Being intentional about your inclusion – Kirsten PaladinoYou’ve no doubt been hearing a lot about DEI – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and maybe you’re a little confused as to what to do in your business. I was so fortunate to have my friend Kirsten Paladino, Co-founder and editorial director of equallywed.com, join me and help us understand better how we can all be intentional in how we show our customers and prospects that we’re not only open to doing business with them, we’re competent and qualified to do so.Listen to this episode for some ideas on how your business can present itself in a more inclusive way.Kirsten Palladino (she/they) is the cofounder and editorial director of equallywed.com, an online wedding magazine for LGBTQ+ couples and marriers, which she launched with her wife in 2010. She travels globally teaching LGBTQ+ inclusive practices to wedding and event pros, which she also teaches in digital courses on equallywedpro.com. She is the author of Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding, which is available wherever books are sold. Connect with Kirsten on social:Instagram: @kirstenpalladino, @equallywed, @equallywedpro  And online:equallywed.comequallywedpro.com If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

I’m preparing a new presentation for this year’s Wedding MBA on my experiences and findings from the secret shopping I do. Sometimes clients hire us to secret shop them and sometimes we do it when someone inquires but doesn’t hire us, just to see how badly they might need help (cue the smiley emoji). What amazes us is how many times companies don’t reply at all to our inquiry, even when it’s directly through their website. Sometimes it’s a technological issue (easy to fix when you know about it) but other times the lead comes through, and we still get no reply. Then we’re waiting to see how many times a company will reach back out to us, when they don’t get a reply. The sad answer is that we usually only get one attempt from most of the companies we shop. A few others will try 2 or 3 times, and a small minority will try way more than that. Who do you think will get the business.Listen to this 12-minute episode for perspective and I hope incentive for you to follow up more times than you’re doing now.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

From the corporate world to mobile bars – a pivot into a niche – Sarah MurphyI love having on guests who have pivoted into their business, narrowed their niche and then pivoted again! Sarah Murphy went from the corporate world to starting, growing and selling a mobile bar business. Then she pivoted to training other mobile bar operators on how to have a better business. After all, knowing how to mix drinks doesn’t qualify you to have a good business. Those are different skills.Listen to this episode for some ideas that any business can use for growing, pivoting and niching.About Sarah MurphySarah has a master's degree in business from Cornell and a track record of creating multiple six-figure businesses, she has provided invaluable support to over 1k entrepreneurs. Through her mentorship, education, and group coaching in the Mobile Bev. Pros the community, Sarah has consistently delivered unparalleled results for each of her clients.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobilebevpros/Website: https://mobilebevpros.com/Podcast: https://mobilebevprospodcast.buzzsprout.com/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mbpgroup  If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

I'm the neighbor's parents, are you?When I do sales training, whether for just a couple of people, dozens or more, I always consult with the management about the things that they want me to emphasize for their team (whether it’s just a couple of people, or a large group). As long as we’re in alignment on those things, I have no problem hammering home those points. Very often the management has been trying to get their team to learn, accept and use those same concepts, but it hasn’t been sinking in.  I tell them that when they hear it from me, it’s like a kid hearing the neighbor’s parent say the same things their parent said, but it hits home better coming from someone else.Listen to this 6-minute episode for some ideas on how to get your ideas across better to your team, your partners and maybe even your kids!If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Weddings are down, get used to it!I’ve been hearing and having a lot of talk about weddings being down this year. Yeah, and? We’re coming off an unfair benchmark, and a time that’s roiled the waters to the point that we’re still sailing on choppy seas. In this episode I try to give some perspective on where we came from and where we’re going, and what that might mean for you and your business.Listen to this 8-minute episode for some musings on the current and future state of weddings and events.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Davida Perry, Esq. – Are Dress Codes Still a Thing?Have you noticed how the people you encounter at different businesses have very different ways of dressing for work? At some there seems to be a consistent dress code, while at others it seems like the wild west. Surely it should match the brand image of that business, but sometimes it doesn’t seem to. I was curious as to what you, as the business owner or manager can legally require of your employees. So, I invited Davida Perry, an expert on employment law to join me and help sort this out for you.Listen to this new episode for some ideas that you can use to decide what’s right for your business. About Davida Perry:Davida S. Perry is the co-founding and managing partner of Schwartz Perry & Heller, a boutique law firm focusing exclusively on representing individuals in all areas of employment law, including discrimination and sexual harassment cases. Ms. Perry holds an “AV rating with preeminence” from Martindale Hubbell, has been listed by Thompson Reuters as a New York – Metro Area “Super Lawyer” every year since 2009, has been a “Woman Leader In The Law” every year since 2012 by ALM Media and has been recognized by City & State on its Law Power 100 list. Ms. Perry has co-authored numerous articles and publications for programs sponsored by the New York State & City Bar Associations, the National Employment Lawyers Association,. Thomson Reuters and the Practicing Law Institute. Ms. Perry has also lectured extensively on employment law for various continuing legal education providers such as Lawline and The National Law Institute. Ms. Perry is a mediator with the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as with the New York and Richmond County Supreme Courts. Ms. Perry also serves as a mediator and arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.Connect with Davida Perry:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidaperry Davida S. PerrySchwartz Perry & Heller LLP3 Park Avenue, Suite 2700New York, New York 10016P: 212-889-6565dperry@sphlegal.com If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, oMon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Due to my extensive travel, I’m a prolific reviewer of restaurants and hotels. That said, there are more businesses that I don’t post about than I do, even if I had a good experience. While it’s frustrating, I can’t complain when people who are happy with my sales training or consulting don’t post reviews about me, when I am guilty of the same thing. What about you? Do you read reviews when considering purchases? Do you post reviews when you’re happy with the results? If you do, is it every time? Probably not.Listen to this 6-minute episode for a little perspective on posting of reviews that will hopefully give you a little solace when you don’t get as many as you’d like.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.comMon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

If you haven’t already heard, Meta (Facebook) has started a competitor to Twitter called Threads. Have you jumped on yet? As soon as I heard I went over, for nothing else except to claim my handle @alanberg. I didn’t realize it was connected to Instagram, so I probably could have waited a bit, should you?Listen to this new 6-minute episode for some perspective on when or whether you should join this new platform as well.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

I have lots of speaker friends who are also authors and I love when one of their books clearly has application to you and your businesses. As I was reading (listening) to Employalty I was having flashbacks to my own experiences as an employee and boss. It was also very clear that you needed to know about this book and hear about Employalty directly from the author.Listen to this new episode for ideas on how you can attract and retain more of the right people.About Joe Mull, CSP, M.EdJoe Mull is the author of 3 books including No More Team Drama and the new Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of Work. He is the founder of the BossBetter Leadership Academy and hosts the popular Boss Better Now podcast, which was recently named by SHRM as a “can’t miss show for leaders” along with podcasts from Brené Brown and Harvard Business Review. In demand as a keynote speaker, Joe has taught leadership courses at two major universities and previously managed training at one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S. Joe has appeared as an expert in multiple media outlets including Forbes, the International Business Times, on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and on Good Morning America. He is available for live and/or pre-recorded interviews or as a source for comment or commentary. Connect with Joe:Website: www.joemull.comYouTube: www.youtube.com/c/bossbetterwithjoemullLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemull/ Get Your Copy of Employalty: https://amzn.to/3BmXBYnIf you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at Mon. Feb. 17th, Las Vegas, NV - Save $100 with this link: https://tinyurl.com/LVMini100Mon. Feb. 24th, Miami, FL - https://events.humanitix.com/nawp I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com