Free Agent with Meg Schmitz: Recent Episodes
Meg Schmitz
Inspiring conversations with real people who took the leap into business ownership, franchising, and freedom. Hosted by franchise guru, consultant and trusted small business advisor, Meg Schmitz.
If you're looking to make the next phase of your life the best phase, this podcast is for you.
From corporate refugees and executives tired of the desk job life, to entrepreneurs and investors looking for more support in their business journey, you'll hear from real people who stepped into the unknown, took control of their destiny and became their own boss.
My guest for this episode is none other than the Fabulous Dorris Burch. Dorris has quite an empire that embraces femininity and empowerment, and her mission is to inspire women to be so much more. Our inspiring topics today include: Feminine versus masculine energy The role that fashion played in building Dorris’ image and career Dorris’ start in business and building a narrative that unlocked her Unlimited Potential
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Meet Laura Liss, who was described by a client as being COOL because she is relatable, speaks in plain English, and takes the time to be personally involved in your franchise review, including a whole smorgasbord of additional areas of expertise. In this episode, Laura and I cover these hot topics:
- Historical practices that put a bad name on franchise sales
- Enter your franchise acquisition with the end in mind: The Exit
- Quality of Earnings, and what that means when buying an existing business
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
"Patty Farmer is an award-winning marketing & media strategist, international speaker, radio host, magazine publisher, and best-selling author specializing in marketing & business." She began her career as a single mom in Las Vegas. Self-taught in so many ways, Patty LEANS IN with vigor, sees pain as an opportunity to pivot. And she won't stop there. Just wait until you hear what she's doing in Italy... Listen in as Patty recounts her story. You will laugh and relate to how:
- Office rules about going to the bathroom made her quit her job
- The real estate crash of 2008 redefined her thinking and goals
- Mentors trained her to THINK how they think, not just do what they do
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Coach, entrepreneur and author, Mike had a blue collar upbringing where he learned the trades and became a General Contractor. The more he learned about real estate, the more he knew he wanted to build a substantial investment portfolio.And build he did, with the backing of some major investors. But some bad decisions lead to an avalanche of consequences. In this episode we discuss:
- How Mike achieved success early in his journey
- The decisions that cost him everything
- The road to redemption
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Sharon Cupach has been a resource and mentor to many in the franchise community. She spent several years as an entrepreneur herself partnering with emerging brands, setting systems and processes in place as well as outsourced franchise development responsibilities.In this episode, Sharon and I discuss:
- Aligning with ESSENTIAL need-based businesses for resilience and financial success
- Some of our favorite analogies tackling fear and success
- Getting your foot in the door early gives Early Adopters a louder voice and more flexibility.
One of my great pleasures is to have decades of relationships with business owners I have placed and the franchise developers who helped those candidates land safely. Today my guest is one of those “Best In Class” franchise developers who has an instinct for great brands and finding the RIGHT FIT for each individual he works with. In this episode Eric and I talk about:
- The Three P’s: Positive, Proactive, Persevering Candidates become great owners
- Technology pivots and implementations that enable owners to focus on what’s important
- Doing one thing well in their brands doesn’t mean one revenue stream
- And the Big Question: Labor, Staffing, and How Do I Make Money Owning This?
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Keausha Bradley-Macklin and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Keausha Bradley-Macklin of Porshanality Media, LLC
Life has changed dramatically for Melissa over the last few years. Now a single mom and done with her corporate gig, she is attempting to organize her finances to achieve the diversification dream once again. Melissa hit me with a series of questions that reflected not only her interests, but also her concerns.In this interview I field questions from Melissa that are timely and universal. Our topics include:
- What will be successful where I live, regardless of the economy or pandemic?
- Why is there a stigma that franchising is somehow cheating in business?
- What if I fail? What if I lose everything?
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Keausha Bradley-Macklin and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Keausha Bradley-Macklin of Porshanality Media, LLC
In this episode, my guest Career Transition specialist, Teegan Bartos shares her thoughts on finding joy in your work, and saying YES to diversifying your income streams for greater FUN in gaining financial rewards and insulation.
We discuss:
- Pandemic trauma has empowered people to find their true value systems to find fulfillment
- Corporate Women who struggle to leave guilt behind and gain confidence to diversify outside of the job
- Gaining efficiencies through use of business apps and platforms
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Keausha Bradley-Macklin and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Keausha Bradley-Macklin of Porshanality Media, LLC
In this episode I interview President and Area developer of FocalPoint, Jason Weseman. Jason Weseman is a man of many talents, and the best of those is a coach/mentor. Each of his four kids have had the benefit of their dad being a hands-on dad and coaching their respective sports teams. How did Jason get the time to do all this? In this episode, we discuss the Three Pillars of business ownership: your wife, your life, and your money.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
My guest on this episode is a true leader in the advancement of franchise systems. Josh Skolnick, Co-Founder and Chairman of HorsePower Brands, has a deep history in entrepreneurial activity. In this episode we discuss:
- The challenges and rewards of franchising
- The importance of listening to the customer and leadership
- Creating a foundation of transparency
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
What do you do when your forever job is eliminated? Melanie Ramos, formerly a Walt Disney World leader, shares her journey to discovering her best next move. In this episode we discuss:
- Finding a franchise option with flexibility
- Ramping up to profitability
- Tapping into support for success
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Jim and Diane share their journey of franchise ownership, passing the business on as a family legacy, and now lead the International Franchise Development efforts for Tutor Doctor. This episode features great highlights about:
- The tutoring business
- The role of the business owner
- Staffing simplicity
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Meet Brian and Jason Miller of Patrice & Associates. This father and son duo are experts with decades of experience in recruiting. They know exactly who will be successful owning a staffing business, and the training programs that go into perfect execution. In this episode you will hear about:
- Patrice & Associates stunning growth during the pandemic
- Pivots into virtual relationship development
- 2022 goals they have their franchise owners to be more successful
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Amy LeClerc is laser-focused on building a great franchise. And making sure that the path to expansion is clearly marked for her owners. She cut her teeth with a New York advertising agency, and loved the opportunity to build a story with brands that make a big impact. In this episode, Amy and I discuss:
- Why it's easy for her to recognize a great brand and build customer loyalty
- Expanding across the country with faith in the right Pioneering owners who are taking huge risks
- Building a franchise where owners leverage their organizational skills, not practice the trade itself
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Morgan Schnabl is full of curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit. Morgan's career and business trajectory are far from "normal" for those who start in the corporate world. Not one to get pegged and stuck in a corner, Morgan has allowed her curiosity to drive her ambitions to build and grow businesses. In the episode, Morgan and I discuss:
- Why family and spousal support are vital when the chips are down
- How being willing to make bad decisions allowed her to learn FASTER
- How building a franchise concept was her intention from the very beginning.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
In this episode, Kate Reithel shares her journey from retail to entrepreneurship, how the pandemic impacted her business, and her thoughts on having a seasonal business.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
If you ever wondered if you could take the leap, this is the episode for you. Pamela Belyn is the perfect guest to have this conversation with as she is a real person who made the transition from corporate to independent entrepreneurship.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
The Stanfords are franchisors of Club Pilates. They are enjoying the freedom of being business owners as they are taking steps to shift the culture of business practices. Jennifer and Mitchell both can agree that this venture was worth the leap.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Steve and Melinda Gladin share insights on making a financially stable career change.
In this episode, Steve and Melinda Gladin share their unique journey into the pet care business. New decisions are best supported when the finances are stable. The Gladins are the founders and CEO of Fetch! Pet Care.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Trent joined FranChoice in 2013 and has served the company in many capacities since then, including managing the selection process for new franchisors, training and supporting the efforts of new and existing consultants, and has trained dozens of franchise developers. He has also gained experience creating sales systems that assist the franchisor in effectively delivering information to candidates in a very efficient manner.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Paul Flick shares how our businesses can be better served with the use of technology for scaling. In addition, Paul shares his journey to take the leap from Canada to the US to pursue a career in business.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
In this episode of the Free Agent Podcast, Meg has a conversation with Attorney Elisa Ruer. Elisa has practiced law for over 20 years and has had her own practice for 10. Her advice will help you no matter if you're starting a business or an established enterprise.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Welcome back to the Free Agent Podcast! Today Meg Schmitz is talking to Jonathan Thiessen of Home Franchise Concepts. Jonathan is the Chief Development Officer. He and Meg are discussing methods for successful franchise execution.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Welcome back to the Free Agent with Meg Schmitz Podcast. Brittany Driscoll of Squeeze Massage joins Meg on the podcast to discuss her creative business skills has led her to become a multi-franchise owner.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Welcome back to the Free Agent with Meg Schmitz Podcast. In this episode, Meg talks to Tom Fielder who is a multi-studio franchiser of Club Pilates, based in Nashville, TN. Tom shares his insights in hopes that listeners would feel more confident in making the choice to launch their own business.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Have you ever had a time when you thought that franchising was just for businesses like McDonald’s or Burger King? If so, you’re not alone. Eric Schechterman thought the same thing until he took the leap into franchising discovery.
On this episode of Free Agent Podcast with Meg Schmitz, Meg has an energizing and engaging conversation with Eric Schechterman of Benetrends Financial, Inc. Benetrends Financial is a retirement plan service provider and is the leader for franchise funding. As the Chief Development Officer for the nation's leader in franchise funding, Eric oversees sales, marketing and strategic relationships. Eric has extensive knowledge on the ins-and-outs of franchising from the back end forward and has helped thousands of small businesses open their doors. He has been a featured speaker at numerous franchise conferences, inspiring entrepreneurs with successful small business funding strategies and training franchise executives on how to maximize their funding relationships. Eric was honored to earn a distinction of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) by the Board of Governors of the IFA in 2016.
