AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Chris Hutchinson, CEO of Trebuchet Group, an organizational consulting firm focused on helping leaders achieve great accomplishments through creating great teams.

“I started this organization to enable the best within people; not in a fuzzy, rosy, unicorns and butterflies way,” he said. “When we can trust each other and work together really effectively, leaders can show up in a way that helps people get clarity and be able to do the right things, we can do anything.”

The main topics of today's episode will be:

• How Chris was able to have an entrepreneurial experience in the Air Force before entering the corporate world and then starting his own company.

• How open communication and understanding has allowed him to successfully work with his wife.

• How he prepared his staff to run the company when he went on a four-month sabbatical.

Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rippleleader/ Check out Trebuchet Group: https://www.trebuchetgroup.com/ Check out Ripple Leader: https://www.rippleleader.com/ Recorded on 3/13/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Karan Shah, Owner/Director of Ivy Experience, a company that prepares students for their collegiate futures through test prep, tutoring and essay consulting.

Karan sheds light on the impact of online learning on the tutoring industry, particularly in areas with limited access to such resources.

“In Philadelphia, New York, LA Chicago, there's a lot of college prep options, but if you go to some more rural areas, there just aren't, right? There aren't many options. There might be one tutor available and they can only handle so many kids, right? So it's really open, the internet has opened up different markets to us that weren't previously open to us before.”

The main topics of today's episode will the benefits and challenges of online learning, particularly in the context of tutoring, and how the internet has transformed the tutoring industry. Karan will also share how having other resources in the beginning allowed Karan’s company to grow slowly without outside financing. Karan will also explain having different, yet complementary, skills from your business partner is beneficial for your company’s success.

Connect with Karan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karan-shah-467075b6/ Check out Ivy Experience: https://myivyexperience.com/ Recorded on 3/12/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt, CEO of TechWerxe, a managed service provider for businesses. She discusses common misconceptions about IT services and offers valuable insights into how businesses can stay ahead in an increasingly digital landscape.

“So here's the other thing. Small, medium businesses, one in four, right? One in four gets breached. It's that simple, one in four gets breached. It's not that it hasn't happened to you.It has already happened, and you may not know about it. It will happen, and one of two things will happen if it happens. It'll get blocked because you've got the right solutions in place, or it'll get in. But it will happen. And people don't realize that.”

The main topics of today's episode will be navigating the myths surrounding IT services for safeguarding your business against potential breaches. Sejal will also tell us why it is up to the business owner to make sure a disaster recovery plan is working before disaster strikes. We will also discuss why it is critical to understand that IT is a necessity, not a luxury.

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Ben Smith, founder and president of TriTech Services Group, a company he formed in 2021 to acquire and grow small businesses. He explains why he left the corporate world after around 25 years to become his own boss.

“I no longer wanted to allow somebody else to dictate my story or what I was going to do,” he said. “I really wanted to take more control of my life, what I was doing and the quality of life that I was having.”

The main topics of today's episode will be the similarities between being a solo entrepreneur and having employees. We also chat about why you shouldn't hire just to hire somebody, hire the right person. Ben will also share the importance of giving back and mentoring young entrepreneurs.

Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminsmithttsg/ Recorded on 3/11/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Kevin Nolan,founder and CEO of Nolan Painting and partner of Nolan Consulting Group. In his new book, “Organizational Muscle,” Kevin explains how running a marathon in all 50 states has helped him with the ups and downs of running his own business. “Have an operating system. All companies that get to any kind of success level in size have an operating system. It’s their own. It ends up being their own… Like I said, everybody knows what the operating system is. It’s got to be predictable; it’s got to be aligned with the mission, vision, and values. But you need an operating system. But it should be your own ultimately.”

The main topics of today's episode will be why entrepreneurs should be focusing on continuous improvement and disrupting their own business before somebody else does. We will also discuss why entrepreneurs need to surround themselves with smart people who can provide information about the business within moments or an hour or two. Kevin will also share why entrepreneurs should get several different perspectives and then implement the ones that work.

Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjnolan1/ Check out Nolan Painting: https://www.nolanpainting.com/

Check out the Nolan Consulting Group: https://www.nolancg.com/ Check out Organizational Muscle: https://organizationalmuscle.com/ Recorded on 2/12/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Chris Burkhard, CEO of Placers, a company that provides custom workforce solutions. A fourth-generation entrepreneur, Burkhard explains how his desire to be his own boss came early in life.

