Joe Apfelbaum, CEO of evyAI discusses leveraging LinkedIn and AI for business growth.

Key Takeaways

- LinkedIn has over 1 billion users, making it a powerful networking platform for businesses of all sizes

- evyAI offers AI-powered tools to optimize LinkedIn usage, including content creation and relationship building

- Personalized, strategic networking on LinkedIn can lead to high-quality customer relationships and business growth

- A bundle promotion combines evyAI software and training for enhanced LinkedIn effectiveness

Topics

LinkedIn's Potential for Business Growth

- 1 billion+ users across 200 countries and territories

- Owned by Microsoft, generating $1 billion profit annually

- Ideal for networking and building high-quality customer relationships

- Effective for businesses of all sizes, including home services and small businesses

evyAI Software and Strategy

- AI-powered tools for optimizing LinkedIn usage

- Assists with content creation, commenting, and relationship building

- Provides frameworks for effective networking and client acquisition

- Includes training on LinkedIn strategy and best practices

AI in Business Beyond LinkedIn

- evyAI expanding to other platforms (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram)

- Emphasis on manual, personalized interactions rather than full automation

- AI used for research and personalization in networking

Networking and Relationship Building

- Focus on personal accounts rather than business accounts

- Importance of personalization and using first names

- Strategic approach to building and maintaining connections

Next Steps

- Text "bundle" to 973-841-8868 for a special evyAI promotion

- Visit evyAI.com/bundle for more information on services

- Implement strategic LinkedIn usage for business growth and networking

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

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Francie Jain discusses her entrepreneurial journey and insights from founding Terawatt, a B2B marketplace for professional coaching.

Key Takeaways

- Terawatt connects organizations with coaches, focusing on healthcare to reduce employee turnover and improve workplace dynamics

- Building a value-based business requires persistence and adaptability; it took Francie ~9 years to find the right business model

- Understanding personal strengths/weaknesses and leveraging relationships are key to entrepreneurial success

- Professional development and coaching can significantly reduce employee turnover, potentially saving millions for organizations

Topics

Terawatt's Evolution

- Started in 2016 addressing job losses in manufacturing (5-15M from 2000-2016)

- Pivoted to a B2B marketplace model connecting coaches with organizations

- Now focuses on healthcare vertical to address high turnover rates (industry avg ~20%)

- Uses group coaching to improve workplace dynamics and reduce turnover

Business Model Insights

- B2B focus allows leveraging existing professional development budgets (~$1,200/employee avg)

- 15% commission model aligns incentives with coaches

- No upfront costs for coaches, reducing barriers to platform adoption

- Case study: Reduced hospital turnover from 24% to 4%, saving $33M over 8-9 years

Entrepreneurial Lessons

- Value-based businesses may take longer to find the right business model

- Focus on personal strengths (e.g. Francie's relationship-building skills)

- Outsource or table tasks you're not good at, especially with limited budget

- Constantly seek and listen to feedback to outperform your talent

Professional Development Impact

- Correlation between nurse burnout and negative patient experiences

- Investing in employee development increases loyalty and retention

- Healthcare professionals often lack management training despite technical expertise

Leadership Insights

- Leverage various mentorship sources: books, networking groups, coaches

- Recommended book: "Turn the Ship Around" by L. David Marquet

- Set clear success metrics with new hires/bosses to align expectations

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Cole Flanders discusses his faith journey and beliefs as a dad and an entrepreneur.

Key Takeaways

- Cole's faith journey began as a pastor's kid but became personal in college through intentional study and mentorship

- Regular church attendance, intentional prayer time with his wife, and daily family worship are key practices in Cole's faith

- Cole emphasizes the importance of finding Christian mentors and community for spiritual growth

- Passing faith to the next generation involves consistent modeling, teaching, and incorporating faith discussions into daily life

Topics

Cole's Faith Journey

- Grew up as a pastor's kid in Methodist churches

- Faith became personal in college through campus ministry involvement

- Father encouraged him to study and form his own beliefs

- Pivotal mentorship from Pastor Rob Bailey after college

Key Faith Practices

- Regular church attendance for community and accountability

- Biannual prayer retreats with wife to seek God's direction

- Daily family worship time including Bible reading and prayer

- Intentionally incorporating faith discussions into everyday moments with children