On the podcast, Eric shares information about rollover funding for your finical retirement plan regardless of your employer. Eric also shares his knowledge about stock investments are a savvy way to buy stock in companies and what it can do for you and your business when your business is profitable There are so many options!
Take a listen to the episode and please remember to rate and leave a review for Apple Podcasts.
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
Welcome back, Friends and Listeners!
I am very excited to launch the new season of my Free Agent Podcast with Meg Schmitz. To kick off our new season, Lance Freeman of Xponential Fitness is joining me for what promises to be a fully engaging conversation to help you take great strides towards your future success.
What makes one fitness brand stand out over another? What does an exceptional leadership team contribute to a franchise owner’s success? Why did these brands grow across every modality in a year that the pandemic ravaged most competitors?
Lance has been in the Franchising industry for nearly as long as I have. Lance has 25+ years as a Multi-unit Franchisee, Area Developer, Master Franchisor, and National Franchise Developer with numerous top-100 Franchisors. Lance is the President of Franchise Development for Xponential Fitness, now known as the largest boutique fitness company in the world. Lance is a Franchise Executive with a proven track record and has awarded over 3,000 Franchises in the last 5 years.
Enjoy this interview to the very end, as we share insights and tidbits that are sure to enlighten you.
As always, please follow, like, and rate each episode you listen to. I always want your feedback!
Credits:
Hosted by Meg Schmitz
Produced by Kacia Huynh and Porsha Williams Gates of Porshanality Media, LLC
Editing by Kacia Huynh of Porshanality Media, LLC
What if a forced pivot is the best thing that could ever happen to you? That was the experience my guest, Mark Zucker, had. When the digital revolution threatened to eliminate his photography business after 15 years, something unexpected happened. Here's what you’ll learn from this week's conversation: The important decision that lengthened the runway of his wedding album business and has kept it profitable for the last 10 years. The power of applying a startup mentality to every business How working-from-home provides the perfect opportunity to explore entrepreneurship risk-free The financial, professional and mental health benefits of dabbling in a side hustle and potential opportunities you can go after. How he created off-the-chart growth in his outsourcing business by helping other entrepreneurs pivot and keep their business viable in the pandemic. Guest Bio Mark is the co-founder of MCVO Talent Outsource, and founder and CEO of Zookbinders. He is an involved leader who thrives on helping professional photographers run a more profitable business. Known for providing the wedding industry's finest quality photo albums, Zookbinders continues to innovate to keep pace with the changing needs of photographers. In 2017, Zucker co-founded an outsourcing company that helps US companies reduce costs by providing office talent from the Philippines. MCVO Talent Outsource has a unique business model that can help companies save 20K-30K per employee! Zucker is a mentor to young entrepreneurs and a frequent speaker on topics such as: innovation, finding your niche and helping small businesses improve profits. For more information on Mark’s outsourcing service visit https://www.mcvotalent.com/ and to learn more about the wedding album business visit https://www.zookbinders.com/.
Have you ever had a business idea you didn't act on? We all have! But this week's guest took action, and I’m excited to share her story with you. Over the course of 23 years, Colette Bell and her husband took a handyman business that started in their basement and built it into an attractive franchise system other entrepreneurs wanted to invest in. When their success caught the attention of Ace Hardware Corporation, an unstoppable partnership and a bigger opportunity was born. In this week's episode, Colette shares the whole story, from the early wins, to the discoveries and pivots that took them from basement to boardroom. You’ll learn; How your choice of franchisee impacts the results of the entire organization and how you can set everyone up for success. How to keep your carefully-cultivated culture and intellectual capital intact as you expand What makes a larger company the perfect vehicle for impact, opportunity and market domination. The key shift that helped the business survive both the recession and the pandemic I love the passion Colette has for her role as a franchisor, and her perspectives on this will be valuable to anyone interested in the franchise world. You’ll enjoy this rare and delightful insight into the life of a franchisor, and get inspired to start seeing more entrepreneurship opportunities around you! Guest Bio Colette Bell is the VP of Franchise Development at Ace Handyman Services, and her husband Andy is the CEO. The first Ace Handyman Services office was in the basement of Andy and Colette’s Denver home, where they conducted business from a sheet of plywood placed atop an unused pool table. In the two decades since they started, The Ace Handyman Services Franchise Organization has expanded from coast to coast in 200 territories while continuing to embrace the same values and concepts. For more information, visit https://www.acehandymanservices.com/.
If you've thought about moving from corporate into business ownership, this week's podcast episode is for you. After 15 years as a leader at Johnson & Johnson and DJO Global, Ken Theiler decided to scratch his entrepreneurial itch, making an unexpected but strategic choice. And I’d say it paid off in a huge way! Because of Ken’s laser focus on customer satisfaction, his loyal customer base followed him even after he separated from the franchisor; an incredible feat for someone with no background in that industry. Choosing the right business vehicle for you is such an important decision. For me, franchising is the perfect foundation to explore entrepreneurship with confidence, because you’re not alone. In today’s episode, Ken shares what made him gravitate to an entirely new industry, and the immutable laws of ownership that can allow you to thrive in any business. Ken also shared insightful golden nuggets on; Why franchising allows you to explore new pathways in your ambition and fully tap into the strengths that were suppressed in corporate. How his company is retaining a customer base that feeds the engine and building support mechanisms after stepping away from the franchisor. How to evaluate a business opportunity and run a company that preserves the integrity of your family. Whether you’re a corporate refugee preparing for your next move, or a business owner who wants to improve your results, I think you’ll really enjoy the wisdom Ken shares in this episode! Guest Bio Ken is the owner of Hometown Heating and Air. He is a highly accomplished global commercial leader with a stellar track record in marketing, strategic planning, and finance. With over 15 years of marketing experience, the majority with Johnson & Johnson, Ken has developed a deep understanding of market needs and customer behavior with outstanding success in launching successful products. Hometown Heating & Air provides a comprehensive list of services for customers to meet their HVAC needs. They have a solid understanding of what it takes to install, maintain, service, and repair HVAC systems, and they are committed to providing high-quality in-home comfort for their customers. For more information, visit https://yourhometownheating.com/ or contact Ken directly ken.theiler@yourhometownheating.com.
How do you leave the NFL after a career-ending injury and successfully pivot into a valuable, in-demand role in a completely different industry? That’s what I wanted to find out from my guest, former Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings tight end, Brent Novoselsky. Many pro athletes have the rug pulled out from under them when their careers end. By having a plan, Brent put himself on a completely different trajectory. His NFL achievements include 100 games, 100 special teams’ tackles, and an induction into the Chicago Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Today, he serves as Treasurer for the Retired NFL Players Association Chicago Chapter, and Vice President of Wealth Management at GCG Financial. Brent opened up about his journey, going in-depth about; How to pivot the structure and work ethic of sports into a different career. Why the NFL is a simulated war environment where all careers end unwittingly, and how to set yourself up for success beyond it. The reason athletes struggle after sport, and why franchising is the perfect career opportunity for people trained on structure and routine How to unlock the human capital that will elevate you by connecting with intent. Pro athletes are uniquely equipped for business ownership if they use what they learned from sports as a springboard. What's the lesson for non-athletes? You can take success in one area of your life into something completely new and rewarding. If you’re looking for insights from the sports field (including what it was like training with the Chicago Bulls), and lessons on hard work and strategic foresight, you won’t want to miss this episode! Guest Bio Brent is a Vice President of GCG Financial, having been a member of the firm since 1995. He has been serving clients, their families and their businesses since 1989 with a particular expertise and focus on the accumulation and preservation of assets along with risk management. Brent meets his clients' financial needs through the use of the extensive resources and experts at GCG, as well as through outside, trusted advisor offices. Brent received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors with a concentration in entrepreneurial management. He received his Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation in 1999. Brent played 7 seasons in the NFL. He was with the Chicago Bears in 1988 and the Minnesota Vikings from 1989-1994. In a career that included over 100 special teams’ tackles, Brent retired after a serious neck injury. He is a member of the Chicago Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He is also the Treasurer of B’nai B’rith Sports Lodge and the Chair for their scholarship program. To connect with Brent, find him on LinkedIn and send an email to brent.novoselsky@gcgfinancial.com.
How does a corporate refugee start a new business with confidence while tapping into their creative energy? That’s what I wanted to find out from my guest, Basil Bearer. Basil is an accomplished creative leader and talented designer with a track record of graphic and design work for mega-brands like Target. Today, Basil runs a thriving family-run business. And it all started with franchising. He’s living proof that a business that taps into your unique gifts and strengths, and impacts the community is one of the greatest gifts of breaking free from corporate. Basil opened up about some of the big lessons and pivotal moments in his journey, sharing; How to navigate the self-inflicted lows of starting and running a business with family The key mindset shift that helped Basil fight the urge to work IN the business The strategy that kept his company on its feet in 2020 so that a “low” meant breaking even, not going out of business. In this insightful episode, you’ll learn how Basil was able to marry his left and right brain and build an in-demand creative business. For anyone with creative talent and the drive to be a free agent, this is the episode for you! Guest Bio Basil is the owner at Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Mequon. He’s an accomplished creative leader and talented designer, passionate about inspiring actions with bold innovative concepts. Now, the owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More, a custom print apparel boutique. This unique retail concept offers a full service of garment print solutions for business apparel, events, nonprofits and even "one of a kind" family gifts. Basil has a track-record for delivering powerful solutions in multiple creative disciplines, for some of the most recognizable brands in the industry, delivering measurable results. For more information, visit https://www.bigfrog.com/mequon/.
