How Carolyn Michael-Banks turned a tourism vision into a mission-driven company that educates and inspires.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Carolyn Michael-Banks founded A Tour of Possibilities to educate and empower through African-American history
• Why resilience and innovation helped her business survive and evolve through COVID-19
• The bold decisions she made to stay mission-focused—even when it meant challenging norms
• How she shifted from individual tours to scaling with larger group experiences
• The importance of boundaries, journaling, and staying aligned with your “why”
• How to turn obstacles into meaningful opportunities for growth

Whether you're a CEO, entrepreneur, or just someone passionate about purpose-driven business, Carolyn’s journey will challenge and inspire you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Welcome
01:10 – Meet Carolyn Michael-Banks
05:10 – Carolyn's Journey in Tourism
07:45 – Starting A Tour of Possibilities
12:39 – Challenges and Resilience
13:55 – Adapting During COVID-19
17:32 – Shifting Focus and Scaling Up
19:24 – Lessons Learned and Advice
27:22 – Conclusion and Takeaways

Guest Bio:

Carolyn Michael-Banks is the founder and cultural curator of A Tour of Possibilities, an African-American heritage tour company in Memphis, Tennessee. With a background in psychology and decades of experience in the tourism industry, Carolyn is known for her leadership, resilience, and dedication to telling the untold stories of Black history. A native of the Bronx, her career spans from Washington, D.C., to Savannah, Philadelphia, and now Memphis, where she continues to educate, inspire, and challenge perspectives through powerful storytelling.

Visit A Tour of Possibilities
Connect with Carolyn on LinkedIn

Quotes & Resources:

"You should have a business with like a family atmosphere... but the reality is, some families are dysfunctional. You gotta set those limits."

“I built it... but they didn’t come. I had to do the work to get it seen, known, and trusted.”

“Journaling helps you remember the good stuff when you're overwhelmed by the hard.”

Resources from Wayfind Marketing:

Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:
https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/

Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:
Steve Phipps
AnnieLaurie Walters

Likes don’t grow revenue. Learn which marketing metrics actually drive business growth—and which to ignore.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why vanity metrics like page views and likes often mislead marketing decisions
• How AI is changing the way people engage with content—and your website traffic
• The difference between feel-good stats and KPIs that actually move the needle
• A simple test CEOs can use to evaluate if a metric is worth tracking
• What tools like Google Search Console, GA4, and HubSpot can tell you
• Why content quantity without strategy is a red flag
• The critical role of the GUIDE Marketing Framework in aligning marketing with business goals
• How to empower your marketing team to lead with data-driven insights

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Likes vs. Sales Conversations
00:53 The Impact of AI on Website Traffic
01:42 Understanding Marketing Metrics
02:20 Vanity Metrics vs. KPIs
06:22 Tracking Meaningful Metrics
08:49 The GUIDE Marketing Framework
13:28 Tools for Tracking Metrics
19:42 Coaching Your Marketing Team
21:48 Conclusion: Measuring What Matters

Quotes:

• “Vanity metrics may look nice, but they won’t grow your business.”
• “Start with the end in mind. Track what drives revenue, not just recognition.”
• “We’re not anti-data—we’re pro-alignment.”
• “If you’re not tracking the right data, then you're just guessing.”

Resources:

• GUIDE Marketing Framework Podcast Series --> Start Here
• Google Search Console
• HubSpot
• UTM Tracking Guide 

Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/

Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:
https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:
Steve Phipps
AnnieLaurie Walters

About Steve Phipps
Steve Phipps is the CEO, President, and Chief Strategist of Wayfind Marketing. As the company’s visionary founder and chief pathfinder, Steve brings a passion for helping businesses navigate the often overwhelming world of marketing. With a career spanning corporate leadership, agency ownership, and hands-on experience across the marketing spectrum, Steve knows firsthand how frustrating it can be to translate marketing activity into meaningful results. That’s why he’s committed to simplifying strategy and aligning marketing with real business outcomes. Whether he's leading creative strategy or mentoring teams, Steve is driven by one mission: helping growth-minded leaders confidently chart their course.

About AnnieLaurie Walters

AnnieLaurie Walters is a seasoned content strategist with 25+ years of experience in strategic communications. At Wayfind Marketing, she helps businesses attract and convert qualified leads through SEO-driven content strategies that answer real customer questions. With a background in Washington, D.C. communications and a knack for blending storytelling with strategy, AnnieLaurie empowers brands to grow with clarity and purpose.

