128: Collaborative Intelligence: Unleashing the Power of AI-Assisted Productivity

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, harnessing the power of technology and artificial intelligence has become essential for businesses and professionals aiming to thrive in their respective fields. Today, we have the privilege of hearing from a remarkable duo who have embraced the potential of AI to enhance their productivity and streamline their work processes.

Wes Gay is a StoryBrand Certified Guide, Agency Owner, and Private Workshop Facilitator. And since 2016, he’s helped hundreds of organizations find clarity with StoryBrand. Jodi Reiter is an accomplished Executive Assistant, bringing a wealth of experience from the marketing, advertising and photography industries as she supports Wes. They sat down with Ryan to share their experiences, strategies and success stories in utilizing AI to collaborate more efficiently and achieve remarkable outcomes. Listeners will learn about the most impactful AI tools on the market and how to weave them into your daily workflow.

127: Maxwell Leadership Exclusive: Using Time or Abusing Time

Today on the podcast, we have a special episode courtesy of our friends at the Maxwell Leadership Podcast. BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld sat down with Mark Cole recently to co-host an episode of the Maxwell Leadership Podcast about how to get time back as a leader.

126 Bonus: How to Keep Priority Emails From Getting Lost In the Mix

In this Bonus Next Step, Tricia and LZ share how to identify and prioritize your most important emails so they don’t get lost in the mix.

128: Collaborative Intelligence: Unleashing the Power of AI-Assisted Productivity

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, harnessing the power of technology and artificial intelligence has become essential for businesses and professionals aiming to thrive in their respective fields. Today, we have the privilege of hearing from a remarkable duo who have embraced the potential of AI to enhance their productivity and streamline their work processes.

Wes Gay is a StoryBrand Certified Guide, Agency Owner, and Private Workshop Facilitator. And since 2016, he’s helped hundreds of organizations find clarity with StoryBrand. Jodi Reiter is an accomplished Executive Assistant, bringing a wealth of experience from the marketing, advertising and photography industries as she supports Wes. They sat down with Ryan to share their experiences, strategies and success stories in utilizing AI to collaborate more efficiently and achieve remarkable outcomes. Listeners will learn about the most impactful AI tools on the market and how to weave them into your daily workflow.

127: Maxwell Leadership Exclusive: Using Time or Abusing Time

Today on the podcast, we have a special episode courtesy of our friends at the Maxwell Leadership Podcast. BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld sat down with Mark Cole recently to co-host an episode of the Maxwell Leadership Podcast about how to get time back as a leader.

126 Bonus: How to Keep Priority Emails From Getting Lost In the Mix

In this Bonus Next Step, Tricia and LZ share how to identify and prioritize your most important emails so they don’t get lost in the mix.

126: Inbox Zero – Email Inbox Management

Communication is a critical part of leadership. But managing email can be tedious and frustrating for busy leaders. In this episode, Tricia and LZ will discuss their strategies for email management and reaching “inbox zero.” Leaders will get new ideas about how to manage email, how Tricia and LZ delegate to their virtual assistants, how they prioritize their emails, and a lot more!

125 Bonus: Top Tips For Partnership & Affiliate Marketing

In this Bonus Next Step, BELAY’s Sr. Acquisitions Manager Ashley Webb shares the one thing she wishes she would have known before starting this process of building relationships with potential partners and affiliates.

125: Scaling Your Business with Partnerships & Affiliates

B2B marketing can often be hit or miss. And determining and getting access to your target market can also be difficult. The best way to find and access that target market is to align yourself with companies who already have relationships with those people. They can introduce you to that market directly using their relationship, trust and team. Our goal is for business owners to be able to more effectively leverage partnerships and affiliates in their sales and marketing efforts. In this episode, we’ll be joined by BELAY Sr. Acquisitions Manager, Ashlee Webb. She will chat with us about how to build and scale your business using partnerships and affiliates.

124 Bonus: How Your VA Can Help With Social Media

In this Bonus Next Step, BELAY Solutions Consultant Theresa Summerlin breaks down the pros and cons of hiring a virtual assistant to help run your social media, versus hiring a dedicated social media manager.

124: How to Tackle the Social Media Problem in Your Business

There’s a major difference between recognizing that social media is important and having the knowledge and skills you need to use it effectively. If you’re struggling to find the time to devote to social media, or you want to take your strategy to the next level, it might be time to hire a social media manager. In this episode, BELAY VP of Marketing Amy Appleton talks with Solutions Consultant Theresa Summerlin about the different ways that hiring a social media expert can help your business’ marketing, sales, and customer service. Theresa also shares some practical tips for leaders who are managing their own accounts and discusses a few key signs that it might be time to start outsourcing this piece of your business.

123 Bonus: How to Spot Hiring Red Flags Early

In this Bonus Next Step, Tricia and LZ share some of the key red flags to look out for to determine if someone isn’t right for the job.

123: DNA of a Great VA

What makes up the perfect virtual assistant? What should leaders be looking for when they are hiring this important position? In this episode, Tricia and LZ will share the key attributes that make up a great VA, from their decades of experience in interviewing, hiring, and being them. They’ll leave our listeners empowered and equipped to find the right fit for the job, knowing exactly what to look for in a great VA.

122 Bonus: The Unexpected Benefits of Hybrid Workforces

In this Bonus Next Step, Ryan Fitzgerald shares what benefits business owners and leaders fail to think about when it comes to the hybrid, remote model.

122: How Fractional Hybrid Workforces Can Benefit Churches

In this episode we’ll talk with BELAY’s own Ryan Fitzgerald, who is our Director of Marketing. He’ll talk about his experience with managing hybrid teams in a church setting and the various benefits of fractional, hybrid workforces for churches and nonprofits. Business owners and church leaders who are on the fence about remote work should get a lot from this episode.

121 BONUS: How to Start Marketing Without a Team

In this Bonus Next Step, BELAY’s VP of Marketing Amy Appleton tells small business owners and solopreneurs who haven’t made their first dedicated marketing hire where they can go to get help.

121: Managing your Marketing ROI

Return on Investment (ROI). Every business leader knows what it is, and knows it’s important, but how many really have put a plan in practice to build a healthy ROI in their marketing? In this episode, Amy Appleton, VP of Marketing at BELAY, rejoins the podcast to talk with LZ about all things ROI. They’ll discuss what a good ROI looks like, how to know when you’re succeeding with ROI, what to do when things go wrong, what type of technology can help, and more.

