If you’re building a business right now, you’ve probably felt it, marketing is shifting fast.

In this episode, serial entrepreneur and author Gary Nealon joins us to break down what AI, GPTs, and changing search behavior really mean for small businesses. We talk about why traditional SEO is no longer enough, how brands can show up inside AI-generated answers, and why platforms like Reddit are becoming a powerful trust layer for buyers.

Gary also shares his concept of “downtasking”, a simple but powerful framework for assigning dollar values to your daily tasks so you can stop doing low-value work and focus on what actually scales. From leveraging virtual assistants to building custom GPTs inside your company, this conversation is packed with practical ideas founders can use immediately.

We also dive into: • Why so many businesses plateau around $750K–$1M in revenue • The danger of falling in love with your product instead of your customer • Why failing fast beats waiting for perfect • How data can reveal who your real buyer actually is

If you feel stretched thin, stuck in the weeds, or unsure how AI fits into your growth strategy, this episode will challenge your thinking in the best way.

Listen in and ask yourself: What should I stop doing this week?

What makes someone sound like a leader, even before they have the title?

In this episode of Entrepreneurs United, John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann sit down with communication expert Karen Laos to unpack the subtle shifts that instantly elevate your presence, credibility, and influence.

Karen shares why the first person to speak is often perceived as the leader, how your “focus face” may be working against you, and the fastest way to eliminate filler words without sounding robotic. You will learn practical frameworks you can apply immediately, including how to stop rambling in real time with one simple phrase, how to make direct asks that actually get results, and how small language tweaks can either shrink your authority or amplify it.

Karen also opens up about the pivotal boardroom moment that shaped her mission to help women stop over apologizing, minimizing their expertise, and waiting for permission to speak.

If you run meetings, pitch clients, lead teams, negotiate deals, or want to be taken more seriously when you speak, this episode delivers clear, actionable insights you can use today.

After listening, ask yourself: What is one communication habit you are ready to change this week?

Timestamps
00:00 The Power of Speaking First
00:41 Introduction to Karen Laos
01:05 Understanding Communication Challenges
02:03 The Importance of Self-Awareness
03:39 Improving Your Presence
05:02 Mastering Public Speaking
08:54 Bringing Fun into Professionalism
14:59 The Confidence Key: Asking for What You Want
22:11 Empowering Women Executives
24:41 The Power of Speaking First
25:29 How to Stop Rambling
26:04 The Impact of Language on Mindset
27:57 Interpreting Word Choice in Communication
29:10 The Role of Gratitude in Communication
31:27 Effective Communication Techniques
35:02 Coaching on Communication Skills
40:59 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Connect with Karen Laos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/
Book, Trust Your Own Voice: https://karenlaos.com/book/
Free Guide, 9 Words to Avoid: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/
The Confidence Cocktail™ Self-Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/

What if the most powerful skill in your business is not pitching, persuading, or presenting… but listening?

In this episode, John and Rich break down why elite entrepreneurs and coaches treat listening as a strategic advantage. From boardrooms to client calls to personal relationships, the ability to truly hear what is being said, and what is not being said, can change everything.

They share practical tools you can implement immediately: pausing before responding, validating what you heard, asking better follow up questions, taking notes to stay present, and recognizing patterns over time. They also unpack real challenges founders face, especially mental drifting during virtual meetings and missing key nonverbal cues.

If you want to build stronger trust, make better decisions, and communicate at a higher level, this conversation will sharpen one of the most overlooked skills in entrepreneurship.

Listen in and ask yourself: are you really listening, or just waiting to talk?

Ben Albert, founder of Grow Getters Only, joins John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann to explore what it really means to build authentic relationships in business. From overcoming personal adversity to building communities that grow together, Ben shares tactical insights on moving beyond parasocial connections to create meaningful impact. This episode dives into the "Plus, Minus, Equals" model, why long-form content still wins, and how to turn your audience into a collaborative ecosystem. If you're tired of surface-level networking and ready to lead with connection, this one’s for you.

🎯 Topics Covered:

• The loneliness of OnlyFans (and what it teaches us about audience depth)

• Why real community requires more than DMs and likes

• Leveraging mentors, peers, and mentees for exponential growth

• From isolation to inner circle: building intentional business tiers

👉 Perfect for: entrepreneurs, creators, marketers, community builders

🎧 Listen in and discover how to grow through people, not just platforms https://entrepreneursunited.us/links/

In this episode of Entrepreneurs United Podcast, hosts John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann are joined by Ben Johnson, founder and CEO of Particle 41, to discuss the transformative power of AI and data in modern businesses. They explore the challenges of AI integration, the importance of understanding business metrics, and strategies for improving operational efficiency. Ben emphasizes the necessity of a structured AI transformation strategy and the need for clear problem identification. Tune in to learn how AI can take your business to the next level through actionable insights and practical applications.

