AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

In today’s podcast, we talk to Ryan Tansom, founder of Arkona, and the Intentional Growth™ Framework, which helps owners view and run their company like a financial asset through educational training and fractional CFO services. He developed the program after selling his family business with the goal of helping others avoid the same mistakes he made.

“I think the blind trust, we can't do that anymore,” he said. “Because you have situations like myself that you get into when you think everybody's looking out for you, but you realize they don't get paid to look out for you.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how owners should understand their business through the lens of finance so they can get what they want from their financing partners. We will also talk about how understanding your company’s valuation – every month – sets a framework for decision-making and why revenue isn’t the only factor to measure your company’s success or growth.

Connect with Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tansom-4a440710/

Check out Arkona: https://arkona.io/

Follow Ryan on X: https://twitter.com/RyanTansom

Recorded on 10/16/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Len Bruskiewitz, owner of FocalPoint, where he helps small businesses, owners and entrepreneurs be more successful by coaching them to optimize their four key levers in their lives and companies – time, money, team and strategy.

“I think one of the biggest things that small business owners don’t realize is that you can’t wake up one day and decide to sell your business the next. The guidance that I talk to is for at least 2–3 years... You’ve got to think about this before you do it. It’s not something you can just snap your fingers and have a saleable business.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how timing and planning are key pieces to a successful transition plan and how coaching is more about personal connection than the system or modules. Len will also tell about the Four Critical Areas of Business: Time, Team, Money and Future. Connect with Len: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbruski/

Check Out FocalPoint: https://www.focalpointcoaching.com/

Recorded on 10/10/23

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jeff Silbert, co-founder and president of Silbert Partners, which operates 10 locations of Hand & Stone Massage, and Facial Spa and Moxie Salon and Beauty Bar. He explains how he prefers franchising to starting a business from scratch.

“Actually, franchising was new to me. It works out well because I like getting in kind of early, but I don't like being the first,” he said. “So, this kind of works well with the way my head works and the way I think about things—getting in pretty early and figuring out how to scale it. But not doing it from day one. I'm kinda like day two, I guess you'd call it.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how having a membership model kept his massage and facial business going through the early stages of the pandemic and how building relationships with staff results in loyalty and low turnover. Jeff will also tell us how he financed himself over the years with a combination of debt and self-funding.

Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silbert/ Recorded on 10/6/23

In today’s podcast, Lynn talks to Cassandra Bailey, the founder, president, and CEO of Slice Communications. She tells us how she made the transition from employee to employer when social media was just emerging about 15 years ago.

“I had been doing media relations, and I recognized that social media was going to be this new emerging way for companies to interact with people,” she said. “So, Slice was founded on that point of view—that media relations and social media really should work hand in hand.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how Cassandra has learned valuable lessons about business management and leadership through serving on various boards. We will also chat about the importance of mentorships and internships and how they can boost your business. We will also hear about how Cassandra melded the cultures of her company with the business she acquired, and reinvented the company values together.

Connect with Cassandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandraorylbailey/

Check out Slice Communications: https://slicecommunications.com/

Recorded on 10/6/23

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Vik Thapar, managing director of Cypress Growth Capital, where he oversees all aspects of the firm’s investment process and provides ongoing support to portfolio companies. He tells us what he looks for when acquiring venture capital.

“We're looking to learn about the business in general, which includes technology, but at the end of the day, the management team is probably at the forefront of what we look at because it doesn't really matter what you're selling or how you're selling it. Because if the folks that are leading the charge aren't somebody you bet on, the rest of it doesn't really matter,” he said.

The main topics of today's episode will be how Vik’s company provides clients with a way to get the capital they need to grow, but retain their equity. We will also talk about why financials aren’t the only factor Vik considers when deciding whether or not to invest in a company and what factors have contributed to the jump in investment activity as of late.

Connect with Vik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikthapar/ Check out Cypress Growth Capital: https://www.cypressgrowthcapital.com/ Recorded on 9/26/23 The full episode airs on 11/8/2023

In this week's edition of the AmiSights podcast, we talk to Michael Brady. Michael is a consultant with LPL Financial and the managing partner of Independent Advisor Group, where he mentors approximately 35 advisors and oversees the books of business owned by IAG, which total more than $200 million in assets. He tells us how he grew his business from the ground up, starting with a bunch of smaller accounts and eventually scaling up.

“The way our industry works is you get a little bit of growth, a little bit of growth, and then a shot up,” he said. “All of a sudden, something happens, something breaks your way, and boom, next thing you know, you reach the next plateau.”

