Charge Podcast

Jason Howe’s expertise in addiction recovery, trauma, and mental health isn’t just professional — it’s deeply personal. As a respected bestselling author, speaker, and consultant who has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. Military, and the USO, Jason brings a unique perspective to the field. His role as the Executive Director for K9s on What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Jason Howe, an expert in addiction recovery, trauma, and mental health, shares his personal and professional journey in these fields. The episode explores individuals’ challenges, the importance of authenticity and vulnerability, and the power of finding purpose.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Jason shares his journey, including hitting rock bottom, losing everything, and finding hope through a service dog named Soby.  He emphasizes the significance of acknowledging one’s struggles and deciding to change.  Jason introduces the “Adapt” philosophy, which includes acknowledging challenges, making decision

Solomon Thimothy is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in marketing and sales. As the co-founder and CEO of OneIMS, a leading inbound marketing and sales agency, as well as Clickx, he has helped businesses double their revenue using the 10X Framework. Solomon is also an expert in lead generation and customer acquisition, as well as a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. In addition to his work, Solomon is also an angel investor and startup advisor. He has helped numerous startups grow and scale, leveraging his expertise in marketing, sales, and business strategy. What business problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Gary and Solomon discuss how entrepreneurs often grapple with feelings of overwhelm and stress, especially when navigating the complexities of marketing and sales. Small Business Answer Man’s Shownotes: Gary introduces the Six P Business Owner Formula, focusing on people, productivity, pricing, promotion, process, and profits.  With expertise i

Robb Green is a lifelong learner constantly seeking knowledge to empower himself and others. Robb has owned 8 brands over the course of his career and currently hosts the podcast “I’m the One,” which provides practical guidance on building wealth, maintaining healthy relationships, and achieving well-being. What business problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Gary hosts Robb Green, a seasoned entrepreneur and host of the podcast “I’m the One.” Rob brings a wealth of experience from owning multiple brands and is passionate about sharing practical guidance for building wealth, maintaining healthy relationships, and achieving well-being.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Robb emphasizes the importance of pricing strategy, highlighting how many business owners struggle to effectively price their products or services.  He discusses the mindset shift required to overcome pricing challenges, focusing on delivering value to customers across different pricing tiers.  The concept of “good, better, best” pricing

Tim is a versatile entrepreneur, investor, consultant, and podcast host who helps service business owners uncover the profits hidden inside their existing business. By the age of 25, Tim had raised over $325mm for his investment company before moving on to building a 7 figure tech-enabled fitness business alongside his wife.  Most recently, Tim was one of the 4 Executive Team members at GymLaunch alongside Alex and Leila Hormozi. He oversaw the development and launch of ALAN, a machine learning SaaS company, which grew from zero to $20M ARR in 6 months.  Currently, Tim helps make founders’ dreams come true by implementing his Product to Profit TM Framework as a sought-after #2 to ambitious founders. What business problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Gary is joined by Tim Khalise, a versatile entrepreneur, investor, and consultant. Tim shares valuable insights into building and optimizing the recurring revenue component of service-based businesses. Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Tim emphasizes t

Today we’re talking to Henry McIntosh, the founder of Twenty One Twelve Marketing, a partnership marketing agency otherwise known as the commercial collaborations agency and GLOW Festivals – an apres ski music festival with absolutely no snow in sight. What business problem do you solve? Today’s episode discussion revolved around unlocking business growth through partnership marketing. Our guest, Henry McIntosh, founder of Marketing and Glow Festivals, shares insights and strategies for leveraging partnerships to drive lead generation and propel your business forward.  Small Business Answer Man’s Shownotes: Partnership marketing involves collaborating with complementary but non-competitive businesses to achieve mutual goals.  Three key approaches: value exchange, sponsored collaborations, and incentivized collaborations.  Henry shares the story behind Glow Festivals, an apres-ski music festival born out of COVID restrictions.  Despite the absence of snow, the festival leverages partnership marketing to creat

