Outsource to Profits Podcast

Episode 92 Brand Differentiation - Sales Strategy - Positioning About the Host: Jamie Shanks is the Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals. After training over 250,000 professionals worldwide, Jamie now spends his time helping business owners grow profitably through people, by building systems, teams, and leadership rooted in values, not ego. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamestshanks/ About the Guest: Jerry Gennaria is the President and CEO of TOKY, a branding and strategic communications firm, where he brings nearly 30 years of experience in design, marketing, and brand strategy. With a background spanning art direction, UX research, and market positioning, Jerry specializes in helping organizations simplify complex ideas through strategic planning, messaging, and customer experience. A passionate presenter, mentor, and researcher, he works closely with clients across A/E/C and professional services industries. Outside of work, Jerry is a fine art and travel photographer, a commissioner with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, and a lifelong collector of vintage tech and Atomic Age design. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gennaria/ Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie sits down with Jerry John Area, CEO of branding firm Toki, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in business: brand differentiation. Jerry shares hard-won insights from working with hundreds of professional service firms, revealing why most businesses sound exactly alike, and how that’s costing them leads, conversions, and trust. Together, they explore the three levers that drive sales (volume, velocity, and probability) and why finding your “brand truth” is the key to unlocking all three. What You'll Walk Away With: Real differentiation starts with a bold point of view, not empty claims. Specialists win faster because they speak directly to the right audience. If your messaging sounds like everyone else’s, you’ve already lost. Sales grow when you optimize for conversion and clarity, not just volume. Your brand truth is the story only you can tell; find it and own it.

Episode 91 In this episode, Jess from Base86 talks about how AI is transforming pricing for businesses. Learn how real-time tools can boost efficiency, reduce guesswork, and help you price smarter. About the Host: Jamie Shanks is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Get Leverage, a company that helps founders make the most of their time and grow their businesses through effective delegation, virtual teams, and strategic planning. In this episode, he shares his own hiring lessons— like finding a virtual assistant who grew into a leadership role & explores the delicate balance between investing in people and bootstrapping as a founder. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamestshanks/ About the Guest: Jess McCarter is a dynamic Chief Strategy Officer at Base86, with 20+ years of experience leading strategy, operations, and product innovation across healthtech, foodtech, and hospitality. He has a proven track record of scaling startups, launching new markets, and delivering multimillion-dollar growth. Jess has driven agile business pivots, architected $25M+ data licensing strategies, and led AI-powered supply chain transformations. At Base86, he’s focused on eliminating outdated pricing systems and empowering healthcare organizations with real-time, margin-protected automation. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessmccarte Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, Jess from Base86 dives into how AI and automation are changing the way businesses approach pricing. He explains the challenges many companies face—like hidden costs, outdated pricing models, and manual processes—and how smarter systems can fix them. Jess shares real-life examples from healthcare and service industries, showing how AI can help teams stay efficient, respond to market changes faster, and focus more on people and growth instead of repetitive tasks. The conversation also explores the future of dynamic pricing, real-time quoting, and how businesses of all sizes can benefit from smarter, more transparent pricing tools. Key Takeaways: AI removes pricing guesswork – Real-time tools can analyze inputs, costs, and margins to automate accurate pricing across industries. Transparency beats secrecy – Hiding prices and costs is outdated; open, data-driven systems create trust and drive long-term profits. Dynamic pricing is the future – Pricing can (and should) adjust in real time based on changing business inputs like labor, tools, or tariffs. Efficiency over busywork – Automating manual pricing and inventory tasks lets teams focus on high-value, human interactions. Scalable for all sizes – Whether you're a solo business or large company, smart pricing tools can work at any level of complexity. #AIPricing #DynamicPricing #BusinessAutomation #PricingStrategy #SmartPricing #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInBusiness #SaaSTools #SalesTech #B2BInnovation #ProfessionalServices #AgencyGrowth #DigitalTransformation #RevenueOptimization #TechPodcast #BusinessGrowth #StartupTips #EfficiencyMatters #Future

Episode 90 About the Host: Jamie Shanks is the Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals. After training over 250,000 professionals worldwide, Jamie now spends his time helping business owners grow profitably through people, by building systems, teams, and leadership rooted in values, not ego. About the Guest: Zulfiya Forsythe is the CEO of Omadli Group and a seasoned CPA and Data Analyst with over a decade of experience across healthcare, hospitality, and real estate. Starting her career as a business systems analyst, Zulfiya set out to transform repetitive reporting processes into efficient, insight-driven systems. She helps businesses turn raw data into meaningful decisions, offering customized solutions that drive performance and clarity. 💬 Connect with Zulfiye Forsythe: Zulfiye Forsythe: http://linkedin.com/in/zulfiya-forsythe-akbarova-cpa-0214b98?utm_source=sha Episode Summary: What happens when key information from sales calls, Slack messages, or team meetings gets lost in the noise? In this episode, Zulfiya Forsythe, CEO of Omadli Group, sits down with host Jamie Shanks to tackle one of the biggest challenges in business today: broken communication loops. Together, they explore how AI can help businesses capture, organize, and make sense of the endless stream of messages, notes, and conversations—so nothing critical slips through the cracks. Zulfiya shares how AI tools can bridge these gaps and streamline communication while also pointing out why human oversight is still essential to ensure context and accuracy. Jamie brings his own experience to the conversation, sharing how AI has helped him grow his team from 0 to 50 employees. He talks about using AI to review resumes, score candidates, and even turn Google Meet conversations into easy-to-read one-page summaries—so clear, even a 5-year-old could understand them. This episode offers a fresh perspective on how AI can make business communication more efficient, accurate, and actionable. What You'll Walk Away With: How AI can capture and organize scattered business communication Why communication gaps cost businesses—and how AI helps close those loops Real-life examples of using AI to streamline hiring and summarize Google Meet calls How business owners can automate manual documentation tasks with the help of AI The limitations of AI when it comes to accuracy and context #offshoring #productivity #collaboration #strategy #remotework #offshoretalent #outsourcing #business #businessstrategy #teamwork #team #teambuilding

Episode 89 About the Host: Jamie Shanks is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Get Leverage, a company that helps founders make the most of their time and grow their businesses through effective delegation, virtual teams, and strategic planning. In this episode, he shares his own hiring lessons— like finding a virtual assistant who grew into a leadership role & explores the delicate balance between investing in people and bootstrapping as a founder. About the Guest: Maya Ratcliffe established Hawaii Fluid Art with the vision of creating inclusive and inspirational spaces where you can freely explore joy and self-expression through art, regardless of their previous experience. Her main objective is to nurture the human spirit by fostering connections, confidence, and creativity within each community. Maya's franchise business model is structured to support your vision by offering comprehensive training and operational guidance to ensure the success of any studio. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-ratcliff-3202941a Episode Summary: In this episode, Maya Ratcliffe, the creator of Hawaii Fluid Art, shares her journey of establishing the fastest-growing art franchise by prioritizing talent and community. Maya talks about the courageous decisions she made, such as hiring employees before paying herself. She also emphasizes the significance of recruiting individuals with perseverance, adaptability, and a desire for personal growth. Along with the host, you can explore topics like the importance of transparent communication, managing friendships within a business setting, and recognizing when it's time to part ways with team members. Whether you are a business owner or a franchise owner, this episode provides valuable insights on expanding with intention and valuing people as the foundation of your business. What You'll Walk Away With: 💬 Connect with Maya Ractliffe Scaling your business with limited resources. Developing and guiding successful teams. Addressing communication challenges. Designing engaging experiences for all. Understanding when to release control. #FranchiseGrowth #StartupTips #HiringStrategies #TalentAcquisition #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessGrowth #ArtFranchise #LeadershipLessons #TeamBuilding #BusinessScaling

Episode 88 About the Host: Jamie Shanks is the Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals. After training over 250,000 professionals worldwide, Jamie now spends his time helping business owners grow profitably through people, by building systems, teams, and leadership rooted in values, not ego. About the Guest: Ben Albert wears many hats; he’s a podcast host, marketer, community builder, and most importantly, a thoughtful leader who believes in asking better questions, not just finding quick answers. He leads Grow Getters Only, a community designed to help entrepreneurs lead from the inside out. 💬 Connect with Ben Albert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ Episode Summary: We’ve all heard the buzzwords: culture, leadership, values. But what does it mean to lead with your values? In this honest, insightful conversation, Jamie and Ben talked into the heart of value-driven leadership. They discussed what happens when founders actually live their values, how it attracts the right people, creates alignment, and builds a business that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Jamie shares a powerful story about a stranger walking into his office and asking to work with him, not because of a job post, but because his content and presence made her feel like she belonged. Ben opens up about his childhood struggles, the values that shaped him, and why storytelling is the real way to build culture. This episode isn’t about perfect leadership. It’s about honest leadership. If you’re trying to build a team, a company, or just a better version of yourself, this one’s for you. What You'll Walk Away With: -Understanding of value-driven leadership -How to attract the right people without forcing it -Why storytelling beats “corporate values” every time -The role of alignment in team culture -How to become the kind of leader others want to follow #ValueDrivenLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #FounderCulture #TeamAlignment #AttractingTalent #GrowGettersOnly #MagneticLeadership #LeadWithValues #BusinessWithPurpose #LeadershipMatters

Episode 87 Emotional Health for Founders: Addiction, Sobriety, and the Hidden Cost of Hustle About the Host: Jamie Shanks is the Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals. He’s led global sales enablement for companies like Microsoft and Oracle, and today, he’s focused on helping business leaders build sustainable, profitable offshore teams without sacrificing their well-being or emotional clarity. About the Guest: Rusty Goodsell is the founder of New Orchard, a software platform designed to help consultants and strategic advisors reduce subjectivity and accelerate client diagnostics. But in this episode, Rusty shares something far more personal, his battle with addiction, and how rebuilding his emotional health transformed his business and life. Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profit, Jamie and Rusty pull back the curtain on what most founders never say out loud: the emotional toll of entrepreneurship. From high-functioning alcoholism to the hidden dangers of workaholism, they unpack the real costs of chasing success without boundaries. Rusty candidly shares how he built his company while numbing pain, and how choosing sobriety forced him to rebuild his identity, reconnect with his family, and finally make space for emotional health as a founder. Jamie reflects on his own silent battle with addiction and how designing a “mind vs. grind” work model brought him clarity and presence. This is not just a conversation about addiction, it’s a roadmap for founders who want to reclaim their emotional health, lead with clarity, and stop stealing from their future selves. Key Takeaways: Why emotional health for founders is non-negotiable How addiction hides behind hustle Rebuilding a business after sobriety Designing your life to protect your well-being The power of presence, self-awareness, and structure Letting go of masks and imposter syndrome 🔗 Connect with Rusty: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rustygoodsell/ #EmotionalHealthForFounders #SoberEntrepreneur #FounderBurnout #StartupRecovery #MentalWellnessForLeaders #EntrepreneurAddiction #Workaholism #StartupHealing #ClearMindStrongLeader #OutsourceToProfit

