Interviews with CEOs and Entrepreneurs about the frameworks they are using to build and scale their businesses.
Episodes
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Joe Newton is the owner of EIJ Solutions, a process consulting company that empowers entrepreneurs to find freedom through their business. We talk about the SYSTEMology framework, the benefits of having a systems champion, and practical steps towards business process optimization.
Timestamps
[00:36] Joe’s entrepreneurial journey
[03:18] Why all entrepreneurs need to systemize their businesses
[04:15] Comparing SYSTEMology to other management blueprints
[08:11] How to start systemizing your business
[09:55] The Stationery stage in the SYSTEMology framework
[11:03] The importance of buy-in and culture in framework success
[12:50] How and why you need to document your business process
[14:05] The process of scaling a systematized business framework
[16:57] Team training on how to implement business processes
[22:02] Business process management and why it’s crucial for systems success
[25:07] The benefits of having a systems champion
[28:15] Practical steps towards business process optimization
[31:15] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Chris DeJong is a former US national swimmer and the Founder & President of Big Blue Swim School, one of America's fastest-growing swim school franchises. We talk about how successful entrepreneurs franchise their businesses, what diversity can do for your business, and effective time management tips for entrepreneurs.
Timestamps
[00:34] Chris' journey from swimming into entrepreneurship
[02:59] Chris' experience with management blueprints
[07:48] Why entrepreneurs need to have flexible visions
[08:50] How to become ruthlessly efficient with your time
[11:28] When should a process be an art, not a science?
[16:15] Deep Blue Swim School and what makes it so special
[19:54] How and why you need to continuously solve customer problems
[22:35] Practical frameworks for getting great ideas from your team
[24:49] How Chris successfully franchised his business
[27:10] Why the Big Blue Swim School is such an attractive franchise
[30:01] Diversity as a lever for your business
[32:59] The link between diversity and business success
[37:17] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
The Innovation Stack by Jim McKelvey
It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
When Should a Process Be Art, Not Science?
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Tigran Nazaryan is the Co-founder and CEO of 10Web.io, an automated WordPress platform powered by Google Cloud that helps relieve the burden of manual website building operations. We talk about website automation, disruption-led growth, and the difference between shared and cloud website hosting.
Timestamps
[00:36] Tigran's entrepreneurial journey
[01:52] Why Tigran and his partners founded 10Web.io
[03:00] Tigran's experience with management blueprints
[05:44] Business processes and why they are so important
[09:58] How Tigran and his team came up with the Four Ps in their management blueprint
[12:02] What is a WordPress plugin
[17:06] Convert any website to WordPress
[17:58] How and why you need to start automating your WordPress site
[20:40] Comparing the differences in services offered by AWS and 10Web.io
[23:43] WordPress pros and cons: When you should use it (and when you should not)
[25:46] WordPress for eCommerce
[26:53] Disruption-led growth and why it's so important
[29:30] The key differences between shared and cloud hosting
[31:16] The fast growth approach for SaaS companies
[35:15] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
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Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
RJ Grimshaw is the president and CEO of UniFi, an equipment financing company. We talk about the ABLE leadership framework, the concept of intrapreneurship, and break down the world of equipment financing.
Timestamps
[01:22] The similarities between building a business and running a sports team
[03:12] RJ’s entrepreneurial journey
[06:36] RJ’s experience managing different types of businesses
[08:52] Equipment financing: What is it and how does it work?
[09:17] RJ’s experience with management blueprints
[15:00] The ABLE leadership framework
[18:38] Defining leverage from a business perspective
[21:24] The importance of having options when running a business
[23:26] Dissecting Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive
[26:52] Why sometimes change is a good thing
[27:41] What is intrapreneurship and who is an intrapreneur?
[31:40] Why intrapreneurs are dream employees
[33:46] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
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Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Stormie Andrews is the president of Yokel Local, an inbound marketing agency and HubSpot partner that helps companies generate revenue, reduce sales cycles, and increase customer lifetime value. We talk about the world’s best buyer persona system, customer delight, and the six-step inbound marketing methodology.
Time Stamps
[00:30] Stormie's entrepreneurial journey
[01:58] Stormie's experience with management blueprints
[05:36] Strata levels of work and organizational structure
[20:08] Introducing the World's Best Buyer Persona System
[11:26] The definition of a 'digital employee'
[14:14] How to identify your ideal buyer persona
[17:58] Why most companies have multiple buyer personas
[19:45] Buyer personas in the franchise space
[21:51] Emotional messaging: What is it and how does it work?
[23:13] Applying Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to sales and marketing
[25:35] Action and inaction beliefs
[27:21] How to use neuro-linguistic programming to improve your marketing efforts
[30:26] A practical illustration of neuro-linguistic programming
[34:31] Stormie's six-step inbound marketing methodology.
[38:41] What is customer delight?
