In Part 2 of this episode, we spotlight how Horicon Bank’s “heart” sets it apart, fueling community transformation, supporting arts and education, and championing a CARE-driven mission. Community impact isn’t a talking point here; it’s woven into every decision, from building athletic fields and supporting hospitals, to empowering staff for 40 hours of volunteer service a year.

Ever wondered why some local banks become the glue that holds communities together? Hear stories that reveal more than just business success—they showcase a legacy of partnership and trust.

Tune in to hear from Fred C. Schwartfeger, Frederick F. Schwertfeger, and Alex Solanki as they unpack what truly makes Horicon Bank “The Natural Choice” for over 130 years.

Episode Highlights

01:06 – We're trying to be a community bank that participates in a meaningful way in each community. I would like to say, Becki, that one of our kind of mnemonics that we work toward at Horicon Bank is our CARE mission. Our CARE mission is defined as having an interest in our communities. And we use this word CARE and build it out to communities who value our presence, associates who are getting growing in their skills and success, and relationships that we have with customers who trust us. And then we have expectations to meet with regulators and shareholders and all that. And so that care mission is one reason why we think customers should bank with us. Someone asked me, a consultant asked me a number of years ago, well, why would I want to bank with you? And so it's quite easy to explain. We have a care mission.

07:14 – I would say that the fact that we empower our bankers to make the local decisions, it means we're making business decisions quicker than perhaps a bigger bank that has to go up the ladder of this approval process. But also, we invest in our communities, but we do that also with time. We allow every employee to have 40 hours of volunteer time to give back to their communities. So I think that's another sort of testament that we're making to our communities.

22:28 – And I think I have a good example of that one with a customer I started in his own business in probably the late '90s or the early '90s. And he started a manufacturing company in Horicon. And went on to sell it for a nice price. But along the way, I had an opportunity to, especially in retirement, to work with him and tell him the good news about the gospel, really, that Jesus died for his sins and he could trust in Jesus because he was ill, Eric, at that time, and he was in the Beaver Dam Hospital. He contributed to the new hospital that I talked about earlier, and I was invited to be the officiant at his funeral. So talk about from inception to grave kind of banking care.

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Erik Waisanen and Becki Schimpf sit down with Horicon Bank’s Chairman & CEO Fred F. Schwertfeger, President Fred C. Schwertfeger, and Strategic Financial Analyst Solanki for a deep dive into 130 years of community banking, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership. Fred shares powerful family anecdotes, pivotal milestones, and timeless values that continue to shape both the bank and the region it serves.

From surviving industry upheavals and economic downturns to expanding into the Milwaukee area, Horicon Bank’s story is one of adaptability, visionary risk-taking, and authentic local engagement. The team also explores how fun—yes, inspired by river otters—drives innovation and purpose at Horicon.

Episode Highlights:

01:17 - Fred F. Schwertfeger: “I'm here with my son and my daughter, and we're really blessed to be part of Horicon Horicon Bank over these years. I've been with Horicon Bank coming on 50 years. Can you imagine that? And my son's been with us since the turn of the century, more or less. Once he did a parade with us and had to follow the horses through the parade as a Horicon Bank representative. So we've all kind of grown in our own way at Horicon Bank.”

17:41 - Fred C. Schwertfeger: "I think being in this one in Wauwatosa crossing into Milwaukee County was possibly one of the bravest things we've done. A lot more obligations to the community, a lot more competition. So that, that one is still fresh. Recency bias is affecting that answer there. But we've started a trust division and that was a new, new thing for us and, you know, over 130 years never having trust powers, but getting into that business was another milestone moment, I would say. Acquiring a fintech was another."

21:16 - Alex Solanki: "And that branch in particular involved a few extra risks that we took, including we built it to be geothermal, and this was a new idea for us to use geothermal heat to power the heat, to heat the building. And that was kind of went in line with our theme of being a natural bank centered on the marsh with enjoying nature and such things. And in addition to that, we also built the branch to include our very own coffee shop, which we called the Blue Goose. You know, our logo is a blue goose. And so we branded our own coffee and trained baristas for a while. And that was a fun way to enter that community and get some excitement and foot traffic coming into the branch to get their coffee."

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Angela shares her inspiring mission to “improve the world” through hands-on adventures and uniquely tailored trips, especially for those with extraordinary needs. From field trips that bring history to life to creative business funding ideas, Angela takes us behind the scenes of her brand’s soft launch and how love—passed down from her grandmother—drives everything she does.

Angela delivers heartfelt stories and practical advice on starting a mission-driven company, offering insights that entrepreneurs and changemakers won’t want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

01:16 - That's what I started off with in January when I said, okay, I'm going to start a business if I don't get a job. And that's where we're at.

03:19 - We have a trip that is getting rescheduled. It was supposed to be next Thursday, but now I'm going to a conference. So it's getting rescheduled to next month to The Dome in Milwaukee.

05:21 - Right now, I'm working on a bucket list trip for a gentleman whose Parkinson's is currently not doing bad, so.

07:29 -  So if you're feeling like you've got a raven on your back or someone who's bringing too much negativity to the table, fly higher.

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Angela Gorske

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Kristin gets candid about transitioning from custom work to high-demand packages, building a client base by leveraging her unique industry experience, and embracing collaboration as the ultimate growth hack.

This episode is a must-listen for subject matter experts seeking practical advice on scaling their business and turning vulnerability into their superpower.

Episode Highlights:

01:38 - I'm not doing so much custom work right now. I'm doing more of a package of. This is what I know most people in my clientele need, and I'm able to offer it to them and get it to them really quick.

02:18 - I work with them to position them online to get those gigs. And why they would come to me is because I actually have eight years of experience in the event planning side of things. So I used to hire speakers, so now I use that experience and I make them websites.

05:41 - I think getting help is some of one of the hardest things to do as an entrepreneur and asking for help. And so I wish I would have done that sooner in the hiring process and helping people or helping my designs get out there and everything. So I finally have a designer that works under me, and I finally have a copywriter that works under me. And it's just, if I would have started out with that, I think I could have just really launched even more than I did.

07:44 - If we look at things from a different direction or a different different or widen our lenses a little bit, I think there's a lot of opportunities out there that maybe we're not seeing.

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Kristin Adkins

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Legendary Women In Business

Barbara shares wisdom from decades in finance and operations, revealing why a holistic approach to business advisory makes all the difference.

Episode Highlights:

02:30 - At the end of the day, if you're not bringing money home, you're not going to stay in business.

03:28 - I really wanted to take that to the small business to help them way beyond just the transactional pieces of bookkeeping, to really help them with the entire scope of their business, anything that relates to the finances.

04:26 - They're just at a point where they want more time. They know they can get more money out of the business, or maybe they have a specific goal, something that they want to achieve, and they're really looking for somebody to provide some insights that they know they're missing.

07:00 - It is not competition. There's other people that do what I do, but they might serve a different type of client or a different type of client might be interested in working with them.

Grace Bruins

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Barbara Fausett

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Sara shares her insights on building resilient networks, learning from setbacks, and finding the “smoothest pebble” to stand out—wisdom she now brings to her clients and her new book. Together, they explore the power of supportive communities, the art of emceeing legendary events, and unconventional advice every entrepreneur needs.

Sara brings candor and humor to her story, revealing why nurturing authentic relationships is game-changing for business founders and how broad experience is often more valuable than deep specialization.

Episode Highlights:

02:53 - I'm not a business owner that has found the riches in the niches. I have more of a wider range of experience than a deeper one.

03:17 - A lot of newer business owners are not necessarily ready to invest $5,000 plus in something they are not sure is going to work for them.

05:17 - Legendary Women in Business has been rebranded from her former event called Warrior Unchained. Warrior Unchained was personal to her and meaningful to her, but it didn't really translate marketing wise to what we were actually doing in that room.