Episode 86 Mentorship for Founders: Why Going It Alone Is Slowing You Down About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a global leader in offshoring strategy and B2B sales growth. With a track record of training over 250,000 professionals, including teams at Microsoft and Oracle, Jamie helps founders scale smarter by learning faster. About the Guest: Christion Sadler is a real estate investor and syndication innovator. From buying his first properties in his teens to partnering with billion-dollar founders, Christion has built a career fueled by one secret: mentorship for founders. His unique perspective blends hands-on experience with humility and a hunger to always learn from those a few steps ahead. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christionsadler/ Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, Jamie sits down with Christion Sadler to explore a topic most founders undervalue until it’s almost too late: mentorship for founders. Christion shares how his journey was shaped not by going solo, but by seeking out guides who had already walked the path. From high-stakes commercial deals to the emotional rollercoaster of starting a business, Christion opens up about the mentors who helped him skip the guesswork and level up. They unpack why most founders resist mentorship, how ego and busyness get in the way, and how simple outreach (even a DM) can transform your mindset and your company. Whether you’re building your first venture or scaling to 9 figures, mentorship for founders is the accelerator you didn’t know you needed. Key Takeaways: Mentorship for founders is a growth multiplier Why founders struggle with being self-reflective How to ask someone you admire to be your mentor Serving your mentors back, even when they “need nothing” Real stories of how mentorship changed careers and mindsets The difference between advice and aligned experience #MentorshipForFounders #StartupGrowth #FoundersJourney #ScaleSmarter #EntrepreneurAdvice #BusinessLeadership #StartupPodcast #OutsourceToProfits #FounderSupport #LeadershipLessons

Episode 85 Authenticity Wins: How Vulnerable Leadership Transforms Sales Teams About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Jeremy Axel is the Founder and Sales Manager of Fluent Conveyors and the voice behind the Never in Reverse podcast. With a proven track record in authentic leadership and sales growth, he guides organizations toward meaningful success by championing radical honesty, embracing imperfection, and fostering genuine connections. Jeremy advocates for transparency, leveraging vulnerability to build trust-driven relationships. His approach empowers teams to perform at their best and helps founders transition from founder-led selling to scalable, team-driven growth. Guest Info: Name - Jeremy Axel Designation - Founder & Sales Manager Company - Fluent Conveyors Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremylaxel/ Episode Summary: In this impactful episode of "Outsource to Profits," Jeremy Axel, founder of Fluent Conveyors, delves into why authenticity and vulnerability are essential for founders transitioning from founder-led sales to team-driven selling. Jeremy highlights the power of openly admitting uncertainties, encouraging sales teams to leverage subject matter experts rather than pretending to have all answers. He provides practical guidance on detecting fake experts by insisting on direct referrals and emphasizes the value of openly discussing failures as a powerful means to build trust with both teams and customers. Through candid examples and genuine conversation, Jeremy illustrates how authentic leadership not only creates stronger, more cohesive teams but also leads to sustainable business growth and lasting success. Key Takeaways: Authenticity in sales builds more trust than having all the answers. Founders who share failures create space for honest team culture. Admitting you don’t know is more powerful than faking expertise. Vet experts by speaking directly to real, past clients. Imperfection and vulnerability foster deeper human connection. Cultural alignment is more critical than technical skill alone. Transparency from leaders drives high-performance team dynamics. Gut instinct is essential when assessing authenticity in hiring. Fake experts may rise fast, but they don’t last. Honest, humble leadership inspires stronger, more loyal teams. #AuthenticLeadership #BusinessTransparency #FounderLife #LeadershipMatters #EntrepreneurMindset #SalesStrategy #SalesLeadership #TeamBuilding #TrustInSales #RealSalesTalk #HiringRight #CulturalFit #SmartHiring #VettingExperts #BuildStrongTeams #GrowthThroughHonesty #LeadWithTruth #ScaleWithTrust #FoundersToLeaders #SalesAuthenticity

Episode 84 The Founder’s Trap: When Work Steals Life About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Johnathan Grzybowski is the Co-founder and Product Specialist at Penji, a creative subscription service supporting agencies and marketing teams with on-demand design. Known for his candid perspective on leadership and work-life balance, Johnathan brings both empathy and operational insight to conversations around offshore talent, time management, and founder mental health. He’s also the host of Dear Dads, a podcast about the journey of becoming a present father while running a business. Guest Info: Name: Johnathan Grzybowski Designation: Product Specialist Company: Penji LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grzybowskij/ Episode Summary In this gripping episode of Offshore to Profit, host Jamie Shanks sits down with Penji co-founder Johnathan Grzybowski for a conversation every founder needs to hear — especially those chasing revenue while ignoring real life. What starts as a story about sales stress and offshore execution transforms into something more profound: the moment a father chooses his crying baby over a follow-up email. Together, they unpack the silent weight of founder-led pressure, the physical toll of always being "on," and the toxic belief that deals die without you. But this isn’t just therapy — it’s tactical too. They share frameworks for hiring and trusting offshore talent, building a high-performance culture across cultures, and creating time management systems that serve the person, not just the calendar. Whether you're scaling an agency or feeling like you’re drowning in Slack notifications, this episode reminds us that you are not your inbox. You are a leader, and that starts with leading yourself. Key Takeaways: Founders often confuse busy work with real progress. Letting go of control is essential for true growth. Prioritizing family over constant hustle creates clarity. Offshore teams thrive with trust and soft-skill training. Time-blocking and structured tools prevent burnout. Founder-led sales can become a bottleneck over time. Building culture across global teams requires intention. Emotional awareness is key to sustainable leadership. Systems like Notion and Trello increase alignment. True leadership means stepping back so others can lead. #FounderLife #OffshoreTeams #WorkLifeBalance #LeadershipGrowth #StartupStruggles #EntrepreneurMindset #HustleCulture #RemoteTeams #TimeManagement #PenjiInsights #BurnoutRecovery #ScaleSmart #BusinessPodcast #OffshoreToProfit #JohnathanGrzybowski

Episode 83 Recurring Value, Not Just Revenue: How to Build Products People Actually Need About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Nilufer Erdebil is the CEO of Spring2 Innovation, a strategic consulting firm helping organizations drive innovation with clarity and purpose. With a background in software development and over a decade of experience across public and private sectors, she bridges the gap between technology and human behavior. Nilufer champions the people side of digital transformation and guides teams through her proprietary Deeper Clarity Method—a framework to align leadership, empathize with customers, and build solutions that deliver real, lasting value. Guest Info: Name: Nilufer Erdebil Designation: CEO Organization: Spring2 Innovation LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/erdebil Episode Summary: In this impactful episode of Outsource to Profits, Jamie Shanks speaks with Nilufer Erdebil, CEO of Spring2 Innovation, to explore the essential difference between building features and delivering true, recurring value. Drawing on her background in R&D, software, and human-centered design, Nilufer explains why many teams unknowingly build “vitamin” products—nice-to-haves—when they should be focused on “painkillers” that solve urgent, monetizable problems. Through real-world stories, client pivots, and her proprietary Deeper Clarity Method, Nilufer shares how to uncover what customers truly need—even when they don’t say it directly. For founders and product leaders struggling with misaligned offerings or stalled growth, this episode is a clear path back to what matters: value, relevance, and scalable innovation. Key Takeaways: Recurring revenue only thrives when you're delivering recurring, meaningful value. Painkiller products solve urgent problems—vitamin products usually don't sell. Empathy and deep customer insight are the foundation of innovation. Founders must prioritize customer needs over personal preferences. Understanding your customer’s customer reveals hidden risks and opportunities. Innovation is not about features—it’s about solving real pain. Product-market fit requires continuous validation, not assumptions. Scalable success comes from mindset shifts, not just better tools. Future-proof products blend technology with human behavior. The Deeper Clarity Method helps teams align, empathize, and build what truly matters. #ProductMarketFit #InnovationStrategy #CustomerCentric #RecurringRevenue #BusinessGrowth #DigitalTransformation #LeadershipAlignment

Episode 82 Built to Last: Escaping the Capital Trap with Julie Richt About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Julie Richt is the President and Founder of Lucid Insurance Group, a specialty commercial lines wholesaler and managing general agency. With years of experience in scaling ventures and navigating both equity and debt landscapes, Julie brings a deeply strategic perspective to entrepreneurship. She believes in building enduring companies through smart financial decisions, disciplined growth, and a strong operational foundation—prioritizing long-term EBITDA over short-term fundraising headlines. Guest Info: Name: Julie Richt Designation: President and Founder Organization: Lucid Insurance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jricht13/ Episode Summary: In this compelling episode of Outsource to Profits, Julie Richt, founder of Lucid Insurance Group, joins Jamie Shanks to challenge the modern startup mindset that glorifies capital raising as the pinnacle of success. Julie dives deep into her personal journey of bootstrapping and fundraising, explaining why chasing funding year after year can derail real profitability and operational health. She shares the financial models and mindset shifts founders need to adopt—emphasizing the importance of strategic capitalization, recurring revenue, and disciplined reinvestment. Whether you're navigating between debt and equity or struggling with short-term vs. long-term decisions, Julie’s framework offers a refreshing, grounded lens for sustainable business building. Tune in to learn why eating what you kill—and feeding the business first—might be the most underrated strategy in the entrepreneurial playbook. Key Takeaways: Raising capital isn't the goal—building a profitable business is. Founders should plan 3–6 years ahead, not raise yearly out of necessity. Use capital to grow strategically, not to cover poor operations. Choose debt or equity based on long-term control and revenue visibility. Recurring revenue provides stability that project-based models lack. Reinvest early profits into growth, not personal payout. Take care of your team to boost productivity and retention. Understand how cuttable your service is from clients’ budgets. Financial literacy is essential for smart founder decisions. Vision, patience, and grit outperform hype and fast funding. #StartupStrategy #FoundersJourney #Bootstrapping #CapitalRaising #ProfitFirst #RecurringRevenue #EquityVsDebt #SustainableGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #FounderFinance #BusinessPodcast #StartupMistakes #BuildToLast #FinancialDiscipline #SmartScaling

