15 Minutes Share Your Voice

In today's podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Kent Gregoire, Co-Founder of Stakeholder Business, which is on a mission to help entrepreneurs transform their companies for maximum impact. In addition to his work with Stakeholder Business, he is also the Founder and CEO of Symphony Advantage. Being one of seven certified conscious capitalism consultants around the world, Kent wants to create more opportunities and solve more problems for stakeholders. The main topics of today's discussion will be conscious capitalism and stakeholder capitalism.

"Conscious capitalism is a way of being able to express, through business, how to elevate humanity to solve worthy problems for society and the planet," he explains. "Conscious capitalism itself is also a theory where stakeholder capitalism becomes the practice around creating companies that not only just say they do good, but their representation of what is happening is also doing well for other people."

While it may seem that conscious capitalism consists simply of giving a percentage of profits to a particular charity or creating a foundation, Kent says it goes deeper than that. It is a deliberate operating model set in place from the get-go rather than waiting to see if the business turns a profit. And it doesn't just have to relate to sharing profits.

"You can engage your stakeholders to help them innovate, find out what their purpose is, help your stakeholders be successful," he said. "If your stakeholders are successful, it's going to help you innovate in your organization, help you get access to products from other organizations faster, and help you with retention."

Learn more as Kent explains the five elements of stakeholder capitalism and how it changes business for good.

Will Stafford is the Managing Attorney at Stafford Law Firm, a relationship-based legal planning firm for businesses and families focused on protecting their legacies. Will had over a decade of experience providing legal counsel with multiple agencies before starting his firm. He specializes in estate planning, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, capital markets, and corporate governance.

Keeping your clients up-to-date on estate planning can feel like an arduous task, but it doesn't need to be. What steps can you take to ensure the longevity and legacy of your clients? How can you interact with potential clients?

One way to provide value for your clients and their family is by educating them on amendments pertaining to estate planning. To do this, Will Stafford reaches out to his clients every two years with educational tools. He also uses social media to reach clients and engage in educational conversations on deciding what's best for his clients' families, leaving them feeling empowered and informed about their choices.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Bela Musits sits down with Will Stafford, Managing Attorney at Stafford Law Firm, to discuss why legacy planning is crucial for your family and business. Will talks about making empowered and educated decisions, why video marketing is an effective tool, and how estate planning can prevent conflict.

In today's podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to serial entrepreneur Celeste Trapp, who has started an exciting new venture after nearly 20 years in the salon business. Celeste has begun her next venture as the CEO and Founder of Whoz, a SaaS social invite and engagement app to help companies and associations engage and retain their valued employees and members.

After working more than 10 years in marketing, Celeste founded Hair M – one of the first high-end men's grooming salons – in October 2003. Based in Portland, Hair M had seven salons at its peak. The pandemic, combined with social unrest in downtown Portland, took its toll on the operation, cutting her locations to five.

Her new venture, a SaaS social invite and engagement app called Whoz, has been nine years in the making.

"In life, I think that people are either an organizer, a joiner, or a no-goer," she explained. "I'm an organizer. I love bringing people together doing all kinds of things. And I get a lot of joy out of seeing those connections happen. What I realized over the years is there's just not a good tool to do that."

Sure, Facebook groups and Slack channels help people connect. But often, they end up creating a lot of noise for some who aren't interested in the conversations that don't align with their interests. The Whoz app will allow users with specific interests, like golf or travel, to connect at specific times and places.

We ask Celeste about the differences between launching a brick-and-mortar business and a tech app. Obviously, she says, an online-based business doesn't have to deal with building maintenance and rising rents, but also doesn't need as many employees, thus greatly reducing overhead.

But the same "creative problem solving I just get so jazzed up about" remains constant in any venture.

Celeste also shares how she plans to make money with her new app and what she plans to do with her salons when she hits it big with Whoz.

Recorded 03/27/2023.

James Grant is the Co-founding Partner at Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant, helping personal injury lawyers make more money with less stress through litigation. James is an experienced personal injury attorney and has worked for The Law Office of Angela M. Kinley, was a Senior Associate Attorney for Atlanta Trial Lawyers Group at Jaffe Law Center, LLC, and worked as the Assistant Solicitor-General with the Gwinnett County Solicitor-General's Office and the Municipal Court of Suwanee.

James graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a BS in civil engineering and from Faulkner University with his JD in law. He is active in his local community and has appeared on several law-centered podcasts.

What can you do to reach your target audience? Cultivating relationships has more of an impact than direct marketing strategies. How can your relationships generate long-term growth?

James Grant knows the first step to growing your business is building trust — then you can showcase your networking abilities. Rather than viewing your clients as a one-time transaction, consider their lifetime value. Taking the time to follow up with previous clients allows you to continue to market to their needs. James recommends this strategy to maintain your brand, expand your client base, and scale your business.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Bela Musits sits down with James Grant, Co-founding Partner of Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant, to talk about an entrepreneur's perspective on growing a law firm. James discusses helping other attorneys succeed, why trust must be your foundation, and the importance of business objective metrics.

In today's podcast, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka SBA Queen, and I talk to Donya Gordon, a contract attorney who focuses on commercial contracts, eCommerce M & A transactions, contract dispute resolution, distress business sales, and escrow services. The main focus of today's conversation is what an entrepreneur should do to prepare for a successful transaction before the deal arrives on the attorney's desk.

After working with prominent law firms and as a judicial clerk for several years, Donya went out alone a couple of years ago without any outside financing. As a result, she is a one-woman show, except for contractors who help with heavy loads.

E-commerce is especially hot now, coming off the pandemic, with much movement in buying and selling businesses. Donya explains the importance of having an attorney specializing in e-commerce to guide entrepreneurs through the process.

"You don't want just to do this blindly," she says. "If your car breaks down, you're not fixing it yourself. And if you need a root canal, you're not doing it yourself. So why do you think you can be the attorney in a transaction? I encourage people to have a lawyer, but encourage you to get an e-commerce lawyer instead of just a lawyer."

We ask Donya what buyers and sellers can do well in advance to prepare for negotiations.

For buyers, make sure you have the money, she says. For sellers, make sure your financials are in order. You don't want poor bookkeeping or debts hampering the sale. And make sure you continue to put your foot on the gas. Just because you have an interested buyer doesn't mean you can give up. Deals can fall through at the last minute; ensure you have done your due diligence until the papers are signed.

Recorded 03/23/2023.

Eric Boughman is a Founding Partner of ForsterBoughman, a business law boutique serving to assist complex business transactions, tax, health law, asset protection, and related litigation. Eric leads the firm's healthcare and technology practices, relying on his diverse background to solve complex legal issues. He also serves as a Circuit Court Certified Mediator. His writings have been published in The Florida Bar Journal, Forbes, Daily Business Review, Accounting Today, Kiplinger, Financial Advisor Magazine, Law360, CEO World, and others. Eric is the co-author of The Law of Artificial Intelligence.

No matter what business you're in, as an owner you strive to generate clients and long-term stability. How can you provide value in the legal and business marketplace? What can you do to be a sought-after expert in your field?

For Eric Boughman, generating and maintaining a presence begins by bringing educational resources to other attorneys and volunteering in the community. To be recognized as an expert in your field, learn how to teach others. While marketing your business through an online presence is important, Eric knows word-of-mouth is an undervalued marketing strategy capable of providing longevity for your business.

Join Chad Franzen and Eric Boughman, Founding Partner of FosterBoughman, in this episode of 15 Minutes as they discuss maintaining a presence in the community through education. Eric talks about developing a firm, providing education as a form of marketing, and building a lasting reputation.

Welcome back to the AmiSights Podcast! Today we welcome our new Co-Host, MultiFunding President Lynn Ozer, aka the SBA Queen. On this episode, we talk to Josh Watson, founder of EIS Automation, a Las Vegas-based manufacturing automation company focusing on product handling and end-of-line solutions. This is a must see episode for entrepreneurs in exponential growth mode. We discuss how to finance growth and how saying no can lead to success.

Josh, who grew up in the printing industry, worked for a larger company when he decided to go out on his own in 2012. However, he maintained a consulting contract with his former employer until 2017. Since then, he has seen steady growth, including a big bump during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when he was considered an essential service catering to the medical space.

Although he has considered adding angel investors, he realizes that comes with risk, especially since he is in the hardware world, which is very capital-intensive and has much longer build times than just a software business.

