The Liquid Lunch Project

As business owners, we’re often told that if we want to drive revenue, we need to develop a brand. But the reality is that we’re not always making the kind of revenue that allows us the luxury to develop our brand - let alone have the time and ability to think big-picture-long-term-goals when we’re trying to balance the daily obligations of entrepreneurship. It’s a catch-22. That’s why we were excited to sit down with today’s guest. Michael Doyle is the CEO of Brand Iron, a results-oriented branding and marketing agency that focuses on the latest marketing technology. Using a unique combination of traditional branding and marketing (the “fluffy stuff”) with hard-cutting facts and results, Michael and his team have developed 500+ brands and raised over $5B in capital.  Michael shares that creating a brand is more than just a cool logo or flashy website. It’s the ability to identify and differentiate yourself and your company from everyone else. What are your goals and objectives? What is your end outcome? How do you define your value points? From that, you use it to create your marketing brand process and your social media or sales strategies, all while having the technology in place to track and analyze the effectiveness of all these different things to evaluate your ROI.  It sounds like a lot, right? No wonder so many of us stick our heads in the sand. But this is where Michael and his Brand Iron team shine.  With “BrandStorm” sessions, they help you create an action plan, define your messaging, and develop a marketing strategy so you can focus on both big-picture goals AND short-term goals for long-term growth. So whether you want to raise capital, develop your brand, launch a new product, or drive revenue, tune in to learn how Brand Iron can help you achieve your desired outcomes.  Episode Highlights:   What makes a brand memorable Why you should have a pitch deck - and what kind How to create a story that passes the bullshit detector His #1 piece of advice if you’re just starting out How Brand Iron can help drive revenue Favorite Quote: The most successful entrepreneurs can do two things: They can take a look at the bigger picture goals and objectives and can balance that with short-term goals and objectives. You’ve got to be able to do both.   Connect with Michael:  https://brandiron.net   https://www.facebook.com/michael.doyle.731/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandiron/  https://www.twitter.com/michaelsdoyle    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

