Send us a text

Collaboration only works when both sides win—and when you can prove your value every single day. That’s the lens Chris Canova brings as he walks us through how Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) scaled from a small team to 70+ staff across ten counties, serving youth, specialized populations, and now adults in manufacturing, business, and the growing polymer sector. We unpack the hard truth behind the word “collaboration”: it’s overused, under-practiced, and only becomes real through engagement, relationships, and clear mutual benefit.

We dig into a practical framework leaders can use right away: meet partners where they are, invest in the relationship before the contract, and set expectations that tie results to shared goals. Chris explains why nonprofits must operate like businesses to earn trust with employers and schools, and how to avoid common traps—charity posture, misaligned incentives, and one-sided deals. Inside the organization, we talk about ending silos with intentional, face-to-face time, cross-team outcomes that demand cooperation, and simple rituals that make a growing culture feel connected.

For small businesses eager to join the talent solution, we lay out a realistic starting path: be transparent about wages, schedules, and access; run a small pilot; and build from proof, not hype. Chris shares hard lessons from partnerships that went sideways and the guardrails that prevent a repeat. We also explore two big forces shaping the next five years of workforce development: engaging younger workers who crave investment and belonging, and embracing AI as a training and productivity tool that retains talent rather than scares it away.

If you’re ready to build partnerships that last, strengthen your team, and turn “collaboration” from a buzzword into a competitive edge, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with your top takeaway so we can keep bringing you practical strategies that work.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

Confidence doesn’t show up on command; it grows after courage. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Erica Hill, the creator of Positioning Self—a coaching framework that turns soft skills into daily, practiced habits for interns, first-year hires, and emerging leaders. We dig into a two-sided model that pairs early-career professionals with mentors or supervisors who actively make space to practice, so growth isn’t left to chance or squeezed into yet another classroom.

Erica breaks down why “questionable” curiosity is a superpower when it’s grounded in self-checks, research, and safe, specific prompts that invite dialogue rather than trigger defense. We unpack how to transform questions into collaboration, move from fear to action, and build a “confidence bank” you can draw on when the stakes rise. You’ll hear how borrowing others’ belief can bridge the gap as you develop your own, and why courage—tiny, repeatable acts of it—is the real front door to confidence.

We also explore “sociable” networking that starts with the people who already know your work, then expands through warm introductions, volunteering, and one-on-ones that actually fit your wiring. Instead of generic advice, Erica’s micro-lessons arrive by text and include audio, written guidance, and live challenges designed to fit real schedules and diverse learning styles. For leaders, the takeaway is clear: if you can’t make the time to mentor, at least create the space—safe sandboxes, explicit invitations to practice, and support that turns potential into performance.

If building soft skills, smarter questions, and durable confidence matters to you or your team, this one’s a bookmark. Subscribe, share with a manager or mentee, and leave a review telling us the one soft skill you’re committed to practicing this week.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

Do you know what your health insurance broker actually does? Most small business owners assume their broker simply shops for the cheapest rates, but that's just skimming the surface of what a true strategic benefits advisor should provide.

Alice Rhodes from AUI breaks down this misunderstood role, revealing that for businesses with fewer than 50 employees, benefits aren't just about price—they're about protection, retention, and compliance. A great broker doesn't just deliver quotes; they develop game plans tailored to your specific business needs, navigating the complex world of insurance options to find solutions that are relevant, cost-effective, and actually work.

Northeast Ohio businesses have a distinct advantage with nine carriers offering various products including MIWAs (Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements), level-funded plans, self-funded options, and captives. This competitive landscape creates opportunities that aren't available in many other regions, but it also requires knowledgeable guidance to navigate effectively. What separates good brokers from great ones? Great brokers take time to understand your business structure, employee needs, and ask critical questions that others might miss—like whether common ownership across multiple businesses could allow you to combine entities for better purchasing power.

The "set it and forget it" approach to insurance is dangerous. Benefits aren't static—legislative changes occur, workforce demographics shift, and compliance issues arise throughout the year. If you only speak with your broker during renewal season, you're missing crucial support. True broker partners check in regularly, assist with claims issues, help with new hires, and educate your team about effectively using their benefits. This education piece is vital, as employees who understand how to be smart healthcare consumers (like knowing when to use independent labs instead of hospitals for testing) can save hundreds of dollars while helping keep overall plan costs down.