06:45 - So I wish I would have known then how important networking is and how important it is to have a community around you who understands what you're doing when you're trying to build a business and understands the ups, the downs, the sideways and upside downs of it. Because it's really important to have support in all of those ways.

Grace Bruins

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Sara Deacon

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Legendary Women In Business

Broadcasting live from the Small Business Owners Community Conference, Grace and Precious dive into the art and science of pitching, the power of owning your uniqueness, and the journey of celebrating success beyond boundaries especially for women over 40.

Precious, a 13-time national pitch champion, shares the secrets behind her bold brand, her global speaking career, and the importance of building real connection over quick wins. This episode is for anyone who’s tired of playing small and ready to shake up their business narrative.

Episode Highlights:

02:38 - Being 327 pounds and walking into that tank and thinking, where did I get a load of money? And then walking out victorious, you know what I mean?

04:04 - But if you don't have a community, if you don't have people who want to work with you or want to buy from you, that's gonna be your major problem.

10:17 - But when you dream big and you mobilize your troops and your community, you can run circles around big companies.

10:49 - Why not go big or go home? Why not do the unexpected? Why not interrupt the pattern?

Grace Bruins

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Precious Williams

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Tyler’s real-world experience—spanning decades in the corporate sector and now as a hands-on entrepreneur—offers a rare glimpse into going from W2 to running his own thriving consultancy. He gets real about founder challenges, the power of actionable data, and building a sustainable business that lasts.

Episode Highlights:

02:52 - I knew I needed to reset and get more engaged with the Family, create some ownership, create some guidance that I can control.

03:48 - Don't wait for perfection. It's not going to be perfect. It's not going to be exactly what you want when you want it.

04:59 - So a lot of complexity, a lot of decision making, but then simplifying what we're doing so that we know what we're deciding now, how we see that playing out and then having levers or insights to is it working or is it not working so we can get there faster?

09:17 - I think it plays into just something I've focused on personally and in the business. Part of why I'm doing it is to gain freedom and ownership of what we do and help other businesses do it in the right manner.

Grace Bruins

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Tyler Nielsen

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Brad shares why asking tough questions is essential for successful family transitions, the surprising strengths of Gen Z leaders, and his philosophy for authentic business growth. With hard-earned insights from Vision Forward Business Solutions and his award-winning Blue Collar BS podcast, Brad delivers fresh strategies for small business owners ready to level up.

Brad’s pragmatic yet empathetic approach brings clarity to complex transitions, leadership development, and the evolving multi-generational workforce.

Episode Highlights:

01:50 - There's a lot of usually blunt questions that need to be asked that the family tiptoes around and does things and it's like, yeah, no, we need to have that conversation and may not like it, but yet you still got to go to dinner tomorrow night at the same time and celebrate the birthday, the anniversary or whatever it might be.

03:33 - Now I got to figure out how to pay mom and dad differently so I can hire somebody to do the work that mom and dad were doing.

08:11 - Other dynamic that's happening that we have older Gen Z's that are now going to be leading much older people than themselves in these teams, which is going to create a very large different dynamic, particularly in the service world and even in the blue collar world.

Grace Bruins

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Brad Herda

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Mackie shares how a surprise buyer meeting flipped their business plan upside down—turning a reusable party plate into a viral, eco-friendly disposable that hit Walmart shelves in a million-unit order.

The episode dives into sustainable innovation, the importance of staying agile, and the energizing reality of getting “bootstrappy” in a rapidly changing market.

Mackie’s first-hand retail expertise and the relentless spirit of the Great Plate founders will inspire anyone who dreams of seeing their product in major retailers, or is facing a make-or-break business crossroads.

Episode Highlights:

10:20 - I can only imagine what the inside of his brain is like trying to configure all of these various components. But I think that is entrepreneurship in and of itself—going into a meeting with a product you’re looking to sell and coming out with a completely different product that doesn’t exist with an ask. And coming from the retail side, that’s all you can ever ask for is to be a buyer’s answer.

14:49 - When one of the comments that was just made when we were at Costco, one of the new design iterations, the buyer looked at us and said, now you're sure that this doesn't exist out there? I said, no, it's brand new. Something that's out there.

38:14 - It's being open-minded, open to changes, open to the uses of it. And as Rick and Mackie were open to that meeting, so saying open to making it a disposable product. And now that we have it, we look at all of those positive things that occurred by being open-minded.

39:16 - Don't underestimate any of the type of things where you have.It's a word. You can do it, you can do it, you can do it.

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Julie shares powerful stories, straight from the thrift shop floor and from the heart of their client-first approach, while giving listeners a behind-the-scenes sense of what Running a modern-day resource hub looks like.

Julie and Grace talk thrifting trends, out-of-the-box partnerships, and the nuts and bolts of running a business that supports dignity and real human connection. Julie’s contagious passion shines through, from tales of taxidermied chickens to strategies for elevating volunteer impact and business partnerships.

Episode Highlights:

07:38 - That was the big aha is if we want to serve more people, we need to be going out to where the people are. So, it was 2021. We launched our Bags and Backpack Program that you mentioned for kids on the weekends when they're not in school and facing food insecurity. Senior delivery, which is groceries right to the door of seniors in low income housing. So, if they have a hard time with steps and you have the physicality of carrying groceries upstairs, we're taking care of them, and then our mobile pantry.

11:00 - A lot of times our pantry leads will connect someone who has a food need and we're taking care of that. They'll connect them with the Community Service Navigator that can help with whatever other need they have and help kind of walk alongside them through that challenge. It's amazing.

20:18 - We do our best to keep things out of landfills, but there are times you think, why didn't someone just throw this out at their house? But then there are just as many times where you think, oh, my gosh, somebody donated this. This is amazing.

24:08 - If they gave us a dollar instead of that can of green beans, that enables us to put that money toward fresh items: milk and eggs and dairy and that kind of thing.

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Amy brings her signature blend of industry insight and heartfelt leadership, sharing why glass—neither liquid nor solid—illuminates more than just galleries, but entire communities. It’s an episode brimming with energy, practical wisdom, and yes, a little jazz hands magic.

Episode Highlights:

18:23 - We're the largest paperweight displayer in the world, ranked in the top five glass museums, but we also have been accredited by by the American Alliance of Museums since 1974. And that also is something to be very proud of. And what that is, as I like to say, it's the FDA stamp of approval on anything we do.

19:25 - We're seeing more business support, and we're very grateful for it, partially because we spent a lot of time moving on to becoming a glass museum. That was a lot of work on a national level, international level, where the community that really supports this institution felt somewhat neglected in the business community.

21:27 - So they they can be challenged moments, but there's also a lot of getting to know each other for the institution, for us to get to know the business and for the business to get to know the museum and for museums to understand that this is a symbiotic symbiotic relationship.

34:18 - I think that people to this analogy, business people really need to pay attention to those culture shifts and not be on the end of the train on that, having to make those sometimes difficult decisions or changes that need to happen, but to be more proactive and really take it as a I like to use the word not challenge, but an opportunity to either reinvent your business or making those nudge moves, like becoming a glass museum and focusing really on community to really kinda harness that, trying to pay attention in a real focused way on when those changes are going to happen.

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From large format digital printing to outdoor electrical signs and managing installations, Chad shares his journey from finance graduate to successful entrepreneur. This episode provides practical insights into navigating business challenges with resilience and strategies for fostering a collaborative work culture that's built to last.

Listen in to discover how Chad’s leadership and innovative approach drive not just the success of his signage business, but also empower his team to see the big picture—one sign at a time.

Episode Highlights:

07:04 - What's nice about our product with the printing side is that we can be a an annual sponsor and donate all the signage. So, as an example, Commercial Association of Realtors is an association we're a part of and we look at the entire year for what they have coming up for programs. And we'll donate at their events they need like a registration sign, a banner behind the podium, a podium sign, or if it's a golf outing, the golf outing signs that–this whole sponsored by, this tee box sponsored by–so we'll donate all that and we'll become a gold level sponsor. And then for that, we go to all the events and we meet people as a sponsor. And that's been how we've done it for a long time.

