Interviews with CEOs and Entrepreneurs about the frameworks they are using to build and scale their businesses.
Episodes
May 9, 2022
May 9, 2022
37 min
Dave Romero is the President of Unboxed Training and Technology, a company that creates learning experiences and technologies to help businesses embed continuous learning in the workplace. We talk about the Holy Grail of business longevity, how successful entrepreneurs eliminate complexity from their businesses, and why curiosity is the ultimate business superpower.
Timestamps
[00:34] Dave’s entrepreneurial journey
[01:47] Dave’s desire to improve the boring learning environment
[02:52] Dave’s experience with management blueprints
[05:31] Understanding the Eisenhower matrix
[08:33] How to differentiate between urgent and important things in your business
[10:56] Knowing where to focus your energy and attention
[14:30] How to stop complexity from choking your business
[16:45] Understanding the Infinite Game of Business
[19:39] The Holy Grail of business longevity
[25:57] Meeting the buyer’s needs and selling in the information age
[30:17] The bespoke hiring and recruiting process at Unboxed
[34:23] Why curiosity in business is the ultimate superpower
[36:11] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources:
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
May 2, 2022
May 2, 2022
38 min
Raghu Bala is the founder and CEO of NetObjex that operates Matrix, a Digital Asset-as-a-Service platform that helps enterprises harness the power of Internet of Things, AI, and blockchain technologies in constructing Web3 marketplaces. We talk about the democratization of data, the three primary categories of assets, and why virtual real estate is intentionally made scarce.
Time Stamps
[00:39] Raghu’s entrepreneurial journey
[04:56] Web3: The hype and how it can transform the internet
[07:53] Understanding the democratization of data
[10:08] Raghu’s experience with management blueprints
[11:58] How to approach investment funding for your startup
[16:49] What is Crowdfunding and how does it work?
[20:26] The disadvantages of crowdfunding
[21:33] Debt financing for early-stage startups
[23:12] Lending clubs: How they work and what to expect
[23:58] Understanding the basics of convertible notes
[25:45] The three primary categories of assets
[27:13] How to secure your assets using tokens
[31:16] Digital Assets: Common formats and how they’re best used
[33:54] Why creators of virtual real estates intentionally make it scarce
[35:08] How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will positively impact the crypto world
[37:34] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources:
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Apr 25, 2022
Apr 25, 2022
30 min
Van Carlson is the CEO of SRA 831(b) Admin, a company that helps private businesses set up their own captive self-insurance to cover oversized and unusual risks threatening their businesses. We talk about the 831(b) insurance captive, tax-efficient strategies for funding insurance premiums, and the risks your business should be protected against when setting up an insurance cover.
Time Stamps
[00:35] Van’s entrepreneurial journey
[03:29] Managing financial risk using captive insurance
[04:59] Van’s experience with management blueprints
[07:36] Technology and AI in the modern business environment
[09:52] Understanding the entrepreneurial myth
[10:39] The basics of the 831(b) insurance captive
[12:25] Liability insurance and protection against lawsuits
[16:02] Tax-efficient strategies for funding insurance premiums
[19:05] What to look out for before settling on an insurance cover
[22:22] Practical business size for creating a captive insurance vehicle
[25:25] The best way to set up a captive insurance plan and minimize on taxes
[27:45] Understanding the type of risks your insurance will cover
[28:59] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources:
Van’s email: van@831(b).com
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Apr 18, 2022
Apr 18, 2022
39 min
Eric Brotman is the CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, an independent firm assisting clients with wealth creation, preservation, and distribution. He is also the author of Don't Retire... Graduate!: Building a Path to Financial Freedom and Retirement at Any Age. We talk about multi-generational financial planning, the benefits of flexible leadership, and why retirement should not mean the end of your productive life.
