Business Growth On Purpose

All good things come to an end – like this marketing series. Today, we wrap up our twenty questions with questions about people and budgets. From influencers to staff to testimonials, Jose discusses five critical questions business owners ask about their marketing. What should my B2B marketing budget allocation look like, and how can I optimize it? How can I leverage my current staff to handle marketing tasks? How can I build and nurture relationships with B2B influencers or thought leaders? How can I create and leverage case studies and customer testimonials for B2B marketing? How can I align my sales and marketing teams to improve lead generation and conversions? These questions can serve as a starting point for B2B owners looking to engage with marketing consultants and develop a successful marketing strategy for their businesses. The specific answers and strategies will depend on the unique goals, industry, and target audience of each B2B business.

Our guest today is Daniella Genas of She’s The Boss International. Daniella works with entrepreneurs and owners looking to get to the next level. In today's episode, we will talk about the need for a practical vision and implementation steps to move you, the owner, from being the hub of every wheel in your company to being the leader of your company.    Daniella helps SMEs to transform their businesses. She has used her techniques, experience, and training to generate significant results among the companies she has worked with. Key metrics include increased turnover and profits, increased staff, the launch of new products/services, and increased brand awareness across several businesses, in a diverse range of sectors. Daniella launched her first successful business in 2007 and her second business in 2014. She sold both businesses in 2015. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Daniella lists University Lecturer, Charity Trustee, radio presenter, and Visiting Industrial Fellow as roles in her portfolio career. Daniella’s current focus is empowering SMEs to build profitable, sustainable, systems-driven businesses. With an MBA and Master's under her belt, alongside her entrepreneurial experience and formal business training, Daniella has a breadth of knowledge that has proven invaluable to the clients she works with. She has a proven track record of supporting clients to grow revenues by 6 figures. After listening to today's episode, check out Daniella's website to learn how she can help you accelerate your business growth by up to 75%.  

Ready for another installment of our 20 Questions - Marketing Edition? This week, we are dipping our toes in the world of marketing tech, discussing platforms and strategies that many business owners struggle to grasp. From webinars to automation to data analysis, Jose is here to help break it down for you. This week, Jose will cover: What are the best practices for creating and promoting B2B webinars or events? How can I improve my B2B branding and messaging to stand out? What role does marketing automation play in B2B marketing, and how can I implement it? How can I effectively use analysis to make informed marketing decisions? What are the current trends and emerging technologies in B2B marketing?

Our guest today is Jacob Baadsgaard CEO and founder of Disruptive Advertising. In this episode, we will discuss the owner's role in a growing business, and how to maximize success in both business and personal life. Jake is an entrepreneur at heart. He is a person who prioritizes relationships and enjoys learning from other people's life experiences. Jake actively works towards creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and challenged to take the next big step on their life journey. Check out Jacob's website after listening to today's episode.   

Jose is back with Part 2 of our series 20 Marketing Questions where we dive into the top sales and marketing pain points we hear from B2B owners. In this second session, Jose covers questions 6-10 from our master list. In this episode, we cover: How can I utilize social media effectively for B2B marketing? What are the key metrics I should be tracking to measure marketing ROI? How can I create a successful email marketing campaign for B2B clients? What is account-based marketing (ABM) and should I consider it for my B2B business? How can I optimize my B2B SEO strategy to rank higher in search results? We hope you find these helpful!  

Our guest today is Jim Rogers of Unbridled Revenue. Today we will discuss proposal techniques and Jim is an expert at crafting proposals that win. So get your pen and paper ready as we dive in! Jim Rogers is the author of two books for the architecture and engineering industry. His latest is Becoming a Seller-Doer: Succeed at Business Development and Take Command of Your Career.  Civil engineering and architecture firms hire Jim to help them activate their seller-doers: their billable professionals who must engage in marketing and sales to help grow the company.  He is also a proposal consultant and short-list interview presentation coach who has helped clients win nearly 300 hundred million dollars in fees.  He may be the only person in the world to have seen Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth's home run record AND walk down the graduation aisle just a few steps behind Michael Jordan at the University of North Carolina.  After listening to today's episode, visit Jim's website to check out his book!  

Welcome to our new series, 20 Marketing Questions where we dive into the top sales and marketing pain points we hear from B2B owners. If your sales and marketing have been stalled, it's time to break through with these 20 questions. In this episode, we cover the first five questions: What are the most effective B2B marketing strategies for my industry? How can I generate more leads for my B2B business? What is the best way to target and reach my ideal B2B audience? How can I improve my B2B website's performance and user experience? What role does content marketing play in B2B lead generation? We hope you find these helpful!