“You could say it was a family calling, but when we had Sunday dinner, my dad would say to me and my two sisters, ‘you have more control over your life if you’re your own boss; don't give that up and don't work for somebody else,’” he said.

The main topics of today's episode will be how outsourcing and third-party services are drivers in the U.S. economy. Chris will share how his staffing business actually initially grew during the pandemic due to his concentration on contract jobs, many of which were in essential industries.We will also discuss how winning awards isn’t necessarily a sign of a healthy business.

Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburkhard/ Check out Chris's book "Opposite The Crowd": https://www.amazon.com/Opposite-Crowd-Want-Must-Know/dp/B0C9S8B1CF Check out Placers: https://myplacers.com/ Recorded on 2/6/2024

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Laura Meyer,CEO and founder of JoyBrand Creative, which leverages the power of emotional intelligence and AI technology to supercharge growth initiatives. She explains how she had to pivot and start over seven years ago after shutting down her once-successful photography business.

“When you go through something like that, you learn so much that you can create something new, and you have to believe in your ability,” she said. “I think we can always reinvent ourselves. We have that ability and that permission to create something new from the ashes of maybe something that didn't work out.”

The main topics of today's episode will be why franchising is risky not only for the franchisor but for the people they are selling to. We will also talk about how being a business minimalist with low overhead can create a large margin of profit and time.Laura will also share why having the proper mindset is much more important in running a business than just having a strong skill set. Connect with Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-meyer-creative/ Subscribe to Laura's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTwRnF0_KDlvP6xFYgq7nDg Check out JoyBrand Creative: https://joybrandcreative.com/

Recorded on 1/31/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jennifer Walzer Berkowitz,Managing Director of R&J Advisory Group, which helps CEOs and executive teams scale up. Tune in as Jennifer explains her motivation in helping others achieve success.

“I'm in a good place in my life. I don't have to be doing this. I could be on the tennis court every day. But the reality is that my whole purpose in life is to give others the same freedom,” she said. “I look at it as a partnership. My clients look at me as an extension to their team, they actually see me as a team member.”

The main topics of today's episode will be why entrepreneurs looking for coaches need to interview several candidates with different personalities and experiences. Jennifer will also share how surrounding yourself with the right people allows you to naturally scale up.We will also discuss why you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.

Connect with Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenwalzerberkowitz/

Check out R&J Advisory Group, Inc.: https://www.randjadvisorygroup.com/

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Deb Gabor,founder and CEO of Sol Marketing, a strategy-led marketing firm. Deb talks to us about cultivating your human authority to create irrational loyalty.

“I'm in the business of creating the condition that I call irrational loyalty – when people are so indelibly bonded to a brand, they feel like they were cheating on it if they were to choose an alternative,” she explains. “Brands that create that condition of irrational loyalty scale more rapidly, more profitably, and are more focused. But the most important thing is that they earn on average – and this is just a mean – 40% more revenue than companies that don't.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how brand relationships are something that exist for any kind of business, no matter the size or the scope. Deb will explain why authority and servant leadership are indelibly linked. We will also discuss how giving away services with the sole purpose of helping other people and uplifting them will build your customer base and bottom line.

Connect with Deb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgabor/ Check out Deb's website: https://debgabor.com/ Check out Sol Marketing: https://www.solmarketing.com/ Recorded on 1/29/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jay Sidhu,Chairman and CEO of Customers Bancorp, Inc. and Executive Chairman of Customers Bank. He is also author of “Never, Ever, Ever Give Up, ” which started as a book for his grandchildren about being a first-generation immigrant from India, but evolved into a guideline for young entrepreneurs needing inspiration

“I was very blessed that my dad had a great influence on my life, he was my mentor. And I wanted to pass on what he did for me on to others,” he said. “Now I have a goal and a mission to try to reach at least 5,000 young people in America or around the world and make a positive difference in their lives from sharing my experiences and my disappointments – everything in life – with them. That to me will be the ultimate satisfaction.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how important it is to be an authentic person and be grateful for everything you have. Jay will also share why mentoring is a virtuous circle between mentors and mentees and how bankers are in the business of having their customers succeed.

Connect with Jay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-sidhu-2108b593/

Check out Customers Bank: https://www.customersbank.com/

Get Jay's book, "Never Ever, Ever Give Up": https://nevereverevergiveup.com/thebook/

Recorded on 2/8/24