120 Bonus: How the Right VA Stands Out

In this Bonus Next Step, BELAY’s Director of Talent Madison Morgan shares some of the characteristics that sets a great VA apart from the crowd during the interview process.

120: How to Hire a Virtual Assistant

The process of finding a great virtual assistant can feel overwhelming, so it’s important to make sure you know what traits you’re looking for and how to screen for them in the interview process. In this episode, BELAY Director of Talent Madison Morgan will share an overview of BELAY’s proven process for hiring great VAs. She’ll also explain how partnering with BELAY can save leaders an enormous amount of time and stress. Listeners should leave this episode with an understanding of what it takes to hire a virtual assistant, as well as the benefits of working with BELAY rather than hiring someone on their own.

Taking Control of Your Game — How to Effectively Set Goals and Track Progress in Your Business

It’s the leader’s job to chart the direction of the business. However, even with a clear vision, selecting the right goals can be challenging and overwhelming, especially when there are more options and opportunities than resources. Without specific goals, you and your team will struggle to focus and maximize the return on your effort. 

Tracking progress often feels just as confusing. Even the most profit-minded leaders sometimes question if they’re headed in the right direction and wonder how if what they’re doing is working. 

This week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite (and first) episodes of the podcast in case you missed it back in 2020. In this episode, Tricia and Lisa interview entrepreneur, best-selling author, and investor of ABC Network’s Shark Tank, Daymond John about taking control of your game by setting goals and tracking progress for your business.

119 Bonus: Break Down Barriers & Go All In

In this Bonus Next Step, Carrie Fabris explains what “all in” means and shares a few tips for leaders to help them confront the barriers keeping them from experiencing everything life has to offer.

119: Making the Most of Your Personal & Professional Life

We all want to hire people who are good at what they do, but how do we make sure we’re allowing our team members to play to their unique strengths? This is a question that Carrie Fabris has helped many leaders answer as a coach and a speaker, and in this episode, she’s going to share her insight with our listeners. Anyone who listens to this episode should gain a better understanding of what it means to leverage your strengths in your personal and professional life, while also equipping others to do the same.

118 Bonus: How Employee Engagement Impacts Recruiting

In this Bonus Next Step, John Duisberg shares how building a great employee experience helps businesses attract quality talent, and how leaders can best communicate their unique culture to prospective employees.

118: How to Turn The Great Resignation Into The Great Retention

67% of employees say burnout has worsened during the pandemic, so it’s more important than ever for leaders to prioritize the employee experience. In this episode, John Duisberg, co-founder of Cooleaf and host of “The Great Retention” Podcast, will break down some of the common problems he’s seen when it comes to employee experience, and he’ll share practical steps leaders can take to better engage their team members and improve retention in the process. Leaders who listen to this episode should feel convinced that experience and engagement are something they need to focus on, and they should each walk away with at least one practical action step that’s applicable for their business.

How to Stop Self-Doubt & Become a Confident Leader

Even the most capable working professionals struggle with self-doubt, costing themselves time, money, opportunities, and their reputations. This week, we’re featuring one of our favorite episodes from the last two years of the One Next Step podcast. In this episode, BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld interviews Tricia Sciortino, BELAY CEO, focusing on her approach to helping leaders harness their grit and trust their gut so they can defeat self-doubt, gain confidence, and make progress on their priorities.

117 BONUS: Giving Recognition That Resonates

In this Bonus Next Step, Mike Byam explains how leaders can give recognition that resonates with employees and makes them feel appreciated but not create a sense of entitlement.

117: The Power of Recognition

For leaders dealing with hiring and retention issues, employee recognition is probably not their top priority. But Mike Byam believes it should be. In this episode, he’ll explain why recognition is vital for a healthy work culture, and he’ll break down the specific types of recognition and communication that today’s employees are looking to receive from their employers. Leaders should walk away from this episode with a clear understanding of why recognition matters, as well as actionable steps they can take to build recognition into the routines of their business.

116 BONUS: What We’ve Learned as Married Business Partners

In this Bonus Next Step, BELAY clients Tony & Kristina Ebel share the biggest lesson they’ve learned about relationships from running a business together.

116: How A VA Can Help Scale Two Businesses at Once

Many business owners who hire a virtual assistant expect that it will help them stay organized professionally, but people don’t always realize that working with a VA can also empower you to build a healthier personal life. This is especially true for today’s guests, Tony and Kristina Ebel, because they are spouses who run two successful businesses together. Tony and Kristina are the owners of The Pediatric Experience, which includes both a brick and mortar and an online business. In this episode, Kristina and Tony will talk through some of the biggest challenges they’ve faced while building their businesses, and they’ll explain how hiring a BELAY virtual assistant has helped them grow both individually and collectively.

115 BONUS: How to Know It’s Time to Go

In this Bonus Next Step, Kim Stone shares with LZ a few key signs that it might be time to step into something new.

115: How to Stay Hungry and Sustain Success

As someone who’s spent 25 years advancing through the top organization’s in sports and entertainment, including the Miami HEAT and Golden State Warriors, Kim Stone is an expert at seeking out new challenges and opportunities within her organization. In this episode, Kim is going to explain how she balances staying hungry for new opportunities with enjoying the present and conserving her energy to lead for the long haul.

114 BONUS: How To Set Your VA Relationship Up For Success

In this Bonus Next Step, BELAY client Bruce Ackerman talks about the most important things you can do to create a lasting partnership with your new VA right from the start.

114: What Can a Virtual Assistant Do For You?

When scaling a business, it’s natural to reach a point where you feel like your limited capacity is slowing down the business’ growth. In this episode, LZ will talk with Bruce Ackerman about his experience hiring a BELAY virtual assistant. Bruce is the founder of Printavo, a software company that helps screen printing shops stay organized as they grow. Bruce will also talk about some of the biggest challenges he’s overcome while building his business and will share advice for other entrepreneurs.

113 BONUS: The Number One Lesson from Building Winning Cultures

In this Bonus Next Step, Brian Dodd shares about his most respected sports figure – who is it, why, and the biggest lessons he learned from them.

