At this NCBI luncheon, business owners and leaders unpack a struggle that rarely gets labeled correctly: communication. 

Leaders often think they are dealing with turnover, burnout, confusion, or lack of accountability. But beneath those symptoms is something deeper. A breakdown in clarity, trust, and how information moves through a team. 

This conversation explores what really happens when leaders are forced to constantly switch between running the business and leading people, why employees don’t always hear what you think you said, and how overcommunication can be just as damaging as silence. The panel shares practical ways to create alignment, define communication channels, build trust, and help teams move forward without needing the owner in every decision. 

If your team feels out of sync, overwhelmed, or dependent on you for everything, this discussion will help you rethink how leadership communication actually works. 

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Solo entrepreneurship is often celebrated as freedom, flexibility, and control. But the reality is far more complex.

In this episode of Struggles presented by NCBI, Chris Inman and Laura Hardin have an honest conversation about what it actually feels like to run a business alone. From being responsible for everything in the business to the mental weight of never truly turning it off, they unpack the challenges that don’t get talked about enough.

They explore the difficulty of working on the business while buried in client work, the constant mindset battle of trying to step away without guilt, and the unpredictable financial cycles that many solo owners face. Along the way, they share practical ways they are learning to manage time, build structure, create financial stability, and stay connected to a support network.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re winning and drowning at the same time, this episode is for you. You are not alone in the struggle.

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In this special episode of Struggles presented by NCBI, Chris Inman sits down with Phil Vedda of Vedda Printing to break down why traditional direct mail often underperforms and how pairing it with digital advertising changes the outcome.

Phil explains the real problem with one impression marketing and why most direct mail campaigns fail to convert on their own. He introduces Vedda Boost, a strategy designed to extend a single mailed piece into multiple digital impressions across platforms while keeping the audience and call to action consistent.

The conversation covers what types of businesses benefit most from direct mail plus digital, why business to consumer campaigns tend to outperform business to business efforts, and how smart retargeting turns website visits into second chances to convert. Phil also shares how Vedda Printing supports graphic designers through wholesale partnerships and how on demand apparel stores are helping growing companies maintain brand consistency across multiple locations.

This episode is ideal for business owners, marketers, and designers who want print campaigns that actually perform instead of relying on hope and one shot exposure.

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Struggles presented by NCBI welcomes Vic Ing, founder of Viking Sales Consultants, to share how he went from struggling with sales uncertainty to becoming a confident consultant getting clients to call him first. Vic breaks down the real mindset shifts and sales fundamentals that helped him win business consistently. We dig into sold-out networking, overcoming rejection, consultative selling, and the tools he uses to stay focused even when the pipeline gets shaky.

If you’re a business owner or sales professional who’s tired of chasing leads and wants a repeatable path to contract wins, Vic’s story will inspire you and give you practical ideas you can use this week.

In this episode you’ll learn:
• How Vic built sales confidence that drives results
• The exact practices that turned his network into revenue
• What to stop doing if you want prospects to warm up faster
• Real-world advice for more consistent sales conversations

Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Struggles with real business makers sharing the raw truth behind growth.

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When traditional banks say no, where do business owners turn next?

In this episode of Struggles presented by NCBI, Brian Butkowski sits down with Dana Korosi of Riverstone Capital Consultants to unpack the real struggles business owners face when trying to secure financing. Dana shares what happens behind the scenes when deals fall apart at the bank level and how storytelling, creativity, and experience can open doors others close.

With over 17 years in commercial finance, Dana explains why strong credit, realistic expectations, and clean financials matter more than most owners realize. From real estate deals and partner buyouts to misunderstood timelines and lender criteria, this conversation offers practical insight for any business owner who has ever felt stuck or frustrated trying to get funded.

If you have ever been told “you don’t check all the boxes,” this episode will help you understand why and what to do next.