16:19 - I'm also looking for ways to make my business more valuable, and that is, in essence, eliminating me. So that's where I hired a business development person to eliminate that side of things. So I was getting to the point where if I had someone doing business development, then I'm just running the company. If I ever wanted to sell it, then it's more valuable because the business isn't just me. The business operates on its own. It's sufficient or efficient.

24:09 - One of our values is integrity, and it's live above the line. So you can live below the line and blame somebody else or hide it, but that's not going to help us long term. Something that drives me crazy is when somebody does something but doesn't tell anybody what the next step is.

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They discuss the impact of a $55 million referendum that led to significant infrastructural improvements, highlighting the expanding opportunities in advanced manufacturing and healthcare training. Pete also shares his perspective on the evolving perception of two-year degrees and the growing interest in technical education among young students and adult learners alike.

Learn the importance of embracing change and discovering opportunities in technical education when you tune in. For listeners interested in exploring more, visit morainepark.edu to learn about Moraine Park Technical College's programs and offerings.

Episode Highlights:

08:26 - Parents want their kids to go to college. They don't want them to go to tech school. So I always push people to say we're a two-year college. If you want to choose, we've got articulation agreements with just about everybody. We recently signed 50 some with UWM. So if you want to continue your education, move on then. But I would say the only thing that pushes people now to four-year degrees or pushes students is parents.

14:09 - With the new center now, that's all moving back to campus. Those students now will get the same services that when they're in Jackson, we can't give them all the student life activities and everything. Free meals that we can do at the campus.

17:30 - UWM has bent over backwards for us, and we see them as a real partner. The plan is to have a presence on our campus in West Bend where there could be a university center. I'll say there will be a university center where we're looking at different degrees right now. So two-year degree at Moraine Park in A, B, or C, transfer, and now we can go face to face if that's what the student chooses at the West Bend campus getting UWM credit. So we're looking at 2026 to start some of those classes. We're looking in the area of IT and Business and other areas.

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Hosted by Grace Bruins, the episode features an incredible panel of guests sharing their wisdom.

Key Takeaways:

Build Your Tribe: Talmar Anderson highlighted the importance of having a supportive community of peers for business owners. Your team is not your emotional support system—seek out masterminds, accelerators, and coaching to build those valuable connections.

Trust Your Instincts: Sara Deacon drew an interesting analogy with butterfly feet, reminding us that trusting our gut feelings can guide us to make the right business decisions. It's crucial to tap into that 6th sense to find your path and opportunities.

Adapt and Move Forward: Nikki Lee discussed resilience by drawing inspiration from kangaroos and hippos. Instead of focusing on the past, small business owners should look forward and keep moving, just like kangaroos. And like hippos, even if things seem tough on the surface, keep pushing and running towards your goals.

Personal Healing for Business Success: Christine Welch, founder of Clarity Collab, talks about overcoming psychological blocks and transforming personal and professional trauma. Christine shares insights from her journey, including her new initiative, IGNITE-Women of Integrity, and offers advice on business ownership, delegating tasks, and focusing on strengths.

Creativity and Trust in Business: Kimberlee Grob talks about blending creativity with commerce in the floral industry. She shares her journey, crafting personalized arrangements that capture emotions and celebrations, while also offering valuable insights on customer trust, navigating challenges, and building loyalty through exceptional service.

Mastering Business Pitches: Precious Williams, founder of Perfect Pitch Group, talks about her journey from overcoming challenges as a plus-sized African-American woman in business to becoming an international speaker and corporate sales trainer. Precious shares her powerful insights on defining your narrative, authentic self-presentation, and creating unforgettable pitches. She offers actionable advice on positioning, packaging, and pitching to help entrepreneurs amplify their message and stand out in competitive markets.

Making Women's Voices Heard: Sharon Ringier, editor-in-chief of Possible Woman Magazine and host of a new podcast, discusses about the power of visibility and voice for women in business. Sharon shares how the magazine, originally a one-time project, became a global platform for women to share their stories without the pressure to “sell.” She also talk about her podcast’s mission to empower women entrepreneurs, focusing on storytelling, overcoming self-doubt, and prioritizing impact over sales.

Listen now to the unique perspectives from our amazing guests. Let's empower each other and grow stronger together!

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Originally launched as a one-time publication, the magazine quickly became a global project, helping women share their expertise and stories without feeling pressured to “sell.”

Sharon also talks about the joys and challenges of launching her podcast and her mission to empower women entrepreneurs worldwide. This conversation explores the power of storytelling, overcoming self-doubt, and focusing on impact over sales.

Episode Highlights:

01:10 - It is giving women a voice. I run a a mastermind as well, and the thing I kept hearing was they were trying to understand how to get visibility, how to even articulate themselves and get their voice out and let people know that they were there without it always being so salesy and pitchy because people are tired of being sold to.

06:40 - The women I meet are so dynamic. I've been so blessed to meet so many amazing women, and it doesn't matter their walk. Their stories are just phenomenal.

08:29 - If this is in people's hands, how many babies are you saving? So it's like we have to get out of our own way and start thinking, who can we save? It's not a sale. It's who can we save? When I started thinking that way and helping others think that way, it changes how we respond to our fears.

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Known for her vibrant personality and authentic approach, Precious explains the importance of defining your own narrative, showing up as your authentic self, and making an unforgettable impression. Her insights on packaging, positioning, and pitching offer small business owners the tools to amplify their message, connect with audiences, and stand out in competitive markets.

Tune in as Precious brings her vibrant energy and profound insights, peppered with personal anecdotes and actionable advice to inspire entrepreneurs to redefine their paths.

Episode Highlights:

02:57 - I'm great at pitching, but let me show you how I can train your sales team in innovative practices, client acquisition, business development, and being able to do that on such a massive scale for companies that I don't get hired because I'm black. I don't have a Brazilian butt lift nor 6 pack abs. I am black on both sides, and yet I'm winning because they're hiring someone who can change the game and transform how they think about sales and business development and still keep it funky and fresh.

04:46 - My typical client looks nothing like me because I'm working with companies and corporations. So when you hear Blackstone, Verizon, LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft, my clients are like world leaders in their zones of genius, yet they're trying to enter new industries, or they need to change the narrative on how they're seen. And so they bring in someone like me, who's not going to give them the same thing that they've been getting from other sales trainers.

08:01 - Here's one business lesson I wish I had learned earlier in the game is to teach people how to define who I am. So I define the narrative. So many people want to put me in a coach category. I'm not a coach. I'm a trainer and international professional speaker. I am a 5-time number one best-selling author. And so some people, they've been hearing coach so long, they think that everything that I do is coaching. No, it's not.

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From navigating the pandemic’s challenges to insights on understanding customer needs beyond price, Kimberlee’s experiences are a blooming inspiration for small business owners.

Kimberlee brings her wealth of experience and heartfelt stories from her journey as a florist, showcasing her dedication to making every arrangement a meaningful gift. Tune in to learn how Locker’s Florist built a loyal customer base through trust, creativity, and top-notch service.

Episode Highlights:  

03:08 - I often say that being a florist is very much like being a hairdresser or bartender. We are there at the very best and worst times, and we hear everything. You're getting married. You had a fight with your wife. It's your big anniversary. You had a new baby. I mean, all those highs and lows.

04:57 - It's a psychology thing. You have to train yourself to be open to what the customer needs and what's going to have the best effect for that, because that's what keeps them coming back. If it costs a little bit more than what they expected, but they get a bigger reaction to it, that's a win, and they're still going to call you again.

07:15 - As business owners, you have to be like a hummingbird and be willing to backtrack and rethink something, and approach it from a new direction. I hate to use the word pivot, but being able to hover and maybe back up and reassess is a great skill to have.

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They discuss the profound impact of personal and professional trauma and the steps necessary for overcoming them, along with Christine's newly launched IGNITE-Women of Integrity initiative. Christine shares her rich background in emergency services and how it has shaped her approach to trauma coaching and life coaching.

