Systems Simplified

Sadie Lincoln is the Co-founder and CEO of Barre3, a fitness company combining strength conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness for a balanced, full-body workout. Barre3 has grown to include more than 170 franchise studios managed by female entrepreneurs. Sadie has been featured on Inc. magazine's Female Founders 100 list and NPR's How I Built This. As a global spokesperson, she frequently speaks on topics including mindful leadership, the power of body wisdom, and redefining success in fitness.

Growth-minded and visionary entrepreneurs often scale their companies singlehandedly. But this limits personal and professional freedom, so hiring seasoned professionals to execute your vision for the business is paramount. How can you systematize operations to franchise your organization effectively?

After placing too much pressure on herself to scale, Sadie Lincoln obtained counseling, peer support, and an executive coach to relinquish her tasks and begin the franchising process. Sadie's system for identifying potential franchisees is to provide exceptional services and demonstrate proficiency and core values. This empowers clients to become potential business owners and create consistent experiences that perpetuate your company's legacy.

In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit sits down with Sadie Lincoln, the Co-founder and CEO of Barre3, to talk about franchising and growing your business. Sadie explains her system for accelerating business growth, how she franchised Barre3, and why she delegated her tasks.

Lori Stickling is the Co-owner of Covenant Plumbing, which has provided world-class plumbing services since 2006. The company was voted the best local plumbing service in 2021 and 2022. In her role, she specializes in strategic small business management and marketing, sales, customer relationship management, communications, and human resources. Before Covenant Plumbing, Lori was a Business Analyst at State Farm, where she focused on PeopleSoft HR software.

As a small business entrepreneur, you've likely struggled with time management, as it's often difficult to juggle multiple operations and tasks simultaneously. How can you implement systems to delegate responsibilities, organize your business, and regain freedom?

Family business owner Lori Stickling found herself wearing too many hats. She implemented processes and software to transition into a management role and delegate tasks effectively. Consequently, Lori reclaimed control of her personal and professional life. When integrating new processes, monitoring your team's performance and ensuring they execute the systems according to your company values and standards is crucial.

Join Adi Klevit in this episode of Systems Simplified as she talks with the Co-owner of Covenant Plumbing, Lori Stickling, about integrating systems for organization and freedom. Lori shares small business owners' common challenges, advice for working with a spouse, and how processes enable business growth.

Amina Moreau is the Co-founder and CEO of Radious, an online marketplace that converts houses, apartments, and other residential properties into collaborative workspaces, rentable by the day. As a self-described chronic entrepreneur, she has built numerous companies, including Stillmotion, a five-time Emmy award-winning filmmaking company, Sway Storytelling, and Float Small Business.

In the pandemic's aftermath, hybrid and alternative work systems have become highly coveted. Yet there are societal discrepancies among these terms, causing some employees to feel lonely and companies to spend millions of dollars on underutilized office spaces. How can you redefine remote and hybrid work to foster a collaborative and uplifting culture?

As a practical visionary, Amina Moreau recognizes that most hybrid and remote systems are ineffective as companies find themselves bound by office leases, leading to uncompromising policies and a lack of productivity. She encourages business leaders to establish a contract with a company offering fractional office spaces to promote flexibility and justify utilization. It's also essential to develop strategic processes for remote work, which may involve weekly meetings in an office space or day trips to facilitate autonomy and collaboration.

Amina Moreau, the Co-founder and CEO of Radious, joins Adi Klevit in today's episode of Systems Simplified to discuss leveraging fractional office spaces for collaborative remote work. Amina shares how to balance remote, hybrid, and in-person work environments, her processes for building remote and hybrid cultures, and how her company transforms residences into collaborative workspaces.

Pepe Marais is the Co-founder and Group Chief Creative Officer at Joe Public, a full-service agency and communication group supporting high-growth brands. Joe Public has been ranked as the #1 agency in South Africa for five years. In 2004, Pepe founded Joe Public's CSR program, One School at a Time, an organization that creates exceptional education systems. He has received numerous local and international industry awards, including being ranked as the "Most Admired Creative Leader," and has served on various judging panels and boards.