The only constant is change, but the last few years have accelerated that change in a huge way. Businesses still have the same needs – growth being a critical one – but the methods have changed. Our guest today is Joe Apfelbaum of Ajax Union. Joe is an expert on B2B marketing, but in particular, the proper and best use of LinkedIn, especially the advanced platform of LinkedIn to help sales professionals grow. In this episode, we will discuss what's happening in B2B marketing, what has changed, and what to expect in the future.   Joe Apfelbaum is the CEO of Ajax Union, a B2B digital marketing agency. Joe is a business strategist, marketing expert, and certified Google trainer. Joe is the Author of his new book, High Energy Networking, How to build relationships and get anything you want in life. Joe is a LinkedIn expert and trains hundreds of coaches, consultants & sales professionals each month with his courses and group coaching programs. After listening to today's episode, check out Joe's 15-minutes-a-day networking course!

Today, we have a special episode featuring Jose's recent appearance on the Marketing the Invisible Podcast with Leadsology hosted by Tom Poland. If you've been frustrated, or stuck on a revenue plateau, this episode is for you! 

Our guest today is Greg Martin. Greg spends time thinking about what business owners get out of owning and operating their businesses beyond the money. In today's episode, we will talk about Greg's story and his business adventures. Greg is part of the founding team at Origin Merchant Partners, a boutique investment bank focused on mergers & and acquisitions and working with entrepreneurs of all kinds every day. He previously founded and operated a restaurant, catering, and food e-commerce business which he has since exited. In addition, he is the host of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, all about exploring the careers of different people with the pains, struggles, and the fulfillment they can bring. After listening to today's episode, check out Greg's podcast to hear stories, consider a career change, or be curious about working for yourself.  

In today's episode, we welcome Joanna Chanis. Joanna works with owners and leaders in a variety of industries, helping them find the clarity and focus they need to drive new growth. Joanna Chanis, a professional mentor, catapults entrepreneurs and large-scale companies into a more productive and successful business life. With a 12-year corporate executive background running large teams and closing big deals, Joanna understands the pressure of hitting a target number. That’s why she created the Mindset Mentor Method, a manifestation-heavy process to help companies and entrepreneurs gain clarity and hyper-awareness of their goals. The key areas Joanna focuses on include health, philanthropy, relationships, and professional development, in that order. By putting intentionality into one area at a time, her clients can see steady results of abundance with deliberate micro movements. After listening to today's episode, visit Joanna's LinkedIn profile to learn more!

Our guest today is Marin Davis of Local Collaborative. Marin is a brand and marketing specialist. In today's episode, we will focus on the power of branding and what branding means for smaller, owner-led businesses.  Marin Davis is the Founder of Local Collaborative, a branding and marketing agency that helps small businesses succeed by using simple, creative approaches and strong communication strategies. Marin and her team work closely with businesses to create a memorable brand that people will love. Once you're done listening to today's episode, make sure to check out Marin's website to discover effective marketing and branding strategies that will help your business stand out from the competition.  

Our guest today is Scott Hoffman CEO and founder of JADE International. Today, we will discuss international business and the need for thinking through how to expand your business and add people.  JADE provides global freight and logistics services, as well as customs brokerage services, to its clients. They help their clients expand their businesses and cater to their suppliers and customers worldwide. Once you've finished listening to today's episode, be sure to check out Scott's website. It's packed with useful resources for both importers and exporters, as well as helpful content to support international growth and sourcing.

You, the salesperson, might be an expert in your field. But there are still rules your buyers make that you need to follow. Our guest today is Samantha Stone of Samantha Stone Marketing. Samantha has a unique and powerful view of how to engage buyers in the complex sale.  If you sell and market in an arena that involves a lot of different people, time, and proof points, you do not want to miss this episode! We are going to discuss an approach that engages buyers on their terms in ways that make you more valuable to them than ever before. Research has always been an important part of Samantha’s process. Throughout her career, she has conducted hundreds of persona interviews, developed dozens of surveys, and led message testing and competitive analysis for leading organizations. After listening to today’s episode, visit Samantha’s website to learn more about how her company enables revenue growth, new opportunity identification, improved efficiencies, and stronger collaboration between marketing and sales functions.  