Discerning God's Call

- Looks for open doors and lack of clear "no" from God

- Continued to pursue Chick-fil-A opportunity despite many initial rejections

- Emphasizes patience and persistence in following God's leading

Sharing Faith with Others

- Finds asking about church attendance an easy conversation starter

- Acknowledges personal discomfort but pushes through it

- Seeks to learn about others' backgrounds to guide conversations

Passing Faith to Children

- Consistent church attendance as a family

- Daily family worship time ("dessert and Bible time")

- Incorporating faith discussions into discipline and everyday moments

- Goal is for faith conversations to be natural, not forced

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

John Ray discusses his book "The Generosity Mindset" and insights on pricing strategies for small business owners.

Key Takeaways

- Clients often see more value in services than business owners realize; understanding this client-perceived value is key to effective pricing

- Asking probing questions about client motivations and outcomes helps uncover true value and informs pricing strategy

- Offering tiered pricing options (good/better/best) allows clients to choose their preferred level of service and often leads to selecting the middle option

- Charging based on value and creating win-win transactions is ethical and necessary for business sustainability, even for faith-driven entrepreneurs

Topics

John Ray's Background and Expertise

- Business advisor/consultant/coach specializing in pricing strategies, particularly for service-based businesses

- Host of North Fulton Business Radio podcast (850+ episodes)

- Author of "The Generosity Mindset" about pricing journey and helping others improve pricing

Understanding Client-Perceived Value

- Clients often see intangible value beyond the core service (e.g. pride in well-lit business, enhanced branding)

- Example: Garage door repair valued for "domestic tranquility," not just fixing the door

- Ask probing questions to uncover true client motivations and perceived value

- Look for clients who give unprompted positive reviews or want to buy additional services

Pricing Strategies

- Have "value conversations" to understand outcomes clients truly value

- Offer tiered pricing options (good/better/best model) - most choose the middle option

- Consider differentiating based on timing, who does the work, etc.

- Avoid underpricing or offering "too good to be true" prices that may deter clients

Ethical Considerations in Pricing

- Charging based on value allows businesses to be sustainable and continue serving clients

- Faith-driven entrepreneurs shouldn't feel obligated to undercharge or give everything away

- Example: Chick-fil-A charges premium prices but delivers value and gives generously

Improving Client Selection

- Be more selective about clients as you grow; don't take everyone who comes in the door

- Focus on best-fit clients who value your services most

- Consider serving fewer clients at higher prices for increased profitability

Next Steps

- Read John Ray's book "The Generosity Mindset" for more in-depth pricing insights

- Evaluate your current pricing strategy and client base

- Implement value conversations and tiered pricing options in your business

- Follow John Ray on LinkedIn (JohnRay1) for ongoing pricing and value commentary

- Visit johnray.co or email john@johnray.co for more information

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Ken Thomas (KT) from Connect Ministries discusses his faith journey and how Connect Ministries serves local churches across the United States.

Key Takeaways

- Connect Ministries helps churches meet new people through programs like Connect Camps and Connect Marketing

- KT emphasizes the importance of parents taking primary responsibility for their children's spiritual development

- Churches are encouraged to focus on serving and ministering outside their walls to reach those not thinking about faith

- The "front door" of churches has shifted to online/social media presence, requiring new strategies

Topics

Connect Ministries Overview

- Nonprofit organization serving churches for 18 years

- Mission: Help churches meet new people

- Key programs:

- Connect Camps: Day camps partnering with local churches (325,000+ campers, 15,000+ accepted Christ)

- Connect Marketing: Helping churches with online/social media presence

Parental Role in Faith Development

- Parents have primary responsibility, not just the church

- Make faith conversations natural part of daily life

- Seek resources from church leaders for age-appropriate discipleship

- KT's personal experience starting a church pushed him to lead his kids' spiritual growth

Ministry Outside Church Walls

- Focus on serving community with no strings attached (e.g. volunteering as youth sports coaches)

- Story of Mike at basketball tournament - drawn in by volunteers' service

- Christians should be known as best employees, leaders, community members

- "You're now entering your mission field" mindset when leaving church

Changing Church "Front Door"

- Most people check out churches online 3-4 times before visiting

- Over 50% decide not to visit based on social media/website

- Connect Marketing helps churches improve online presence and strategy

- Many church staff not trained in digital communication/marketing

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Melissa Kelley discusses her role at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and their new student programs initiative.

