The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Founder, CEO, and General Counselor of Judy Weber Co, Judy Weber.Judy’s work is faith-based working with women within her same faith to achieve business goals and make the work of having a business easier while being more profitable. Judy grew up poor and has had a difficult life throughout the years. She was able to overcome the challenges and make her dreams a reality. Judy explains that she maintains a positive attitude when handling difficult situations or trauma so she can grow and not be stuck. Being stuck in a negative headspace can be a cause for missed opportunities and taking steps back. Judy advises that individuals should look at others with open eyes as well as understand everyone has trauma and support or accept them regardless. Faith in yourself is important as it relates to everyone an individual does and being in tune with that can allow for deeper introspection and growth.Judy explains that scaling involves three simple steps under the acronym joy. J is for a jump start, which involves looking at the strategy of a business to simplify it to a more efficient strategy. O is for optimization, which involves looking into their business team to ensure everyone is doing what is needed as well as looking into business processes and automation. Y is for yield, which involves monitoring results from revenue to client results and testimonials. Many individuals worry about hiring another team member because they cannot afford it. Judy explains that it can be more beneficial to hire someone to work on specific tasks than a business owner doing it themselves. This is because more time will be freed up for the business owner, meaning more time to make connections and establish relationships, which in the end turns into more revenue that can pay for the work of that person with more to spare. Judy offers a program called Joyful Scaling Mastermind that will become a six-month program in 2023. This program includes weekly group coaching and monthly one-on-one coaching with Judy.  In the Fall, Judy will be unveiling a new program called Joyful Six Figures Accelerator which provides lifetime access to a group program that contains on-demand trainings and weekly group trainings.Key Points from the Episode:What Judy does and how she got thereHow Judy overcomes and adapts to challenges. Faith in oneselfScaling Hiring challengesEngagement with JudyAbout Judy Weber:Judy Weber, Esq. is setting the gold standard in business coaching for faith-based women. A Women’s Business Strategist & Scaling Expert, and the Founder & Host of the globally-ranked ‘Joyful Scaling’ Podcast, Judy is on a mission to normalize mega success (both impact + revenue) for high-achieving, successful faith-based female CEOs, helping them build & scale their business with simplicity, using her proven Joyful Scaling Method.™ A former corporate & trial attorney as well as C suite executive (General Counsel & HR Director), Judy is a genius at showing faithful women how to fully embrace their faith so they can step confidently into their CEO role and think strategically, act courageously & speak authoritatively. Judy helps her clients create sophisticatedly simple - yet highly profitable - businesses, while pursuing deeper faith. She is a sought-after Keynote Speaker, teaching and inspiring women across the U.S. & around the world.Tweetable Moments:7:01 "Look at your faith foundation and, generally, as a person and an entrepreneur. And that will inform how you show up, what you do when you show up, and all of that."7:51 "I believe scaling is three simple steps, and it's the acronym JOY. It's jump-start, optimize and yield."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluene.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the Judy Weber Co website at https://judyweber.co/Check out Judy Weber’s podcast Joyful Scaling at https://www.judyweber.co/podcastCheck out Judy Weber Co on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/judy-weber-co/Check out Judy Weber on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyweberco/Check out Judy Weber on Facebook at https://facebook.com/judywebercoCheck out Judy Weber on Instagram at https://instagram.com/judywebercoDon’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with professional speaker and social media strategist, Ashley Ann.Ashley helps clients get paid for the work that they enjoy doing. She works with individuals or companies and has helped over 700 people make six-figure incomes with their social media accounts. Ashley’s strategies include building an audience and establishing reach organically as well as finding a balance between human interaction and automation. This is done to maintain a business and set up a system to create longevity. Ashley explains that there are only 1-3 categories of people that will understand a business or individual's message and product. These groups of people need to be focused on creating reach by identifying what they think they need, and what they actually need.Schedules for business