Our guest today is Jevon Wooden. Jevon is a powerful consultant on the area of leadership and personal branding. Today, we will discuss how to drive new performanc e to help your organization mature and grow.  Jevon is a dynamic business coach, speaker, author, and Bronze Star Recipient passionate about leadership, business strategy, effective communication, marketing, and technology, and helping motivated individuals and businesses achieve their goals.  Jevon's remarkable business growth and personal development ideas have been featured in top publications such as Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Foundr, Forbes, and Verizon.  After listening to today's episode, visit Jevon's website. Whether you are looking to scale your business, build your brand, or navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, Jevon is here to provide the support, insight, and expertise you need to achieve your dreams.

Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming our guest, Lisa Smith, who is highly skilled in generating value in sales scenarios. Lisa guides individuals on how to create value in sales situations and conquer any negative thoughts that might hinder sales. During our discussion, we will explore the key aspects that you should keep in mind to steer your sales toward success. Lisa is an esteemed sales coach and consultant who specializes in assisting female executives and business owners. According to Lisa, genuine transformation in one's career or business comes with a change in mindset about sales. Through coaching, consulting, and training, she works diligently every day to bring about revolutionary change. Lisa launched SMITH Co. in June 2020, becoming a "COVIDpreneur." Despite the challenging economic climate, she managed to surpass six figures in her first year. With 30 years of experience selling B2B services in various economic situations, Lisa has amassed a wealth of diverse experiences. She understands her clients' challenges inside out because she has been in their shoes herself. Once you finish listening to today's episode, feel free to check out Lisa's website for additional information. 

Today we have Lisa Scott as our guest. She is the owner of a company that assists in contract management during stressful scenarios, such as mergers and acquisitions. This topic is significant for individuals who plan to sell their business in the present or near future. We will cover ways to prevent obstacles that may hinder a successful deal conclusion. Lisa is a dynamic and experienced entrepreneur, business strategist, people developer, and licensed attorney in California. She has a wealth of knowledge in building successful alternative legal services companies, drafting and negotiating contracts, implementing strategies, developing partnerships and portfolios, managing supplier diversity and sourcing operations, and overseeing contracts and suppliers.  Once you've finished listening to today's episode, be sure to check out Lisa's website for further information!

Today's episode features a recent interview hosted by Allison DeFord from Manufacturing Masters.  In this episode, Jose discusses four things that will help you realize you need a strategy even if your orders are up 20% year over year.  Top-line growth (strategically)  Margin (reduce your risk exposure)  EBITA-Net Profitability (staying in control; being proactive) Valuation (run your business like it's always for sale) Jose and Allison tackled the challenging question of how business owners can utilize current growth to prepare for potential setbacks in the future.  

Sometimes, owners can feel on an island when it comes to a sense of urgency. Culture-making is the difference. A healthy culture multiplies your sense of vision and purpose. And when failure is not an option, you need to have a culture around you that shares your urgency. Today’s guest is Aneesa Muthana, the CEO of Pioneer Service Inc. Aneesa has seen her company through difficult times and taken it to new heights by building an intentional culture of success, and more importantly, a human culture. In this episode, we will discuss manufacturing, winning, and not accepting failure as an option. There are a lot of great insights in this episode so listen carefully as we dive in! Aneesa Muthana is a hands-on leader with extensive experience in almost every aspect of a production machining environment. After nearly three decades as CEO and owner of Pioneer Service, Aneesa attributes her success to building a team that embraces continuous improvement, diversity, and leading-edge technology. She’s won numerous awards including the Manufacturing Institute’s Award, 2019 NAWBO Woman Business Owner of The Year, Crain's 2019 and 2020 Notable Woman in Manufacturing, and SWE “Women Engineers You Should Know.” After listening to today’s episode, visit Aneesa’s website to learn more about Aneesa and Pioneer Services.   

We say it all the time - the weeds of your business limit its growth. As a leader, you need to be able to see beyond the day to day books and make big picture decisions about how to use your money. Today's guest is Florian Meyer, a fractional CFO of Newhouse Partners. Florian works with companies in mid-market companies in the industrial and manufacturing categories. He will discuss how it's not all about keeping track of the books but making the big-picture decisions that affect the future success of your company.  Florian has been involved as an interim Chief Financial Officer and Board Member as a change agent to allow the companies to be focused and successful. Have done this type of consulting for over twenty years. Currently specializes in financial corporate change management with specific experience in corporate leadership, finance, controllership, and treasury functions. He is sought out by mid-sized companies for his insightful identification of opportunities and his pragmatic approach to leading corporate change to renewed growth and profitability. After listening to today's episode, connect with Florian to see how he might help you optimize performance, productivity, and profitability!   