Ready to evaluate your current broker relationship? Ask yourself: When was the last time you saw them? Have they helped with claim problems? Do they educate your team? Do you even know their name? The best business leaders don't just react—they plan proactively. Reach out to us at AUI to discover what a true strategic benefits partnership looks like.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

Do your employees dread Sunday nights because they have to return to your workplace on Monday morning? That's one of the clearest signs your company culture needs attention, according to HR expert Julie Wheeler.

In this eye-opening conversation about workplace culture, Julie cuts through the superficial trappings that many businesses mistake for culture—ping pong tables, pizza parties, and motivational posters. Instead, she reveals what truly matters to employees: feeling safe, understood, and valued in their workplace.

"No business owner ever starts a business for no reason and no purpose, with no values," Julie explains. The challenge lies in consistently reinforcing those values and ensuring employees connect with them. Simply posting mission statements on walls isn't enough if daily operations contradict these proclaimed ideals. Employees quickly identify this disconnect and respond with cynicism.

Julie shares practical insights on recognizing early warning signs of culture problems, supporting new managers through their transition to leadership, and the critical importance of leadership presence. Her powerful statement that "presence is power" underscores how invisible leadership creates a vacuum where culture deteriorates.

For business owners feeling overwhelmed by culture challenges, Julie offers actionable advice: start by talking to your people, give them a voice, and be willing to implement their suggestions. Sometimes bringing in a third party facilitates these conversations more effectively, preventing defensive reactions from leadership.

Whether you're a small business owner struggling with employee engagement or a growing company developing your management team, this conversation provides the roadmap for building a workplace where people genuinely want to contribute their best. Listen now to transform how you think about company culture—and take the first step toward becoming an organization where Sunday night dread becomes Monday morning anticipation.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

"There's always a solution. It might be over, might be under, might be around, or straight through." These words of wisdom from Adrienne Wilkerson, co-founder of Beacon Media + Marketing, perfectly capture the mindset needed to navigate what she calls "the messy middle" of entrepreneurship.

From her beginnings as Alaska's first full-service digital marketing agency to becoming a specialized partner for mental health and behavioral health businesses nationwide, Adrienne's journey demonstrates the power of stubborn determination coupled with strategic flexibility. Her two-time Inc. 5000 company has weathered industry disruptions and major pivots by embracing change rather than resisting it.

During our conversation, Adrienne demystifies the difference between logos and comprehensive brands, breaking down the seven essential elements every business needs for authentic marketing. She shares why niching down—though initially terrifying—ultimately creates clarity that attracts ideal clients. Her insights on building company culture through relentless communication of values, and leveraging different learning styles in leadership, provide actionable strategies for creating stronger teams. The discussion extends to modern marketing approaches, distinguishing between quick-win lead generation and the longer-term trust building that creates loyal clients who "know, like, and trust" your business.

Want to get just 1% better in your business today? Adrienne suggests looking for simple solutions to complex problems. Rather than focusing on what's broken, identify what's working in your business—a person, system, service or product—and find straightforward ways to duplicate that success. Listen now to discover how this approach can help you navigate your own "messy middle" with confidence and clarity.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

Reaching that 15-30 employee threshold brings a crucial decision for business owners: is it time to hire a dedicated HR person? Before taking that leap, Julie Wheeler of Clarity HR makes a compelling case for considering fractional HR services as a strategic alternative that could save your business money while providing superior expertise.

When businesses cross this growth threshold, they typically face one of two scenarios: either they've experienced a negative event highlighting their compliance gaps, or their office manager has become overwhelmed as simple HR tasks evolve into complex responsibilities requiring specialized knowledge. The misconception that employment regulations only matter once you reach 50 employees leaves many small businesses vulnerable to costly mistakes.

Wheeler explains that fractional HR offers distinct advantages over hiring a single full-time generalist. Rather than paying for 40 hours weekly of limited expertise, fractional services provide access to a collaborative team of specialists with diverse industry knowledge and regulatory expertise. This approach delivers high-level guidance that might otherwise be unaffordable, especially considering the rising salaries commanded by experienced HR professionals.

