Entrepreneurs United

Do you actually know why your best people leave?Most leaders think they do. Most are wrong. Rich Hoffmann was asked recently if he thinks people leave companies. His answer stopped the conversation cold: they don’t leave companies. They lose hope. Hope in the career path, in the culture, in the relationship with the person they report to. And once that hope is gone, no raise brings it back.In this episode, John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann dig into the real drivers of retention and what leaders consistently get wrong before someone walks out the door.What you’ll walk away with: The top 3 predictors of turnover and why all three are fixable if you catch them early. Why the shift from manager to leader to mentor is the retention strategy most leaders skip. How TSP recognition changes the culture of an entire organization. Why getting in the field to observe your people doing the work is one of the most underused leadership tools available. And why helping a struggling long-tenured employee win beats cutting them every time.Hosted by John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann, Entrepreneurs United is built for founders and leaders who want straight talk on building businesses that actually work. New episodes every week.https://entrepreneursunited.us/linksHosted by John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann, Entrepreneurs United is built for founders and leaders who want straight talk on building businesses that actually work.

What if the greatest disruption in the history of marketing is not coming for your job but for your customer?Mark Schaefer is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and a top marketing strategist. In this episode he discusses his book Audacious and explains why competence alone now makes people and businesses vulnerable and ignorable in an AI-driven world. He walks through how ChatGPT's launch sparked an existential moment for him, and then lays out a clear path for entrepreneurs to out-human AI through disruptive storytelling, human connection, and emotional resonance.Mark argues that the best defense any entrepreneur has against AI is a strong personal brand built on trust, and that small businesses are structurally positioned to win in ways large companies cannot replicate because you cannot delegate vulnerability to an advertising agency. He also breaks down his four-step personal brand framework and describes what it takes to build an audience that evolves from social followers to engaged subscribers to a loyal brand community.What you will walk away with: Why competence alone now makes you ignorable and what to build instead. How to out-human AI through disruptive storytelling and emotional resonance. Mark's four-step personal brand framework and how to finish the sentence "only I." How to build an actionable audience that grows from followers to subscribers to brand community. Why small businesses have a structural advantage large companies simply cannot replicate.Visit businessesgrow.com for Mark's free weekly ideas, blog posts, and resources.Connect with Mark Schaefer on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwschaefer/Hosted by John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann, Entrepreneurs United is built for founders and leaders who want straight talk on building businesses that actually work. New episodes every week.https://entrepreneursunited.us/links/Hosted by John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann, Entrepreneurs United is built for founders and leaders who want straight talk on building businesses that actually work. New episodes every week.

Are your marketing dollars quietly disappearing with nothing to show for it?Most entrepreneurs aren't losing because of bad strategy. They're losing because of confusion they can't see. Brand strategist Charlie Sells calls it "random acts of marketing" and after 15 years helping businesses untangle complexity, he's seen it destroy brands that had every reason to succeed.In this episode, Charlie breaks down the real cost of unclear direction, why most marketing audits miss the point, and the exact 7-step framework he uses to bring clarity to any business in 30 days.What you'll walk away with:The 3 phrases that reveal a clarity problem in your business and why most owners never catch them. A 1-hour marketing audit you can run this week to cut waste and find what's actually working. Why AI is a tool and not a cure, and what to do before you touch it. The 7 Cs framework: Curiosity, Context, Competitiveness, Consistency, Conciseness, Clarity, and Creativity. How problem-first positioning wins more customers than any tagline ever will.Take Charlie's free Clarity and Alignment Self-Assessment at clearovereverything.com.Connect with Charlie Sells on LinkedInHosted by John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann, Entrepreneurs United is built for founders and leaders who want straight talk on building businesses that actually work. New episodes every week. https://entrepreneursunited.us/links/

What if you could only work one hour a day? In this episode, Ari Meisel, founder of Less Doing, shares the mindset and systems that helped him rethink productivity, build a more replaceable role as a founder, and create dramatically more output without doing everything himself.After a Crohn’s disease diagnosis forced him to conserve energy, Ari began asking a better question: What actually needs to be done, and what truly needs to be done by me? That question led to his OAO framework: Optimize, Automate, Outsource.Ari breaks down how entrepreneurs can stop being the chef, cook, and bottle washer in their own business by building real systems, not just relying on hustle. He shares how to create an effective idea-capture pipeline, why async communication can give founders back control of their time, and how he built an AI chief of staff to handle everything from scheduling and social media to budgeting, disputes, and follow-up tasks.John and Rich also unpack what it really means to measure productivity, where AI can create leverage without adding complexity, and how founders can start reclaiming hours right away.If you want to work less, achieve more, and build a business that does not depend on you for every decision, this episode is for you.Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/productivity-coach-entrepreneur/

10 Macro Sales Moves to Double Your Revenue in the Next 2 YearsIf you’re an entrepreneur who wants aggressive growth in 2026 and beyond, this episode is for you.Too many business owners say they want to grow… but they’re relying on hope instead of strategy. In this conversation, we break down 10 practical sales moves that can help you grow your business 50%–100% over the next two years.We talk about getting back to the fundamentals that actually drive revenue:tapping into your network, asking for warm introductions, re-engaging past customers, knowing your numbers, and doubling down on marketing channels that are already working.We also cover how to align your entire team around growth with incentives, how partnerships and independent contractors can expand your reach, and why strengthening your delivery systems gives your sales team the confidence to sell bigger.The big idea:If you want to double your business, you don’t just need new strategies—you need 10x the right activity.In this episode:• How to activate your network for new opportunities• Why grassroots sales tactics still outperform digital noise• The importance of knowing your KPIs and conversion metrics• How to generate more revenue from past customers• Why incentives and culture drive growth• How partnerships can help you scale faster