The main topics of today's episode will be how Michael reshaped his business after the sudden death of his business partner and made sure his partner’s family was taken care of, fulfilling the plan he proposed before his death. Michael will also talk about how he provides added value to his clients by offering more than just investment advice, focusing on what impacts their lives and future. He also goes on to say the way you invest your money should be based on when you're going to use it.

Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brady-553772/

Check out Independent Advisor Group: https://www.independentadvisorgroup.net/

Recorded on 9/8/23

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, I found myself as the LIVE case study when an unexpected branding exercise unfolded in this episode with our guest, Deb Gabor. Deb Gabor is the founder and CEO of Sol Marketing, a strategy-led marketing firm. Known as the “branding queen,” Deb and I talk about what companies should do, if anything at all, to respond to difficult topics such as the current crisis in Israel and Gaza.

“My hope is that we are going to help leaders navigate the thought process behind whether or not they should make a statement, and when,” she said. “And if they do decide that they're going to make a statement, how to construct that in a way that serves them, other people, the community, their employees, and people at large serves in the right way.”

There are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to take a stand on a sensitive issue. These include asking yourself if you have a dog in this hunt, and should you make a statement? How do you actually construct that statement in a way that doesn't put you in that awkward position of damned if you do, damned if you don’t? Should you use your company as a platform for precipitating a change you want to see in the world? Who is your ideal archetypal customer?

Connect with Deb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgabor/

Recorded on 10/17/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Miguel Leal, who is widely regarded as the “Godfather of Mexican Cheese” in the United States. Miguel tells us how he moved to the U.S. from Mexico when he was a teen for an apprenticeship at a Wisconsin cheese factory. Although he didn’t know the language, had no money, and had little education with a learning disability, his hard work and determination pushed him through the tough times and led him to build—and eventually sell—a very successful business.

“I took the opportunity, and I took it seriously. And I pushed because it was a lot of work. And sometimes I really didn't have money, and I didn't have credit,” he said. “I had to figure it out without going to school. And I didn’t have anybody to advise me. I was alone. You have to pay attention and be even more aggressive.”

The main topics of today's episode will be Miguel’s words of wisdom for entrepreneurs when they are struggling to get a business going and advice for those who have a hard time with traditional learning. We will also talk about how, often, the smartest person in the room is the quietest person in the room. BONUS: Learn the difference between Mexican cheese and American cheese.

Connect with Miguel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-leal-240676280/

Recorded on 8/31/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Dr. Laura Sicola, founder of Vocal Impact Productions and host of the podcast, “Speaking to Influence: Communication Secrets of the C-Suite.” She explains why clear communication is vital, no matter who you are talking to or the situation.

“To me, the definition of public speaking is anytime you're talking to somebody other than yourself,” she says. “So, it could be just a conversation with a coworker, it could be an interview like this, it could be a board meeting, it could be a conference talk. It doesn't have to be formal, it can be small and informal. But if you're trying to convey the genius in your brain and the passion in your heart, and get it across to somebody in a way that they get it, that's public speaking.”

The main topics of today's episode will be what gets in people’s way while trying to communicate and why being the best version of yourself, rather than trying to act like someone else, is always the best way to get through to your audience. We will also talk about how to keep people’s attention by changing the volume and tone of your voice. And if you are a fellow podcaster listening, Laura will go into the importance of upgrading your computer’s microphone, as it makes a world of difference. Connect with Dr. Laura Sicola: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola/ Check out Vocal Impact Productions: https://vocalimpactproductions.com/

Recorded on 8/25/23

In today’s podcast, we talk to Dr. Jeff Cornwall, co-founder and CEO of Entrepreneurial Mind, LLC, and Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship at Belmont University, where he founded its entrepreneurship program in 2003. Shortly after retiring, Jeff was diagnosed with cancer last year, which changed his outlook on life. “I wasn't sure I was going to retire, but between COVID and Generation Z, I decided it was time to retire from my professorship, and I planned to be pretty active. The university hired me back to do a half-time consulting job on a new curriculum program. And I'm working on a new book and was working pretty much full-time once I retired,” he says. “Then I came down with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which fortunately they caught early enough. But I guess that was the wake-up call. It was time to adjust my priorities a little bit.” The main topics of today's episode will be what’s working—and not working—in entrepreneurship education today. We will also talk about the state of mentorship for entrepreneurs, where the holes are, and Jeff’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs (hint: you don’t know everything).

Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-cornwall-a45603/

Check out Entrepreneurial Mind: https://entrepreneurialmindllc.com/

Recorded on 08/21/23