What if the stories you tell yourself about the past are sabotaging your success right now? That’s the key question I took from our latest podcast conversation. We all have these stories we believe are true, even though they aren’t. Stories we created around the events of our lives. But it’s what we do with those stories that determines our level of success. Our guest is Sue Schultz, corporate recruiter turned career and life coach, and our conversation is all around the stories we tell ourselves and how to break free. Sue opened up about her own life and coaching experience, sharing... The one thing you can do every morning to ensure your tank is full and you’re ready for the day ahead. How to build “non-negotiable” activities into your day to refill your emotional piggy bank How the stories you created around past events are sabotaging your success right now As Sue said, we can’t change the past, but there’s a lot of good that came from the past that we can use to drive ourselves forward. Get your free digital copy of Free Agent: From Corporate Refugee to Being the Boss. Click here to download. Guest Bio Sue Schultz is a Career & Life Coach and the founder of Inspired Integration. She helps women align their career and life so they can finally feel the success that is filled with passion and purpose. Her holistic experience helps her clients overcome the fear, and self-doubt interfering with their life choices. Over the years Sue has built her career on helping others understand who they are, where they’re at, what is standing in their way and “what they really want to be.” As a Career Development Coach, she helps people create opportunities to take control of their careers. For more information, visit https://inspiredintegration.org/ and connect with Sue on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-schultz-inspired/ and follow @inspiredintegration on Instagram.
How do you go from veteran landscaping business owner, working 18 hour days outside in the elements for decades, to business coach working just 2.5 days per week? That’s what I asked our latest guest, Todd Ruedt. Todd is a business coach and franchise owner of ActionCoach in Brookfield and Fox Cities, and was named ActionCOACH Americas #1 Coach of the Year in 2018. And he hasn’t been slacking since then, either. Todd continues to help free agents build multiple streams of income and delegate the right things so they can work on their business, not in it. Todd pulled back the curtain on his own journey, sharing some incredible insights along the way, including: How to use collaboration to build confidence and expand your business, whether you’re in the initial stages or getting to the next level The biggest pitfall new franchise owners fall into (and how to avoid it) How to leverage franchise systems to drastically reduce your learning curve and get results in your business faster As a business coach, Todd is known for asking great questions, and you’ll find a hidden gem in this conversation, where he shared one simple question you can ask yourself to bring positivity to any situation. One of the key steps for any free agent is building a support system around you, including mentors. You can’t go wrong looking to someone like Todd for coaching, mentorship and support. Enjoy the conversation and reach out to Todd if you get value from his insights! Guest Bio Todd Ruedt is a business coach and the owner at ActionCOACH of Brookfield, ActionCOACH of Fox Cities and The Offsite Collaboration Center in Brookfield/Neenah. At the onset of his experience as a business coach, Todd Ruedt hit the ground running. He was named 2018 ActionCOACH America’s #1 Coach of the Year. As a certified ActionCOACH Business Coach for 4 years, and part of the ActionCOACH community for another 10, Todd is an expert in education, training & growing businesses. Add to that his experience as a veteran landscape designer and horticulturist with more than three decades of industry expertise. Todd is also an avid organizer of more than 21 golf events for notable charities throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. For more information visit, https://coachingwisconsin.com/. Learn more about Todd’s upcoming Growth Club Mid-Year Extravaganza on June 17th and 18th here.
Corporate refugees are coming out of hibernation! They’re thinking of the future, making new plans and setting new visions. In this exciting process, many are rethinking how they present themselves online. What better person to talk about the free agent journey and visual branding than photographer extraordinaire Stacy Kaat! As one of Milwaukee’s premier photographers and longtime free agent, Stacy is a genius at bringing out the authentic self in her clients. Her strength is seeing your true personality, giving creative input, and helping bring your entire visual brand together into a cohesive package. In this episode Stacy shares.. How a new visual brand can help you show up to sales calls with more confidence, energy and authenticity How the right headshot serves as a “virtual handshake” - capturing the essence of your personality How your visual brand can help you conquer common fears, such as “Am I good enough” We also dive into Stacy’s story and her experience working with a variety of mentors, and how critical it is for free agents to build the right support system. If you’re looking to supercharge your online presence, show your true personality and give people a great first impression, this episode will give you insight you won’t get anywhere else! Guest Bio Stacy Kaat is a photographer, personal branding expert, and business owner. She helps Executives, Authors, Speakers, Trainers, Coaches and Entrepreneurs who are the FACE of their business and want quality brand photographs to attract the right people. She collaborates with them to create pictures that accurately represent their personal brand and business for social media profile, website, and marketing materials. Stacy also provides personal brand guidance so her clients can achieve their goals by aligning their social media profiles and posts with their vision. For more information, visit https://www.stacykaat.com/, send an email to stacy@stacykaat.com and call Stacy directly 414.758.0622.
2020 was a pivotal departure from work as we knew it before the pandemic. It wasn’t just an interruption - it was a full scale disruption. We made huge strides in bringing more freedom and autonomy to the workplace, and it’s evident that how we feel about the work we do definitely impacts the bottom line. We don’t have to return to the “normal” so many people hated. 2020 taught us that the desire for more autonomy, flexibility and freedom resonates across industries, job titles and career levels. We have the opportunity to create just that. How has 2020 changed the way employees engage with their jobs, and what should employers be doing in response? What is the roadmap to being a happier employee? In this episode, I’m joined by author and speaker, Josh Allan Dykstra, business owner, Pamela Belyn, and executive recruiter, Corbin Beastrom. They share the perspectives of thought leaders, recruiters, and entrepreneurs as we discuss why returning to the pre-pandemic work paradigm would be a big mistake. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why working from home made many people happier Working from home gave people more flexibility, autonomy and balance. We were able to share more of our humanity in the virtual workspace. This led to a reduction in workplace disengagement, and made employees more productive. Going forward, we need to create work environments that make people feel comfortable with sharing their humanity. Forcing people into the silo of just being a worker, and nothing else, won’t cut it anymore. The job market shifts we’re going to see as more people return to the office Recent stats show that 52% of the workforce is looking for a new job. With work-from-home coming to an end, a lot of people are looking at the culture they left at the office, and dreading to return. If people are dissatisfied at work, it will trigger movement in the market. If employers don’t focus on their people, and make the work environment better, they will lose good employees. Why we don’t have to be victims of a new paradigm, but creators Calling something “the new normal” is passive. It takes away the power and autonomy we all have in creating The Next Normal. We all have the agency and power to create the next iteration and culture of work. The future isn’t a defined thing that just happens to us, it’s what we create it to be. Guest Bios Josh Allan Dykstra Josh Allan is an author, speaker, thought leader and co-founder and CEO of Helios, a community of leaders and work revolutionaries committed to creating a world where everyone can love work. His articles and ideas have been featured by Fast Company, Forbes, The Huffington Post, and Business Insider and he's worked with some of the most iconic brands in the world (Apple, Sony, Genentech, Microsoft, among others). He holds an MBA in Executive Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his latest book, Igniting the Invisible Tribe: Designing An Organization That Doesn’t Suck, is available on Amazon and Audible. He lives with his family in beautiful Denver, Colorado. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshallan/. Pamela Belyn Pamela Belyn is the owner of Zoom Drain of Chicago. In her work as an attorney, she often represented clients in the home services industries. She was inspired by these trade clients and eventually left her law career behind to become President and Owner of Men In Sewers (MBE/WBE Certified), learning the trade and exploring ways to innovate and improve the business side of the industry. In early 2020 she opened Zoom Drain of Chicago, doubling its staff, growing apprentices to technicians, and expanding commercial and residential business month over month. You’ll often find Pamela alongside her crew in the field (look for the purple steel toed boots), at home with her family, or avidly supporting the Bears. For more information, visit https://www.zoomdrain.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-b-a095677/. Corbin Beastrom Corbin Beastrom is an Accounting and Finance Executive Recruiter and Search Partner at SkyWater Chicago. Corbin currently works with a “full desk” on the Accounting and Finance recruiting team. The SkyWater Accounting & Finance team focuses on growth-oriented, middle-market companies based in the Midwest. Corbin lives in Chicago, IL, and primarily serves clients in that area. Within Accounting and Finance, Corbin specializes in recruiting & placing talent in full-time, permanent positions at various levels & titles: CFO, Controllers, Accounting Managers, Senior Accountants, VP Finance, Finance Directors, Finance Managers, Senior Financial Analysts, Audit Directors, and Audit Managers. His team also has the capability to work on staff-level accounting and finance roles. For more information visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/corbinbeastrom/.
Periods of economic turbulence and social change apply pressure to every corner of our lives. In recent years, the labor landscape has shifted tremendously, creating new challenges and opportunities along the way. This isn’t happening in a vacuum. The pandemic and a greater collective push for diversity and inclusion have caused massive shifts in the laws that govern how we work. The legal platform employers operate from has changed, and we have to navigate new territory. This is an amazing time to create more value through business practices that benefit and protect both the employee and the employer. What are the key labor law changes we’ve seen come out of the social movements of recent years and COVID-19? What do employers need to be aware of and consider putting in place to protect themselves and retain their employees? In this episode, corporate and employment litigator, Dave McClurg shares valuable legal wisdom for business owners navigating today’s employment landscape. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How social change has impacted employment policy The conversation around equality, diversity, and inclusion at work has driven the creation of labor laws and policies that reflect these values. There are so many things that used to be acceptable that are now viewed as problematic, which has given more people a voice and contributed to a better working environment. The importance of keeping track of the details As employers, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day that we overlook critical legal details that will protect the business. When we hire people, it’s important to document all aspects of the disciplinary process from day 1. When we don’t document everything, we can’t protect the business and our employees. How vaccines are going to create new challenges for employers As people return to the office, the big question is whether to make vaccinations mandatory for employees. This question requires careful consideration so we don’t inadvertently create a liability issue. Guest Bio Dave McClurg is a member of the firm's Labor + Employment practice group. He has a long record of successfully defending employers accused of wrongful termination and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, age, disability and gender. Dave frequently represents employers facing OSHA violations and workers compensation claims alleging safety violations or an “unreasonable refusal to rehire" following a work-related injury.Dave also has a wealth of experience involving the litigation of wage & hour, theft of trade secrets and breach of duty of loyalty claims, and the enforcement of non-compete and confidentiality agreements. In addition, Dave regularly advises clients on issues relating to reduction-in-force layoffs, terminations, severance agreements and return to work issues, helping employers avoid pitfalls that can lead to expensive claims. For more information call (414) 559-7704 and let Dave know you heard him on The Free Agent Podcast. Visit https://petriepettit.com for more information and email dmcclurg@petriepettit.com.