If you’re building a business right now, you’ve probably felt it, marketing is shifting fast.In this episode, serial entrepreneur and author Gary Nealon joins us to break down what AI, GPTs, and changing search behavior really mean for small businesses. We talk about why traditional SEO is no longer enough, how brands can show up inside AI-generated answers, and why platforms like Reddit are becoming a powerful trust layer for buyers.Gary also shares his concept of “downtasking”, a simple but powerful framework for assigning dollar values to your daily tasks so you can stop doing low-value work and focus on what actually scales. From leveraging virtual assistants to building custom GPTs inside your company, this conversation is packed with practical ideas founders can use immediately.We also dive into: • Why so many businesses plateau around $750K–$1M in revenue • The danger of falling in love with your product instead of your customer • Why failing fast beats waiting for perfect • How data can reveal who your real buyer actually isIf you feel stretched thin, stuck in the weeds, or unsure how AI fits into your growth strategy, this episode will challenge your thinking in the best way.Listen in and ask yourself: What should I stop doing this week?

What makes someone sound like a leader, even before they have the title?In this episode of Entrepreneurs United, John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann sit down with communication expert Karen Laos to unpack the subtle shifts that instantly elevate your presence, credibility, and influence.Karen shares why the first person to speak is often perceived as the leader, how your “focus face” may be working against you, and the fastest way to eliminate filler words without sounding robotic. You will learn practical frameworks you can apply immediately, including how to stop rambling in real time with one simple phrase, how to make direct asks that actually get results, and how small language tweaks can either shrink your authority or amplify it.Karen also opens up about the pivotal boardroom moment that shaped her mission to help women stop over apologizing, minimizing their expertise, and waiting for permission to speak.If you run meetings, pitch clients, lead teams, negotiate deals, or want to be taken more seriously when you speak, this episode delivers clear, actionable insights you can use today.After listening, ask yourself: What is one communication habit you are ready to change this week?Timestamps00:00 The Power of Speaking First00:41 Introduction to Karen Laos01:05 Understanding Communication Challenges02:03 The Importance of Self-Awareness03:39 Improving Your Presence05:02 Mastering Public Speaking08:54 Bringing Fun into Professionalism14:59 The Confidence Key: Asking for What You Want22:11 Empowering Women Executives24:41 The Power of Speaking First25:29 How to Stop Rambling26:04 The Impact of Language on Mindset27:57 Interpreting Word Choice in Communication29:10 The Role of Gratitude in Communication31:27 Effective Communication Techniques35:02 Coaching on Communication Skills40:59 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsConnect with Karen LaosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Book, Trust Your Own Voice: https://karenlaos.com/book/Free Guide, 9 Words to Avoid: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/The Confidence Cocktail™ Self-Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/

What if the most powerful skill in your business is not pitching, persuading, or presenting… but listening?In this episode, John and Rich break down why elite entrepreneurs and coaches treat listening as a strategic advantage. From boardrooms to client calls to personal relationships, the ability to truly hear what is being said, and what is not being said, can change everything.They share practical tools you can implement immediately: pausing before responding, validating what you heard, asking better follow up questions, taking notes to stay present, and recognizing patterns over time. They also unpack real challenges founders face, especially mental drifting during virtual meetings and missing key nonverbal cues.If you want to build stronger trust, make better decisions, and communicate at a higher level, this conversation will sharpen one of the most overlooked skills in entrepreneurship.Listen in and ask yourself: are you really listening, or just waiting to talk?

Ben Albert, founder of Grow Getters Only, joins John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann to explore what it really means to build authentic relationships in business. From overcoming personal adversity to building communities that grow together, Ben shares tactical insights on moving beyond parasocial connections to create meaningful impact. This episode dives into the "Plus, Minus, Equals" model, why long-form content still wins, and how to turn your audience into a collaborative ecosystem. If you're tired of surface-level networking and ready to lead with connection, this one’s for you.🎯 Topics Covered:The loneliness of OnlyFans (and what it teaches us about audience depth)Why real community requires more than DMs and likesLeveraging mentors, peers, and mentees for exponential growthFrom isolation to inner circle: building intentional business tiers👉 Perfect for: entrepreneurs, creators, marketers, community builders🎧 Listen in and discover how to grow through people, not just platforms https://entrepreneursunited.us/links/

In this episode of Entrepreneurs United Podcast, hosts John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann are joined by Ben Johnson, founder and CEO of Particle 41, to discuss the transformative power of AI and data in modern businesses. They explore the challenges of AI integration, the importance of understanding business metrics, and strategies for improving operational efficiency. Ben emphasizes the necessity of a structured AI transformation strategy and the need for clear problem identification. Tune in to learn how AI can take your business to the next level through actionable insights and practical applications.00:00 The Rise of Voice as the New Interface00:44 Introduction to Ben Johnson and Particle 4101:20 Maximizing Business Value with AI and Data02:17 AI Transformation Strategy: Training, Automation, and Ag Agentic05:43 Real-World Applications of AI in Business13:42 The Role of Automation and Custom Solutions18:09 Preparing Your Business for AI Integration21:39 Challenges and Future of AI in Business25:01 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways26:23 Conclusion and Contact Information27:08 Hosts' Reflections and Insights