The Fire Time Podcast
Tim Reed
Are you tired of presentations that are only half relevant to your business? Many speakers are not practitioners of their material, simply teachers—not so with The Fire Time Podcast. This podcast is for the hearth industry and by the hearth industry. Host Tim Reed has over a decade of experience in the hearth industry, making conversations with guests relevant and extremely practical. In Season One, Tim speaks with twelve hearth industry leaders and provides content relevant to any position, whether on the retail or manufacturing side. Hearth companies everywhere are lost because the landscape of business has changed dramatically in the last ten years. They are trying hard, but they just don’t know what to do. The Fire Time Podcast equips hearth companies to win by sharing ideas and innovation from the best minds in our industry. This podcast will give you the tools to move the needle in your company and win in the changing landscape. This podcast is the first of its kind—specific to the business that you work in every day and simple enough to teach you what’s needed to succeed. Do not miss out on The Fire Time Podcast, available for Apple and Droid devices or at www.itsfiretime.com/podcast. The simple and repeatable steps provided will empower you to grow the bottom line of your company and inspire the team that you lead. ABOUT: Tim Reed is the Retail Sales Leader at Fireside Home Solutions in the Pacific Northwest where he helps his team members make it so stupidly easy to buy from them that there is no excuse not to. Starting as individual salesperson in an empty warehouse, he has grown Fireside’s Retail division by millions (after cutting his marketing budget by 90%). Tim has been invited all over the country to teach companies how to market effectively to their customers and sell more than ever before. His YouTube videos, sales blog, and “Fire Time Podcast” have become a resource for the industry and are actively helping thousands of people rethink their paradigms so that they can grow their businesses in the changing landscape. Tim learned “just enough to be dangerous” about sales, marketing, web development, and leadership from years of playing guitar in a failing punk band—which he swears has uniquely qualified him for his job today. Now considered one of the most innovative minds and compelling communicators in the industry, Tim uses his platform to serve others, helping them create clear messages that are wildly compelling to their audiences. Tim lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Jessica, two children, Olivia and Luke, and his 90 pound Golden Retriever, Walter. He still plays guitar in a failing punk band. CONTACT: tim@itsfiretime.com | www.itsfiretime.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 2, 2022 • 17min
Relationships, Results, and Trust—Compounded Over Time—Create Influence by Alex Judd (FTM Rapid Reaction)
Too many leaders promise things that they don’t end up doing. This creates a disconnect between leaders and their teams, and it’s often the underlying reason teams don’t fully buy into their leaders’ initiatives. If you’re ready to overcome this challenge, then this episode of the podcast is for you.While we’re getting ready for Season 9 of the podcast, Tim will give you his rapid reaction to a series of audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. To check out more audio articles from that publication, subscribe to the FTM podcast (linked below).In this week's episode, Tim gives you his rapid reaction to "Relationships, Results, and Trust—Compounded Over Time—Create Influence" by Alex Judd.Podcast episodes with Alex:https://www.itsfiretime.com/2019/11/19/the-fire-time-podcast-episode-43-alex-juddhttps://www.itsfiretime.com/2020/09/29/the-fire-time-podcast-episode-72-alex-juddAlex’s Path for Growth Podcast: https://www.pathforgrowth.com/podcastRead The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition: https://magazine.itsfiretime.comDownload The Fire Time Magazine App to get full access to the magazine (for free): https://www.itsfiretime.com/appSupport The Fire Time Podcast Financially: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Jul 26, 2022 • 23min
Good Design is Simpler than You Think by Christy Campbell (FTM Rapid Reaction)
Let’s face it: Our industry could use some help when it comes to marketing design. Often, that’s because people don’t understand the importance of keeping their designs simple. If you’re ready to make your marketing design better, start by listening to this podcast episode.While we’re getting ready for Season 9 of the podcast, Tim will give you his rapid reaction to a series of audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine. To check out more audio articles from that publication, subscribe to the FTM podcast (linked below).In this week's episode, Tim gives you his rapid reaction to "Good Design Is Simpler than You Think" by Christy Campbell.Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition online: https://magazine.itsfiretime.com.Download The Fire Time Magazine app to get full access to the magazine (for free): https://www.itsfiretime.com/app.Support The Fire Time Podcast financially: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime.
