Free Agent with Meg Schmitz

Building a high-performance business requires a leader who has the desire to build something bigger, and discipline to consistently follow through with the actions that matter. Business owners can learn a lot from athletes who have the mindset and dedication to get better at their game every single day. Even though they are superstars, they still commit to practicing their craft and hold themselves accountable to the team's greater goal. Why are athletic-minded business owners more primed for success? What are some of the most important things we need to do as free agents to build a business that survives and thrives? In this episode, I'm joined by Focal Point business coach, Kristin Carlson. She shares what athletes can teach us about business, and how to build with freedom in mind. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode The true meaning of work-life balance When we think about having more balance between our lives and our businesses, we often think of it in terms of time, but it's also about our ability to be present in every area of our lives. We have to be present when we're with our families, and also present when we're with our clients. When we have ownership of our schedule, we can protect the things that matter. Why we have to transition from working in to working on the business If we want to run a business that gives us freedom, we can't spend all of our time working in the business and being the technician. We have to work ourselves out of the day-to-day so we can work on the strategy and get some time back in our lives. If we become too entrenched in the day-to-day, we make it harder for our business to scale. Why free agency is so different from corporate In the world of business ownership and franchises, we have a strong support system and a network of people who want us to succeed. This is very different from the corporate world which tends to have a less collaborative culture. Guest Bio Kristin Carlson is a Focal Point Business and Leadership coach, corporate trainer, and National Speaker. Kristin coaches business owners and executives to elevate their game. FocalPoint believes any company can dramatically improve the quality of their business results faster than they ever imagined possible - that it's simply a matter of choice and commitment. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-carlson, email [email protected] or call (262) 955-4861.

In corporate America, people are often forced to fit into a toxic work environment and culture, and this makes their daily experience difficult and uninspiring. As free agents, we can take that bad experience, and use it to inspire us to create a business and culture where people are happy to come to work every single day. As business owners, we don't just have financial responsibility. We are the glue that holds the team together, and we get to determine what experience and culture our employees enjoy. How can we create a job environment that enhances lives? What is the biggest misconception people have about the world of franchising? How does the idea of corporate job security hold people back from great opportunities? In this episode, I'm joined by LinkedIn expert and CEO of PIMedia, Debbie Harris. She shares her perspective on business ownership, franchising, and company culture. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode The power of being part of a franchise Starting your own business can really feel like you're going it alone, but being part of a franchise gives you a community. You have the support and success formula to achieve the same results. The franchise leaders with more experience are great mentors because they've navigated challenging times and succeeded through them. Why we need to care about leadership Free agency and running your own business isn't just about having control, it's about getting to lead. We're not just responsible for the livelihoods of people, we're also responsible for creating a good work experience and nurturing a culture and work environment they can thrive in. The biggest misconception about leaving corporate Many people don't want to leave corporate America because they don't want to lose the benefits of a traditional 9-5 job, but this is a misconception perpetuated by big companies. There are many options outside of a corporate benefits package for business owners, we just have to learn more about it and find what fits us. Guest Bio Debbie Harris is a digital marketing and LinkedIn expert, CEO, and founder of PIMedia, and a Regional Connector and National Trainer at Trustegrity. PIMedia is a leading social media and digital marketing firm that specializes in assisting clients with their online presence. The company works to bolster clients' business potential through the effective use of the most relevant digital channels available today. For more information, visit https://pimedia.me, https://www.linkedin.com/in/fordebbielee, email [email protected] or call (702) 465-4082.

Having a network of advisors is one of the most powerful ways we can confidently navigate free agency, especially for new entrepreneurs. There's so much value in having an infrastructure of support around you. If we want to build a business that will give us freedom we need a solid foundation, utilizing good advice from the right people. What many people discover in their free agency journey is the power of human capital, and why it's just as critical as financial capital. What are the benefits free agents get from maturing their network and tapping into the wisdom and experience of other people? How can we communicate effectively with advisors and investors? In this episode, I'm joined by entrepreneur, business advisor, CEO of Blackthorne Capital Management, and my husband Peter J. Layton. He talks about his career, and the most important lessons he's learned along the way. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode What it takes to be a successful investor One of the biggest challenges investors face is investing in an industry or niche we don't have experience in. In that case, it's important for that venture to have a lead investor. Go into the venture with someone who knows that sector well and brings in cash because they understand and believe in the idea. The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make Entrepreneurs shoot themselves in the foot by not keeping their investors up to speed with what's going on. A good board will demand good reporting, governance and transparency into what's going on. It's hard to get additional funding or support if you don't maintain clear channels of communication. How to find support, advice and resources as a free agent New entrepreneurs often feel like they have no support. The truth is, if we have good ideas, integrity, transparency, a strong work ethic and a willingness to pay that help forward, many people will gladly step forward to help. Guest Bio Peter J Layton is an entrepreneur, business advisor, commodity trading advisor, venture and angel capital investor, and the CEO of Blackthorne Capital Management and a managing member at Warhawk Fund. He is an expert on Big Data, Alternative Investments, and Liquid Managed Macro Futures. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjlayton. To learn more about Enactus visit https://enactus.org.