Episode 81 “Profit Is the Point: Renée Warren’s Blueprint for Doing Less, Earning More, and Scaling Smart” About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Renée Warren is the Founder of The Pink Skirt Project and a seasoned PR coach for female entrepreneurs. Formerly the founder of a successful PR agency that served funded tech startups across North America, Renée grew her business to over $1M in revenue with high-margin profitability—all while operating from a small town in Canada and raising two children. Today, she channels her expertise into podcasting, empowering women through events, and helping founders reclaim time, profit, and purpose in their businesses. Guest Info: Name: Renée Warren Designation: Founder & PR Coach Organization: The Pink Skirt Project LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/warrenrenee Episode Summary: In this power-packed episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie Shanks sits down with Renée Warren, a former PR agency founder who rebuilt her business model from the ground up. Renée opens up about the realities behind agency burnout, bloated service offerings, and the myth that more work means more growth. She shares how a deeper understanding of the Labor Efficiency Ratio and disciplined time tracking and cost analysis helped her cut low-ROI services and double down on what truly moved the needle. The result? Leaner operations, happier teams, and a radically more profitable business. This episode is a must-listen for any founder or agency owner looking to scale with clarity, reduce overwhelm, and build a business that runs on purpose, not pressure. Key Takeaways: Labor Efficiency Ratio reveals how profitably your team works. Time tracking uncovers hidden costs and inefficiencies. Niching down leads to higher margins and better client outcomes. More work doesn’t mean more profit—simplify to scale. Cutting low-ROI services boosts operational focus. Overworked teams drain both morale and profit. Profitability starts with clear, intentional service design. Founders must understand key financial metrics to grow sustainably. #LaborEfficiency #ProfitFirst #ScaleSmart #AgencyLife #FounderJourney #TimeTracking #OperationalEfficiency #ServiceBusiness #EntrepreneurPodcast #FemaleFounders #AgencyGrowth #BusinessOptimization #LeanOperations #NicheDown #SmartScaling #CreativeEntrepreneurs #AgencyStrategy #FinancialClarity #SustainableGrowth #EfficiencyMatters

Episode 80 From Cost-Cutting to Culture: The New Age of Global Team Building About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Gregory Butler is the founder of ZuCasa, a company pioneering B2B video social engagement through proprietary compression technology. With decades of experience managing global teams across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, Gregory combines tech innovation with deep operational insight. His leadership philosophy centers around cultural empathy, quality-first hiring, and delivering excellence through globally distributed teams. Guest Info: Name: Gregory Butler Designation: Founder Organization: ZuCasa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorycbutler?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie Shanks sits down with Gregory Butler to unpack the real power behind building and managing globally distributed teams. Gregory shares how his company achieves 24/7 productivity—not by stretching people thin, but by embracing strategic outsourcing and aligning work across time zones. He discusses the importance of cultural awareness, not leading with cost, and creating scalable systems where quality never takes a back seat. From his personal lessons in leadership ego to the pitfalls of ignoring cultural nuance, Gregory offers a masterclass in scaling services globally — the right way. Whether you're a startup founder or scaling a remote team, this episode will help you think beyond borders and operate with empathy, clarity, and consistency. Key Takeaways: Hire by Time Zone: Scale operations without burning out your team. Quality Over Cost: Don’t sacrifice excellence for savings. Culture Matters: Understand communication and values across regions. Radical Transparency Wins: Honest feedback builds trust and speed. Ditch the Ego: Lead with empathy, not defensiveness. Support While You Sleep: 24/7 delivery is a strategic edge. Smart Scaling Is Orchestration: Match the right roles to the right region. Yes Doesn’t Always Mean Yes: Clarify expectations in cross-cultural teams. #RemoteWork #Outsourcing #GlobalTeams #Leadership #ScaleWithoutBurnout #TimeZoneLeadership #CulturalIntelligence #RadicalTransparency #QualityOverCost #OffshoreExcellence #RemoteTeamCulture #SmartHiring #GlobalDeliveryModel #FounderLessons

Episode 79 Outreach Reimagined: How Warm Relationships Drive Scalable Growth About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Dave Sifry is a nine-time serial entrepreneur and the CEO of WarmStart.ai, where he’s reengineering how businesses build pipeline—one trusted relationship at a time. A born builder and relational thinker, Dave created WarmStart to help founders scale outreach through warm, meaningful connections hidden inside their inboxes and networks. With a background in engineering and a deep love for startup chaos, Dave’s story is proof that trust still closes more deals than tactics ever will. Guest Info: Name: Dave Sifry Designation: CEO Organization: Warmstart.ai Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsifry Episode Summary: Forget cold emails, scraped lists, and robotic BDR campaigns. They’re noisy, impersonal, and slowly dying. In this episode of Outsourced Profits, Jamie Shanks welcomes Dave Sifry, the mind behind WarmStart.ai—a game-changing platform built for founders who believe relationships, not reach, win deals. Dave shares how he turned old email threads into warm, qualified leads—and then built a tool that does it at scale. They dive deep into the “sphere of influence” model, AI-enhanced personal outreach, and why social proximity should be every seller’s secret weapon. Whether you’re building your first agency or scaling your next SaaS, this conversation will reshape how you approach growth. Because — the best prospects? They already know your name. Key Takeaways: Cold outreach burns resources with low return. Warm leads convert faster and trust more. Your network holds untapped sales potential. Referrals scale through the 'sphere of influence' model. Your inbox is a hidden goldmine of leads. AI can personalize and scale warm outreach. Personalized messages cut through the noise. Sales success starts with relationships, not lists. #WarmOutreach #RelationshipSelling #DemandGeneration #SalesStrategy #FounderLedSales #SalesInnovation #B2BSales #StartupGrowth #OutboundMarketing #ReferralMarketing #WarmStartAI #PipelineGrowth #NoMoreColdEmails #SocialSelling #TrustEconomy #ProspectSmarter #SalesAutomation #AIForSales #StartupFounders #SaaSGrowth

Episode 78 Built to Scale: Founders on the Future of Offshore Growth About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Dom Colasante is the CEO of 2X, the largest B2B marketing execution firm in the world, with over 1,000 team members delivering revenue results for global enterprises. As a former CMO turned operator, Dom knows firsthand what it takes to scale — and what holds most companies back. His belief? Execution is the bottleneck, and offshore talent is the unlock. Guest Info: Name: Dom Colasante Organization: 2X Designation: CEO LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domeniccolasante?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F Episode Summary: In this episode, Jamie Shanks, CEO of Get Levrg, sits down with Dom Colasante, CEO of 2X, to tell the raw and honest story of how their companies came together — not from hype but from hard-earned lessons. Jamie opens up about what it felt like to build a multi-million-dollar team that looked good from the outside — and nearly collapsed the business from within. Dom shares his parallel path: scaling a B2B marketing engine while realizing traditional hiring models were burning budget without delivering scale. What follows is a story of alignment — not just in values but in vision. Get Levrg was built for founder-led businesses. 2X was built for enterprise execution. Together, they're not just solving the same problem — they're building a new category for revenue leaders who are tired of doing more with less. Tune in to hear: The financial mistakes that changed how these founders build Why offshore execution is more than cost savings — it’s capacity What the grape vs. watermelon analogy really means How you can stop bottlenecking growth and start scaling smart Key Takeaways: Execution is the real growth limiter, not strategy or vision. Offshore talent unlocks capacity, not just cost savings. 2X and Get Levrg serve different markets—enterprise vs. founder-led—but solve the same problem. Both companies were born from financial pain and a need for smarter operations. Offshore execution enables financial discipline and operational leverage. This partnership creates a new category in GTM execution services. Founders must rethink local hiring bias to scale efficiently. The 'grape vs. watermelon' mindset shows the power of strategic collaboration.

Episode 77 Escaping the Prison of Your Own Business: Reclaiming Vision and Freedom About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Josselyne Herman-Saccio is a transformational coach, speaker, and founder of United Global Shift, a nonprofit driving impact across 20+ countries. With over 30 years of experience, she has coached 200,000+ individuals—from CEOs and entrepreneurs to artists and activists—helping them break through limitations and lead with vision. Creator of the Be Unmessable With method, Josselyne specializes in empowering founders to escape burnout, reclaim time, and build intentional businesses. Guest Info: Name: Josselyne Herman-Saccio Designation: Founder Organization: United Global Shift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josselyne-herman-saccio-9b9752a Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie Shanks is joined by transformational coach Josselyne Herman-Saccio to talk about a common founder dilemma—when the business you built starts to feel like a burden instead of a breakthrough. Josselyne breaks down why so many entrepreneurs shift from being visionary creators to overwhelmed managers. She shares why founders often get stuck doing everything themselves, how the myth of the “lifestyle business” creates pressure, and what to do when success starts to feel like a trap. You’ll learn how to audit your time, identify energy-draining tasks, and refocus on high-value work that aligns with your vision. This episode also covers mindset shifts, delegation strategies, and how to design a business that supports your life—not swallows it. If you're feeling stuck, spread too thin, or constantly in reaction mode, this conversation offers real, practical insights to help you reset and lead with clarity. Key Takeaways: Founders often become prisoners of the businesses they create by holding onto too many responsibilities. Vision is the foundation of leadership—losing sight of it leads to burnout and disengagement. The term “lifestyle business” is unfairly stigmatized, though it often reflects a sustainable, intentional model. The management mode drains energy and disconnects leaders from creativity and strategic focus. Founders must transition from doing everything to building systems and empowering others. Time audits are critical—track tasks, energy levels, and outcomes to eliminate low-value activities. Focus on $500/hour value creation, not $5/hour tasks like admin or manual follow-ups. Set non-negotiable boundaries to protect your energy, vision, and time. Leadership is not just about output—it's about creating space for long-term impact. Build your business from the start with freedom and scale in mind, even before hiring. #FounderMindset #EntrepreneurshipJourney #VisionaryLeadership #BurnoutRecovery #BuildToScale #FounderFreedom #StartupLeadership #UnmessableWith #TimeManagementTips #OutsourceToProfits #BusinessCoaching #DelegationStrategy #LifestyleBusiness #ScaleWithSystems #EntrepreneurPodcast

