In this episode of the Business Brains and BS podcast, we dive deep into the silent performance killer: The Ego. Join us as we explore why getting too personally attached to your business processes can cloud your judgment and hinder growth.

We discuss the famous "Godfather" philosophy—"It's not personal, it's strictly business"—and why, in reality, every business decision carries a personal weight that leaders must learn to manage. From the struggles of hiring the right fit to the "Bad Apple" effect in company culture, we break down how to use KPIs and core values to detach and make better decisions.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro: The Role of Ego in Business
• 1:18 – The Godfather Philosophy: Personal vs. Business
• 2:48 – Personal Investment and the "Clouded Vision"
• 3:45 – Hiring Challenges and the Fear of Failure
• 4:30 – Accountability: Clarity in Roles and Expectations
• 6:10 – The Ego of the "Solopreneur": Scaling Beyond Yourself
• 7:14 – Using KPIs and Metrics for Objectivity
• 8:15 – Leading by Example: Implementing Systems
• 9:20 – The "Nobody Cares as Much as I Do" Trap
• 11:00 – Why "Good People" Aren't Hard to Find
• 11:43 – The Marine Recruiter Method: High Expectations in Hiring
• 13:50 – Culture Shifts: Promoting Toxic Employees to "Customer"
• 16:00 – Identifying Identity: Are You Your Job Title?
• 17:30 – The Two-Phone Rule: Strategies for Work-Life Balance
• 18:50 – Final Thoughts: Values as the Foundation of Business

In this episode of Business, Brains & BS, we dive deep into one of the most powerful concepts from Napoleon Hill’s legendary book, Think and Grow Rich: "No man is ever whipped until he quits in his own mind."

Being a business owner is a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Whether you are celebrating a massive win or questioning every decision you’ve ever made, the difference between failure and success often comes down to one thing: perseverance.

In this video, we discuss:

• The Power of the Reticular Activating System (RAS): How setting a clear goal changes what you see and the opportunities you find.
• The "Three Feet from Gold" Lesson: Why many entrepreneurs quit right before their big break and how to keep pushing through.
• The Importance of Community: Why isolation is the enemy of success and how a support system keeps you from feeling "whipped."
• Imperfect Action: Why doing something is always better than staying stuck in "prose and analysis."

Join us for an honest conversation about the mental grit required to survive the first five years of business and beyond.

What if the secret to true happiness wasn't making more money, but managing your expectations?

In this episode of the Business Brains and BS Podcast, we explore a powerful quote from comedian Jimmy Carr: "Happiness is your current situation minus expectations". Join us as we unpack the psychological trap of "keeping up with the Joneses," the biology of "avoiding threats vs. pursuing rewards," and why downsizing a lifestyle can sometimes lead to an upgrading of the soul.

We share personal stories about leaving the security of corporate America, the fear of starting a business (Evolution Mental Health Services), and the "pruning" process required to grow into the person you were meant to be.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• Why "worst-case scenarios" aren't as scary as they seem once you accept your current reality.
• How advertising and social media manipulate our biological survival instincts by turning rewards into perceived threats.
• The difference between "Revenue vs. Profit" and why revenue is often just vanity.
• Why "pruning" your life—cutting back on material things or old habits—is necessary for the next level of growth.

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• 0:00 – Intro: The Happiness Formula ($Reality - Expectations$)
• 1:40 – Redefining the "Worst Case Scenario" through Acceptance
• 3:30 – Corporate Success vs. Internal Happiness
• 4:50 – The "Lexus" Trap: Social Media and External Expectations
• 6:20 – The Security of a Corporate Paycheck vs. the Freedom of Ownership
• 7:45 – The Emotional Impact of Downsizing to Start a Business
• 9:15 – Survival Biology: Avoiding Threats vs. Pursuing Rewards
• 11:00 – Ancient Nomadic Tribes: Why we fear Social Ostracization
• 13:20 – The "Green Lamborghini" Problem: When Goals become Threats
• 14:40 – Fear-Based Marketing: Decoding Home Security and Political Ads
• 16:50 – "Nights of the Round Table": Fitting in during Junior High
• 18:30 – Revenue is Vanity, Profit is Sanity, Cash is King
• 20:00 – You are the Average of the Five People you spend time with
• 21:50 – Reaching the Top: Why the "Clinical Director" role felt like a dead end
• 23:10 – Evolution Mental Health Services: The Story behind the Name
• 24:30 – Pruning the Plant: Cutting back to grow bigger

