Interviews with CEOs and Entrepreneurs about the frameworks they are using to build and scale their businesses.
Episodes
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Kristi Piehl is the Founder & CEO of Media Minefield, a team of trained journalists, storytellers, social, creative, and paid experts who come alongside you to unlock the power and profit of your story. We discuss the problem with modern PR, how to become a social CEO fast, and the best way to tell your story.
Time Stamps
[00:50] Kristi's entrepreneurial journey
[02:42] Problems with PR in today's world
[04:25] Ways to measure and guarantee results in PR
[06:38] Being a social CEO and why it matters
[08:50] Data on why you need to become a social CEO
[10:10] Do's and Don'ts of having a positive online presence
[13:30] Is traditional PR still relevant in the digital age?
[16:07] The ideal way to tell your story
[18:20] How to get the most out of your PR strategy
[20:20] Social media platforms you should consider as a business leader
[23:20] Kristi's 4-day workweek initiative
[27:50] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Check out Media Minefield on TikTok
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Scott Dettman is the CEO of Avenica, an entry-level career-launching company focused on providing a better way to connect high-potential talent to meaningful career roles using data science, psychology, and empathy. We discuss ways to make entry-level hiring more efficient, the death of recruiting, and some controversial thoughts on talent.
Time Stamps
[00:35] Scott's entrepreneurial journey
[03:24] How Scott became a career-launching expert
[07:35] Difference between launching a career and recruiting
[09:44] Why recruiting is not effective in the modern age
[12:50] How to become successful early in your career
[14:50] The Bezos Blueprint and how to apply it
[17:29] Why you must be willing to fail as an entrepreneur
[19:12] Why Scott doesn't believe in talent
[22:45] How to develop your advantages
[24:13] The secret behind great companies
[27:16] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Avenica on Instagram
Check out Avenica on TikTok
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Charles Fry is the Founder & CEO of CODE Éxitos, a product studio that helps entrepreneurs and innovators design, build, and launch digital products. We discuss the foundational aspects of building digital products, how to develop transformational digital products, and ways to successfully become an agile business.
Time Stamps
00:50 Charles' entrepreneurial journey
04:13 Code Exitos and what makes it so unique
05:11 Mindset differences between a bootstrapped company and a VC-backed company
07:33 The unique pressure of running a VC-backed company
09:00 The art of balancing family and entrepreneurship
11:45 Charles' experience with management blueprints
14:35 What it means to be an agile business
17:10 The problem with entrepreneurs being too smart for their own good
19:14 Tips on how to manage ideas
22:35 How to make digital products transformational
26:52 Why you need to eliminate complexity from your products
28:20 Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Connect with Charles via email - Carlos@codeexitos.com
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Brad Ebenhoeh is the CEO and Managing Partner of Accountfully, a bookkeeping and accounting firm that helps businesses grow through smart and tailored financial solutions. We discuss the basics of time marketing, why you need to be friends with your clients, and ways AI is shaping accounting businesses.
Time Stamps
[01:02] Brad's entrepreneurial journey
[04:36] Brad's experience with management blueprints
[06:33] The three tiers of marketing for professional services
[09:25] The referral engine and how to leverage other people's network
[12:25] Benefits of being close friends with your clients
[13:42] How to leverage automation and AI in business
[17:06] Ways to use AI in an accounting business
[20:00] What it's like to run a business as a married couple
[24:00] Why you need to have an aligned business partnership
[25:33] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Check out Accountfully on Instagram
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Sean Boyle is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Momentum 360, a premiere marketing company offering services in 3D virtual tours, photography, and videography. We discuss ways to grow your business using virtual tours, why you need to consistently provide free but actionable content, and how to make your clients feel genuinely appreciated.
Time Stamps
[00:45] Sean's entrepreneurial journey
[03:40] How Sean got into the virtual tours space
[05:22] Why virtual tours are a very nuanced type of business
[07:20] The top 3 software in the virtual tours space
[08:35] Sean's experience with management blueprints
[10:55] How to make your clients feel genuinely appreciated
[13:28] The main concept behind virtual tours
[15:07] How Sean successfully serves clients in multiple locations
[16:39] Why business owners need to invest heavily in sales and marketing
[18:48] Understanding Google authentication of local photos
[21:07] Why you need to consistently provide free but actionable content
[24:17] Intriguing use cases of virtual tours
[26:53] Virtual tours and virtual reality
[28:55] Practical example of a virtual tour
[30:04] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Emma Giles is the Co-Founder & COO of SoWork, a fast-growing startup on a mission to move the world of work from the Earth to the Cloud by building virtual spaces. We discuss the future of virtual work, tips on working remotely across different time zones, and what it's like to work in a virtual office.
