In this episode, Adam Levin interviews Tom Freedman of Defiant Enterprises about a sales approach that challenges traditional prospecting.

Instead of chasing cold targets, running endless drip campaigns, or attending every networking event, Tom lays out a structured referral system designed for solo, micro, and small business owners. The focus is simple: build and manage an ecosystem that consistently generates contextual introductions.

They break down:

• Why referrals outperform traditional outreach

• How to build a "garden" of strategic partners

• Why five strong referral partners can drive most of your growth

• How to ask for introductions without damaging relationships

• Why timing and reciprocity matter more than scripts

If your 2026 sales plan is "generate more leads," this episode will challenge you to rethink where real growth actually comes from.

To kick off Season 2 of Strategy Shift Podcast, Adam Levin and Tom Freedman revisit the top five guest takeaways from Season 1 (2025) and break down the lessons that mattered most.

From communication strategy and technology decisions to sales clarity, AI adoption, and hiring, each takeaway reinforces a simple but critical idea: clarity must come before execution.

This episode synthesizes the strongest insights from Season 1 into practical guidance business owners can apply immediately as they head into the year ahead.

• Personal development as the engine behind elite performance
• Why culture can't be fixed with ping-pong tables
• How clarity, documentation, and defined expectations reduce friction
• Why chasing "unicorn salespeople" is a trap
• How fitness principles translate directly into business execution
• Why most organizations fail long before the sales process even begins

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast, we sit down with Calvin Wilder — entrepreneur, author of The Financial Operating System, and founder & CEO of SmartBooks. Calvin shares why bookkeeping alone isn't enough for small business owners who want to grow and build long-term value.

We explore how to:

• Understand the difference between bookkeepers, controllers, and CFOs

• Move beyond compliance to strategic financial management

• Use KPIs and trends to actually guide decision-making

• Balance the rise of AI with the human judgment businesses still need

Whether you're a solopreneur or running a 200-person company, this conversation will help you see your finances as more than numbers—it's the scoreboard for your success.

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast, we sit down with Michael Tanenhaus — President, CEO, and "Head Maven" at MavenSpire. Michael shares his journey from building computers at age 13 to leading organizations through the fast-changing world of technology and AI. Together, we unpack how small businesses can approach artificial intelligence with clarity, asking the right questions, and focusing on what actually drives results. From cutting wasted effort to preparing for the coming wave of AI-enabled tools, this episode is a must-listen for any business leader wondering how to embrace the future without getting lost in the hype.

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast, we sit down with LaMichelle Hecht, CPA, Founder & CEO of Overhead Solutions Group, to talk about the difference between driving revenue and actually making money. LaMichelle shares her journey from taking any client who would pay to redesigning her entire business model, rebuilding her team, and boosting margins from a painful 1–5% to 39–50%.

She explains why revenue is vanity, net income is sanity, and how she helps clients uncover hidden losses, cut underperforming services, and double down on what works. From analyzing transportation routes to rethinking nonprofit grant management, LaMichelle's insights will change the way you look at your books — and your business decisions.

Whether you're a small business owner, nonprofit leader, or growth-focused entrepreneur, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your financial vision, your staffing, and your client mix — because if you don't know your margins, you're flying blind.

On this episode of The Strategy Shift, veteran media strategist and federal market expert Steven Vito joins us to unpack the five most common (and costly) communication omissions he sees in businesses of all sizes. From the myth that "we don't need marketing" to the massive potential of overlooked audiences, Steven explains why failing to communicate is failing—period.

Drawing from 30 years of experience—across VA leadership, Government Executive Media Group, and as the co-creator of Government Matters—Steven shares insights on the power of thought leadership, stakeholder segmentation, and how to align BD, sales, and marketing once and for all.

If you think communication is "just marketing," this episode will change your mind—and maybe your entire strategy.

In this episode of the Shift Happens podcast, we sit down with Christina Holt—seasoned digital strategist and executive growth advisor—to unpack what it really takes for small business owners and SaaS founders to make smart, sustainable tech investments. From defining a clear future state to overcoming industry resistance, Christina shares decades of insights to help leaders avoid costly tech missteps and scale with confidence. If you're overwhelmed by tools or unsure where to start, this conversation offers a practical, visionary roadmap to drive real outcomes.

In this episode, we sit down with Forrest Dombrow, founder of Profitable by Design and the architect behind the PBD Growth Machine. With over 20 years of experience, Forrest has helped hundreds of businesses—from scrappy startups to giants like Amazon and Google—scale through smarter, not louder, marketing. We dig into why outdated tactics like spray-and-pray cold emails are tanking your credibility, what's changed with platforms like Google Ads and LinkedIn, and how to build a real growth engine that resonates with your actual audience.

In this episode, we sit down with seasoned insurance pro Butch Kriger to uncover the real risks small business owners face when it comes to insurance—and why most don't realize they're exposed until it's too late. From a contractor who lost $260K due to check fraud, to the rising threat of cyber and social engineering scams, Butch breaks down the high-stakes mistakes companies make and how to proactively avoid them. We dive into the importance of property coverage reviews, how positive pay could have saved a business, and why your broker could make or break your financial continuity. If you're a small business owner, this episode could save you thousands.