#Entrepreneurship #Mindset #MentalHealth #BusinessGrowth #HappinessFormula #PersonalDevelopment

What does it take to grow a local service business into a multi-million dollar operation? In this episode of the Business Brains & BS Podcast, we sit down with Trevor Bass, owner of Five Star Painting of Tulsa.

Trevor shares his incredible journey from a 30-year career in electrical wholesale to launching a painting franchise in March 2020—right as the world shut down. We dive deep into the pros and cons of the franchise model, the reality of running a business with your spouse, and why "Best Known Beats Best" in the world of sales.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• The "Business in a Box" advantages of joining a franchise.
• How to balance professional and personal boundaries when working with a partner.
• The importance of systems, project management, and customer advocacy.
• Why scaling requires a "driver and a navigator" dynamic.

Connect with Trevor Bass:

• Website: Five Star Painting of Tulsa
• Instagram: @FSPTulsa

Subscribe for more insights on business growth, leadership, and the "BS" of entrepreneurship!

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Intro: Meet Trevor Bass of Five Star Painting.
• 1:10 – Launching a business at the start of the pandemic.
• 2:10 – The reality of business partnerships and marriage.
• 3:30 – Lessons from 30 years in electrical wholesale and customer service.
• 5:15 – Why Trevor chose a franchise over starting a home automation company.
• 6:50 – Franchise Benefits: The "Box of Tools" (CRM, Branding, and Marketing).
• 9:05 – The transition from a sales career to business ownership.
• 10:40 – What makes Five Star Painting different? (The Role of the Project Manager).
• 12:15 – Working with your spouse: The role of a business coach.
• 14:50 – Setting boundaries between business and personal life.
• 17:10 – The biggest mistake in scaling: Not having systems from day one.
• 19:25 – "Systems run the business, people run the systems."
• 20:45 – The "We" Trap: Assigning specific accountability.
• 22:00 – The Future of Five Star Painting: Commercial vs. Residential.
• 24:30 – The Rally Car Analogy: The Driver vs. The Navigator.
• 26:40 – Final Advice: "Best Known Beats Best."

n this episode of the Business Brains and BS Podcast, we sit down with Kristin Weis, co-founder and CEO of The Demand Project. Kristin shares the harrowing story that sparked her journey from a cosmetologist to a licensed private investigator dedicated to protecting children from online predators and sexual abuse.

We dive deep into the complexities of fighting child sex crimes, the challenges of working with law enforcement on human trafficking cases, and the reality of running a "for-impact" organization. Kristen also discusses the development of their 54-acre campus, the largest of its kind, designed specifically to restore and support young girls aged 11-17 who have survived unimaginable trauma.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The origins of The Demand Project and its mission to stop the demand for child exploitation.
• The transition from average citizens to experts in the field of child protection.
• Why "prevention" is just as important as "restoration".
• The importance of parental responsibility in the age of digital technology.
• The financial and operational struggles of running a high-impact non-profit.