Their engaging conversation is peppered with insights into the struggles of business ownership and practical advice for delegating and focusing on one's strengths.

Episode Highlights:

02:51 - What I have discovered is that very often there's some underlying components to what's keeping you stuck, and usually that's some type of icky safety trauma something.

03:40 - Sometimes we carry around trauma in a backpack forever. Like this thing happened to me or around me, and there's some belief that I have to carry this around forever. It keeps me safe.

04:32 - The key to trauma is that it doesn't always have to be a great big thing. Sometimes it's little tiny events that occur over and over and over again. Sometimes it is that one big event, but trauma can look different, feel different, and sound different to everyone. But we all experience it at some point in our lives.

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We get to hear how Genhead’s innovative AI solutions can help small businesses thrive and maintain a personal touch in an increasingly digital world. Nikki also offers inspiring advice for business owners on the importance of moving forward and embracing new technologies without fear.

Nikki brings her unique perspective and practical strategies aimed at helping small businesses compete and succeed in a competitive market.

Episode Highlights:

01:25 - AI lead generation, that's finding leads, bringing them into our CRM that we refer to as Gensuite, and then dripping them into highly personalized AI messaging so we can give that personal touch to that prospect at a capacity and rate that just---let's be real---no normal person can do. That is such an essential part to growing a business, especially in a world where paid media is just becoming increasingly more expensive and harder for smaller businesses to sort of get that skin in the game.

03:17 - By learning that myself, I saw all of the possibilities that AI could help and benefit my life, and I'm just so inspired to help bring that to business owners and also customers.

07:51 - AI can be a really great way to help you get to that place where you can hire a proper executive assistant that can then use those processes that we're helping put in place to make even their job better.

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In this episode, Sara is a beacon of wisdom, revealing the significance of trusting your instincts and the value of authentic engagement. Hear about her remarkable experiences, including sharing a stage with celebrity surfer Bethany Hamilton and her unique approach to event facilitation that ensures attendees feel seen, heard, and engaged long after the event is over.

Episode Highlights:

01:45 - I realized that was really where my passion was, being on stage and then event facilitation. Event emcee-ing was something that that came into my world, and I could be happy doing nothing else but this.

05:48 - The magic happens when I can have a little bit more of a back and forth and conversation around what's the vision of the event and what are we trying to accomplish, and offer input and suggestions in a way that still leaves the person in-charge in charge.

07:22 - Businesses like yours that as you're starting and growing, you know what you're doing. As far as your craft, you understand your business, but do you understand the money side of it? And that's hopefully where you can find a good partner or a mentor to help you along the way.

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Together, they discuss practical strategies for overcoming the common pitfalls in recruitment and leadership, emphasizing the importance of defining success in roles and understanding the true cost of hiring for potential rather than capability.

Talmar shares her patented "bossification" process, designed to streamline hiring and foster a stronger leadership culture within small businesses.

Episode Highlights

01:26 - We are serving clients with our first in-person event in Savannah, Georgia in January. We're teaching business owners how to really step into that CEO and how to hire a trusted second-in-command, how to really build that leadership team that they can count on so they can step out.

02:51 - The key is we have to take the time to sit down and decide and define what success is in this role before we start to write employment ads and job descriptions and interview people because we can't build positions around personalities.

06:43 - We're spending too much time fixing people's mistakes. We're spending too much time trying to get them to truly understand what they need to do or worse, trying to get them to care about moving up when they're like, "I kind of like just being this person."

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Pat shares his journey from a two-decade career in broadcasting to becoming a leading advocate for AI integration in small businesses. Pat unveils practical strategies for leveraging AI to boost productivity, create stellar content, and maintain a competitive edge.

Listeners can expect a relaxed, yet insightful discussion as Grace and Pat unpack the practical side of AI, with plenty of actionable takeaways. Tune in to hear Grace and Pat talk through real-world strategies and how AI is shaping the future of small business growth. This is one conversation you won't want to miss!

Episode Highlights

13:20 - You can hold a meeting with someone and then run that transcript through ChatGPT or whatever your AI tool might be and ask it to interpret what it heard or what it read in the transcript from the person you were working with.

15:30 - The thing that you should be scared about is if you're trying to ignore it or wish that it's not part of your reality. If that's you, you should be scared.

23:54 - When you start with a pen and a paper and you start writing down repetitive tasks, tasks that take way too long, and tasks that you hate, because we all have tasks that we don't like to do. You'll end up with a list of stuff that's repetitive, time-consuming, not fun, not fulfilling.

39:09 - That's why you need others around you that will challenge you, will support you, and will honor you and most of all, will understand.

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Dave and Michael share insights from their unique father-son collaboration and reveal how they transitioned from production to powerful storytelling consultation. Grace dissects the art of turning animal facts into inspirational advice, proving that even armadillos have their wisdom!

Episode Highlights:

07:25 -  The biggest power is when you can show it through your actions. So that's what we do every day in a business. But when you're talking about a marketing perspective, bringing it to life. One of the greatest things about video is because it can tell a story in a way that other mediums can't because you have the power of the visual to actually be able to bring it to life.

25:27 - We are trying to deliver that storytelling clarity, that action-based story guide that comes in a similar kind of packet, but it's not about graphics. It's not about brand colors. It's not about all that stuff. It is about how does this brand behave in the pursuit of success for the customer.

32:28 - Understand that the story you're telling is not yours. It's your customer story. And that what that really means is everything that you're doing is in some way playing a scene or a role in the customer's narrative.

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Dr. Stacia Thompson, a recognized figure for her leadership and innovation, shares about the transformative role of Sherman Phoenix as a non-traditional incubator and entrepreneurial hub. Discover compelling stories of success, resilience, and the importance of community support in fostering business growth.

Episode Highlights

05:18 - We're a marketplace, but we really are an entrepreneurial hub. So we are a non-traditional incubator. In addition to that, we also have event space that we use for ourselves. Some of our business owners in-house use it, but then others come and rent it out.

08:41 - The beauty of us being the foundation is everything doesn't have to happen in the building. We've got some amazing partnerships around the city and around the state in which we can go there, they can come here to do this programming, and to work together and to partner and collaborate.

34:08 - Don't be afraid to ask or seek out resources because there are so many resources or spaces that can help when you feel like you're struggling. No matter if it's financial, physical, mental. If you're entrepreneur starting your business, there are so many resources out there right now if you just look for them or go talk to the right people to tell you who has them.

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Brian's journey from a college basketball coach to a leader in training and development offers inspiring insights into resilience, adaptability, and the importance of continuous improvement. With practical advice and engaging anecdotes, this episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to refine their communication skills.

Episode highlights

02:22 - My belief is that the number one conflict in any situation, whether it's personal or professional, is either a miscommunication or a misperception of communication.

14:02 - We're not just here to give you theory. We're here to give you actual things that you can do to make you a better communicator, to make you a better leader, to help you be a better presenter.

36:16 - When it comes to communication, you have to be able to read that person in front of you and tap into what they need and what part of communication that they're going to get from me.

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The Communicator's Playbook

Robert brings his deep experience in event planning and his passion for community building, weaving in stories from his time in the music industry and local Wisconsin towns to highlight the impact of effective community-driven projects.

Episode Highlights:

07:48 - In my role, what I've really enjoyed is working with local businesses and getting to know them, because many of them totally get it. They understand that, and I love working with with them, and they have a clear vision of what it is that they're trying to accomplish, who they're trying to get in front of, and how can they help. Then there's other business owners who aren't as clear on that, and I love sort of introducing them to this concept of community and giving back, and how can we as Menomonee Falls Downtown or Village of Wauwatosa BID, how can we help you and your business achieve your goals, in addition to you helping us in the community.

