Behind the Counter

The Filler Episode That Accidentally Becomes A Masterclass


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A confession with teeth. We missed a week, and instead of glossing over it, we break down why new projects fall through the cracks—and how to build systems that keep your work on track when life gets loud. I walk through my path from Farmington kid to Air Force process junkie, from executive support at Langley to the IT bust that knocked me flat, and the hard climb back through city marketing, a messy agency breakup, and the rebuild that became Ken Collins Marketing and Strategic Horizons Consulting.

Across the story, I share the frameworks that actually help small business owners in the Four Corners and beyond: why automation is a lifeline for teams wearing too many hats, how to schedule content without sounding robotic, and where AI fits—useful, but never on autopilot. We get honest about sales being my weakest muscle and how I’ve learned to keep explanations simple, stack detail only as needed, and earn trust by telling the truth, even when it stings. If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by process, partnerships, or priorities, you’ll hear exactly how I structure onboarding, audits, and playbooks so they scale with a tiny team.

What makes this conversation different is the mix of local roots and global context. I’ve worked with mom‑and‑pop shops scraping for a hundred-dollar bill and with international organizations navigating heavy bureaucracy, and that range shapes how I solve problems here at home. I also share a dream I can’t shake: building a real pipeline for youth entrepreneurship so students with hustle get coaching, sprints, and launch support, not just a pat on the back. Until then, the plan is simple—keep serving owners, tighten the systems, and make this podcast a reliable window into how leaders in our community build, stumble, and get back up.

If this resonates, share it with a business owner who needs the lift, hit follow so you never miss the next story, and leave a quick review with your biggest takeaway—what will you automate first?

Be sure to follow or subscribe!  And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at [email protected]

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

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Behind the CounterBy Ken Collins