Join us on the Entrepreneur Strategies Podcast as we sit down with the insightful Jonathon Jonas, Founder of Decent Startup. In this episode, Jonathon shares his fascinating journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success, navigating ups and downs, twists, and turns. Discover how networking and an early dive into e-commerce played pivotal roles in shaping his path to success. Tune in for valuable insights and inspiration for your own entrepreneurial journey.

You can find out more about Jonathon at his website and LinkedIn:

Decent Startup

LinkedIn

Summary

Ken Sanginario, owner of Corporate Value Metrics, shares insights on creating value within businesses and turning around distressed companies. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on valuations early on and understanding the pitfalls of chasing revenue. Ken also discusses the process of developing a standardized approach to assess companies and create future state visions. He provides examples of scaling and creating value in small businesses, as well as the decision-making process between acquiring competitors or building from scratch. Ken highlights the need for business owners to prioritize valuation and institutionalize their knowledge base for long-term success. In this episode, Ken Sanginario discusses the importance of institutionalizing knowledge and the challenge of delegation for business owners. He emphasizes the need to create a sellable business and the process involved in making a business sellable. Ken also introduces the Certified Value Growth Advisor designation and the Value Opportunity Profile software, which help businesses create value and provide guidance for growth. The Certified Value Growth Advisor certification program offers comprehensive training in business fundamentals and strategic planning. The episode concludes with a discussion on the impact of helping middle market companies grow on the overall economy.

Takeaways

Business owners need to institutionalize knowledge to ensure the sustainability and transferability of their businesses.
Delegation is essential for business owners to create a sellable business and prepare for retirement.
The Certified Value Growth Advisor designation and the Value Opportunity Profile software provide tools for businesses to create value and develop growth strategies.
The Certified Value Growth Advisor certification program offers comprehensive training in business fundamentals and strategic planning.
Helping middle market companies grow has a positive impact on the overall economy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Importance of Creating Value
03:09 The Pitfalls of Chasing Revenue
09:13 Turnaround Experience and Role
12:23 Developing a Standardized Approach
19:42 Turning Around Distressed Companies
22:25 Scaling and Creating Value in Small Businesses
25:45 Building a Future State Vision
27:05 Acquiring Competitors or Building from Scratch
36:57 The Importance of Valuation
42:02 The Importance of Institutionalizing Knowledge
43:27 The Challenge of Delegation
44:17 Creating a Sellable Business
45:39 The Process of Making a Business Sellable
47:37 Getting Stuck in a Routine
49:45 The Certified Value Growth Advisor Designation
54:21 The Value Opportunity Profile Software
56:43 The Certified Value Growth Advisor Certification Program
01:00:22 The Impact on the Middle Market Economy
01:01:14 Key Takeaways

Gary C. Laney is CEO of Success Masters, author, and serial entrepreneur of 20+ businesses. Industries include business networking, online media, e-commerce, and intellectual property. A dynamic speaker, Gary has been recognized as a top presenter, motivating tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, professionals, and salespeople. Prior to his entrepreneurial run, Gary spent 25 years as an executive in corporate high-tech and commercial publishing. He is known for his ability to turn around businesses and create dramatic revenue growth. Gary has a triple major MBA from Northwestern Kellogg in finance, marketing, and policy.

In this episode of Entrepreneur Strategies, Gary Laney shares his incredible journey of growing up in a family of entrepreneurs and then pursuing various business and leadership roles. He discusses his experiences learning Spanish through full immersion in Spain and how that shaped him. Gary also details his process for developing influence outlined in his bestselling book The Power of Strategic Influence. Throughout the podcast, Gary provides valuable advice and insights from his decades of experience starting, advising, and selling over 20 companies.

