In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue will talk about the vital role of prioritizing profit in business through a "Profit First" mentality.She will highlight the significance of making profit a foundational priority in your business plan, rather than an afterthought. This mindset shift ensures that profit remains a consistent focus, even amidst changing circumstances.Tina will also share how the ‘Profit First’ approach involves allocating a predetermined percentage of every sale to profit, guaranteeing that your business remains profitable while navigating expenses and challenges.You will find out how this mentality empowers entrepreneurs to build a sustainable business that serves both financial goals and larger missions. Tina emphasizes that prioritizing profit doesn't mean neglecting other crucial aspects of business, such as employee well-being, client satisfaction, and community involvement.You will learn about the practical steps involved in implementing the "Profit First" approach, including setting up separate bank accounts for different business expenses and profit allocation.Tina will also share insights from the book "Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz, which provides actionable guidance on adopting this mindset shift and optimizing your business's financial health.Enjoy this episode as Tina Sue guides you through the transformative concept of "Profit First" and its profound impact on your business's growth and sustainability.What You’ll Learn in this Show:The importance of prioritizing profit in business from the start.How the ‘Profit First’ mentality ensures consistent profitability..Balancing profit prioritization with employee care, client satisfaction, and community involvement.Practical steps to implement the ‘Profit First’ approach.The transformative effects of adopting a profit-centric mindset in your business.And so much more…Book:Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine

In this episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue interviews Mylee Xiong, the owner of GingeRootz, an amazing Asian restaurant located in Appleton, Wisconsin. As we all know, success is not a straight line, and Mylee had to overcome numerous obstacles to become the successful business owner that she is today. She shares with us her story and why she believes that having the right mindset is the key to achieving your goals.Mylee always wanted to be her own boss and run a business, but she gave up on the idea and started working for someone else. But, that job helped her gain experience and confidence, which made her realize that she can still chase her dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Now, she owns a super-successful restaurant and is living her dream.During this episode, Mylee shares her unique story and emphasizes the importance of having a growth mindset, which means being open to learning, embracing challenges, and seeing failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. She believes that having a growth mindset has helped her to overcome obstacles and achieve her goals.She also talks about the challenges of being an entrepreneur, such as the need for work-life balance and the importance of delegating tasks to others. She shares her strategies for staying focused and motivated while running a business.Tune in to learn more about Mylee's perspective on how to handle the not-so-fun times of entrepreneurship and how mindset plays a crucial role in reaching the next level!Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:Mylee's background and her journey to becoming a successful business owner. Why shifting from employee or manager to owner requires a shift in mindset.How having the right mindset can help turn dreams into reality.The importance of having mentors and people in your life that help you with your vision.And so much more…Resources:Gingerootz.com Mylee’s LinkedInFacebook

Growing your business is one thing, but growing it with a clear strategy is another. Today, we'll be discussing a growth strategy that involves acquisition. When most people hear about acquisition, they think about acquiring another company and merging it with their own. However, what we are going to talk about today is the opposite - being acquired. Being acquired can be a strategy for business growth. You may be wondering, isn't being acquired usually the ultimate goal, where you sell your business and move on? Well, not necessarily. Our guest today made the decision to be acquired as part of her business growth strategy.On today's episode of Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue interviews Lee Podolsky, founder and owner of Breakwater Accounting + Advisory. With over 25 years of experience in Accounting, Auditing, Marketing and Business Management, Lee has primarily worked with retail, non-profit, and professional service clients. She emphasizes the importance of being open-minded and learning from each thing that comes your way and how to pivot and highlights the importance of aligning mission and values when considering a strategy by acquisition. She explains that growing your business doesn't have to be a solo endeavor. There's a way to go out and be more strategic by acquiring, merging, or partnering with another group. It's about knowing where you want to go and what might fit and you don't have to grow just by yourself.Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:How Lee founded Breakwater and what the company does.Why being successful in growing a business requires being open-minded and learning from every experience.The impact of an acquisition on all stakeholders, including clients and employees.Why not all acquisition offers are a good strategy; and the reasons why it's important to be strategic about who you partner with.How to know when to look for a partner.And so much more…Resources:Breakwatercorp.com Twitter: @breakwatercorp Instagram: @breakwateraccounting/ Facebook: breakwater accounting + advisoryLinkedIn: breakwater accounting + advisory corpLee’s LinkedIn