owners tend to be quite busy and it can be hard to find the time to make a presence on social media. Ashley advises that everyone use a text community or text list because emails tend to get ignored for promotions. People are more likely to check a text message rather than an email. This connection allows for the reach to grow as an individual can promote more productively with better outcomes from the audience. Hiring an engagement team is a good way to gain media attention on an individual's behalf. It takes time for a team to learn the voice they are trying to portray. Ashley finds it beneficial to have meetings with her engagement team to modify or give points to more accurately imitate her response. Ashley advises to not always use advertisements to sell but to use them to also inform an audience. Segmentation is a way to group individuals into categories based on their needs to give them only the information they desire. Ashley utilizes this to set up a schedule of when to contact each person based on what segment they are in.Key Points from the Episode:Ashley’s impact in the worldAshley’s strategiesAshley’s advice on establishing reachFinding the time for social mediaHow to balance maintaining reach while not being a nuisanceAbout Ashley Ann:Ashley Ann also known as King Ashley Ann’s is a talented biz builder, public speaker, social media strategist, and award-winning wedding and event designer. Ashley currently travels the United States speaking to small business owners, side hustlers, wedding and event industry professionals, and those who are thinking of starting a business. Ashley is equipped with a B.A. in Finance and M.B.A. from the University of Central Arkansas. Ashley is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and an avid volunteer. She serves as a teen mentor, direct service volunteer, and domestic violence survivor. Ashley also instructs community financial literacy courses. Ashley Ann has helped over 11,000 individuals monetize their social media and over 700 people create 6 figure incomes. She has currently helped 150 people create 7-figure incomes and 9 of her clients are consistently doing million-dollar months. She has also helped over 1000 businesses generate $25K- $45K per month using Facebook and Live Stream. Ashley Ann gives free business tips and strategy classes on her Livestream Monday through Thursday. Ashley’s is based in Little Rock, AR. Ashley is known for her creative and unusual event ideas in the event world. In the business world Ashley is known for getting results, and simplifying social media, lead magnets, funnels, and CVO so that her clients achieve desired outcomes. She pays exquisite attention to every last detail in the boardroom and in the ballroom. Ashley Ann is a Google Partner, and has been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Life, CNN Money, Kontrol, MSN, Breitbart, NewBreak, Business Insider, Newsweek, CNBC, Sheen, Morning Mix Up, Doz, Rolling Out Magazine, Fox News, KATV, WoW City, STAND’s 30 Under 30, and several other media outlets and publications.Tweetable Moments:2:35 "There are only one to three categories of people that are going to care about what you're saying."6:14 "We have to have some way to communicate with people outside of social media."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluene.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out Ashley Ann’s websites at https://kingashleyann.biz/ and https://www.ashleyannspeaks.com/.Check out Ashley Ann on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingashleyann/Check out Ashley Ann on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KingAshleyAnn Check out Ashley Ann on Twitter at https://twitter.com/kingashleyannCheck out Ashley Ann on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kingashleyann/Check out Ashley’s Free Everwebinar at https://ashleyannspeaks.samcart.com/referral/xeZW4SO8/Mv0vr7f49Q991vawDon’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the CEO and Honorary Chairman of Simon-Kucher & Partners, Hermann Simon.While Hermann was growing up, his father did not have an influence on the pricing of his goods. This is why he got into working with pricing and allowed him to create Simon-Kucher & Partners which now employs over 1,800 people globally as well as maintaining a revenue of 522 million dollars in the year 2021. Simon-Kucher & Partners is focused on pricing, gross, and profit consulting for their clients. A major point about pricing that Hermann explains to clients is the pricing value to the customer. Value and pricing are separate ideas that need to be balanced for the best outcome for the company as a whole. Another point Hermann makes is for businesses to avoid Marxist pricing. When businesses give a guarantee for their product or service it makes consumers more apt to pay higher prices as the guarantee increases the value the consumer places on it.Hermann explains that profit is the cost of survival and it is a moral responsibility for the entrepreneur to make a profit otherwise the business may suffer as