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Entrepreneurship, family business, and career path.
• Career progression and entrepreneurship.
• Entrepreneurship, sales, and business growth.
• Learning Spanish and overcoming language barriers.
• The power of influence and strategic decision-making.
• Networking and building relationships with influential people.
• Leadership, influence, and new book release.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• "Strategic influence is about relationships, it's about getting the right people together. So they can actually do something that's meaningful, and maybe magical." - Gary Laney
  
• "You have to listen to your gut. You can call the gut whatever you want. But there's something inside you, that tells you, you're better than you, you're performing, that you have the capacity to give more than you're giving." - Gary Laney

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website: www.lifepointfd.com
• Email Mike: mike@lifepointfd.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-metzger-cfp%C2%AE-crps%C2%AE-88690227/

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Paul Barnhurst is a Finance Professional with 12+ years of finance and FP&A experience. He Earned a bachelor's from BYU, an MBA specializing in finance, and a Master of Information Management from Arizona State University. Paul recently launched his own business called The FP&A Guy providing FP&A consulting services for small and midsized companies, FP&A Training, and FP&A content creation (Webinars, blogs, sponsored LinkedIn Posts). He resides in the Salt Lake City, Utah area with his wife and daughter. On LinkedIn, he goes by the moniker The FP&A Guy.

In this episode Paul Barnhurst discusses his journey from studying business at BYU to founding his own successful company as an FP&A consultant. He explains the role of financial planning and analysis in helping businesses budget, forecast, and make strategic investment decisions. Paul also emphasizes the importance of building a strong personal brand and scaling a business while maintaining a focus on family. Listeners learn practical FP&A strategies and insights from Paul's experience growing as an entrepreneur.

"Your FP&A is about forward looking. It's about how do you spend that next dollar best. So FP&A is really what I would call it a strategic advisor for the business that helps with the budgeting helps with ad hoc analysis, and investment decisions." - Paul Barnhurst

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Introducing Paul Barnhurst
• Pricing strategy and product rollout.
• Financial planning and analysis with a specialist.
• Entrepreneurship journey and building a business.
• Personal branding and influence marketing for small business owners.
• Financial planning and analysis for businesses.
• The role of FPGA in business decision-making.
• Scaling a business with a virtual assistant.
  
  
  

Our Favorite Moments:

"I think having that plan, in that ideal where you go isn't about being right, because anyone who's forecasted is wrong. And they're wrong almost all the time." - Paul Barnhurst

"I think particularly with small companies, where it usually starts, is helping them actually budget. Many small companies don't build a budget." - Mike Metzger

"I always tell small companies, if you have a bookkeeper that's telling you, they're giving you advisory services and charging you for it. And all you're getting as your financials in a couple sentences about what happened, then you probably need to go back to him and ask for more or find somebody different" - Paul Barnhurst

Connect with Paul Barnhurst:

Paul Barnhurst on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy/

Don't forget to subscribe, and if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

This episode features home inspector Andrew Jolley and focuses on his career path and day-to-day work in the industry. He discusses how he got started in home inspections by maintaining foreclosed properties, and how he eventually became certified and started his own successful business. Andrew also provides valuable insights into the home inspection process and what buyers and sellers should expect. Additionally, this episode touches on some of the challenges of the job as well as how Andrew prioritizes health, family time, and work-life balance as a busy entrepreneur.

"For myself, I think it's more important what I do when I'm busy putting away savings, when I'm very busy, because on the flip side of it, when it slows down, I'm able to enjoy that time, and focus on other projects and giving my attention to other things and just enjoying the little bit of a break when I do have it." - Andrew Jolley

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Managing finances during business ups and downs.
• Entrepreneurship, business growth, and personal health.
• Home inspections and their importance.
• DIY projects, and business ownership.
• Education, and business challenges.
• Real estate industry challenges and strategies.
• Radon testing, and methamphetamine detection.
• Home inspections, prioritizing fitness, and family bonding.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• "I can do my best at marketing and giving buyers as much value as possible. But if rates go up another percent, and there's less buyers, I have no control over that." - Andrew Jolley
• "I would rather have a very, very thorough Home Inspector, I would rather know everything that's on there, and then be able to have a personal discussion with my home inspector of, okay, so now we've got all of these issues documented, we can present that to the seller." - Mike Metzger
  
  

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website: https://www.lifepointfd.com/
• Email Mike: mike@lifepointfd.com
• Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-metzger-cfp%C2%AE-crps%C2%AE-88690227/

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Born and raised near Buffalo, New York, Sarah McNamara obtained her Bachelor's degree in Education. Seeking cultural adventure, she opted to complete her final teaching internship on the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico. Sarah considers that internship to be the best, most life changing opportunity she's had to date. Sarah moved to Florida shortly thereafter to begin teaching and obtained a Masters degree in School Counseling. After working in Education for nine years, Sarah ultimately decided that Real Estate was her calling. It was a smooth transition, as her desire to educate her clients on the real estate process pairs perfectly with her ability to be a strong advocate for all. She currently lives with her husband in Cottonwood Heights along with their 2 dogs (Bella and Gaige). When not working she enjoys gardening, hiking, mountain biking, and golfing.