Perhaps most valuable is the unfiltered perspective fractional HR professionals provide. Unlike employees who might hesitate to challenge the owner's perspectives, external consultants can directly address problematic practices without fear of repercussions. "An employee doesn't always have that leverage to say 'you hired me as an expert, why aren't you taking my advice?'" Wheeler notes. "We're going to give them our best advice to protect them and their organization, regardless of whether they're going to be happy with that answer."

For business owners wondering if they need HR support, Wheeler offers a simple litmus test: listen to your employees. When staff members begin questioning policies, seeking clarification on procedures, or documenting issues independently, these are strong indicators your HR infrastructure needs attention. These challenges are common in growing businesses, and addressing them proactively creates an environment where expectations are clear and the organization is protected from compliance risks.

Ready to explore if fractional HR is right for your business? Schedule a discovery call with Clarity HR today and take the first step toward comprehensive HR support tailored to your organization's unique needs.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

The difference between a struggling small business and a thriving one often comes down to how they approach employee benefits. Most business owners think they have benefits figured out—but as Alice Rhodes, Vice President of Employee Benefits at AUI reveals, they absolutely do not.

Benefits shouldn't be treated as just another monthly expense. When employers make drastic changes without considering the human impact, the consequences can be devastating. "I had people in tears," Alice shares about one company that suddenly switched employees from a $250 deductible plan to an $8,000 deductible. This short-sighted approach to cost-cutting often leads to losing key talent and creating unnecessary workplace tension.

Even small businesses with just 3-10 employees can offer competitive benefits packages when they approach the process strategically. From low-deductible plans with copays to HSAs that provide tax advantages and flexible spending options, small employers have more options than they realize. The key is working with a knowledgeable broker who understands the specific needs of your team and can navigate the complex world of insurance offerings.

Perhaps most critically, business owners must recognize the serious compliance requirements surrounding benefits administration. Mistakes with COBRA, inconsistent waiting periods, or discriminatory practices can result in substantial penalties—fines accumulate per day, per employee, per occurrence, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some violations even carry the risk of jail time. As Alice advises, "Don't confuse 'this works' with 'this works well.'" A benefits strategy that truly works well goes beyond merely checking boxes—it becomes a powerful tool for attracting and retaining the talent your business needs to thrive.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

Send us a text

Are you unwittingly turning away potential customers because of an inaccessible website? Digital marketing expert Elizabeth Orley shares her personal awakening to the importance of accessibility after breaking her arm and suddenly finding herself unable to use a computer mouse with her dominant hand. This eye-opening experience transformed her understanding of how digital spaces can either welcome or exclude users based on their abilities.

Contrary to popular belief, digital accessibility isn't just about accommodating people with permanent disabilities. It benefits anyone who might be experiencing temporary limitations, aging-related changes in dexterity, or even someone who's simply forgotten their reading glasses. As Orley points out, "If we're not designing for everybody, then what are we doing?"

Beyond the ethical imperative, there are compelling business reasons to prioritize accessibility. The same elements that make your website accessible to screen readers—like proper heading structure and descriptive alt text—also improve your SEO performance. Google's algorithms crawl websites similarly to how accessibility tools do, making accessibility and search visibility two sides of the same coin.

Small business owners should be particularly concerned about the legal risks of inaccessible websites. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires digital spaces to be accessible, and lawyers are increasingly targeting non-compliant sites. Even if your business operates from a state without strict accessibility laws, you can be sued by customers from California or New York if you sell to those markets. With settlements averaging $15,000-$20,000 (not including remediation costs), accessibility isn't just good practice—it's protection against potentially devastating legal expenses.

Ready to make your digital presence more accessible? Start by using free tools like WAVE (wave.webaim.org) or Google's Page Speed tool to evaluate your current compliance. For social media, ensure all information appears in your post text rather than only in graphics, and always add descriptive alt text to images. When posting videos, manually review auto-generated captions for accuracy, knowing that 80% of videos are watched with no sound.

Take the first step toward digital accessibility today. Your customers—present and future—will thank you for it.

🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world:

🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses.

📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business.

🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most.

💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.