well as do damage to everyone involved. There are multiple costs that go into a business such as paying employees, satisfying vendors, interest, and taxes to name a few. Hermann explains that earning before interest or taxes is not true profit, he considers true profit to be net profit. There have been many fundamental ideas that Simon-Kucher & Partners has believed in but have not been able to implement until recently due to technological incapabilities. Globalization has been a fundamental idea that has grown for Simon-Kucher & Partners due to the increase in international trade. Simon-Kucher & Partners works within all industries, especially in Silicon Valley, as well as banks and telecommunication companies. Dynamic pricing refers to the value of pricing mixed with the basis of supply and demand. Hermann explains that dynamic pricing is influenced by technology and adjusts supply and demand better than a rigid system. Hermann advises, based on his book Hidden Champions in the Chinese Century: Ascent and Transformation, there are three pillars to the success of a business owner. The first pillar is the ambition to be the best in their market, the second pillar is utilizing focus, and the third pillar is to broadening their market through globalization.Key Points from the Episode:The impact Hermann has in the worldKey points clients are likely to hearWhy guarantees allow for the basis of pricing to changeImportance of true profitThe changes to Simon-Kucher & Partners over the last four decadesTypical clients of Simon-Kucher & PartnersDynamic PricingHermann’s insights from his book Hidden Champions in the Chinese Century: Ascent and TransformationAbout Hermann Simon:Hermann Simon, PhD., is a world-renowned management thinker, consultant, pricing expert, entrepreneur, and leading authority on the “hidden champions” business model. He is the founder and honorary chairman of Simon-Kucher & Partners, the world’s leading price consultancy with over 1,700 employees and 42 offices worldwide. Simon is the author of 40 books in 30 different languages, including the worldwide bestseller Hidden Champions, first published by Harvard Business School in 1996.Simon-Kucher & Partners is the global thought and market leader in price consulting, and Hermann is recognized as the worldwide pricing guru. His books Confessions of the Pricing Man: How Price Affects Everything and Price Management: Strategy, Analysis, Decision, Implementation are standard works in the price management industry. In a time of rising inflation, Simon is an invaluable resource for companies, especially in the United States where pricing is a generally neglected topic.Simon continues to bring value to the marketing world through his writing, recently publishing True Profit!: No Company Ever Went Broke Turning a Profit (Springer, July 2021). In True Profit! Simon brings clarity to the jungle of profits and balance sheets, shedding light on the performance of numerous companies and industries in an international comparison. He discusses the dilemma of why more than 80% of companies in the U.S. that have gone public have never turned a profit, and questions allegations of corporate greed – arguing that profit-making is ethical if achieved decently.Simon’s upcoming book, Hidden Champions in the Chinese Century: Ascent and Transformation (Springer, April 2022), is an in-depth exploration of the ever-changing operating conditions, as well as the more significant uncertainty and volatility, that will define global business over the next 10 years—with a particular focus on China’s impact. Whether a company is a “Hidden Champion” or aspires to be one, this newest release from Simon provides essential food for thought as executives and managers chart their course into the future.In 1995, Simon made the life-changing decision to leave his professorship behind. He put his Hidden Champions blueprint into practice as an entrepreneur, founding his consulting firm, Simon-Kucher & Partners, with Dr. Eckhard Kucher, his first doctoral student. Simon-Kucher & Partners is now the global market leader in price consulting, growing considerably faster than the rest of the consulting market, with  $522 million in revenue in 2021, 18% average annual growth, and a clear focus on top-line growth.Tweetable Moments:7:58 "It is a moral responsibility for the entrepreneur to make a profit."13:52 "Dynamic pricing is driven by technology and adjusts supply and demand much better than in a rigid system where you do not have price differences over time."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluene.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the Simon-Kucher & Partners website at https://www.simon-kucher.com/enCheck out Simon-Kucher & Partners on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/simon-kucher-&-partners/Check out Hermann Simon’s website at https://hermannsimon.com/Check out Hermann Simon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhermann/Check out Hermann Simon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hermannsimonCheck out Hermann Simon’s book Confessions of the Pricing Man: How Price Affects Everything at https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Pricing-Man-Affects-Everything/dp/B08TZPRKVY/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1663777845&refinements=p_27%3AHermann+Simon&s=books&sr=1-2Check out Hermann Simon’s book True Profit!: No Company Ever Went Broke Turning a Profit at https://www.amazon.com/True-Profit-Company-Broke-Turning/dp/3030767019Check out Hermann Simon’s book Hidden Champions in the Chinese Century: Ascent and Transformation at https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Champions-Chinese-Century-Transformation/dp/303092596XDon’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Founder and Leadership Coach of Deploy Yourself School of Leadership, Sumit Gupta.Sumit helps business owners organize themselves to the next level of success by connecting what they want to achieve to how they get there. Sumit explains many leaders are stuck with small problems or hidden desires they might not see that is standing in the way of their growth. Business owners struggle to reach out for leadership help because they don’t know when to ask for it. Sumit explains individuals with big visions or individuals that know they are stuck should talk to a coach or advisor to help get to the next step. Many business owners surround themselves with people who tell them what they want to hear and not what they need to hear. This can be a disadvantage as criticism or feedback is where growth and new ideas form. Sumit explains that reframing the criticism from negative to helpful can aid individuals in accepting this type of feedback.Sumit explains that individuals often make it too hard on themselves and simply stepping into the entrepreneurial space is winning for oneself. The achievements or failures are stepping stones on a larger journey that many people will never go on. Sumit explains that rumination is often done over things that cannot be changed and actually take an individual away from their responsibilities. While the worst case may happen, it is important to remember it is possible to come back from that and plan the next steps after it. Sumit explains his coaching consists mostly of long-term coaching that could be one leader or an entire leadership team.Key Points from the Episode:Sumit’s work and impact in the worldWhere leaders struggleWhen leaders should seek out coachingHow to overcome shielding oneself from feedbackFear manifesting into couragePerfectionismRuminationEngagement Sumit has with clientsAbout Sumit Gupta:Sumit Gupta was born and grew up in New Delhi, India, and is now based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Over the years, he has lived in multiple cities in India. In addition, he has traveled, worked along, and photographed people from all over the world.One of his superpowers is to create safety and trust so that people do not have to wear a mask in front of him. He started as a techie in 2005 and fit the typical geek profile – good at computers but introverted when it came to working with people. In a way, he had learned to hide behind computers and not be visible.He has worked in companies like InfoEdge (Naukri.com) (2005-2008), Yahoo (2010-2011), 91Mobiles (2013), and Booking (2014-2020). In addition, he also incorporated two startups – SaleRaja (from 2007-2010) and CricketRadius (in 2012) and co-founded a non-profit Pick A Fight (2011-12).He started leading a team at 24 years of age. At that time, he had no idea what leadership was all about. To make it worse, he wasn’t even aware that people management and other so-called soft skills could be learned.In 2012, he lost my mom to cancer. This event shook his world in ways he is still realizing. In a way, the old him died and a new Sumit was born that day – however, it took him a long time to realize that. In 2021, he reprioritized his life in the pursuit of Deploying Myself.Earlier, he thought the unpredictability of human beings was a bug and it used to piss him off badly. However, now he sees it as a feature. He is left in awe and wonder as he supports people in finding and shining their own unique light upon the world.People come to him feeling frustrated, low on energy, and stuck in achieving something that matters to them. They come confused and with their lights dim and leave with their lights shining many times brighter.They leave feeling empowered, confident, relaxed, and ready to produce expanded results and relationships – for themselves as well as their teams. Today, he is good at helping people see their light because he has spent so much of his life hiding his own.Tweetable Moments:3:02 "It's easy to surround yourself with people who will say what you want to hear, not necessarily what you need to hear."4:32 "Once I understood my fear, my fear was telling me what was meaningful for me. I was able to build the courage to go through that."