Time Stamps
[00:43] Eric's entrepreneurial journey
[03:24] Eric's experience with management blueprints
[06:54] The benefits of flexible leadership
[09:31] Understanding visionary leadership and why it's so effective
[12:39] Why some entrepreneurs sell shares to their best-performing employees
[14:35] What is multi-generational planning?
[18:50] How multi-generational planning helps families avoid internal conflict
[21:47] How Eric helps young multi-generational planners gain experience in the field
[23:26] Eric's multi-generational planning and financial literacy tools
[27:07] Collaborative financial planning and the role of the advisor
[30:51] Why retirement should not mean the end of your productive life
[32:58] The retirement problem and why some retirees go back to working
[35:52] Growth drivers at Eric's firm BFG Financial Advisors
[38:11] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Don't Retire... Graduate by Eric Brotman
Don't Retire...Graduate Podcast
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Complete the Buyability Assessment for Your Business
Apr 11, 2022
Apr 11, 2022
42 min
Andy Alsop is the inventor of the Employee Supremacy Operational Model and the CEO of The Receptionist, a leading iPad-based visitor management solution installed in more than 5500 locations worldwide. We talk about the effectiveness of visitor management solutions, employee supremacy at the workplace, and how company cultures influence employee loyalty.
Time Stamps
[00:30] Andy’s entrepreneurial journey
[03:29] The competitiveness of the virtual receptionist market
[04:44] How Andy’s company competes with venture-backed companies
[07:21] The Employee Supremacy Operating Model
[10:27] How to discover your ‘Just Cause’ and understand your ‘Why’
[12:20] How Andy and his team developed their company ‘Why’
[13:51] The benefits of having Employee Supremacy
[16:37] How businesses can prioritize employee needs on a daily basis
[20:12] A practical look at Employee Supremacy at the workplace
[22:28] Why you need to build trust within your teams
[23:23] Understanding the key aspects of a visitor management solution
[23:53] Unique functionalities from visitor management solutions
[29:32] The future of visitor management solutions
[33:15] The great resignation and AI taking over jobs
[34:51] How company cultures influence employee loyalty
[37:20] How to incorporate employee supremacy into your company culture
[40:38] Parting Thoughts
Links and Resources
TheReceptionist.com/employee-supremacy
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Apr 4, 2022
Apr 4, 2022
39 min
Peter Lehrman is the CEO of Axial, a private deal network serving professionals who own, advise, and invest in North American lower middle-market companies. We talk about the North Star Metric, the due diligence checklist for buying a business, and the benefits of having perseverance in business.
Time Stamps
[01:32] Peter’s entrepreneurial journey
[05:47] Peter’s experience with management blueprints
[07:16] The North Star Metric
[11:07] Axial’s North Star Metric
[14:05] How Axial subtly leads customers into signing an NDA
[16:59] Why businesses need to custom-adjust their management frameworks
[18:46] The importance of having perseverance in business
[22:17] The complex process of buying or selling a business
[26:44] The key identifiers of small businesses in the US
[31:27] Technology adoption and incorporation at Axial
[34:13] How Peter and his team create reach for business buyers and sellers
[36:37] Buying a business: Due diligence checklist
[39:29] Parting Thoughts
Links and Resources:
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Mar 28, 2022
Mar 28, 2022
36 min
Marie Hale is the CEO of @revenue, an innovative sales and marketing company that empowers small and medium-sized business owners to create and lead successful sales teams as well as execute full scale marketing strategies. We talk about the benefits of having a solid management blueprint, Professional Love in sales, and the key features in a custom-crafted CRM system.
Time Stamps
[00:33] Marie’s entrepreneurial journey
[03:01] How to get sales and marketing to work together
[05:35] Professional Love and why it’s such an effective selling strategy
[07:06] How salespeople can get buyers to open up about their feelings
[09:47] Marie’s experience with management blueprints
[12:07] Marie’s key takeaway points from the E-Myth Framework
[13:44] The benefits of having a solid management blueprint
[15:12] How to systematize your business with little to no disruption
[17:45] Key features in a custom-crafted CRM
[20:55] Why all businesses need a clear and succinct CRM system
[22:03] Marie’s automate, duplicate, delegate, and elevate framework.