Jon Bassford is the Founder and CEO of Lateral Solutions, an operations management company specializing in launching and managing internal operations for startups, small businesses, and nonprofits. Jon is a visionary entrepreneur and operations professional who thrives on creating and driving change. What do you problem do you solve? In this episode, Gary Wilbers and John Basford dive into the critical issue facing many small business owners: the overwhelming burden of day-to-day operations.  Small Business Answer Man’s Shownotes: The podcast starts by introducing Jon Bassford, an expert in operations management, focusing on helping startups, small businesses, and nonprofits optimize their internal operations.  The conversation delves into the importance of efficient internal operations in accelerating small business growth.  Jon discusses his background in operational roles and consulting, emphasizing the challenges small business owners face in managing day-to-day tasks.  He highlights three key areas of s

Tanya Alvarez, founder of a New York ad agency at 25, battled odds and achieved $1M in revenue. With OwnersUP, she helps you win at work while living what matters most. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Tanya Alvarez, founder of a New York ad agency, shares insights on maintaining focus, achieving life fulfillment, and combating overwhelm in entrepreneurship.  Small Business Answer Man’s Shownotes: Tanya Alvarez shares insights on maintaining focus in entrepreneurship.  Gary emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus and achieving life fulfillment amidst the challenges of entrepreneurship.  Tanya explains the significance of self-awareness and conducting a task audit to prioritize activities effectively.  Tanya suggests implementing simple productivity habits like idea ranking and the “RAP” method (Review, Assess, Prioritize) to combat overwhelm.  Tanya shares examples of clients who have successfully scaled their businesses while reclaiming their time through accountability groups.  L

Brian Will is a seasoned entrepreneur, bestselling author, and sales expert with over 35 years of experience. He’s created seven highly successful companies worth over half a billion dollars at their peak. Today, Brian owns thriving ventures in restaurants, insurance, technology, and real estate. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Gary and Brian discuss the significance of active listening and connective response in sales, along with the importance of explaining product benefits to overcome objections. Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Gary emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals for your business and reverse engineering them to create a path to success.  Brian highlights the need for entrepreneurs to understand why customers should buy their products and why they should buy from them.  Brian shares insights from his book, “The Dropout Millionaire,” focusing on the psychological aspects of building and running a business.  Gary stresses the value of understanding your weaknesses

Bocar Dia is a Partner at Forum Ventures sitting at the intersection of investing and working 1:1 with portfolio founders through the early stages of building, including go-to-market, founder-led sales, and fundraising. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Bocar Dia discusses the challenges entrepreneurs face in the early stages of building their businesses, particularly the transition from the zero to one phase. He emphasizes the need for validating market pain points, understanding customer needs, and developing scalable business models for success.  Small Business Answer Man’s Shownotes: At the start, Gary introduces Bocar Dia, a partner at Forum Ventures, who discussed the challenges entrepreneurs face in the early stages of building their businesses, particularly the transition from the zero to one phase.  Bocar emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to adapt their approach to sales based on the stage of their business.  He shared insights from his experience at Hootsuite and as a founder

Kayvon, CEO of The Sales Connection and a foremost sales authority has transformed sales strategies globally. Excelling in teaching professionals to connect authentically with prospects, he’s guided the creation of multimillion-dollar businesses and trained over 21,000 sales reps across 100 countries. With over $300 million in sales, Kayvon is a celebrated international speaker and an expert in advancing sales techniques and business growth. What business problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Kayvon shares insights on the overlooked element of self-connection in sales, providing strategies to enhance authenticity and drive sales success.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: This episode revolves around discussing essential qualities for success in sales.  Kayvon emphasizes the importance of self-connection, resilience, and authenticity in driving sales.  He stresses that genuine self-connection far surpasses mere tactics and strategies.  The conversation delves into the distinction between selling and c