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluene.com/podcast-guest Links Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the Deploy Yourself School of Leadership website at https://www.deployyourself.com/Check out Deploy Yourself School of Leadership on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/deploy-yourself/Check out Sumit Gupta on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumit4all/Check out Sumit Gupta on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sumit4all/Check out Sumit Gupta on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sumitgupta4allDon’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Founder of Breakfast Consulting, Neil Heckman.Breakfast Consulting works with founders and business leaders during times of change. Breakfast Consulting was created as Neil saw the constant change and need for branding scopes to evolve while he worked in-house with some direct consumer brands. Neil explains that brands are experiencing change from COVID, the recession, IOS 14, and many other factors. Some businesses may experience positive change such as telehealth or virtual personal trainers due to the rise in virtual business. Other businesses may experience negative changes such as restaurants and retail due to the impending recession. The impending recession is a major change that businesses are preparing for going into the holiday season. Neil explains that funds are becoming more deliberate where they are investing their money. Businesses have learned that they may not be able to be bulletproof to the unknowns, as seen through the pandemic. However, they can reposition their business to resonate their product or service to the highest group of consumers while maintaining cost-effectiveness in selling and marketing.Neil advises businesses who are looking for investors to set their expectations higher and know they may fall short. With investors becoming more disciplined, businesses need to become more disciplined to gain the support of these investors. Neil has worked hands-on with direct consumer business during times of change which makes him unique to the consulting space. Neil also explains that he is focused on the constant evolution of a business and will work on whatever factor is the most pressing at the time. If the importance of a factor changes, he will change his approach along with it.Key Points from the Episode:What Breakfast Consulting doesChanges clients are bringing to Breakfast ConsultingMarket factorsAdvice for companies looking for investorsWhy Neil’s business is uniqueAbout Neil Heckman:Neil Heckman is a marketing professional hailing from 2 of the fastest growing start-ups of all time (Casper and Away), in addition to working with Fortune 500 brands like Verizon, Nationwide, and Johnson & Johnson. Having driven more than $2B in revenue over 10 years at some of the largest, most well-known brands in the world, and also at some of the most innovative and disruptive brands in history, his capabilities are vast and the service is unrivaled. In 2021 Neil founded Breakfast Consulting to bring an experienced and nimble approach to supporting founders and entrepreneurs.Tweetable Moments:5:38 "There are different challenges depending on the industry, the period, and the specific factor at play."06:13 "The investing community has by no means dried up, but it's becoming much more structured, and I would say much more deliberate in where they're investing and, more importantly, where they're not investing."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluene.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the Breakfast Consulting website at https://breakfastconsulting.com/Check out Breakfast Consulting on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakfastconsulting/Check out Neil Heckman on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilheckman/Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

On today's episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, we are so excited to speak with the founder of the podcast Grow Your Show, Adam Adams!Adam discusses the industry of podcasting and how Grow Your Show is a company that helps support podcasters through editing, post production, publishing, promotions, creating images and much more. Grow Your Show handles the back end portion of podcasting so that the host essentially doesn't have to do anything but be themselves and share their purpose.Grow Your Show enjoys helping coaches, mentors, online course creators, consultants, attorneys, masterminds, and many other industry individuals create their own podcast.Josh discusses the benefits of individuals and their organizations expanding their reach through podcasting and the network the podcasting industry provides. Josh discusses how to create triggered algorithms where your content becomes more exposed through various media sources. This includes: following, download, listen, social proofing through rating and reviews, and return listeners.Don’t forget to listen to our next episode, where we recap all the great insights that Adam Adams offered!Key Points from the Episode:Growing a Podcast TodayDirect Message CampaignsTriggered AlgorithmsAbout