Time Stamps
00:42 Emma's transition from neuroscience to entrepreneurship
02:50 How SoWork evolved into a metaverse company
06:15 Emma's experience with management blueprints
09:21 The Working Genius Framework, but with a twist
10:40 The six types of working genius
12:05 How SoWork is changing virtual work as we know it
15:50 What you need to know about the metaverse and the future of work
18:24 Working in the metaverse: what virtual office life looks like
19:58 Things you should know before adopting a virtual office setup
21:50 Type of companies that could thrive in a virtual office
23:57 Technical challenges of building a metaverse-type business
26:53 The target market for metaverse virtual offices
28:56 Tips on working remotely in different time zones
31:11 Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick M. Lencioni
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Dave Beeler is the President of Beeler Construction, a 3rd generation, family-owned commercial general contractor which runs projects across all industries from medical to retail to manufacturing. We discuss characteristics of successful family-owned businesses, how to grow your business using management blueprints, and ways to attract top talent and top clients.
Time Stamps
[01:00] What it takes to build a successful family-owned business
[03:00] How family-owned businesses appoint managers and leaders
[05:21] Dave’s experience with management blueprints
[08:14] Most influential tools from the Pinnacle Operating System
[11:05] The future of Beeler Construction
[16:41] How to eliminate peaks and valleys in your business growth journey
[18:50] Ways to attract and keep high-quality talent
[20:57] Why success in business is built on attracting top talent and top clients
[24:23] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Dave’s Email - Dbeeler@beelerconstruction.com
Beeler Construction on Instagram
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Mark Bealin is the Founder & Principal of SearchLab, a rapidly growing internet marketing agency that helps local businesses grow through search engine optimization, paid search marketing, and website design. We discuss the evolution of SEO, how to drive sales through conference speaking, and ways to get more conference speaking opportunities.
Time Stamps
[00:42] Mark's entrepreneurial journey
[02:40] SearchLab's unique sales framework
[05:22] Proven strategy to drive sales using conferences
[07:55] How Mark gets numerous opportunities to speak at events
[10:54] The growth and evolution of SEO
[15:37] Factors that influence a successful pay-per-click campaign
[17:34] What is a good enough return on ad spend?
[19:31] The types of businesses that work well with SEO
[21:37] Understanding how consumers research and buy products
[24:12] Areas SEO struggles to drive results
[25:08] The misconceptions about how people search online
[27:09] Why and how Mark started his podcast Suds & Search
[29:55] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Mark's LinkedIn
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Aki Balogh is the co-founder and President of MaketMuse and the CEO of DLC.link, a platform that lets users lock their Bitcoin in escrow, supply Bitcoin as collateral, and earn a yield while maintaining full ownership. We discuss ways to leverage your Bitcoin to earn a yield, what a wider crypto adoption means for other currencies, and the basics of Bitcoin smart contracts.
Time Stamps
[00:58] Aki's entrepreneurial journey
[03:07] Why Aki went down the crypto path
[06:30] The current state of the crypto space
[10:28] Do we really need all these cryptocurrencies?
[13:10] Understanding cryptocurrencies with limited supply
[16:45] How a wider adoption of Bitcoin will affect economic policies
[20:16] Why Bitcoin mining is increasingly becoming decentralized
[22:07] How to earn a yield on Bitcoin
[27:10] Understanding the crypto borrowing and lending market
[28:20] All you need to know about smart contracts on Bitcoin
[30:01] Crypto loans and what happens to defaulters
[32:35] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Connect with Aki on Twitter
Aki's LinkedIn
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Ian Schnoor is the Executive Director of the Financial Modeling Institute (FMI) and Founder of The Marquee Group, a leading financial modeling training, consulting, and accreditation provider. We discuss financial modeling essentials, the basics of giving equity to your employees, and effective ways to attract and retain good employees.
Time Stamps
[00:38] Ian’s entrepreneurial journey
[04:18] How Ian turned his teaching practice into a thriving business
[06:30] When Ian decided to hire his first employee
[08:05] Ways to attract and keep exceptional talent
[11:50] Dos and don’ts of giving equity to your employees
[15:23] The true worth of equity in a business
[18:35] Why financial modeling is essential for business success
[20:09] What is a financial model, and why should you care?
[23:38] The goal of a good financial modeler
[26:55] The evolution of practical financial modeling
[29:51] Benefits of learning financial modeling
[33:07] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Steve and Greg Cleary's Book: Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Business to the Top of the Mountain
Work with Steve - Stevepreda.com
Financial Modeling Institute (FMI)