When we make the transition to Free Agent, we take on the added responsibility of leadership. Driving the business forward and making sure it thrives rests squarely on our shoulders. Every outcome, both positive and negative, can be attributed to our decisions and actions. If we don't understand our responsibility as leaders, the culture we want will never take hold, and ultimately our businesses will fail. It's our job to keep our eyes fixed on our long-term vision so that we can stay on our mission and achieve continued success. My guest today is a successful leader and free agent who credits his business leadership to his time in the military. What are the most important lessons and systems he learned from the military, and how is he applying them to his business? How do we build and promote a positive culture and work environment? In this episode, owner of AdvantaClean of Suburban Milwaukee, Barry Hintz shares his important insights on business and how he executes on his vision. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode What Barry learned about leadership from the military In the military, systems are documented and drilled into everyone on the team to ensure the success of the mission. This ensures that even the weakest link on the team is able to carry the mission forward. Even though business is a different field, we also need to have our systems and processes documented so that everyone is trained to execute at the highest level. How to make our team culture a reality Talking about our culture is one thing, but making it a reality in our business is vitally important. Until your culture is drummed in at the employee level and everyone on your team has bought into it, it's hard to keep any promise we make to our clients and truly deliver on it. Where our focus needs to be as leaders As a leader, our job is to set the vision, steer the culture, and ensure the long term viability of the business. At some point, our job comes down to running and leading the business. That means hiring people who excel at what they do, and getting out of their way so they can execute at a high level. Guest Bio Barry Hintz is an entrepreneur, veteran, and the owner of AdvantaClean of Suburban Milwaukee. AdvantaClean of Suburban Milwaukee is an independently owned and operated business that provides essential indoor air quality services to residential and commercial customers. They offer professional services that include 24/7 emergency water removal and drying, mold inspection and removal, air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, environmental air sampling, and other related services. The commitment to Barry's customers is to provide honest, meaningful service at a fair & reasonable price. For more information visit https://www.advantaclean.com/milwaukee-wi or call (414) 312-5999.

People take the leap into free agency because they love what they do, but often misunderstand the key numbers driving business. Leveraging the data and key performance indicators enables us to continue doing work we're passionate about in a financially sustainable way. Small business owners can struggle with details like financial data and struggle to formulate a plan to direct their operations. If there was only one thing small businesses could learn from corporate, it's how they make use of financials to help a company expand its capabilities. Knowing more about the finances and operational measures in our businesses is one of the most empowering things we can do, and today I'm joined by a free agent who has made this his life's work. How is accounting different to corporate finance? What should every business owner ask themselves when it comes to financials? How do we set ourselves apart in a crowded market? In today's episode, I'm joined by Data Magician, Finance Confidence Coach and Chief Data Analyst at Data2Profit, Lynn Corazzi. We discuss his free agency journey and why the work he does with small businesses is so vital to their success. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How to find your value as a free agent When we do the work of branding ourselves and go from a generalist to a specialist, we increase our chances of successfully monetizing our expertise. If we brand ourselves around something specific, simplify our messaging and distill our value down to where we are most effective, that's how we serve at the highest level. Why we can't just focus on the areas we love in our businesses Many small business owners and free agents struggle to find balance between what they love to do, and the things they need to do to keep the business on its feet. When we focus on only what we love, we can risk missing key elements that keep our businesses healthy and growing. The biggest benefit to running your own business One of the greatest benefits of running our own business and not being beholden to a corporate job is the freedom we have to step away from work, and have a better balance between our work and our lives. We have the gift of time to nurture our souls and recharge our batteries. When we have space to clear our heads, that is when the ideas start to flow. Guest Bio Lynn Corazzi is a Finance Confidence Coach, Data Magician, Creator of Sales & Profit Insights and Chief Data Analyst at Data2Profit. For businesses that are drowning data but lacking new information to improve results, Lynn creates insights, solutions, and strategies that make a business more money and leaders more confident. As if by magic, a messy, unstructured data transforms into facts you didn't know about sales and profit. For more information visit https://data2profit.net, send an email to [email protected] or call/text (920) 948-3355.