Adam Adams:Adam has a loyal following in the podcasting space. After selling his first podcast, he launched the Podcast on Podcasting which is ranked as a top show for podcasters. Adam is also the founder of GrowYourShow.com where they help you get your message out to the world. Grow Your Show is The Easy Button For Podcasters TM that want to have a top rated show without all the hard work. Their clients are getting ranked in the top 1% on iTunes and other top charts which means they have more influence than the other 99%.Tweetable Moments:04:42 "There are many, many ways to monetize a show. It's not just advertising and sponsorship."10:20 "We keep it short and sweet. We, it's always personal, so it's not copied and pasted. It's always personal and individualized."Links Mentioned in this Episode: Want to learn more? Check out Adam Adam’s website at https://growyourshow.com/Check out Adam Adams on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-a-adams/Check out Adam Adam’s on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/podcastadam/?utm_medium=copy_linkCheck out Adam Adams on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/adam.aaa.adamsDon’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Owner of Carfagno Commercial Cleaning and Founder and Host of the Smart Cleaning School Podcast, Ken Carfagno.The Smart Cleaning School Podcast was started with the purpose of finding good individuals in the cleaning industry to send the public to and to give a platform to. The Smart Cleaning School offers training and membership groups for new individuals to help develop a business owner mindset and offer resources. Ken explains that when COVID hit, businesses were crushed. Some residential cleaning businesses Ken was connected to, lost around 90% of their revenue within weeks due to COVID. Ken explains that once the fear and uncertainty subsided, residential cleaning businesses, for the most part, were able to make a significant rebound in their space. However, the commercial cleaning businesses had a different experience with COVID. Some of these businesses fell completely while others grew substantially. Their growth was due to the increased need for proper disinfection practices in all areas such as business offices, government buildings, and many other spaces.Ken explains that a major aspect of starting a cleaning business is having a business owner's mindset. Communication developed interpersonal skills, and networking are all important skills to have when creating or managing a business as it determines the pull a business has in its area. Ken explains that on the Smart Cleaning School Podcast, he gives an overview of the business aspects of starting a business, specifically in Episode 260, Best Of - How to Start a Solo Cleaning Business. Ken works primarily with two different groups of entrepreneurs. The first group is solo entrepreneurs that would like a part-time side hustle or a way to get out of their current job. The second group is residential or commercial companies that are growing into larger businesses. The Smart Cleaning Tribe is a group that is designed to help individuals set and achieve goals as well as hold them accountable.Key Points from the Episode:Ken’s impact in the worldThe impact of COVID on business ownersFundamentals for starting a cleaning businessKen’s ClienteleThe Smart Cleaning TribeAbout Ken Carfagno:Ken Carfagno is the host of the Smart Cleaning School Podcast which helps cleaning professionals make the impact they were meant to make. Ken levels up cleaning business owners in growth mindset, leadership, and promotes the thought leaders in the cleaning industry through this podcast. Ken and his wife Teresa have 5 kids that they homeschool in the Philadelphia Area.Tweetable Moments:3:58 "Like, the spider web concept. Just bring them in and give them some free content. That helps them develop business owner mindset."9:09 "The number one thing is, do you have a business owner's mindset? It's without question."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluene.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the Carfagno Cleaning website at https://www.c3xnow.com/Check out Carfagno Cleaning on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/carfagnocleaning/Check out the Smart Cleaning School Website at https://www.smartcleaningschool.com/Check out the Smart Cleaning School Podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/653395Check out the Smart Cleaning School Podcast Episode Best Of - How to Start a Solo Cleaning Business at https://www.buzzsprout.com/653395/10082778-best-of-how-to-start-a-solo-cleaning-businessCheck out Ken Carfagno on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kencarfagno/Check out Smart Cleaning School on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/smartcleaningschoolCheck out Smart Cleaning School on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/smartcleaningschoolDon’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HEREAre you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.  

