Blue Collar Culture
The Blue Collar Culture Podcast is for business owners and leaders who work for a living. You've scratched and clawed to build your business. You don't have ping-pong tables and nap pods, you employ down-to-earth, hard-working men and women who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. This podcast is about you. We highlight your stories of success and share the secrets to winning with Blue Collar Culture. Never miss an episode, sign up for updates at BlueCollarCulture.com.
Get Ready For A New Season
May 3, 2023 • 18 MIN
In this last episode of Blue Collar Culture, Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver express their gratitude to everyone and talk about their upcoming projects.
Get Out Of The Weeds & Act Like An Owner With Adriane Woodrum
March 15, 2023 • 20 MIN
Join Financial Coach at Business Development Resources, Adriane Woodrum, as she shares why owner involvement is always crucial in securing business financials.
Why Your Current Marketing Sucks With Brittany Murphy
March 1, 2023 • 27 MIN
Marketing strategies can dictate either a triumphant success of a business or a tragic waste of resources. The worst part is that most businesses with poor marketing decisions don’t realize they are doing something wrong until it’s too late! That’s why in this episode, Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver talk to Brittany Murphy, a Partner at One Thing Marketing. She explains how to revamp your website and reinvent your marketing by discussing the psychology behind it. Brittany also breaks down creative ways to promote your business to successfully convert your target market into loyal customers. Tune in and learn how to level up your current marketing tactics to yield the most desirable business results!
The WSR Is Your #1 Growth Tool With Bryan Kaplan
February 15, 2023 • 24 MIN
Everyone wants to drive their business to success. Good thing we have so many tools at our disposal that could help us achieve that. But what is the best one out there? In this episode, Bryan Kaplan of Construction Consulting shares his wealth of knowledge in explaining the number one growth tool that drives many organizations to success: the Weekly Status Review Meeting (WSR). He also reminds us that your people want to know that you have a plan for them, so set that roadmap. This episode is filled with buckets of wisdom on recruiting, onboarding, and retention, so tune in to know more!
Innovate Your Business In Two Steps With Carla Johnson
February 1, 2023 • 35 MIN
What really is innovation? And what does it take for an innovative idea to be formed? In today’s episode, Carla Johnson shares how a business can effectively innovate in two steps! Carla is a global keynote speaker, a best-selling author, and a recognized marketing and innovation strategist that has worked with Fortune 500 brands. Tune in and learn from the expert herself what it really takes to innovate today!
Steward Your Business To Growth With Justin Carrol
January 18, 2023 • 27 MIN
If business leaders take good care of their employees, they will most likely return the favor by performing at their best. This healthy reciprocation leads to a rewarding company culture and significant business growth. In this conversation with Justin Carrol of P1 Service Group, he discusses the importance of looking after your team even beyond the workplace. He talks about the power of bringing a sense of belongingness to your team, giving them a chance to voice their concerns and be more comfortable with their everyday tasks. Justin also shares how they hired a personal finance coach, a dietician, and a life coach to serve their employees, giving everyone additional knowledge and improving staff retention as well.
Working With And Not Against Each Other With Sue Dyer
January 4, 2023 • 36 MIN
Did you know that construction is the only industry in the United States that, for 53 years, has decreased in productivity points every year? That is happening because they tend not to depend on one another. Construction needs to be built in a high-trust environment if you want success. Join Ryan Englin as he talks to the author of the #2 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Book, The Trusted Leader, Sue Dyer. Sue is also the host of the Lead With Trust podcast, where she talks about high trust equals high performance. Learn why a trusting environment is crucial for success, especially in construction. Find out how you can change your mindset if you are afraid and don't trust your team. Know that it only takes one individual to change the whole environment. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
How To Be A Present Entrepreneur With Jordan Abaroa
December 21, 2022 • 30 MIN
Sometimes your business ends up consuming more time than you would like. It's hard to be a present entrepreneur – one that balances being an entrepreneur and a provider of the family. But it's not impossible. Finding time for those family vacations and those business meetings are key to a successful life. The most important impact that you will ever make will happen within the walls of your own home. Join Ryan Englin as he talks to the founder of The Present Entrepreneur, Jordan Abaroa about balancing work and family life. Jordan helps liberate entrepreneur dads who want to gain more time with their families. Learn why your value is not tied to money as the provider of the family. Discover how to use time blocking effectively so you can have energy throughout your day. Find out some key assets you need in both your business and personal life. Start being the best entrepreneur dad/mom out there today!
$50,000,000 Per Year In Revenue In Only 2 Hours Per Week With John Akhoian
December 14, 2022 • 22 MIN
The biggest myth in the home service industry is that owning your business is going to make you rich. That isn't the case because there are so many people that own their businesses and are far from being rich. Being a business owner is like being a generalist. You're doing payroll, running calls, doing estimates, and doing it all. You need to delegate some work to specialists that can do that. The key to growing your business is consistency. Don't do it once or twice, but actually become so consistent that you're doing it over and over and over again. How I Grew My Residential Service Company To $50,000,000 In 9 Years - https://www.amazon.sg/Grew-Residential-Service-Company-years/dp/B08847Y9SJ
Keep 12% More Revenue With This One Trick With Kyle Hunt
November 30, 2022 • 30 MIN
Did you know that you can keep more revenue without changing prices or cutting costs with just one trick? Kyle Hunt says that the most important thing you can do for your business is knowing your numbers. By doing so, you can maintain up to 12% more of your profit than if you just kept your numbers up in the air. Kyle is the owner and podcast host of Remodelers On The Rise, where he coaches and trains remodeling contractors on how to generate more profit, understand the numbers, and make better decisions to win in the game of business. Tune in to his chat with host Ryan Englin and get practical tips and action items that can improve the way you do business and bump up your profits through better financial understanding.
Double Your Close Rates With Zac Garside
November 16, 2022 • 26 MIN
What if we told you the secret to doubling your close rates starts with that first phone call? That's right! Your business's customer service representatives have a bigger hand in crafting a positive customer experience and driving more sales than you think. Here to share his vast insight on the matter is Zac Garside, CEO of Power Selling Pros. Zac and his team have honed in on training CSRs to deliver a wow experience so that when the homeowner meets their technician, they cannot help but say yes. In this episode, he highlights the impact of customer service calls and shares tips on how to help your reps do their job well. Zac shares a ton of value in this episode, so grab your pen and take notes on what you need to do to improve your sales.
Date Your Clients With Mark Young
November 9, 2022 • 35 MIN
We all have relationships that we get into that require communication, setting expectations, and commitment and the employee-employer relationship is no different. Today's guest has identified parallels and creatively conceptualized a metaphor between dating and building client relationships. Mark Young is the CEO of Ryze Agency and author of Date Your Clients: Building Professional Equity from Life's Worst Personal Strikeouts. In this episode, he chats with host Ryan Englin about the essence of every human relationship and how understanding this can help your business. Mark shares that relationships, regardless of their context, follow predictable patterns. Using the concept of dating, he outlines practical strategies for engaging and communicating with clients to foster healthy and positive relationships. Listen in on their chat to learn all about it!
Inspiring Your Team To Connect With Your Mission With Tony Martignetti
October 26, 2022 • 30 MIN
If you want to inspire your team to work harder and better, you need to give them a mission that they align with. Make them know that they are creating meaningful work. No one wants to do something without any greater purpose behind that. As a leader, it's your job to want to make sure that you understand your people. Start having honest conversations with them because that is key to inspiration. Join Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver as they talk to Tony Martignetti, founder of Inspired Purpose Coaching. Listen in as they talk about how you can inspire your people as a business owner or leader. Know how you can have a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset. Discover how you can give your employees a meaningful mission today!