We become entrepreneurs for freedom, peace and joy, but it’s so easy to get off track and become trapped by our own businesses. It’s human nature to keep going after more clients and revenue streams, but when that comes at the expense of our inner peace, joy, and ability to be present, we’re paying a steep price. If we’re struggling to find inner peace as entrepreneurs, it’s critical to do the inner work to make every single day a joyful and meaningful experience. What are the warning signs of being trapped by your own business, and how do you turn things around? In this episode, I’m joined by “The Joy Slinger”, Erin McCullough (Erin Mac). She shares how she went from extreme stress to stillness as a business owner, and the process we can use to start finding joy alongside the prosperity we business owners aim to achieve. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The difference between happiness and joyHappiness is a fleeting, temporary experience, based on an external event or achievement. We often race towards certain accomplishments seeking a lasting emotional boost, and discover that the feeling is temporary. Joy is an internal experience, something we can cultivate daily. Why entrepreneurs struggle to find true happiness As entrepreneurs, we diminish our joy when the work we’re doing isn’t in alignment with what we value. When we combine our purpose with the clients we take on, and the service we provide, we make room for joy and fulfillment. If we try to do all the things and serve everyone, we’ll always miss the mark. How to shift our perceptions so we can find joyChange starts with awareness. When we aren’t happy, we have to start paying attention to the voice inside our heads. That voice is rooted in structures we created at a young age, and it’s where we form all of our important decisions. If this voice constantly brings up negative messages, awareness can help us start challenging our beliefs and inserting new perspectives. Erin is a thought leader, speaker, coach, and the “Joy Slinger”. She teaches people how to have impenetrable JOY so they can be calm, have peace of mind and meaning in their lives. For more information, and for a free consult discovery call visit https://www.erin-mac.com and follow @erinmacllc on Instagram.
“Successful but not satisfied” is a very common experience high achievers have in the corporate world. Many people find themselves paying a high price for their success, and they have to reconnect, reground and pivot in order to get career happiness on their own terms. We all have a wellspring of information and data within us that tells us what lights us up. In corporate, we’re so focused on what the job expects of us, we end up defined by other people. How do we step out of the corporate mental silo, and leverage being the multidimensional people we are? How can we feel more confident about the pricing of our services? In this episode, executive and career coach, speaker and best-selling author of Winning the Game of Work, Terry McDougall shares how she empowers people to find true happiness and fulfillment at work. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How to re-establish fulfillment in our careersWhether we excel and find joy working with people, ideas, problems or data, there’s a thread that runs through the work we love doing, our zone of genius is also found in that area. When we get away from those things, that’s when we start feeling unhappy in our careers. If we have an important value and a place we derive our professional energy from, moving away from it will make us unhappy. How to price our services without undervaluing ourselvesOne of the biggest challenges of stepping out of the corporate structure and becoming a consultant is knowing how to price the service we offer, and determine the value of the coaching we provide. It’s so important not to undervalue ourselves and overlook the costs that go into running a business. Why our limiting beliefs hold us back from getting what we wantA lot of the times, when we want something, we hold ourselves back from getting it because we immediately think about why we can’t get it, or that we don’t deserve it. Wanting something and going after it are two separate things. When you admit that you want something, and step into the feeling of deserving it, you put yourself in alignment to receive it from the Universe.
For many free agents, the last year has been a period of pivots, adaptations and growth. Even though the entire business world was faced with a huge crisis, many leaders saw past the difficulty and tapped into opportunity. As a result, the companies that used the crisis to reframe and reimagine their businesses externally and internally are now miles ahead of their competition. Businesses that used the recent challenges to create new connections and ease of engagement for their customers have accelerated their success for years to come. They have future-proofed their businesses. When the normal way of doing business is interrupted, those who adapt quickly will realize success, leaving everyone else struggling to catch up. What are the opportunities of a crisis in business and how do we capture them? How can business owners position themselves for success, not stagnancy? In this episode, I’m joined by business coach, speaker, author and entrepreneur, Patti Mara. She shares her greatest insights from the last year, and why we should never waste a crisis. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The key thing that determines success in a crisis One of the most fatal mistakes companies made in 2020 was choosing to hunker down to just get through it, and waiting for the crisis to inevitably blow over. Every crisis interrupts our daily patterns, which gives us a wealth of information about what’s working and what’s not. By digging into this information, we can find the insights that help us get better going forward. How to win at the game of business Most independently-owned businesses play the wrong game, they focus on what they’re selling instead of the value and relationships that drive their growth. Our goal should be to understand our customers so well that we can speak to their pain points and create value by coming up with specific solutions. Why business metrics need our constant attention As businesses evolve and mature, metrics need to be the driving force of future decisions and growth. Every business needs to have a dashboard of the top 5 metrics that matter and need regular reviewing. These metrics serve as the barometer of whether we’re on track or not, and we can’t ignore or neglect them. Guest Bio Patti Mara is a business coach, speaker, author, owner of Maranet Inc. and creator of The Profit Generator Program. She has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurial owned and operated businesses to reposition them for success and dramatically increase their growth, customer retention, and profit. Patti also created the Breaking Through Barriers Program, which helps business owners identify and eliminate the bottlenecks that impede growth and success. Patti is a popular speaker to groups from diverse industries, ranging from finance and commercial real estate, to restoration and cleaning, restaurants, and independent pharmacies. She has also been a featured speaker to North American women’s and entrepreneurs’ groups. For more information, visit https://www.pattimara.com for more information. To get Patti’s free resource, training and a copy of her book visit https://www.pattimara.com/freeagent.
Free agents start their business in order to have more control over their lives, and more fulfillment from the work they do - but our ventures also have to be financially rewarding and sustainable. It’s impossible to build something financially stable without systems and procedures that keep the pipeline full. What we’ve learned from the last year is that the state of the economy doesn’t always spell success. When we build a sustainable referral-based business and diversify our income streams, we can always navigate challenging times. What are the most important systems free agents need to be aware of? How do we find the most beneficial and productive networking opportunities? Why is a healthy business pipeline so important? In this episode, I’m joined by entrepreneur, B2C & B2B ad pro and real estate agent, Robert Krieghoff. He shares the most important business lessons he’s learned on his journey and how he has created a diversified and self-sustaining business model. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How to find a productive networking group Networking is about being willing to give. You can’t go into it from the perspective of what you’re going to get out of it. Focus on being a resource for other people and learning from that environment. If you find yourself in a networking community where people are selfish and impatient, you’re in the wrong place. The two things business owners have to focus on to have sustainable results As business owners, we have to spend a lot of time cultivating the business, while also doing the actual work at a high level. If we focus on current business at the expense of our future pipeline, our income will always be unstable. It’s really important to have systems and people in place to help us manage both sides of this equation. Why pivoting can be dangerous There’s a difference between making a pivot and getting away from our purpose, and the things our clients hire us for. Sometimes, when we pivot, we actually end up eliminating the things that drive our results and make us different from everyone else. It’s also a common mistake to veer away from our purpose by working with the wrong clients. Business isn’t just about adapting, it’s also about staying true to ourselves. Guest Bio Robert Krieghoff is an entrepreneur, B2C & B2B Ad Pro and Real Estate agent. He is a 27-year veteran of the media industry who has achieved success as an Account Executive, Sales Manager and independent consultant in Madison and Milwaukee. His areas of expertise are account management, digital sales, and statewide campaign strategies. Robert uses proven solutions for local business owners looking to get more out of their English and Spanish advertising. For more information on Robert and Amy Krieghoff’s real estate business visit https://amykrieghoff.firstweber.com and email rkrieghoff@firstweber.com.
Leveraging LinkedIn is a blend of business invigoration and authentic connection; it’s a critical piece of putting our best professional selves forward and establishing relationships. Simply put - in today’s world, establishing a personal brand and showing up online in a powerful, consistent and impactful way is must! Jobs, company roles, projects and businesses may end, but our personal brands carry on. They are living, breathing things that constantly need tending. The first impression, when someone seeks us out online, is solely dependent on how we brand ourselves. LinkedIn isn’t just a place to list our qualifications and work experience, it’s a platform for us to showcase our value and set ourselves apart. Instead of selling ourselves, we have to show how we can serve. What makes a LinkedIn profile stand out? How do we make our profiles more reflective of the unique things that make us who we are? In this episode, I’m joined by brand builder and LinkedIn specialist, Andrea Enright. She shares how we can create LinkedIn profiles that make people want to connect with us. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How to create an impactful and relevant LinkedIn profile Our LinkedIn should be treated as a living representation of our free agency journey. It should always be a reflection of what we’re doing professionally. Train your mind to recognize the things you can share on LinkedIn to make yourself more relevant on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. How to leverage your LinkedIn profile In your LinkedIn profile, it’s okay to throw in small tidbits of information that reveal your personality. Leverage all the real estate that LinkedIn provides to share what makes you interesting. Creating consistency across all our social media channels Know yourself and know your messaging. If you are going to have a presence on multiple social media platforms, create a uniform presence and branding. That way you ensure that even if the audience is different, you have consistency and continuity. Guest Bio Andrea is a brand builder and messaging strategist, LinkedIn expert, storyteller, boot-wearer and founder and owner of The Boot Factor. She partners with entrepreneurs, coaches and creatives to help their brand sing and generate a little thing called leads. For more information, visit https://www.thebootfactor.com and call (303) 746-1503.