We all hear the negatives of VAs and assistants. There are cultural inconsistencies. There are time differences that can't be avoided. You hire people to do XYZ, and they do ABC. When done right, hiring virtual assistants and remote workers is a game changer in the best possible way. But when it's not, it can create even more work for you in the long run.    Here to tell us how they can make this entire process a bit easier for busy business owners is Tanika de Souza, founder of High Octane Teams.   High Octane Teams specializes in sourcing and curating top talent for diverse roles, offering a "white glove" solution to clients' team needs. Their service goes beyond mere matching; they provide vital training and ongoing support to foster successful working relationships. Their process includes rigorous candidate qualification, thorough background checks, and CV reviews, ensuring their clients a seamless, personalized hiring experience.    But what truly distinguishes High Octane Teams is their dedication to building lasting connections with their remote workers, even if they eventually move on to other opportunities. They're a human resource company with both a brain and a heart, and it's this level of connection and loyalty that is the secret sauce that keeps clients coming back for more.   We also cover a common business pitfall: the belief that adding more people can solve operational challenges. Tanika highlights how this approach often misses the mark, as the root cause of productivity issues often lies in flawed systems, not personnel. Throwing more manpower at the problem without addressing the underlying systemic issues helps no one - and ultimately hinders growth.   Tune in to learn more about the value of skilled virtual assistants and how High Octane can help you with your next hire.   Episode Highlights: How High Octane Teams came to be Tips for monitoring remote productivity Tracking Time vs. Job Completion Interview Dos and Don’ts Why she’s slow to hire, quick to fire Her plans for certification programs The biggest changes she sees coming in the next five years of remote work Favorite Quote: "To me, it's not just checking the box on a skill. It's learning the person.”   Connect with Tanika: https://highoctane.team   https://www.facebook.com/tanikabrewdesouza  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanika-de-souza-ma-99b902196/    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Many of us who own a small business understand the limited potential for organic growth. Sure, we can add another 10-15%, but those numbers don’t always build the long-term wealth we’re after. Today’s guest is here to speak with us about another option: Mergers and acquisitions.   Patrick V Rogers is a serial entrepreneur and investor turned mentor who has personally coached hundreds of CEOs and organizations as an M&A consultant. He helps his clients acquire companies of equal size - typically one per year - that results in them increasing their business value by 20-25x in five years or less. Why does he do it? As he explains it, “When entrepreneurs win, we create freedom that is the bedrock of the world.” They create generational wealth, are involved in philanthropic endeavors, and give back to their communities.   And there’s never been a better time to do this. With the number of Baby Boomers retiring every day, we’re seeing the largest transfer of wealth in modern history. They want to protect their legacy. They want to protect their people. And they’re going to be looking for someone who will promise and deliver on both. Make no mistake; it’s a buyer's market out there, and with the right strategies in place, you have the opportunity to create the life you’ve always wanted.   When you work with Patrick, he and his team not only TELL you what to do, but they HELP you do it, which means they’re rolling up their sleeves, making calls, doing due diligence, negotiating, and seeing the acquisition through to the end.    After you finish listening to this episode, make sure you visit PatrickVRogers.com for a free consultation call - and a free copy of his book that includes their entire strategy to double revenue in a year.   If you’re looking for a sign to begin acquiring new businesses - this is it. Episode Highlights:   Why he’ll never start a business again How he helped an HVAC company acquire a 3.1 M plumbing company How to grow via geographic expansion The negotiation strategy when working with Baby Boomers The two reasons why company acquisitions fail His opinions on Business Brokers How to maximize valuation The one industry he’d pick to make future acquisitions in  Favorite Quote: When entrepreneurs win, we create freedom that’s the bedrock of the world. Connect with Patrick: https://patrickvrogers.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickvrogers/   https://www.youtube.com/@highperformanceceo    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Would it surprise you to learn that the U.S. government is the world's biggest purchaser of goods and services? Or that roughly 23% of spending goes toward small businesses? And even though Uncle Sam spends approximately $150 billion a year in small-biz contracts, less than 1% of small business owners are actually engaged in the process. Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “What on earth would the government want to buy from me?” Keep in mind their needs go beyond airplanes and weapons. We’re talking landscapers and painters and accountants and cybersecurity and more. It’s a vast amount of spending on just about anything you can think of.  So, how can you get a piece of the action? Joining us on the show today is Richard Howard, Lt Col (Ret). He’s a leading authority on US federal government contracts. As a career military acquisitions officer, he oversaw $82B+ in DoD contracts and has advised & trained over 400 companies as a consultant. Richard is the CEO of DoD Contract, which guides, trains, and mentors small business owners and sales executives through the government sales process. Word to the wise: Like most things in government, the process is slow, and don’t expect to make bank in a few weeks. But if you’re willing to play with the long game in mind, government contracts can be a lucrative - and largely unsaturated - market to build additional revenue streams with a buyer who you know is good for the cash.  Episode Highlights: The number one thing the government is buying How a government contract increases the value of your business Security parameters when entering a contract How to “network” with the government How to find contracts for the services or products you’re selling How to find government contracts to sponsor product development Favorite Quote: “Your first job as a small business is to solve the problem of the government.” Connect with Rick: Dodcontract.com DOD Contract Acaedmy Podcast  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickychoward/    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

How does a former pastor with a degree in non-profit fall “ass-backward” into a thriving career in HOA Management and Staffing?    Here to tell us all about it is Rob Buffington, founder and CEO of Gordian Staffing and an experienced consultant in the HOA management space. From buying a few rental properties to becoming a real estate broker to rental property manager, he eventually found himself managing HOAs...and doing it rather well.    Now Rob brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to companies struggling with vendor services, staffing, accounting, and general management issues. How? Because he’s been there. In fact, Gordian Staffing was born out of the problems he himself was facing; finding and keeping quality staff to help with HOA management.   And it turns out - he was onto something. Within just a few years, 50 employees turned into 500, and he shows no sign of slowing down. Their mission is simple: To provide clients with the best possible service and consulting and make a positive difference in the world. They allow business owners to eliminate the clutter in their daily activities (like admin, basic accounting, customer service, etc.) so they can focus on what matters most: Growing their business. They provide companies with full-time, remote workers who live primarily in Mexico and who are 100% dedicated to your company. The vetting and screening, and busywork are all handled by Gordian Staffing. You just have to delegate.    We covered a lot of ground in just 25 minutes, so whether you’re an aspiring HOA manager, a real-estate junky, or a busy business owner looking for some relief, this is an episode you shouldn’t miss.  Episode Highlights:   Skills and expertise HOA managers should have Tips for Airbnb investing When’s the right time to start outsourcing How Gordian Staffing gives back to the community How they’ve built a team of dedicated (and remote) employees The tasks his remote workers can assist you with Favorite Quote:  “Exceptions cause mistakes, so whatever you’re going to do, do it consistently.” Connect with Rob:https://gordianstaffing.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbuffington/ https://www.facebook.com/GordianStaffing   https://www.instagram.com/gordianstaffing/   https://www.youtube.com/@gordianstaffing7086    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