[25:31] Why you need to automate your project management software
[28:46] Understanding the automation piece in a project management software
[31:05] How Marie’s company builds and sustains growth
[35:53] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Mar 21, 2022
Mar 21, 2022
32 min
Kenneth Wingate is the founder and president of North Point Builders, a general contractor focusing on designing and building government facilities, hospitals, medical centers, K-12 schools, universities, churches, and community centers. We talk about the benefits of having a business mentor, tips for growing a general contractor business, and the average number of employees in small businesses in the US.
Time Stamps
[00:43] Kenneth’s entrepreneurial journey
[04:29] Kenneth’s experience with management blueprints
[06:42] The benefits of joining a peer group for CEOs and entrepreneurs
[08:05] Why every entrepreneur needs a business mentor
[10:30] The key differences between a general contractor and a specialist subcontractor
[12:44] Roles and responsibilities of a general contractor
[14:36] How general contractors get new business
[17:32] Negotiated contracts versus competitive bidding
[19:56] Why Ken and his team love bidding against other industry giants in their space
[23:09] Tips for growing a general contractor type of business
[27:36] Why sometimes it doesn’t make sense to grow your business
[29:44] The average number of employees in most small businesses in the US
[33:34] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Get in touch with Ken and his team via: 410-477-8541.
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Mar 14, 2022
Mar 14, 2022
24 min
Charles Frydenborg is the CEO of MarketMuse, an AI-driven platform that helps transform how content creators research, plan, and craft their content. We talk about how to keep up with Google’s ever-changing search algorithm, the key elements of an effective content marketing strategy, and why written content is here to stay.
Time Stamps
[00:32] Getting to know Charles Frydenborg
[02:34] Charles’ experience with management blueprints
[04:51] Charles shares his favorite parts of the EOS framework
[06:09] How MarketMuse helps businesses improve the quality of their content
[08:23] How to keep up with Google’s ever-changing search algorithm
[09:48] The key elements of an efficient content marketing strategy
[14:22] Natural Language Generation(NLG) and why it’s so important
[14:53] The future of content marketing
[17:37] The growth of video content and why written content is here to stay
[18:47] The biggest challenges affecting AI-powered software companies
[20:43] MarketMuse’s big, hairy, audacious goals
[21:35] How to measure and create good quality content
[23:22] Become an expert in your content creation strategy
[25:04] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Charles’ email address: Charles@Marketmuse.com
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business
Mar 7, 2022
Mar 7, 2022
30 min
Saleema Vellani is an award-winning innovation strategist, serial entrepreneur, professor, and author of the book Innovation Starts With ‘I.’ She is also the Founder and CEO of Ripple Impact, an accelerator and community that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses. We talk about innovation in today’s business environment, how to future-proof your business, and the benefits of adopting a hybrid-preneurship lifestyle.
Time Stamps
[00:37] Saleema’s entrepreneurial journey
[04:57] Ripple Impact’s core mission and business framework
[06:51] Saleema’s experience with management blueprints
[10:14] Understanding the Business Positioning Canvas
[10:58] Why Saleema wrote the book Innovation Starts with I
[14:45] How to Future-Proof your business
[16:43] How technology is disrupting the workplace and replacing workers
[18:31] Why you need to embrace the hybrid-preneurship lifestyle
[20:16] Understanding the concept of hybrid-preneurship
[22:59] Sweet Spot Mapping and why it’s so effective
[25:14] The history of Saleema’s Action Priority Matrix
[26:08] Stages of an entrepreneur’s journey to success
[28:58] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Innovation Starts With I by Saleema Vellani
Buyable: Your Guide to Building a Self-Managing, Fast-Growing, and High-Profit Business