Only 100 Pennies To Transform Your Culture With Alex Freytag
October 12, 2022 • 30 MIN
As a business owner, you want to create the best possible work culture for your employees. One way to do that is by being transparent on the financial side of things. Start educating your employees about the business and what makes and doesn't make a profit. Because when employees have the right information, culture just gets better on all fronts. Join Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver as they talk to Alex Freytag about sharing financial information to transform your culture and cultivate your workforce. Alex is the expert EOS implementer at EOS Worldwide. He is also the author of Profit Works, a book that teaches you how to maximize your company’s potential. Learn how to simplify incentive plans, improve profit, and develop culture. Start becoming a business leader of tomorrow!
Building a Team of Service Technicians Who Can Sell With Chris Fresh
September 28, 2022 • 27 MIN
If you're struggling to get more sales and want to increase your business's revenue and profitability, you've come to the right place. Joining us on today's episode to share tips on how to build a team who can sell and scale your business is Chris Fresh, Founder and CEO of The Plumbing Sales Coach. We will talk about things that transcend the service industry and will impact any business you have. From how to differentiate services, communicate with customers, create culture, and market your business, it all starts with having the right people. Listen to this episode and get ready to take some notes on different strategies you can use to grow your business.
Get Your Employees To Care As Much As You Do With Dane Sanders
August 9, 2022 • 28 MIN
We all know that not every job will be our dream job. But that doesn't mean we can't find ways to love our current jobs. But how can leaders help employees love theirs? That is what Dane Sanders, Co-Founder and CEO of Tell Me Your Dreams, speaks about today. Dane helps business owners build cultures their teams love. At Tell Me Your Dreams, Dane interrupts the burnout cycle by helping employees achieve their dreams and promoting self-discovery, personal responsibility, and meaning at work. In this episode, Dane talks about how leaders can become strong and awake and get employees to care as much as they do.
Old School Thinking is Causing Your People to Leave
August 3, 2022 • 35 MIN
Employee retention has always been an issue, and recruiters aren't solving the issue. The COVID-19pandemic only accelerated the retention problem that companies are facing today. So how can managers reduce unnecessary employee turnover? That's the question today's guest, Cara Silletto, will answer. Join Ryan Englin as he talks to Cara, the President & Chief Retention Officer of Magnet Culture. She helps reduce turnover by bridging generational gaps. The way people work has changed. Millennials are very different from the baby boomers. It’s a myth that they're lazy; they are leaving because managers are not communicating with them. Learn how to help solve the retention problem today!
The 5 P's Of An Amazing Business With Pete Mohr
July 20, 2022 • 28 MIN
There are a myriad reasons for business failure. As an entrepreneur, you have to acquire the knowledge and skills to run your business smoothly. Things are very unpredictable, and your plans may not succeed, but you still have to keep going. You must also be aware of factors affecting your products or services. What are the key elements of a successful organization? Join your host Ryan Englin as he dives deep into a conversation with Pete Mohr about the 5 Ps of an amazing business. It's time to equip yourself with strategies proven to scale your business up, reduce your frustration, and create more freedom!
Recruit Better & Sell Better With A Brand Story With Philip St. Jacques
July 6, 2022 • 23 MIN
The marketing and branding of your company impacts so much more than just sales. Marketing for existing customers, new customers, and technicians are all connected. In this episode, Philip St. Jacques of WorkWave explains the importance of building your brand story in the recruitment process. Join host Ryan Englin as he chats with Philip about why businesses should invest in marketing and branding and how advertising your culture externally help attract top talent into your organization.
Change Your Results With This Single Shift with David Taylor-Klaus
June 22, 2022 • 28 MIN
Work-life balance isn’t as simple as separating work from personal life. Balancing both aspects of your life would only be successful if you learn how to make them work together. David Taylor-Klaus shatters the very concept of work-life balance for us in this conversation with Ryan Englin. David discusses how a single shift in a leader’s mindset can lead to a series of changes in themselves and their employees that will benefit how they balance their work and their lives. Work culture is dependent on the company’s leader. Leaders make a huge impact by providing motivation. It is a chain of positivity. Listen in and learn how this shift takes place in practice!
Why Marketing Should Run Your Hiring Process With Jason Piasecki And Richard Witham
June 8, 2022 • 30 MIN
When talking about a company's hiring process, the HR department comes to mind. If you face some challenges when acquiring and retaining people, perhaps you need to try a refreshing strategy. Featured in this episode is Jason Piasecki, a Partner and the CEO of Revel. He discusses the benefits of letting marketers run your recruitment process. Joining him is Richard Witham of Motion Dynamics Corporation, who shares how Jason and his team helped them set up this unique hiring process. Together, the two talk about the fruits of their partnership and how they stay on top of the rapid workflow.
Attract Talent With The TikTok For HVAC With Aaron Salow
May 25, 2022 • 24 MIN
Finding and attracting good people in the trades is a challenge right now. New technology is emerging, and today’s guest has figured out how to use it to solve this problem. Aaron Salow is the Founder/CEO of XOi Technologies, which helps contractors overcome the skilled trades gap using tech and data. He joins Ryan Englin to explain the gap and how their tool enables you to solve the problem. Aaron talks about the importance of incorporating tech in trades and the value of hiring and training younger technicians to make sure your business endures the changing times. Stay tuned!
Blue Is The New White With Josh Zolin
May 11, 2022 • 27 MIN
It's no secret that there is a labor shortage in the trades and it’s no secret that a lot of the younger generation has turned away from it. There are so many things stacked against employers right now that make it a lot harder for them to make the next generation excited about getting into the trades. The CEO of Windy City Equipment, Josh Zolin, thinks this is mainly a result of the societal norms pushing the perception that blue-collar jobs indicate a lack of success. In his book, Blue Is the New White, Josh emphasizes how some of the most lucrative jobs out there are blue-collar jobs. Josh joins Ryan Englin in this episode to discuss how there is more than one path to a stable career and a great financial future. Success doesn’t always have to mean a college degree and Josh is here to clear that trade misconception.
Bulletproof Your Business With These Five People With Tersh Blissett
April 20, 2022 • 36 MIN
Without these five crucial people, you can’t bulletproof your business. Ryan Englin welcomes Tersh Blissett, the Founder of Service Emperor and Host of the Service Business Mastery Podcast. To make your business succeed, you need to have these five as your best friends: bookkeeper, insurance guy, lawyer, banker, and mentor. To make this strategy work, you need to have accountability. Take the time to check on them to see what they do daily. If you want to learn more about bulletproofing your business, you’d want to listen to this episode.
A Better Way To Pay Techs With Ellen Rohr
April 6, 2022 • 41 MIN
“If you got into the trade because you love the trade, then that is a big plus, but the money is a whole different ball game.” That’s one of the biggest things that Ellen Rohr learned after a long and fruitful career in the service business. Ellen went from a plumber’s wife to one of America's top experts on making big money, but the journey wasn’t easy. She got involved in her husband’s company after her husband’s partner died. Ellen thought she knew enough about business to run a plumbing company, which almost caused them to lose their business. Through the help of mentors, she was able to craft a sound business plan together. In this episode, she shares her tips to help you earn more money and grow your service company business. She also explains the things you should carefully consider when paying your techs. Listen in for some timeless wisdom and actionable business tips from one of the industry’s best!
