Systems Simplified

Thomas Helfrich is the Founder and CEO of Instantly Relevant, a progressive lead generation and MarTech (marketing technology) company helping businesses generate inbound leads from LinkedIn. With over 20 years of experience in consulting, marketing, and entrepreneurial executive coaching, Thomas has mentored hundreds of startup founders globally. He is also a LinkedIn influencer, international public speaker, social media figure, and a recognized thought leader in entrepreneurship, AI, and business leadership. In this episode: When generating leads and brand recognition, many businesses employ traditional, antiquated strategies like cold outreaches. But this downgrades your brand to the spam category, reducing relevance and impact. What processes can you leverage to boost engagement and convert prospects into brand advocates? For B2B companies, LinkedIn is ideal for acquiring new customers since it allows you to pinpoint and engage with your target audience and client profile. Thomas Helfrich's systematic lead generation process involves demonstrating value to your prospects by engaging with their posts and creating directed content proposing solutions to pertinent issues. Avoiding self-directed sales pitches invites potential customers to connect with you and develop personal relationships. Thomas Helfrich, Founder and CEO of Instantly Relevant, is Adi Klevit's guest in this episode of Systems Simplified. Thomas shares social media lead generation and engagement strategies. He also discusses AI's application in marketing and how to implement it into your processes, how to resolve common lead generation problems, and his phased LinkedIn engagement approach.

Donald Bielen is the Managing Director of Capital Eleven Advisors, an investment firm specializing in private equity, early-stage venture capital, and real estate development. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), he specializes in ownership transitions, business successions, and wealth management planning. Donald has advised over 200 business transactions and succession plans for entrepreneurs across the US. In this episode: Entrepreneurs who grew up in a family business form their identities around it. So when approaching retirement, they often delay the transfer and succession process. Additionally, these business owners struggle to establish their end goals for the company and themselves. How can you reconcile identity loss and define your post-transition objectives to plan effectively? Transition planning advisor Donald Bielen instructs entrepreneurs to consider the individual and collective benefits of business succession. These may include enhanced quality of life and relationships or untapped potentials for the future. The succession planning process involves creating a group of trusted advisors who can help you develop a systematic, comprehensive approach to evaluating viable options for the transfer. It's critical to ensure the professionals you acquire are experts in their field so they can provide adequate knowledge and insights. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit invites Donald Bielen, Principal of Perkins & Co, to speak about business succession and transfer planning processes. Donald explains why entrepreneurs delay this planning, how to cultivate a team of knowledgeable advisors, and how to overcome identity loss to prepare for a transition.

Karl Maier is the Founder and Group Facilitator at Abunden, which offers CEO roundtable groups to connect with like-minded leaders, break free from isolation, and gain insights to thrive. He has worked in various roles, including systems and processes, sales and business development, finance and accounting, and mergers and acquisitions. Karl is also the author of Surfing Economic Chaos, which guides companies to identify and leverage new opportunities. In this episode: With globalization shifting, the economy is becoming increasingly volatile, and businesses are struggling to make a profit amid inflation and rising labor costs. How can you optimize your processes to adapt to these changes? Karl Maier maintains that economic evolution is the most powerful asset for small companies since they can adapt effectively. He advises leveraging these opportunities by analyzing your sales processes, data, and profit sources. Since the labor market supply is declining, businesses should evaluate labor usage, systemize productivity, and motivate employees by communicating responsibilities and growth trajectories. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit invites Abunden's Founder and Group Facilitator, Karl Maier, to speak about capitalizing on market opportunities in a fluctuating economy. Karl talks about the shifting labor market, how to optimize labor costs, and his motivation for writing his book.

Heidi Ganahl is a serial entrepreneur, the 2022 Republican nominee for governor of Colorado, and the Founder and CEO of SheFactor, a lifestyle brand providing platforms for women in their 20s to live the lives they desire. She also founded Camp Bow Wow and the Fight Back Foundation and was a statewide elected official for the University of Colorado Board of Regents. Having built several impactful businesses, Heidi has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Fortune magazine's "10 Most Promising Entrepreneurs" and Parade Magazine's "Top Women Entrepreneurs in the Country." In this episode: Entrepreneurship is rewarding and provides a sense of purpose. But in today's volatile political environment, small businesses often face extensive regulations and taxes. Additionally, business and entrepreneurship are no longer taught in public schools, so children lack the skills and knowledge to launch a company. Prominent multi-business owner Heidi Ganahl not only develops systems to help companies navigate complex legislation, she also provides mental health and educational resources to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. Living her philanthropic passions, Heidi created a franchise business model, established a step-by-step process for young women to achieve their dreams, and provided support for mothers in domestic violence situations. To sustain the American Dream, she recommends joining advocacy networks and industry associations to remain engaged and informed. Serial entrepreneur, Founder, and CEO of SheFactor, Heidi Ganahl, joins Adi Klevit in this episode of Systems Simplified to talk about her journey founding multiple nonprofits. Heidi shares resources for young women, mothers, children, and business owners, how systems and processes helped her develop a franchise model, and her political undertakings.

