief Assistance joined us in the Café to discuss the implications of the new tax laws.
"Making and taking the time to plan for the future of your company is of paramount importance. How can your organization capitalize on this planning session and ensure that the time spent is meaningful – and genuinely useful in managing growth? One approach to growth is acquistion. Or, maybe you're ready to sell?“ - Wayne Pinnell, CPA, Managing Partner at Haskell & White, LLP
Wayne Pinnell joined us on Business Growth Cafe to provide insights on exit strategies, the importance of planning for the future of your business, M&A and much more.
“Discipline around reviewing monthly financials is essential to running a business. The 'numbers' or financial statements can confirm that the business is on track or they can serve as an early warning signal that a problem is around the corner. Take control of your company's growth by ensuring you understand the story your finanzials are telling you.” - Jean Latu, Ingenio Solutions
Jean Latu of Ingenio Solutions joined us on Business Growth Cafe to discuss why it is important to look at your brand’s financials from a strategic perspective.
Did you know that disengaged employees cost the US between $450-$550 billion annually? Disengagement is at a chronic high, and it is continuing to rise. Health & Wellness Expert Nancy Drew joined me for lunch on Tuesday, Sept. 18th to discuss how YOU can ensure that your employees are happy, satisfied, productive, and engaged.
New business is the lifeblood of any company-- but how can you attract new business to your company and improve your business development process? In this episode of Business Growth Cafe, Jack Kelly, President and Founder of Corlea Group, Inc., joins us to answer this question and much more!