Support The Demand Project: Visit TheDemandProject.org to donate, volunteer, or download their digital safety contract for your children.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Kristin Weis, CEO of The Demand Project.
• 0:45 – The 2004 news story that changed Kristen’s life forever.
• 1:45 – Moving to Tulsa: From average people to private investigators.
• 2:30 – Pioneering best practices in the fight against human trafficking.
• 3:00 – The 54-acre campus: Providing a safe haven for survivors.
• 4:15 – What’s in a name? Explaining "The Demand Project".
• 5:30 – The "Familiar Captivity": Understanding the trauma survivors face.
• 6:30 – The challenge of staffing a high-trauma environment.
• 7:45 – Supply vs. Demand: Why we must target the buyers.
• 9:15 – Working with law enforcement: Transitioning from drug raids to trafficking stings.
• 10:30 – The Internet Problem: How technology fueled a tsunami of crime.
• 11:45 – Prevention and the Digital Safety Contract for parents.
• 13:30 – The "For-Impact" Model: Debunking myths about non-profit compensation.
• 15:00 – Growing the organization: From a spare bedroom to 24 employees.
• 17:30 – The reality of the waiting list: Why more funding is desperately needed.
• 19:15 – Key leadership lessons: Trust but verify.
• 20:45 – How to get involved and upcoming events.

Eric Knam and Greg Sutmiller dive deep into one of the most critical topics for every business owner: Conversion Rate. You work hard to get a prospect into your funnel—now it's time to make them commit!

In this episode, Eric and Greg break down the conversion process, from the initial conversation to long-term client success. Learn the difference between a warm and a cold lead, why being available is a non-negotiable step, and how you can eliminate a client's fear of buying using a clever guarantee. Plus, hear Greg's personal story of how Eric's multi-step value process turned him from a curious visitor into a long-term coaching client!

They also stress the often-neglected importance of tracking and measuring your conversion rate to maximize your efforts and stop leaving money on the table.

Key Takeaways You'll Get:

• How to structure a sales process that leads directly to commitment.
• The essential first question to ask every potential client.
• The difference between a transactional conversion and true long-term success.
• Why the simple act of answering your phone can be your biggest competitive advantage.
• Creative ways to use guarantees to eliminate the fear of investment.
• How to test and measure your funnel to pinpoint where you are losing prospects.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

0:00 - 0:29: Introduction: From Lead to Commitment (The Conversion)

0:29 - 1:53: Understanding Conversion Rate & The Sales Process

1:53 - 2:38: Starting the Conversion: Asking "Why are you here?"

2:38 - 3:45: Readiness to Commit & The Logistical Barriers

3:45 - 5:29: The Two Types of Conversion: Initial vs. Long-Term Success

5:29 - 8:44: Cold Leads vs. Warm Leads & Multi-Step Conversion Funnels

8:44 - 10:29: Key Conversion Factor: Answering the Phone & Availability

10:29 - 12:00: Following Up on Bids (Open Bids) and Sales System Gaps

12:00 - 15:47: The Power of Providing Value for Free (The Lunch Offer Example)

15:47 - 18:03: Defining Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) & Weaknesses

18:03 - 19:43: Creating a Confident Guarantee to Eliminate Fear of Buying

19:43 - 22:42: The Importance of Tracking & Measuring Your Conversion Rate

22:42 - 23:40: Final Takeaways & Conclusion

Are you tired of guessing when it comes to finding new clients? 😩 This week on the Business, Brains & BS Podcast, hosts Eric Knam and Greg Sutmiller dive deep into the ultimate challenge for every entrepreneur: Generating Quality Leads.

Greg shares his personal story of leaving a corporate management role to start his own business, Evolution Mental Health, and the crucial first steps he took to find his initial customers—starting from scratch! We break down the most effective "hunting" vs. "farming" strategies, why relationships and networking are more powerful than ads, and the single biggest mistake business owners make when trying to grow their client base.

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Connect with Eric Knam and Greg Sutmiller:

Connect with Us:

- Subscribe for more content: www.youtube.com/@BusinessBrainsBSPodcast

- Follow Greg Sutmiller: http://evolutionmhs.com -

Follow Eric Knam: https://thebusinessaccelerationteam.com/

#LeadGeneration #SmallBusinessMarketing #SalesStrategy #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #EricKnam #GregSutmiller #BusinessBrainsBS #MarketingTips #LeadGen

Struggling with time management as an entrepreneur? Eric Knam & Greg Sutmiller on The Business, Brains & BS podcast share actionable strategies to prioritize, delegate, and reclaim your day.