113: Everything Last Year Taught Us About Leadership

Join us for our conversation with Brian Dodd, Director of New Ministry Relationships at Injoy Stewardship Solutions. He’ll chat with us about all things leadership – from how to measure effective leadership, to building winning cultures, to questions we should be asking our teams, and a whole lot more.

112 BONUS: Inspiring Positivity in Your Team with Jon Gordon

In this Bonus Next Step, Jon Gordon explains how positive leaders can create a greater impact by inspiring positivity in their team members. He also describes how a positive, relationship-focused mindset can strengthen your team’s connection and commitment.

112: The Power of Positivity with Jon Gordon

Positivity is not sticking your head in the sand to ignore challenges, but rather facing them head on with optimism and courage. In this episode, author and speaker Jon Gordon explains how positive leadership can transform your organization. He also shares success stories he’s seen firsthand from some of the world’s top organizations, and he lays out some practical steps you can take to start becoming a more positive leader today.

111: 2022 Social Media State of the Union

What worked for your business on social media in the past — even six months ago — will probably not work today. Social media is constantly changing, and keeping up with the latest trends and growth strategies is a full-time job. So in this episode, BELAY Social Media Strategist Jessica Doehling provides a state of the union on social media in 2022. She breaks down the biggest trends, explains how to determine which platforms you should focus on, and gives an overview of the most important things to include in a social media strategy. Whether you’re running your own socials or just want to better understand the landscape your marketing team is working in, this conversation is packed with useful information.

110: Career Changes: How To Navigate What’s Next

In this episode, Jeff shares some of the key lessons from his new book, “What to Do Next.” He breaks down a few key signs that you might be ready for a change, explains why it’s so important to create optimal options, and shares some strategies for building and accessing your personal network. Whether you’re a leader who’s currently in the midst of a transition, or you want to prepare yourself to make a change in the future, this episode is full of valuable insight!

109: 4 Strategies for Effective Communication

Communication is one of the most important parts of a leader’s job, and yet 66% of leaders report feeling uncomfortable communicating with their employees. In this episode, BELAY Vice President of Operations Matt Seaton unpacks four necessities for communicating effectively with your team. He also shares practical tips for implementing those strategies and explains how leaders of remote and hybrid teams can build connections even without physical proximity.

108: A New Small-Business Blueprint

Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but there are a few key characteristics that can increase your chances of success at whatever business you choose to build. In this episode, Monica Allen talks through some of those characteristics and shares the biggest lessons she’s learned throughout more than twenty years of entrepreneurship. Monica is the co-founder and COO of Zeus’ Closet, owner of Monica Allen Interiors, and host of the “Become Your Own Boss” podcast. She discusses some of the common issues facing today’s entrepreneurs, shares a few of her favorite resources, and explains why she’s focused on calibration instead of balance.

107: How To Get Buy-In To Your Mission, Vision & Values

In this episode, BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld and CEO Tricia Sciortino break down the process of building culture, from defining your values to integrating those values into your team’s daily routines. Tricia and Lisa also share some creative examples of the ways BELAY has implemented the core values of gratitude, fun, and vision.

106: My Pleasure: How a BELAY VA Serves Chick-fil-A

In this episode, BELAY CEO Tricia Sciortino talks with Chick-fil-A operator Rob Herold and his BELAY virtual assistant, Mindy Brewer. Rob and Mindy share practical insight about the process of onboarding and beginning to delegate to a VA. They also explain how their partnership frees Rob up to focus on the things he does best. Whether you’re currently working with a VA or you’re considering hiring one but aren’t sure if you’re ready, this episode is full of valuable information.

105: 4 Strategies Top Leaders Use to Be Productive

As a leader, you’re responsible for setting the tone when it comes to your team’s productivity. But in a culture where many of us confuse busyness for productivity, it can be difficult to find the daily rhythms and structures that help you and your team accomplish your most important tasks. In this episode, BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld talks with V.P. of Marketing Amy Appleton about four strategies leaders can use to be more productive with their time, physical space, meetings, and delegation. They share practical tips for becoming a better delegator, setting up a physical space that’s conducive to productivity, structuring meetings for maximum effectiveness, and more.

104: How to Have Courageous Conversations

When you work with other people, hard conversations are inevitable. In this episode, Lisa talks with Krisha Buehler and Lori Friedman from BELAY about the framework they use when having difficult conversations, and they’ll talk through the specific approaches they would take in three different workplace scenarios. This conversation will be full of information that listeners can start implementing in their own conversations right away.

103: Critical People Skills for Hybrid Teams

Strong relationships are one of the keys to building a great company culture, especially for remote or hybrid teams. In this episode, BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld shares a few key hacks for leading with empathy, setting clear expectations, and creating a culture where feedback is encouraged. Whether you’re new to working with hybrid teams or you’re an experienced leader who just wants to learn more, this episode is full of practical advice and insight.

102: 4 Ways to Stop Being the Bottleneck

When you’re looking to grow your business, the answer is usually less about working harder and more about delegating effectively. That’s why Stacy Tuschl is so focused on helping business owners stop getting in the way of their own growth. In this episode, Stacy shares practical advice leaders can use to start delegating, creating more accountability among team members, and setting up systems that allow the business to keep running smoothly.

101: Growing Your Business with Social Media & Email Marketing

Kevin B. Jennings joins us again to share some practical tips for making the most of your social media presence, measuring your marketing success, and helping people transition from followers and subscribers into customers. If you’re a business owner who’s struggling to get traction with social media and email marketing, or you don’t have a strong online presence yet and want to get started, this episode is full of great advice.

100: The Unexpected Value of Diversity and Inclusion

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Tonia Benas, BELAY’s Talent Acquisition Recruiter & D&I Committee Co-Chair, and Beth Thompson, BELAY’s HR Generalist. They will talk about the importance and value of diversity and inclusion in business, and they’ll also explain BELAY’s journey to developing their own D&I Committee. Listeners will feel motivated to help make their workplace more inclusive, and they’ll have the strategies and resources to do just that.

099: How to Take Time Off As a Business Owner

In this episode, LZ and Tricia will talk to busy leaders about the importance of taking time off. Too many leaders and business owners go so hard that they don’t take time for themselves. LZ and Tricia will help leaders understand why vacation time is so important, both mentally and physically. And they’ll explain some strategies and techniques leaders can use to help them implement healthy processes that allow them to get away.