Control Your Mindset And Control Your Cash With Rachel Marshall And Bruce Wehner
March 23, 2022 • 37 MIN
Sustainable business growth takes time and a lot of effort. You have to focus on the key concepts that are critical to your organization. How do you know what strategies you need to formulate and what areas to develop? In this episode, Rachel Marshall and Bruce Wehner, the founders of The Money Advantage, share the importance of solving the right problems through developing the mindset to achieve great things. Most business owners are looking at short-term goals, but you have to look at long-term plans to increase revenue. Tune in to know how to take control and build your wealth!
Trevor Rappleye: Improve Your Hiring With One Simple Video
March 9, 2022 • 26 MIN
Looking for creative ways to improve your hiring? This episode has the answers you need! Trevor Rappleye is the CEO of CorporateFilming.com and FranchiseFilming.com. He helps brands create inspiring monthly videos that drive sales, franchise development, and recruitment. Trevor joins host Ryan Englin to debunk myths owners have about creating marketing videos for their company. No, you don’t need a $100k budget or a professional film crew to get started. Tune in as he shares tips for creating recruitment videos to attract top talent.
Al Levi On Finding Great Techs... Is It Possible?
February 23, 2022 • 37 MIN
Is it possible to find great technicians these days? The short answer is yes! You just need to reach out in different ways. A lot of the techs today are Millennials and Gen Z and they will not do anything until they know why. Once you bring them in as an apprentice and teach them why they will be the best employees ever. Join your host Ryan Englin as he sits down with the CEO of The 7-Power Contractor, Al Levi. Al will talk about how to recruit and train apprentices. He will touch on the box org chart system and the power of process manuals. Learn how to staff up so that you can find great techs. Al always says, "You want to always be recruiting, always hiring, always orienting, always training, and always retaining.” Learn what it takes to recruit good talent today!
Partner For Growth - How Private Equity Can Increase Your Cash With Jesse Gee
February 9, 2022 • 34 MIN
D you want to increase your cash? Look for private equity partners. Ryan Englin & Jeremy Macliver welcome Jesse Gee, the Manager at G-K Industries. Jesse talks about how private equity partners give you access to capital. Plus, they bring a level of sophistication that drives your business to create better results. To make good partnerships, you need to have solid people and processes. If you want to learn more about how private equity can increase your cash, you may want to listen to this episode. Tune in!
Double Your Business With Only 30 Minutes Per Day Of Training With Austin Clark
January 26, 2022 • 21 MIN
Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver are back to hear some secrets from Austin Clark, CEO of Moxie Pest Control of Arizona, on how you can double your business with only 30 minutes of training per day. Moxie Pest Control has grown so much in the span of one year and is expected to double in value even further. Austin shares how luck and his work ethic transformed his view on business and what other factors affected his success. Curious about what he has to say? Tune in to find out.
Make Your Time Worth $10,000 Per Hour With Dr. Sabrina Starling
January 12, 2022 • 32 MIN
One of the biggest myths about being an entrepreneur is how we're supposed to grind it out. But isn't it one of the reasons we left our 9 to 5 jobs is to have more control of our time? International bestselling author of the How to Hire series, Dr. Sabrina Starling, is here to share another amazing work that will help entrepreneurs fulfill their dream of stepping away from business for four full weeks without having to plug back in. She takes us into her book, The 4 Week Vacation, where she reveals the secrets to make your time worth $10,000 per hour, so you don't have to grind from day to night. Work supports life, not the other way around. Join Dr. Starling as she helps us make business our source of life and energy and not drain it.
Grow Your Business With This One Change With Joshua Gillow And Duane Draughon
December 29, 2021 • 37 MIN
What if the secret to growing your business relies on you making one small change? Today’s guests are Joshua Gillow, Founder of YES Express, and Duane Draughon, Co-Founder and Lead Designer of VizX Design Studios. The duo also hosts the Outerspaces Podcast, sharing tips, strategies, and contractor success stories. Joshua and Duane join Ryan Englin to talk about how they built their own successful businesses in the outdoor living space and what you can do to achieve the same results. All it takes is one little shift. Tune in and gain incredible insight on how to take your business to the next level. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
600% Increase In Employee Applications
December 15, 2021 • 19 MIN
So now you’re looking for people to join your company. You need employee applications, but you just can’t seem to get the right kind of applicants in. Worry no more as Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver share their insights on the hiring process. Ryan and Jeremy discuss several key points that can help boost the number of applications and get the right people through the door. Listen in and learn how to fine-tune your hiring process with these useful insights. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
The Talent Shortage Is A Myth With Ryan Kohler
December 1, 2021 • 41 MIN
There’s an entire concept that there are no applicants looking for a job right now. They’re saying that there's resignation and other issues in the workplace. But what if it’s not true? What if it’s truly possible to hire great people with the right techniques? Ryan Kohler joins this conversation with host Ryan Englin on the myth about talent shortage. Ryan Kohler is the founder of one of the most popular applicant-tracking systems, ApplicantPro. He emphasizes that the applicant tracking system is critical to managing a good recruiting pipeline, especially for small business owners. Learn how you can think differently if you're struggling to hire better people. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
How To Find Good People
November 17, 2021 • 21 MIN
Sometimes, it’s not about finding good people but more about attracting good people. The past 18 months has brought multiple challenges that businesses have had to face. One of which is finding the right people for the job. In today’s episode, your hosts Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver discuss strategies that will help you achieve just that. Rather than rummaging through piles and piles of resumes and going through lists and lists of people, you can simply adjust your branding to attract the right people at the get-go. That’s just one of the tips they have in store for you. Join in and get insightful advice that may just change everything for your business. Stay tuned! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
Hold Your Sales People Accountable - Even Before You Hire Them With Jose Palomino
November 3, 2021 • 31 MIN
As an owner, when you’re hiring people, especially salespeople, you have to support and get involved with them. You need to find a balance of keeping them accountable. You’re the owner, so accountability will be split. Learn how to find the right people for your company even before you hire them. Join your host Ryan Englin and his guest, Jose Palomino, as they discuss how to hire and hold your salespeople accountable. Jose is the founder and CEO of Value Prop Interactive. Learn what Jose’s requirements are for screening someone and how you find only the best quality of salespeople. Be the best involved owner that you can be today. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
Bringing Skills Training To Manufacturing Companies With Rodney Nelson
October 20, 2021 • 24 MIN
Skills training is imperative if you want your business to succeed. A well-trained staff can mean the difference between success and failure. Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver are joined by Rodney Nelson, The VP of Client Operations for the Arizona MEP, to talk about how they are positively impacting small companies in the manufacturing space by providing skills training. Rodney shares his insights on working with companies and what training is most often needed, and he talks about the WIOA Fund and its impact on companies looking for help with training. Listen in for insights on training for skills in the manufacturing industry. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
Asking The Right Interview Questions And Finding The Right People
October 6, 2021 • 21 MIN
The success of any business depends on finding the right people. This means that asking the right questions is imperative if you want to hire the best. Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver discuss the hiring and interview process and share their insights. What should you ask your interviewees? Ryan and Jeremy flesh out what an optimum interview process should be and share their experiences in conducting job interviews. If you specialize in talent acquisition or are looking to beef up your hiring and interview process, then this episode is for you. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
Finding The Good Hires Among The Bad Ones
September 22, 2021 • 18 MIN
It’s no secret that hiring is one of the hardest challenges businesses are dealing with right now. Not every new employee can be a good A+ player. You will get a bunch of C's and B’s. Join your hosts, Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver, as they talk about what’s working and what isn’t in the hiring process. Find out what it means to be a “good help” so that your business can hire the perfect team.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
How To Grow With Your Customer With John Jantsch
September 8, 2021 • 27 MIN
How do you make your business grow with your customers? We learn how to do that and more in this episode. Ryan Englin sits down for an interview with marketing consultant and author Jon Jantsch. John and Ryan discuss marketing myths and talk about what you can do to scale with your customers. Learn more about marketing and scaling your business in this conversation.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
Stop Making Your Insurance Broker Rich! With Steve Tusa
