The Corporate Escapee

Is having better technology the first answer to scaling your business? At the start of the 21st century, people got so caught up in relying on technology to make their lives easier and their business processes better that they forgot the basic and most important building block of all: people. This week, we’ll be putting more emphasis on the people side of the business with Lisa L. Levy, author of Future Proofing Cubed, and why founders need to prioritize it above all else. Learn how you can build a stronger, more customer-centric business by tuning in to this episode today. Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) Future Proofing Cubed by Lisa L. Levy (https://amzn.to/3lFJNPs) LCubed Consulting Website (lisalllevy.com) We’ll be talking about: Lisa and the LCubed Consulting [01:33] The people component is still essential despite technological advancements [05:25] Keep your team in the loop regarding company changes [07:38] Memorialize your superhero employees through putting in processes [11:47] How to incorporate the company DNA into your team [15:11] The key to improving your team’s process is by being customer-centric [19:40] How founders can slowly automate their processes [27:33] The sacred sequence that startups need to know [31:48] Focusing on technology on the first phase is a recipe for disaster [33:49] Make sure you interact with your employees regularly [36:02] Remind your employees not to mix life and work in this day and age [40:07] What’s next for Lisa [42:04] The one thing that Lisa recommends [43:25] About Our Guest: Well-known for her project management and process performance management skills, Lisa L. Levy has helped several organizations achieve their goals by adapting better business processes. She is the Founder and CEO of LCubed Consulting and is the #1 bestselling author of the book “Future Proofing Cubed.” She has also guested on several media outlets including NBC, ABC, CBS, to name a few. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. There’s a lot more to learn when it comes to podcasting, and we’re here to help! Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Getting word out about your product is one thing. But getting your buyers to hear your message is another. Nothing has been more relevant in this day and age than the use of online marketing tools to connect with your buyers. Simply spreading the message without putting too much thought in the value you’re giving in your interactions with prospects is just not going to work anymore. In this episode, we’ll talk about making your content crispier for your prospective clients with Diana Mitchell, Digital Marketing Consultant at Peoplemover. If you want to find out what makes your customers tick, then this episode is a gold mine of incredible and insightful information for you. Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) HEY Email Platform (https://hey.com/) Diana Mitchell Website (http://www.dianamitchell.net/) We’ll be talking about: Being a fractional CMO before it was a thing [01:39] The experience of being a guest on Oprah [02:26] Opportunities are present in B2B marketing [03:50] How companies reacted to the pandemic [05:59] Invest in buyer enablement instead of sales enablement [09:07] Your online content has to be up to par [13:56] Don’t be afraid to give away 99% of your great stuff [16:09] Now’s the time to have conversations and give value [17:34] Focus on what your prospects would like to hear [21:31] Treat your customers like prospects and your prospects like customers [27:57] Re-engage with those already in your customer database [33:24] Three things new founders should do [35:23] Provide value, don’t sell [38:02] Get yourself a good writer [39:08] What’s next for Diana [41:17] The one thing Diana recommends [42:04] About Our Guest: Diana Mitchell appeared as a two-time guest in Oprah and in a movie featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is an Outsourcing Content & Digital Marketing Manager as well as Marketing Coach & Mentor at Peoplemover, helping junior marketing teams excel, and increasing leads and revenue for companies through her senior-level marketing team. In the next few months, Diana is preparing to launch her podcast “Moms Who Lead” designed for leaders who are supermoms at the same time. Connect with Diana on LinkedIn. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Rising up from bankruptcy to finding your true path is an amazing achievement. Just as we’re facing uncertain times in our lives, a lot have started to reconsider their priorities and how they’ve been living their lives. Which is why we have a very timely episode today with Sean Rosensteel, who shares why it’s so important for founders to become more intentional with their lives. You’ll get not just the reason for living intentionally, but also how you can do so. No matter where you are in your life’s journey, this episode has so much value for you! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) Grab the book and get a ton of bonuses! (https://www.seanrosensteel.com/b2b) We’ll be talking about: Overview of Sean’s new book and the journey to writing it [01:59] How the COVID-19 pandemic affected the release of his book [03:07] The things that led to him writing his book [05:23] Reaching the turning point that got Sean into taking responsibility for himself [08:39] How the choice to be intentional came about [13:13] The need to identify what intrinsically motivates us [17:31] Who you are becoming is more important than what you get [20:30] The right timing of the book during this reset [23:59] Real magic happens in the constant state of balancing [25:46] What is important changes at different times in your life [26:30] Adapting the framework to business [28:07] Attract people by showing your vulnerability [30:35] People buy from people [34:14] What’s next for Sean [35:29] The one thing that Sean recommends [37:45] About Our Guest: After finding himself bankrupt at age 28, Sean Rosensteel realized that, in order to attain happiness and fulfillment, he has to break free from conventional wisdom. As a consultant, coach, trainer, and now, book author, he has a passion for helping others. He has recently published his first book, “The School of Intentional Living: A Real-World Approach to Living Life on Your Terms" and also founded The Intentional Living Academy to support his readers on a deeper level. Go ahead and grab a copy of his new book on Amazon and Audible. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Getting a customer to buy your product after trying for so many hours, days, or weeks is a priceless feeling. Imagine if you can do it in just minutes. Most entrepreneurs make the rookie mistake of building a business without a framework in mind. Thus, the client intake and sales process become a massive mess that creates a lot of friction and will eventually tire them out in the years to come. However, it’s not too late to unravel the chaos. Today, Anthony Coundouris, author of run_frictionless, shares with us the 4Qs that will help solve your sales problems. Make things easier for you and your client by tuning in to this show now! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) run_frictionless by Anthony Coundouris (https://amzn.to/3fI5uui) run_frictionless Website (https://runfrictionless.com/) We’ll be talking about: Overview of today’s topic [01:18] Being occupied in creating the playbook [01:40] The path that led to writing run_frictionless [03:04] The type of companies Anthony worked with [04:42] Scale yourself out of the business rather than throw yourself out [06:05] The value of a sale that didn’t need the founder’s involvement [07:58] The 4 Quadrants as a decision-making framework [10:11] Making sure your products or services are aligned with the right customer [14:12] Understand the limitations of your product or service [17:15] Why a Q1 and Q3 fit is better [20:43] The importance of selling to those who share your belief [24:22] Sharing your Q3 with an online audience [30:53] Hire someone who shares the same beliefs [33:35] Serve your customers in the fastest way possible [36:32] What’s next for Anthony [43:35] The one thing Anthony recommends [44:35] About Our Guest: Anthony Coundouris is the founder and author of run_frictionless, a playbook that helps entrepreneurs achieve predictable sales. He has assisted in scaling small and large businesses for a decade and has consulted with big companies worldwide. With his experience as a founder for two startups, he has seen where businesses fail short and is dedicated to guiding companies out of that direction. You can connect with Anthony on LinkedIn. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