Ready to go to market with a story that sizzles?   Then you’re in luck because on the show today, we have Bruce Scheer, CEO of InspireYourBuyers.com and President of the National Speakers Association Northwest.    He developed his revolutionary Go to Market Narrative model over the course of his twenty-five-year career, helping several industry giants, including IBM, Microsoft, HP, Google, Alcatel-Lucent, and McKesson, rapidly grow their revenue with their Go to Market Narratives.    And with his book, “Inspire Your Buyers,” he provides a proven, tested model to develop your own compelling Go to Market Narrative that can help accelerate your revenue growth. From targeting the right buyers, learning how to identify the characteristics of an organization that might be a good fit, narrowing down your audience, spotlighting the problem they may not even be aware they have, and helping them envision the outcome if that problem was solved, Bruce’s Go to Market Narrative model will give you the edge (and the sizzle) you’re looking for in achieving your business growth goals.  Episode Highlights:   How to identify your target audience How to develop a strategic narrative The 2x motivator for change The critical selling step he sees many people skip How to have a great selling conversation His favorite sales book of all time Favorite Quote: “Don’t trust your buyer that they know everything.”   Connect with Bruce: www.inspireyourbuyersbook.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/bscheer/  https://twitter.com/bscheer  Youtube: SalesConversation     Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

Joining us from across the pond today are Elliot and Dom Chapman, brothers and co-founders of Social Chaps and Chapman Capital.    Together, they’ve been running their own B2B businesses for the last five years, from startups to management consultancies. But they struggled to find reliable marketing agencies to meet their needs. So they did what we love best: They saw a problem, took matters into their own hands, and created their own systems and processes. And after seeing tremendous success, they decided to launch Social Chaps to help other B2B businesses effectively market their products and services.    But they didn’t stop there. They’ve also launched Chapman Capital to acquire and grow a portfolio of boutique agencies. Oh, and did we mention they’re fellow podcast hosts, too?   We covered all manner of topics, including how they leveraged a successful football career (soccer, for us Americans) into a successful business career, how they work together as brothers, the importance of communication, their failures along the way, and the “organized chaos” that comes with the territory.  Episode Highlights: Why and how they founded Chapman Capital Differences in the B2B space between America and UK/Europe Their process for acquiring businesses and strategy for identifying them Parallels between team sports and running a business How they structure investments in the UK Their predictions for this season’s Premier League championship   Favorite Quote: “Focus on high impact at the start of the week and don’t get dragged into areas of the business you genuinely don’t need to get dragged into.”   Connect with Elliot and Dom: https://www.socialchaps.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliotchapman/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlechapman/ elliot@chapman.capital   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

No matter your business or industry, one thing is certain: You’re always selling. This can be tricky because people generally don’t like being sold to. And when we’re desperate, they can smell us coming a mile away, and it’s harder to close the deal. So, where does that leave us?  On the show today to talk to us about the “unspoken language of sales” is Craig Andrews. He’s the mind behind Allies4Me and is an expert in helping companies attract strangers and convert them into high-paying customers. This is done by taking yourself OUT of sales mode and instead positioning yourself from a place of trust.  And how is trust built? With an irresistible FTO.  FTOs (first-time offers) - when done correctly - will build trust rapidly and create an environment where people want to buy. It moves the heavy lifting from the hands of the salesperson and places it into the power of the offer. Everyone can benefit from this sales strategy, from HVAC companies to logistics, plumbers to pet groomers. And as a special offer for listeners of The Liquid Lunch Project, he’s giving away his guide and 23 days of FREE access to his course to help you create the perfect first-time offer that will convert to more customers and more sales.    Episode Highlights: What is the unspoken language of sales What is a good First-Time Offer? The types of companies he works with What is considered a high-ticket offer The biggest hurdle to finding your perfect offer How he helps companies develop the ideal FTO in one day   Favorite Quote: Solve a small problem for them. And when you solve a small problem, it accelerates the trust building like you wouldn’t believe.    Connect with Craig: https://allies4me.com/ https://allies4me.com/liquidlunch (for FREE access to his guide!) https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-andrews/     Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