August 25, 2021 • 31 MIN
Increased risk comes with growth, which also means an increased financial burden on the organization. Insurance is supposed to help ease that burden, which means you need an insurance broker, right? Well, in this episode, we shatter that and several other myths about insurance. Our hosts Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver sit down and tackle the thorny issue of insurance with Reseco COO, Steve Tusa. Steve answers the important questions head-on and gives an insider’s look at what you need to know when it comes to business insurance and risk management. Listen in to learn more about how insurance policies can be made to work in your favor.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
It's Time To Go To Owner's School With Matt Michel
June 30, 2021 • 31 MIN
For a lot of business owners, there's nothing more important than getting on top. Ryan Englin talks with the founder of Service Nation, Inc., Matt Michel, on some of the most common challenges faced by business owners in the trades. Matt is an internationally recognized and highly acclaimed motivational and informational speaker on the significance of learning the craft of the business and going back to owner's school. While many business owners fall into the trap of focusing their end goal on success, Matt points out that they are forgetting the basics, including the goal-setting process that is highly significant in order to start walking the path to success. Join him as he reveals more insights every business owner needs to know.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
How To Double Your Ability To Hire With Anne Pfleger
June 16, 2021 • 19 MIN
Construction touches everything. In this industry, you have the ability to hire women of various strengths. They can be business owners, tradeswomen, architects – the list goes on! Today’s guest is Anne Pfleger, the National President of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). Joining Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver on the show, Anne shares her strategies in attracting and recruiting women into construction. Oftentimes, women may see a position and refuse to apply because they think they’re not completely qualified. Reaching out to NAWIC and setting up conversations with these women and their employers help showcase their capabilities. Tune in to get more valuable insights!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
It Isn't Blue Collar Anymore With Jeff Fleetham
June 2, 2021 • 28 MIN
When it comes to the blue collar industry, many people tend to associate it as a dirty t-shirt, dead-end job with no career opportunity. But this is so far from the truth. In fact, many people who have grown up in this business have magnificent careers. Jeff Fleetham, the Director of Arizona Registrar of Contractors, greatly knows this to be true. In this episode, he joins Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver to dispel the greatest misconceptions and myths when it comes to construction and the trades. He shares how we can attract great young people to the industry, tapping into topics on education, construction science technology, and more. This isn’t blue collar anymore. Blue collar is what academic elites do to put people in their place. It’s time to break up this biased notion towards those who work in construction and the trades and shed a clearer and much truer light. Follow along to this conversation for more. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast/
Joe Soltis | Happy Employees Lead To Happy Customers
May 19, 2021 • 27 MIN
You can take your pick of any marketing strategy you want, but at the end of the day, happy customers will drive the most revenue to your business. For excellent customer experience to be possible, however, you need to ensure that your employees are in top form. They need to be engaged and happy to be doing their jobs. They need to experience the wins of their hard work and be compensated accordingly. Joining Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver in this conversation, marketing specialist, Joe Soltis, shares how he applies this principle in his own firm, ChoiceLocal. He also talks a bit about the unique business model of his marketing firm, which focuses on helping franchisees dominate their market by giving them the same level of service as the company’s Fortune 500 clients have received.
Ryan Redding | Digital Sorcery Doesn't Work
February 10, 2021 • 25 MIN
Any marketing strategy cannot beat excellent and reliable customer service. If you cannot satisfy your target market's demands and expectations, there is no form of digital sorcery that can save you. Ryan Redding explains to Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver how well-targeted online marketing strategies focused on customer satisfaction will always spell out success for any business and leave a lasting impact on everyone. Have you ever wondered how some companies thrived even in the middle of the pandemic? Stay tuned as Ryan reveals the answer and discusses the importance of learning continuously and closing the bottom of the demand funnel for blue-collar trades to flourish.
Dennis Gehman | Putting Professionalism Back Into The Trades
December 16, 2020 • 26 MIN
The best mistakes to learn from are other people. Unfortunately, that's not the ones we typically choose the learn from. On today’s podcast, Ryan Englin and Jeremy Macliver talk to Dennis Gehman about the importance of industry associations and increasing the remodeling industry's professionalism. Dennis comes from the design and remodeling industry, and he's the president-elect of NARI, a well-known industry association. Don’t miss this episode as Dennis shares how NARI is helping to increase the professionalism of the remodeling industry. He also reveals the biggest myths about industry associations from a business owner's perspective and talks about the advantages of joining NARI or any national association.
Ken Rusk | Make A Wish To Change Blue Collar
December 3, 2020 • 32 MIN
Growing up, we are pushed towards pursuing certain professions in college that often stigmatizes the very idea of working with your hands, of being a blue-collar worker. Helping change that mindset, Ken Rusk, a blue-collar construction entrepreneur, takes us to his mission of changing that mindset, discussing the lucrative business found in America's supply and demand environment and how he is helping others change their lives through his company. He then talks about his leadership style, hiring process, and book, Blue Collar Cash. Join Ken in this episode where he empowers those in the industry as he follows his journey to make a change to blue-collar.
Luke Miller | Get Your Mind Right & Let Your Profits Grow
November 25, 2020 • 29 MIN
Luke Miller, founder of Tile Money and host of the Tile Money Podcast, may work primarily with tile installation contractors (as the name of his business suggests), but the customer service, pricing, management, and other lessons he passes on apply to any contracting business. One thing that tile installers – not to mention people in other trades – struggle with, says Luke, is that some consumers, because of what they’ve seen on home improvement shows, think DIY is easy. That leads to unrealistic expectations about the time a job takes and more. By the same token, many contractors feel that because they’re experts in the technical work and they have the tools… starting a business should be easy enough. But being an entrepreneur actually requires a whole other mindset and skillset. We get into that in detail with Luke in this episode, as well as… ●     The biggest unknown every new business owner faces – and how to find the answer ●     How to actually start running a business instead of just “doing the job” ●     What you must have in place to work less but make more money ●     The dangerous consumer misconception that impacts contracting businesses ●     And more
Matt Jones | You Don't Have a Lead Problem, You Have a Conversion Problem
November 18, 2020 • 32 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest, Matt Jones. If you’ve been listening to our show for a while, you’ll know that we are focused on results for trades-based businesses; we are firm believers that the trades need to be supported in the same ways as other industries. Matt is a former plumber who was so frustrated by the lack of support from digital marketing companies when it came to trades-based businesses, that he actually set out to solve the problem on his own by starting his own digital agency: The Tradie Web Guys.“I can fundamentally say for 80% of the people out there, they don't have a lead problem, they've got a conversion problem. What I mean by that is, if they've got a website that isn't capturing information, that's not educating, or nurturing, or leading people to the next step, their website's not converting. So, they could be getting enough traffic, they could be getting enough eyes on their website, but those eyes are not taking the next step. They're not filling in a webform, they're not making a phone call, they're not downloading a resource, they're not doing something,” says Matt.We chat about Matt’s frustration over the lack of support for the trades and his journey to creating his own agency, as well as:●     His podcast, The Site Shed●     Myths about marketing for the trades●     Advice for tradespeople on how to improve their messaging and reach more prospective clients●     Tips for improving your conversion rates●     And more
Tim Fitzpatrick | When You Confuse, You Lose.. SO Create a CLEAR Marketing Plan
November 11, 2020 • 26 MIN
Most small business owners make marketing too complicated, says Tim Fitzpatrick of Rialto Marketing. Even with all the channels out there like social media, SEO, online video, web content, and more… the noise… if you stick to the fundamentals, you can cut through the clutter and reach your prospects and customers with your message. Tim shares what those fundamentals are, which he says you must learn first before spending one dollar on Facebook ads, an email marketing campaign, or anything else. Tune in to discover… ●     What Michael Jordan can teach you about marketing ●     The key to differentiating yourself from the competition ●     Vital parts of your marketing plan you’re probably neglecting ●     The first thing you must do if your current marketing isn’t working ●     And more
Matt Beaudreau | You're a Millennial and I Hate You!