One of the biggest myths in business is that you, the business owner, have to be the one to manage it day in, day out. However, by setting the wheels of systemization in motion, you’ll see how your business can run without it being too dependent on you. Today is Part 2 with Dave Jenyns as he shares about the six stages of SYSTEMology that will allow you to remove yourself from your business from time to time. Enhance your business process by tuning in to this episode! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) SYSTEMology by David Jenyns (https://www.systemology.com/book/) Business Processes Simplified Podcast (https://www.systemhub.com/podcast/) We’ll be talking about: The six steps of the SYSTEMology process [01:00] Define stage: Mapping out the Critical Client Flow [02:20] By systemizing your process, you can remove yourself from the business [05:26] Assign stage: Identifying the key team members [08:02] Extract stage: Picking the brains of your team [09:49] Integrate stage: Getting the buy-in from the staff [16:00] People resist systemization and eventually stop [18:36] Scale stage: Systemizing the business as a whole [20:51] Optimization stage: Monitoring your metrics [24:59] The next step for Dave [27:47] The one thing Dave recommends [31:39] About Our Guest: Dave Jenyns is the author of the upcoming book SYSTEMology and the host of the podcast Business Processes Simplified. As the Founder and CEO of systemHUB, he is keen on building systems that free small business owners from the day-to-day operations of their companies. Having systemized himself out of this business and hired a CEO to run it, Dave was able to pursue opportunities that he would have missed out on had he needed to be present running his company. You can reach Dave through any of his social media pages: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