Episode 76 Culture, Compatibility & Clarity: The Real ROI of Smart Executive Hiring About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Andy Roads is the Co-founder and CEO of High Altitude Recruiting, one of the fastest-growing executive search firms in the food & beverage industry. With over 14 years of corporate and agency recruiting experience, he helps brands secure senior talent that fuels growth and scales with the business. Known for his 96% fill rate and no-nonsense approach, Andy is the go-to recruiter for companies seeking cultural alignment and long-term leadership fit. Guest Info: Name: Andy Roads Designation: Co-founder & CEO Organization: High Altitude Recruiting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewroads Episode Summary: Hiring the right talent isn’t just about ticking boxes on a resume—it’s about aligning values, vision, and growth. In this eye-opening episode, Andy Roads, CEO of High Altitude Recruiting, joined Jamie Shanks to reveal the hidden costs of misaligned hires and the power of intentional executive recruitment. From the “beer test” to deep intake sessions, Andy shares how to spot candidates who will survive in your company and scale with it. Learn how C-level involvement, cultural fit, and strategic foresight can transform your hiring process and set your business up for long-term success. Whether you're a founder aiming for your next growth milestone or a hiring leader tired of bad fits, this conversation delivers actionable insights you won't want to miss. Key Takeaways: Hiring for culture and future growth is more impactful than hiring for skills alone. Executive searches require active involvement from C-level leaders to avoid misalignment and churn. Cultural fit can’t be measured on paper—real interactions reveal true compatibility. Long-term success comes from hiring leaders who can scale with the company, not just solve today’s problems. Retained search partnerships deliver higher-quality results than transactional recruiting models. #ExecutiveRecruiting #FoodAndBeverageIndustry #TalentAcquisition #LeadershipHiring #CPGRecruitment #HighAltitudeRecruiting #CulturalFit #FutureProofHiring #FandBLeadership #GrowthHiring #StartupScaling #RetainedSearch #RecruitmentStrategy #TeamBuilding #FoundersAndCEOs

Episode 75 A founder’s reckoning and the journey back to wholeness About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Amy Looper is the founder of Resilient Growth, a transformational coaching platform helping high-achieving founders and leaders build the inner resilience required to thrive through uncertainty. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Amy supports professionals in scaling both their businesses and their emotional capacity, guiding them through the pressure, grief, and burnout that often come with ambition. Her signature five-part framework fosters courage, connection, compassion, commitment, and ultimately, confidence. Guest Info: Name: Amy Looper Designation: Founder Organization: Resilient Growth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylooper1 Episode Summary: Success can be a heavy crown—especially when it comes at the cost of your well-being. In this heartfelt episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie Shanks sits down with Amy Looper, founder of Resilient Growth, to explore the emotional toll of leadership and the hidden cost of relentless achievement. Amy unpacks how grief, stress, and burnout often manifest in our bodies—and how many founders chase milestone after milestone without ever feeling fulfilled. Together, they dive into the disconnection from self, family, and purpose that can come with high performance and how to reclaim alignment. Whether you’re stuck in the valley between wins or burning out at the summit, Amy’s Five Cornerstones of Resilience—Courage, Commitment, Compassion, Connection, and Confidence—offer a powerful framework for sustainable, soul-aligned leadership. This is the reset every high achiever needs. Key Takeaways: Stress shows up physically—founders often ignore early warning signs. Success without alignment leads to burnout. Titles and revenue ≠ self-worth. Emotional resilience is trainable. Amy’s 5 Cs: Courage, Commitment, Compassion, Connection, and Confidence. Founders must learn to rest, not quit. Small progress reflection builds sustainable confidence. Men often lack safe spaces for vulnerability. #FounderBurnout, #EmotionalResilience, #LeadershipWellness, #EntrepreneurLife, #MentalHealthForFounders, #HighAchieverHealing, #SuccessRedefined, #PersonalGrowthJourney, #ResilientLeadership, #WellbeingInBusiness

Episode 74 AI Sales & Ethics: What Leaders Must Know About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Dr. Cindy Gordon is the CEO & Founder of SalesChoice, a company focused on AI-driven sales intelligence. With a deep passion for AI ethics and responsible technology adoption, she is a leading voice in AI transparency, sales automation, and ethical AI governance. Cindy contributes to Forbes, speaks at global AI summits, and is co-authoring a book on AI risk and governance with Ernst & Young's Kathy Kobe. She is also an educator at the United States AI Institute and is actively involved in shaping AI literacy for executives. Guest Info: Name: Dr. Cindy Gordon Designation: CEO & FOUNDER Organization: SalesChoice LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cigordon Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie Shanks talks with Dr. Cindy Gordon, CEO of SalesChoice, about the challenges of hiring AI sales talent and the critical role of AI ethics in business. Cindy reveals why traditional sales hiring fails in AI, emphasizing the need for math and analytics expertise alongside relationship skills. She shares how SalesChoice revamped its hiring strategy using case studies and technical assessments to find the right talent. They also discuss AI governance, the lack of global regulations, and how AI models can intentionally mask the truth. Cindy stresses why AI education is essential for leaders to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Packed with real-world hiring insights and AI ethics expertise, this episode is a must-listen for business leaders, sales professionals, and AI enthusiasts. Key Takeaways: AI sales need math & analytics, not just soft skills. Traditional sales hiring fails in AI—case studies & tests are key. AI regulations are weak; the U.S. & China skipped the ethics accord. AI models can mask the truth, raising ethical concerns. Leaders must understand AI to make informed decisions. BDRs alone aren’t enough—data scientists play a crucial role. AI sales are evolving fast—businesses must adapt hiring & governance. #AISales #SalesRecruiting #AIHiring #TechSales #SalesLeadership #AITransparency #AIRegulations #AIEthics #ResponsibleAI #AIInnovation #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation #AIinBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #AITrends #SaaS #DataScience

Episode 73 Authenticity, Polarization, and the Power of Brand Storytelling About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: With over 30 years of experience, Ruth Bay is the founder of Company X and a seasoned Brand Strategist. From creative direction to brand strategy, her expertise spans industries, helping established entrepreneurs unlock untapped potential and build brands that resonate. For Ruth, branding isn’t just aesthetics—it’s purpose, connection, and impact. She partners with visionary business owners who value innovation and strategic growth, guiding startups and established companies alike, and even preparing brands for M&A success. Not for those seeking quick fixes, Ruth thrives on depth, collaboration, and bold brand evolution. Guest Info: Name: Ruth Bay Organization: Company X Designation: Founder LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ruthbay Episode Summary: In this compelling episode of Outsource to Profits, host Jamie Shanks sits down with Ruth Bay, founder of Company X, to explore why authenticity is the foundation of successful branding. Together, they challenge the conventional approach of playing it safe, making the case for brands to take a stand—even if it means making enemies. Ruth shares how deep listening, emotional connection, and brand polarization can create a lasting impact. With real-world examples, she unpacks the balance between data-driven strategy and intuition, showing businesses how to craft brand narratives that truly connect. Whether you're a startup or an established company, this episode will transform the way you think about branding, storytelling, and business success. Key Takeaways: Authenticity wins – Stand for something real. Polarization attracts – Bold brands gain loyal fans. Listen to lead – Insights come from understanding. Emotion drives branding – People buy with feeling. Intuition + data – Balance gut and strategy. Experience builds loyalty – Make every interaction count. Purpose over trends – Conviction outlasts fads. Branding is storytelling – More than just a logo. Risk fuels growth – Safe brands stay invisible. #BrandStrategy, #AuthenticBranding, #BrandStorytelling, #BrandIdentity, #MarketingStrategy, #BrandGrowth, #BrandSuccess, #BusinessGrowth, #MarketingTips, #InnovationInBusiness, #MarketingWithPurpose, #CustomerExperience, #BrandImpact, #EntrepreneurMindset

Episode 72 Scaling Without Losing Yourself: Founder-Led Sales Explained About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Sam Vandervalk is the Founder of Salmon Eye Fishing Charters and a seasoned entrepreneur with ventures in vacation rentals, digital marketing, and business coaching. Passionate about strategic growth and personal fulfillment, he also co-founded Active Atoms, promoting health and wellness through functional nutrition. Sam shares insights on entrepreneurship, mindset, and sustainable business scaling. Guest Info: Name: Sam Vandervalk Designation: Founder Organization: Salmon Eye Fishing Charters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samvandervalk/?originalSubdomain=ca Episode Summary: In this episode, host Jamie Shanks sits down with serial entrepreneur Sam Vandervalk to challenge one of the most common narratives in business scaling—should founders step away from sales? Jamie, drawing from his own experience scaling agencies, explores the risks of blindly following the venture capital playbook and the importance of keeping a founder’s unique strengths in the business. Sam shares his journey of building multiple businesses across industries, from sport fishing to vacation rentals and digital marketing, while staying deeply involved in sales. He explains why some founders thrive by staying in sales rather than delegating too soon and how he strategically replaced himself in other roles to focus on what he loves. Jamie and Sam dive into the pitfalls of rapid delegation, the importance of passion-driven growth, and the key factors that determine whether a founder should remain in sales or step back. Whether you’re scaling your company, managing investor expectations, or debating your role in sales, this episode will help you make an informed, strategic, and passion-driven decision about your role as a founder. Key Takeaways Founder-Led Sales Isn’t Always a Weakness The Venture Capital Playbook Isn’t Absolute Passion Drives Long-Term Success Delegation Should Be Strategic, Not Rushed Replacing Yourself the Right Way Revenue Growth Matters More Than Structure Avoid Doing What Drains You Freedom Over Formulaic Scaling #FounderLedSales, #ScalingSmart, #SalesLeadership, #VentureCapitalMyths, #DelegationStrategy, #FounderRole, #LeadershipDecisions, #SalesVsCEO, #SalesDrivenGrowth, #SalesGrowth