10:21 - Don't forget what we're doing is trying to drive traffic to the downtown areas to help our businesses, but also create things that will help enhance the quality of life for residents, to make it more attractive for people to to live there, and then more attractive for businesses to move there. And at the same time if those events generate revenue, then we then can put that revenue back into the community.

21:34 - I think the importance of realizing that you're part of a community and seeing how can I work together with my neighbors, residents and businesses to really benefit all of us, and give back to the community which will benefit all of us together.

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Kerry and Kailey bring a wealth of experience, having transitioned from informal training roles to formal ones, driven by their passion for teaching and commitment to helping others succeed. We'll explore the evolution of training programs and how adapting methods to individual needs, soliciting feedback, and maintaining flexibility are vital for employee retention and satisfaction.

Join us as we discuss the innovative "Take Flight Day" and "Greater Heights Day" programs, which offer comprehensive onboarding experiences for new employees, and hear insightful stories about staying calm in challenging situations, the unexpected success of referral programs, and even some light-hearted moments about manatees and first CDs.

Whether you’re a small business owner looking to improve your training processes or just interested in employee development, this episode has something for everyone. Let’s get started!

Episode Highlights

09:23 - I can step in and be this person for you, because it also creates consistency. So, if you can come to me for that kind of a question, I know that if I say it to you and have you go out and do it that way, perhaps somebody else will catch on who might not quite be doing it that way, and it can kinda create that trickle effect of consistency, which is so important not only as an organization, but certainly for our customers, too.

17:47 - Every person has a unique reason why they're coming into the bank. So, you can open a perfect checking account for a joint couple or whatever it is, and then they come in and they just have this one off situation because they've got something unique and special going on in their life.

23:18 - One of the biggest takeaways that we brought back from this conference was that people were taking a day, sometimes more than a day, during somebody's initial onboarding experience, and they were teaching them about culture. They were completely submersing them into this is the company that you're coming to work for. Let us tell you about it.

32:26 - I'm not going to sugarcoat that, but it's what we did. But especially with so many people who have never been in banking are coming in now. It became very apparent. It was too much at once. So, we had to adjust, pivot, and start to change our our training programs to reflect the skills level that is coming in.

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Episode Highlights:

11:45 - Realizing the untapped potential of podcasting, I didn't set out to be a podcaster—it was a happy accident that turned into a path for empowering entrepreneurs.

17:30 - Entrepreneurs often overlook the importance of self-mastery. Know who you are to master your business. As I always say, self-awareness is your silent partner in success.

29:50 - Having a banker is like having a co-pilot in your business journey. They're not just number crunchers; they're dream enablers, providing the financial insights to fuel your business engine.

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Grace and Laurie discuss MOWA's commitment to inclusivity and its impactful role in the local community, highlighting the museum's transformative role in West Bend's economic development. Laurie's leadership tactics reveal a fearless approach to staying true to one's mission in the nonprofit arts world.

They also delve into the upcoming exciting exhibitions, including a politically charged comic show and a display of Ho Chunk baskets, asserting MOWA's efforts to educate and inspire through art.

Laurie and Grace reflect on the power of thinking differently, staying mission-focused, and the practical considerations of running an arts institution as a business magnate.

Episode Highlights:

12:21 - MOWA could be a catalyst. It could be like the great museum in Bilbao, Spain, which is a catalyst for economic development. And in fact, that's what has happened.

21:16 - No single parent should ever have to reach in their wallet more than once a year to come to the museum. No one should ever have to wonder, can my kids afford to have an art and culture experience?

23:53 - People going to museum means art and culture and a creative community and a really kind of creative industry people who go into the fields like computer technology and graphic design, fashion design, photography, you know, other things than just working on a canvas.

32:57 - Find your own way and think for yourself... What would it look like if we did just the opposite? No one says that to me anymore, which is actually really good.

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Discover the various activities planned for the park, from cornhole tournaments to live music. Julia also provides some beneficial advice for entrepreneurs – a gem you won't want to miss.

Don't miss out on this conversation that's full of inspiration, entrepreneurship, and community development. Tune in to learn more about the fascinating blend of community, business, and outdoor fun.

Episode Highlights:

08:32 - I would think it's even more important when you have a small team of people. I think when you're going to get work done, if you can do it as a team and you have a highly functioning team is what it's called, where you do have such a high level of trust that people are willing to overlook maybe their own budget to help support somebody else's budget if it gets the agency or the business to reach the goal that it wants to get. That's kind of the level of trust that you want.

11:23 - Three levels of change in a community are, the first level is the people in the community will say, "That will never work here. Culture's not right for it." The second level of change is they'll say, "We tried that 15 years ago, didn't work then, it's not going to work now." The third level is when they say, "That's the best idea we ever had." And you just really have to stay the course till you get to where it's the best idea that everybody ever had.

21:02 - Some of the businesses that are already on the trail and where the trail is going to come up to are very excited because it really helps them, I think, even with recruitment purposes. People like to ride to work. People like to have green space around and knowing that you're going to have parking right behind your business or a trail, it's going to be readily accessible.

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In this episode, Alan Hathaway, president of BrownBoots Interactive, shares his journey of helping businesses thrive in the digital space. He dives deep into the significant shift in the banking industry towards building a strong online presence and the unique challenges it presents.

Hear how BrownBoots navigates these challenges and uses AI for creative solutions, while maintaining human oversight. Alan also reveals an exciting upcoming project aimed at supporting local communities.

Join Grace and Alan for this insightful conversation and explore how creativity and technology are reshaping the banking industry. Tune in now!

Episode Highlights:

09:54 - One of the things, just as I was thinking about the company and the culture of the company, is let's be the nice experts, roll up our sleeves and get down to business. And I also knew that just from a culture standpoint, we also needed to be very family friendly, and supportive of families of employees and so on.

18:48 - If they create that content, they put that content out on their social platforms, we always see a spike in traffic back to the site and then just being able to share those ideas of, "Hey, we know every time you do this, you have traffic on this page. So, now that we have traffic on this page, what can we do with that?"

28:55 - So, you're a community bank in a smaller town and it's your community bank versus some large national banks. So, we realized we have a client base that loves to serve their community. We like serving our community. What might be an opportunity there? So, that's how we dreamed up this community collaboration program and we're just starting to roll this out.

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Terri emphasizes the teachability of charisma and the awareness of one's baseline across its six components. Learn how Charisma Q, born during COVID, helps sales pros adapt to the digital landscape while maintaining genuine connections. Explore email finesse and personalized coaching for growth.

Terri envisions a redefined executive presence, empowering introverts, and shares insights on OMRON's integration of Charisma Q for global women's leadership. So, tune in now to gain valuable advice on seeking allies, mentors, and embracing authenticity in all endeavors. Don't miss this enlightening conversation!

Episode Highlights:

10:44 - It's really about the individual, and it's about what's happening in their lives at that moment. And we have our curriculum, and we use our curriculum. We call it like a GPS. So, meaning we will talk about this. We will talk about personal branding in our fourth session with you if you don't come to the table with something that you want to work through.

17:57 - I think in business, we need to understand what we need to do to play the game. But especially as women, we need to figure out how do we change the game. So, how can we get people to look at executive presence differently? How can an introvert really come in and own the room and still be true to their brand and still be seen as an incredible leader?

34:28 - The thing I would like them to know is don't try to do it all on your own. If you're feeling like maybe you're stuck, think about how can you get an ally? How can you get someone to be able to help you? How can you get a mentor or even getting a coach? And it's the whole concept of surrounding yourself with your own personal board of directors.

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Alex's transition from a chemical engineer to a thriving business manager unveils the power of perseverance and learning from books and podcasts. Lion's Tail's taproom venture was no small feat, but with guidance from business consultants, they turned challenges into triumphs. Alex's actionable advice? Keep learning from others, no matter the industry.

Tune in to the episode and explore membership perks for exclusive access. As Alex reminds us, it takes more than just a roar to leave a lasting impression. It takes exceptional experiences and a constant thirst for knowledge.