Aaron Marcum holds a Master’s in Positive Psychology from UPenn under Dr. Martin Seligman. With two decades of business scaling experience, he’s an award-winning leader and speaker empowering entrepreneurs. Aaron has just recently launched his book, “EntreThrive,” today. I can’t believe we were able to get him on the podcast but we are excited he made time for us. What problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Aaron Markham shares insights into the importance of positive psychology for entrepreneurs, highlighting its proactive approach to helping individuals thrive amidst uncertainties. Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Gary mentions Aaron’s recent book launch, “Entra Thrive Today,” underscoring its relevance to the discussion.  Aaron delves into the concept of positive psychology and its significance for entrepreneurs.  Aaron explains positive psychology as the science of well-being, emphasizing its proactive approach to helping individuals.   He discussed the six entrepreneurship aspects discussed his b

Chris Mannina, CPA and CFO, works primarily with mid-market businesses in a variety of industries, including professional services, technology, government contracting, and non-profits. His areas of expertise include reporting, compliance, strategic planning, FP&A, monitoring, and internal controls.   What business problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Chris Mannina addresses the critical financial challenges businesses face, emphasizing the shift from traditional accounting to strategic financial planning.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: The podcast starts with Gary introducing Chris Meninian, a seasoned CPA and CFO, to delve into the crucial role of financials in business success.  Key discussion points include strategic accounting focus, essential financial insights for CEOs, and navigating cash flow challenges.  The conversation further explores the impact of technology and automation in accounting, highlighting high ROI wins and the benefits of outsourcing finance departments.  Chris offers

JoDee is a CSP and a SHRM-SCP; she owns Purple Ink, an HR consulting firm serving clients throughout the Midwest.  JoDee has written 5 books in the JoyPowered® Series; her most recent one, an Amazon #1 best seller, is JoyPowered® Networking; in addition to running her firm for the past 14 years, she is a speaker and trainer on many leadership and/or HR topics. What problem do you solve? In this episode, Gary Wilbers and JoDee Curtis crack the challenges hindering joy and success in the business world, offering practical solutions and insights for a thriving workplace.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Gary introduces the six P business owner formula: People, Productivity, Pricing, Promotion, Process, and Profits.  Insights into the evolving workplace dynamics in 2024 and the impact on small business owners were discussed.  JoDee shares her goal of helping individuals overcome the fear of networking.  JoDee Acknowledges the vital role of networking in driving business success.  Highlights from JoDee Curti

Heidi Schalk is a business strategy and leadership coach, author, speaker, and host of the Be S.H.E. Podcast (Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Empowered.). She has been featured on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and The Daily Herald. Heidi spent the past 5 years helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals and build 6 figure businesses they love through her M.O.N.E.Y Mastery System. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Heidi Schlack, business strategy and leadership coach, shares her journey and expertise in helping entrepreneurs overcome challenges and achieve success.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: The podcast starts off by introducing Heidi Schlack as a business strategy and leadership coach, author, speaker, and host of the Be She podcast.  Heidi's expertise in helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals and build successful businesses.  Heidi's journey started six years ago during a challenging period.  She navigated a divorce and the need for financial security.  Despite starting with health an

Dr. James M. Smith is a licensed professional counselor in Jefferson City, MO. He currently works as the outpatient lead therapist at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Behavioral Health. He has been in the mental health field for 18 years and specializes in addiction, severe, persistent mental illness, and trauma. His dissertation explored the lived experiences of men disclosing childhood sexual abuse. Jamie (as most people call him) is married to his amazing wife Lesley and has three supervillain genius-level kids, Jacob, Caitlin, and Nathaniel. He is the proud servant of a Golden Retriever named Trooper. He is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Dr. Jamie Smith, a licensed counselor, explores the practical application of psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The discussion revolves around gaining a deeper understanding of our mental well-being and enhancing leadership abilities. Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Dr. Jamie Smith provides an in