Have you noticed it seems like everyone is an investing expert these days…or at least THINKS they’re an investing expert these days?   Gone are the days of Bull-and-Bear conversations limited to the suits on Wall Street. Now, anybody can get in on the action. Making your money work for you has never been easier, while at the same time, more complicated. There is an art to investing. And despite what your Twitter feed might tell you, you’ll rarely find overnight success and riches. Slow and steady wins the race.   That’s why we were excited to sit down with today’s guest. Meet Zaheer Anwari, co-founder of SublimeTrading.io. He helps CEOs and HNWIs (high net worth individuals) get consistent returns in the stock market with a proven strategy that averaged 30%+ per annum over the last decade.    How does he do it? Reverse engineering. Instead of choosing assets based on what you WANT to invest in (i.e., Tesla fans will want to buy Tesla stock), he helps people determine how much money they want by when… and then works backward to decide the right investment strategy to achieve that goal. He strictly uses technical analysis, focusing on small wins that compound over time using cutting-edge tech for current market conditions.    Investing and reemploying capital - when done strategically - is an excellent way to develop second, third, or even fourth streams of income. If you’re a busy professional looking to achieve results without dedicating endless hours, we strongly encourage you to first listen to this episode, and then visit SublimeTrading.io to learn more. Episode Highlights: Technical analysis vs. Fundamental analysis…and how to use them in tandem His daily process to determine which assets make it to his portfolio Why he only takes end-of-day positions His stance on long positions How a 30% success rate can still generate 7 to 8 figures a year The best trade he ever made Favorite Quote: “It’s not about how many winners you have. Focus on how large your winners are and keep them compounding.”   Connect with Zaheer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaheeranwari/  https://sublimetrading.io   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

There’s only one way to describe this week’s episode: On fire. (Or “lit” for the millennials in the audience.)   We had the pleasure of sitting down with Dave Albin, America's #1 Firewalk Instructor. With an impressive 19+ year tenure working alongside the legendary Tony Robbins, Dave's expertise in firewalking is unrivaled. In 2014, he took the plunge and founded Firewalk Productions, igniting the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals.   But Dave's path to success was paved with darkness and turmoil. In a haunting moment on June 8th, 1988, he found himself at the brink of desperation, pointing a gun at his own head in an attempt to escape the agonizing grip of drug and alcohol addiction.   Fast forward to 2023, and Dave is celebrating an incredible milestone—35 years of sobriety. Join us as we explore the harrowing journey that led him to this moment of triumph.   Dave's list of clients reads like a who's who of major organizations: Google, NASA, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Heineken, RE/MAX, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), Chick-fil-A, CRISP Video, Mystery Hill, Y.M.C.A., Replace Your University, Tony Robbins, T. Harv Eker, The Four Seasons, The Omni Hotel, The Waldorf Astoria, Waikoloa Hotel, and many more.    If the idea of firewalking terrifies you, baffles you, or makes you wonder what the hell those people are thinking - give this episode a listen for a truly eye-opening look at the process and how it’s a bonding experience like no other.    And if you’re a business owner seeking a new or unconventional way to bring your team together (because we all know teams excel when they get along), Dave is holding a Firewalk Academy from October 3, 2023 - October 7, 2023. Listeners of The Liquid Lunch Project Podcast can get an EXCLUSIVE discount using the code 6828.  Favorite Quote: “What doesn’t challenge you doesn’t change you.” Connect with Dave: https://firewalkadventures.com  https://www.facebook.com/firewalkadventures  https://www.instagram.com/firebuilder2/?hl=en  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-albin/    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.