Topher Morrison is the CEO of Topher Communications, a brand agency specializing in helping business owners develop their ideal pitch. He is also an Advisor at Fathom, a software company that has created video recording, transcription, and note-taking software for Zoom. As the author of multiple books, Topher helps entrepreneurs achieve tangible, proven strategies to become influencers in their company, network, or industry. With over 35 years of experience as a professional speaker in the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore, he has earned a global reputation as an expert in mass communications. Topher has held speaking engagements for top executives with American Express, Microsoft, and Google, among others. In this episode: When asked, "What do you do for a living?" many entrepreneurs reply with a vague or over-complicated response, causing confusion. Alternatively, while some business owners may deliver a clear and compelling pitch, they often lack the awareness to ensure consistency each time. Today's guest offers exclusive pitch systems to gain authority and establish yourself in your industry. As a professional speaking veteran, Topher Morrison says that the strongest business pitches are rehearsed and delivered with confidence. He has developed a process with a consecutive structure for every variation and occasion, including parties and elevator or sales pitches. An elevator pitch is an initial proposition involving a simple and clear explanation that builds interest. Communicating a pitch at parties entails demonstrating credibility and expertise through practical examples and communicating how you can solve a universal issue. Sales proposals convey a deeply personal motivation for your work. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit hosts Topher Morrison, CEO of Topher Communications, to discuss creating a winning business pitch. Topher explains the difference between personal and professional speaking, his process for speaking to diverse audiences, and best practices for the five types of pitches.

Travis Luther is the Founder of TrialLine, a SaaS-based interactive timeline software for attorneys in the legal industry. As a business and leadership advisor, Travis has over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship. He is also an award-winning speaker and best-selling author, and his work has been featured in PBS, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal. Travis has been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) for 10 years and is the President-elect of the Colorado Chapter. He is a past US National Chair for the Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA), a program of EO. Travis is also the President of Law Father, an award-winning digital media agency for lawyers and law firms, and founded Queen Anne Pillow, a luxurious pillow company. In this episode: Launching and running profitable businesses requires not only grit and tenacity but also a thorough understanding of pricing, P&L statements, and customer demands. Learn proven processes from a thriving entrepreneur who prevailed through extraordinary hardships. After being forced to leave his childhood home and adopt his brothers at age 16, serial entrepreneur Travis Luther began building multiple businesses. Initially lacking consideration for organizational systems and processes, he lost his first two companies before developing a secure business model. Travis says that delivering quality services and products entails addressing a prevalent concern in the market and providing customers with customized and positive experiences to keep them coming back. In today's episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit sits down with Travis Luther, Founder of TrialLine, to discuss becoming a serial entrepreneur amid struggles. Travis shares his mistakes and lessons as an emerging business owner, processes for delivering value and solving customer issues, and how to turn dissatisfied customers into brand advocates.

Adi Vaxman is the CEO of Sheba Consulting, a boutique fractional leadership practice supporting organizations in all aspects of strategy, operations, people, technology, and growth. As a seasoned C-level executive, she has more than 25 years of experience leading technology organizations. Adi has served as COO for various startup and mature companies, expanded multinational businesses into global markets, created infrastructures enabling growth, and stabilized distressed organizations. In this episode: If you're struggling to scale your business, have you identified the obstacles? How can you streamline operations to advance your company to the next level? C-suite executive Adi Vaxman has determined five significant growth inhibitors for small and medium-sized businesses. As you reach additional growth stages, your initial team is not always equipped to scale with you, but many companies hesitate to relinquish this talent in favor of innovative professionals. Adi recommends leveraging fractional leadership to acquire well-rounded executives with a wealth of experience. Strategic growth also entails establishing clearly defined roles, implementing and documenting systems for employee accountability, identifying and analyzing KPI metrics, and developing a strategy to integrate each process. In today's episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit welcomes the CEO of Sheba Consulting, Adi Vaxman, to discuss fractional leadership and business growth processes. She talks about the benefits of fractional leadership, how to prioritize business systems, and methods for ensuring your team follows documented procedures.

