In this episode, we're talking all about restaurants. Steven Downer, Manager of Strategic Partnerships and restaurant industry guru, talks about the two numbers you absolutely have to know to stay on top of the costs you can control. Plus, you'll learn some tangible ways to stay in control of your finances and why you need good quality partners that are going to fill in any gaps and support your success.

Shiny Object Syndrome can affect any business owner. No one wants to miss out, and the fear of "I-don't-know-what-I-don't-know" can create some anxiety. In this episode, Matt & Mike talk about how to use the fear of missing out as a good thing when it comes to compliance, taxes, new technology, and more.

The golden idea of work/life balance. Is it possible? Is it attainable? Can it ever happen? Matt Patrick and Mike Shaeffer share different perspectives from their contrasting work styles. Many small business owners struggle with work/life balance because their heart and soul is in the business. In this episode, you'll hear some methods to help you find your synergy and give yourself freedom.

Whoever said communication is 50/50 was missing something. Communication is the lifeblood of small businesses and relationships in general. In this episode, you'll gain three practical takeaways that you can take back to your organization to improve the effectiveness of your communication. Plus, you'll find out why we say, "To be unclear is to be unkind," and how to remedy it.

The status quo is never acceptable. One of the hallmarks of small business success is their ability to be agile and move quickly. You can't do that if you're stuck in the weeds of never wanting to challenge what's going on. Challenge It doesn't mean unhappiness. We're talking about the WAY you do things. You're always pressing ahead to get better and better. In this episode, we show you how to use several methods to evaluate your current processes with your team, including the "Working, Missing, Broken and Confused" exercise.

Why is it important for small businesses to have a solid, reviewed, actually-looked-at handbook? Handbooks are a great starting place for any employer. It's a necessary evil for some. It's a guiding light for others. In this episode, we cover the top three things you need to have in your handbook, how often to review it, and how it can increase team alignment.

Need to update your handbook or write a new one and don't know where to start? Email us at [email protected]

Tune in to hear the conversations we’re having on a daily basis on all things business growth. Over the years, we’ve seen countless types of small businesses expand into new locations, offer new services and add to their teams. On this episode, Matt & Mike discuss the biggest pitfalls we've seen and the lessons we've learned from our growing our business over the years.

It’s easy to feel like you’re on an island as a business owner. But, having a lack of community can be dangerous for small business leaders. In this episode, Matt & Mike share how they found their community and why bigger picture, higher impact decisions should typically be made with the support of people that are going to have the freedom to say what's good, what's bad, and what you might be missing.

If you're a client of ours and you don't feel like you have that support, let us be that sounding board. As you have things popping up that you have a question on, give us a call. We want to see small businesses get one step better, and we want to be a part of that.

The journey of a small business owner and the passion behind what they do is our favorite kind of story. In this episode of the Startup Stories series, hear how Alex Brandwein transitioned from investment banking in New York City to starting a fun, welcoming gathering place for fresh baked NYC style bagels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Watch the video interview here.

What is the DISC assessment and how do we use it in our organization? In this episode, you'll learn how personality profiles in the workplace can elevate communication and how to avoid the possible pitfalls of using them. Mike, Matt and Shelby explain how using the DISC assessment has helped them understand who they are as communicators and increased their effectiveness as leaders.