Episode 71 Legacy Industries Reimagined: Tech, Traceability & Innovation About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Brad Cortlandt is the founder and CEO of ClearTalley, a pioneering company transforming the seafood industry through automated logistics and traceability solutions. With decades of experience in the maritime sector—from superyachts to oil and gas—Brad brings firsthand insights into supply chain inefficiencies that cost the industry billions. His innovative approach to operational efficiency, traceability, and logistics is reshaping how seafood moves from ocean to table. Passionate about problem-solving and entrepreneurship, Brad also mentors early-stage founders, sharing invaluable lessons from his journey. Guest Info: Name: Brad Cortlandt Designation: Founder/ CEO Organization: ClearTalley LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bcortlandt Episode Summary: For decades, the seafood industry has operated on tradition, often at the cost of efficiency and profitability. In this episode, Brad Cortlandt, founder of ClearTally, unveils how innovation is transforming fishing logistics through automation, traceability, and real-time data, saving businesses over $12 million annually. He sheds light on the unseen inefficiencies that lead to massive waste, the critical role of traceability in sustainability, and the power of data-driven decision-making. Beyond the industry, Brad offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience, identifying inefficiencies, and cultivating the right mindset to scale a company. If you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or simply curious about how modern technology is reshaping legacy industries, this conversation is rich with practical wisdom and transformative ideas. Key Takeaways -Legacy Industries Resist Change, Leading to Massive Inefficiencies -Outdated Supply Chain Processes Cost the Seafood Industry Millions -Traceability & Automation Are Essential -Founders Must Get Hands-On to Identify & Fix Industry Inefficiencies -Challenging the Status Quo Leads to Innovation -Industry-Specific Tech Solutions Can Disrupt Legacy Markets -The Founder Mindset: Success Comes from Getting in the Trenches -Founders Should Seek Support & Mentorship #LegacyIndustry, #SupplyChainInnovation #OperationalEfficiency #TechDisruptor #DigitalTransformation #FounderMindset #ScalingBusiness #EfficiencyMatters #SustainableGrowth #BusinessGrowth #CashFlowManagement #ProfitOptimization #SmartInvestments

Episode 70 Scaling Smart: The Four Pillars of Growth & Success About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Brian Will is a serial entrepreneur, business strategist, and author with 35 years of experience across 10 startups in five industries. With multiple successful exits in venture capital and private equity, he specializes in helping businesses scale from $2M to $30M through financial intelligence, strategic delegation, and data-driven growth. As the Founder of Brian Will Media, he advises entrepreneurs on optimizing sales, marketing, and leadership to break through growth barriers. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theforcemm Episode Summary: In this episode, Jamie sits down with Brian Will, a seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, to explore why some businesses scale effortlessly while others struggle to grow. Brian unveils the four essential pillars of growth and challenges common misconceptions—from the myth that "if you build it, they will come" to the hidden cost of doing everything yourself. He shares insights on market differentiation, delegation, financial acumen, and data-driven decision-making, revealing how founders can break through bottlenecks and achieve sustainable growth. For entrepreneurs feeling stuck, this conversation offers a clear roadmap—a call to step back, rethink, and scale smarter. Key Takeaways: Scaling Requires More Than Just Building a Business Delegation Is Critical for Growth Financial Acumen Is Essential Marketing Efficiency Drives Sales Success Data-Driven Decisions Lead to Scalability Surround Yourself With Experts #ScalingBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #DelegationMatters #FinancialSuccess #SmartScaling #DataDrivenDecisions #Leadership #SalesStrategy #MarketingOptimization #FounderMindset #ScaleSmarter #BusinessStrategy #RevenueGrowth #EntrepreneurLife #StartupSuccess #GrowthHacking

Episode 69 Boost Culture, Engagement & Profits—One Game at a Time About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Kristi Herold is the Founder and CEO of JAM, one of the world’s largest adult recreational sports leagues, operating in over 25 cities across North America. Through JAM Corporate, Kristi helps businesses boost employee engagement, retention, and productivity by integrating play into workplace culture. She is also the author of "It Pays to Play," advocating for the power of fun in fostering collaboration, reducing churn, and improving team dynamics. Guest Info: Name: Kristi Herold Designation: Founder & CEO Organization: JAM LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kristi-herold Episode Summary: In this episode, host Jamie Shanks speaks with Kristi Herold, Founder & CEO of JAM, about how integrating play into workplace culture drives business success. Kristi shares how companies can use team sports, creative events, and workplace play strategies to boost employee engagement, strengthen company culture, and reduce voluntary churn. Learn why top-performing businesses invest in fun and how you can implement simple, cost-effective play strategies to improve morale, increase retention, and drive profitability. Whether you're a Founder, CEO, or HR leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help turn workplace culture into a competitive advantage. Key Takeaways: Play Strengthens Workplace Culture – Fun activities foster collaboration and engagement. Play Reduces Employee Turnover – Stronger relationships lead to higher retention. Productivity Increases with Play – A fun work environment boosts motivation. Team Building Has ROI – Happy teams drive business success. Small Actions, Big Impact – Simple initiatives can transform company culture. Culture is a Competitive Advantage – Play attracts and retains top talent. Play Fuels Business Growth – Happier teams lead to better results. #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #TeamBuilding #CorporatePlay #BusinessGrowth #ProductivityBoost #FunAtWork #HRStrategy #CompanyCulture #EmployeeRetention #InclusiveWorkplaces

Episode 68 Why Business Alignment Matters More Than You Think About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Marcus Smith is the CEO of Cloud Trailz, a Salesforce consultancy renowned for its speed, execution, and customer-driven solutions. With a background in industrial engineering, Marcus specializes in streamlining processes and maximizing value for businesses. In this episode, Marcus shares his journey of scaling Cloud Trailz during the COVID-19 boom and navigating challenges like partner misalignment, equity splits, and role definition. He discusses the importance of clear organizational structures, robust shareholder agreements, and aligning team responsibilities to drive long-term success. Marcus’s insights offer practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to build strong partnerships and sustainable growth strategies. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusasmith1 Episode Summary: In this episode, Jamie Shanks is joined by Marcus Smith, CEO of Cloud Trailz, for a compelling discussion on the challenges and triumphs of building a business. Marcus reflects on his journey of founding a Salesforce consultancy during the unique opportunities of the COVID-19 era, navigating rapid growth, and addressing the cracks that emerged as the business evolved. The conversation delves into pivotal themes, including the complexities of partner alignment, equity distribution, and the critical importance of defining roles and responsibilities. Jamie enriches the dialogue with thoughtful insights from his own entrepreneurial experiences, offering perspective on shareholder agreements, decision-making frameworks, and strategies to maintain cohesion in partnerships. Together, they deliver an inspiring and thought-provoking exploration of what it takes to establish a resilient, scalable business, leaving listeners with actionable takeaways for their ventures. Key Takeaways: Align partners with clear expectations and goals. Define roles early to prevent confusion. Separate equity from operational responsibilities. Use organizational charts to clarify structure. Create strong shareholder agreements. Involve third parties to resolve conflicts. Focus on a shared vision for sustainable growth. #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #PartnerAlignment #LeadershipTips #ScalingBusiness #SmallBusinessSuccess #EquitySplits #ShareholderAgreements #ConsultingLife #StartupLessons #SalesforceConsulting #BusinessAlignment #EntrepreneurTips #RoleDefinition #FoundersJourney

Episode 67 Why Customer Engagement and Data Accuracy Are Your Growth Engines About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, is a leader in offshoring, sales enablement, and business growth. He founded Sales for Life, training 250,000+ professionals globally for companies like Microsoft and Oracle. Jamie specializes in scaling profit growth through strategic offshoring and account-based intelligence. A sought-after thought leader, he empowers businesses with actionable insights to streamline operations and drive sustainable success in competitive markets. About the Guest: Karen Humphrey Celik, CEO and Co-Founder of Contacts411 is a CRM industry pioneer with over 30 years of experience. Starting her journey in 1989, she has been a leader in customer retention strategies and accurate data management. She’s passionate about ensuring businesses thrive through accurate customer data and retention-focused strategies. Karen has been at the forefront of customer relationship management since its inception, helping organizations maintain strong customer connections for sustainable growth. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-humphries-sallick Episode Summary: In this episode, host Jamie speaks with Karen Humphrey Celik, CEO and Co-Founder of Contacts411, to explore strategies for reducing churn and achieving sustainable growth in subscription-based businesses. Drawing from her decades of CRM expertise, Karen highlights the importance of accurate contact data, consistent engagement, and delivering recurring value to customers. Together, they discuss the primary causes of churn, including outdated customer information and limited value consumption, and share practical solutions to combat these challenges. With actionable insights for boosting retention and maximizing recurring revenue, this episode is a must-listen for founders, CEOs, and revenue leaders seeking to scale effectively and retain their best customers. Key Takeaways: 1. Churn is a Silent Growth Killer 2. Accurate Contact Data is Essential 3. Engagement Fuels Retention 4. Recurring Revenue Needs Recurring Value 5. Proactive Onboarding and Follow-Up are Game-Changers 6. Losing Top Customers is Expensive 7. Data Decay Demands Action #CustomerRetention #RecurringRevenue #ReduceChurn #CRMStrategies #CustomerEngagement #SubscriptionBusiness #DataAccuracy #RetentionStrategies #CustomerSuccess #GrowYourBusiness

Episode 66 How Two Founders Reimagined Marketing with AI About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Ian Buck is a seasoned marketer with nearly three decades of experience. As a co-founder of BaD Mktg. Ian has reimagined traditional agency models by integrating AI and innovative processes. With a focus on efficiency and creativity, Ian helps brands navigate the rapidly changing marketing landscape and achieve extraordinary results. Episode Summary: In this episode, Ian Buck, co-founder of BaD Mktg, shares how his agency leverages AI to revolutionize marketing processes and skyrocket efficiency. Ian dives into how AI-enabled his team to reduce full-time roles, improve gross margins, and offer unparalleled service to clients. From delivering proposals in hours instead of weeks to envisioning future innovations, Ian outlines the journey of transforming a traditional industry. Discover the bold strategies, innovative tools, and forward-thinking mindset that are shaping the next generation of marketing. Key Takeaways: AI transformed marketing processes for faster client delivery. Improved gross margins by replacing repetitive tasks with AI. Custom AI tools offer tailored client solutions. Scaling agencies efficiently with minimal human resources. Balancing AI efficiency with human creativity. #MarketingTransformation #AIInMarketing #MarketingInnovation #AgencyEvolution #EfficiencyThroughAI #MarketingFuture #AIForBusiness #ScalableMarketing #AdAgencyRevolution #SmartMarketing