098: The Secret Society of Success

Tim Schurrer is the former VP of Talent Management and Culture at StoryBrand, and the author of a new book, “The Secret Society of Success.” He is dedicated to helping leaders stop chasing the spotlight and redefine success so they can start making an impact that goes far beyond themselves. If you are a leader who is tired of trying to climb the ladder of success, or you’re struggling to figure out your purpose, this episode can help.

097: How Solopreneurs Succeed

Harris III is a professional illusionist, speaker, storyteller and entrepreneur. He is passionate about helping solopreneurs move out of their old life and old ways of thinking and find the new life they want to live. His transformation map and concept of the Wonder Switch are life-changing tools for entrepreneurs. If you are an entrepreneur or leader who feels stuck and possibly unmotivated, this episode is just for you.

096: 90 Days to Financial Clarity in your Business

Some business owners don’t understand the value of having a bookkeeper. They might not even realize how beneficial bookkeepers are until they have one in place. In this episode, Catherine Bowman will talk about her first-hand experience as a BELAY bookkeeper, and how bookkeepers help their clients save time and money. She’ll also talk about how they help entrepreneurs wisely manage and spend their hard-earned dollars.

095: How to Build a Culture of Resilience, Belonging & Success

In this episode, we are joined by Mohammad Anwar, the President and CEO of Softway. He’s authored a Wall Street Journal best-selling book called Love as a Business Strategy, and he’s going to talk to us about how to implement this transformational idea all around building a culture of resilience, belonging and success. Listeners will leave this episode feeling hopeful and ready to at least begin thinking about making some changes in their business and culture after listening to Mohammad.

094: EntreLeadership Exclusive: The Key To Developing Effective Team Members

In this special episode, BELAY CEO Tricia Sciortino joins The EntreLeadership Podcast, where she talks with their host George Kamel about how finding a high-performing assistant who thinks like a leader can help business owners take back their time and focus. The conversation was so enlightening that the One Next Step team wanted their listeners to hear the original interview with audio generously provided by The EntreLeadership Podcast.

093: 7 Surprising Ways a Bookkeeper Can Help Grow Your Business – Part 2

In this episode, Melissa Baggett, the senior client success consultant at BELAY, and Melissa Tidwell, solutions consultant, continue their talk about the surprising ways a business can use a bookkeeper to grow their business while saving money along the way.

092: 7 Surprising Ways a Bookkeeper Can Help Grow Your Business – Part 1

In this episode, Melissa Baggett, the senior client success consultant at BELAY, and Melissa Tidwell, solutions consultant, will team up to talk about the surprising ways a business can use a bookkeeper to grow their business while saving money along the way.

091: How The Cookie Crumbles: The Truth About Leading a New Industry and Building a Brand

What does it take to be an industry leader? Tiff and Leon Chen basically built an industry from scratch when they created Tiff’s Treats, an amazing company that delivers warm cookies to your door. They have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to create the Tiff’s Treats brand, built around technology, charity, and warm moments. In this episode, they’ll talk about how they built their company, how they’ve used technology while still growing and creating personal moments, how they approach fundraising, and much more.

090: How to Achieve Goals that Feel Impossible

Many people never reach their potential simply because they are scared and fearful about stepping out. In this episode, Jason talks with Tricia about how everyone can cultivate a mindset that allows them to be more successful and fulfilled. He’s incredibly confident that anyone can achieve goals that they once thought were impossible.

089: What Companies & Churches Can Learn From Target

In 2014, faced with a lot of disruption within the company, Target realized it needed to make some changes. Nathan Artt, the Principal and Founder of Ministry Solutions and author of the new ebook, Target Corp and the Flexible Church, realized that churches had a lot to learn from Target’s former situation. He talks with us about those major changes, why Target saw the need to make them, and what churches and business owners can learn from it.

088: Best of Marketing & Sales: Season 1

Are you looking to build and grow your marketing and sales processes? If so, this Masterclass episode is just for you. Tricia, LZ, and several guests will help small business owners who might not have a fully staffed sales/marketing team learn how to take their marketing game to the next level.

087: Why You Need a Financial Wellness Program for Your Team

Ilyce Glink is the CEO of Best Money Moves and an expert on financial wellness programs. She will share with our listeners why a financial wellness program is important, how it benefits teams and organizations, and how an employer can successfully incorporate a program like this.

086: How to Win More Customers Through Your Company Culture

We don’t often think that culture and branding are connected. But Ted Vaughn – co-author of Culture Built My Brand and co-founder of Historic Agency – will show us otherwise. In this episode, he will talk about the Marquee Culture Method, what it is, how it works, and how to put it in place in your organization. You will better understand how culture and branding are related and what you need to do to win more customers.

085: How to Delegate Effectively: Part 2 of Delegate to Elevate

This is the second of a two-part episode about delegation. Matt Seaton, VP of Operations at BELAY, joins the podcast to discuss the nuts and bolts of delegation. He and Lisa will talk about how to be effective at delegation, how much you should delegate, the differences between remote vs traditional, how to build a culture of delegation and much more.

084: How to Know It’s Time to Delegate: Part 1 of Delegate to Elevate

In the first of a two-part episode about delegation, LZ and BELAY’s Director of Marketing, Amy Appleton, will share how a leader can know when it’s time to start delegating, the obstacles they’ll face, and how to develop trust with other team members (i.e. contractors, employees, etc.). They’ll also talk about the myth of the “Superhero ideology” and why “I’m fine” just doesn’t always cut it.

083: How A Bookkeeper Can Help You Prepare for Tax Season

In this episode, Tricia and Lisa will discuss the ways a bookkeeper can help you prepare your business and alleviate the stress of tax season.

082: What We Can Learn from 20,000 Small Businesses

J.R. McNair, a small business consultant who is considered to be one of the nation’s foremost experts on startup businesses, joins us to talk about just that. He’s also the founder of The Velocity Accelerator and Small Business Day: The nation’s largest startup launch event. He’ll chat with us about some trends he’s seeing in small businesses and what we can learn from the thousands of small businesses he’s worked with.

081: What Your #2 Wants From You

McKenzie Reeves Decker is the COO of System & Soul, and she works for a visionary, driven leader. In this episode, she talks about how to make the most of a relationship with your leader, and why it’s so hard for some leaders to ask for and receive help.