The people who leave corporate and become free agents understand they have power. Instead of having a corporation dictate what they can or cannot do, they choose to be the owners of their own destiny. When you're confident and self-assured, you can lead yourself towards the right opportunities, the best mentorship, and ultimately, the achievement of your goals. If you tap into your own confident leadership, you have the power to build a business you love and the life you want. What are the habits of confident leaders? Who do we need to surround ourselves with if we want to achieve our goals? In this episode, I'm joined by speaker, wealth advisor and strategist, Chad Coe. He talks about his path, becoming a confident leader, and why perseverance is at the core of his success. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode What drove Chad out of corporate A major catalyst for the move into business ownership is the shallow and controlling nature of corporate America, and how it treats people as disposable. As the CEO of your own company, you're not at the mercy of a corporation and how it treats its employees. You are the owner of your own universe, and you get to set the standard for how you'll be treated. Why we need to surround ourselves with the right people The right kind of mentorship rewards us and drives us to be better. Don't align with just anybody. We have to find people who push us to get out of our heads and into action. When we have the right people around us, it gives us the confidence to go after what we want. The power of deep perseverance A big part of having an entrepreneurial mindset is perseverance and the willingness to keep trying new things. Every venture we pursue becomes the stepping stone for a bigger opportunity. There will always be setbacks, but if we're persistent and stay focused on our goals, our hard work will pay off. Guest Bio Chad Coe is a business owner, speaker, wealth advisor, strategist, and author of The Confident Leader. His unique ability to align people with their goals in the peer-to-peer setting, challenge each other, and create their own success has earned him the moniker of "The Mastermind." When it comes to strong, decisive, and empathic leadership, nobody lives it, teaches it, and develops it like Chad a real difference maker! For more information visit https://www.coefinancial.com, connect with Chad on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadcoe, and call (847) 282-3170.

Going from being a highly successful and accomplished corporate executive to a free agent isn't just a career change, it's a complete mindset shift. It's about shedding the corporate identity, seeing past the success traps of a 9 to 5, and knowing that there's something more fulfilling on the other side. In order to successfully exit that 9 to 5 life, we have to redefine ambition so that it's on our terms. The great thing about being in business for yourself is that you're truly independent and able to make your own decisions and create your own path to success. You get to do what you love, make a real impact, and fulfill your purpose. Why do we need to transition out of a corporate identity? What plans can we put in motion to get us out of the corporate world and into free agency? In this episode, entrepreneur, author, business coach, and host of Ambition, Honey & Hustle, Candace Spears talks about her journey from corporate and the navigational changes she's made along the way. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode The 9 to 5 trap and how we can escape it Very often, when we work in corporate, we become attached to our corporate identity and our ego, and the success traps that come with working for a big company. It's important that we connect with our own identity and separate who we are from that corporate identity. Why coaching is important to our business ownership journey There are so many aspects of free agency that are hard to navigate on our own, and if we don't get help, we can start feeling like we're drowning. That's where coaching and mentorship come in. Coaching accelerates our knowledge and builds up our confidence because we have the guidance of people who have been where we are. How to deal with the negativity of naysayers and saboteurs Sometimes the people who are closest to us can also be the biggest saboteurs to our free agency and business ownership dreams. Candace surrounded herself with people who understood her, supported her, and people who were models for success. By shutting out the naysayers, her dreams never got derailed. Guest Bio Candace is an entrepreneur, author, life and business coach, marketer, investor and host of Ambition, Honey & Hustle, and founder of Spears Sparrow Collective. Candace specializes in helping women become legendary by removing corporate shackles, reframing mindsets, magnifying confidence, and unleashing hidden potential onto the world through service-based entrepreneurship. For more information, visit https://www.candacespears.com, follow @candacespears. To sign up for Candace's free training, go to thrivein90days.com