Episode Highlights:

10:08 - I guess my approach has been to fail small, and we've been around nine years and we're still a small to medium sized brewery. So, we're certainly not taking the Midwest by storm with meteoric growth or anything like that. And that's because we've taken measured small increments of growth, and we've been able to take on that risk and that's worked.  

17:11 - When we first opened, I think my experience as a home brewer brought some more kind of fun, wacky flavor combinations, and that was how we were a little different to start out.

18:16 - We've challenged ourselves to constantly be changing things, making something new and interesting so that when you come in one time and have an experience, the next time you might notice something new that we did, or maybe something new is on the wall, maybe it's a different couple of beers that we made. And so, last year we did 100 different beers and so now that's kind of the new thing that's setting us apart.

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Discover the pivotal moment when a letter from her past ignited Dreambuilt Books, now home to 9 books with a powerful message: childhood dreams are attainable. Christine shares invaluable advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the power of a supportive team.

Tune in to explore Christine's return to Green Bay, witnessing its vibrant transformation. Uncover the shift in talent retention, where employers view their team as whole individuals. Learn about the critical issue of affordable childcare, especially for millennials. Listen to an eye-opening discussion on investing in quality childcare and understanding childhood trauma's impact.

Episode Highlights:

19:25 - You step out of your zone as a child and the world finds you, and it comes at you from every direction. And while you're just trying to figure out how to navigate that, it starts to teach you how far those dreams are from reach, and they're not. And there's a very big challenge that we each face to challenge back against our own thoughts that we've developed to say like, "Is it actually as far out of reach as the world has told me it is or can I actually do that?"

26:07 - I think a lot of entrepreneurs, whether it's the same $270 was breaking the bank or not, I think anyone who ventures into their own business, there is a lot of emotion tied to every hit you take, whether there's a financial or not implications. It's just you build it. I built it. It's a version of a baby.

36:38 - At a certain point, we were told to go get these college degrees. We took on student debt, and then we didn't necessarily have the jobs available that would have commanded the degree that we needed or we were told we need it. And so, we took the job you could get. And you set your career back a little bit because you didn't necessarily take the job that aligned with your qualifications.

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Tom Also talks about the founders' board, a group of individuals who have been involved with Mel's Charities since its inception. Tom notes that the original group is still involved, and their passion for the organization has not diminished over time. Mel's Charities' impact on Ozaukee County continues to grow, and Tom and his team are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in their community.

Listen to this episode to learn more about the inspiring story of Mel's Charities and the power of community involvement and discover how you can get involved with Mel's Charities and contribute your time, talent, and treasure to their mission.

Episode Highlights

08:44 - If we can positively impact one person's life, it's a really good day. It doesn't have to be as fancy as this, but by doing that and just continuing that and not ever leaving that mission, we have now given away over $1.9 million. And the beauty of it is we're just getting started.

35:46 - If you stay true to what you believe in, I say this all the time, it's amazing what you can accomplish by having fun, not taking yourself too seriously in a huge dose of God's grace and just be grateful for whatever you get. I don't care if it's personal life, business, non-profit, whatever. We're only here a short time.

37:56 - I've said this and it said in the documentary, the biggest life that's been impacted by this whole thing is me. Because I can still be a rudderless ship, I can still veer off, but this has grounded me, giving me purpose, giving me a reason to strengthen my relationships. Not personally, professionally. It's been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.

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Tricia talks about the challenges facing local business owners, especially the challenges around transportation, childcare, housing, and recruitment. She emphasizes the importance of seeking advice and finding good consultants to help young business owners avoid pitfalls and succeed in their ventures. Tricia highlights the importance of infrastructure, affordable housing, transportation, childcare, good schools, and interesting places and activities in attracting and retaining quality people in the community.

Tune in to this episode to gain insights into the various challenges faced by local business owners and how Go EDC is supporting them through customized resources and collaboration with local organizations and government entities to create a more supportive business environment.

Episode Highlights

05:39 - We want to make sure that businesses that we have are able to succeed and that they can stay here in the Oshkosh area. We do have a lot of focus on entrepreneurship as well because a lot of times new startup businesses bring fun and exciting elements into your community.

17:05 - The Department of Children and Family Services are about to launch their second round of partner up funding where a business can apply for grant funding that they match to help support childcare fees. It's a continuation of ARPA funding from the state level. But it has that business component. The business can access public funds by committing their private funds and the idea is that they're paying full price then for someone who might be getting otherwise, a subsidized rate which puts more funds into the hands of the business owner.

22:16 - You can't recruit people until you have the infrastructure in place, right? So as much as I would love to throw some major advertisements out there and do recruitment grants to get people to move to our area, I can't have people move here and then still not have childcare or not have housing, appropriate housing.

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Andy emphasizes the value of innovation and why companies must differentiate themselves and stand out in a crowded market in order to succeed. Businesses become more sustainable by understanding their business's nature, identifying their touch points, understanding the customer's needs and looking at things from a customer-centric perspective. This episode is packed with actionable advice for business owners. Entrepreneurs with passion for the environment and sustainability will find the episode inspirational.

Highlights:

07:32- Sustainability to me means trying to look at the big chunks of the business first because that's where you're going to get your biggest impact. And if you can take your biggest expense item and reduce it by 20% that's probably a huge impact to your bottom line. You probably throw most of that straight to the profit line.

13:38 - I figured out that I do have a passion for strategy and sharing that strategy with others. And that has led me, I'm an adjunct instructor at Marine Park Technical College in the business program. Been doing that for a number of years and that's a lot of fun. I really enjoy it. And that has also kind of blossomed into helping the companies that I work with, helping myself and helping others to build strategy that helps their business grow and succeed. And so I spend a fair amount of time thinking about strategies and like to help others do the same.

19:51 - Yes, business can be a really tough thing. I've had great moments and not so great moments along the way. But I think for any business that's been around a little bit, you come to understand that when you provide value to your customers, they will come back to you again and again. And that is the secret sauce of any business, is providing that value and just staying with it and serving your customers.

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Chris emphasizes communication between family members as well as revising documents such as buy-sell agreements every three years or so. Lastly, he encourages families not to open joint accounts with anyone other than spouses due to potential complications and suggests discussing expectations for trusts prior to documentation choices being made relating to sentimental gifts given while still alive.

If you are a business owner looking for guidance on how to properly plan for the transition of your business, then you don't want to miss this episode. Tune in to learn more about how to make sure your wishes are carried out even after you are gone.

Episode Highlights

03:35 - At Horicon Bank, we are doing trust administration. So, when family members leave money in trust for other family members, someone needs to administer that and that's what we do. We're looking to carry out that father's or mother's wishes on how to care for their child or how to distribute funds to their child over time.

12:22 - If it's a joint account and it's anyone other than the spouse, it can be problematic because they could name a child on a joint account and that can override all the good work they've done on their estate plan because that account is going to that joint account owner and completely ignores anything in their trust or will.

14:27 - It doesn't hurt to have a family conversation. Sit down and speak to everyone. Let them know what your wishes are ahead of time so there aren't any surprises. It's difficult when you see after death, that there's a lot of hurt because things weren't discussed.

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They now specialize in industrial automation such as welding, sheet metal fabrication machining, etc. In order to gain trust among customers prior to launching, they did extensive testing. To protect the industry's reputation, they focused on quality products and great service. Aaron highlights the biggest challenge was making sure that the product was reliable enough so farmers would not be hesitant about using it, which required building relationships with potential buyers with handshakes, trustworthiness, and confidence without ego.

Ready to learn more about how AL-INS Enterprises grew grown into a successful industry-leading farm equipment company? Tune in to hear how they've expanded their dealer network and extended their product offerings all around the country. Listen to Aaron share his story of transitioning from part-time to full-time with his prototype product and how he got his kids involved in taking care of their website and social media, which is invaluable as customers look online for products or services they need.