080: Surprising Ways Leadership Is Changing

Clay Scroggins is an outstanding speaker and author of a new book called The Aspiring Leader’s Guide to the Future: 9 Surprising Ways Leadership is Changing. In this episode, he’ll join Lisa to help our listeners understand what some of the changing trends are in leadership and how they can prepare for them.

079: The 3 Levels of Awareness and How They Drive Performance

Dave Richards is the CEO and Lead Coach at Elite Performance Associates and a former executive director for John Maxwell’s company. In this episode, he’ll talk with Tricia about self-awareness, relational awareness and situational awareness and how leaders can benefit from more of each.

078: Why Most Entrepreneurs Struggle with Managing Money

In this episode, Brooke Cecil, the Director of Client Relations at BELAY, will talk to Lisa about some problems entrepreneurs face when wanting to get started with a bookkeeper, and how to overcome them.

077: What to Know When You Can’t Hire a CFO

In this masterclass episode, Tricia and LZ will dig into the question: While you’re still building your business, what tools are essential to making sure you keep your finances in order to scale your company?

076: Year In Review: Top 7 Next Steps From 2021

Excerpts include Tricia and LZ’s advice on how to say no and helping employees be productive without micromanaging. Tricia and LZ’s assistants, Kate and Melissa, join the podcast to discuss best practices for working with an assistant. Ian Morgan Cron sits down with our hosts to talk about the Enneagram and how it relates to self-awareness and leadership. And Krisha Buehler walks us through building a supportive and available remote work culture.

075: 4 Questions to Create a Competitive Advantage

In this episode, we are joined for a second time by Sangram Vajre, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist of Terminus. He offers his unique take on go-to-market strategies (aka, bringing new products and new business to the market). He will tell us about his 4 questions that help launch products, create ideal customers, and gain a competitive advantage.

He’ll explain the basics of a go-to-market strategy and how leaders can effectively begin using it to take their organization to the next level.

074: The 7 Accelerants of Personal Growth

Whitney is the CEO of Disruption Advisors, an Inc. 5000 2020 fastest-growing private company in America, one of the 50 leading business thinkers in the world as named by Thinkers50, and the host of the popular podcast Disrupt Yourself. In this episode, Whitney talks with Tricia about why leaders don’t invest in their teams and how to get started.

073: Harnessing The “It” Platforms: Turning Social Into Sales & Followers Into Ambassador

Phil Pallen, CEO of Phil Pallen Collective and the host of the Brand Therapy podcast, joins Tricia and Lisa to help you overcome these fears and see how social media can be an incredible sales tool, allowing you to use your team members and customers as ambassadors for your brand.

072: How to Make Better Decisions and Increase Your Influence

In this episode, Daniel Harkavy, the CEO of Building Champions and leadership author, will help you understand his approach with the 7 perspectives of effective leaders – and how you can use that approach to help yourself, and your team, become better at decision making.

071: How to Stop Self-Doubt & Become a Confident Leader

In this special episode, Lisa interviews Tricia, focusing on her approach to helping leaders harness their grit and trust their gut so they can defeat self-doubt, gain confidence, and make progress on their priorities.

070: 3 Tools to Unlock Your Leadership Potential

In this special episode, Tricia will interview Lisa about how you can unlock your leadership potential, a topic she’s extremely passionate about.

069: How to Be More Than Your Achievements

In this episode, LZ talks with Sheri Riley, a life strategist, empowerment speaker and successful author of Exponential Living, about why so many high-performing leaders struggle with this, what to do about it, and what life can look like on the other side. You can stop spending 100% of your time on 10% of who you are.

067: Building a Sales Commission and Compensation Plan with Lisa Seal

Today, we’re joined for a second time by Lisa Seal, the VP of Revenue at BELAY. Lisa has a brilliant mind for sales, and she’s had years of experience with this topic. She’s helped BELAY structure a business compensation plan that is beneficial to both BELAY and its sales team. In this episode, she’s going to share with our listeners her best practices for designing a successful comp plan.

068: How to Implement What You Learn from Business Books

In this episode, Lisa and BELAY’s Director of Marketing, Amy Appleton, are joined by Bryan Kelly, a strategic advisor, investor, and founder of Stroke of Genius. His Stroke of Genius program provides busy leaders with key ideas to execute from popular business books. Today, he’ll chat about how leaders and readers can identify the right books for them, then quickly identify and retain the advice they need to become better leaders.

065: Building A Great Brand Experience

Dorian is a master at using visual expression as a way to communicate a marketing message. So we’re going to talk to him about that, as well as what leaders need to know about creating a great brand experience for their company – and how to use that to really move the company forward.

066: Differentiating Your Business from the Competition

Chris Walker is the CEO Refine Labs and host of the “State of Demand Gen Podcast,” and he’s redefined how businesses play the differentiation game, helping them use those unique elements of what they do to separate themselves and drive leads. In this episode, Lisa and special guest host Dorian Usherwood will talk with Chris about how his system can help our podcast listeners understand how to differentiate their businesses, build their brand, and make more sales.

064: The 8 Pillars of Trust

In this episode Tricia and LZ are joined by David Horsager, CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute and the best-selling author of The Trust Edge. He’s here to discuss his 8 pillars of trust and how you can practically become more trustworthy as a leader.

063: What to Do… When You Don’t Know What to Do

In this episode, Tricia and LZ talk åwith Jeff Shinabarger, CEO of Plywood People, a former leader at Catalyst, and a successful author. He’ll talk about how to be better at decision-making as leaders, including understanding how to make the right choices even in difficult circumstances, discovering our decision-making style, and using that style to benefit our teams and organization.

062: Integrated Marketing — Combining Offline & Online Marketing for Better Results

In today’s episode, Tricia will be joined by our friend, Michael Taggart, the COO of Envoy Media Group, an award winning direct-response marketing company. He’ll talk with us about how he uses online and offline marketing channels for his clients so they can better market their organizations.

061: Lydia Fenet on Finding Your Voice, Owning Your Power, and the Art of Persuasion

Joining us this episode to talk about this topic is one of the best communicators in the country – Lydia Fenet. She’s the global managing director and lead benefit auctioneer at Christie’s in New York City. She’s also a gifted speaker and the author of the widely acclaimed book, The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You. She’ll talk with Tricia and LZ about how to communicate your message in a way that captures and holds your audience’s attention.

