Middle Market Journal

What do we stand for?

In this episode of the Meta Trends Podcast #32, Mark and Jay explore the unseen engine behind every decision, action, and result: our values. As business owners, we’ve learned firsthand that discipline, integrity, and clarity aren’t just ideals; they're non-negotiables.

Whether we’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating life’s next challenge, our values are already shaping our outcomes, whether we realize it or not.

We explore:

✅ Why most people think they know their values, but don’t

✅ How misaligned values sabotage results

✅ The difference between stated values vs. lived values

✅ How to identify and embody values that create real tractionIf we’re tired of chasing goals that leave us empty or leading without alignment, this one’s for us.

Subscribe for more no-BS insights on performance, leadership, and the future of work.

--------------------Meta-Trends takes us on a journey of discovery, enabling us to peer into the future. It significantly enhances our ability to survive and even thrive in times of economic strife, and even in an economic boom. It demystifies the key factors that affect all of the world's economies. It will show you how to adapt your decisions to changing times and turn potential losses into major profits.

Check out Originals and Exclusive collaborations at:

https://middlemarketjournal.com/

Connect with the Hosts and Guests:

Mike Hernandez:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hern%C3%A1ndez-9511195/

Mark Parrot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Our guest:

Jay:LinkedIn -   / jay-rifenbary-2a5a8b4  Business - https://www.rifenbary.com/

Mark and Mike interview Lewis Schiff, the Chairman of Birthing of Giants, a prestigious fellowship program that helps business owners of fast-growth companies develop and execute strategic plans that amplify sales, productivity, talent, and capital.

He's a PhD in Business/Commerce, an author of multiple books on business success, a contributor at Inc. Mag, Forbes, and Worth Media, and an advisory council member at The Norm Brodsky College of Business.

Check out other Original & Exclusive collaborations at:

https://middlemarketjournal.com/

Connect with the Hosts and Guests:

Mike Hernandez:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hern%C3%A1ndez-9511195/

Mark Parrot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Guest: Lewis SchiffBiz - ⁠https://birthingofgiants.com/⁠LinkedIn - ⁠  / lewisschiff  

In this gripping episode of America 2.0, Tash sits down with executive recruiter Gonzalo Guillen, CEO of HR Exchange, to expose the hidden labor crisis reshaping middle market companies. Post-COVID hiring isn’t just harder—it’s war.

Automation is replacing workers faster than ever, but the real twist? Women are rising, while many men are quietly exiting the workforce.

Gonzalo shares hard truths on recruiting trends, human capital gaps, and how reindustrialization is forcing companies to rethink talent, culture, and leadership. A must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone betting on America's comeback.

A Program of Middle Market Journal ® ORIGINALS

Connect with Gonzalo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gonzalo-a-guillen-52024250/

Website: HRXSTAFFING.COM
Specializing in: Accounting/ Finance, Change Management & Human Resources, Administrative, Marketing, IT, Manufacturing automation roles, Supply Chain & Logistics. Banking/ Financial Services- Family Office & P/E Specialist, Family Office, HNWI, UHNWI
Markets we service: Miami | Fort Lauderdale | West Palm Beach | Orlando| Fort Myers | Jacksonville | Denver | Atlanta | New York | Dallas

You don't want to miss this conversation.

Exclusive Collaboration with Meta Trends and Middle Market Journal ®

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Connect with the Hosts and Guests:

Mark Parrot: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/⁠⁠

Business - ⁠⁠⁠https://nxteconomy.com/⁠⁠⁠

Mike Hernandez: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hern%C3%A1ndez-9511195/⁠

Business - ⁠⁠https://lsnpartners.com/staff/mike-hernandez/⁠

Tash Salas: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashsalas/

Business - https://usaeconomicforum.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2A6wcgFA_E

In this episode, Boaz offers a masterclass on timeless principles for approaching and succeeding in business with a human-centered focus and creativity.

It was a delight and fun to hear nearly opposite approaches to consulting and discover insightful and powerful strategies to set yourself apart from competitors.

These tactics apply not only to new accounts but also to ongoing business and referrals!

Stop asking for the sale, and start building meaningful relationships.

You don't want to miss this conversation.

Exclusive Collaboration with Meta Trends and Middle Market Journal ®

Subscribe to our Newsletter: Never Miss An Opportunity. It's Free.

Connect with the Hosts and Guests:

Mark Parrot: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/⁠

Business - ⁠⁠https://nxteconomy.com/⁠⁠

Mike Hernandez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hern%C3%A1ndez-9511195/

Business - ⁠https://lsnpartners.com/staff/mike-hernandez/

Boaz Rauchwerger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boaz-rauchwerger/

Business - https://www.boazpower.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWGCRjKeSLo

Personal opinion: I feel a sense of discomfort while listening to Boaz, perhaps due to generational differences or my personality being more aligned with Mark's. I recognize that I have much to learn, and I need to embrace discomfort. - Miss Money®, Founder.

