The Blank Slate Podcast

On today's episode we talk to Bill Gamble, CEO at Pinhole Press about the importance of learning (and not getting lazy), cultural fit and expectations, committing to the situation you're in and learning now to navigate it, not chasing the shiny thing (while recognizing there are no easy solutions) and the importance of a fundamentally sound marketing plan with good execution.

On today's episode we talk to Kerry Fagan, owner of Mark Thomas Men's Apparel (the finest menswear in upstate New York) about being a niche within a niche, the human connection, the challenges that come with legacy customers, the importance of owning one nice fitting suit (as well as a blue blazer, obviously), The Albany Housing Coalition Inc. and Kerry's belief that price is what you pay, value is what you get (and how customers of Mark Thomas Men's Apparel get the value proposition of shopping there).

On today's episode we talk to Jim Bennett, the longtime (and former) owner of Worldwide Express about focusing on the idea and not the business of running the business, the Seven P's, believing in yourself, projecting positivity, the benefits of using playbooks and role-playing (and practice), learning what not to do, how a few key people can make a difference and why you always deliver bad news over the phone (and not by text or email).

On today's episode we talk to Amy Guth, Host of Crain's Daily Gist (among many other things) about sharing stories, where creativity happens, and all that we've learned, will learn and hope we may still learn from doing business during the pandemic, including what it looks like when we run things as introverts, leaders being able to say they don't have all of the answers and whether we will be able to say, that was when business become softer and more human.

On today's episode we talk to Jeff Bennett, Co-Founder of Direct Advisors about always wanting to be better (and the fear of mediocrity), asking the right questions, transparency, compliance, and how working in the grey area is not for him, being focused on the best interest of his clients and his client's employees (while believing there's no reason we can't all win) and why things click (I can do this, I get it, I understand it and I believe in it).

On today's episode we talk to Nick Nagele, Co-Founder of Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. about how the whiskey they make is a reflection (and expression) of the work and dedication they put into planting and growing their grain, why bourbon from Kentucky has nothing over bourbon from Illinois, what it takes to get your story and product in front of the people willing to give you their dollar and why his real passion is telling the history of farming.

On today's episode we talk to Sarry Ibrahim, Founder of Financial Asset Protection about having to believe that what you're doing is right (and controlling your emotions), black belt strategy, the Bank on Yourself approach to retirement planning, the difference between visioning something and envisioning it, crafting a daily routine and how building a small business is a game of inches, not miles.

On today's episode we talk to Dr. Michele Kehrer, Founder of Balance Chicago about knowing that she wanted to be her own boss at five (while also wanting to change the world), and not knowing why this is because she doesn't know any different, taking time during the pandemic to re-evaluate her business (and seeing the cracks that success can cover-up) and asking how you do today better and tomorrow better too?

On today's episode we talk to John Gotschall, President at Coaching Financial about the importance of asking yourself, if this doesn't work, can I live with it, also, what business am I in and where am I taking it, the questions any employee wants to be able to answer for themselves - what's my job, do I like the environment I'm in, what are the benefits and the value of being able to identify something you failed at and what you learned from it.

On today's episode we talk to Lidia Varesco Racoma, Founder of Lidia Varesco Design about celebrating 20 years in business during a pandemic, how sometimes small business owners can feel truly alone, asking what keeps one's clients up at night, and what they're passionate about, and engaging in generosity and sharing with one's competitors, while knowing there is nothing anyone can steal from you, because it's your unique story and you cannot be replicated.