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In this episode of Struggles, presented by NCBI, Chris Inman sits down to share a real conversation about one of the hardest parts of running a business: staying focused on your mission while the world throws opportunities, distractions, and shiny objects at you. Chris opens up about his early years in video production, from working on sports broadcasts to managing large corporate shoots, and the moment he realized the path he was on no longer aligned with the life he wanted. 

He talks about the turning point that forced him to rethink everything — including how he wanted to help clients, the lifestyle he wanted with his family, and how to build a business that aligns with personal goals, not just revenue. This episode gets into the honest challenges many entrepreneurs face: chasing every project, losing clarity, doing work that doesn’t fulfill you, and drifting away from your purpose. 

Chris also explains how working with a business coach helped him redefine IDEA Cleveland, focusing on virtual content creation, strategy, and meaningful conversations instead of high-end production for big corporations. He shares practical tools like the 24-hour rule, pros and cons lists, and creating a decision scorecard to help business owners stay rooted in what matters most. 

If you’ve ever struggled with staying on track, taking on too much, or saying yes to things that don’t move your business forward, this conversation will remind you that focus is a skill — and a powerful one. Tune in to hear a transparent, relatable story about growth, clarity, and building a business that supports your life instead of taking over it.

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In this episode of Struggles, Jon sits down with Justin Gamble, a Northeast Ohio photographer who built his business from the ground up and made the difficult leap from contractors to hiring his first employee. Justin shares the real story behind growing a photography brand, shooting 30–40 weddings a year, managing burnout, and learning how to delegate the creative work that used to live only in his head.

We talk about the challenges of scaling a creative business, building SOPs for editing, trusting contractors, shifting into commercial work, and balancing financial decisions with personal life goals. Justin breaks down how he went from running everything himself to creating real processes that protect his time and help him keep wedding turnaround times at four to five weeks — something almost unheard of in the industry.

If you're a photographer, creative professional, or business owner trying to grow without losing your mind, this is a must-listen.

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In this episode of Struggles, Brian Butkowski sits down with Kim Klima, founder of Squeaky Clean NEO, to talk about the real story behind building a cleaning company from scratch with nothing but a vacuum, a vision, and a ton of grit. Kim opens up about the early days — from figuring out business basics without capital to juggling full-time jobs while cleaning houses at night.

They talk about what growth really looks like, how she brought her kids into the business, the slow and scary process of hiring the first employees, and the balance between affordability, fair wages, and profit margins. Kim also shares the mindset shifts that helped her stay grounded, why referrals beat paid marketing every time, and what it actually takes to build a brand that feels like family.

If you’re a small business owner, someone in the service industry, or just someone who needs to hear the honest version of entrepreneurship, this conversation will hit home.

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In this episode of Struggles presented by NCBI, host John Carpenter sits down with Phil Vedda, third-generation leader of Vedda Printing, to talk about the bold decisions behind investing in new technology — even when it’s not the “safe” choice. Phil shares how his team is embracing a revolutionary new inkjet press, why betting on yourself matters, and how modern print innovations can actually lower costs while raising quality.

They discuss the pressures of running a family business, navigating big purchases in a changing economy, and leading with confidence when adopting cutting-edge tools. From behind-the-scenes teasers to open-house plans, this episode offers insight into what it takes to stay ahead in a traditional industry through innovation and trust.

🎧 Presented by North Coast Business Initiative — where we navigate challenges together.

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In this episode of Struggles presented by the North Coast Business Initiative (NCBI), host John Carpenter sits down with business coach and advisor Janelle Burnheimer to explore what it means to live and lead with intention. After nearly two decades in corporate finance, Janelle made the bold decision to step away from burnout and redefine success on her own terms.

She shares her journey of becoming more intentional—balancing family, health, and business—and how she now helps other leaders and entrepreneurs find alignment between their personal vision and professional goals. Together, Jon and Janelle discuss creating strategic plans, building advisory boards, leading with authenticity, and the importance of vulnerability on social media.

If you’ve ever struggled with defining what success really means or how to align your work with your values, this episode offers insight, humor, and actionable advice.

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