AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

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

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jana Franklin, founder of the CEO Concierge Virtual Assistant company, a business dedicated to providing virtual assistant services exclusively tailored to the needs of CEOs. She also franchises several Jimmy Johns and Fantastic Sams locations in the St. Louis area. She explains how her businesses are intertwined.

"The best thing I've done in my business in the last three years was to bring on a virtual assistant, in each and every company to help me run efficiently so I can do the things that I am good at. The things that I am not good at my virtual assistant handles for me," she says. "We launched it based on our experiences and it's very client-focused. It's a passion project for me."

The main topics of today's episode will be how Jana's company differentiates itself by training virtual assistants for specific clients and needs. Jana will also share how the company handles quality control with assessments and how the COVID-19 pandemic had a long-lasting effect on the hair salon and beauty industry.

Connect with Jana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jana-franklin-10177/ Check our CEO Concierge: https://ceoconcierge.com/ Recorded on 12/15/23

In today's podcast, we talk to Matthew Pollard, founder of Rapid Growth® Coach, and author of "The Introverts Edge," a book laying out the steps on how a shy and quiet person can outsell anyone without changing their personality.

"What makes me tick right now is helping people realize that introverts aren't second-class citizens; their path to success is just different to that of an extrovert," he says. "The biggest fake news you've ever heard is that introverts have to have a gift of gab to be successful. They just need to lean into their natural gifts and plan and prepare."

The main topics of today's episode will be why entrepreneurs should build their businesses ready to sell from day one. We will also talk about how to differentiate yourself and niche down to actually get paid what you're worth. Matthew will also share how learning how to be more engaging on camera during COVID helped Matthew be a better public speaker.

Connect with Matthew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpollardspeaker/ Check out Matthew's Blog: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpollardspeaker/ Recorded on 12/14/23

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Stacee Mandeville, founder of The Mandeville Method, a three-pillar soft skills approach that helps teams communicate with clarity and authority, use emotional intelligence to reduce stress, and develop personal influence to build relationships.

"Everything the Mandeville Method does is concrete, actionable, practical. We talk about soft skills, but I concretize them so that you can do it," she said. "I bridge the gap between knowing what to do and how to do it."

The main topics of today's episode will be how Stacee translated her gift to communicate into a business. Stacee will share how to communicate effectively through Zoom or other virtual platforms and how to adjust your facets in certain situations without being inauthentic.

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Kira Wissman, CAS Controller of the client advisory services department at KWC CPAs, based in Alexandria, Virginia. She explains how she has tried to change perceptions about the accounting world.

"The owner of the company I worked for initially was very passionate about people and really taught me the importance of motivation and how to get the best out of people," she said. "Accounting tends to be very nitpicky and pointing out the wrongs. So, I'm trying to flip that switch and point out what people do right more than the wrong so we kind of lose that stigma that has become attached to our profession."

The main topics of today's episode will be why it is important to reach out to a financial professional before you think you should. We will also discuss it is important to have a line of credit and why an entrepreneur should have a continual assessment of their financial goals.

Connect with Kira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdw2200/

Check out KWC CPAs: https://www.kwccpa.com/

Recorded on 11/20/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Amy Power, founder and CEO of The Power Group, a PR, social media and influencer relations firm in Dallas, where she is also president of the EO chapter. Amy tells us how she was inspired by her grandmother at a young age to become an entrepreneur.

"My grandmother, in hindsight, was an entrepreneur. She had her own seamstress shop in Jackson, Tennessee, and as a little child, when I visited her in the summers, I would watch her serve customers and mend clothing," she said. Growing up, I always knew that I was going to have a different path. And I did not want the 'nine-to-five job.' I just knew I would create something different for myself. I just didn't have the word entrepreneur in my vocabulary."

The main topics of today's episode will be how working for a toxic employer was a valuable learning lesson, teaching Amy what she did not want to create. We'll also hear how she learned how to delegate duties as her business grew after starting as a sole practitioner. Amy will also share how embracing tools such as social media and AI enhances her business rather than threatens it.

Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypowerpr/

Check out The Power Group: https://thepowergroup.com/

Recorded on 11/17/23