He reached his "aha moment" last year when he realized he was in a position to pick and choose his customers rather than accepting every bid that came across his desk.

"You have to look at where you want to go and not get distracted by the shiny things on the side of the road," he said. "Not every opportunity should be taken, especially if you have a goal in mind in the direction you want to go."

He is weighing his immediate and long-term needs with higher interest rates. After all, interest rates can go down, and the monthly payment is the point to worry about.

Looking back, he realizes he needs to trust the process and not sweat the small stuff.

"You always cook it hotter than you eat it. So a lot of situations resolved themselves," he said. "It requires a lot of personal growth."

We learned a lot from Josh, and we're sure you will too.

Recorded 02/22/2023.

Gene Trowbridge is the Co-founding Partner at Trowbridge Law Group, assisting clients with federal security in all 50 states. Prior to becoming an attorney, Gene was a real estate syndicator developing mini-storage facilities using money from private investors. He served as a CCIM instructor and organized highly regarded intensive workshops focused on educating real estate syndicators on how to legally raise money from private investors. His book, "It's a Whole New Business," details the process of real estate syndication.

When you've established yourself in your career, how can you double your business? What's a guaranteed way to grow?

Gene Trowbridge saw a problem and decided to pursue law school. Since then, he has built his career by using a skillset built on experience in commercial real estate and working with attorneys. For Gene, building his business wasn't part of a big elaborate plan. It was simply following education-based marketing — and responding to people.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Chad Franzen sits down with Gene Trowbridge, Co-founding Partner at Trowbridge Law Group, to discuss how education-based marketing can work for you. Gene talks about starting law school late in his career, how to generate lifetime clients, and why you should be responding to potential clients.

Peggy Hoyt is a Founding Partner at the Law Offices of Hoyt and Bryan, where she serves individuals and families who want to create a lasting legacy for loved ones and their pets. She is also the Founder of Animal Care Trust USA, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping loved pets in loving homes. Peggy is a nationally recognized attorney, animal advocate, and host of the podcast All My Children Wear Fur Coats. She is the author of Amazon bestsellers "101 Ways to F$$k up Your Estate" and "All My Children Wear Fur Coats: How to Leave a Legacy for Your Pet."

Your furry friends are always there for you and you want to ensure they're taken care of if something unexpected happens to you. What legal action can you take to prepare for your pet's future after you're gone?

Peggy Hoyt knew she wanted to offer legal assistance to pet owners. For those who consider pets family members, leaving plans for them undocumented in the event you pass can leave your pet in a compromising position. With her experience in estate planning, Peggy helps pet parents generate a plan for their fur family after they are gone. Peggy believes that helping others goes beyond legal planning. By building a reputation of trust through marketing practices, you can aid the community and the pets residing in it better.

In this episode of 15 Minutes, Chad Franzen sits down with Peggy Hoyt, Founding Partner of The Law Offices of Hoyt and Bryan, to discuss the niche of including your pet's future in your end-of-life planning. Peggy talks about how her passions built her career, why education is a powerful tool, and how she helps clients make decisions about the future.

In today's podcast, I talk to Eric Schurenberg, editor-in-chief of Amplify Publishing Group and former CEO of Inc. and Fast Company. After a long and successful career as a writer and editor, Eric manages a "concierge book publishing company." The opportunity was created, he says, by the "broken state of traditional book publishing in which book publishers are no longer able to fulfill the model of being the impresario for your book." Instead, in the hybrid model, the author is the client and can make most of the decisions and keep most of the money. Eric is also heading the Newsroom Trust Project, a not-for-profit startup he describes as a "boot camp for working journalists to help them engage with…the declining state of trust in the profession." We discussed media integrity, which is leading to our divided country. With all the information and the opportunity for anyone to be a "reporter" on the internet, who do you trust? Whether it is a self-published subscription-based platform like Substack or a large organization with ample resources like the New York Times, news organizations need to control how they are seen out in the world and how they can deliver information worthy of people's trust, Eric says. And remember, those in the middle are responsible for keeping checks and balances on local and state government. It's a fascinating topic that has no easy answers. Listen to our conversation here.

Recorded 02/10/2023.