Episode Highlights

08:03 - Far more important than the actual, we have to have a good quality piece of equipment, but taking care of the customer afterwards is one of those top things that is lacking in some of our competitors.

11:47 - We've gotten to the point where the person who was doing the testing was happier with our prototype than their existing machine. So, that's where we said, "Okay, I think we might have something here."

16:56 - I think the biggest challenge was to make sure that the product was as good as we had hoped, to the point where it's making a different sort of thought. A farmer is not looking at it as a piece of equipment that's not going to work. We're still working on improving that. I think that's important to make it something that doesn't need to be tended to.

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The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is an underutilized tax credit available to employers who hire individuals from certain demographics such as veterans or those receiving state assistance. Heartland makes it easy for clients by automatically applying for WOTC within 28 days of employment if the employee qualifies and can offer up to $15,000 in savings per quarter depending on how many employees qualify. Heartland typically works with small-to-medium-sized businesses ranging from 2 to 500 employees but are able to work outside of this range as well.

Tune in to hear why business owners should explore the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) to take advantage of potential tax savings. Businesses that have taken out PPP loans can still qualify for the ERTC if they have used their loan money on other items besides payroll wages. Listen to find out why business owners should consult with a CPA or partner with Heartland, which specializes in this area, for more information and assistance with filing returns or amendments related to this credit.

Episode Highlights

05:52 - Another piece of what Heartland does as well that I have partners that I work with is on the payment side, so credit card processing, and accepting payments really, and making that very easy and secure for them.

09:42 - It's all part of onboarding. We can actually help to identify people that qualify even just in their applications. So, we actually have an applicant tracking system, too, where we can help business owners put out their job postings, all managed in one centralized location.

17:30 - What Heartland will actually do is we will amend returns from a previous provider, whether your CPA did those returns or a different payroll provider. We're actually offering that as a service as well. So, when they move over to Heartland as a new client, we will actually do those amendments, and it's a very nominal fee.

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Corrie emphasizes the need for business owners to know their income statement and cash flow. She mentions that a lot of entrepreneurs' mistake is thinking they know their business solely because they know their craft. But there's this whole other side of it that they've got to know if they want to run a successful business. They have to understand the flow of money in a business because it is different than personal budgeting. Listen to the show to learn what you need to jump start your business financial statement.

Episode Highlights

08:41 - The gaps I see between an entrepreneur who has an idea and an entrepreneur who turns that idea into a business are planning, the ability to execute a plan, and understanding who your resources are.

09:53 - The one category of gap that I see in entrepreneurs that I work with on the daily is in bookkeeping and accounting. Understanding that when you know your numbers, you know your business.

14:06 - There's often a fear of carrying debt, which speaks to that culture about not talking about finance. I understand it. I totally get it, but it's like when you're a little kid and you're afraid of the Boogeyman. If you don't define the boogeyman, it makes it worse. Once you define it, it's easier to say, "Oh, well, maybe this is manageable".

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FACC

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They discuss the emotional roller coaster of starting a business and how they learned to be persistent from past failures. They also touch on the goal of their business being something more than just making money. Scott is in charge of production, while Linda focuses on creative aspects and customer relations, and the couple has created many successful flavors through trial and error.

Linda shares her advice to be self-aware of boundaries and take time to reflect on why you feel frustrated or angry when in a difficult situation. Listen to know more about the process of creating new popcorn flavors and learn the importance of taking breaks and setting limitations to avoid decision fatigue and burnout. 

Episode Highlights

9:42 - I guess we just had this overarching thought that how could we not succeed. It might not work as we want to in the beginning, but if we continue to go forward, and if we persist, and I think that's the overall message for 20 years in business, is persistence.

20:52 - I think it's important for consumers to understand as well that we're not playing the same operation because it truly is not something that I can do and hire somebody out to help me with payroll, because that really would take care of my margins in a quick minute, and those are important. But I think it's also important for the consumers to know that, because maybe it takes us a little bit. We have ebbs and flows in that, because we're doing so many functions. It's easy for us to have decision fatigue. It's easy for us to become burnt out, because you're wearing maybe eight hats in a day.

25:30 - There's such a demand in today's world for businesses to be responsive to every whim that you as a consumer might want, and that's really detrimental to small businesses and micro businesses, because it really is an unrealistic expectation that a business could respond to every person that talks to them on social media, but we sometimes are putting that upon ourselves that we need to.

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They talk about the challenges that businesses faced during COVID and how The Sweet and Salty Pig responded by keeping some staff on to work the drive-thru window and collect unemployment, then reopened with fewer tables. Also, in response to COVID, they created an outdoor seating area called the Pig Pen. Their menu is based on bacon and other pork products, with a twist of modern comfort food.

Listen to learn how important it is to have a supportive network when starting a business and tune in to discover how crucial it is to be true to yourself to avoid disappointments.

Episode Highlights

10:04 - You have to do what you have to do. So, we finally have it down now. We've got a system. We have trucks coming basically everyday, but Wednesday, and with our added space, we've gotten into work.

19:07 - We have achieved a lot of what we've wanted to do, for sure, but at the same time, it's nice to strive for more. There's always something new to create. We like to just keep ourselves on our toes and also, as soon as you think, "Okay, we've done what we've wanted to do," then you think about what more you could do.

27:08 - Sometimes things come from what you don't expect, and that's another thing that we had talked about earlier, was just how you get your start with something. People make life choices.

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Brad advises business owners should take the time to set an appointment with an advisor to discuss their exit strategy options, which can include selling the business to family, recapitalizing, partnering, or liquidating. The first step is actually to take inventory of what you have in place and where you are at because this will help determine if you are ready and what your next steps should be. Listen to the show and discover what you can do to improve your business readiness.

Episode Highlights

03:27 - The referral partnership that we have with the bank is great, but having clients that have used our services that are able to at least give a broad stroke understanding of how we work and how we operate, at least I get the better chance of dragging them into it a little bit deeper right off the bat.

07:08 - I found that we're probably most effective with businesses with revenue over $2 million, but under $10 million. I have several customers that are well over $20 million, right? But I have also have a few that are under a million. It's the affordability, right? It's still an investment. You have to get to a certain stage in your business, too.

17:09 - I think the key to using good advisors like Steve and myself, for example, is that you should be able to look at all the options to sell your business, whether it's a recapitalization, whether it's a partnership or it's a direct sale. Sometimes it's liquidation. That it's the best solution to it. But all of those are options to business owners. And I think too many business owners without advice get narrow-minded in regards to how this thing is going to work.

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Josiah describes how COVID-19 had a big impact on the retail business and they had to adjust their operations on already slim margins. Staffing became challenging, although some good employees were retained. Listen to find out the lessons he has learned, including the importance of being agile and adjusting as needed, as well as his plans to expand manufacturing, online sales, and wholesaling.

Episode Highlights

05:44 - We started developing marketing campaigns and procuring coffee, and developing taste profiles for customers. That led to roasting a few years later. We had always been involved in the roasting through testing and things. Developing the actual and roasting and handling that production didn't start until a few years later.

06:41 - It's not like I came from or we came from a history of roasting coffee, where we just took that knowledge and reused it. So, we developed it that way. I think we've gotten better at it. I think I was pretty good but we've certainly gotten better, and now we've learned because we're involved.

14:49 - As long as you're moving two steps forward, maybe one step back is not a bad thing. So, I think being content with that and understanding, that's part of the game, that's been helpful for me.

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Kyle's advice is essential for any entrepreneurs looking to take their business to the next level. His insights on business growth are invaluable, and his tips on hiring and retaining employees will help you keep your business running smoothly. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights

06:23 - I think the initial learning curve of just being in business and not an educated guy. I've got a high school diploma. So everything that I did I had to figure out the hard way and I think it was a great experience.

16:24 - When we picked our first location it didn`t end up working out the way we wanted, but you learn a lot about those towns and how people travel and what people are willing to do and not willing to do.

25:23 - If you don`t strike something with them that they feel like they can get behind they are just going for whatever place would pay them the most.