Key Takeaways

- The Institute is expanding into student programs for middle school, high school, and college students to address the leadership skills gap

- Melissa emphasizes the importance of mentorship, vulnerability, and creating a safe space for growth in leadership development

- The Institute became a non-profit in July, enabling them to scale student programs through virtual cohorts, camps, and competitions

Topics

Institute for Entrepreneurship Background

- Founded by Chris Hanks and Melissa Kelley ~5 years ago

- Started with CEO roundtable program for business owners

- Developed executive leadership program for emerging leaders

- Recently expanded focus to student programs

New Student Programs Initiative

- Addressing 93% of business owners citing leadership/soft skills as essential, yet only 16% of students exposed to structured leadership curriculum

- Planned offerings:

- Virtual after-school cohorts

- Project-based curriculum

- In-person sessions (logistically challenging)

- Summer camps (targeted launch this summer)

- Business idea competitions

Melissa's Background and Role

- Former middle school teacher, transitioned to Institute in 2020

- Initially felt imposter syndrome, but grew into leadership role

- Focuses on building culture of support and shared wisdom

Advice for Entrepreneurs and Leaders

- Leverage mentorship both personally and professionally

- Give grace to developing leaders, recognizing the skills gap

- Create safe spaces for questions and vulnerability

- Focus on impact over impressing others

Book Recommendation

- "Atomic Habits" by James Clear - helps analyze and improve daily routines and behaviors

Next Steps

- Melissa committed to building out student programs this year

- Fundraising for non-profit to support camps, cohorts, and other initiatives

- Seeking partnerships with schools and businesses to prepare students for workforce

- Continuing to develop and scale CEO roundtable and executive leadership programs

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ

Jason Brakefield encourages listeners in their faith journey.

Key Takeaways

- Jason emphasizes the importance of transparency, humility, and living out faith authentically as both a parent and youth minister

- He advises focusing on making disciples as the primary calling, rather than getting caught up in specific career paths

- Jason highlights the value of building genuine relationships with students to better guide and mentor them

- He stresses the need for parents to demonstrate real, vulnerable faith to their children, including moments of struggle and repentance

Topics

Jason's Faith Journey

- Came under conviction at age 5 but didn't commit to Christ until 15 due to fear

- Called to ministry at 18, preached first sermon shortly after

- Worked summer camps at 26, met his wife Jordan

- Now has two children: Andrew (7) and a daughter (born when Jason was 37)

Advice for Parenting Teenagers

- Allow teens to make mistakes while still being available for guidance

- Teach wisdom by explaining reasons behind decisions, not just saying "because I said so"

- Be patient and extend grace, remembering how you would want to be treated

- View the home as a safe training ground for failure and growth

Practical Habits for Spiritual Growth

- Focus on building genuine community in youth ministry

- Simplify programming to keep the main things (worship, prayer, Bible study) central

- Live out what you preach with authenticity and transparency

- Be willing to apologize and model humility when you make mistakes

Discerning God's Call

- Primary calling for all believers is to make disciples (Great Commission)

- Be patient in determining specific career/life direction

- Consider personal strengths, interests, and personality when exploring options

- Don't put pressure on figuring everything out immediately

Overcoming Fear in Sharing Faith

- Start by surrendering fear to God, even if it doesn't fully disappear

- Look to examples in Acts of bold proclamation despite lack of education

- Trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to work through your words

- Focus on simply sharing what you know about Jesus, not having all the answers

Passing Faith to the Next Generation

- Live out authentic faith for your children to witness, including struggles

- Let kids see you crying out to God in difficult moments, not just surface-level prayers

- Apologize when you fail and own your mistakes

- Point children to the perfect Heavenly Father, not trying to be perfect yourself

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who's struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don't have enough work to keep them employed year-round?

You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Looking for the best AI Notetaker? Check out my link to FathomAI and get a month of premium for free! https://fathom.video/invite/UT2ZaQ