November 4, 2020 • 38 MIN
On this week’s Blue Collar Culture, we dive into a topic we usually wouldn’t address on this podcast: millennials, the generational divide, and how people think depending on the generation they’re in. This week’s guest, Matt Beaudreau, is a world-renowned keynote speaker on this topic in addition to being the founder of several Acton Academies across Northern California.“Pay attention to the technological trends of younger generations. Those are your future employees and customers. Where are their eyeballs? Do we want to get in front of those eyeballs now, or in the future? These are generational context questions that you need to ask yourself now and try as best as you can to project in the future. The last part of this is the understanding that, because of technology, these changes are happening so rapidly at this point that adaptation as a business is non-negotiable. Things are going to change and they're going to change rapidly. Get your head around that concept and you won't be caught off guard,” says Matt.We chat about classifying millennials, as well as:●     Advice for overcoming the generational divide●     Growing up in the information age●     Better connecting with millennial employees by changing your perspectives●     Why younger people are more attracted to mission-driven organizations●     And more
Jason Cupp | Win the Family, Retain your People
October 27, 2020 • 36 MIN
Jason Cupp knows what many people think about management consultants: they’re great at coming up with big ideas, but they don’t offer ways to actually implement them to make an actionable difference in the company.He doesn’t work that way.And he only takes on clients that are willing to do the work to make things happen. One thing he says they must have in place is a team that is structured in the right way and has the right mindset. We tackle this topic in depth, as well as...●How he uses the Kolbe A Index to identify an individual’s attributes–and why that’s important for them and the company●The reason many small business owners don’t know if they’re profitable●New employee onboarding strategies that lead to success for businesses AND team members●Why a company founder can’t expect employees to be like them●And more
Ryan Groth | You Don’t Need More Bidding Practice, You Need Sales
October 21, 2020 • 34 MIN
Many subcontractors make a fatal mistake, says consultant Ryan Groth of the Sales Transformation Group. They think estimating is selling. But estimating is actually just pricing up the work… while selling is all about creating value. We explore that concept with Ryan in depth, including the role of relationships in the sales process and the mindset shift needed to create better long-term results. One thing is for certain, being the lowest bid isn’t a good thing, and when you make some key changes, you won’t have to be cheap to get the job. Tune in for details on that, as well as… ●     Why you need to start thinking of general contractors as partners – and how to make them feel the same way ●     What to do if you’re stuck at a certain level of revenue, including problem areas to look for ●     How to determine which GCs you actually want to work with – yes, you should be selective ●     The biggest obstacle to change – and a strategy to overcome it ●     And more
Rob Dube | Do Nothing... Still Get Results
October 7, 2020 • 38 MIN
As an entrepreneur or business leader, you don’t have to go it alone, says Rob Dube, owner and co-CEO of imageOne, a document services and printing company.  Let your team have your back and help you come up with solutions, figure out company goals, how to hit them, and more. The strongest leaders don’t solve all the problems or make all the decisions. By empowering your team, says Rob, you’ll have more effective and engaged employees – who can help you take the company to the next level. We also discuss unexpected ways your physical health and anxiety can impact your work – and what you can do about it, as well as… 
Greg Hayne | The Power of Peer Groups
October 7, 2020 • 25 MIN
As a consultant to roofing contractors for many years, Greg Hayne, founder of the Hayne Coaching Group, knows blue collar culture. And he sees first-hand how construction companies overall – and roofing companies in particular – are facing a whole host of challenges related to finding the right people for their team. We talk about some hiring tricks he recommends for clients. We also get into the concept of peer groups for business leaders, which can be a tremendous asset in solving challenges related not just to hiring but any business problem you are facing, from marketing to insurance to estimating. Tune in now to find out…
David Spellicy | Attracting A Players with Health Care Benefits
October 7, 2020 • 35 MIN
Health insurance costs are rising uncontrollably, and nobody can do anything about it. Simply not true, says David Spellicy, vice president and senior benefits advisor of Benefit Commerce Group.  David and his colleagues are on a mission to dispel that myth and provide insurance, at a reasonable cost, that works for employees and their families – as well as employers.  With health insurance being one of the top three expenses for many – if not most – businesses, having an effective plan in place is key to the health of the business itself. David shares little-known strategies for getting health insurance costs under control, as well as… 
Sima Dahl | The Most Dangerous Myths About Branding
September 30, 2020 • 28 MIN
Branding is all about a promise made, says marketing expert and executive coach Sima Dahl.  That’s whether you’re talking about a company’s brand, the business owner or team members’ personal brand, or the employer brand that employees believe in. With branding so key in establishing your company in the marketplace, it’s vital that you take it seriously. Employees can become brand ambassadors for the business on social media, for example, says Sima. But that’s just the start.  We get into the nitty-gritty, including…
Scott Novis | Teaching Team Building and Communication Through Video Games
September 30, 2020 • 34 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest, Scott Novis. Scott is the Founder of GameTruck, a successful franchise operating in over 30 states, and is an advocate for eSports as a means of bringing young adults together to experience a sense of community and enhance their teamwork skills. Scott also has two engineering degrees and has been named on 11 patents. “What a lot of people are seeing in games is that they look more like our economy and our future than traditional sports does. The skills that are transferable from traditional sports to our economy are almost all mental and attitude. I don't need sports to create those conditions, to train you to work together with each other with respect, to include everybody, to be able to participate, to challenge your capability as a person, and to learn how to be your best. I can do it with a video game,” says Scott.We chat about common myths about gaming, as well as: 
Timothy Douglass | Never Trust a Wizard
September 23, 2020 • 25 MIN
On this week’s Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with Tim Douglass, Co-Owner of Fidelis, a full-service creative agency comprised of blue-collar creatives. One of the things that a lot of businesses struggle with is being really effective at getting their message out in front of the right people so that they can generate leads, grow their business, hit their revenue goals, hit their profit goals, and really have a business that they're proud of. Through Fidelis, Tim helps businesses do this every day.“In digital marketing, specifically, there's a myth that there are wizards or gurus out in the marketplace and they can make you be better and your business will be awesome, but that's not how we roll; we want to grow with our clients. So, when we're having a client conversation, if I get a sense that they're just looking for the wizard to make it work, it's a real moment of pause to say, hey, I want you to know that we are real people on the other side of this and there are real efforts going into it. It's not magic and it's not going to turn on overnight,” says Tim.We chat about marketing myths, as well as:
Darren Virassammy | Being Valued for Being Valuable
September 16, 2020 • 29 MIN
