

Smart Business Revolution | Turn Relationships into Revenues | Networking | More Clients | Relationship Advice
John Corcoran
"Top 100 Small Business Podcasts 2014" -- Small Biz Trends. Former Clinton White House Writer John Corcoran shows you how to build relationships intelligently to get more clients, grow your income and advance your career. Discover how you can use win-win networking and intentional relationship-building with Influencers and VIPs, even if you "hate networking" or feel like you have "nothing to offer" people who are successful. Interviews with today's top entrepreneurs and authors such as Dan Pink, Michael Port, Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo and Guy Kawasaki, who reveal how they use relationships to grow their businesses and their incomes. Find out more at SmartBusinessRevolution.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 5, 2024 • 38min
Knowledge Sharing and Networking Strategies With Aaron Conant
Aaron Conant is the Co-founder and Chief Digital Strategist at BWG Connect, a leading platform for executive strategy and networking sessions. He is also an e-commerce expert with over a decade of experience in digital commerce, providing advisory services to brands on Amazon sales strategies, retail media, direct consumer platform selection, and SEO. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of over 125,000 senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events annually. Before starting BWG Connect, Aaron was the Head of eCommerce Sales and Business Development at Perrigo and a Research Scientist at Pfizer. He is also the host of the Digital Deep Dive Podcast. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Aaron Conant, the Co-founder and Chief Digital Strategist at BWG Connect, about knowledge-sharing and networking strategies for e-commerce sellers. Aaron shares tips for evaluating event speakers, how to balance family with building a business, and strategies for organizing a business dinner.

Dec 29, 2023 • 43min
Strategies for Leveraging AI in Your Business With Nicole Donnelly
Nicole Donnelly is the Founder of AI Smart Marketing, an AI-powered marketing agency that helps brands create personalized and effective marketing campaigns. Through AI courses, workshops, and services, the agency teaches people how to leverage cutting-edge AI tools to create effective AI solutions. Nicole has over 18 yrs of experience as an entrepreneur, having founded and built her company, BabyLegs, into a global brand. By 2009, she had grown it to around $5 million in sales with 24 employees and expanded to 85 countries before selling it. BabyLegs won the industry Design Excellence award for 12 years, was named one of Seattle’s Best Places to Work, and received a national award for Workplace Flexibility." Nicole is also the Founder of Emotionality, a former professional snowboarder, snowboarding instructor, and author of Rash to Riches: How I Grew BabyLegs from a Home Business to a Global Brand. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Nicole Donnelly, the Founder of AI Smart Marketing, about strategies for leveraging AI in business. Nicole also shares her experience building and selling BabyLegs, the benefits of AI, and how to stay on top of AI developments.

Dec 22, 2023 • 31min
The Intersection of AI and Creativity With Helen Todd
Helen Todd is the Co-founder and CEO of Creativity Squared, a platform that explores how creatives collaborate with artificial intelligence. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, award-winning marketer, and international speaker. Helen is also the Co-founder and CEO of Sociality Squared, a women-owned, full-service social media agency founded in 2010 and headquartered in New York City. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Helen Todd, the Co-founder and CEO of Creativity Squared and Sociality Squared, about the intersection of AI and creativity. They also discuss the concept and use of synthetic media, how businesses can leverage AI, and why Helen started a social media marketing agency.

Dec 15, 2023 • 33min
Building a Startup Coffee Brand and Transitioning To Coaching With Chase Damiano
Chase Damiano is the Founder of Human At Scale, a leadership development company that empowers purpose-driven leaders to elevate their teams and scale their businesses. Under his leadership, the company has served a wide range of leaders and executive teams, representing about $100 million in annual revenue. Before founding Human At Scale, Chase served as the COO of Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters and was a Co-founder at Barometer Interactive. He is an alumnus of Virginia Tech and the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Program. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran sits down with Chase Damiano, the Founder of Human At Scale, to talk about entrepreneurship and building a coffee brand. Chase shares the challenges he faced finding a distributor, overcoming burnout, and how he became a coach.