[40:25] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
The World's Best Buyer Persona System by Stormie Andrews
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Monday Nov 15, 2021
Monday Nov 15, 2021
Steve Richard is the Chief-Evangelist and Co-Founder of ExecVision, a conversation intelligence platform built to drive change in human behavior. We talk about the sales management code, practical prospecting strategies, and the effectiveness of cold calling in today’s sales environment.
Time Stamps
[00:40] Steve’s entrepreneurial journey
[03:43] Steve’s experience with management blueprints
[06:58] The ROA sales framework
[08:42] Sales prospecting definition, techniques, and why it’s important
[10:54] Cracking the sales management code
[12:43] Steve’s “Outbound In” marketing strategy
[13:30] Is cold calling really dead?
[16:12] Data on the effectiveness of cold calling in diverse types of industries
[18:23] Practical and effective alternatives to cold calling
[21:49] The three by three sales research technique
[23:58] Defining the unscheduled expected call
[27:05] Pattern recognition and human intelligence in sales
[28:16] How to change behaviour and create a better sales culture within an organization
[32:02] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Cracking the Sales Management Code by Jason Jordan and Michelle Vazzana
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Monday Nov 08, 2021
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Jeff Berkowitz is the Founder and CEO of Delve LLC, a competitive intelligence and risk advisory firm. We talk about managing reputation risk, business integrity, and the benefits of setting ethical boundaries with clients.
Time Stamps
[00:51] Jeff’s entrepreneurial journey
[02:35] Jeff’s experience with management blueprints
[05:01] The top business concepts currently being implemented at Delve
[09:02] Understanding the power of people culture in professional services firms
[11:34] What is reputation and political risk management?
[15:32] How to manage reputation risk by becoming a good corporate steward
[20:25] Why companies need to prepare for instances when their reputation is at stake
[23:14] Business integrity and why it’s important
[27:09] The vulnerabilities of corporate reputation
[31:15] How to set ethical boundaries with clients
[34:44] Why managing perceptions is crucial when dealing with corporate reputation
[37:39] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
The Advantage by Patrick M. Lencioni
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Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Jim Lockwood is the co-founder of The Lockwood Group and serves as Vice President responsible for driving growth, creating value, and executing objectives across Lockwood’s markets. We talk about the concept of mission readiness, the IBM alignment model, and the gap between public and private sector infrastructure.
Timestamps
[00:44] Jim’s entrepreneurial journey
[03:09] Jim’s experience with management blueprints
[05:59] The rules Jim implemented from David Kriegman’s book Zero to a Billion
[08:00] The benefits of building your business around a well-defined vision and mission statement
[09:25] Private sector contracting versus public sector contracting
[12:05] The IBM alignment model in business
[13:29] How to become a mission-ready company
[16:09] Examples of mission readiness in the army
[19:19] The powerful benefits of being prepared in business
[21:27] How Jim and his company help soldiers in war solve their problems
[23:01] The gap between military and private sector infrastructure
[25:17] How the private sector can keep up with technological advancements in the military
[28:31] Jim and his company’s 10-year vision
[30:26] Parting Thoughts
Links and Resources
Zero to a Billion by David Kriegman
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Monday Oct 25, 2021
Monday Oct 25, 2021
Marc Reklau is the founder of Maklau Publishing and author of 11 books, including the international bestsellers 30 DAYS and Love Yourself FIRST, which have sold over 600,000 copies worldwide. We talk about success habits, minimalism, and the benefits of practicing daily gratitude.
Timestamps
[00:44] Marc's journey into becoming an author-entrepreneur
[05:18] How successful people remain successful
[09:14] Lifetime value versus the cost of customer acquisition
[11:12] Interesting things you should know about living the creative life
[16:22] Proven frameworks for becoming a successful writer
[21:01] Success through hard work and resilience
[22:06] How to tap into your entrepreneurial energy
[23:40] What is minimalism?
[27:51] How to live a simplistic lifestyle
[29:06] Why you need to set clear and strict standards for your business
[29:56] The effective habits of highly successful people
[31:22] The how and why of practicing gratitude
[33:49] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
30 Days - Change your habits, Change your life by Marc Reklau
How to Become a People Magnet by Marc Reklau
Love Yourself First! By Marc Reklau
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Monday Oct 18, 2021
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Stephen Ogburn is the Vice President of Ogburn Construction, a fast-growing family-owned concrete repair company in Central Virginia. We dissect Fredrick Laloux’s Reinventing Organizations and talk about how companies can shift from success-focused into people-focused organizations.
Timestamps
[00:35] Stephen’s entrepreneurial journey
[02:29] Leaving formal employment to join the family business
[03:21] Stephen’s experience with management blueprints
[05:11] Business models from Fredrick Laloux’s Reinventing Organizations
[09:38] The demerits of being a success-focused business
[11:31] How success-focused companies can transform into people-focused organizations
[14:12] What is self-management?
[18:19] How wholeness impacts productivity within organizations
[21:50] How to deal with difficult employees
[25:14] The link between core values and company success
[27:40] How companies can create and scale a people-focused culture
[33:13] Key processes to running a people-focused company
[36:10] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Reinventing Organizations by Fredrick Laloux
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