Path to Profit: Lessons From Growth-Driven Business Leaders

“My sales and marketing team are working in silos.”Sound familiar? It’s not uncommon for these two departments to be out of sync. We are here to tell you when these two departments work together, revenue soars. Enter the M2S (Marketing To Sales) Framework, coined by none other than our guest: Austin LaRoche, CEO of ATAK Interactive. Austin joins our host Stephen King to talk about the key to aligning your teams, driving seamless conversions, and creating a unified force that doesn’t just attract clients but turns them into loyal advocates!Transform the way you approach marketing & dive deep into the nitty gritty. Get ready to take notes—this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss…They discuss:

• The M2S (Marketing To Sales) framework concept & how it simplifies the sales process
• How to define your ICP (Ideal Client Profile)
• The difference between SEO & Paid Search
• CPC (Cost Per Click) strategies
• How to get better conversions
• The importance of social proof
• 2 things people evaluate when on your website
• ROI of marketing
• Vanity Metrics
• EOS & the concept of Traction

Make sure to follow us on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn at @GrowthForce & Instagram at @GrowthForceHQ!

Unpack cybersecurity, starting with this motto: “just assume everything is bad.”Cybersecurity wizard, Scott Kreisberg from One Step Secure IT joins Stephen King to discuss all things technology: from phishing to preventing cybersecurity attacks, this tech focused episode provides practical tips to enhance your online security.Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a business leader, or just someone interested in the evolving world of cybersecurity, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice to help you stay ahead of cyber threats.They discuss:

• Innovations in cybersecurity

• Strategies to prevent cyberattacks

• How your company culture can go in to prevent cyberattacks

• Simulated phishing

• The change in tech over the years

• Scotts 4 steps to digital communication

• The impact of remote workers in security

• The future of cyber security

Make sure to follow us on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn at @GrowthForce & Instagram at @GrowthForceHQ!Check out Scott’s new book: Tame The Tech Beast!

So, you’re ready to sell your business you built from the ground up - what’s your motivation? That’s the first question you should ask yourself.With over three decades of experience in finance and investment, Kirk Michie, Managing Partner of Candor Advisors, joins Stephen on this episode to discuss the Wild West of exit strategies.Kirk starts by emphasizing the "WHY" – how your motivations can guide the entire sale process and ensure a more favorable outcome.Whether you're contemplating selling your business now or in the future, this episode is packed with practical advice and expert perspectives to help you navigate this complex path to profit.They discuss:

• Kirk’s journey to managing partner

• How to find the right buyer

• How to be a strategic buyer

• Starting with WHY

• The importance of due diligence

• Real client stories

• Why you should ignore “comparison is the thief of joy”

• How you can increase valuation

Make sure to follow us on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn at @GrowthForce & Instagram at @GrowthForceHQ!

By now, you’re most likely familiar with the concept of 1:1 meetings (well… we hope so).But did you know it can be the missing key to unlocking employee engagement? Jennifer Loftus, owner of HR consulting firm Astron Solutions, joins Stephen King for not only one of the most talked about topics, but the MOST IMPORTANT topic: Employee Engagement.After all, your people are your biggest asset.Tune in to listen to Jennifer’s takeaways on the importance of keeping employees engaged, and how to do so in a remote environment. They discuss:

• Astron’s 25 year history.

• How the pandemic shifted workplace culture.

• The importance of your value proposition.

• The power of one to one meetings.

• The key to employee connectivity, even when remote.

• Real client stories engaged employees.

• How to get your employees to bring their best selves.

• The important discussion of employee compensation.

• The 5 elements of total rewards.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn at @GrowthForce & Instagram at @GrowthForceHQ!

Are the riches really in the niches?We weighed in with Carolyn Boldt Co-founder, VP, & Director of Design of CrossFields Interiors & Architecture. Carolyn shares her journey and the strategic steps she took when ascending to Co-founder & Vice president, offering invaluable insights into leadership and business acumen. From designing for big enterprises to honing in on holistic health and wellness practices, Carolyn shares the “blueprint” for finding your niche. Carolyn walks us through how she successfully identified and catered to her ideal client, reshaping the trajectory of CrossFields' success.They discuss:

• Carolyn's background & what her team is currently working on.

• Michael Gerber's book, The E-myth & how she applied it to CrossFields.

• The steps Carolyn took when leaping Co-founder & VP.

• How she brought her company back to profitability.

• The riches are in the niches - how she chose her specific ideal client.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn at @GrowthForce & Instagram at @GrowthForceHQ!

The past four years have challenged business owners to reshape both their financial and people strategies; Guy Geier, Managing Partner at FX Collaborative, is no different. Guy joins Steve on Path To Profit to talk about the reality of the new normal after the pandemic from a financial and cultural perspective, and actions taken by his architecture company when funds were tight to reach their current revenue of $25 million. Guy also shares the specific KPIs he consistently uses to manage his firm.This is a must-listen for any business owner who wants to find the “blueprint” for growing a successful firm!They Discuss:

• Guy’s story of becoming Managing Partner at FXCollaborative

• His shift to remote work and why they moved back to hybrid.

• The reality of his numbers during the pandemic

• What his company did when money was tight

• The specific KPIs Guy tracks for FXCollaborative

• How AI is affecting the architecture space

• How architecture firms can leverage new AI technology

• Why Guy thinks other architecture firms need to be careful when using AI technology

Check out the AEC Scorecard™ - the architecture industry’s FIRST scorecard made exclusively for their growing firm!Make sure to follow us on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn at @GrowthForce & Instagram at @GrowthForceHQ!