So many Corporate Warriors grew up in the system to believe that working a job is a straight line to retirement, and that their singular value is determined by the role that they assume within the corporate structure. Through free agency, we can expand beyond how a 9 to 5 defines us, without being confined. We’re all multi-dimensional human beings, and being able to transition our skills is key to success outside of the corporate world. As a free agent, you can exert freedom on your life by leveraging your unique capabilities and skills. How do we invest our lives in work we’re passionate about? Where can we find more opportunities to expand our skills? In this episode, career development and career transition expert, Howard Fox shares his own journey to free agency and how to align our work with our passion. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The truth about the corporate world While there are companies that care about their people, ultimately they will always take care of the business first. When things get tough, those same companies will have to manage their expenses and when that happens, jobs will always be on the line. Why we should look beyond the roles our corporate jobs set for us In corporate, our value and our usefulness is often limited to one role and one silo. This puts us into a trap of thinking that our skills are only useful in one company and in one job position. Our skills are actually extremely valuable and transferable into other companies, businesses and even free agency. How to find where we have the most value The hardest thing as an entrepreneur is figuring out how to monetize what we have to offer. We have to learn to represent and advocate for ourselves so we can uncover our value, build our confidence and zone in on the most monetizable opportunities for us. Guest Bio Howard Fox is a Career Development and Career Transition Coach, LinkedIn strategist and host of The Success InSight Podcast. He is a self-proclaimed recovering IT Business Consultant, and for the last 13 years, he has pursued a career in coaching and leadership development. Howard currently delivers one-on-one career development & transition services, facilitates classes, including Strategic Career Management, Personal Branding, Resumes, Networking, Interviewing, and LinkedIn, for a Fortune 500 company’s onsite, Las Vegas Career Development Center. For more information, and to connect with Howard visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/foxcoachinginc.
Franchises are extremely powerful financial engines. When built properly, franchised salon systems are a potent business model leveraging community, industry training and support. Becoming part of a franchise is a path many investors choose for diversification, to enhance financial freedom. But for some entrepreneurs, becoming The Franchisor is an opportunity to leverage past business success to create something that aligns with a future vision: systematic financial reward for all, in any economic or pandemic climate. Here we learn how to build an invincible system for stylists to invest in themselves, to grow a stable income, get advanced training, all with proven leadership, and to support qualified free agents to thrive and grow beyond their wildest expectations. Listen in! My guests today are brothers who took a hard look at their struggling car dealerships to then pivot and build a franchise system of salon suites. They jumped into this business at the height of the recession and now they have built a thriving empire. What is the story of Image Studios, and what makes this franchise such a great model? How do they build value in their franchise, deliver exceptional initial and ongoing support, and help their franchisees build stable businesses? In this episode, Shaun and Jason Olsen share their free agency journey and what they have learned about building super successful franchise business owners. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The power of the franchisor path Becoming a franchisor is one of the best ways to grow our vision and also bring people along on the journey. We can create a community of people moving in the same direction as us, and we can help them get to the next level and provide them with not just business support, but emotional support too. How to provide value in a beauty suite franchise system In the beauty industry, people don’t just need technical skills training, they also need ongoing training on new techniques and skills to help them build and grow a business. The problem in the beauty industry is that most education is skills based. As a franchisor in the industry, we need to provide business and technical training to help solve our clients changing expectations. Why we need to lean into fear It’s natural to feel fearful about starting a business and going out on our own. Instead of letting it stop us, we can use fear as leverage to guide us. There are two kinds of fear - the fear of taking a leap into free agency and the fear of staying in the same place and not achieving anything. If we lean into the fear that comes with going after what we want, we won’t live with regret. Guest Bio Shaun is the Vice President/Co-Founder of Image Studios. In 2004, Shaun joined Corey and Jason Olsen, as co-owner and Purchasing Director for Prestman Auto, and now serves as company president. Through their success at Prestman Auto, and their mutual desire to create and innovate, Jason and Shaun developed their salon suite concept, Image Studios 360. Image Studios 360 has grown from five corporate locations to 50+ franchised units nationwide. As Vice President, Shaun drives company image and culture as he partners with the leadership team on onboarding support and resources for franchisees. Shaun Olsen is a member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and has been recognized for his work with Prestman by the INC 5000 “Fastest Growing Companies in America” two years running, as well as the top 100 growing companies in Utah by the Mountain West Capital Network. Jason is the President and Co-Founder of Image Studios. He started his first business at the age of 16, launching a specialty automotive parts and accessories website under the name www.street-looks.com. As the company grew he began selling products all over the world, eventually importing and private labeling his own line of automotive lighting under the name “VisualFX”. He sold the company seven years later in 2004 and made the move from his hometown in Atlanta, GA to Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2009, he and his brother Shaun put their heads together to create an upscale salon suite business model, and in June 2010 IMAGE Studios® was born. Today they oversee the growth and expansion of the brand across the country with plans to open 300 locations nationwide by 2023 – eventually, they’ll take the company into international markets that are ready for the IMAGE business model. For more information visit https://imagestudios360.com
Building a high-performance business requires a leader who has the desire to build something bigger, and discipline to consistently follow through with the actions that matter. Business owners can learn a lot from athletes who have the mindset and dedication to get better at their game every single day. Even though they are superstars, they still commit to practicing their craft and hold themselves accountable to the team's greater goal. Why are athletic-minded business owners more primed for success? What are some of the most important things we need to do as free agents to build a business that survives and thrives? In this episode, I’m joined by Focal Point business coach, Kristin Carlson. She shares what athletes can teach us about business, and how to build with freedom in mind. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The true meaning of work-life balance When we think about having more balance between our lives and our businesses, we often think of it in terms of time, but it’s also about our ability to be present in every area of our lives. We have to be present when we’re with our families, and also present when we’re with our clients. When we have ownership of our schedule, we can protect the things that matter. Why we have to transition from working in to working on the business If we want to run a business that gives us freedom, we can’t spend all of our time working in the business and being the technician. We have to work ourselves out of the day-to-day so we can work on the strategy and get some time back in our lives. If we become too entrenched in the day-to-day, we make it harder for our business to scale. Why free agency is so different from corporate In the world of business ownership and franchises, we have a strong support system and a network of people who want us to succeed. This is very different from the corporate world which tends to have a less collaborative culture. Guest Bio Kristin Carlson is a Focal Point Business and Leadership coach, corporate trainer, and National Speaker. Kristin coaches business owners and executives to elevate their game. FocalPoint believes any company can dramatically improve the quality of their business results faster than they ever imagined possible - that it's simply a matter of choice and commitment. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-carlson, email Kcarlson@focalpointcoaching.com or call (262) 955-4861.
In corporate America, people are often forced to fit into a toxic work environment and culture, and this makes their daily experience difficult and uninspiring. As free agents, we can take that bad experience, and use it to inspire us to create a business and culture where people are happy to come to work every single day. As business owners, we don’t just have financial responsibility. We are the glue that holds the team together, and we get to determine what experience and culture our employees enjoy. How can we create a job environment that enhances lives? What is the biggest misconception people have about the world of franchising? How does the idea of corporate job security hold people back from great opportunities? In this episode, I’m joined by LinkedIn expert and CEO of PIMedia, Debbie Harris. She shares her perspective on business ownership, franchising, and company culture. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The power of being part of a franchise Starting your own business can really feel like you’re going it alone, but being part of a franchise gives you a community. You have the support and success formula to achieve the same results. The franchise leaders with more experience are great mentors because they’ve navigated challenging times and succeeded through them. Why we need to care about leadership Free agency and running your own business isn’t just about having control, it’s about getting to lead. We’re not just responsible for the livelihoods of people, we’re also responsible for creating a good work experience and nurturing a culture and work environment they can thrive in. The biggest misconception about leaving corporate Many people don’t want to leave corporate America because they don’t want to lose the benefits of a traditional 9-5 job, but this is a misconception perpetuated by big companies. There are many options outside of a corporate benefits package for business owners, we just have to learn more about it and find what fits us. Guest Bio Debbie Harris is a digital marketing and LinkedIn expert, CEO, and founder of PIMedia, and a Regional Connector and National Trainer at Trustegrity. PIMedia is a leading social media and digital marketing firm that specializes in assisting clients with their online presence. The company works to bolster clients’ business potential through the effective use of the most relevant digital channels available today. For more information, visit https://pimedia.me, https://www.linkedin.com/in/fordebbielee, email debbie@pimedia.me or call (702) 465-4082.
Having a network of advisors is one of the most powerful ways we can confidently navigate free agency, especially for new entrepreneurs. There’s so much value in having an infrastructure of support around you. If we want to build a business that will give us freedom we need a solid foundation, utilizing good advice from the right people. What many people discover in their free agency journey is the power of human capital, and why it’s just as critical as financial capital. What are the benefits free agents get from maturing their network and tapping into the wisdom and experience of other people? How can we communicate effectively with advisors and investors? In this episode, I’m joined by entrepreneur, business advisor, CEO of Blackthorne Capital Management, and my husband Peter J. Layton. He talks about his career, and the most important lessons he’s learned along the way. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode What it takes to be a successful investor One of the biggest challenges investors face is investing in an industry or niche we don’t have experience in. In that case, it’s important for that venture to have a lead investor. Go into the venture with someone who knows that sector well and brings in cash because they understand and believe in the idea. The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make Entrepreneurs shoot themselves in the foot by not keeping their investors up to speed with what’s going on. A good board will demand good reporting, governance and transparency into what’s going on. It’s hard to get additional funding or support if you don’t maintain clear channels of communication. How to find support, advice and resources as a free agent New entrepreneurs often feel like they have no support. The truth is, if we have good ideas, integrity, transparency, a strong work ethic and a willingness to pay that help forward, many people will gladly step forward to help. Guest Bio Peter J Layton is an entrepreneur, business advisor, commodity trading advisor, venture and angel capital investor, and the CEO of Blackthorne Capital Management and a managing member at Warhawk Fund. He is an expert on Big Data, Alternative Investments, and Liquid Managed Macro Futures. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjlayton. To learn more about Enactus visit https://enactus.org.