In today’s episode of The Blue Collar Culture Podcast we chat with TEDx speaker, and co-founder of 34 Strong, Darren Virassammy. Not only is Darren an entrepreneur, but he’s also a bass guitarist, a dad, and a husband— an overall astounding guy! Darren is a leader who keeps an eye on his destination and initiates the practical steps to get there through awareness and the ripple effect. He is passionate about long term scalability and commonly steps aside to allow others to take ownership of their zone of genius.We’ll chat with Darren about the biggest myths in his industry, as well as…
Greg Martin | How to Profit From Your Banker
September 9, 2020 • 31 MIN
Greg Martin is one of the only two profit-first bankers in the world. What does that mean? He advocates methodology where a banker is a strategic partner to an entrepreneur helping grow the business – not just a commodity service provider. That means you need a banker who not only understands how businesses work… but the reality of profit.  Working in the profit-first model can have a huge impact on your business, creating predictable and sustainable revenues that will grow the business, even in tough times. This not only benefits your business… but also creates consistency in your personal life and builds your personal wealth. Greg also talks about how the right banker can help protect you from risk, the biggest thing holding entrepreneurs back, and more, including… 
Jim Huston | Perseverance and Creativity — Your Keys to Entrepreneurial Success
September 2, 2020 • 29 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest Jim Huston. Jim has over four decades of experience in the landscaping industry and has written seven books that deal specifically with landscape irrigation and tree care. He is also a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators and one of only two Certified Professional Landscape Estimators in the world.“Perseverance is critical. The thing is, I think it's critical for entrepreneurs to realize the difference between perseverance and stubbornness. And I say that basically, perseverance and stubbornness, but it's’ really creative stubbornness. Like you're stubborn, you persevere, but you're not creative. You have to have both and this is where so many contractors just do not think outside the box. They just keep doing the same old thing over and over again without being creative and breaking the mold,” says Jim.We chat about the biggest myths around the landscape industry, as well as:
Steve Cunningham | Why Reading More Books Doesn't Make You A Better Leader
August 26, 2020 • 29 MIN
Steve Cunningham is on a mission to dispel a persistent myth: that to be successful you just need to read more books. Truth is you don’t need more knowledge… you just need the right knowledge that you can apply to your business and life. That’s where Steve’s Readitfor.me comes into play. He distills best-selling business and self-development books into impactful 12-minute text, audio, and video summaries. Instead of wading through a sea of books, you can choose topics to help you achieve specific goals and learn from the world’s top experts in those areas. As Steve puts it, he focuses on behaviors, actions, and results – not knowledge. Tune in to get all the details on his process, the results, and more, including… 
Jim Padilla | It’s Not What You Say, But Who You Are
August 25, 2020 • 43 MIN
Sales tactics shouldn’t be forced or hype-y, says master sales trainer Jim Padilla. This co-founder (with his wife, Cyndi) of the outsourced sales team provider and salesperson recruiter Gain the Edge maintains that effective sales is all about being “natural.” Jim says we are “selling” all the time – getting your kids to listen to you, for example. So he advocates bringing some of that care and attention to your business sales. Don’t slip your sales hat on when talking to a prospect – be yourself.  That helps you listen better and build a real relationship – that’s what gets quality leads and higher sales, says Jim. We talk about that in detail, including… 
Gary Varnell | I'm My Team's Problem
August 24, 2020 • 29 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with leadership expert Gary Varnell. Gary has over 35 years of corporate business and business ownership experience across five different industries, has worked in sales, sales management, training, and has even been a COO for a national company. Today, he is very passionate about helping people develop their leadership, sales, goal setting, and planning skills. We hope that by the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with the inspiration to take immediate action.“To me, the biggest myth about leadership is that because someone runs a company, or someone is promoted to a position of authority, they automatically think they're a leader. That is the furthest thing from the truth out there. People will follow someone who actually they look up to, admire, and respect, so it's who we become that they follow, not our position,” says Gary.We chat about more myths around leadership, as well as:
Kelley Jarvis | Reduce Your Time in Email by 95%
August 19, 2020 • 30 MIN
Many entrepreneurs and business owners have realized the value of having a virtual assistant.  But there is still a stigma attached for some, says Kelley Jarvis, director of client success with AssistPro: that a VA isn’t as effective as having someone in-house… that they’re somehow separate from the rest of the team. Kelley talks about why that’s a myth in our increasingly virtual world. Having a VA can be a seamless experience for you – and your clients – from day one. We dig deep into this topic – one we’re passionate about because of our top-performing VA - shout out to Katie! Tune in to find out… 
Judi Otton | Understanding Your Financials — Building A Fiscally-Fit Business
August 12, 2020 • 34 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest Judi Otton. Judi is the Founder and CEO of GrowthCast, a company dedicated to helping small business owners manage their cash flow, maximize their profits, and ensure that the financial aspects of their business are all in order. She is also a “CFO for hire” dedicated to teaching business owners how to build fiscally-fit businesses. “Many business owners will only look at one or a couple of things. They may only look at the balance in their bank account, or maybe they'll look at a P&L periodically, but there are a few things that should be worth looking at. First of all, their P&L, you want to know if you're running profitably. But, I also want them to be able to drill down into that and understand what kinds of customers, or what kinds of jobs, or what industry is really giving them the most profit, not the most revenue, which is the most money in the door, the most profit, which is how much money you keep at the end of the day,” says Judi.We chat about common money myths faced by business owners, as well as: 
Bob Mulhern | All Progress Begins with Truth
August 5, 2020 • 32 MIN
For Bob Mulhern, senior managing director brokerage operations in Arizona for Colliers International, the success of his firm – and the high esteem in which it is held by the industry – all comes down to company culture. It’s a defined mission statement based on core values that attracts like-minded top talent and keeps those who won’t be a good fit away. In fact, Bob says he often turns away high performers who won’t take the company culture to heart. Bob takes the time to outline in detail how he implements company culture, including the tough conversations he must sometimes have with team members who don’t “get it.” We also talk about… 
Mike Michalowicz | Business Owner vs Business Steward
July 29, 2020 • 16 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest Mike Michalowicz. Mike is an entrepreneur, lecturer, and author of seven books, including Clockwork, The Pumpkin Plan, and Profit First. He is also the founder of Profit First Professionals, an organization designed to support accountants, bookkeepers, and other financial professionals to substantially differentiate themselves in the market, and co-founder of Provendus Group, a business growth consultancy. “It’s a myth that it takes money to make money,” says Mike. “It's actually the opposite. When I had no money I was far more innovative— I challenged industry norms so much more. But, when I had an infusion of capital, I seemed to find ways to spend it really, admittedly, to satisfy my ego, I justified the big office and the nice car for sales and all that stuff. None of that stuff was true. So it's ironic, it does not take money to make money, I think actually it takes the lack of money to be innovative, and when you're innovative, you make a lot of money.”We chat more about the biggest myths around running a business, as well as: 
Tom Poland | What Goes Into Crafting A Truly Great Marketing Message?