060: How You and Your Team Can Overcome Objections in the Sales Process

Lisa has years of experience in growth management across several industries and various sales environments. She empowers our team at BELAY to really exceed their growth targets and has been instrumental in helping the organization grow – which, you might have guessed it, involves overcoming pushbacks and making sales!

059: Using Gifts & Generosity to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention

In this episode, Tricia and LZ chat with Ruhlin, a gifted speaker, author of Giftology, and founder of The Ruhlin Group, a gift strategy and logistics company. He’ll talk about how he uses high-end gifts customized to his clients to cut through the noise, increase referrals, and strengthen retention. He tells you how to give, what to give, when is the best time to give, and how to make a giving strategy that has the most impact on your clients.

058: How to Promote Yourself & Your Business Without Feeling Sleazy

In this episode, Tricia and LZ will talk with Debby Stone, the founder and CEO of Novateur Partners and author of The Art of Self-Promotion. Debby will share her great ideas on how to get over the discomfort of self-promotion and how to promote in a way that’s tasteful, professional, and connects with others – instead of turning them off.

057: The Power of Story and How to Leverage It

He’ll show you why story matters – and how by leveraging the right words you can grow your business and attract the right people. By implementing some simple changes, you’ll be able to keep your story alive.

056: How to Prioritize People and Profit

Joel is going to share with us how leaders can make sure they are prioritizing their most important asset – their team – while also making sure the business is thriving.

055: Bookkeeping 101: What to Tackle First

They’ll share specifics on what business owners should tackle first when approaching new processes or utilizing people to help them with their finances. You’ll learn the importance of having a bookkeeper on your team who is knowledgeable, proactive, reliable, and capable of keeping you informed of your financial records.

054: Marriage & Entrepreneurship: How to Properly Engage Your Spouse in Your Business

In today’s episode, Lisa talks with O.L. and Sway Buckley, hosts of the super popular MarriedPreneur Life podcast, about how to properly engage your spouse in your business. They have been down this road and have years of wisdom to offer us.

053: Leading Beyond Your Circumstances

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Amy Balog, the CEO of Connextion Point, who has worked with Fortune 500 executives and their teams to help these highly talented folks find a clear pathway for higher return leadership behaviors that directly impact business performance. She’s here to help us understand how we can have those same results.

052: Lessons Learned from a Non-Profit Leader

Joining us today is Bob Rodgers, the CEO of Street Grace, an amazing nonprofit that continues the fight to completely eradicate sex trafficking, a multi-billion dollar illegal global industry. Bob does incredible work, and he’ll share his story with Tricia and Lisa, what it’s been like leading a nonprofit through a pandemic, and what the future holds.

051: How to Have Productive Employees Without Micromanaging

So, whether you’re new to this whole remote work thing or a seasoned veteran, how can you make sure your employees are productive without being all in their business? In other words, how can you be a good leader without micromanaging? Tricia and LZ will talk about this and more in this week’s episode.

050: Business Accelerator: The Best Next Steps from the First 50 Episodes

You’ll hear from Daymond John from Shark Tank, Michael Hyatt, Megan Hyatt Miller,
Colleen Stanley, and the founders of BELAY, Bryan and Shannon Miles, as they talk about topics like the biggest barrier to work-life balance, the most important part of your strategic plan, why salespeople underperform, and how delegation empowers team members and drives performance. So settle in and enjoy this special episode.

049: The Myths of Remote Work

In this episode, Lisa and Tricia will address the new myths of remote work, especially for those leading organizations, so leaders can lead well remotely without burning out personally.

048: True Life Stories: I Have An Amazing Assistant

Joining us will be Katie Lantukh and her virtual assistant, Ari Adler, to share their insights from working together for the last year. Katie is the CEO of Murphy Marketing, a messaging agency that helps its clients find the right ways to communicate their message. She and Ari will walk us through some best practices on how leaders and their virtual assistants can make the most of their time together.

047: What to Do If You Hate Working from Home

In this masterclass episode, Tricia and LZ acknowledge that working from home isn’t for everyone. They’ll diagnose why someone may not like it and help customize a personal work environment that enables that person to thrive even if their organization is remote.

046: Every Top Leader’s Secret Weapon

Can you afford an executive assistant? The real question is: Can you afford not to have one? As a leader, most of us are moving a hundred miles a minute, going through the day at a blistering pace, with phone calls, meetings and important decisions every hour.

045: What Franchising Can Teach You About Scaling

“Should I franchise?” – It’s a question all successful business owners think about at some point. But a lot needs to happen before you take that first step: What type of factors should be in place before deciding to franchise, and how can you know if franchising is the right move for you?

044: How to Navigate A Loss of Revenue

In this episode, we’ll talk about how to navigate a significant loss in revenue so your business can survive and soon return to the place where it thrives.

043: Keep the Keepers: How to Develop Extraordinary Talent

Joining us today to talk about this topic is Mrs. Dee Ann Turner. She spent 33 years at Chick-fil-A, Inc. as the Vice President of Talent. The company’s first female officer, she was instrumental in building and growing Chick-fil-A’s well-known culture and talent systems. She’s going to talk to us about how to keep and develop extraordinary talent and build an organizational culture that attracts world-class talent and consistently delights customers.

042: 98% Retention: BELAY’s Secrets To Training and Onboarding

In this episode, we are joined again by Krisha Buehler, BELAY’s VP of Human Resources. She’ll talk with us about how you can successfully onboard employees so they consistently and quickly add value to your organization.

041: Pants Optional: How to Zoom Your Way to Your Best Hire

In this week’s episode, we’re going to discuss this issue with Krisha Buehler, BELAY’s VP of Human Resources. She’ll share a few tips on how you can more effectively identify the right people, avoid the wrong people, and safeguard your company culture so you get the help you need without comprising the help you have.

040: How to Infuse Fun Into Any Company Culture

The truth is, building a positive and fun company culture is one of the best and easiest ways to recruit new talent and keep your current talent feeling fulfilled and dedicated to your mission.

039: When to Swipe Right for Your Forever Hire

Brooke and her team oversee our client experience. A large part of their role is matching more than one thousand executive assistants, bookkeepers, and website specialists with business leaders all over the country with different needs and different situations. She knows how to help business leaders identify the right fit for their team. And she’s here to share a few tips on how you can more effectively identify who’s right and who’s wrong for your organization.