Innovation is what sets market leaders ahead, but most business owners view it as a luxury. It can feel like your day to day responsibilities are too demanding to focus on innovation. If you want to succeed, you need to start with an innovative strategy that solves problems for your customers and for you. Our guest today can help you do just that. Our guest today is Ross Youngs, President of Univenture and Founder and CEO of his most recent venture, Biosorta. Ross is a lifelong inventor and entrepreneur, has had companies on the Inc. 500, has solved industrial problems, and is on the verge of solving biomedical issues as well. Ross will bring interesting perspectives on bringing new products to market in practical ways.  Ross Youngs founded Univenture, Inc. in 1988 alongside the invention of his Safety-sleeve® disc packaging design; in the 25 years since, Univenture has grown to become a full-service designer, manufacturer, and distributor of packaging products used in dozens of industries the world over. Ross has spent over 30 years inventing products, technologies, and processes for a variety of industries, and holds over 75 patents worldwide. He is driven to innovate by a focus on what is better, faster, and less expensive. Ross’ recent major innovations include an R&D 100 Award for collaboration on biopolymer technologies. In 2009, Biosortia was awarded a $6 million ARPA-E (U.S. Dept. of Energy R&D) grant for its algal harvesting technology, which helped lead to the development of Biosortia’s drug discovery platform. In 1998, Ross was awarded the Ernst & Young Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year award. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration honored him as their national “Business Person of the Year" in a presentation made by Vice President Al Gore.verse advisors, to lead its success. After listening to today's episode, visit Ross' website to learn more!   

Our guest today is Sean Kline CEO of Turbotek. In today's episode, Sean will enlighten us on the current state of the economy and its impact on small to mid-sized business owners. Additionally, he will guide us on how to utilize technology to achieve maximum success. At Turbotek, a Small Business IT Company, Sean is in charge of leading and managing the company. He ensures that all resources are efficiently utilized, providing quality services to customers in a cost-effective manner. Before joining Turbotek, Sean held various positions in notable companies such as RSA, Mercury Interactive (acquired by HP), Empirix, and Teradyne, where he worked in product management, marketing, sales, and technical roles. Sean holds a BA in Computer Science from Cornell University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. After listening to today's episode, visit Sean's website for a thirty-point cybersecurity readiness checklist which he will personally review with business owners.   

Our guest today is Larry Mandelberg of Mandelberg Consulting. Larry collaborates with owners and their leadership team to manage changes effectively. He emphasizes that businesses do not simply die, but rather they commit suicide. Larry Mandelberg is an experienced entrepreneur who specializes in resolving difficult business challenges. He has established four start-ups, overseen a merger, and executed a successful turnaround.  Despite encountering business failure, he has gained valuable experience from his thirteen businesses.  His consulting practice offers services such as leadership team development, change management, strategic planning, executive coaching, and ethics training to midsize organizations and their boards. After listening to today's episode, check out Larry's website to access a free report on reviving your business plan and achieving your goals.  

Many business owners struggle with promoting themselves effectively and standing out online. One common challenge is communicating their vast knowledge to their audience. Our guest today, Zach Fragapane from GrowthMatch, will be sharing his process for capturing effective videos to help you build your presence and identity on social media. He'll be discussing how to create more powerful content to increase your reach. Zach helps businesses build trust with new customers by conducting interviews and creating short but powerful videos and social media posts. With 16 years of experience working with tech startups and service businesses, he specializes in marketing, product management, and customer discovery. After listening to today's episode, you can visit Zach's website to schedule a free content strategy call with him. Before the call, Zach will conduct research on your business and provide a complimentary content strategy approach during the call.

Today, we have a special guest, Justin Quinn, CEO of Focused On Machining. Justin is an expert in growing businesses in a commodity category and has discovered effective methods to distinguish his business from competitors. In this episode, we will gain valuable insights on positioning, marketing, and sales from Justin. Justin's professional career started in the Air Force, where he worked as an Aircraft Mechanic for six years. His job involved ensuring the C-17 aircraft was in good condition to fly. He traveled to various locations, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Antarctica, to serve as a flight mechanic and guarantee the aircraft's functionality. In 2016, Justin acquired Focused on Machining. Currently the President of Focused on Machining, Justin manages the day-to-day operations, business development, and strategic planning for the business.  Over the past four years, Justin has expanded the company's customer base and equipment inventory, resulting in a remarkable growth of over 300%. The main areas of growth have been in the aerospace, defense, and medical industries. After listening to today’s episode, visit their website to learn more about Justin and Focused on Machining.   