In this episode of Growth Minded Marketing, host Steve Phipps sits down with Courtney Jones and Amy Bingham, co-founders of Oh Grate — a meal solution company born from their desire to make family dinner easier. What started as a front-porch side hustle has grown into a thriving brand serving families across West Tennessee and North Mississippi. Courtney and Amy share how they built a business around real food, smart systems, and the belief that time at the table is priceless.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Oh Grate began as a personal solution to busy mom life
• Why solving an everyday pain point can unlock serious business growth
• The powerful mindset shift: they’re not just selling food — they’re making space for what matters
• How Oh Grate scaled from a front-porch cooler to Kroger shelves
• Why knowing your strengths (and weaknesses) is essential when starting a business
• The role of clear messaging and a shared vision in building a brand that resonates with families

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Meet Courtney and Amy of Oh Grate
• 05:40 – Building a partnership that plays to each founder’s strengths
• 10:10 – The pivot that made their business pandemic-proof
• 14:25 – The deeper message: dinner is about more than food
• 19:00 – From meals to Fiesta Sauce: how one product opened new doors
• 23:40 – Getting into Kroger and pushing through plateaus
• 28:12 – The power of process, systems, and scaling with intention
• 32:00 – Advice for other founders: embrace change and pivot well

Guest Bios

Amy Bingham and Courtney Jones are the founders of Oh Grate, a company built by moms, for families. What started with making meals for neighbors out of a cooler on the front porch has grown into a thriving brand offering home delivery, retail partnerships, and a flagship store in Collierville, TN.

Courtney brings years of restaurant and leadership experience, while Amy adds her strategic marketing expertise — a combination that’s helped Oh Grate stay grounded in its mission while scaling with heart. Together, they help busy families put real food on the table, minus the overwhelm.

Oh Grate now serves Mid-South area customers across Shelby, Desoto, and Tipton Counties with handcrafted meals, grab-and-go options, and their fan-favorite Fiesta Sauce — now in Kroger.

Quotes from the Episode

• "We’re not just selling meals — we’re giving people peace of mind."
• "Dinner doesn’t have to be another task — it can be the best part of your day."
• "When we realized we were really selling time, everything shifted."
• "You can’t grow if you don’t know what you’re not good at."
• "Fiesta Sauce wasn’t in the plan — it just worked. We followed the momentum."

Resources & Links

Visit Oh Grate:
➡️ https://www.oh-grate.com/

Connect with the Hosts & Guests:
🔗 Steve Phipps on LinkedIn
🔗 Amy Bingham on LinkedIn

Helpful Free Resources from Wayfind Marketing:
📘 Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide
📊 Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment

The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

➡️ Learn More About EOS

CRS CPAs didn’t grow from five employees to a 50-person, multi-office firm by accident. CEO Fancher Sargent shares the leadership decisions, hard conversations, and moments of clarity that helped the firm navigate change, overcome limiting beliefs, and build a business aligned around mission, values, and purpose.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How CRS CPAs grew from a 5-person firm to a 50-person, multi-office practice
• The power of clarity in mission, vision, and values during seasons of change
• How 2020 became a catalyst for redefining purpose and structure
• The challenges and rewards of moving from generalist to specialist
• Why saying "no" can be the most strategic decision a firm can make
• How aligning around shared values improved culture, retention, and profitability
• What it takes to lead through growth, mergers, and internal resistance

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Clarity as a survival strategy
• 01:00 — From intern to managing shareholder
• 03:00 — Mergers, growth, and building a multi-office firm
• 06:30 — Why generalist firms struggle to grow
• 08:30 — Letting go of old habits and beliefs
• 10:00 — Discovering purpose and creating internal alignment
• 12:00 — The cultural and financial impact of clarifying values
• 14:00 — Vision leaks: Why clarity requires ongoing leadership
• 16:00 — Learning to say no and choosing the right clients
• 20:00 — Defining ideal clients beyond industry: behavior and values
• 23:00 — Final advice for growth-minded CEOs

This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from getting clearer. When leaders take the time to define who they are, what they value, and who they’re best positioned to serve, alignment follows. And with alignment comes momentum.