Anna David is the Founder of Legacy Launch Pad Publishing, which helps business owners write and publish books to elevate their authority. She is also the author of eight New York Times bestselling books. Through Legacy Launch Pad, Anna oversees many books that become Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestsellers, helping clients add six figures to their bottom lines by attracting high-quality leads. She has appeared in major news outlets, including Good Morning America, the Today Show, and The Talk, and has written for Playboy, Vanity Fair, and HuffPost, among many other publications. In this episode: The average book sells 300 copies, but most don't receive acclaim in today's competitive publishing landscape. A distinguished book is systematic, relying on audience impact rather than generated sales. So how can you write a book to become a thought leader in your industry? New York Times bestselling author Anna David says that while you can't make money writing books anymore, you can build authority to grow your business. This comprehensive process involves defining your target audience — generally, your company's client base — and writing a book that meets their needs and promoting it through speaking engagements. But not everyone excels at writing, so Anna suggests hiring a ghostwriter to help you craft a purposeful message that reaches various audiences to attract more clients. Tune in to this episode of Systems Simplified as Adi Klevit sits down with Anna David, Founder of Legacy Launch Pad Publishing, to discuss book writing and publishing processes for establishing yourself as a thought leader. Anna shares strategies for generating interest in your book, the importance of crafting an intentional message, and how to include lead magnets in your book.

Leeatt Rothschild is the Founder and CEO of Packed with Purpose, a certified woman-owned corporate gifting company creating social impact through gift-giving. Packed with Purpose ranked #149 in the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. She has over 18 years of experience at the intersection of business, sustainability, and brand purpose while empowering underserved women with job skills. Passionate about social change, Leeatt serves as a board member for the Anti-Defamation League and is an advisory board member of Bright Endeavors. Before Packed with Purpose, she was the Vice President of Advisory Services at Mission Measurement, where she advised Fortune 500 Chief Sustainability Officers and executives on maximizing the impact and returns of their social responsibility initiatives. In this episode: Carefully documented processes are the crux of any functional business as they promote operational efficiency and mitigate risks. How can you demonstrate the benefits of procedures to your team and ensure they're observed? Leeatt Rothschild cites employee buy-in as the catalyst for effective process documentation and follow-through. Communicating the individual and team benefits of procedures while providing the accountability to execute them provides employees with a purpose in your organization. Leeatt encourages business owners to utilize processes in their daily operations to ensure relevancy and resolve urgent issues. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit welcomes the Founder and CEO of Packed with Purpose, Leeatt Rothschild, to speak about how she documents processes and procedures. Leeatt explains how she conceptualized and executed her business, how to ensure your team adheres to processes, and imparts advice on keeping processes relevant.

Jamey Schrier, PT, is the Founder and CEO of Practice Freedom U, where he helps growth-minded practice owners, including physical and occupational therapists, build and scale their businesses while working fewer hours in the clinic. He owned a multi-clinic physical therapy practice for over 15 years, which he sold for 66% over market value. As a sought-after speaker, business expert, and bestselling author of The Practice Freedom Method, Jamey has spoken at industry conferences, including the Private Practice Section APTA Conference. In this episode: If you're a medical practitioner, you probably believe that by executing your craft, business management will come naturally. Yet many practice owners take on too many responsibilities, going into debt in the process. How can you extricate yourself from your clinical tasks and focus on personal and professional growth? After working over 70 hours a week, struggling to attract and retain quality talent, and nearly losing his practice to a fire, physical therapist Jamey Schrier hired a business coach and delegated his tasks. Throughout the process, he observed three core business components: marketing, management, money, and mindset. To gain freedom from your daily practice, you must implement processes to build authentic referral sources, hire from the top down to create a team that shares your values, and manage finances effectively. By cultivating an ambitious mindset, you can build a business that carries a legacy. Adi Klevit hosts the Founder and CEO of Practice Freedom U, Jamey Schrier, on this episode of Systems Simplified to discuss liberating yourself from your private practice. Jamey shares the challenges he endured managing his practice, his revelation to gain freedom, and how to structure and build a thriving company.