Have you ever stopped to think about the story behind your favorite brands? It's not just about the products they offer - every brand has a unique story to tell, a journey that has led them to where they are today. And if you're a business owner, you have a story to tell too. It's time to make sure that story is heard and understood by your customers. That's where Spodek & Co comes in - experts in helping you effectively communicate your brand story through strategy, content creation, community training, and more. On today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue sits down with Eden Spodek, founder of Spodek & Co, to learn about her 30 years of experience in integrated communication strategy. Eden has worked with the renowned company Fleishman Hillard and launched her own digital marketing business that is now known across North America for helping clients create memorable online brands and grow their businesses.Eden shares her journey of starting and growing her business, including how she was approached by the University of Toronto to co-create and teach a program in communications management and social media marketing. She also provides valuable insights into crafting a compelling brand story, emphasizing the importance of revisiting it frequently.As every business owner needs to be able to tell their brand story in a way that draws in their ideal customers, Eden's expertise is not to be missed. Her six steps to crafting a compelling brand story will help you effectively communicate your unique journey and connect with your customers on a deeper level.Tune in to the Women Choosing Growth podcast to hear Eden's inspiring story and gain valuable insights into crafting your own brand story!Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:Why Eden decided to start her own business.Why the most successful team members are the ones who share a mutual respect and deliver great work.The benefits of creating a work environment where people can work without limitations on hours.The problems that Spodek & CO are solving for their clients.Tips on building emotional connection with your customers. When business owners need to consider revisiting their branding and messaging.The 6 steps to telling your brand story.And so much more…Resources:Spodekandco.com Business Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spodek-and-co/Eden Spodek Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenspodek/Brand Voice Worksheet: https://spodekandco.com/unleash-your-standout-brand-voice/

In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue talks about an important factor that can make or break a business: the outsider perspective. As someone who has worked with multiple companies, Tina has seen firsthand how beneficial it can be to bring in someone who isn't caught up in the day-to-day operations of a business.Tina shares her recent experience of working with a leadership team and the CEO of a growing company. They were experiencing growing pains and were stressed out, working long hours, and sacrificing their weekends to keep up. Being an outsider, who understands the basics of the business, Tina was able to evaluate the situation and provide the much-needed clarity that the team needed. With her fresh perspective, Tina was able to help the team be more efficient with their time.The result was remarkable - the team was amazed by how much weight was lifted off their shoulders after just two and a half days of working with Tina. Tina emphasizes that having someone who can come in and help clear the air, provide an outside perspective, and move the clouds so that everyone can see the sunshine and build the future, is incredibly valuable for businesses. Tune in to today's episode to learn more about how an outsider's perspective can be a game-changer for businesses struggling to keep up with the pace of growth.Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:The importance of having someone on your team who can offer a fresh perspective.The value of having a business advisor who can help clear the air and provide guidance.How to have efficient and productive meetings in a growing business without taking too much of the team’s time.The importance of giving leaders permission to control their time and prioritize their tasks.And so much more…

In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue talks to Valerie Boyd, Chief Executive Officer at Colorado Safety Supply Company, a business that provides safety supply, fall protection and personal protective items for workers in construction-related fields.Valerie’s company has been in business for 11 years now. In a male-dominated industry, she sells products that fluctuate with the economy, and are affected by the supply chain. COVID definitely affected this industry and could make Valerie’s business a big challenge. Yet, the company has been on the Inc 500 fastest growing companies, Valerie’s team continues to grow and their products and services continue to expand.During the episode, Valerie will talk about her story and how she went from financial advising to the safety equipment and supplies industry and will reveal some of the secret keys to her success. She will talk about how having a great team can help your business grow, reveal two reasons why people should take the time to really get to know their ideal customers, the most important thing to do as a business owner that will set you up for success, and so much more.Listen now to find out the amazing story of another successful female leader! Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:The factors that have contributed to Valerie’s business success.How she built her business by listening to her customers needsHow Valerie’s had a strategic mentor to help her business get started.Why, as a small business owner, you have to be willing to listen and make changes.Two reasons why entrepreneurs should get to know their ideal customers.The most important thing to do as a business owner that will set you up for success.And so much more…Resources:Coloradosafetysupply.com Valerie’s LinkedIn