Today's guest is Tim Rohrer, a sales manager at I Am A-OK, Inc. Tim will share valuable insights on mentorship. Our discussion will focus on how owners and operators of small or midmarket companies can effectively participate in mentorship programs. Tim J.M. Rohrer is an accomplished sales director who is dedicated to assisting individuals in achieving their career aspirations. He offers guidance and support to salespeople and sales leaders through coaching and mentoring, as well as consulting and training services to sales organizations. Tim enjoys sharing his stories and is constantly seeking a receptive audience. He has written a book titled "Sales Lessons of the World's Greatest Mentor" which presents valuable lessons on sales, leadership, and life in an engaging and entertaining storytelling style. After listening to today's episode, check out Tim's website for more information.  

Every business owner's dream is a culture where every member of the team is continuously improving. But that is never an accident. It's a culture. Our guest today is Paul Vragel, Founder of 4aBetterBusiness. His specialty is helping organizations implement processes where all members of the team are always seeking improvement and he helps create a safe space for that to happen. We will discuss how this is a practical thing that can be done in any size organization; even a two-person company!  Paul Vragel founded 4aBetterBusiness over 25 years ago and has deep experience leading process, technology, and cultural transformations in complex manufacturing businesses across multiple sectors (aerospace, automotive, and general industrial) both in the US and internationally.  Before founding 4aBetterBusiness, Mr. Vragel was in charge of new technology evaluation for the computer group at BP (formerly Amoco Corporation) and managed overseas ship construction for Amoco. He has a BSc from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is a Lean Sigma Blackbelt, ISO 9001 lead auditor, and has done coursework in Group Dynamics. After listening to today's episode, check Paul's article, "5 Key Elements for Successful, Ongoing Digital Transformation - Put People and Process First!" to learn more about how to use employee engagement to achieve transformational results in productivity and growth. 

Come for the accent, stay for the insight! Today's guest comes to us from Australia: Oscar Roche of TWI Institute. In today's episode, we will discuss a different way of thinking about getting projects done in organizations. The dialogue will stretch your thinking and challenge your assumptions about the best ways to really get things done.  Oscar believes passionately that frontline leaders have been ignored for many years and that it is high time to now support their development for businesses to survive and develop. The practical nature of the TWI and Toyota Kata programs makes them the ideal vehicle to build leader capability development. So much so, that Oscar practices the skills in his everyday working life. After listening to today's episode, check out Oscar's website for more information about their leadership training programs. 

Welcome to a special episode of Business Growth on Purpose from when Jose was a guest on the Conversational Selling Podcast.  Business owners often struggle to connect their strategy, marketing, and sales efforts. Jose is an expert in understanding how opportunities convert into revenue, diagnosing, and removing obstacles preventing the flow of opportunity into revenue. In this episode, he breaks down the power of systems-minded strategy. With the right strategic vision, problems are solved more efficiently and growth is unlocked.

Our guest today is Robin Osborn. Robin is an industrial company owner and a coach who works with other owners and leadership teams. She shares practical and actionable insights born in the fire of personal experiences. In today's episode, we will hear these insights and see how it applies to our organizations and our lives.   Robin Osborn is an executive coach and business consultant who was recently given a second chance at life after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a baseball-sized tumor from her brain. Remarkably, the tumor was benign but her recovery was no small feat– it took Robin a year to walk one mile. The same tools she uses to inspire transformation in her clients helped her achieve miraculous results in her recovery! Robin’s passion for exceeding expectations has allowed her to help hundreds break through their personal and professional goals and, through this work, her practice continues to develop. Robin has nearly a decade of experience championing companies from good to great while giving leaders a simple yet powerful tool to consistently transcend their goal: “The Frustration to Freedom Framework.” This framework combines all of Robin’s financial, operational, and leadership expertise and it is with this that she leads C-Suite executives and their teams to excellence by helping them build confidence, conquer team issues, gain clarity, and deliver real results. After listening to today's episode, visit Robin's website to learn more about Robin and how she can help you achieve your goals!

One of the hardest challenges business owners face is rebounding from challenges brought about by change. But a good leader knows how to keep themselves and their teams resilient in a fast moving world. Our guest today is Lu Phillips. Lu is an experienced international business development executive with a strong engineering background. In this episode, we will explore globalization and resilience and how it applies to smaller to mid-sized markets that have to make it in this rough and tumble world that we have been living in over the last two years.  With everything Lu does, he believes that building from foundational principles brings structural simplicity and clarity. He believes systems both spread and preserve value. Lu consults and delivers services to companies that have a lot to offer but suffer from too much friction in their systems. To reduce this friction, Lu helps business owners find their CORE, build business frameworks, and systematize processes to endure.  After listening to today's episode, visit Lu's website!    