The sad reality faced by startups nowadays is that they’re unable to build systems in place that allow them to run smoothly. Most think of systems in terms of the ones used by big corporations, which do not fit the needs of small businesses. Thus, I invited Dave Jenyns to share how he was able to systemize himself out of his company which later allowed him to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We have a phenomenal episode here that continues on to Part 2 next week. So stay tuned! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) SYSTEMology by David Jenyns (https://www.systemology.com/book/) Business Processes Simplified Podcast (https://www.systemhub.com/podcast/) We’ll be talking about: The business of creating systems [02:22] A business system as the last piece to scaling [05:41] The importance of having great people [09:06] There is value in systems for the startup space [11:31] Systems create space for other opportunities [13:49] The project with Michael Gerber of The E-Myth [17:32] When more doors start to open [21:30] Where SYSTEMology comes in [22:17] About Our Guest: Dave Jenyns is the author of the upcoming book SYSTEMology and the host of the podcast Business Processes Simplified. As the Founder and CEO of systemHUB, he is keen on building systems that frees small business owners from the day-to-day operations of their companies. Having systemized himself out of this business and hired a CEO to run it, Dave was able to pursue opportunities that he would have missed out on had he needed to be present running his company. You can reach Dave through any of his social media pages: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Do you ever wonder why no matter how great an idea you have, you struggle with making it click? A perfect dream is just that unless you can turn it into reality. But all it probably needs is the right person to work on your vision. In this week’s podcast episode, Mark C. Winters joins us in an informative episode on the execution problem faced by most startups, the integrator as key to solving that, the relationship between visionaries and integrators, and how to find the right partner for your business. If business hasn’t grown as much as you like then this episode is a must for you! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters (https://amzn.to/3jtlfbv) Entrepreneurial Leap by Gino Wickman (https://amzn.to/2DcJAlj) Mark C Winters Website (https://www.markcwinters.com/) Find Out If You’re A Visionary Or An Integrator (https://blastoff.rocketfuelnow.com/quiz/crystallizer-quiz.php) focus@will Website (https://www.focusatwill.com/) We’ll be talking about: Mark’s line of work [02:28] Visionary and integrator defined [04:11] Great ideas are not powerful if you can’t execute them [07:13] An integrator doesn’t have to be a co-founder [08:21] What motivated Mark to write the book [12:14] The five rules and five tools in the ‘Rocket Fuel’ journey [13:23] Staying on the same page is essential in a business marriage [15:48] Identifying a visionary and an integrator [21:43] The essence of the seven-step connection process [23:38] Finding your integrator [25:03] The downside with an assessment score overlap [27:52] Determining if the visionary and integrator are a good fit [31:11] The next step for Rocket Fuel [34:44] One thing Mark recommends [38:08] About Our Guest: Mark C. Winters is the co-author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller ‘Rocket Fuel.’ He is also the CEO of Rocket Fuel Ventures, a company that helps entrepreneurs achieve business success by helping visionaries partner up with integrators. You can reach Mark through any of his social media pages, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

You’ve heard from B2B founders who have successfully scaled their businesses, but have you taken a look at the fundamentals that allowed them to get to the point of scaling their business? In today’s episode, I’m going to share with you a checklist you can use to make sure startup fundamentals are covered and to verify that activities have been covered. Get ready to find out how you can if your startup is ready to grow. Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) We’ll be talking about: What are the objectives and vision you’re driving towards? [01:44] Document your risks and restraints [02:29] Identify customer pain points [03:12] Communicate the value drivers of your products or services [04:52] Do a competitive analysis of others in your space [06:31] Pick a single vertical to dive into [07:05] Check how big the market is [07:57] Breakdown revenue into acquisition, retention, and expansion [09:02] Understand key financial metrics [10:41] Look at the customer lifetime value [12:41] Differentiate yourself with content marketing [14:02] If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Most startups prioritize customer experience above all else. While that’s something to strive for, it isn’t easily ingrained into your employees. So how do you make sure your employees start valuing your customers more? The answer? By improving employee experience. Today’s subject matter expert, Gil Cohen talks about creating a positive employee experience that translates into a positive customer experience, how values go hand-in-hand with hiring the right people, and how to improve employee connections in a remote work setting. If you are struggling with keeping your employees engaged, then let this episode serve as your guide and tune in! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) Employee Experience Design Website (http://employeeexperience.ca/) We’ll be talking about: His history with employee experience and how it shaped his company [02:18] Employee experience vs employee engagement [04:00] The essence of understanding your whys and your values [07:14] Finding the right fit for your company [10:54] Two things to consider before hiring employees [15:43] How to incorporate employee experience into your organization [21:46] Redesigning the culture of a growing startup company [24:46] The result of good employee experience and engagement [27:50] How to improve employee connections in a remote-work environment [30:42] Having the right people in the right roles [34:06] The next move for Employee Experience Design [37:32] One thing that Gil recommends [38:48] About Our Guest: Gil Cohen is the founder of Employee Experience Design, a company that helps organizations co-create experiences that have better outcomes for both people and businesses. With his several years of experience as an Employee Experience expert in an IT company in Toronto, Canada, he has then catapulted himself into success despite the pandemic. You can connect with Gil through his LinkedIn. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