In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue talks to Tiffany Martin, a passionate entrepreneur and dedicated fitness expert, who has made it her mission to help people tap into their best selves through her boutique cycling studio, Ignite Cycle. With two successful locations, Tiffany knows firsthand the challenges faced by women in business and the importance of prioritizing mental health for long-term success. As a wife, mother, and community leader, Tiffany has experienced burnout and is eager to share her story to help others avoid the same pitfalls. Her insight and resilience are truly inspiring, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs struggling with burnout.During the episode, Tiffany will share her stories of success and will talk about a personal growth experience that she went through. You will learn about the challenges that women in business face, including the warning signs, based on Tiffany's personal experience. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help others navigate the personal side of being a woman business owner without encountering the same obstacles she did. Tiffany shares her experience of burnout and losing trust from her team after a long season of not feeling like herself and being ineffective at work. She emphasizes the importance of building trust with your team and incorporating self-care time into your week to avoid burnout.She also discusses the challenges of balancing being a mom, wife, community member, and business owner, particularly as a woman.Listen now to find out the amazing story of another successful female leader! Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:How to avoid burnout and build trust with your team.The importance of incorporating self-care time into your week.The challenges of balancing being a mom, wife, community member, and a female business owner.Valuable lessons for entrepreneurs struggling with burnout and the importance of prioritizing mental health for long-term success.And so much more…Resources:Tiffany’s LinkedInIgnite Cycle

In today's episode of Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina sits down with Kristina Paider, a renowned author, storyteller, and development editor, known for her expertise in applying the principles of Hollywood screenwriting to personal and business growth.Kristina is a world-class storyteller, best-selling author, speechwriter, and writing coach. She is the founder of The Hollywood Approach, a platform that combines the art and neuroscience of story to help people achieve their goals and dreams. She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Hollywood Approach," which has inspired countless individuals to embrace the power of storytelling for achieving their goals.With a background in journalism and advertising, Kristina brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Throughout her career, she has honed her storytelling skills and discovered the transformative potential of narratives in driving personal and professional success. Kristina's unique perspective combines the art of storytelling with practical strategies, allowing individuals to unlock their full potential and create compelling stories of their own.During the episode, Tina and Kristina dive into the Hollywood approach and how its principles can be applied to personal and business goals. They explore the importance of character, goal, and obstacles in creating a compelling story. Kristina shares her journey from journalism to screenwriting and highlights the role of mentorship in her growth.Listeners will learn how to reverse engineer their own Hollywood ending by analyzing their past success stories and identifying their strengths. Kristina emphasizes the significance of setting SMART goals and stretching beyond comfort zones. She also discusses the importance of allies and mentors in achieving success.You will also discover the power of narrative forensics, character DNA, and the creative mindset.For these insights and much more, tune in to another episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast podcast! Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:The fundamentals of the Hollywood approach and how to apply them to personal and business goals.The significance of character, goal, and obstacles in creating a compelling story.The role of mentorship and allies in achieving success.How to set SMART goals and stretch beyond comfort zones.Practical tips for using storytelling techniques to accelerate results in business and life.And so much more…Resources:https://www.kristinapaider.com LinkedIn: Kristina PaiderFacebook: Kristina PaiderInstagram: @kristinapaiderBooks: THE HOLLYWOOD APPROACH: Script Your Life Like a Hit Movie and Live Your Wildest Dream

Do you remember that hilarious scene in the Grown Ups movie when Kevin James is peeing in a pool and all the water around him turns blue?  And until everyone in the pool is freaking out, and the dark blue water expands around him, he has no idea that was happening?Unfortunately, in real life, when someone is “peeing in your business pool,” there's no big blue water creeping through and it might take a while until you notice that the environment in the office became toxic and you really need to clean that pool.In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth Podcast, Tina Sue is going to talk about this very situation, how you can spot the signs that someone is “peeing in your pool,” and how to fix this problem and restore a healthy culture in your business.During the episode, Tina is going to share an example from her own experience as a business owner and will talk about how she realised the work environment became toxic for her team and what she did to fix that.She will explain how the toxicity of one person can spread (like the blue water in the pool) and damage the entire team, how their negative behaviour affects the rest of the group to varying degrees, and what business owners should do to avoid these situations.Listen and find out what you can do to make sure you don't let anyone pee in your business pool!Enjoy! What You’ll Learn in this Show:What ‘peeing in someone’s business pool’ means.Why peeing in the pool is something that we don't want in our business. How Tina identified the person who was spreading toxicity among her team.The signs that someone is peeing in your pool.How one toxic employee can damage the entire team.How to clean up your business pool and restore a healthy culture.