Guest Bio — Fancher Sargent
Fancher Sargent is the Managing Shareholder of CRS CPAs, a firm based in Jackson, Tennessee. He began with the firm as an intern in 1995 and played a key role in leading its growth from a five-person team into a 50-person, multi-office practice. Under his leadership, CRS CPAs has navigated mergers, specialization, and cultural change by anchoring the firm around clear mission, vision, and values. Fancher is passionate about building businesses that are both profitable and purpose-driven.

CRS CPAs
Fancher on LinkedIn

Resources from Wayfind Marketing 

• Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment: https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/
• Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide: https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/

Connect With the Hosts

Steve Phipps — LinkedIn
AnnieLaurie Walters — LinkedIn

Douglas Skipworth shares how service-first leadership creates purpose, clarity, and sustainable business growth. Hosted by Steve Phipps, CEO of Wayfind Marketing, this episode of the Growth Minded Marketing Podcast explores how purpose-driven leadership can scale impact and align strategy.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Douglas Skipworth believes business is the best place to do meaningful work with and for others
• How he scaled a suite of real estate companies by solving real customer needs
• What it takes to align your leadership, vision, and team around a shared purpose
• Why clarity isn’t just a marketing issue — it's a business essential
• How EOS, vision casting, and understanding your own strengths unlocks scalable growth
• The real value of marketing: aligning your internal message with your external impact
• What Douglas means by “make it up, make it real, make it recur” — and why that matters

Timestamps:
00:00 – Why business is the arena for meaningful work
02:00 – Introducing Douglas Skipworth and his companies
04:00 – From third-grade basketball to real estate
08:00 – Starting Cresco and growing by solving customer needs
12:00 – Creating Core Assist to place virtual team members
16:00 – Leading with service: values, faith, and team dynamics
20:00 – Visionary vs. Integrator: Scaling through complementary strengths
24:00 – Clarifying the vision for internal and external alignment
27:00 – Marketing clarity as a business growth multiplier
30:00 – Confidence and consistency through clear messaging
31:00 – Douglas’s advice to CEOs: clarity drives scalability
33:00 – Final reflections and where to connect with Douglas

Guest Bio:
Douglas Skipworth is a serial entrepreneur and real-estate investor who owns and operates multiple companies that help residential real-estate investors buy, finance, manage, and rehabilitate rental or flip properties. His businesses span real estate brokerage, property management, general contracting, and hard-money lending — supporting hundreds of investors doing tens of millions of dollars of deals annually. Skipworth often invests alongside his clients, ensuring his team always treats investors as top-priority clients rather than just “accounts.” He is the Principal Broker at CrestCore Realty and related companies.

Resources Mentioned:

• Douglas Skipworth’s Linktree
• CrestCore Realty
• Douglas Skipworth on LinkedIn
• EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)

Work With Us
Wayfind Marketing helps medium-sized B2B companies fix their marketing strategies and increase their ROI. Start by taking our Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
👉 https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:

• Steve Phipps
• AnnieLaurie Walters
  
  

AI can help you scale your content—but without a plan, it leads to chaos, not results.

In this episode of Growth-Minded Marketing, we dive into a question every business leader should be asking: Is AI truly helping your marketing—or is it just helping you create more noise, faster?

Host Steve Phipps reveals why strategy—not speed—is the most important variable in today’s AI-driven marketing environment. With insights from Wayfind Marketing’s proprietary GUIDE Framework, this episode helps growth-minded CEOs avoid the trap of “faster chaos” and instead use AI as a purposeful multiplier.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why AI isn't your marketing strategy—and what happens when you treat it like one
• How to avoid turning AI into a content chaos machine
• The biggest pitfalls CEOs and marketing teams face with AI-generated content
• A breakdown of the GUIDE Framework—a strategic system for smart, scalable marketing
• How to use AI tools like ChatGPT the right way: as a trained partner, not a one-click shortcut
• The questions every marketer must ask to ensure content supports the customer journey
• Why sales and marketing alignment is key to content success
• Real-world advice for training AI to reflect your brand voice and support your goals

🎧 Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 Introduction: Is AI Helping or Hurting Your Marketing?
• 00:58 The Importance of Strategy in AI-Driven Marketing
• 04:52 Understanding the GUIDE Framework
• 06:06 Generating Effective Content with AI
• 14:43 Training AI Tools to Support Your Strategy
• 19:20 Conclusion: Connecting Content to Purpose

About the Host

Steve Phipps is the CEO and Chief Strategist at Wayfind Marketing. As a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing leader, Steve helps B2B companies navigate the complexity of modern marketing with clarity and purpose. With years of executive experience and hands-on work across the marketing spectrum, Steve understands that marketing should be a business driver—not a distraction. He leads clients with a rare mix of curiosity, creativity, and strategic focus.