The travel industry is one of those most affected by the current pandemic we’re on. We anticipate that the recession we’ve entered will likely kill many businesses in this industry. Surprisingly, there is one travel company that’s growing in the midst of all stalemate in travel. But we find that their ability to thrive is based on their use of mindset-driven marketing. Which is why we continue on the theme of buyer enablement in today’s episode. Revenue coach Kristin Zhivago is here with us as we talk about leveraging your customer’s mindset to grow your business, looking at the customer’s perspective on why they’re buying from you, why sales and marketing cannot be isolated, and much more. If you’re a B2B company interested in approaching growth this way, then this is just the right episode for you! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) Zhivago Partners Website (https://zhivagopartners.com/) We’ll be talking about: The journey from traditional advertising to digital marketing [01:45] We’ve been incorrectly assuming what customers want [05:55] Why you shouldn’t focus on features and benefits [11:36] Don’t forget about the post-sale journey [17:14] Reaching customers outside your network [19:40] Marketing and sales should not be separate [26:43] Customers just want their questions answered [29:33] Her excitement over mindset marketing [33:47] One thing she recommends [35:00] About Our Guest: Kristin Zhivago is the President at Zhivago Partners. Zhivago helps partners increase their revenue by providing digital marketing management services. Kristin’s book, “Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy”, has been named the Top 6 Marketing & Sales Books by Forbes. You can get access to her guide on mindset-driven marketing, her book, and more resources on her website. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