Scot Drinkard has been an entrepreneur for 30 years, with a portfolio of over 20 companies. Scot has faced many challenges along the way, in business and personal life. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Scot delves into the intricate challenge entrepreneurs often face: the delicate balance between the demanding nature of their work and the imperative of maintaining personal health. Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Scot discusses the difficulty entrepreneurs have balancing intense work demands with personal health. He shares the trajectory of his early entrepreneurial journey, recounting the inevitable growth pains and the burden of an overwhelming workload. Scot shares his early entrepreneurship journey, growth pains, and excessive workload. He credits joining a mastermind group with providing entrepreneur support. Scot shares insights into his leadership philosophy, highlighting the crucial role of promoting open communication and empathetic leadership within his team.  He views the i

Joshua Brown has been married for 25 years to Jennifer. He is a father of six, which includes three girls, and three boys. Joshua is the founder of a vocational ministry experience. He opened a side hustle and turned it into a national brand where ministers are invited to enter into the marketplace so they can create jobs, make disciples and serve the city. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Joshua will guide us in cultivating mental resilience, emphasizing the importance of persevering through challenges, staying committed, and ultimately completing our life journey with faith and determination. Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Joshua starts by expressing the importance of navigating through life’s experiences with faith and perseverance.  He further opens up about his early life, marked by adversity and struggles.  He stresses the significance of facing challenges head-on and the resilience required to resist the temptation to give up. Joshua challenges the conventional perception tha

As the founder of more than a dozen companies, over three decades of entrepreneurial experience, and with 10+ years coaching businesses, Gary Wilbers is an expert businessman. His primary focus is on helping small business owners achieve success and balance in business and in life through his own peer advisory groups. Gary is a founder, speaker, author, trainer, and coach. His profound familiarity with the daily challenges that small business owners face has instilled in him the belief that everyone is able to reach their full potential. This mantra led him to establish The Ascend Mastermind, a peer advisory group, where small business owners can connect with like-minded individuals, share their struggles, and hold each other accountable in order to achieve growth and freedom in their lives. Gary is also an accomplished author, with several best-sellers, including “The High Achiever Leadership Formula,” “21 Ways to Attract, Retain & Engage Millennials,” “Positive Culture Wins,” and “Cultivate Positive Cul

Tom Schwab believes the best things in life come from conversations. It’s these powerful, sometimes awkward conversations that propel us from where we are personally and professionally to where we dream of being. As an engineer, a Navy Veteran, and Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator, Tom thinks differently. Tough Minded, Skeptical, sometimes even Cantankerous, but always technically competent, always thinking – “What if”, is how the head of the Nuclear Navy described it. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, he understands the unique challenges of business owners. This led him to be an early pioneer of using inbound marketing for eCommerce and targeted podcast interviews for marketing that connects. Tom is the author of two books: Podcast Guest Profits: Grow Your Business with a Targeted Interview Strategy, called the bible of podcast guesting, and One Conversation Away: A Manifesto for a Rich Life and a Profitable Business. What business problem do you solve? In this episode, Chief Evangelist Officer at

Dave's mission is to Align the Misaligned through the Five Facets of Business™ framework— a dynamic small business operating system that aligns systems and people so businesses and the people in them can flourish. What business problem do you solve? In today’s episode, Dave will help businesses overcome obstacles more effectively, promoting a transition from a state of grinding to achieving sustainable growth using a systematic approach.  Small Business Answer Man Shownotes: Today’s episode is structured toward helping entrepreneurs in navigating challenges and minimizing stress in their businesses. Dave stresses the importance of effective prioritization, diagnosis, and leveraging time for optimal outcomes. Dave introduces the three stages of company alignment: misalignment, alignment, and realignment. Misalignment is when symptoms become overwhelming, alignment is when systems and people are in harmony, and realignment is an ongoing process of adapting to challenges. Dave discusses the challeng