ASOM Pod EP38: Lean, Mean Business: The Great Talent Shift
In this episode of The ASOM Pod, hosts John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), Bryan McDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride), and Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane) break down the messy, unpredictable, and sometimes chaotic world of running a business in today’s economy. From layoffs to leadership challenges, they get real about what it takes to keep a company afloat—and thriving—when the game keeps changing.
The crew dives into the rise of freelancers, fractional execs, and overseas talent—are they the secret to scaling smarter, or just a band-aid solution? They also tackle the ever-controversial remote work vs. in-office debate (spoiler: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer).
What You’ll Learn:
- How to future-proof your business so it doesn’t crash and burn
- The real impact of layoffs, restructuring, and automation on team morale
- Why remote vs. in-person work is not a simple yes/no debate
- How to be a leader (not just a taskmaster) when times get rough
- Key lessons from The Culture Code on creating a culture people actually want to be part of
Whether you’re running an agency, leading a team, or just trying to survive corporate chaos, this episode is packed with insights, hard truths, and practical strategies to help you build a lean, efficient, and thriving business.
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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!
Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/
Nacelle — Transform your eCommerce store with AI-powered product recommendations that understand your customers’ actual behaviors, not just their purchases. Learn more at https://www.nacelle.com
Workspace6 — The best community for 7, 8 & 9 figure+ eCommerce operators. Why struggle alone? Other founders have already solved your biggest challenges. Learn more at https://www.workspace6.io
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00:00 Teaser Trailer
02:29 Welcome to the ASOM Pod
04:45 The Changing Landscape of Team Structures
05:16 The Role of AI in Productivity
05:48 The Impact of Layoffs and Reorganizations
22:49 Hiring Trends: Freelancers and Overseas Talent
31:14 Pricing Risks and Business Model Changes
32:00 Challenges of U.S. Manufacturing
32:44 Automation and Overseas Efficiency
36:18 Impact of Layoffs on Company Culture
37:21 Remote Work vs. In-Person Culture
44:47 Leadership and Team Efficiency
50:48 Book Review: The Culture Code
57:50 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
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Follow Jimmy Kim at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim
Follow Bryan MacDonald at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad
Follow John Roman at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman
Follow Amer Grozdanic at:
X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic
IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic
Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!