Jul 19, 2022 • 19min
Why Team Members Fail and How to Help Them Succeed by Jerry Eisenhower (FTM Rapid Reaction)
Very often, we like and hire people who are like us. Often, this makes teams that have glaring weaknesses because everyone's similar and they all have the same flaws. This episode will inform you how to hire people unlike you so that there are no gaping holes in the fabric of your company.While we are getting ready for Season 9 of the podcast, every week, Tim will be giving you his rapid reaction to an audio article from The Fire Time Magazine. To check out more audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine, subscribe to the FTM podcast (link below).In this week's episode, Tim gives you his rapid reaction to "Why Team Members Fail and How to Help Them Succeed" by Jerry Eisenhower.Read The Fire Time Magazine Online and Subscribe to The Fire Time. Magazine Podcast: https://magazine.itsfiretime.com/Download The Fire Time Magazine App to get full access to the magazine (for free): https://www.itsfiretime.com/appSupport The Fire Time Podcast Financially: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Jul 12, 2022 • 22min
Consultative Sales from the Buyer's Perspective by Heather Hockenberry (FTM Rapid Reaction)
Have you ever considered what it's like to go through the consultative sales process from the buyer's perspective? If so, wouldn't that make it more of a buying process rather than a sales process? What then would be the role of a salesperson if the buyer is in control and making all the decisions at every point in the process? Before answering these questions, let's clarify several points… listen to this episode for more!While we are getting ready for Season 9 of the podcast, every week, Tim will be giving you his rapid reaction to an audio article from The Fire Time Magazine. To check out more audio articles from The Fire Time Magazine, subscribe to the FTM podcast (links below).In this week's episode, Tim gives you his rapid reaction to "Consultative Sales from the Buyer's Perspective" by Heather Hockenberry.Read The Fire Time Magazine Reader Edition: https://magazine.itsfiretime.com/Download The Fire Time Magazine App to get full access to the magazine (for free): https://www.itsfiretime.com/appSupport The Fire Time Podcast Financially: https://www.patreon.com/itsfiretime
Jul 5, 2022 • 60min
Q & A - Season 8 Finale
How do you build a payscale for salespeople? How do you design an effective showroom? When will there be another Fire Time Workshop? Listen to learn the answers to these questions—and many more—as we round out Season 8.In today’s episode, Tim responds to questions he has received from WhyFire customers, audience members, and podcast listeners over the last several months. In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to display pricing in the showroom (establishments you probably visit often do this well—replicate it).
How to make consistent job walk forms (these only take 20 minutes to create).
Why some steps of the 10-Step Execution Process are non-negotiable (you just need to trust us on this).
It’s incredible how much ground we covered this season, and we can’t wait to tell you what’s planned for Season 9 come early September. Until then, you can look out for a weekly Rapid Reaction episode. And remember, summer is the invest season—don’t waste it! Get started on JotFormListen to the Fire Time Magazine PodcastSign Up For The Fire Time WorkshopSupport The Fire Time Podcast FinanciallyJoin The Fire Time Network
Jun 28, 2022 • 1h 6min
Vision, Mission, Core Values - Part 3
Pretty much all business owners know where they want their companies to go. Still, very few actually understand how to break down their big goals into smaller, achievable objectives that can be distributed company-wide.In today’s episode—the final one of the season—Matt Bradley returns to talk to Tim about WhyFire’s goals and objectives for the next three to five years. In doing so, they hope to provide some insight into how you can create your own goals and objectives.In this episode, you’ll learn:
How WhyFire’s goals and objectives came to be (and how the definitions of “goals” and “objectives” differ).
How to give your employees just the right amount of authority (and why you should let team members own specific goals).
Why it’s important to surround yourself with people who balance you out (and how doing so will allow you to see where you’re blind).
We all dream of reaching our companies’ loftiest goals, but few of us break down the steps to achieve them. More often than not, this creates stagnant companies that barely scrape by. If you’re ready to craft goals and objectives that will truly move the needle, then this episode’s for you. Listen to the first episode of this series with Stan CampbellListen to the second episode of this series with the WhyFire TeamListen to the Fire Time Magazine PodcastSign Up For The Fire Time WorkshopSupport The Fire Time Podcast FinanciallyJoin The Fire Time Network
Jun 21, 2022 • 1h 12min
Why Core Values Matter
It’s easy to think that core values are unnecessary fluff, but that mindset will likely lead to slow growth and poor culture. Core values, done right, are hard-edged driving forces that make companies come alive.In today’s episode—the follow-up to last week’s episode with Stan Campbell—Tim talks about WhyFire’s core values with his fellow team members, Matt Bradley and Sam O’Donnell. These core values galvanize the WhyFire team every day—something that’s clearly conveyed through this lighthearted conversation.In this episode, you’ll learn:
How the WhyFire team came up with their core values (and how those shape the team’s daily actions).