With 400 million users, LinkedIn has become the most useful social network for B2B marketers. It's a platform for people to connect with colleagues and learn more about their industry. LinkedIn is an excellent source of traffic that is underutilized by most. One main reason is because of the unfamiliarity with leveraging the opportunities there. In another series featuring subject matter experts, we have LinkedIn expert Anthony Blatner with us as we talk about best practices for targeting niche audiences at scale, organic vs. paid advertising, upcoming new tools, and much more. Learn more about his wonderful and important LinkedIn tips by tuning in to the show! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) Modern Media Website (https://modernmedia.io/author/admin/) We’ll be talking about: Working in an undervalued area as a LinkedIn focused agency [02:00] Tips for maximizing your organic reach [06:21] Improving engagement on LinkedIn posts [09:32] LinkedIn articles vs. LinkedIn posts [11:45] Best practice for linking to outside posts, videos, or sites [13:22] Optimizing LinkedIn paid ads [14:57] Tactics for shifting through leads [21:14] Why you should specific with targeting [23:44] Leveraging your ad analytics [26:52] Advantages of LinkedIn ads over Google and Facebook [28:17] Upcoming new LinkedIn features Anthony is excited about [32:37] One thing Anthony recommends everyone to do [35:53] About Our Guest: Anthony Blatner is the CMO at Modern Media Advertising, an agency focused on organic and paid LinkedIn advertising. As a LinkedIn advertising expert, Anthony is a great resource for early-stage entrepreneurs. You can connect with Anthony through his LinkedIn. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Sales is often focused on pushing the product or trying to understand the customer's needs. But there is one aspect that is often overlooked, emotions. Emotions let us know when someone is happy or not. Being able to read your customer’s emotions is a powerful skill that startups should learn. How do you read emotions? Today, we chat with emotions expert Dan Hill, who breaks it down for us. We talk about prospecting the customer experience, customer success, employee engagement, and so much more. Find out how to interpret emotions to benefit your business by tuning in to the show! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) “Famous Faces Decoded” by Dan Hill (https://www.sensorylogic.com/famous-faces) Sensory Logic Website (https://www.sensorylogic.com/) We’ll be talking about: Dan’s background and what he’s working on [02:06] The value of reading emotions [04:33] Emotions are the currency of business [06:49] Understanding the signals to the 7 core emotions [09:04] Getting started on adopting facial coding to your routine [14:26] Make customers smile to trigger engagement [17:51] The importance of building rapport [20:51] Why you want to sell to people’s wants [22:50] Facial expressions as a good indicator of the customer experience [24:24] Facial coding as a unique kind of differentiation [29:12] How to figure out more about who a person is [30:45] The role of the feedback loop with maintaining employee value [34:04] The difference between EQ and reading emotions [36:31] The need for diversity and taking in others’ perspectives [38:32] The one thing Dan highly recommends [42:31] About Our Guest: Dan Hill is a PhD holder, author, speaker, trainer, and expert in the area of reading emotions and decoding facial expressions. Widely known, he has consulted with over 50% of the world’s top 100 companies and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox, CNN, and ESPN. He has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Founders often push their products by highlighting the features and functions they offer. While it’s best to create a product that solves a problem, the right way to reach and engage your customer requires a different approach altogether. You might be pushing your product or service too much that you’re creating unnecessary friction for your customer. So take a step back because there is an art to modern selling. Why do buyers buy? Today, we chat with David Priemer, a research scientist turned tech entrepreneur. We go over the importance of messaging, focusing on pain points, how to build trust, the value of having a natural conviction towards your product, and more. Get into the show now to learn the science behind sales. Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) “Sell the Way You Buy” by David Priemer (https://cerebralselling.com/book/) Cerebral Selling Website (https://cerebralselling.com/) We’ll be talking about: The negativity surrounding selling and the culmination of his book [02:51] The differences between working in a startup and with a huge company [04:49] Why you should put your message out there like a lightning rod [07:24] People buy based on emotion [09:28] Focus on pains and problems, not features and functions [11:18] Remove unnecessary friction when getting a customer to buy [12:46] The purpose of content is to educate [15:01] What founders can do to build successful sales teams [18:56] Show expertise to build trust and confidence in you [22:11] The best practice when introducing your product [27:48] Have conviction in the value you provide [31:07] An example of a business nailing the messaging [35:15] The best way to do cold calls [36:47] What’s next for David [38:38] The one thing David highly recommends [40:23] About Our Guest: David Priemer is the Founder and Chief Sales Scientist of Cerebral Selling, a modern sales training built through the lens of science and empathy. David is the author of the highly recommended book “Sell The Way You Buy” which came out last April 2020. Get more of his free content on their YouTube. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Entrepreneurs are always told that the best way to start a business is to solve a problem. Scaling the business to grow beyond the network you have is a different problem. Relying solely on the people you know won’t get you to your goals. But there is no shortage of successful businesses we can take inspiration from. Today, we have IntelligenceBank CEO, Tessa Court. We talk about how she scaled her business beyond her network, doing it profitably, how she priced her offering, adding credibility through big logos or brands, and so much more. Head on over to find out how this founder scaled her business to reach that million dollar mark! Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) We’ll be talking about: Introduction to IntelligenceBank [02:15] Building a business from something you know [03:27] When starting a business, tap into a growing market [05:00] Founding a tech business when you’re not a technical person [07:23] Big clients build your credibility [10:35] Selling beyond their network [14:50] Work on fit at the start to get to that million dollar mark [17:17] Focus on your business milestones [19:36] Hire early the people who will push your business forward [22:38] The passion and devotion of her team [26:20] Culture and values needs to be set from the top [28:50] Valuing people more than the product [32:40] What’s next for IntelligenceBank [34:13] The importance of taking time out [35:40] About Our Guest: Tessa Court is the CEO and Director of IntelligenceBank, a leading digital asset management and marketing and operations platform. They currently support over 400 brands and 350,000 users in over 55 countries. They help marketing departments manage the content that gets produced, approved, and distributed through the process they provide. Tess was previously head of a global sales and marketing team when she couldn’t find a solution to her problem. She started IntelligenceBank to provide a solution to that problem. You can connect with Tessa through her LinkedIn. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Founders are often faced with the question of how to scale their business to reach that million-dollar mark. Are you still doing your marketing and sales correctly? Is your network working to your benefit? The right question here is what are the tactics needed to be able to build your business to achieve the high levels you want. Today, we pick the brains of a B2B subject matter expert. In this episode, we have a chat with Terminus Co-founder and Chief Evangelist, Sangram Vajre. We talk about his thoughts on why sales and marketing sucks, why customer success should be your first hire, the conversation you should have with your customer, and so much more. Whether you have stalled in your efforts or are about to start scaling, get into this episode now. Resource Links: Brett Trainor Website (https://bretttrainor.com/) “3 Stages of Startup Growth and How To Breakthrough” (https://bretttrainor.com/resources/) We’ll be talking about: Which should you focus on: product-market fit or problem-solving network? [02:19] The power of a community around your product [05:04] The right route for category creation [09:38] Creating authenticity and building trust [13:25] Look at partners to leverage and start conversations [14:57] Get out of the process to be able to scale [19:11] What to consider when bringing somebody in [21:54] How you should communicate with your customers [25:31] ABM for transactional businesses [30:07] Why your marketing and sales don’t function [33:22] Set expectations when you’re hiring [37:47] The next challenge for Terminus [41:05] One thing Sangram recommends [43:19] About Our Guest: Sangram Vajre is the Co-founder and Chief Evangelist of Terminus, an account-based marketing (ABM) platform. Since starting five years ago with three co-founders, Terminus has grown to about 250 people. The author of two books, “Account-Based Marketing For Dummies” and “BM is B2B.: Why B2B Marketing and Sales is Broken and How to Fix it”, Sangram also started a movement called #FlipMyFunnel which has grown to over 100,000 members. Sangram is the host of the #FlipMyFunnel daily podcast. Every Monday, he has a live show called Office Hours with Sangram where they talk about business ideas, marketing, ABM, and other stuff. He has a newsletter on LinkedIn called Becoming Intentional. If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast. Connect with B2B Founder: Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySoKsETeKxu-Fnf2VfE7Gg/