038: Being a Pro At Saying “No”

In this episode, we’ll talk about how leaders can say “no” – and, in some cases, “not now” – to opportunities, projects, meetings, and even your internal desire to stay involved. That way, you’ll have more margin for your most important priorities and responsibilities only you can do.

037: How to Amplify Your Energy to Maximize Your Results

This year, especially, has been a challenge for all of us. Learning to work at home, having kids home all day while attempting remote school, feeding them and the family, and not to mention the stress of keeping your family safe during the pandemic — it’s been a lot to juggle emotionally and physically. Mary’s own burnout experience led to health complications which led her to make radical changes in her life. Today, she wants to help you do just that.

036: The Enneagram at Work: Part 2

As a pioneer in the contemporary Enneagram movement, Ian is a highly sought-after speaker for large conferences and corporate boardrooms alike. In this first of a two-part interview, Ian will share highlights of Enneagram numbers 1 through 5, what motivates them, and what it’s like to work with them.

035: The Enneagram at Work: Part 1

As a pioneer in the contemporary Enneagram movement, Ian is a highly sought-after speaker for large conferences and corporate boardrooms alike. In this first of a two-part interview, Ian will share highlights of Enneagram numbers 1 through 5, what motivates them, and what it’s like to work with them.

034: Why Doing Good is Good for Your Business

During those early days when you are trying to get your feet off the ground, you may not have the time or cash flow for your team to strategize and plan big. What leaders sometimes fail to focus on is — what are the true needs of our customers? How can we meet them where they are? And the biggest concept: why doing good is just plain good business.

033: The Truth Behind the Response, ‘I’m fine.’

We all say it; sometimes we mean it and sometimes we don’t. Today we will explore why it’s a popular response, why society views it as an acceptable answer, how we and the members of our team can have more honest, vulnerable relationships, and what we can do when we’re not fine.

032: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work & What To Do About It

Not only has Casey launched three businesses, but he’s authentic and passionate about helping business owners. He understands what makes a business successful and what can lead to its failures. Today, Casey is going to help us recognize how unsatisfied owners create unfocused and unmotivated leaders, and what to do about it.

031: How to Leverage Your Executive Assistant Part 2

This week, we are continuing our conversation around how to help you better lead your organization by learning to leverage your executive assistant in more effective ways. Here to join us again for this conversation are our very own executive assistants, Kate Sawtelle and Melissa Lawrence. They are ready to jump in and help us discuss how leaders can best work with their executive assistant to build trust, effectively create expectations, and better communicate.

030: How to Leverage Your Executive Assistant Part 1

We’re honored to have our assistants, Kate Sawtelle and Melissa Lawrence, join us for this podcast​ where we​’​ll unpack the ways in which their support has made a difference in our leadership. We’ll also ​share ways to effectively leverage your EA so​ ​you​,​ too, can become more organized and lead with more freedom.

029: Becoming A Goal-Digger: Why Busy Business Leaders Need to Set Personal Goals

If this new year continues to throw us curveballs, the great thing is, we are adaptable. With an initial plan, we just need to reevaluate and adjust when things don’t go according to that plan. So join us as we talk about focusing on your professional and personal goals.

028: How Great Sales Teams Scale Organizations

He joins us today to talk about building a successful sales team while leading it as a small business owner, giving all of us the best tips to find the right sales people who can grow your team and eventually your business.

027: How to Think Like a Fortune 500 Company

However, working for a Fortune company was not her dream. Her mission was to work with small businesses. She wanted to help entrepreneurs launch their ideas into the world – and that’s exactly what she’s doing today! Join us this episode as Kendra shares her passion to transform small businesses.

026: Grassroots Branding & Marketing: Growing Your Business Authentically from the Ground Up

Steven was laid off from his corporate job during the Great Recession so it was on to a new dream for him. A few months later, Steven’s brother left his job as a lawyer to join the family business. Now, not only does King of Pops want to provide good food, but Steven and his brother are relentless community supporters and strive to generate unexpected moments of happiness for everyone they encounter. Today Steven Carse joins us to talk about growing a business from the ground up clients and better lead your team.

025: The Power of Personal Branding with Kevin Jennings

In this episode, we’ll be joined by Kevin B. Jennings, a personal brand strategist and the CEO of Junction 32, a marketing services firm for small businesses. Specifically, we’ll talk about what a personal brand is, why it matters, and how it can help you gain more

024: Opposites Attract: How We Leverage our Differences to Work Better Together

We want you to win in your organization. In order to win, you must work well with others who don’t think or process the way you do. And whether you are working from home or back in an office setting, the key is putting forth the effort to learn how to work better together, even if that is using helpful resources like the Enneagram.

023: How to Beat Burnout — Prevention, Recovery & Why So Many Leaders Struggle With It

Burnout is real, but it’s also misunderstood. Burnout comes from constant exposure to emotional and interpersonal stressors at work or at home, or even both! And who fits that bill? Hard working, high-achieving leaders like you, me and everyone listening to this podcast. People who don’t care rarely get burned out.

022: Finding Fulfillment in Work and Life with Anthony Flynn

Today, we’re going to learn tips and strategies to make sure your success at work adds to, not subtracts from, your life. We’ll be joined by Anthony Flynn – the founder of Amazing CEO and the CEO of The WorkFaith Connection. Anthony is talking with us about how to align your career with your life so it adds joy and fulfillment.

021: Behind the Curtain: BELAY’s Year End Review

In this episode, we’re going to help you learn how to conduct a year-end review that focuses not just on financial performance but team performance and organizational culture. Experience doesn’t make you wiser. Evaluated experience makes you wiser.

020: One Factor That Influences Who You Hire with William Vanderbloemen

At BELAY, our clients struggle with “finding the right people.” Being unable to find the right team member is one of the most common challenges business leaders have. Joining us in this episode is William Vanderbloemen, one of the best people to help because he knows how to get it right.

019: How to Demonstrate Gratitude: Celebrating & Rewarding Your Team Remotely

In this episode, we’re going to help you better communicate your appreciation for your team even if you’re working remotely. What gets rewarded gets repeated in any organization, and remote teams are no different. Now more than ever, team members need to know their hard work is seen and valued.