On today's episode of Women Choosing Growth podcast, Tina Sue interviews Jon Kuttin, a highly accomplished financial advisor with over 30 years of experience in leading and expanding his practice. Jon's passion for developing leaders and giving back to the financial services industry led him to establish Kuttin Consulting Group, a company that offers training and consulting services by seasoned professionals. Jon has expertise in growing businesses, mergers and acquisitions, leadership development, professional alliances, recruiting, and other growth-oriented activities. He frequently speaks and writes articles, and has been featured in prominent publications such as Financial Advisor Magazine. He is also the host of Quantum Growth for Financial Advisors, where he shares interviews, strategies, tips, and insights aimed at assisting financial advisors in achieving quantum growth in their own practices.In today's episode, Jon shares his insights on how leadership has been one of the key factors in his successful and growing practice, with nearly 200 employees and still growing. Jon talks about his journey from being a financial advisor to becoming a business owner, and how he got involved in leadership after his first year. He also shares his experience of starting from scratch, working from his basement, and building his business through cold calling and effective sales and marketing. Jon explains how he built his team of hundreds of people who are on the same mission and how he provides exceptional service to his clients, helping them learn from the mistakes that he made. Tune in to hear Jon's advice on leadership, grit, and passion for what you do, and how you can overcome obstacles to achieve your goals.Enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:How Jon went from being a financial advisor to becoming a business owner with almost 200 employees.How to get from zero to about a million dollars in revenue.The reason many businesses get stuck and how to avoid getting stuck.The importance of mindset in achieving success, including the mindset of overcoming obstacles.What are the five levels of leadership and what types of leaders you need in your business.And so much more…Resources:Jon’s LinkedInQuantum Growth for Financial Advisors PodcastKuttinconsultinggroup.com  Books: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork

In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth podcast, Tina dives into the topic of taking your business from successful to significant. She emphasizes the importance of aligning personal, business, and financial goals to create a valuable and transferable company. Tina challenges the common notion of focusing solely on growth and profits, urging listeners to prioritize building enterprise value instead. She breaks down the key elements of a significant business, including its value, transferability, readiness, and attractiveness. Tina also highlights the need to consider enterprise value from the very beginning, regardless of business size or stage. She explains how unforeseen circumstances can impact a business's future and why being mentally prepared and knowing your business's worth is crucial. She shares eye-opening statistics about business exits and highlights the regret many owners face after selling their businesses. She underscores the importance of planning for an exit and building enterprise value to maximize the worth of your business. Tina also provides practical tips on evaluating your business's value and offers insights into factors that contribute to enterprise value beyond revenue and profits. She emphasizes the significance of minimizing the owner's role, documenting processes and procedures, diversifying the customer base, maintaining stable staff, offering unique products or services, and more.She advises listeners to consider personal and industry timing when assessing enterprise value and encourages them to seek guidance from an exit planner or financial advisor. Join Tina Sue on this enlightening episode as she helps you understand the power of enterprise value in transforming your business and paving the way for long-term success.What You’ll Learn in this Show:The elements of a significant company: Valuable, transferable, ready, and attractive.The importance of enterprise value: Thinking about enterprise value from day one.The positive side of enterprise value: Positioning the company for potential partnerships or acquisitions.Why focusing on enterprise value benefits the overall growth and value of the business.And so much more...

As a professional tossed into HR without a plan, Wendy Sellers learned everything the hard way. And it wasn’t an easy journey.But today she is known as “The HR Lady” and has over 25 years of experience in HR operations, corporate culture, downsizing, change management, strategy, and remote workplaces as well as in coaching, employee training, supervisor & manager training, HR education, and leadership development in all-size businesses, in a wide variety of industries An involved business partner and HR consultant, Wendy understands her client’s current culture and their desired culture and then helps them build HR policy and practices, employee training, and management training workshops around their environment and goals.In today's episode of the Women Choosing Growth podcast, Wendy joins Tina Sue for a fascinating conversation on all things HR. They will dive into the must-dos when hiring and Wendy is going to share some really important information for all of the leaders out there who are recruiting and trying to run a business with people.You will find out more about how Wendy got started in the HR space, what were some of the challenges she faced and how she managed to overcome them. Wendy will also dive into why showing appreciation to your employees is the number one thing you should do, will share specific steps to help you create a great culture and meaningful company values, will reveal how to ask the right questions when interviewing people for a job in your company and so much more.Listen now and enjoy!What You’ll Learn in this Show:Why showing appreciation to your employees is the number one thing you should do.Learning the love language of your employees.Some of the top things that you have to do as a leader when hiring.Specific steps to help you create a great culture and meaningful company values.How to ask the right questions when interviewing people for a job in your company. And so much more…Resources:Thehrlady.com The HR Lady PodcastWendy’s LinkedInYoutube channel: Wendy Sellers, The HR LadyBooks:The Asshole Whisperer: How to deal with crappy leaders and jerks at workSuck It Up, Buttercup: Be a Leader People Will Follow