July 22, 2020 • 30 MIN
On this week’s episode of The Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest Tom Poland, creator of Leadsology. Tom is a marketing mentor, and a guru for lead generation who has had incredible success when it comes to building marketing systems and getting people to think differently about the sales and marketing process. His focus today is “Leadsology: The Science of Being in Demand”, which is a blended learning program that gives professional advisors a model for generating a flow of high-quality, inbound, new client inquiries into their businesses.“One of the biggest myths is that you have to be really good at sales if you're going to get a new client on board. My take on that is that selling is what you have to do when your marketing sucks. If your marketing really sucks, your sales skills have to be pretty good because you haven't differentiated yourself or given anyone a compelling reason why they should pick you. If you get your marketing happening, the inquiries are going to come in and people are gonna want to work with you,” says Tom.We chat about debunking sales and marketing myths, as well as:
Deb Calvert | Exposing the Biggest Myths of Leadership
July 15, 2020 • 28 MIN
If, as a business leader, you feel “lonely at the top,” you’re going about it all wrong, says Deb Calvert, who helps companies with leadership and sales training, as well as creating more effective teams. If you become friends with your employees… you’ve gone too far the other way.  Deb offers a middle ground that makes people more productive and your business more successful.  It’s a strategy that incentivizes employees to work hard and in the right direction… without having to be told. We unpack that in detail and also discuss… 
Jeff Prager | Cashflow Makeover: Don't Focus On Revenue. Don't Focus On Profit.
July 8, 2020 • 28 MIN
On this week’s episode of The Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we speak with special guest Jeff Prager, a founding partner of The CFO Project. Money is something we don’t always talk about, but love to have, and when it comes to business, there are sometimes things that keep us from making the kind of money that we should be making. Jeff is a CPA who has been involved in cash flow engineering for many years, and has grown companies to eight and even nine figures. He joins us today to have an in-depth conversation about cash flow.“The idea behind cash flow engineering and The CFO Project is every dollar you invest in your business, you want a buck and a quarter back. How many of you would invest $1 in the stock market if you thought you were going to get 87 cents back? And we don't apply that same theory to our own businesses. We're leaking cash in places that your accountants, your bookkeepers, your CPAs are not telling you. As business owners, we only have to think about cash in versus cash out. Cash coming in has got to be greater than cash going out. It's really simple,” says Jeff.We chat about letting go of the ideas of revenue and profit, as well as:
Tracy Enos | Is LinkedIn Right For You & Your Business?
July 2, 2020 • 27 MIN
In this episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we have the honor of sitting down with a LinkedIn expert and business consultant— Tracy Enos— whose focus is to maximize the investment business owners make on LinkedIn. Not only does Tracy work with business owners, but she’s also the author of LinkedIn: Publishing To Profit.Think LinkedIn is just for select businesses and won’t work for you? “Think again,” says Tracy as she clears up some of the most common misconceptions people have about the platform.This week we chat about myths about the LinkedIn platform, as well as...
Adam Honig | A CRM on Steroids
July 1, 2020 • 32 MIN
Forget old school CRM, says Adam Honig, CEO of Spiro. It’s an expensive waste of time. The alternative:  PRM – Proactive Relationship Management.  Spiro uses AI for more effective and efficient data collection and communications with prospects that lead to more sales and growth for companies. They’re bringing “big data” to sales to make salespeople more productive and make sure they focus on activities that get results – like actually talking to prospects… and keep them accountable. And it’s all automatic. We get into detail on this and how to build effective sales teams, as well as… 
Wendy Weiss | Teach Your Salespeople How To Sell More Effectively Using A Defined System
June 30, 2020 • 28 MIN
On this week’s episode of The Blue Collar Culture Podcast, Jeremy and Ryan chat with Wendy Weiss, president of coldcallingresults.com. Wendy is an expert in sales, sales teams, lead generation, and getting salespeople to generate results. We know that sales are crucial to the growth of many businesses, and hope that our conversation with Wendy will shed some light on how to sell more effectively.“So many business owners, they go out, they hire a salesperson, they leave everything up to the salesperson, they keep that person around for a number of years, paying them a salary perhaps, or a draw against commission, and they don't sell anything,” says Wendy about one of the biggest mistakes business owners make when trying to increase their sales.We chat about creating a clearly defined process for salespeople to teach them exactly what they need to know, as well as:
Nicole Middendorf | Treat Your Money Well And Your Money Will Treat You Well — Nicole Middendorf Shares Her Insights
June 24, 2020 • 25 MIN
On this week’s episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we sit down with wealth advisor Nicole Middendorf. Nicole graduated from St. Cloud State University with an International Business and Marketing degree and began her career in the finance industry with Morgan Stanley before moving on to open her own practice in 2003.When asked about why she came up with the idea of the Live It List t, Nicole responds, “It's not just helping someone get to retirement, or get their kids to college. It's really about helping people figure out what's important about life, and what experiences they want to have.”We chat further with Nicole about the Live It List, as well as…
Vinnie Fisher | Why Culture Matters
June 17, 2020 • 37 MIN
In today’s episode of Blue Collar Culture, we sit down with Vinnie Fisher-- businessman, author, entrepreneur, husband, and father. Vinnie’s journey hasn’t been easy, coming from a family where he was the first to graduate college, “let alone secondary school,” says Vinnie. His story truly shows that perseverance and dedication can bring you great things.Before focusing on his business and family, Vinnie was a lawyer in the corporate branch of his firm, handling M&A deals. Then, Vinnie was coaxed out of the legal services world and ended up in building internet companies for over 10 years, the last of which was sold off in 2014. Now, Vinnie runs Fully Accountable-- a complete back-office solution. “I was so excited when I got the idea of talking about blue-collar culture because we live the idea of culture every day and in what we do,” says Vinnie on why he’s appearing on the show. We’ll talk to Vinnie about how he defines culture, how he’d describe the culture at Fully Accountable, as well as…
Kathy Boyle | Thinking of Selling Your Business? Why You Need a Legal Framework in Place
June 10, 2020 • 29 MIN
In this episode of the Blue Collar Culture podcast, we chat with consultant and business planner Kathy Boyle. Kathy is the owner of Chapin Hill Advisors and focuses on the question on most business owners’ minds: “what happens when I don’t want to do this anymore?”When it comes to succession planning, estate planning, and even personal planning, Kathy is here to help us break down some myths about getting out of the business. We can’t wait for you to hear all the valuable information we have in this episode! We’ll chat with Kathy about the two biggest mistakes she sees business owners making, as well as…
Laura Posey | One-Page Business Success Plan
June 3, 2020 • 33 MIN
In the popular imagination entrepreneurs fly by the seat of their pants… make bold decisions on a whim. Inspiration and a “go-for-it” attitude are certainly part of breakthrough businesses. But, says Laura Posey, you mustn’t forget to plan. Without a plan you won’t have a clear path to success, know what you need to do to get there, or even recognize what success looks like.  Laura says planning shouldn’t take long – just a few hours for an entire year. And your plan shouldn’t take up more than a page. Those limitations, she explains, force you to focus on “the stuff you deeply care about.” We talk about what must be in a plan, what you can leave out, how to communicate your vision to your team and get their buy-in, and much more. Tune in to find out…
Allison De Paoli | Better Healthcare for Your Business
May 27, 2020 • 32 MIN
Small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. are facing a crisis: employee healthcare plans. The costs are out of control and going up… while benefits don’t offer a great experience for employees. Allison De Paoli of Altiqe Consulting has experience on the provider side and now helps owners create benefits programs that don’t break the bank and provide better care – which helps attract top talent.  One way is to take out the hidden healthcare costs most people aren’t aware of, including one component of typical plans that could save you 25% to 30% without disrupting your employees 
Mitch Russo | Taking Steps Towards Intentionality
May 20, 2020 • 43 MIN
