In this episode, Kyle Van Deusen, founder of The Admin Bar, reveals how he built an engaged online community of 11,000+ members—without compromising authenticity. Host Sean M. Atkinson explores the power of real community vs. just an audience, monetization strategies that don’t feel “salesy,” and how community-driven business models can create financial stability and work-life balance.

Key Topics: 

✅ The difference between building a community vs. an audience

✅ The importance of authenticity and engagement in online spaces

✅ How monetization can work without selling out

✅ Why selective membership keeps community value high

✅ How community building can improve work-life balance

Resources mentioned:

The Admin Bar: https://theadminbar.com/

Website Owners Manual: https://theadminbar.com/products/wom/

Termageddon: https://app.termageddon.com/?fp_ref=majority

Share your questions for Kyle and I will invite him back for a Q&A episode!

Join Sean M Atkinson and Lorraine Watson, the visionary behind TriSphere Consulting, as they dive deep into the transformative power of analytics in business success. With over 20 years of experience as a "big picture info nerd," Lorraine shares invaluable insights on turning data into actionable strategies for mission-driven businesses.

In this episode, discover how to move beyond vanity metrics and create a holistic view of your business performance. Lorraine breaks down complex analytics into practical frameworks, helping you understand everything from website traffic sources to effective SEO strategies. Whether you're running an early-stage startup or an established business, you'll learn how to leverage tools like Google Search Console to gain deeper insights into your audience's perception and behavior.

Key highlights:

• Transform data overwhelm into actionable insights
• Create sustainable business models aligned with your values
• Understanding the difference between vanity metrics and meaningful data
• Practical steps for implementing analytics in your business strategy
• Tips for proactive monitoring and forecasting

Resources mentioned:

• TriSphere Consulting: https://trisphereconsulting.com
• DIY vs Pro Guide: https://trisphereconsulting.com/lm-diy-hire-pro/

The most dangerous time to scale your business is when everything's working perfectly. Discover how the S.T.A.G.E. framework helps you grow systematically without breaking what made you successful in the first place.

⏩ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 - Introduction to the S.T.A.G.E. Framework 02:11 - Start: Assessing Your Current Position 04:02 - Test: Validate Your Readiness 05:22 - Analyze: Identifying The Opportunities 08:26 - Gauge: Assessing The Requirements 10:31 - Expand: Systematic Growth 13:04 - Building Relationships for Longevity 17:26 - Why The S.T.A.G.E. Framework Works 26:44 - Outro

🎯 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL DISCOVER:

• Why success leaves systematic clues you need to document
• How to scale without sacrificing quality or customer experience
• When to build systems (hint: not when you're overwhelmed)
• The difference between chasing money and pursuing opportunities
• How to maintain brand identity while growing

💡 WHO NEEDS TO WATCH:

• Business owners ready to scale their success
• Entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed by growth
• Leaders looking to build systematic processes
• Anyone wanting to grow without sacrificing quality
• Teams preparing for expansion

🔑 KEY FRAMEWORKS COVERED: S - Start: Assess your current position T - Test: Validate your readiness A - Analyze: Identify opportunities G - Gauge: Assess requirements E - Expand: Execute systematic growth

🎓 ABOUT THE STRATEGIC THINKERS PODCAST: Join host Sean M Atkinson each week as we transform complex business decisions into strategic action steps. No perfect scenarios, no unrealistic expectations - just reality-based business growth.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly insights on thinking strategically and moving purposefully in your business!

📱 CONNECT WITH SEAN: LinkedIn: /sean-atkinson-b854152 Website: https://seanmatkinson.com/ Strategically Speaking Newsletter: https://majority.media/newsletter/

❓ QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What's one successful process in your business that you need to document before scaling? Share your experience in the comments!

#strategicthinking #BusinessStrategy #STAGE #BusinessFramework #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SystematicGrowth #ScalingStrategy #BusinessSuccess #IntentionalGrowth

In this episode of the Strategic Thinkers podcast, we dive deep into the T.I.M.E.D. framework, a practical approach for both early-stage and seasoned business owners. Unlike conventional business advice that often assumes perfect scenarios, this episode emphasizes the importance of basing your strategies on current circumstances and reality. Whether you're in crisis mode or experiencing abundance, understanding how to track metrics, assess market impact, and deploy resources effectively can make the difference between sustainable growth and missed opportunities. We explore how to evaluate your business honestly, considering surrounding circumstances that affect your metrics and strategic decisions.

Key Takeaways

• Base your business strategies on real circumstances, not ideal scenarios
• Track metrics within context, not in isolation
• Understand the surrounding circumstances when evaluating business performance
• Identify whether you're an assimilator, innovator, or disruptor in your market
• Consider both preventative measures and reactionary solutions based on your strengths
• Shift from an expense mindset to an investment mindset
• Create flexible frameworks that accommodate life's uncertainties
• Build confidence through thorough preparation and understanding
• Evaluate your market position regularly to stay competitive
• Deploy strategies that allow for both growth and scaling back when necessary

In this episode of the Strategic Thinkers Podcast, Sean M Atkinson introduces the P.A.U.S.E. framework, emphasizing the importance of due diligence in business. Sean breaks down the components of P.A.U.S.E. - Potential Assessment, Assessing Timing, Understanding Market Needs, Strengthening Your Foundation, and Executing When Ready. 

Throughout the conversation, Sean illustrates how these principles can be applied to enhance customer experience, build trust, and ensure long-term business success. The episode concludes with a call to action for entrepreneurs to be intentional and strategic in their approach to business.

Want to beat the odds of business failure? Learn the proven F.I.R.S.T. framework that helps entrepreneurs build successful businesses from day one.

In this episode, Sean M Atkinson shares his origin story and the insights he gained from his experiences in the music industry and marketing research. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between the music business and the business of music, and how this knowledge can be applied to entrepreneurship. The conversation explores the customer journey, the entrepreneurial mindset, and the frameworks for success that can help small business owners navigate their paths effectively. Sean introduces the F.I.R.S.T., P.A.U.S.E., and T.I.M.E.D. frameworks as essential tools for building a solid foundation for business growth.

The introduction trailer to the podcast setting the table for what talking points and the focus on helping small business owner achieve their definition of success.