One of the things that come up when developing a B2B company's strategy is social media. While this is nothing new, it can be challenging to know how to think about and know what's possible. In today's episode, social media expert Karlyn Ankrom will join us to talk about what is possible with social media and the simple approaches you can take that can have potentially big ROIs.  Oh Snap! Social is a digital marketing firm that specializes in social media services, aimed at assisting businesses, organizations, and individual entrepreneurs in crafting engaging content that resonates with their target audience and drives conversions. Our unique Fan Firestarter Framework enables our clients to gain a clear understanding of their current position using our thorough Pulse Check Audits. This then guides the development of a comprehensive Social Media Strategy, culminating in the progression of the strategy toward a fully managed and implemented content creation and management process. After listening to today's episode, visit Karlyn's website for some great resources!  

Our guest today is Darrin Mitchell. Darrin is an experienced and successful manufacturing owner. After exiting his business, he has dedicated himself to helping other owners be successful. So he founded Manufacturing Masters - a program that covers a wide range of topics in five-minute chunks designed for small to mid-sized manufacturers. In this episode, Darrin will share strategic insights for manufacturers and B2B owners. Darrin is president and founder of Mitchell Industries and Manufacturing Masters, or as he likes to put it: “Netflix for Manufacturers”.  Over the last 20 years, Darrin grew a very successful manufacturing business. He developed a worldwide marketing system with partners on six continents, patented intellectual property, and a global supply chain, and generated profits exceeding the industry average.  Most impressive, he did it from a small remote Island in Canada. Not adjacent to the customers or supply chain- Darrin used social media, innovation, and resourcefulness to create a new model for business. After listening to today’s episode, check out Manufacturing Masters, where you can receive advice, training, and content developed just for manufacturers!   

If you have been following our show for some time, you know we love to have experts and owners share their ideas earned through working with B2B owners. One of the topics we love to cover is branding.  Our expert today is Kim Rozdeba. Kim is an author, blogger, and branding guru who has guided some of the Fortune 500's oldest and most iconic brands including B2B.  In today's episode, we will discuss why branding as a process is important for owner-operators of B2B companies trying to gain the attention and trust of bigger companies. Unfortunately, today the world is flooded with brands jamming every communications channel with the hope of gaining prosperity and fame. As a result, connecting to customers is almost impossible—they hear, see, and engage only with the brands they understand. Branding is a process, not a goal. The goal is to surpass customers' expectations at every touchpoint so they feel the brand's love. Kim is passionate about branding and eager to share his three decades of branding insights and his five C's of branding through real examples and results that anyone can follow and learn from.  If you're interested in learning more, visit Kim's website!  

In the $5M-$50M space, we see a lot of business owners who struggle with this tension: big picture strategy versus day to day operations. In order to keep your high level goals on track, you need to keep your vision simple and clearly understandable. That's why in this episode, Jose brings you a clear 4 step plan to set and track your strategic trajectory. Using the picture of a rocket ship, we cover: THE TARGET: the customers, the margins, market share - the key measurable goals THE LAUNCHPAD: the resources, structure, and foundation that you use to launch your mission THE ROCKET: the "vehicle" you use to reach your goals is what you offer, your value proposition taking form THE CONDITIONS: the final factor to help you anticipate challenges and see opportunities in your environment Applying the Strategic Plan After listening to today's episode, we'd like to invite you to experience a strategic planning call directly with Jose Palomino. It's a conversation about where you are now as well as where you want to go. By the end, you'll have powerful ideas and specific actions you can take to push your growth forward. Reach out to [email protected] for an introduction.  

Today, we revisit a 3-part series on what to do when things are going well. We're digging into how to turn your current success into lasting prosperity. This first episode deals with a critical component many business owners think they get right.  When's the last time you took a thorough look at your best customer's business? How well do you understand their reality on the ground, especially their biggest problems that you can help solve? These are the kinds of questions Jose answers in this episode - you won't see your business the same when you're done.

Finding sales talent is hard. Finding talented sales leadership is harder. Today's guest is Tom Glason of Scalewise. Tom excels in finding sales talent for fast-growing businesses. He helps connect owners with what he calls "scrappy and skilled" sales leaders who can help bring a business to the next level. On this episode, Tom talks us through what it takes to build high-performing, highly-engaged teams and creating the systems and processes for scale.  After listening to today's episode, visit Scalewise to learn more about how their Scale Experts help build sustainable and scale-able startups.   