In a candid conversation between Sarah McNamara and Mike Metzger, Sarah shares her unlikely journey from pre-pharmacy major to financial planning, and eventually growing into a nine-year career as a teacher and counselor before finally transitioning into real estate. Mike, who was initially a client of Sarah's, reminisces about how they met and bonded while he was scouting for houses in Salt Lake City. Sarah admits that her first couple of years in the industry were emotionally challenging. Trying to find clients and navigate transactions were initial hurdles she had to overcome. Her strategy involved a lot of "sweat equity," such as hosting numerous open houses, to gradually build her client base. Reflecting on her journey, Sarah says her experience in counseling has been invaluable in her real estate career, allowing her to help people in another significant way.

"Even pilots have checklists. No matter how good you are, having systems in place makes sure you stay on your game." - Sarah McNamara

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Introducing Sarah McNamara
• Transition from teacher to real estate agent.
• Making the leap into the real estate world.
• Marketing strategies that work.
• A typical day in the life of a successful agent.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• "In order to make it, I knew I had to really start getting out there and start hustling and working super hard." - Sarah McNamara
• "I think that it is so important for us as entrepreneurs to be mindful of our family lives. And you know, if this is your first time listening, this is really what the show is all about. Because as entrepreneurs we're scaling our businesses and creating success for ourselves. It can just continue to perpetuate, to feed itself and oftentimes, other areas of our lives start to neglect and that causes burnout." - Mike Metzger
• "I realized pretty quickly that taking care of your clients will create that kind of word of mouth. And then you'll get some referrals." - Sarah McNamara

Connect with Sarah McNamara:

• Sarah McNamara on LinkedIn

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website
• Schedule a Call
• Mike Metzger on LinkedIn
• Connect on Instagram
• Check out Mike on YouTube

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Michael Wiebler is a new-media executive with over 15 years of tangible entertainment strategy, marketing and production experience. He currently leads content strategy in the Club Media Group at the NFL as the Director of Content and Media Strategy.

In episode 4, we sat down with Michael Wiebler, the director of content and media strategy for the NFL. With a rich professional background in film and marketing, Michael shed light on his unique journey to the NFL and his role in amplifying its digital content for both clubs and the league. He demystified the essence of digital strategy, emphasizing its role in business operations and audience engagement. He touched upon the pivotal challenge of attention and discoverability in the age of constant digital distractions, underscoring the importance of understanding audience motivations to maximize content reach. He provided valuable insights into crafting effective avatars, understanding target markets, and the irreplaceable role of storytelling in marketing. Delving deeper, he highlighted the nuances of personalization in communication, stressing the advantages small business owners possess over large corporations due to their direct engagement with clients.

"I've found success by just trying to build relationships. And communicating with authenticity and transparency and intent." - Michael Wiebler

This week on Entrepreneur Strategies:

• Mike's career path to the NFL.
• The importance of understanding your audience.
• How to create an avatar.
• The importance of storytelling in digital marketing.
• Understanding your audience and tapping into their personality.
• The hierarchy of business owners.
• Do small business owners have an advantage over large corporations?

Our Favorite Quotes:

• "Often business owners can treat two levels below as if they're talking to their managers. And it's really important, I think, for them to be able to delegate and understand the communication really should be just with the executive assistant or the level below the management. And then let the management really have those, those longer term relationships with the employees underneath." - Mike Metzger
• "I think the term storytelling can be a bit overused. And it helps to define what it means, it's kind of become like a buzzword a little bit. What they really mean is finding a way to connect with your audience, in an honest and authentic way." - Michael Wiebler

Connect with Mike Wiebler:

• Mike Wiebler on LinkedIn

Connect with Mike:

• Lifepoint Financial Design Website
• Email Mike: mike@lifepointfd.com
• Mike Metzger on LinkedIn
• 
  
  

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review to help others discover the podcast.

Lifepoint Financial Design, LLC, is registered to conduct investment advisory business in the state of California. Opinions expressed are as of the current date and subject to change without notice. This commentary is for informational purposes only and has not been tailored to suit any individual.Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.