In this episode of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, we sit down with Mitch Russo. Mitch started a software company in his garage, sold it for eight figures, and then went on to work directly with Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes to build a $25 million dollar business together! Mitch is also an author and has been nominated twice as Entrepreneur of the Year. “Ask questions, get help, be open to mentorship and coaching, go beyond what you think is right, be inquisitive, constantly be asking questions. There is no place for ego, but confidence is imperative,” says Mitch when asked about the advice he would give to business owners.We’ll chat with Mitch about how setting intentions can help you succeed in business, different ways opportunities may arise, as well as…
Jason Blumer | Integrators and Visionaries
May 13, 2020 • 28 MIN
Jason Blumer is a CPA. But he and his partner have created more than just a standard accounting firm.  As “entrepreneurial consultants,” they are passionate about giving business owners the tools and resources they need to grow their companies… while keeping the financials in order. Along the way, he’s used many of the lessons he learned when growing his own business. A key element: finding the right partner that complemented his strengths – and kept him out of trouble. Tune in to find out the strategies they’ve created for working together and with their employees, including… 
Josh Fonger | Let People Help You - How Delegating Can Help Your Business
May 6, 2020 • 36 MIN
In today’s episode of Blue Collar Culture, we sit down with Josh Fonger, a business performance architect and co-founder of Work The System. Josh is an international business consultant, coach, and speaker… all while helping hundreds of businesses grow simply by applying the systems created by Work The System. Josh’s specialty is taking stressed out entrepreneurs from working in their business to working on their business using his simple system. This leads to profit and freedom becoming more consistent.This interview had so many insights that we’re excited to share with you! We’ll chat with Josh about documenting systems in your business, why systems are important for your employees’ success, as well as…
Adam Lean | The Higher Revenue, Lower Profit Paradox
April 29, 2020 • 43 MIN
The key drivers of your business success are your numbers and financial data. But too many small business owners have a vague understanding of how to measure success, says Adam Lean of The CFO Project. In fact, despite growing sales many find themselves with dwindling profits. But used the right way, says Adam, numbers can actually tell you what’s working and what’s not in your business – and how to fix it. There are two numbers that matter the most in your business. Get a handle on those and you’ll have less stress, more money, and a better work/life balance. Tune in to get all the details, including…
Dan Kuschell | A New Take on Work/Life Balance
April 22, 2020 • 36 MIN
Dan Kuschell has started 11 companies and coached more than 5,000 entrepreneurs in all sorts of industries. Through decades of business experience he’s gained unique insights into why some businesses thrive, others barely survive, and some die. One thing he knows for sure is that simply working hard doesn’t guarantee success. And often it wreaks havoc on your life. It’s a lesson he learned the hard way in a hospital emergency room. But you won’t find him talking about work/life balance. Find out why he doesn’t believe in it, at least in the conventional sense, as well as…
Paul Maskill | How To Start Automating Your Business Today
April 15, 2020 • 38 MIN
In today’s episode, we sit down with Paul Maskill. After building his own business from zero to half a million dollars in 4 years and selling it for a lucrative return, Paul founded the Ultimate Freedom Mastermind.After watching his father pour everything he had into his own service business for 40 years until he couldn’t do it anymore, Paul knew something had to change. Today, Paul helps other small business owners automate and scale their business so it can thrive without them,enabling them to leverage their business to build a life they love. We’ll chat with Paul about how to initially identify a problem within your business, how to start getting out of your business so you can work on it, as well as…
Gino Wickman | 6 Traits of a Successful Entrepreneur
April 8, 2020 • 45 MIN
There are a lot of myths about what it means to be an entrepreneur out there… not to mention what success looks like and how to get it. As author of the bestseller Traction and the new book, Entrepreneurial Leap, and the creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System, Gino Wickman is in a unique position to define all those elements. The tools he’s built are impacting more than 100,000 businesses worldwide – this interview is your chance to be one of them. He kicks things off by revealing the six essential traits of the successful entrepreneur, and that’s just the start. We also talk about… 
Bert Martinez | Using Marketing to Find Employees
April 1, 2020 • 26 MIN
In his work with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, Bert Martinez has perfected a marketing strategy that converts prospects into customers with ease… and spurs growth as a result. He says that this is especially important for those small businesses because they are the ones that struggle most with creating impactful, effective marketing.  One of the issues is that they don’t really know who their customers are and what needs they have, even though they are usually confident that they understand their target market. We talk about that disconnect, as well as…
Spencer Horn | The Secret of Intentional Hiring
March 25, 2020 • 46 MIN
When it comes to leading a team, says business consultant and executive coach Spencer Horn, you can’t just get some advice or a quick training. There are no “tricks” to managing people and processes.  Instead, you have to understand people and why they act in certain ways… and don’t act in crucial situations. It is also important to examine yourself – your personality and tendencies.  Could your own habits be stopping you from being the most effective you can be? Spencer takes a deep dive into those topics in our chat. And we also discuss… 
Mike Toney and Travis Gepson | Secrets of High-Performing Salespeople
March 18, 2020 • 45 MIN
Every business – no matter how well they’re doing – would like to improve their sales. The solution, say Mike Toney and Travis Gepson of Conquest Training, isn’t to hire more salespeople or boost quotas. It’s to take your current sales team and improve performance through targeted training. Truth is that standard sales training just doesn’t work. At the heart is communication, and Mike and Travis explain how that translates to what you do during sales calls and other interactions with potential customers. Your first step is changing the way you think about your company and its products. We also talk about… 
Brian Burt | Your Guide To Managing Employees
March 11, 2020 • 45 MIN
In today’s episode, we chat with Brian Burt-- attorney at law and an advisor to entrepreneurs who are in the growth stage. Brian advises on all stages of development, from formation to liquidity, and works with businesses such as banks, financial service companies, private investors, and venture capital funds.Brian chats with us about the common mistakes business owners make, what business owners should know when they’re just getting started, and…
Shaina Weisinger | The Dos and Don’ts of Content Marketing
February 27, 2020 • 43 MIN
Content marketing is a big buzzword these days for a good reason. It’s an effective way for brands and companies to build profitable relationships with customers.But Shaina Weisinger maintains that many businesses are going about content creation all wrong. They’re busting their butts to get content out there… but not using it to its full potential.  We talk about an approach that bolsters your ROI on content marketing and beefs up your all-important social media presence. Shaina also shares the hiring secrets she’s picked up over the years that have helped her put together a very effective team. Tune in for the details from Shaina on all that, as well as… 
Allen Plunkett | Building an Effective Team
February 27, 2020 • 43 MIN
One of the biggest challenges of running a business is finding good people. With the right team in place, you can experience exponential growth. The first step to attracting the best employees, says Phoenix Staff founder Allen Plunkett, is having your company culture dialed in. He explains how to create an authentic culture that inspires current team members and attracts the best new candidates – while helping the business meet financial goals. Allen shares plenty of other hiring, human resources, and recruiting tips you won’t hear from most experts in this industry, including…
Finding the Right Team for a Blue Collar Business
February 27, 2020 • 8 MIN
They may not be seen as “hip” as the big tech companies by the business press or popular culture, but blue-collar businesses truly are the backbone of the U.S. economy. Inspired by their blue-collar backgrounds, Jeremy Macliver and Ryan Englin, the hosts of the Blue Collar Culture Podcast, are on a mission to help blue-collar businesses stand out from their competition and get the people they need on their team to thrive. Blue collar definitely includes typical construction type trades. But Jeremy and Ryan include other industries in the definition, such as companies that have a lot of frontline, hourly employees in manufacturing, IT, and more. Upcoming guests include an outsourcing expert who finds top employees in unlikely places, a staffing consultant who says good hiring is a “group effort,” and more. Tune in to find out…