When we make the transition to Free Agent, we take on the added responsibility of leadership. Driving the business forward and making sure it thrives rests squarely on our shoulders. Every outcome, both positive and negative, can be attributed to our decisions and actions. If we don’t understand our responsibility as leaders, the culture we want will never take hold, and ultimately our businesses will fail. It’s our job to keep our eyes fixed on our long-term vision so that we can stay on our mission and achieve continued success. My guest today is a successful leader and free agent who credits his business leadership to his time in the military. What are the most important lessons and systems he learned from the military, and how is he applying them to his business? How do we build and promote a positive culture and work environment? In this episode, owner of AdvantaClean of Suburban Milwaukee, Barry Hintz shares his important insights on business and how he executes on his vision. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode What Barry learned about leadership from the military In the military, systems are documented and drilled into everyone on the team to ensure the success of the mission. This ensures that even the weakest link on the team is able to carry the mission forward. Even though business is a different field, we also need to have our systems and processes documented so that everyone is trained to execute at the highest level. How to make our team culture a reality Talking about our culture is one thing, but making it a reality in our business is vitally important. Until your culture is drummed in at the employee level and everyone on your team has bought into it, it’s hard to keep any promise we make to our clients and truly deliver on it. Where our focus needs to be as leaders As a leader, our job is to set the vision, steer the culture, and ensure the long term viability of the business. At some point, our job comes down to running and leading the business. That means hiring people who excel at what they do, and getting out of their way so they can execute at a high level. Guest Bio Barry Hintz is an entrepreneur, veteran, and the owner of AdvantaClean of Suburban Milwaukee. AdvantaClean of Suburban Milwaukee is an independently owned and operated business that provides essential indoor air quality services to residential and commercial customers. They offer professional services that include 24/7 emergency water removal and drying, mold inspection and removal, air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, environmental air sampling, and other related services. The commitment to Barry’s customers is to provide honest, meaningful service at a fair & reasonable price. For more information visit https://www.advantaclean.com/milwaukee-wi or call (414) 312-5999.
People take the leap into free agency because they love what they do, but often misunderstand the key numbers driving business. Leveraging the data and key performance indicators enables us to continue doing work we’re passionate about in a financially sustainable way. Small business owners can struggle with details like financial data and struggle to formulate a plan to direct their operations. If there was only one thing small businesses could learn from corporate, it’s how they make use of financials to help a company expand its capabilities. Knowing more about the finances and operational measures in our businesses is one of the most empowering things we can do, and today I’m joined by a free agent who has made this his life’s work. How is accounting different to corporate finance? What should every business owner ask themselves when it comes to financials? How do we set ourselves apart in a crowded market? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Data Magician, Finance Confidence Coach and Chief Data Analyst at Data2Profit, Lynn Corazzi. We discuss his free agency journey and why the work he does with small businesses is so vital to their success. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How to find your value as a free agent When we do the work of branding ourselves and go from a generalist to a specialist, we increase our chances of successfully monetizing our expertise. If we brand ourselves around something specific, simplify our messaging and distill our value down to where we are most effective, that’s how we serve at the highest level. Why we can’t just focus on the areas we love in our businesses Many small business owners and free agents struggle to find balance between what they love to do, and the things they need to do to keep the business on its feet. When we focus on only what we love, we can risk missing key elements that keep our businesses healthy and growing. The biggest benefit to running your own business One of the greatest benefits of running our own business and not being beholden to a corporate job is the freedom we have to step away from work, and have a better balance between our work and our lives. We have the gift of time to nurture our souls and recharge our batteries. When we have space to clear our heads, that is when the ideas start to flow. Guest Bio Lynn Corazzi is a Finance Confidence Coach, Data Magician, Creator of Sales & Profit Insights and Chief Data Analyst at Data2Profit. For businesses that are drowning data but lacking new information to improve results, Lynn creates insights, solutions, and strategies that make a business more money and leaders more confident. As if by magic, a messy, unstructured data transforms into facts you didn't know about sales and profit. For more information visit https://data2profit.net, send an email to lcorazzi@data2profit.net or call/text (920) 948-3355.
The people who leave corporate and become free agents understand they have power. Instead of having a corporation dictate what they can or cannot do, they choose to be the owners of their own destiny. When you’re confident and self-assured, you can lead yourself towards the right opportunities, the best mentorship, and ultimately, the achievement of your goals. If you tap into your own confident leadership, you have the power to build a business you love and the life you want. What are the habits of confident leaders? Who do we need to surround ourselves with if we want to achieve our goals? In this episode, I’m joined by speaker, wealth advisor and strategist, Chad Coe. He talks about his path, becoming a confident leader, and why perseverance is at the core of his success. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode What drove Chad out of corporate A major catalyst for the move into business ownership is the shallow and controlling nature of corporate America, and how it treats people as disposable. As the CEO of your own company, you’re not at the mercy of a corporation and how it treats its employees. You are the owner of your own universe, and you get to set the standard for how you’ll be treated. Why we need to surround ourselves with the right people The right kind of mentorship rewards us and drives us to be better. Don’t align with just anybody. We have to find people who push us to get out of our heads and into action. When we have the right people around us, it gives us the confidence to go after what we want. The power of deep perseverance A big part of having an entrepreneurial mindset is perseverance and the willingness to keep trying new things. Every venture we pursue becomes the stepping stone for a bigger opportunity. There will always be setbacks, but if we’re persistent and stay focused on our goals, our hard work will pay off. Guest Bio Chad Coe is a business owner, speaker, wealth advisor, strategist, and author of The Confident Leader. His unique ability to align people with their goals in the peer-to-peer setting, challenge each other, and create their own success has earned him the moniker of “The Mastermind.” When it comes to strong, decisive, and empathic leadership, nobody lives it, teaches it, and develops it like Chad a real difference maker! For more information visit https://www.coefinancial.com, connect with Chad on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadcoe, and call (847) 282-3170.
Going from being a highly successful and accomplished corporate executive to a free agent isn’t just a career change, it’s a complete mindset shift. It’s about shedding the corporate identity, seeing past the success traps of a 9 to 5, and knowing that there’s something more fulfilling on the other side. In order to successfully exit that 9 to 5 life, we have to redefine ambition so that it’s on our terms. The great thing about being in business for yourself is that you’re truly independent and able to make your own decisions and create your own path to success. You get to do what you love, make a real impact, and fulfill your purpose. Why do we need to transition out of a corporate identity? What plans can we put in motion to get us out of the corporate world and into free agency? In this episode, entrepreneur, author, business coach, and host of Ambition, Honey & Hustle, Candace Spears talks about her journey from corporate and the navigational changes she’s made along the way. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The 9 to 5 trap and how we can escape it Very often, when we work in corporate, we become attached to our corporate identity and our ego, and the success traps that come with working for a big company. It’s important that we connect with our own identity and separate who we are from that corporate identity. Why coaching is important to our business ownership journey There are so many aspects of free agency that are hard to navigate on our own, and if we don’t get help, we can start feeling like we’re drowning. That’s where coaching and mentorship come in. Coaching accelerates our knowledge and builds up our confidence because we have the guidance of people who have been where we are. How to deal with the negativity of naysayers and saboteurs Sometimes the people who are closest to us can also be the biggest saboteurs to our free agency and business ownership dreams. Candace surrounded herself with people who understood her, supported her, and people who were models for success. By shutting out the naysayers, her dreams never got derailed. Guest Bio Candace is an entrepreneur, author, life and business coach, marketer, investor and host of Ambition, Honey & Hustle, and founder of Spears Sparrow Collective. Candace specializes in helping women become legendary by removing corporate shackles, reframing mindsets, magnifying confidence, and unleashing hidden potential onto the world through service-based entrepreneurship. For more information, visit https://www.candacespears.com, follow @candacespears. To sign up for Candace’s free training, go to thrivein90days.com
So many people have the potential to be free agents, but they never take the leap because it feels intimidating and overwhelming. That’s because we think of making that change as a reinvention, instead of seeing it as a continuation of self-discovery, and another evolution of our individuality. There are ways to explore free agency and explore our potential in other areas so that we’re prepared to make the leap. We live in a world with so many opportunities to combine our skills and our passions to create our own unique runway to success. What steps do we need to take if we want to grow out of our comfort zones? What resources can we tap into? Why is free agency such a rewarding emotional experience? In this episode, performance-focused speaker, author, and career transition coach, Patricia Leonard shares how to create freedom for ourselves so we can live the life we want. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How our corporate experience benefits us in free agency Many people who are leaving the corporate world worry about whether or not they have skills to start a new venture, and if they can cut it in free agency. The truth is, every skill we gain in the corporate world is transferable and can be applied to our free agency path. One thing that holds women back from free agency We often become so focused on taking care of other people that we put ourselves and our own fulfillment on the back burner. We hold ourselves back because we’re stuck in what we ‘ought’ to be doing. How to take steps towards business ownership Explore free agency one step at a time. Choose your passion or a hobby you want to turn into a business, and start building your client base while you’re employed. Tap into resources like relationships and mentorship so that you gain the confidence and the support to fully make the leap. Guest Bio Patricia is a performance-focused speaker, author, business, life and career transition coach, and president of Runway to Success. She has an extensive background in leadership and talent development, career transition coaching and business restructuring. As a career woman with experience in Corporate America and business ownership her passion is and has always been to be an advocate for women. For more information visit https://patricialeonard.net and https://www.linkedin.com/in/epatricialeonard.