018: Bryan and Shannon Miles on Igniting Leadership Legacy: Developing Your Leaders

If you have any desire to grow your business, you’ll eventually have to develop more people capable of supporting the organization. You’ll need people who can confidently and competently step into leadership roles. In this episode, we will help you get more out of your team by developing them as leaders and give you a tiny peek into BELAY’s approach to leadership development.

017: Jenni Catron with 3 Ways to Kickstart Your Company Culture

Organizational culture is critical for our company’s success, but it’s often discussed like it’s a mysterious force that magically makes things awesome (think ‘Best Place to Work’ awards) or toxic (think ‘lots of bad reviews on Glassdoor’). While culture is powerful, it doesn’t haven’t to be mysterious, and there are practical things you can do to shape the environment you and your team work in every day.

016: How to Leverage Authority, Warmth, and Energy to Get Exceptional Results

In this episode, we’re going to learn to become aware of how we’re showing up and what we can do about it. We’ll be joined by Steve Herz, President of The Montag Group – a talent agency representing broadcasters on networks like NBC Sports, ESPN, and CNN – to talk with us about how we can use authority, warmth, and energy to amplify the effectiveness of our communication and connection with others. He’ll help us win trust, respect, and influence at work.

015: The Secrets of Businesses that Scale

In this episode, we want to help you take the lid off of your business’s potential by helping you identify the processes and systems you need to grow your business. These processes will help you deliver a great customer experience, hire the right people, convert leads, and more. All great organizations have nailed this down so that they ensure a certain level of quality and consistency.

014: Work Life Balance vs. Work-Life Integration: How to Successfully Win at Work and Home

Joining us to talk about how to win at work and home is Megan Hyatt Miller, COO of Michael Hyatt & Company, a leadership development organization. She’s also the co-host of the popular business podcast, Lead to Win. An amazing leader, wife and mother, Megan will be sharing with us how to succeed in our personal and professional lives simultaneously.

013: Creating a Strong Annual Budget for Your Business

In this episode, we’re going to help you build a plan for your company’s money by teaching you how to create an annual budget for your business. While this may not be the sexiest topic, it is the difference between break-even, a black hole, or a growing bottom line. To help you build or refresh your budget BELAY’s COO and former CFO, Lisa Zeeveld, is going to break down the essentials of a business budget and walk us through the budgeting process she’s perfected over the years.

012: The Art of the Pivot — How Guardian Bikes Unlocked 100x More Value by Being Willing to Evolve

In this episode, we are talking about how and when to pivot in your business with Brian Riley, the co-founder and CEO of Guardian Bikes, a Mark Cuban company. He will share how he made shifts in his organization to create more value for consumers and more cash for the business.

011: The Top 3 Metrics Businesses Need to Measure Financial Health

In this episode, we’ll share the top three financial metrics that matter most in your business and how to use them to lead your business. Our guide will be BELAY’s financial guru Lisa Zeeveld, the current COO and former CFO of BELAY.

010: Michael Hyatt on Why Most Strategic and Annual Plans Fail (and What to Do About It)

Today, we’re going to learn a blindspot or two in the annual business planning process and receive tips on how to overcome them. In this episode, we’ll discuss why most strategic and annual plans fail — and what to do about it. Our guest is Michael Hyatt, bestselling author and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company, which specializes in leadership development.

009: How Emotional Intelligence & Soft Skills Produce Hard Sales Results

In this episode, we’ll be talking about how emotional intelligence and soft skills produce hard sales results with Colleen Stanley, a sales trainer and the president of SalesLeadership, Inc., a sales development firm. She will talk with us about how to build high-performing sales teams through the power of emotional intelligence.

008: Marketing Your Business Before a Marketer is on Your Team

In this episode, we’ll be talking about how to market your business without a marketing person on your team and introducing a strategy referred to as ‘marketing by committee.’ We’ll be joined by Amy Appleton, BELAY’s Director of Marketing. She is going to help you leverage your existing resources to market and grow your organization.

007: Chick-fil-A’s David Farmer on Prototyping & Piloting New Ideas — How & When to Do It

In this episode, we’ll be learning how and when to prototype and pilot new ideas before launching them. Today’s guest is David Farmer, the Vice President of Restaurant Experience at Chick-fil-A — the third-largest restaurant chain in America.

006: Your First 3 Marketing Hires In Order of Importance

In this episode, we tackle these questions and share a few tips on how you can fill the first three roles you need on your marketing team without prematurely taking on the financial burden of full-time staff positions. We’ve asked BELAY’s Director of Marketing, Amy Appleton, to join us on the podcast and guide us so we make the right investment in the growth of our organizations.

005: Building a Community to Build Your Business with Sangram Vajre

In today’s episode, we’ll be talking with Sangram Vajre, co-founder and chief evangelist of Terminus, an account-based marketing software for B2B organizations. He shares how building a community can help build your business, and how those connections can turn into huge profit.

004: Going 100% Remote Overnight & Not Missing A Beat with Pushpay’s Troy Pollock

Discover how the company Pushpay went 100% remote almost overnight and never missed a beat with clients or team members, and we’ll be joined by their Chief Ambassador, Troy Pollock, to guide us through their experience, what they learned, and how it’s changing work at Pushpay permanently.

003: Building Diverse Teams to Build a Stronger Business with HR Consultant Dethra U. Giles

As social issues related to inequalities and inequities re-emerge near the top of our national conversation, many business leaders are appropriately trying to leverage their influence to make a difference. However, you must first lead yourself well before you can lead others. Going a step further, we should lead our organizations well before our organizations attempt to influence and lead our communities. For most organizations, this should start with building a diverse and inclusive culture.

002: How Winning Organizations Communicate with EntreLeadership’s Daniel Tardy

Leading in 2020 has not been easy for anyone, but communication is a not-so-obvious why reason many businesses are dealing with challenges better than others. Winning organizations start with effective communication. They have strong communication capable of navigating the inevitable highs and lows of business. 

001: Taking Control of Your Game — How to Effectively Set Goals & Track Progress in Your Business

It’s the leader’s job to chart the direction of the business. However, even with a clear vision, selecting the right goals can be challenging and overwhelming, especially when there are more options and opportunities than resources. Without specific goals, you and your team will struggle to focus and maximize the return on your effort. 

One Next Step Intro: Welcome to the Most Practical Business Podcast in the World