How to create an actionable core value (and what three traits make a rock-solid one).
How to bake your core values into your team (and why this gets everyone rowing in the same direction).
Honestly, most core values are fluff because they aren’t truly internalized. Taking core values seriously might be challenging at first, but doing so will lead your company down the path of prosperity. If you’re ready to rethink your core values, listen to this episode today. Listen to Last Week’s Episode with Stan CampbellSign Up For The Fire Time WorkshopSupport The Fire Time Podcast FinanciallyClick Here to Join The Fire Time Network
Jun 14, 2022 • 58min
Stan Campbell - Mission, Vision, Core Values, Goals, and Objectives
If you walked up to your team and asked them to recite your mission statement, could they do it? If not, here’s the hard truth: Your mission statement stinks, and you need to improve it. If your team doesn’t know why your organization exists, where you’re going, and how they’re expected to behave, then you’re setting them up to fail.In today’s episode, Tim sits down with his mentor, Stan Campbell, to define and discuss the essential elements of any healthy business: mission, vision, core values, goals, and objectives. During the conversation, Tim explains how Stan helped him and his team develop each of these elements so that they could always have clarity on what the company is and where it’s going.In this episode, you’ll learn:
How core values—when done right—will pump up your team (this makes winning organizations).
How an outsider’s critique of your organization will change everything (this will allow you to truly see eye-to-eye with your team).
How you should delegate tasks (this isn’t offloading things you don’t want to do onto others' plates).
The landscape is littered with organizations that never made it past their leaders' capacities. If you truly care about your business, you should be okay with leaving behind a legacy that doesn’t include you. Making things less about you as a leader and giving your team the authority to talk back will pay dividends. Listen today to get started.Hiring Stan is the best money Tim has ever spent. Bring him in to critique your organization by emailing him here: stanfordjcampbell@gmail.com.
Jun 7, 2022 • 55min
Sean Kraemer - Life of a Chimney Sweep
Despite what some misguided folks say, the chimney sweep business isn’t a dirty, low-dollar industry. After experiencing the culture of this industry first-hand, Tim thinks hearth retailers can learn a ton from it.In today’s episode, Tim chats with Sean Kraemer (Podcaster and Owner of Holy Smoke Inc.) about his story about buying and transforming the business he worked for so that it could grow and support his family. Given that Tim and Sean have lived somewhat similar lives—Sean was also in a punk band—this conversation is an eye into the minds of two young business owners striving to serve their employees, their customers, and their communities in any way they can.In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to appraise and advertise your business when you’re ready to sell it (and how to prove the company makes money on repeat).
Why you need to be in the right mental state before buying a business (and why you’ll likely end up in a rut if you’re not).
How to find a mentor when you need one (and why doing so will make you aware of your levels of incompetence).
After attending the National Chimney Sweep Guild Convention, Tim was amazed at the tight-knit nature of the industry. These people genuinely care about each other and the people they serve. If we could combine our two industries, we could all grow together. Listen today to learn more and get involved. Check Out The Life of a Chimney Sweep PodcastClick Here to Join the NCSG Sign Up For The Fire Time WorkshopSupport The Fire Time Podcast FinanciallyClick Here to Join The Fire Time Network
May 31, 2022 • 59min
Clay Dennis - Building a Business That You Can Sell
“I started looking at my company as a retirement plan.” Do you look at your company the same way? Chances are, you probably don’t. But building a business you can sell is all about keeping the end in mind and reverse engineering from there—and this conversation covers how to do that like an expert.Today, Tim talks with Clay Dennis, a man who titles himself a believer, a coach, and a friend when called. Clay tells Tim about how his business almost literally killed him, how he built his business like a retirement plan, how he eventually sold his business, and how he segments his life into acts.In this episode, you’ll learn:
How you can build a business that works as a retirement plan (this is mandatory if you want certainty in the future).
What you should know about the three fates of every business (this will help you decide how you want yours to end).
What you should do when a manufacturer’s suggested products aren’t moving (this is a hard truth that only the most dominant businesses embrace).
Stop operating your business day by day—focus on the end instead. Building a business that you can sell is essential to finishing life well. Listen today to learn how to craft a better future. Nearing Home by Billy Graham Sign Up For The Fire Time WorkshopSupport The Fire Time Podcast FinanciallyClick Here to Join The Fire Time Network