00:00 The Rise of Voice as the New Interface

00:44 Introduction to Ben Johnson and Particle 41

01:20 Maximizing Business Value with AI and Data

02:17 AI Transformation Strategy: Training, Automation, and Ag Agentic

05:43 Real-World Applications of AI in Business

13:42 The Role of Automation and Custom Solutions

18:09 Preparing Your Business for AI Integration

21:39 Challenges and Future of AI in Business

25:01 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

26:23 Conclusion and Contact Information

27:08 Hosts' Reflections and Insights

💼❤️ Can business strategies save your relationship? Absolutely.

In this episode of Entrepreneurs United, hosts John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann sit down with Dr. Robin Buckley, top couples coach and author of Marriage, Inc., to explore how high-performing entrepreneurs can apply proven business tools to build stronger, more fulfilling personal relationships.

Dr. Buckley breaks down how to:

• Create a mission and vision statement for your relationship

• Understand and strengthen all 5 types of intimacy

• Use the 80/20 rule to increase happiness at home

• Build a communication system that actually works

Whether you’re scaling a company or a long-term relationship, this episode offers actionable strategies to lead better in every area of life.

🎙️ Guest: Dr. Robin Buckley
Author of Marriage, Inc. | Couples Coach | Keynote Speaker

Connect with Dr. Buckley:
Website: drrobinbuckley.com
Instagram: @drrobinbuckley
LinkedIn: Dr. Robin Buckley

What if the fastest path to growth is not adding more, but cutting the clutter?

In this episode, John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann sit down with Liz Chism, a coach who helps contractors scale without the chaos. Liz shares her unlikely path from growing up in a third-generation construction family to running a craft brewery that taught her the hard lesson of being trapped in a business. That experience led her to build a framework that helps owners create businesses that run with strong teams, clear accountability, and habits that actually stick.

You will hear Liz’s “business is like a house” model, built on a strong foundation and four pillars, along with her Five S framework: Simplify, Strategize, Systems, Sustaining, and Scaling. The conversation dives into why SOPs so often fail, how leadership makes them work, and why every SOP should tie to a measurable outcome so it stays alive instead of collecting dust.

If you want to stop owning a job and start building a self-sustaining business, this episode delivers practical insight you can apply immediately.

Learn more about Liz Chism at lizchism.comConnect with her on Instagram or Facebook via DMs

This episode is a tribute to Rich Wilson, President and CEO of Paul Davis Restoration, and a leader whose impact reached far beyond the companies he led.

Originally recorded as a candid conversation on leadership and entrepreneurship, this re-released episode captures Rich’s philosophy on accountability, culture, mentorship, and what it truly means to lead without excuses.

Rich believed leadership was a skill that could be developed, that results must be owned, and that people matter as much as performance. His lessons will surely continue to guide entrepreneurs, executives, and emerging leaders who strive to build strong teams and meaningful organizations.

🎙 You will hear insights on:

• Taking full responsibility as a leader

• Hiring the right people and holding high standards

• Balancing assertiveness with active listening

• The power of mentorship and learning through failure

• Leading with clarity, integrity, and purpose

We invite you to listen again or for the first time, and to reflect on the leadership lessons Rich Wilson so generously shared.

52 episodes. One year. The lessons that actually mattered.

In this special Entrepreneurs United year-in-review episode, John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann break down the most impactful insights they pulled from a full year of conversations with leading entrepreneurs, operators, and thinkers.

This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a reflection on what stuck, what changed how they lead, and what they’re carrying forward into the next year.

You’ll hear takeaways on reading people without judgment, why fun belongs in serious businesses, how to think differently about profit and cash flow, the role of intentional health in performance, and how long-term thinking shapes real generational wealth.

If you’re an entrepreneur closing one chapter and preparing for what’s next, this episode will help you slow down, zoom out, and move forward with clarity.

Listen in, take what resonates, and bring it with you into the year ahead. Subscribe to Entrepreneurs United for weekly conversations built for founders who want more than surface-level growth.

You’re closing deals. Revenue looks strong.So why does your business still feel broke?

In this episode, Austin McMillian delivers a hard truth most entrepreneurs avoid: sales do not equal success. If you’re not tracking the right numbers, you’re working harder than a W2 job for less freedom, more stress, and thinner margins.

We unpack why service-based business owners get stuck chasing growth while profits disappear, how messy financials quietly sabotage great businesses, and the simple metrics that actually determine whether your company survives or fails.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “We’re busy, but the bank account never reflects it”

• “Sales will fix this eventually”

• “I don’t really understand my P&L, but I should”

This episode is for you.

Austin breaks down labor efficiency, simplified financial buckets, and why profit has to come first, not last. No fluff. No finance jargon. Just clarity for entrepreneurs who are tired of grinding without winning.

👉 Want to connect with Austin?Find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-mcmillan-62a13181/

If your business feels heavier than it should, press play.