As an advertising agency, creativity is a necessity. So when faced with implementing processes and procedures, many ad agencies reject the task, believing it restricts freedom and creativity. Conversely, business systems promote a sense of control through organization and consistency. How can you create and implement growth-oriented processes?

The leading advantage of procedures is that you can evolve them consistently to align with changing business needs and industry standards. But successful process implementer Pepe Marais says you can't develop systems without a strategic goal or purpose in mind. Identifying an intention behind your execution maximizes the full potential of these processes and provides clarity into propelling your business forward.

In today's episode of Systems Simplified, Pepe Marais, the Co-founder and Group Chief Creative Officer at Joe Public, joins Adi Klevit to talk about executing processes with a "why." Pepe addresses the role of systems in scaling a business, the takeaway advertising model, and how to manage client expectations.

Jon LoDuca is the Founder of PlaybookBuilder, a revolutionary knowledge management tool that helps drive higher results in organizations by supporting a continuous learning culture. PlaybookBuilder enables innovative organizations to onboard, train, and drive the adoption of their learning content and share it with team members, prospects, clients, and vendors. For the past 20 years, Jon has helped the top 1/4% of entrepreneurs to identify, package, and monetize their expertise. He is also the Founder and CEO of The Wisdom Link, Inc., an intellectual capital development company.

Studies reveal that 40% of your day is spent unconsciously inside a process. Yet many business owners are reluctant to document and implement processes and procedures. What are the benefits of developing SOPs, and how can you alter your perspective to execute them?

Process pioneer Jon LoDuca lists three common reasons entrepreneurs neglect systems implementation. Most owners view this feature as a one-time project rather than a vital business function, causing them to delay execution. Additionally, they often struggle to identify an ideal process. But Jon says documenting your current approaches allows you to adapt and improve them for efficiency and effectiveness. To simplify documentation, you can record a video interview explaining your strategies. Although many entrepreneurs believe process implementation hinders creativity and innovation, it drives organizational change, accountability, and an engaging culture.

Adi Kelvit interviews the Founder of PlaybookBuilder, Jon LoDuca, on this episode of Systems Simplified, about effective process documentation and implementation. Jon talks about how to document SOPs through video interviews, the three reasons entrepreneurs neglect process implementation, and how procedures facilitate creativity and innovation.

Cara Turano is the President and Executive Director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN), which helps entrepreneurs acquire capital to develop their businesses. As the Former COO of the Technology Association of Oregon, she has spent over 20 years in technology-related companies, including startups. As a non-profit executive and active community leader, Cara has been recognized as an Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40.

Entrepreneurship is a rewarding process with opportunities for personal and financial freedom and relationship building. Yet, for many founders of emerging startups, access to capital is limited. How can you obtain adequate funding and invest in other startups to fuel systematic community growth?

As an advocate for entrepreneurship and community leadership, Cara Turano understands that not all funding is accessible and requires a process-oriented approach to obtain. Therefore, it's essential to identify investors' priorities and align your vision with the appropriate financer. Cara recommends joining angel investing programs and networks to assess competition in the market, partner with multiple investment businesses, and invest in angel funds to give back to your community.

In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit sits down with Cara Turano, President and Executive Director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, to discuss how to obtain and create access to capital for startups. Cara shares processes for securing funding, how to unify entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds through networking, and how to systematize risk as an investor.

Thomas Helfrich is the Founder and CEO of Instantly Relevant, a progressive lead generation and MarTech (marketing technology) company helping businesses generate inbound leads from LinkedIn. With over 20 years of experience in consulting, marketing, and entrepreneurial executive coaching, Thomas has mentored hundreds of startup founders globally. He is also a LinkedIn influencer, international public speaker, social media figure, and a recognized thought leader in entrepreneurship, AI, and business leadership.

When generating leads and brand recognition, many businesses employ traditional, antiquated strategies like cold outreaches. But this downgrades your brand to the spam category, reducing relevance and impact. What processes can you leverage to boost engagement and convert prospects into brand advocates?

For B2B companies, LinkedIn is ideal for acquiring new customers since it allows you to pinpoint and engage with your target audience and client profile. Thomas Helfrich's systematic lead generation process involves demonstrating value to your prospects by engaging with their posts and creating directed content proposing solutions to pertinent issues. Avoiding self-directed sales pitches invites potential customers to connect with you and develop personal relationships.