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Founder and Owner of Goals To Results, Dennis Riley.Dennis Riley is a business strategist that helps small business owners get efficient results by looking into data strategy systems. Dennis explains that a common issue is data not being in one place for business owners. If the data is scattered, it makes it harder to compile and more complex to refer back to when looking for results. Dennis explains that he creates a data dashboard for his clients to refer to for all of their business data to see what is working and what is not. This dashboard helps small business owners determine the problems and fix them faster than if they individually looked into every data platform. Dennis explains that he makes use of Google tools with his clients due to its ease of use. Many small business owners may not be well versed in creating a data dashboard for themselves, this is where Dennis comes in to help. Once the client has logged into all of their data platforms, Dennis will pull the necessary data and make them a dashboard that integrates it all in one place.Dennis explains that data is not the start and finish line for obtaining desired results for a business. Different aspects of the business also need to be managed such as time to ensure that time is being allotted to the correct things and making sure the less important actions are being outsourced. Dennis explains that he works with a multitude of business owners from chiropractors to graphic designers and anyone that believes they need a second pair of eyes regarding their business should look into his work. Engagement with Dennis starts with data collection, client journeys, follow-ups, and many more aspects to find where the issues are. Dennis explains that intuition can take an individual to a certain point but from there data can be used to take them further.Key Points from the Episode: Dennis’s impact in the worldAreas that commonly need the most improvement in a businessGoogle toolsResults don’t end with data collectionDennis’s clienteleEngagement with DennisIntuitionAbout Dennis Riley:Dennis is not your typical business strategist or business coach. He will roll his sleeves up and help business owners develop different strategies and systems. He will collect data and generate data dashboards for owners to see their KPIs. He builds systems that others don’t see. He always highlights his client's uniqueness and uses it to separate them from their competition. He thinks outside the box when solving a problem. He feels each problem has a solution...although it may not be the solution people want to hear.Tweetable Moments:07:51 "I talked about making chocolate chip cookies. There are ingredients, there's an oven, there are results. That's how you want your systems to be."10:26 "You have to shift the sales as well in your business. You just keep going forward. If there's rockiness around you, you have to shift with the economy."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur:https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the Goals To Results website at https://goalstoresults.com/Check out Goals To Results  on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/goals-to-results/Check out Dennis Riley on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennismriley/Check out Dennis Riley on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/goalstoresults/Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.

1335 - Getting the Most Out of Your VA with Virtual Assistant Management's Molly Rose Speed

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Founder and Chief Conscious Connector of DotConnect, Dom Farnan.DotConnect is a global talent advisory business that scouts and hires talent for technology businesses in the United States. DotConnect has a team of around 100 employees globally and has been around since 2019. Dom explains that DotConnect’s growth can be attributed to many areas. Dotconnect doesn’t work only with technology companies, they also have a big consumer products client that they work with now. They also have longer-term clients that are based on monthly retainers. Dom explains ghosting, not creating an optimized experience for hiring, and not understanding the talent or their values is some of the negative feedback that the recruiting space has received. The manner in which a leader comes off to their employees is what sets the stage for the work culture. Dom explains she had to do some self-reflection and work to create a better environment for her employees and that is how DotConnect has been able to grow so rapidly over the years.Dom explains that DotConnect has grown from delivering against its promise and through referrals. The value of ownership and delivery is important to DotConnect as they are able to prove their worth and obtain or retain clients this way. Luckily the staffing climate today is much different than in April 2020. Dom advises that companies that are laying employees off the need to focus on key hiring. The ideal clientele for DotConnect would be a 50+ employee strong business that is building out the entirety of its organization at any level.Key Points from the Episode:The impact DotConnect has on the worldHow DotConnect is growing faster than other companiesRecruiting Industry How Dom’s personal growth improved her businessPersonal life versus work lifeHow to grow in a tactful wayThe state of staffing todayIdeal clientele for DotConnectAbout Dom Farnan:Dom Farnan is the Founder and CEO DotConnect, where they find exceptional people for high-achieving companies. DotConnect has a team of 85 employees and has recruited from leading organizations such as the National Football League (NFL), Snapchat, Samsung Next, and Zendesk. Dom graduated early from high school and immediately started her recruitment career at the age of 17 after a neighbor got her an opportunity to work in the HR department of their organization. She went on to work for companies such as Life Technologies and BlackBerry as a senior recruiter for 10+ years before starting DotConnect. Dom is also the founder of Path Connect, a 12-week program that teaches recruiters how to better understand organizational charts and what it takes to source and vet top talent for tech organizations.Tweetable Moments:04:09 - "We give a crap about the people that we're working with. We care about their values, we care about their life, we care about their lifestyles both on the client side and the talent side."11:23 - "My vision is for one day people to actually enjoy the recruiting process."Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guestLinks Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out the DotConnect website at https://dotconnectllc.com/Check out DotConnect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/dotconnect/Check out Dom Farnan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dom-farnan/Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!More from UpMyInfluence:We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE.Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here.What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here.