32:50 - Seems weird because I`m not in stores as much as I was when I started and I have people doing those things and it`s like what`s my role? My role is keeping 80 people plus employed.

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Episode Highlights

06:07 - Especially with holidays coming up, charity scams, that`s the big one, people calling and saying donate to a charity but you have to donate using gift cards. If you want to donate to a charity, contact them directly.

10:51 - Knowing your vendor and who you are doing business with really helps in preventing clicking on that link and giving out your information.

14:04 - Having a culture in general in a workplace is so important because it keeps employees engaged and less likely to commit internal fraud.

16:59 - So my biggest tip is to know your employees and your vendors, that`s going to be the number one, have a good relationships with them.

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Highlights: 

7:19 - Social media is a struggle. It can be hard to kind of tackle or just even start.

8:37 - If you don't want to create content and you just want to start using social media, I would say spend your money on ads. But they need to be targeted ads.

14:09 - What you really want to do is build relationships and have people think of you when they want to do business with you, right? So in order to do that, people have to know about you. They have to trust you. You're building these relationships.

18:56 - They wouldn't have responded if they didn't have an interest in it right? Don't respond with a canned response. That's the worst.

21:39 - We need to think like a marketer and not like ourselves when we're marketing for a business.

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Jason Scherer is the VP of Treasury and Commercial Payment Solutions at Horicon Bank. Jason ensured that growth-oriented companies across a variety of industries, including Manufacturing, Healthcare, Professional Services, Non-Profit access sophisticated Treasury and Payment Solutions to meet their diverse needs, from the dispersion and collection of funds to provision of security and investments.

Episode Highlights:

04:01 - I help organizations and businesses manage their cash, money in, money out and I protect them from the bad guys, from people trying to defraud organizations.

08:33 - The only other big hurdle that I get is when it`s the owner who is doing the task.

11:39 - We have a few different layers of security we can put in. Online banking is something most people have personally, businesses have it as well.

16:43 - If something does not feel right and you have someone at your bank that you can call that`s the comfort.

20:52 - I would tell a business owner, make sure that you try to get another perspective, try to ask questions and if you are talking to an employee or a vendor or a customer, ask their opinion on how they think something should be because the way they normally do it may not be the right choice.

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They also share their thoughts on the role of failure in business, and how to use it as a learning opportunity. This is an episode that any budding entrepreneur will find inspirational.

Episode Highlights:

01:00 - The Great Plate solves a problem that every family and often is in every event. It’s able to manage your food and beverage all in one plate.

04:07 - There is no way of getting that done, it's more or less about learning from your mistakes that you have in the process.

06:19 - How do we manage all of that and solve that problem about being able to manage that cup and plate together and when we showed the initial product to others they went “wow this is great”

20:33 - We've overcome a lot and if you are an entrepreneur and you bring a new product to market, you have to have the strength and the agility to keep seeing it through.

21:03 - Have a desire for the information. My mother will tell you the first word that I learned growing up was “why”.

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Tune in and hear Tom's story of success in his business and what you can do when you set your your business on the right track.

Highlight

03:00 – With our growth, we started in 2016, between our online business or our in-person store, we are the largest seller of Topps baseball cards in the country.

09:15 – So he took me down to Chicago to this  big sports card convention and I was like “Oh this is awesome”. So that was kind of the hook for me to collect more.

22:10 – When I started this business and when went full time, we had a lot of people like that and I don’t even care what they say anymore. I used to really care and I feel like I have to convince people.

23:55 – I always tell kids, when an adult asks you what do you want when you grow up, turn the table and ask them.

45:20 – So I never look at myself as a successful entrepreneur. I always look at myself as a 12-year-old who plays baseball cards.

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In this episode Grace Bruins and Joe Venhuizen will take a closer look at what these initiatives involve, and how small business owners can benefit from them. Tune in and hear more.

Highlight

01:30 – Envision Greater Fond du Lac is a regional economic development and chamber of commerce organization. So what that means is it’s a result of a merged organization.

03:17 – The more that we know about current or upcoming business happenings the better we can position ourselves to help and assist.

17:31 – They get a certain commitment from their lender and the project costs X, the lender is willing to come in with Y and there’s this gap and that's where envision can come in and fill that gap.

29:55 – If you`re someone at any level in the business community, your network is so critically important and a lot of folks know this intrinsically but don’t put it into action. You get stuck in your way.

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Tune in to this episode and hear more about the importance of having managers that are engaged. This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to learn more about employee engagement or for companies who are struggling with how to improve it.

Highlights:

03:59 – I think that employee engagement looks like a lot of different things to different employees. It could be staying in the organization for a long time, it could be feeling comfortable giving your opinion, it could be promoting change within the organization.

05:22 – We tried to do many different things. One of the first things that we do that is so important is getting a pulse on what the actual feelings of our employees are.

11:49 – Having an awareness of always what's going on, and spend time with your employees and ask questions.

15:18 – One thing that I think is really unique about us is that we are partially employee owned.

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They talk about how she finds the right employees and how she prepares to interview. Tune in to this episode and hear more information on the hiring process.

Highlights: 

02:37 – I feel like I’m in the position where I`m growing skills and knowledge.

06:18 – No situation is exactly the same, so the 1st thing that I do once we have a qualified candidate, is we always include the manager in those conversations.

08:55 – In the interview questions, sometimes there`s questions that we cannot ask our candidates and I feel like that is really my job as the talent acquisition manager of this whole process. So, I provide the manager with interview questions.

11:29 – Sometimes it happens really quickly, sometimes it happens within their first three months of their employment and it really depends on the position.

21:28 – I think with interviewing, just to remember that it's so easy to get into that rut and to recognize that they are interviewing you as much as you`re interviewing them.

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In this episode Kerry shares her background and how she trains bank employees. During the conversation, they touch on various topics related to employee training, including the importance of creating a program that is tailored to each individual employee. Kerry shares insights on how to engage employees in the training process and how to create an environment that is conducive to learning. By the end of this episode, you will have a better understanding of how to train your bank employees and why it is so important to do so.

Highlights:

05:44 – A personality is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form and individuals’ distinctive character, so it is what makes you, you.

06:48 – Anyone who would know me, I do not enjoy conflict. I avoid that as much as possible. I just want everyone to get along and have a good time, and that’s really fun most of the time.

09:53 – Getting to know the person you`re training as much as you can on a professional level before you get started, just find out a little bit about them and what they are expecting from your training.

13:05 – I really struggle with the lack of confidence. I feel bad that people don’t believe in themselves and that's really hard for me to see people struggle on that.

19:20 – Just accept people as they are and understand that we are all different.

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In this 1st episode of Banking on Business, Grace Bruins is joined by Kerry Murphy, a Retail Training Officer at Horicon Bank. Tune in to this episode and hear about Kerry`s interesting background and how she trains an employee.

Highlights:

04:04 – My favorite thing is getting to know everyone that works here. Not only do I train for every location, I work with every department so even people that I don’t train, we touch in some ways.

05:51 – The model I used is called VARK, so there are 4 different types of learning styles: Visual, Audio, Reading, Kinesthetics.

06:43 – I am a solid mix of Visual and Kinesthetics and that makes perfect sense to me because I like to watch something and then do it.

14:10 – Learning styles vary with your team, your family, with the people in your life, so just be aware of that and the awareness that we`re not all looking at something the same way and keep that in mind.

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Banking on Business is aimed at helping entrepreneurs grow their business with practical strategies you can start using today!

Each episode will feature an expert guest and explore ways you can innovate the way you do business.

We are all about engaging our local business community and connecting with other small businesses to raise each other up.

Hosted by yours truly, Grace Bruins, Marketing Officer at Horicon Bank turned Podcaster – at least for the next 20 minutes.

To stay in t

he loop on all things Banking on Business related visit horiconbank.com/bankingonbusiness and subscribe where ever you get your podcasts.