Dec 4, 2023 • 38min
How To Build a Purpose-Driven Brand With Tamara Loehr
Tamara Loehr is the Co-founder of Beusail Academy, a marketplace and community where conscious consumers use their purchasing power to make a collective positive impact. She became an entrepreneur at 19 years old when she started a digital marketing agency. Tamara is also the Co-founder of Concertina Team, an outsourcing agency that helps entrepreneurs scale by finding the right team for them. She is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and an advocate for female entrepreneurs and net-positive brands. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Tamara Loehr, the Co-founder of Beusail Academy and Concertina Team, about how to build a purpose-driven brand. They also discuss the concept of ethical offshoring, how to raise entrepreneurial kids, and Tamara's inspiration to start Beusail Academy.

Dec 1, 2023 • 42min
Scaling a Healthcare Business Through a Pandemic With Kenny Schiff
Kenny Schiff is the Director of Analytics at Lone Star Communications, a Texas-based healthcare solutions company that provides technology services to hospitals. A healthcare industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, Kenny is also the Founder of CareSight, an analytics-as-a-service platform. He hosts the newly launched CarePoints Podcast and is based in Naples, Florida. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran sits down with Kenny Schiff, the Director of Analytics at Lone Star Communications, to talk about scaling a healthcare business. They also discuss the difference between service and technology companies, changes in the healthcare technology field over the years, and how to find a strategic acquirer.

Nov 27, 2023 • 57min
How To Grow Your People To Scale Your Business With Nick Thompson
Nick Thompson is the Co-founder and President of VEA Office Professionals Inc., a virtual services provider helping businesses scale. He has over 25 years of experience in leadership and executive management, having co-founded and led several companies, including one that he scaled up to over $100 million in revenue. Nick is a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and the author of LOOK OUT! You're About to Get F**ked!: The 13 Biggest Pitfalls of Business and How to Avoid Them. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Nick Thompson, the Co-founder and President of VEA Office Professionals Inc., about his strategies for scaling a company to over $100 million. Nick also talks about his merger and acquisition formula, how the dot-com bubble and the 9/11 tragedy affected his company, and tips for working with your spouse.

Nov 24, 2023 • 58min
How To Intentional Grow Your Business With Ryan Tansom
Ryan Tansom is the Founder of Arkona and the Creator of the Intentional Growth Framework. He started his entrepreneurial journey at his family business, where he helped turn it around and enabled it to be sold for eight figures to a local competitor. At Arkona, Ryan helps entrepreneurs grow the value of their company through educational training, fractional CFO services, and strategic planning. He is also a speaker and host of the Intentional Growth Podcast. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran sits down with Ryan Tansom, the Founder of Arkona, to talk about intentional growth strategies. Ryan also explains how business valuations work and shares his experience working at his family's business and selling the company.

Nov 20, 2023 • 7min
Rise25 Acquisition Plans With Dr. Jeremy Weisz
Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that helps B2B business owners connect with their ideal prospects, referral partners, and strategic partners through a done-for-you podcast service. Dr. Weisz has been involved in podcasting for 11 years and was a senior producer for one of the early business podcasts; he assisted in putting all of their systems in place and helped them add volume, feature, and edify various business leaders. Dr. Weisz has also been running the Inspired Insider Podcast since 2011. He has featured top entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs of companies such as P90X, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, the Orlando Magic, and many more through video interviews. He also founded a nutritional supplement business and continues to run his own chiropractic and massage facility, Chiropractical Solutions & Massage. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by his business partner, Dr. Jeremy Weisz, the Co-founder of Rise25, to talk about their acquisition plans. They share Rise25's company values, their criteria for evaluating businesses to acquire, and their preferred revenue range.

Nov 17, 2023 • 38min
How To Leverage Sales and Speaking to Grow A Business With Barrett Cordero
Barrett Cordero is the President of BigSpeak, a speaker’s bureau representing motivational and keynote speakers. Under his direction, the company has generated exponential growth and has been listed in Inc. Magazine's 5000 fastest-growing companies for six years. Before joining BigSpeak, Barrett was an Account Representative at CJ (formerly Commission Junction) and a Manager at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. He is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO). In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Barrett Cordero, the President of BigSpeak, about leveraging sales and speaking to build a business. They also discuss tips for working with high-profile individuals, how to thrive as a dyslexic, and how the 2008 economic recession and the pandemic impacted the speaking industry.