So many people have the potential to be free agents, but they never take the leap because it feels intimidating and overwhelming. That's because we think of making that change as a reinvention, instead of seeing it as a continuation of self-discovery, and another evolution of our individuality. There are ways to explore free agency and explore our potential in other areas so that we're prepared to make the leap. We live in a world with so many opportunities to combine our skills and our passions to create our own unique runway to success. What steps do we need to take if we want to grow out of our comfort zones? What resources can we tap into? Why is free agency such a rewarding emotional experience? In this episode, performance-focused speaker, author, and career transition coach, Patricia Leonard shares how to create freedom for ourselves so we can live the life we want. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode How our corporate experience benefits us in free agency Many people who are leaving the corporate world worry about whether or not they have skills to start a new venture, and if they can cut it in free agency. The truth is, every skill we gain in the corporate world is transferable and can be applied to our free agency path. One thing that holds women back from free agency We often become so focused on taking care of other people that we put ourselves and our own fulfillment on the back burner. We hold ourselves back because we're stuck in what we 'ought' to be doing. How to take steps towards business ownership Explore free agency one step at a time. Choose your passion or a hobby you want to turn into a business, and start building your client base while you're employed. Tap into resources like relationships and mentorship so that you gain the confidence and the support to fully make the leap. Guest Bio Patricia is a performance-focused speaker, author, business, life and career transition coach, and president of Runway to Success. She has an extensive background in leadership and talent development, career transition coaching and business restructuring. As a career woman with experience in Corporate America and business ownership her passion is and has always been to be an advocate for women. For more information visit https://patricialeonard.net and https://www.linkedin.com/in/epatricialeonard.

When we make the leap from corporate into free agency, the first big decision we have to make is the kind of business we want to run. The franchise model has always been one of the best business ownership paths because there's so much support and structure available to us from day one. We get the benefits of buying into a proven model and following a blueprint that has been used successfully by other business owners. Everyone in the franchise is waving the same flag and pulling on the same rope, so we have a bigger chance of success and stability. Why did my guest choose a franchise opportunity in IT? How is he finding balance while still running an essential business? In this episode, technology advisor and the owner of TeamLogic IT, Kirk Gramoll talks about his journey into free agency, and how shifting his operating procedures has impacted his business. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode Why the franchise model is so attractive to new free agents The support structure of a franchise provides massive opportunity. The existing fabric of other business owners who know the systems is the foundation for our own success. There will always be incredible resources and when business owners in the franchise can share insights, we can benefit. How to maintain team culture in an essential workplace Many businesses that have been deemed essential have adopted a hybrid model of interchangeably working from home and going into the office. This allows for social distancing, while also allowing teams to continue to have culture and cohesion. The power of having a business plan, even when the business grows A solid business plan is important when the business is new, but it becomes even more critical as the business grows, and business owners need to stay focused, and hold themselves accountable. Even when we pivot, we still need a plan to refer to and a direction for where to go next. Guest Bio Kirk is a Technology Advisor for Small and Medium Businesses and the Owner of TeamLogic IT. TeamLogic IT of Milwaukee aims to become their customer's trusted technology advisor. Their location is part of a nationwide network specializing in managed IT, computer services and network solutions. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkgramoll or call (262) 834-6207.

Free agency is a powerful vehicle for freedom and an opportunity to be more instrumental in the customer's happiness and satisfaction than we could ever be as corporate workers. In this journey, there are two paths we can take, independent business ownership or owning a franchise. Many people gravitate to the franchise model because it's so much more collaborative. We have the support of other businesses who have gone through the same pain points, and we can also help other franchise owners build from our own experiences. My guest today is the epitome of the powerful choice to move into free agency. Why did he choose to own a franchise in the flooring industry, and how has the pandemic impacted it? How has business ownership impacted his family? What are the biggest lessons and best practices he's implemented along the way? In this episode, owner of Floor Coverings International, Dave Paeske talks about his journey and how he's cultivating loyal customers right from the first Google search. Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode Why the franchise model was more attractive than going independent Franchises allow us to have more support and collaboration. We go through things other people have gone through in the business, which gives us the solutions we need. Having the support of other business owners, and also being able to help other franchise owners is infinitely rewarding. How to use Google reviews to cultivate loyal customers One of the ways we can get loyal clients is to move from general internet leads to getting business from people searching for us specifically. Building up our Google reviews is how we can start getting clients who purposely sought out our services. The benefits of being closer to the client experience In corporate, we're so far removed from the customer's experience. In free agency, we get to see and impact the customer's journey. The way the client is treated in a large company is often out of our hands, while in free agency, we have the power to directly affect the customer's entire purchasing journey. Guest Bio Dave is owner and designer at Floor Coverings International. Floor Coverings International offers an unmatched selection of flooring products including carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile and vinyl, as well as specialty products including cork, bamboo and slate. Our expert Design Associates perform free in-home consultations, visiting customers' homes in a Mobile Showroom with thousands of flooring choices to assist them in choosing the perfect flooring solution. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpaeske or get in touch with us directly at (262) 424-0768.