Episode 65 The Truth About Equity Splits: How to Avoid Costly Mistakes in Founding a Business About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder and CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Mike Moyer is an entrepreneur, author, and educator. He founded Mosquito Waste, a company offering pop-up mosquito tents for scouting camps. He also teaches entrepreneurship at Northwestern University. He introduced dynamic equity, a fair framework that removes the disputes of traditional equity splits. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemoyer/ Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource to Profits, Mike Moyer breaks down the often-overlooked topic of founder equity. Mike explores how improper equity splits can endanger the success of a business and lead to costly disputes. He introduces the "Slicing Pie" model—an innovative framework that offers a fair and adaptive approach to equity distribution, grounded in actual contributions and risk. From correcting existing agreements to ensuring future partnerships are structured for fairness, this episode offers invaluable insights for entrepreneurs seeking sustainable, conflict-free collaborations. Key Takeaways: Importance of Fair Equity Splits The Dangers of Assuming Equal Ownership Adapting Existing Agreements Fairness Drives Motivation Equity reflects risk, not ownership. Equity reflects current and future contributions #FounderEquity #SlicingPie #StartupTips #BusinessPartnerships #EquitySplits #EntrepreneurAdvice #BusinessGrowth #StartupSuccess #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessFounders

Episode 64 "Learn how specializing, building relationships, and setting your own terms drives growth and lasting impact." About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Mark Aylward is the CEO of 7 Pillars, LLC with over 35 years of experience in the information technology staffing industry. Having built and sold multiple companies, he specializes in helping individuals and organizations grow professionally. Mark focuses on leadership training, sales, and recruiting strategies, particularly for mid-career professionals seeking to elevate their performance. His expertise lies in specialization, relationship-building, and dictating terms for success. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aylwardmark/ Episode Summary: In this episode, host Jamie sits down with Mark Aylward, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in the IT staffing industry. Mark shares his journey of building and selling businesses, specializing in professional development, leadership training, and sales/recruiting strategies. He highlights the power of specialization in career growth and the long-term benefits of focusing on a specific market. Mark offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs and professionals, stressing the importance of dictating your own terms, building strong relationships, and the impact of staying in one market. He provides practical insights on navigating recruitment and professional development, emphasizing discipline, patience, and focus. Key Takeaways: Specialization compounds career growth over time. Consistency builds deeper relationships and trust. Dictate your terms to maintain business control. Focused services prevent operational inefficiencies. Clear payment terms solve cash flow issues. Long-term commitment yields greater professional rewards. Leadership training fosters sustainable team success. #EntrepreneurshipTips #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerGrowth #RecruitmentStrategies #ProfessionalDevelopment #SpecializationMatters #SalesExcellence #BusinessGrowth #NetworkingSuccess #CareerFocus #LeadershipTraining #BuildingSuccess

Episode 63 Outsourcing transforms productivity, reduces costs, and enhances business growth strategies. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Carolyn Thompson is a serial entrepreneur who has founded seven companies and successfully exited five since 2010. With expertise spanning biotech, professional services, and retail, she now focuses on executive coaching, helping leaders optimize operations and embrace offshoring for efficiency and growth. Episode Summary: In this episode, Carolyn Thompson, a serial entrepreneur and executive coach, shares insights from her journey of founding and exiting multiple businesses across industries. She discusses the importance of passion, leveraging offshoring for efficiency, and maintaining employee satisfaction by offloading repetitive tasks. Carolyn highlights the hidden benefits of outsourcing, from boosting productivity to improving team morale, and offers actionable advice on how leaders can scale their businesses effectively while freeing up time to grow strategically. Key Takeaways: Passion and differentiation drive business success. Offshoring enhances efficiency and reduces costs. Retaining talent requires minimizing mundane tasks. Outsourcing improves team morale and engagement. Strategic focus fosters sustainable business growth. #BusinessGrowth #OutsourcingSuccess #OffshoringEfficiency #TeamProductivity #EntrepreneurshipTips #ScalingUp #TalentRetention #LeadershipDevelopment #CostEfficiency #StrategicGrowth

Episode 62 Protecting domain health is key to successful email outreach and optimized lead generation. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Joel Graber, CEO of Modern Outbound and Modern Inbound, specializes in helping growth teams, Chief Revenue Officers, and sales marketers build powerful growth engines. With expertise in cold email and LinkedIn outreach, Joel provides data-driven strategies and tactical solutions to optimize deliverability, engagement, and results in outbound marketing campaigns. Episode Summary: Joel Graber, CEO of Modern Outbound, shares his expertise on email deliverability and the vital role it plays in outbound marketing success. He explores how poor domain management can hinder communication, lead generation, and overall marketing efforts. Joel provides actionable advice on setting up secondary domains, monitoring their health, and integrating them with LinkedIn outreach to maximize engagement. With email deliverability becoming increasingly challenging, he highlights the importance of blending warm and cold campaigns, diversifying outreach channels, and implementing best practices to protect domain reputations. Key Takeaways: Poor domain management affects email outreach. Use secondary domains to protect the primary one. Regularly warm and monitor domain health. Blend warm and cold email campaigns. Leverage LinkedIn ads for lead generation. #EmailDeliverability #OutboundMarketing #DomainManagement #MarketingStrategy #LinkedInOutreach #ColdEmailTips #DigitalMarketing #GrowthHacking #EmailOutreach #MarketingOptimization

Episode 61 Explore how aligning personal values with business strategy can transform leadership and fuel success. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Justin Breen, co-founder of the Epic Fit Network, leads a global mastermind that connects visionaries with a shared mission to uplift humanity. Passionate about purpose-driven work, Justin engages daily with influential leaders and visionaries, fostering conversations that inspire transformative thinking and meaningful connections. Episode Summary: In this episode, Justin Breen, co-founder of the Epic Fit Network, shares profound insights into the mindset and characteristics that set true visionaries apart from typical business owners. He delves into how resilience, purpose, and a deep connection to a higher power fuel their drive for impactful work. Justin highlights that understanding and embracing these visionary traits can transform the way entrepreneurs approach their business growth and challenges. Key Takeaways: Embrace challenges like anxiety or financial setbacks to grow as a leader. High EQ paired with IQ is essential for visionary leadership. Purpose-driven business strategies lead to long-term success. Visionaries often operate beyond conventional thinking for greater impact. Recognizing and leveraging unique traits, like ADHD or dyslexia, can enhance business innovation. #VisionaryLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #PurposeDriven #Innovation #LeadershipInsights #EntrepreneurTips #Resilience #BusinessSuccess #HighEQLeadership

Episode 60 Discover how turning failures into stepping stones and building strategic partnerships fuels growth. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Neil Twa is the founder and CEO of Voltage, a holding company specializing in e-commerce and business consulting. With over 17 years of experience, Neil has built and scaled multiple brands, generating millions in sales. He is passionate about empowering others, building strategic partnerships, and creating sustainable business models that balance profitability with personal fulfillment. LinkedIn Profile: https://linkedin.com/in/neiltwa/ Episode Summary: In this episode, Neil Twa shares his journey from leaving the corporate world to building Voltage, a successful e-commerce holding company. He delves into the lessons learned from past failures, the importance of purpose-driven business strategies, and how maintaining balance between profit and personal values can lead to long-term success. Neil also highlights how strategic partnerships and empowering others have played a crucial role in his business growth. Key Takeaways: Prioritize purpose over profit for sustainable success. Build businesses that align with personal and professional values. Strategic partnerships can open doors to new opportunities. Empowering others strengthens business operations and growth. Learn from failures and pivot when necessary to achieve long-term goals. #EntrepreneurJourney #BusinessGrowth #EcommerceSuccess #PurposeDriven #StrategicPartnerships #LeadershipLessons #Empowerment #SustainableGrowth #BusinessStrategy #OvercomingFailure

Episode 59 Going through the journey of building a successful business involves smart strategies, valuable lessons, and a focus on growth that goes beyond just revenue. In this episode of "Founder Series", two founders explore strategies for profit creation, pricing, and sustainable growth with valuable insights. Learn why prioritizing profit over revenue can empower your business to thrive, how premium pricing attracts ideal clients and ensures better service delivery, and why acquisitions can be key to scaling sustainably. Whether you’re in e-commerce, SaaS, or service-based industries, this episode is packed with actionable advice to enhance your profitability. Key Takeaways ⬇️ Prioritize profit contribution and cash flow over revenue for sustainable growth. Premium pricing attracts high-value clients and supports better service delivery. Leveraging acquisitions can be a reliable way to achieve scalable growth. Avoid the scarcity mindset—focus on maintaining good margins to stay competitive. Evaluate business health by measuring net income and EBITDA carefully. 🔃Share this video, subscribe for more insights, and visit getlevrg.com for your next step to success! ✅ #ProfitGrowth #BusinessScaling #Entrepreneurship #PremiumPricing #SustainableGrowth #Acquisitions #ProfitMargins #BusinessSuccess #LeadershipInsights #RevenueStrategy

Episode 58 Mistakes are a part of our journey to success. But we can only get to success, if we learn from those mistakes. In this episode of "Founder Series", founders talk about the crucial lessons they've learned from mistakes while navigating the challenges of business growth and scalability. They discuss the importance of structured frameworks, efficient hiring practices, and carefully planned marketing investments. These insights highlight how to strike a balance between scaling up and maintaining profitability. From avoiding common pitfalls to aligning resources with client demand, this episode offers practical guidance for entrepreneurs aiming to build sustainable, scalable businesses. Key Takeaways ⬇️ Implement a Framework: A clear structure minimizes chaos. Hire Carefully: Quality over speed ensures lasting talent. Define Clear Contracts: Transparency supports scalability. Set Marketing Checkpoints: Identify underperforming strategies early. Anticipate Demand: Secure key roles ahead of time.