Our guest today is David Valentine of Avadel. David is an expert in reaching out to get appointments. You'll want to listen carefully to today's episode if you operate in a B2B company where you need to get in front of the right decision-maker to drive your business forward.     Dave owns 7 businesses that have generated over ONE BILLION dollars collectively for over 1000 clients, including major brands and Fortune 100 companies like Target, Time magazine, and American Express. At the age of 29, his doctor said, “Are you prepared for your heart attack?” Dave realized he needed to learn how to scale his businesses without being overwhelmed by stress. His life depended on it. Dave now runs multiple companies from the mountains in a house by a river with three waterfalls. After listening to today's episode, visit Dave's website. Dave has generously offered to meet with our listeners, free of charge, and to gift our listeners with a free E-course that teaches business owners to create outrageous offers for themselves and their customers.  

In your B2B operation, is growth-driving PR a reality or a pipe dream? For some owners who reach moderate success without PR, they start to adopt a hindered mentality: "I don't need PR to keep growing." The truth is a little different - to scale your growth, you need to scale your strategic brand awareness. That's why Lindsey Groepper, President of BLASTmedia, joins us today. She's a specialist an helping B2B operations generate brand awareness that drives revenue growth in a powerful way. In this episode, we are going to talk about PR. We will discuss if PR is still relevant; especially in mid-market B2B. And if it is relevant - how you as an owner, can use PR in a practical manner to leverage growth in your business.      After listening to today’s episode, check out Lindsey’s podcast, SaaS Half Full. In her podcast, Lindsey talks with top marketing leaders who are crafting unique strategies for success.  

Our guest today is Tim Hughes, Co-Founder, and CEO of DLA Ignite. Tim helps organizations of all sizes figure out ways to create relationships and conversations that lead to sales.  Tim is universally recognized as the world leading pioneer and innovator of Social Selling. He is currently ranked Number 1 by Onalytica as the most influential social selling person in the world. In 2021, Linkedin said he was one of the top 8 sales experts globally to follow and Brand 24 announced recently he was the 16th most influential person in marketing globally, based on measured social media influence. He is also the co-author of the bestselling books “Social Selling - Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers” and “Smarketing - How To Achieve Competitive Advantage through blended Sales and Marketing”. He has recently launched a second edition of “Social Selling - Techniques to Influence Buyers and Change Makers” which has been fully updated.  After listening to today's episode, check out the second edition of Tim's book, “Social Selling - Techniques to Influence Buyers and Change Makers”.   

Today's guest is Aaron Marks, President of Aspire Marketing Group. Aaron will help us understand the practical first and next steps business owners might take in utilizing new technologies to grow their businesses.    Aaron has nearly two decades of marketing leadership expertise, focused on digital and inbound marketing.  From commercializing high-profile VC-backed startups to driving measurable growth at Fortune 500 companies, Aaron has helped companies of all sizes strategize and deliver marketing success.  Aaron has translated this expertise into practical and actionable insights for numerous audiences, including speaking at conferences, serving as a podcast guest, writing guest articles, and even serving as a faculty member at training institutions. After listening to today's episode, visit Aaron's website to find a free playbook on how to double your lead generation.   

It's easy to think that "strategy" is only a priority for your market leaders – the trends setters. But we believe that for small to midmarket brands, strategy is the key that unlocks growth on purpose. Today, we recap the strategy series we created to bring powerful strategy to midmarket businesses.  

Today's guest is Dr. Michael Solomon, Professor of Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Michael has published many books, including the bestselling book on consumer behavior in the world. In today's episode, we will talk about what's changed in consumer behavior in the last couple of years, in light of COVID, and even the trends that may have been happening before then.   Michael literally “wrote the book” on understanding consumers. Hundreds of thousands of business students have learned about marketing from his books including, Consumer Behavior: Buying, Having, and Being; the most widely used textbook on the subject in the world.   Michael advises global clients on marketing strategies to make them more consumer-centric. His latest book – The New Chameleons: How to Connect with Consumers Who Defy Categorization won the NYC Big Book Award in the Marketing/Sales category.  As a Professor of Marketing (in the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia) and an industry consultant, Michael combines cutting-edge academic theory with actionable real-world strategies. Michael helps managers get inside the heads of their customers so they can anticipate and satisfy their deepest and most pressing needs – today and tomorrow. After listening to today's episode, visit Michael's website for his new online course on Customer Engagement.  