Mark and Mike have an engaging conversation with Stormie, discussing what led them to shift towards entrepreneurship. From Real Estate, to Marketing, to Health & Wellness Conferences for business owners.

They emphasize how their skills can be combined with market opportunities and align with the values Stormie and his wife bring to the business, making the experience much more enjoyable and integral to their lives.

In the second part of the episode, Stormie gives us a masterclass on the marketing/customer value ladder. It shows where the process breaks or it's disconnected for most companies. This ineffective process results in spending marketing dollars and human resources and implementing the wrong systems.

You don't want to miss this conversation.

Check out Originals and Exclusive collaborations at:

https://middlemarketjournal.com/

Connect with the Hosts and Guests:

Mike Hernandez:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hern%C3%A1ndez-9511195/

Mark Parrot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Stormie Andrews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stormieandrews/

Mark and Mike discuss the differences among Hispanic and English speakers from different countries. It is a classic intro from Mark and Mike since it shows how a lighthearted approach to possible confusion helps us understand and appreciate each other more!

Then, they dive into business topics and the non-main street space of institutional investors, specifically family offices and alternative investors.

They briefly discuss the differences between strategies of high and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices.

Mark discusses public and private funding market shifts over the past few decades. He highlights a distinct chance to finance companies with annual revenues ranging from 20 million to 200 million dollars, which investors overlook. Mark also suggests strategies to address this gap.

Then, Mark presents the USA Economic Forum®, its financing and investment tour, and how he and Tash are co-building bridges for companies and direct investors.

A significant information gap exists for companies looking to sell and boomers planning to retire. This gap and fragmentation of information and mechanisms is enormous relative to the emerging opportunities and requires urgent, large-scale attention.

Next, they examine the characteristics of businesses as an asset class for future generations. A more advanced group of advisors is capable of looking past a company's financials; they have extra intellectual resources at their disposal when working with the middle market.

Finally, They also explore the proactive mindset and strategies entrepreneurs should adopt to sell their businesses.

Check out Originals and Exclusive collaborations at:

https://middlemarketjournal.com/

Connect with the Hosts and Guests:

Mike Hernandez:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hern%C3%A1ndez-9511195/

Mark Parrot:https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Tash Salas:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashsalas/

Connect with them:

Mark Parrot: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Matthew Garrett:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattagarrett/

Find their profiles and book a call with them on

Middle Market Experts Spotlight: 

https://middlemarketjournal.com/experts-middle-market

In this compelling episode of Meta Trends, Mark Parrott sits down with Dondi Dix, a proud veteran who made a bold career shift, leaving behind a highly successful M&A and corporate career to reconnect with her family's roots in the small business space. Dondi opens up about her personal and professional challenges during this transition, offering a raw and insightful narrative of the highs and lows of embracing a new path.

Through her journey, Dondi shares invaluable lessons about the personality, psychology, and character traits necessary to thrive in both the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds. Her candid reflections offer listeners practical advice for navigating change, embracing growth, and staying true to one’s values, no matter the industry. This episode is a must-listen for anyone contemplating a career shift or looking for inspiration to pursue their passions with purpose and resilience.

Connect with them:

Mark Parrot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Dondi Dix: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dondidix/

Watch or Listen to the first part of the interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZZgUor1q4I

Find their profiles and book a call with them on

Middle Market Experts Spotlight: https://middlemarketjournal.com/experts-middle-market

Join host Mark Parrott as he sits down with Ozzie Gontang, Ph.D., for one of the most compelling conversations of the season. This episode dives deep into the mindset behind scientific thinking and how it propels entrepreneurs to extraordinary levels of success. From questioning assumptions to refining decisions with data, discover how a “next-door decamillionaire” CEO thinks—and why adopting these approaches can create a massive impact in any venture.

Dr. Gontang and Mark explore three powerful traits that underpin this coveted mindset. First, learn why being truly unoffendable unlocks clear-sighted judgment and breakthrough innovation. Next, harness epistemic humility—the art of asking questions and embracing uncertainty—so you can refine your strategies in real-time. Finally, uncover how to increase the yield curve of decision-making by consistently accepting truth and adapting to new insights. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an industry titan, this episode will transform how you approach growth, resilience, and measurable success. Don’t miss this insightful exploration into the scientific method’s real-world power in the business arena.

Connect with them:

Mark Parrott https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessownercoach/

Ozzie Gontang, Ph.D https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozziegontang/

You can also find their profiles and book a call:

Middle Market Experts Spotlight

https://middlemarketjournal.com/experts-middle-market

You can watch/listen to the first part on Meta Trends YouTube Channel: ⁠https://youtu.be/tD6n9HCgAvY?si=Q6SINbxntJ22R1Jk⁠