Vivek Khandelwal is the co-founder and COO of high growth software company, iZooto. In this episode, we discuss how iZooto was able to gain early momentum and validate their offering. We also discuss the key tactics and strategies as they scaled their business to over $1 million in annual re-occurring revenue in less than 4 years. (By the way, they process over a billion notifications a day.) We also talk pricing, workflows, customer success and many other topics including how to divide and conquer with 3 other co-founders. One of my favorite quotes from this episode from Vivek was, “Founders can scale a business, but it is not sustainable."

John Vuong, CEO and Founder of LocalSEOSearch, joins the program to discuss his journey to the 5% Club. John’s sales and marketing background allowed him to gain traction early, but the business really took off when he made the investment in on-boarding and customer success. We discuss how he was able to scale without taking VC money, why his business model focused on reoccurring revenue and cash flow was a priority.

Huckabuy CEO and founder Geoff Atkinson discusses how he was able to get his business “unstuck” after a very successful launch. He shares what he did, what worked, and most importantly, what he would have done differently. He also alludes to how Huckabuy is growing even during the pandemic. Huckabuy is a fast-growing tech startup based in Park City, Utah. They are a SaaS company that is changing how organizations grow their organic search channel through a technology-forward SEO approach. Prior to Huckabuy, Geoff was the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Analytics at Overstock.com where he developed expertise in SEO and managed everything from pricing algorithms to content generation. He was named Advertising Age’s “Top 40 Under 40” list

In today’s short solo episode, I discuss the “big” announcement regarding the podcast (no, it is not going away, but you will have to listen) and what is next. Thank you all for your continued support. We do appreciate it. Until next week, cheers!