Thomas Helfrich, Founder and CEO of Instantly Relevant, is Adi Klevit's guest in this episode of Systems Simplified. Thomas shares social media lead generation and engagement strategies. He also discusses AI's application in marketing and how to implement it into your processes, how to resolve common lead generation problems, and his phased LinkedIn engagement approach.

Donald Bielen is the Managing Director of Capital Eleven Advisors, an investment firm specializing in private equity, early-stage venture capital, and real estate development. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), he specializes in ownership transitions, business successions, and wealth management planning. Donald has advised over 200 business transactions and succession plans for entrepreneurs across the US.

Entrepreneurs who grew up in a family business form their identities around it. So when approaching retirement, they often delay the transfer and succession process. Additionally, these business owners struggle to establish their end goals for the company and themselves. How can you reconcile identity loss and define your post-transition objectives to plan effectively?

Transition planning advisor Donald Bielen instructs entrepreneurs to consider the individual and collective benefits of business succession. These may include enhanced quality of life and relationships or untapped potentials for the future. The succession planning process involves creating a group of trusted advisors who can help you develop a systematic, comprehensive approach to evaluating viable options for the transfer. It's critical to ensure the professionals you acquire are experts in their field so they can provide adequate knowledge and insights.

In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit invites Donald Bielen, Principal of Perkins & Co, to speak about business succession and transfer planning processes. Donald explains why entrepreneurs delay this planning, how to cultivate a team of knowledgeable advisors, and how to overcome identity loss to prepare for a transition.

Karl Maier is the Founder and Group Facilitator at Abunden, which offers CEO roundtable groups to connect with like-minded leaders, break free from isolation, and gain insights to thrive. He has worked in various roles, including systems and processes, sales and business development, finance and accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. Karl is also the author of Surfing Economic Chaos, which guides companies to identify and leverage new opportunities.

With globalization shifting, the economy is becoming increasingly volatile, and businesses are struggling to make a profit amid inflation and rising labor costs. How can you optimize your processes to adapt to these changes?

Karl Maier maintains that economic evolution is the most powerful asset for small companies since they can adapt effectively. He advises leveraging these opportunities by analyzing your sales processes, data, and profit sources. Since the labor market supply is declining, businesses should evaluate labor usage, systemize productivity, and motivate employees by communicating responsibilities and growth trajectories.

In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit invites Abunden's Founder and Group Facilitator, Karl Maier, to speak about capitalizing on market opportunities in a fluctuating economy. Karl talks about the shifting labor market, how to optimize labor costs, and his motivation for writing his book.

Heidi Ganahl is a serial entrepreneur, the 2022 Republican nominee for governor of Colorado, and the Founder and CEO of SheFactor, a lifestyle brand providing platforms for women in their 20s to live the lives they desire. She also founded Camp Bow Wow and the Fight Back Foundation and was a statewide elected official for the University of Colorado Board of Regents. Having built several impactful businesses, Heidi has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Fortune magazine's "10 Most Promising Entrepreneurs" and Parade Magazine's "Top Women Entrepreneurs in the Country."

Entrepreneurship is rewarding and provides a sense of purpose. But in today's volatile political environment, small businesses often face extensive regulations and taxes. Additionally, business and entrepreneurship are no longer taught in public schools, so children lack the skills and knowledge to launch a company.

Prominent multi-business owner Heidi Ganahl not only develops systems to help companies navigate complex legislation, she also provides mental health and educational resources to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. Living her philanthropic passions, Heidi created a franchise business model, established a step-by-step process for young women to achieve their dreams, and provided support for mothers in domestic violence situations. To sustain the American Dream, she recommends joining advocacy networks and industry associations to remain engaged and informed.

Serial entrepreneur, Founder, and CEO of SheFactor, Heidi Ganahl, joins Adi Klevit in this episode of Systems Simplified to talk about her journey founding multiple nonprofits. Heidi shares resources for young women, mothers, children, and business owners, how systems and processes helped her develop a franchise model, and her political undertakings.