Episode 57 Building a SaaS business involves navigating funding choices, key growth milestones, and strategic decision-making for long-term success. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Manoj Ramnani is the founder and CEO of SalesIntel.io, a company specializing in providing data and intelligence solutions for go-to-market teams. With extensive experience in building multiple businesses, Manoj has led successful exits and faced challenges, offering valuable insights into navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship, funding, and scaling SaaS ventures. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manojramnani/ Episode Summary: In this episode, Manoj Ramnani, founder and CEO of SalesIntel.io, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the strategic decisions behind building a successful SaaS business. Manoj discusses the pivotal choice between bootstrapping and raising capital, explaining the challenges and benefits of each path. He reflects on lessons learned from past ventures, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right investors, building a supportive ecosystem, and validating product-market fit before scaling. Manoj also offers advice for new founders, highlighting the significance of passion, patience, and aligning business goals with market potential for long-term success and growth. Key Takeaways: Bootstrapping vs. raising capital: choose the right path for your business. Validate product-market fit before scaling to minimize risks. Build a supportive ecosystem and choose investors wisely. Passion and patience are crucial for long-term success. Align business goals with market potential to maximize growth opportunities.

Episode 56 We often talk about profitability and growth, but how do founders truly approach profit creation? What are the key drivers behind sustainable profitability? In this episode of "Founder Series", founders share their insights on profit creation in SaaS and service-based businesses. They discuss the differences in profit strategies across industries, with a focus on achieving key financial milestones like ARR thresholds. They also explore how staying ahead of expenses, maintaining profitability, and avoiding unnecessary costs can help a business thrive. Along the way, they offer practical advice on managing gross margins, optimizing operational efficiency, and navigating the challenges of growing a business in today's economic climate. Key Takeaways ⬇️ Hitting $2M ARR is a crucial milestone for SaaS businesses. Managing burn rate is key to long-term survival. Private equity turns ARR into profit post-acquisition. Sustainable growth requires balancing costs and efficiency.

Episode 55 As a founder, certain departments are harder to scale than others. But what’s the reason behind these challenges? In this episode of "Founder Series", founders tackle the question: "What’s the hardest department to scale?" They share insights on scaling technology and sales teams, addressing challenges like high-tech talent costs, offshore communication barriers, and founder dependency in sales. Solutions include offshoring, automating processes, and empowering teams for independent growth. Key Takeaways ⬇️ High tech costs: Competing for local talent drives founders to offshore solutions. Offshore struggles: Cultural barriers require better project management. Sales bottlenecks: Founder-led sales are hard to scale. Team empowerment: Training teams to operate independently is crucial. Automation: AI tools help streamline sales and reduce founder reliance.

Episode 54 In this episode, Brian Smith, founder of Strategy Ladders, discusses the critical decisions founders face when scaling B2B service businesses. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Brian Smith is the founder of Strategy Ladders, a consultancy that helps B2B service businesses scale and exit successfully. With a focus on business fundamentals and values-driven leadership, Brian guides founders to sustainable growth without relying on external capital. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbriansmith/?originalSubdomain=mx Episode Summary: In this episode, Brian Smith, founder of Strategy Ladders, discusses the critical decisions founders face when scaling B2B service businesses. He highlights the risks associated with raising outside capital, explaining how it can lead to loss of control and distraction from core business fundamentals like profitability and cash flow. Drawing from his experience, Brian shares the importance of sticking to a values-driven approach and focusing on sustainable growth. He also touches on the leadership challenges founders encounter as they scale, including the shift from leadership to formal management as team sizes grow. Key Takeaways: Strategic capital should bring more than just money—look for valuable partnerships. Sustainable growth hinges on business fundamentals, not just rapid scaling. Lead with your values to maintain control and build a strong, aligned team. Learn to manage larger teams effectively as your business grows beyond 20 employees. #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipDevelopment #ScalingBusiness #B2BMarketing #StartupSuccess #FoundersJourney #CashFlowManagement #SustainableGrowth #ExitStrategy

Episode 53 In this episode, Jamie Shanks and Allen Martinez talk about the challenges and strategies of effective market positioning, particularly for startups and growing businesses. About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Allen Martinez, founder of Noble Digital, is a fractional CMO with nearly 20 years of experience in driving growth for B2B and B2C companies. He specializes in creating automated marketing systems that help CEOs scale efficiently by aligning strategies with business goals. Allen is a trusted partner for startups and mid-size companies aiming to streamline marketing and achieve measurable growth. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenmartinez/ Episode Summary: In this episode, Jamie Shanks and Allen Martinez talk about the challenges and strategies of effective market positioning, particularly for startups and growing businesses. They discuss the importance of aligning sales and marketing teams, using data-driven insights, and creating customer-centric messaging to drive growth. Allen shares his experience of reducing a year-long sales cycle to 90 days by improving communication and story clarity within a company. They also explore the complexities of category creation versus category piracy and emphasize the need for a holistic approach to marketing, integrating various tools and strategies for optimal results. The conversation is packed with actionable insights on how to refine your marketing efforts, align your teams, and achieve better business outcomes. Key Takeaways: Align Sales and Marketing: Bringing these teams together is crucial for consistent messaging and faster sales cycles. Use Data-Driven Insights: Rely on data, not assumptions, to shape your marketing strategy and messaging. Focus on Customer-Centric Messaging: Simplify and clarify your message to directly address customer pain points. Strategic Delegation: Retain core strategic functions in-house while delegating execution to optimize efficiency. Category Creation vs. Piracy: Understand the risks and costs of creating a new category versus improving an existing one. #MarketingStrategy #BusinessGrowth #SalesAndMarketing #CMO #StartupGrowth #CustomerEngagement #DataDriven #MarketPositioning #EntrepreneurTips #LeadershipInsights

Episode 52 What could you have done better as a CEO? 🤔 In this episode of "Founder Series", four CEOs reflect on what they’d do differently if they could start over. They share lessons on building the right team, managing time effectively, leveraging public speaking, and investing in project management tools. Gain practical tips to optimize your business and avoid common pitfalls. Key Takeaways ⬇️ Build the Right Team: Use assessments to hire people who complement your strengths and fill gaps, rather than hiring similar personalities. Effective Time Management: Prioritize time blocking and focus more on strategic planning to work on the business, not just in it. Leverage Public Speaking: Seek more speaking opportunities to educate and attract potential clients, while tracking long-term ROI. Invest in Project Management: Early investment in robust project management tools and processes can accelerate growth and streamline operations.

Welcome to the "Founder Series," where I chat with successful founders about what truly drives business efficiency, boosts productivity, and grows profits. Get ready for real insights from those who’ve made it happen! Here’s what you get to learn this week ⬇️ What's the secret to doubling revenue and maximizing productivity? 🤔 Hear from 4 successful entrepreneurs as they reveal the strategies that transformed their businesses! Learn how they focused on high-impact activities, delegated key roles, and aligned team incentives to boost profits and streamline operations. Key Takeaways: Focus on the top 4% of clients and activities for maximum revenue. Delegate key roles early to avoid bottlenecks and enable growth. Turn team members into stakeholders with commission-based incentives. Simplify operations by cutting out low-value tasks and distractions.

About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Donald Kelly is the founder of The Sales Evangelist, a leading sales training organization. Through his company, Donald has helped numerous individuals and teams excel in building effective sales pipelines and mastering top-of-funnel strategies. In addition to his training organization, Donald hosts the successful podcast, "The Sales Evangelist," where he shares insights and tips on sales strategies. Donald is based in South Florida and enjoys family staycations at Palm Beach. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldckelly/ Episode Summary: In this episode of Outsource for Profits, Jamie Shanks brings on veteran sales trainer Donald Kelly to dissect the complex challenges of transitioning from founder-led sales to a sales-led team model. They talk about the pitfalls commonly faced by founders when scaling a sales team, emphasizing the vital importance of hiring the right talent. Jamie recounts his journey through three different agencies, where hasty hiring decisions often led to regrettable outcomes. Throughout the discussion, Donald Kelly shares his wealth of experience, offering invaluable tips on identifying red flags during the hiring process and the benefits of a thorough vetting system. He stresses the necessity of a multi-panel interview process and highlights how diversification in interviewer perspectives can lead to better hiring decisions. Key Takeaways: Thorough Vetting Processes: Implement a multi-step interview process that includes scenario-based assessments to gain deeper insights into a candidate's proactive skills. Hire Slow, Fire Fast: Take the time to ensure you're choosing the right candidate rather than acting out of desperation to fill a position and don’t hesitate to make changes if it’s not working out. Involving Multiple Evaluators: Incorporating feedback from various people within your organization, even non-sales members, can yield a more rounded view of potential hires. Scenario-Based Interviews: Putting candidates in scenario-based situations helps reveal their thought processes and decision-making skills in real-time. Hiring in Cohorts: Consider hiring in small groups to mitigate the risk and ensure continuity even if not all hires work out. #SalesLeadership #HiringBestPractices #SalesGrowth #TalentAcquisition #SalesStrategy #TeamBuilding #BusinessSuccess #SalesManagemen

About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Larry Schwartz is the founder and president of Schwartz Marketing, where he works with C-suite executives, founders, and marketing leaders to align marketing strategies with product, revenue, and sales initiatives. With years of experience in marketing and a track record of helping small to mid-size companies achieve their marketing goals effectively, Larry brings valuable expertise to the table. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwartzmarketing/ Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Jamie Shanks interviews Larry Schwartz, discussing the paradigm shift in marketing strategies post-COVID. They discuss the impact of remote work, the value of outsourcing marketing tasks, and the untapped potential of labor arbitrage in driving marketing performance. Larry sheds light on how offshoring marketing efforts can lead to enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and increased productivity, urging C-suite executives to reconsider their traditional approaches to marketing. Key topics covered include the transformation brought about by remote work, the significance of outsourcing $5/hour tasks to offshore professionals, and the substantial benefits of leveraging global talent in marketing endeavors. From analytics to creative design, the conversation highlights various marketing functions that can be effectively managed remotely, fueling growth and maximizing resources. Key Takeaways: The shift to remote work has opened new possibilities for optimizing marketing strategies and leveraging global talent effectively. Outsourcing $5/hour tasks to offshore professionals can lead to significant cost savings and improved productivity. Embracing labor arbitrage in marketing operations allows companies to scale efficiently and focus on high-value strategic initiatives. Remote teams can handle diverse marketing functions, including analytics, creative design, and campaign execution, with notable success. Time zone differences can be leveraged as an advantage, boosting productivity by enabling 24-hour operational support and task completion. #marketing #innovation #efficiency #marketingstrategy #remotework #success #growth #profitability

About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Domenic Colasante is the CEO of 2X, a marketing-as-a-service firm specializing in B2B marketing. With a background as a former CMO in the tech industry, Domenic founded 2X to revolutionize the marketing service sector. His company has reached a milestone of a thousand employees in just six years, offering unique and high-quality offshoring solutions for businesses. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domeniccolasante/ Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of Outsource to Profits, Jamie Shanks interviews Domenic Colasante, the CEO of 2X, about the transformational impact of leveraging offshore talent in marketing strategies. Domenic talks about redefining marketing operations, sharing valuable insights on the paradigm shift needed to optimize marketing budgets, and scaling business impact exponentially through innovative organizational models. Key points covered include the challenges in integrating offshore talent effectively, the strategic reengineering of marketing operations, and the importance of allocating resources effectively. With a focus on restructuring marketing functions for enhanced efficiency, Domenic highlights the critical shift towards viewing labor as a utility to drive strategic priorities and achieve remarkable results. Key Takeaways: Lack of exposure to high-quality offshore services hinders marketers from realizing the full potential of leveraging offshore talent effectively. Successful organizations re-engineer marketing processes and workflows to optimize operations and align resources with strategic objectives. Offshore talent clusters in regions such as Southeast Asia and Latin America offer diverse skills and English proficiency, making them ideal hubs for scaling marketing operations globally. To maximize marketing impact and efficiency, marketers should bifurcate core competency tasks from standardized operational activities and strategically allocate resources accordingly. By embracing innovative operating models and leveraging offshore talent, businesses can achieve significant cost savings, flexibility, and scalability while driving growth and maintaining competitiveness.