On this episode, we welcome Gregory Skeete to the program. Gregory helps entrepreneurs and business owners to 'engineer' their best selves and systematically achieve results that are both successful and significant while maintaining their ideal work-life balance and lifestyle. Gregory’s unique background has allowed him to provide a unique and powerful perspective on how entrepreneurs can become the best versions of themselves and not only transform themselves but also their businesses. Stay tuned next week for a big announcement!

On this episode, we welcome Martin Hill to the program. Martin is the CEO, Founder and inventor of The Beebo: a free hand bottle holder designed to enhance the feeding time between you and your baby. On this episode, Martin shares his unbelievable growth journey. It was an amazing combination of ingenuity, timing and a successful pitch on the shark tank. Plus, Martin even announces that his company is for sale at the end of the show. Twitter: @the_beeboInstagram: the_beebo

On this episode, we welcome back Dan Pfister to the program. Dan is the founder of StrategicWinBack.com. He’s also the co-founder of two other businesses where he's helped generate over 50,000 customers, and has worked with brands like Fidelity Investments and people like Tony Robbins. Strategic Win-Back’s sole focus is re-engaging and re-activating lost, forgotten and disengaged clients. To learn more about the exceptional ROI that winning back past clients can generate. Website: https://www.brightmove.com/

On this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. David Arrington — author, speaker and the Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Arrington Coaching. They fundamentally help executives realize their vision and create sustainable change through 3-dimensional coaching. David shares his journey as a first-time founder and the key lessons he learned. He also shares leadership and culture best practices. Key 1st Time Founder Lessons: “I would argue that it's all pivots….if you're not pivoting, you're probably not moving forward” “Everybody wants to make a million dollars with their business, very few people do, because most people don't have plans. They just have an aspiration” “Stop reading books about growing your business and just work on your business” I love the Colin Powell, quote, he would say that when he had 70% of the information, he would make a decision, he would move forward. This is when he was a general in Battlefield situations” When we look at culture, I like to think of it as the air of an organization because I say no one notices it until it stinks, right. You have a culture you always when you get two people together, you're creating a culture. The problem is most cultures are and they're not intentional” “I would early on bring on people who are going to help you make money. Because that's why businesses go out of business because of cash flows……cash flow covers a multitude of sins” “Good leadership is almost hidden under a co-located environment….bad leadership becomes very visible when you go remote.” David’s Contact Information Website: arringtoncoaching.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmackarrington LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dmackarrington Book: https://arringtoncoaching.com/promotable-book/

On this episode, I have a conversation with Jack Chen, the CEO and Co-Founder of SWIDIA (a performance marketing partner for high-growth companies and venture-funded startup). Jack worked for 10+ years in the content and influencer space before co-founding SWIDIA. Jack and team are changing the way brands are thinking about growth marketing. They take a four-pronged approach to growth: Strategy, Media Planning, Conversion Centric Creative and Analytics. The results have been incredibly impressive. They are working with brands such as Cameo, Dude Wipes, Radish and many others. Key 1st Time Founder Lessons: - The keys to really scale a company, you need to make sure that everything you're doing is trackable, measurable and scalable. - How complimentary skills between the co-founders (Creative & Analytics) was the right combination for SWIDIA. - Don’t copy someone else’s story, create your own. - The difference between performance marketing and traditional agency marketing and how to incorporate into your growing business. - How 1st Time Founders should be thinking about performance marketing in their growth plans. - How to successfully work with operating partners to assist with growth and the key questions to ask.

On this episode, I have a conversation with Ethan Beute. He’s the Chief Evangelist at BombBomb, an innovative and high growth software company. Ethan is also the Host of the very popular The Customer Experience Podcast, and co-author of Rehumanize Your Business, which is a hands-on guide to adding simple videos into your communication mix in order to build trust, save time, and truly connect with people. On this episode: The powerful psychology behind why video flat out works to grow any business. How to use video to communicate more clearly, connect with people more effectively and get higher conversions. Video messages are highly valuable and simple to do and why this is a competitive advantage Why ALL companies need a Chief Evangelist leading the charges. Bonus, that we don’t discuss in the episode, Ethan has a great post/mini-white paper on how first-time authors can write a book. It is a can’t miss resource on his web page. Also be sure to check out BombBomb's podcast as well here.