🔗 Related Resources

• Listen to this podcast about the GUIDE Marketing Framework: What It Is & Why It Works
• Learn how to: Generate Your Story and Strategy
• Master your marketing with our Learning Center – Strategy Resources

Next Steps

🧭 Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment

🎯 Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide

💼 Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:

• Steve Phipps
• AnnieLaurie Walters

  
  

  
  

Leadership, Culture, and Honest Sales: A Conversation with Jonathan Torres

What if your company’s culture was your greatest sales and marketing tool? CEO Jonathan Torres shares how aligning vision, values, and strategy leads to growth with purpose. This episode is packed with real talk on leadership, honest sales, and building a business that actually lives its values.

Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How purpose and vision drive better alignment between sales & marketing
• The importance of transparency, integrity, and internal culture in leadership
• Why peer groups and support systems matter for CEOs
• How Jonathan Torres moved from nonprofit to for-profit, and what that taught him
• Practical ways to tie company values to business strategy for customer-first marketing

Guest Bio

Jonathan Torres, more affectionately known as “Torres”, is currently a Chair for C12 Memphis, a faith-based peer advisory group for business leaders and owners. He most recently served as the CEO at Frase Protection, a local residential and commercial security company. Torres’ background also includes experience as the CEO of Memphis Athletic Ministries and more than two decades of non-profit leadership experience serving the city of Memphis. He has been married to Janna for 20 years and they have three beautiful daughters, Jaidyn, Jazlyn and Joia.

Timestamps:

Time | Segment
00:00 | Introduction: The Loneliness at the Top
00:27 | Guest Introduction: Jonathan Torres
00:54 | The Power of Peer Groups
02:28 | Podcast Overview and Episode Focus
03:13 | Jonathan Torres' Leadership Journey
04:24 | Transition from Nonprofit to For‑Profit
06:16 | Building a Compelling Strategy
06:55 | Aligning Vision and Purpose
08:38 | Challenges in Sales and Marketing
14:38 | The Importance of Company Culture
21:40 | C12: Faith‑Based Peer Advisory
26:16 | Conclusion and Takeaways

Related Resources:

• Podcast: From Rake to Revenue: What CEOs Can Learn from David Perdue’s Remarkable Start 
• Blog: How to Ask for Marketing Help (When You’re Not the Decision Maker) 
• Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:
  https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/
• Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
  https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing‑assessment 

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:

Steve Phipps

AnnieLaurie Walters

What happens when a new CEO steps into a decades-old business? Tyler Whitney, CEO of Mid-South Safety Services, shares how he reshaped the company through rebranding, clarifying its value proposition, leveraging market tailwinds, and building a strong people strategy. His insights offer practical takeaways for CEOs looking to scale with clarity and purpose. 

This episode is part of our CEO Interview Series—host Steve Phipps sits down with business leaders to unpack real-world lessons on growth, leadership, and marketing.

Guest Bio:

Tyler Whitney grew up in Memphis, was homeschooled, and graduated from Mississippi State. He's been married 11 years and is raising three boys—with a fourth on the way. Since 2020, he's proudly owned and led Mid-South Safety Services.

Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn.

Quotes & Resources:

• “Look for the tailwind. You want the wind blowing behind you—you don’t want to be fighting against something.”
• “You don’t just decide to be an owner—you’ve got to know how to cast a vision and build a team.”
• “Sometimes we don’t grow because we’re not clear on the value we really provide.”

Related Resources from Wayfind Marketing:

• Wayfind Marketing Learning Center
• 5 Ways a Business Marketing Coach Can Help CEOs Drive Growth
• Why Hiring a Marketing Coach Could Be the Best Investment You Make for Your Business

CTA:

Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:
👉 https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/

Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
👉 https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why your company’s name might be holding you back
 01:19 – Introducing Tyler Whitney and Mid-South Safety Services
 02:10 – Tyler’s path to business ownership and early influences
 04:00 – Why he chose to buy vs. start a business from scratch
 06:30 – Negotiating the business purchase during a pandemic
 08:00 – Lessons on leadership and knowing your strengths
 09:15 – Rebranding from Mid-South Emergency Lighting to Mid-South Safety Services
 11:00 – How the old brand limited growth opportunities
 13:00 – Executing a successful rebrand and client communication
 14:30 – Expanding services based on market demand
 16:00 – The power of tailwinds: identifying the right opportunities
 18:00 – Developing a strong people strategy to support growth
 20:00 – Letting go: Building a team and hiring for strengths
 22:00 – Why knowing your value prop is critical for scaling
 24:00 – Final thoughts and takeaways