Many owners are concerned that when they sharpen their focus on a more specific ideal client, they might be leaving money on the table. It's a good question! Narrowing your focus is only one part of the equation, focused on helping you convert opportunities at a higher percentage and gain better-aligned customers. Now, it's time to strategically expand your focus using that target customer. We'll cover topics like: How to expand your relationship with your best clients How to identify new pools of ideal clients  

Our guest today is Sebastian Schieke of Sebastian Schieke & Company GmbH.  Sebastian mentors CEOs from around the world in building their ability to enhance their team's capacity to be high performance organizations.   In this episode, we'll discuss building a high-performance organization, developing people, and providing hope during tough times.   Sebastian is an entrepreneur, CEO mentor and coach, business angel, and investor. He has founded, operated, and grown multiple 7-figure companies.  Sebastian invests in startups, mentors, and coaches CEOs, and helps them move their teams forward. His expertise comes from a wealth of experience, including some challenging times. He knows what it takes to be successful and how to get there.  After listening to today's episode, check out Sebastian's podcast, The High-Performance CEO. In each episode, you'll hear how to drive your business forward and develop a healthy and thriving work culture for your organization.

In this episode, Jose Palomino joins host Hannah to explore essential strategies for guiding B2B companies through revenue plateaus toward purposeful growth. The discussion starts with a definition of revenue plateaus and an exploration of indicators of stagnation. Jose underscores the importance of diagnosing core issues, crafting a robust value proposition, and aligning marketing efforts with the strategic vision of the company. Throughout their conversation, they delve into actionable insights on differentiating in competitive markets, highlighting the critical role of owner-led leadership, and strategies for effectively communicating trust and value to customers. Jose enriches the discussion with practical examples and anecdotes, ensuring business leaders gain a comprehensive understanding of navigating toward intentional growth.

Our guest today is Rocky Lalvani of Profit Comes First. Rocky is a profit specialist. He helps small, owner-led businesses figure out ways to increase profitability. He does this strategically with a perspective that comes from doing this for a long time and for many companies.  Rocky Lalvani serves as Chief Profitability Adviser for business owners. He teaches owners how to ensure they get paid and make profit a priority.  As a certified Profit First Professional, he implements Mike Michalowicz's Profit First System. We change the accounting formula of Sales - Expenses = Profit to Sales - Profit = Expenses. This ensures Profit comes first! However, it's not about money at all costs, people come before money!) After listening to today's episode, visit Rocky's website to get two free chapters of "Profit" by Mike Michalowicz.   

Our guest today is Marcus Sheridan, author of "They Ask, You Answer". Marcus is a leader in how modern selling has to adapt to today's buyers. We will discuss simple things you can do to navigate the simple fact that buyers are in control.  Marcus Sheridan is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker known for his unique ability to excite, engage and motivate live audiences with his simple, yet powerful transformational business approach. He has inspired thousands of audiences and helped millions of people from all over the world to achieve their own success with his “They Ask, You Answer” philosophy. After listening to today’s episode, check out Marcus' website to learn more about Marcus and to access a copy of his book, rated the #1 marketing book by Mashable, “They Ask, You Answer”.    

Today's guest is Steve Smith of GrowthSource Coaching. Steve is an expert coach for owners who are looking to transition back into a hands-on role in their business because they either want to grow their business, take it in a different direction, or rescue it. Whatever the reason, Steve is the guy who helps business owners figure out their why and connect with their people to create great results.   Steve is the owner of GrowthSource Coaching, an Orange County, CA-based business and executive coaching company that specializes in helping business professionals become extraordinary leaders, savvy business owners, and confident marketing strategists.  Steve’s sole mission is to help business professionals develop their clarity, confidence, and operating performance so they can play at their highest potential. After listening to today's episode, check out Steve's eBook, "Ten Major Business Blind Spots".    

Our guest today is Kristen Noelle of KN Digital. Kristen runs a digital marketing agency focused on empowering organizations leverage content through all the digital mechanisms available to us today. We will discuss practical strategies to approach this without being overwhelmed or blown out by budget demands. It's all about finding an authentic voice and connect with people in a way that markets will demand from anybody selling anything.   Kristen is a copywriter and digital agency owner, helping companies bring LIFE to their online presence — by showing up with a strategy, systems, and soul. She believes the best small business marketing centers on human-to-human storytelling and never losing sight of a brand’s essence. Kristen partners with CEOs, startup execs, and solopreneurs to help them grow businesses that feel fulfilling and freeing. At KN Digital, she enjoys leading workshops around content marketing and customer acquisition through story-based sales funnels. An ex-digital nomad, Kristen is currently based in Maryland (just outside Washington, DC) and enjoys working with clients all around the world. After listening to this episode, visit Kristen's website to schedule a free custom audit to learn where your marketing copy or funnel may be bleeding sales.