When we make the leap from corporate into free agency, the first big decision we have to make is the kind of business we want to run. The franchise model has always been one of the best business ownership paths because there’s so much support and structure available to us from day one. We get the benefits of buying into a proven model and following a blueprint that has been used successfully by other business owners. Everyone in the franchise is waving the same flag and pulling on the same rope, so we have a bigger chance of success and stability. Why did my guest choose a franchise opportunity in IT? How is he finding balance while still running an essential business? In this episode, technology advisor and the owner of TeamLogic IT, Kirk Gramoll talks about his journey into free agency, and how shifting his operating procedures has impacted his business. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why the franchise model is so attractive to new free agents The support structure of a franchise provides massive opportunity. The existing fabric of other business owners who know the systems is the foundation for our own success. There will always be incredible resources and when business owners in the franchise can share insights, we can benefit. How to maintain team culture in an essential workplace Many businesses that have been deemed essential have adopted a hybrid model of interchangeably working from home and going into the office. This allows for social distancing, while also allowing teams to continue to have culture and cohesion. The power of having a business plan, even when the business grows A solid business plan is important when the business is new, but it becomes even more critical as the business grows, and business owners need to stay focused, and hold themselves accountable. Even when we pivot, we still need a plan to refer to and a direction for where to go next. Guest Bio Kirk is a Technology Advisor for Small and Medium Businesses and the Owner of TeamLogic IT. TeamLogic IT of Milwaukee aims to become their customer's trusted technology advisor. Their location is part of a nationwide network specializing in managed IT, computer services and network solutions. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkgramoll or call (262) 834-6207.
Free agency is a powerful vehicle for freedom and an opportunity to be more instrumental in the customer’s happiness and satisfaction than we could ever be as corporate workers. In this journey, there are two paths we can take, independent business ownership or owning a franchise. Many people gravitate to the franchise model because it’s so much more collaborative. We have the support of other businesses who have gone through the same pain points, and we can also help other franchise owners build from our own experiences. My guest today is the epitome of the powerful choice to move into free agency. Why did he choose to own a franchise in the flooring industry, and how has the pandemic impacted it? How has business ownership impacted his family? What are the biggest lessons and best practices he’s implemented along the way? In this episode, owner of Floor Coverings International, Dave Paeske talks about his journey and how he’s cultivating loyal customers right from the first Google search. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why the franchise model was more attractive than going independent Franchises allow us to have more support and collaboration. We go through things other people have gone through in the business, which gives us the solutions we need. Having the support of other business owners, and also being able to help other franchise owners is infinitely rewarding. How to use Google reviews to cultivate loyal customers One of the ways we can get loyal clients is to move from general internet leads to getting business from people searching for us specifically. Building up our Google reviews is how we can start getting clients who purposely sought out our services. The benefits of being closer to the client experience In corporate, we’re so far removed from the customer’s experience. In free agency, we get to see and impact the customer’s journey. The way the client is treated in a large company is often out of our hands, while in free agency, we have the power to directly affect the customer’s entire purchasing journey. Guest Bio Dave is owner and designer at Floor Coverings International. Floor Coverings International offers an unmatched selection of flooring products including carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile and vinyl, as well as specialty products including cork, bamboo and slate. Our expert Design Associates perform free in-home consultations, visiting customers’ homes in a Mobile Showroom with thousands of flooring choices to assist them in choosing the perfect flooring solution. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpaeske or get in touch with us directly at (262) 424-0768.
Career transition and reinvention are no longer a rare path, they are the new normal. A confluence of factors in our world has led to career displacement or a change in what work means to us. Whether it’s the lack of job security in corporate, getting older and wanting to leave an unfulfilling job, or external factors like the pandemic, many people are choosing the path of free agency. It allows them to take control of their lives and maximize their full potential. This is especially true for seasoned professionals who want a more meaningful job in the second or third part of their careers. Their work and life experience make them perfect candidates for a new career direction. Why is this moment in history creating a massive push for career reinvention? How do we hone in on where we can be most valuable in a new career? In this episode, I’m joined by career transition coach, author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50, and speaker John Tarnoff. He talks about the factors and forces driving the career transition trend. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why people over 50 make great candidates for career pivots As we get older, we tend to pivot from a focus on material wealth to a focus on meaning, purpose, and spirituality. This meaning and purpose can be applied to our profession and the work that we do. By going into a second career that’s aligned with a value proposition, we can get more fulfillment. How to set yourself apart in the job market Instead of trying to apply for every single job available, come up with a value proposition that aligns you with a specific profession. If you get clear on the value you provide and have a really clear sense of the impact you can make in your work, you’re going to find jobs that align with that. That way, you’re not doing their work for them, you’re doing your work for them. The importance of closing open mental loops The things that have been on your to-do list for years occupy valuable space in your head and in your psyche. They create subtle anxiety and interfere with your ability to move forward. In order to be more efficient and more valuable in your career pivot, you have to clear out those open loops. Guest Bio John Tarnoff is a Breakthrough Executive & Career Transition Coach, Strategist for Professionals across Mid, Late, & Second-Act Careers, Keynote Speaker and Best-selling Author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50. John provides career counseling for baby Boomers and late-career professionals looking to defy ageism, work beyond retirement, and pivot to a new job or new business as a second act or encore career. For more information and to find out about John’s coaching visit https://www.johntarnoff.com.
The volatility and uncertainty of 2020 has made insurance a bigger deal than ever before. In this environment, commercial insurance agents have become trusted advisors who help free agents operate in a turbulent and fast-changing world. Not only are business owners contending with the insurance needed to keep their businesses going. They are also dealing with new coverage demands and the constant need to evaluate their systems to make sure they’re compliant, accurate and consistent. How has the pandemic impacted businesses and their insurance? What are the biggest concerns of business owners right now? What areas of insurance should we be paying attention to? In this episode, Commercial Insurance Advisor and Vice President at Associated Agencies, Julie Silverman talks about how the business insurance world is responding to the pandemic. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How insurance is helping business owners retain their valued employees One of the biggest challenges business owners are facing is being able to keep key employees onboard, and affording to pay them in some capacity to show that we value them. Key person insurance and other protections, benefits and bonuses have become a lifeline for free agents. The impact of growth on insurance While some businesses have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, many other companies are seeing an explosion of growth and demand in their services. Because they are busier than ever before, business owners are struggling to keep up with the new insurance coverage needs of operating a business in these uncertain times. Why entrepreneurs are so necessary right now This is not a bad time to get into business, and it’s not predatory to want to get into business. Many areas have a demand for businesses who can become lifelines and trusted advisors to help them navigate these times. There’s still a need for business leaders who can step in and do their part to help their communities. Guest Bio Julie Silverman is a Commercial Insurance Advisor and Vice President at Associated Agencies, Inc. She is a Strategic Advisor in helping organizations and individuals with their primary goals and initiatives. Associated is a full service brokerage firm that assists individuals and businesses with their Insurance & Risk Mitigation, Compliance, Cyber Security, WC, EPLI, Creative Employee Benefit Programs and all individual insurance needs. Associated’s longevity in the business (over 130 years) allows them to draw upon years of experience, and unparalleled expertise. They service clients nationwide as well as globally, which allows them to create innovative solutions to all clients' risk management needs that will in turn drive down costs and maximize compliance. To get in touch with Julie, send an email to jsilverman@associated.cc.
The reality of free agency is that our businesses are something we can never fully disconnect from. This is rewarding but also stressful and emotionally taxing. When we have so much responsibility and so much is required from us, the business can take over our entire lives. There are pieces we need to put in place to make sure we’re not carrying more than we can manage. We need to make sure that our personal relationships and emotional health don’t suffer at the expense of our businesses. A brand makes marketing easier, clear priorities and boundaries keep us healthy, and strategic relationships give us support and resources. Where do we start when it comes to building a brand? How do we strike a work-life balance from the get-go? How can we forge relationships in a socially distanced world? In the second part of my interview with business coach and strategist Ethan Chazin, he shares the things we need to prioritize as business owners, and some of the challenges entrepreneurs are facing today. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How to practice conscious prioritization in our business Even though we’re with our businesses all the time, we can’t focus on it to the detriment of our personal lives and primary relationships. It’s self-damaging and also does a disservice to our families. Prioritize your family and build the business around them. The power of building a brand based on your Big Why What sets us apart in business ownership is our brand. It’s the thing that makes us remarkable, memorable and pushes people to want to work with and for us. Our brand is built on the foundation of our big why and personal values, and this instantly becomes the culture that underpins everything we do. Why relationships matter in business It’s easy to focus on the things that make us money, but cultivating relationships is just as important and valuable to the business as marketing. Whether we’re looking for coaching, mentorship, funding, employees and support, we can’t do it without relationships. We have to focus on forging and cultivating relationships because that provides the resources we need. Guest Bio Ethan Chazin is a business, executive and transformation coach, speaker, author and founder and president of The Chazin Group. The Chazin Group delivers executive coaching, business consulting, strategic planning, business coaching to entrepreneurs, start-ups and business owners to plan, launch and grow world-class organizations and achieve top line and bottom line results. Ethan applies his 20 years of experience in Corporate America leading teams through significant transformation, by leveraging employee engagement to unleash people’s untapped potential and provide organizations with lasting competitive advantage. He is passionate About Driving Employee Empowerment to Maximize Profits, Productivity, and Performance. For more information, visit https://thechazingroup.com, email ethan@thechazingroup or phone (917) 239-5571.