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:
Steve Phipps
AnnieLaurie Walters

What happens when a teenager turns a side hustle into a thriving business? David Perdue, founder and owner of Greenview Landscape Services, shares how he launched his company in high school and scaled it into a 26-person commercial operation. In this conversation with host Steve Phipps, David breaks down his journey of grit, mentorship, and purpose. He reveals the leadership lessons that shaped him, why acting fast beats perfection, and how his mission to beautify the city drives everything he does. This episode is part of our CEO Interview Series—host Steve Phipps sits down with business leaders to unpack real-world lessons on growth, leadership, and marketing.

Guest Bio:

David Perdue is the founder and owner of Greenview Landscape Services, a commercial landscaping company based in Memphis. He started the business at just 17 years old while still in high school and has grown it into a thriving team of 26 employees. With a mission to beautify the city and help others grow, David leads with vision, humility, and a commitment to building people.

Connect with David on LinkedIn:
David Perdue

Highlights:

• “People spend too much time getting ready to get ready. Just start and perfect it along the way.”
• “You can’t teach what you haven’t developed. That’s why I’ve invested so much in learning how to lead.”
• “Our mission is to beautify the city and help others grow—that’s what gets me out of bed every day.”

Timestamps:

00:00 – What were you doing at 17? David was starting a business
01:00 – Launching Greenview with a rake, some hustle, and a flashlight 04:00 – Trading mulch jobs for mowers: how David scaled fast
06:30 – Graduating and going all in on entrepreneurship
08:00 – Transitioning to commercial landscaping and managing a 26-person team
10:00 – Winning major contracts and the advantage of being underestimated
12:00 – Why mentorship and coaching fueled David’s leadership growth
15:00 – Lessons in decisive action over perfection
17:00 – Sales strategy: just walk in and ask
19:00 – David’s mission: beautify the city and help others grow
21:00 – How purpose reignited his passion
22:00 – Recap and key takeaways from David’s growth journey

Related Links from Wayfind Marketing:

• Wayfind Marketing Learning Center
• 5 Ways a Business Marketing Coach Can Help CEOs Drive Growth
• Why Hiring a Marketing Coach Could Be the Best Investment You Make for Your Business

CTA:
Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:
 👉 https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/
Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
 👉 https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn:
Steve Phipps
AnnieLaurie Walters

AI is redefining how buyers search. Learn how to adapt your marketing to get cited in AI-generated answers.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is and how it differs from traditional SEO
• Why optimizing for AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Copilot is critical for visibility
• The pivotal role of schema markup and how to easily assess your website's implementation
• Why high-quality, credible content is essential for AI citations
• How AI is changing user search behavior and what that means for your content strategy
• Tips for staying ahead in this rapidly evolving digital landscape

Timestamps:
 00:00 Introduction: The Shift to AI-Driven Search
 00:35 Welcome to the Growth-Minded Marketing Podcast
 00:48 Understanding Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
 03:30 The Role of Schema Markup in AEO
 07:58 The Importance of Content Quality and Authority
 08:15 AI Citations and Page Authority
 13:14 Adapting to Changing User Behavior with AI
 18:34 The Future of SEO and AEO
 22:02 Leveraging AI in Marketing: Insights from the Field
 28:27 Conclusion: Taking Action with AI-Driven Marketing

Resources & Links:

• Answer Engine Optimization: Your Strategic Roadmap for AI Search Success
• What is the Big 5 Content Marketing Strategy?
• Is Schema Markup the Secret Weapon for AI Search Visibility?
• What is Google’s EEAT?
• Schema Markup Validator Tool – Use this free tool to see what schema your page uses and identify gaps to improve AI visibility.

Before You Go:
Grab the Free AI Marketing Guide:
https://wayfindmarketing.com/ai-marketing-guide/

Take the Free B2B Marketing Assessment:
https://wayfindmarketing.com/b2b-marketing-assessment/

Connect with the Hosts on LinkedIn
Steve Phipps
AnnieLaurie Walters