About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Dan Monahan, co-founder and CEO of WSI, has spent nearly three decades transforming businesses through digital marketing and franchising. With a network of global digital agencies and a strong focus on AI integration, Dan's expertise lies in leveraging offshoring and technology to optimize efficiency and drive growth. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monaghandan/?originalSubdomain=ca Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of Offshore to Profits, Dan Monahan discusses the evolution of AI in the digital marketing landscape and its impact on business optimization, cost reduction, and talent acquisition. He goes into the concept of the "human cloud" and the transformative role AI plays in reshaping traditional work dynamics, driving efficiencies, and unlocking hidden profits. Dan highlights the significance of offshore talent acquisition in tapping into diverse global expertise and achieving unparalleled employee engagement and retention rates. Key Takeaways: Leveraging AI and offshore talent can significantly enhance customer experience, optimize costs, and boost efficiencies within agencies and clients' businesses. The shift towards an AI-assisted human cloud has opened up new possibilities for global talent acquisition, enabling businesses to access top-tier professionals worldwide. Strategically selecting offshore markets based on skillset requirements and employing rigorous screening processes are key components of successful talent acquisition. The integration of AI tools like copywriting and video production software levels the playing field for global talent, driving labor arbitrage and enhancing business performance. Offshore talent acquisition not only offers cost savings but also provides access to top-notch professionals, fostering employee engagement and retention on a global scale. #OffshoreToProfits #DigitalMarketing #GlobalTalent #AIinBusiness #Franchising #BusinessGrowth SEO Keywords offshoring, ai, franchising, talent, outsourcing, leadership, digital, marketing, growth, business, global talent, digital marketing, business growth, remote work, ai innovation.

About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Alex Glenn is the founder and CEO of Partner Hub, specializing in helping SaaS and service providers find alignment and grow through partnerships. With a deep understanding of the ecosystem of channel partnerships, Alex brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, working with companies to expand their footprint and build long-lasting, efficient relationships within the industry. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-glenn/ Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of "Outsource to Profits," Alex Glenn talks about the complexities of channel partnerships and ecosystem building. Providing valuable insights and strategies, he emphasizes the importance of aligning objectives, nurturing relationships, and viewing partnerships as a means to expand business footprints rather than solely focusing on immediate revenue. By drawing analogies to home building, solar panel installation, and open relationships, Alex sheds light on the mindset required for successful partnership strategies. Key Takeaways: Partnerships should be viewed as long-term investments in expanding an organization's footprint and building a strategic advantage. The product-led, affiliate, and strategic partnership approaches each offer unique benefits and need specific strategies to be successful. The e-commerce industry sets an example for efficient and strategic partnership practices that B2B SaaS companies can learn from. Building power partners and collaborating with service providers can lead to mutually beneficial relationships and accelerated growth. Emphasizing strategy over commission-based incentives can drive more meaningful and impactful partnerships in the long run. #PartnershipStrategies #PartnershipSuccess #Longevity #Ecommerce #StrategicPartnerships

About the Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Get Levrg and Pipeline Signals, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life”, he's trained 250,000+ professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Ryan Staley is the founder and CEO of Whale Boss, with over 25 years of experience in the go-to-market space. Having worked in various sales roles and achieving personal exits, Ryan grew a business from zero to 30 million ARR in five and a half years with just four salespeople. He is deeply focused on leveraging ChatGPT and AI to drive efficiencies, uncover insights, and enhance sales and marketing strategies. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-staley/ Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of Offshore to Profits, Ryan Staley discusses the impact of AI on founders and Chief Revenue Officers (CROs). He shares practical applications of AI in various aspects of business, from sales and marketing to team management and data analysis. Ryan emphasizes the need for proactive adoption of AI tools to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry, highlighting the benefits of leveraging AI for operational excellence and growth. Key Takeaways: Embracing AI tools like ChatGPT can revolutionize sales and marketing strategies, improving engagement and efficiency. Leveraging AI for sales call transcriptions can enable data-driven marketing decisions based on customer inquiries and trends. Implementing AI in OKR development can enhance team management and goal-setting for optimal performance. Applying Elon Musk's first principles theory through AI tools can help entrepreneurs address challenges and make informed decisions. Utilizing AI for data analysis provides actionable insights for strategic decision-making and financial optimization. #AI #entrepreneurs #sales #marketingtips #businesssuccess #dataanalysis #efficiency #strategy #innovation SEO Keywords AI, sales, marketing, ChatGPT, founders, AI in sales, AI for marketing, founder-led sales, sales automation tools, AI for CROs, how to use ChatGPT for sales, AI tools for chief revenue officers, AI-driven marketing strategies, using AI for customer support, AI applications in sales and marketing, how to implement AI in sales processes, best AI tools for sales teams, practical AI use cases for marketing, how founders can use AI for operations, AI strategies for improving sales efficiency

About The Host Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Pipeline Signals and Get Levrg, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life,” he's trained over 250,000 professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Name: Erik Huberman Designation: Founder and CEO Company: Hawke Media Website: hawkemedia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhuberman/ Erik Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawk Media, a leading performance marketing agency in the U.S. With a robust team and extensive experience in optimizing marketing strategies for over 500 brands, Erik shares invaluable insights into digital marketing and business growth. Episode Summary: In this episode of "Outsource to Profits," host Jamie Shanks sits down with Erik Huberman, the founder and CEO of Hawk Media, a top performance marketing agency in the U.S. Erik introduces himself and his company, highlighting its extensive experience and innovative AI system used to optimize marketing for numerous brands. The main discussion revolves around the critical importance of understanding and managing Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) to Lifetime Value (LTV) ratios and payback periods. Jamie shares his own experience from running his first agency, Sales for Life, where mismanagement of CAC to LTV ratios led to a complex sales cycle and stagnation in top-line revenue despite winning larger deals. Erik echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of knowing your sales cycle and measuring marketing outcomes over appropriate time frames rather than short periods. He discusses how many businesses fail to account for the time it takes to convert a lead into a customer, resulting in misleading assessments of marketing effectiveness. Erik explains how Hawk Media’s AI-driven benchmarking tool helps clients understand and optimize their marketing performance by providing accurate KPIs across various channels. Towards the end, Jamie and Erik discuss the benefits and rationale behind Hawk Media's inorganic growth strategy through acquisitions. Erik explains how acquiring smaller agencies allows Hawk Media to leverage the strengths of talented entrepreneurs while providing them with the infrastructure and support to thrive. Jamie relates to this from his own entrepreneurial journey, discussing the financial and operational struggles that many small agency owners face. Erik concludes by sharing how listeners can connect with him and Hawk Media for further insights and potential collaboration. Key Points Discussed: The significance of CAC to LTV ratios in marketing strategies. Common misconceptions and pitfalls in digital marketing metrics. Insights into Hawk Media's AI-driven approach to optimize marketing campaigns. Erik's experience with acquiring and scaling digital agencies. Strategies for sustainable business growth and overcoming financial challenges. Keyword Research: Performance marketing, customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, digital agency growth, AI in marketing, business acquisition strategies, sales cycle optimization, marketing ROI metrics.

About The Host: Jamie Shanks, Founder & CEO of Pipeline Signals and Get Levrg, specializes in optimizing offshoring for profit growth. With a background in leading “Sales for Life,” he's trained over 250,000 professionals globally for industry giants like Microsoft and Oracle. About the Guest: Don Sevcik is the founder of Math Celebrity, an innovative automated online math tutoring platform. Often described as the "Google for math," Math Celebrity helps users solve math problems instantly by showing step-by-step solutions. With a background in software development and a passion for education, Don has successfully grown Math Celebrity to attract over 8.1 million unique visitors annually. His expertise in SEO and user experience design has been instrumental in transforming Math Celebrity into a leading educational resource. Name: Don Sevcik Designation: Founder Company: Math Celebrity Website: https://www.mathcelebrity.com/online-math-tutor.php LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donsevcik/ Episode Summary: In this episode of "Outsource to Profits," host Jamie Shanks welcomes Don Sevcik, founder of Math Celebrity, an automated online math tutoring site. Together, they explore productivity hacks and strategies for increasing profitability. Don shares his journey from starting Math Celebrity to achieving 8.1 million unique visitors annually. They discuss the importance of understanding user behavior, the concept of "reading the label from inside the bottle," and practical tips for improving SEO and customer acquisition. Key Points Discussed: - The concept of "reading the label from inside the bottle" and how it applies to business growth. - Don's experience with Math Celebrity and the impact of correcting user misspellings on site traffic. - Jamie’s journey of overcoming pricing barriers and doubling profits at Sales for Life. - The significance of understanding user psychology in search behavior for SEO success. - Practical productivity hacks for founders and CEOs to optimize their business strategies. SEO Keywords: Productivity hacks, SEO strategies, Business growth tips, Customer acquisition, Math Celebrity, Jamie Shanks, Don Sevcik, Online tutoring, Profit optimization, User behavior analysis