Some of the world’s best entrepreneurs became free agents to escape a toxic corporate culture. It’s easy to feel disposable in the corporate machine and become the victim of restructuring, downsizing and other unfavorable cost-cutting measures. Toxic corporate culture has created the platform for people to jump into free agency and experience true impact and fulfillment. By removing the shackles of a corporate overlord, we create our own path to freedom and success on our own terms. Entrepreneurship is anything but smooth sailing, but free agents know that being their own boss beats even the best day in corporate. What should entrepreneurs leaving corporate be aware of? How can we overcome the loneliness that comes with free agency? What are the rewards of running your own business? In this episode, I’m joined by business coach, strategist, speaker and author, Ethan Chazin. He talks about getting downsized 9 times, leaving the corporate meat grinder and why he wanted to be a free agent. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How corporate culture impacts lives and careers In corporate, many highly skilled individuals find themselves at the mercy of a culture that deems them disposable. Marketing is never seen as critically important so it easily gets restructured, downsized or cut meaning there’s never any job security. We can experience freedom by taking those valuable skills into free agency. Why a support network is critical to our success Solo practitioners often feel overwhelmed by their own inner state. If we don’t have people to provide support, it can feel lonely in our business, and we start to operate with blinders on. We need to create a strong support network around us and have people in our lives who can be strategic voices, champions and advocates. Key attributes that prepare you for entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is an emotionally and mentally demanding pursuit. In order to make it through the challenges, we need to have thick skin, a sense of humor, a tenacious approach to going forward, brutal self-honesty, maturity, and an ability to identify our blind spots. Guest Bio Ethan Chazin is a business, executive and transformation coach, speaker, author and founder and president of The Chazin Group. The Chazin Group delivers executive coaching, business consulting, strategic planning, business coaching to entrepreneurs, start-ups and business owners to plan, launch and grow world-class organizations and achieve top line and bottom line results. Ethan applies his 20 years of experience in Corporate America leading teams through significant transformation, by leveraging employee engagement to unleash people’s untapped potential and provide organizations with lasting competitive advantage. He is passionate About Driving Employee Empowerment to Maximize Profits, Productivity, and Performance. For more information, visit https://thechazingroup.com/, email ethan@thechazingroup or phone (917) 239-5571.
The pandemic has affected businesses across the country in different ways that are unique to each industry and locale. For companies that go beyond the call of a 9 to 5 business, the pandemic created more intensity and complexities to operate under. Since health services are essential in the pandemic, the day-to-day operations have had to shift. Leaders have had to focus on keeping things running efficiently, protecting the people they serve, and making sure the business survives and even thrives. ComForcare Senior Services is one of these essential businesses that have made quick changes during the pandemic. The business owners have successfully adjusted to the new normal while also thinking of business beyond the pandemic. What has the ComForcare Senior Services team done differently in order to survive, and to thrive through the pandemic? What does business ownership offer that working in corporate doesn’t? In this episode, Dave Morbeck shares the rewards of free agency business ownership, how the pandemic has impacted his companies and how they are responding to it. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why being a free agent is more rewarding than corporate In corporate, we’re just cogs in a wheel, and we don’t usually see the end result of our work or the direct outcome of our efforts. In your own business, you get to feel the reward of seeing the direct results of your daily effort while also enjoying the impact that your business makes. The importance of focusing on our own well being in a demanding businessOne of the biggest challenges of running a 24-hour health business is finding or carving out the time to rest and re-energize as the business owner. As much as we care about the wellbeing of the people we serve, we also have to prioritize our own health. Continuous improvement vs. perfection Our goal as business owners shouldn’t be to aim for perfection but rather to strive for continuous improvement. Seeking perfection is an unattainable goal, but if we work hard to get better every single day, we will see better outcomes. Guest Bio Dave Morbeck is the President/Owner at ComForcare Senior Services and owner of Just like Home Adult Day Center. After leaving a 20 year corporate career, Dave and his wife got into the franchise business. ComForcare provides in-home non-medical services for Seniors and Pregnant Women who need assistance. In addition to their franchise, they opened an adult day center. For more information on the home care service visit https://www.comforcare.com/wisconsin/west-bend or call 262.674.1515. To learn more about the Adult Day Center visit https://justlikehomeadultdaycenter.com or call 262.423.4411.
Covid-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives, and businesses have had to adjust to new market and customer demands. While some industries came to a halt because of the pandemic, others have seen an explosion in demand. The Antimicrobial Protection space has gone from being relatively unknown to one of the most necessary services in a covid-19 world. A fast ramp up of business in a pandemic brings its own unique set of challenges, including more competition, operational volumes and procedures. How can we set ourselves apart in a high-demand industry that has a lot of noise and competitors? When so many of our competitors only care about the short-term gain, what do we need to focus on if we’re in it for the long haul? In this episode, entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, and president of GreenUp Solutions, Andy Weins shared how the pandemic impacted his new business, and how he’s ensuring the longevity of his company. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How to create sustainable business solutions Sustainable business solutions need to be economically viable, socially desirable and environmentally sound. It’s about taking a scientific approach, and using it to fulfil the needs of the consumer while making it economically viable as a commercial product. Why investing in people in important Following a process leads to success, but we can’t leave our employees out of it. An engaged workforce is the key to making sure a process actually works. We need to invest in people and training as much as we invest in the process itself. The importance of having the right expectations when we expand The profitability we’ll have with one site isn’t always repeatable across the board to all our franchise locations. Even if we follow the exact same path and use the same systems, our locations won’t have the same results. Each location and area has its own variables, which need to be considered. Guest Bio Andy Weins is an entrepreneur, leader, soldier, TEDx Speaker, and president of GreenUp Solutions. GreenUp Solutions focuses on advanced Long-term Antimicrobial Protection for Work and Living Spaces. Their guiding principles are cultural leadership, environmental impact, and organizational efficiency. For more information visit https://www.greenupsolutions.org and connect with Andy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyweins.
2020 has been a challenging time for entrepreneurs, but business is far from dead. Even though we’ve had to adapt to the virtual space and struggled with a sense of isolation from our business support structure - many businesses are thriving, seeing significant growth and an increase in their effectiveness. My goal is to help people transition into business ownership and navigate this new world. I want to provide support so you can make the leap to franchise ownership and land on your feet. Now more than ever, business owners need a space that can inspire and encourage them. This podcast is that space. How is Zoom creating more freedom for business owners, and how can we create a community of ongoing support for businesses operating in a socially distanced world? In part 2 of my conversation with author, speaker and entrepreneur, Tamara Burkett, we discuss pivoting our businesses during a pandemic. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How franchising puts us in control of our destiny We have the power to generate our own income instead of being at the mercy of a boss or company. We can set our own financial goals and adapt our operations and activities to meet them. Despite the economic outlook, we are empowered by our own abilities to control what we earn. How to maintain a sense of ‘virtual community’ Building a community and having a support system is so important in the entrepreneurial journey. The pandemic has made it harder to tap into that community and have the support we need to continue to expand our businesses. Business owners have pivoted to using virtual platforms to grow and nurture their communities. The surprising impact of the pandemic on business Even in the midst of a pandemic, business owners are still finding success and supporting their communities. While the media may paint a grim picture, there are business owners who are currently thriving. Sharing our stories is important because it can inspire people to re-engage with entrepreneurship and make better decisions for their future. Guest Bio Tamara Burkett is a CRM consultant, virtual meeting facilitator, author, speaker and entrepreneur. She fully believes in the power of personal connection to motivate, inspire, and educate. She helps companies squeeze every penny of profitability and service out of their current CRM. Her services include CRM selection, customization, CRM strategy, training, coaching, virtual training and logistics & social selling training. Tamara Burkett knows that authentic relationships are the lifeblood of a thriving business. She also understands that nurturing those relationships in a meaningful way requires both a personal touch and the proper technology. Through her consulting and training company, Tamara helps entrepreneurs and small business owners identify and onboard the system best suited to help them scale their business. Using the results of her signature 5-point personalized assessment Tamara's clients are able to quickly automate their backend systems and start working on what matters. For more information, visit https://www.tamaraburkett.com or go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraburkett1
Taking the leap from corporate America to business ownership is an incredible journey that changed my life. Successfully making that transition isn’t as simple as changing where we work, it’s about actually changing who we are, and transforming from the traditional corporate persona to a mindset of business ownership. We have to shed some of the habits we picked up in the corporate world, so we can create thriving working environments and nurture good working relationships. This can be a challenging shift to make but in my own experience and through my clients, I know it’s possible with the right support. That’s why I created this podcast. I wanted to create a space of inspiration and encouragement with stories from real business owners who have found freedom through franchising. In our first episode, I’m joined by Tamara Burkett, an entrepreneur and consultant I’ve had the joy of partnering with in my own business. We discuss our own unique journeys to business ownership, and why there’s so much power in sharing our stories. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode The value of our life experiences in business Social media and podcasting give us the opportunity to share lessons from our unique journeys and life experiences. People are searching for a story to inspire them to chase their own dreams. Our unique stories and experiences make our marketing more compelling, engaging and honest. How a corporate mindset can hurt our business If we take a corporate mentality into our business endeavors, we risk creating a toxic work environment. We’ll ultimately replicate the same mindset and culture that made us leave corporate in the first place. Why business is the ultimate empowerment vehicle Starting our own franchise business gives us 100% ownership of each day of our lives, which is both empowering and rewarding. It gives us the freedom to create a business that feels authentic to us and a life around the things that are most important to us. Guest Bio Tamara Burkett is a CRM consultant, virtual meeting facilitator, author, speaker and entrepreneur. She fully believes in the power of personal connection to motivate, inspire, and educate. She helps companies squeeze every penny of profitability and service out of their current CRM. Her services include CRM selection, customization, CRM strategy, training, coaching, virtual training and logistics & social selling training. Tamara Burkett knows that authentic relationships are the lifeblood of a thriving business. She also understands that nurturing those relationships in a meaningful way requires both a personal touch and the proper technology. Through her consulting and training company, Tamara helps entrepreneurs and small business owners identify and onboard the system best suited to help them scale their business. Using the results of her signature 5-point personalized assessment Tamara's clients are able to quickly automate their backend systems and start working on what matters. For more information, visit https://www.tamaraburkett.com or go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraburkett1