Did you know that your mindset is a critical issue? And that it affects your business in several key areas? In today's episode, Dr. Sabrina and Mike have an interesting conversation with Tom Reber, the host of The Contractor Fight Podcast. They talk about mindset and the impact that it has on the pricing of services, the sales process, the way we deal with the hiring process, and how we deal with our team. Tom also talks about the value of getting outside of our own industry to make our businesses really stand out. Listen in today, to find out more! Tom runs a coaching and consulting company for contractors. Tom believes the battle we're fighting starts between the ears. Tune in to find out about toxic mindsets and what it takes to develop the kind of confidence you need to build the kind of business you want.  Tom Reber is the host of The Contractor Fight Podcast which currently reaches tens of thousands of contractors all around the world, through the podcast, Tom's Youtube channel, Contractor Fight TV, social media, and private workshops. Tom is a Marine Corps veteran and he lives in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Show Highlights: Tom shares the moment that he realized that mindset was a critical issue. What you focus on and what you give importance to, is generally what you're going to get in your life. Tom talks about the foundation of what they do in The Contractor Fight. The biggest battles that Tom sees contractors fighting between their ears. You have to be confident, and your own biggest fan. Confidence is like a muscle. You have to work on intentionally building your confidence. How to grow your confidence. You become the average of the five people you hang out with. The benefits of being uncomfortable. Making the choice to make money. Tom shares about his provocative online article, How to Increase Profit In Less Than One Month. The number one area that gross profit is lost is through direct labor costs. Managing labor costs and getting employees invested in the profit of the company. Why it's worth paying the best people the most money. Why you have to have certain non-negotiables when it comes to the character of the people you employ. What is involved in a culture contract. Tom explains his Profit Path. Preparing your mindset for employing the right people. Raising your prices when things get tough in business. Tom's rather unorthodox sales process. The incredible benefits of learning to listen properly. Learning to take control with your clients. Shifting your mindset from 'that won't work' to 'how can I make this work?'. The value of journaling and affirmations.  Links: Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Profit by Design Facebook group www.howtohirethebest.com is Dr. Sabrina’s free masterclass to help you hire A-Players. www.TapThePotential.com is Dr. Sabrina’s coaching company specializing in helping business owners create highly profitable, great places to work.  Tom's website:  www.thecontractorfight.com  To get Tom's Daily Fight tips, either text 7192993852 and use the word TIPS. Or go to www.thecontractorfight.com to join.    If you are interested in taking part in our Breakthroughson The Bayou 4 Week Vacation™ Legacy Retreat in March 2020, you need to get your application in right now! If you're interested in being a part of the retreat, all the information is available at  www.4weekvacation.com. Apply soon, as space is limited, and you may qualify for Super Early Bird Savings that is not listed on the website! Get Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com     Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Have you ever worked in a toxic work environment? If so, you're going to love today's guest, Erin Longmoon, of Zephyr Recruiting. Erin is on a mission to eradicate toxic workplaces. She is doing this by placing A-Players in small businesses through her unique recruiting strategies. Listen in to today's episode, to hear her conversation with Dr. Sabrina and Mike. In her previous company, Erin worked as a business consultant and coach for small businesses. She constantly encountered clients who needed support in building strong and connected dream teams, but who could not afford traditional recruiters. Erin gets very worked up about the little guy not getting what the big guy has, so she came up with a solution, and that's how Zephyr Recruiting was born. Erin is the Chief Idea Officer and Overseer of The Realm at Zephyr Recruiting. Her magical powers include empathy and the ability to read people, knowing what's underneath the facade (very valuable in the recruiting process!). Erin is also really good at solving problems and coming up with new and awesome ideas. Tune in now for solutions to your hiring challenges! Show Highlights: Erin explains how she found that her mission is to eradicate toxic workplaces. Erin's recruiting company is committed to finding the best fit for their clients. Dr. Sabrina discovered that it can take up to eight years to turn a toxic culture around. Weeding out the "B" and "C" players so that the "A" players can thrive in the environment. Toxicity in the workplace almost always begins with the business owner and can grow from the very best intentions. It's very challenging to place great people in places that are not great to work in. Erin talks about her transition from business coaching and consulting to recruiting. How Erin helps business owners with their recruiting process. Erin talks about her process and she explains how she's different. How most traditional recruiters work. Erin's company finds a good fit for both the candidate and the employer. Why small businesses cannot afford to make the mistake of a bad hire. Erin's company works on a one-time flat fee and they also have discounts. Employee loyalty is one of the areas that can give you the opportunity to have your profit 200-10 000% higher than your peers in your same industry. Erin has two free articles for you, the listener, on her website. One of them is called Eight Secrets To Ensure Employee Loyalty. How featuring your "A" player employees on your website and on social media increases your client loyalty. How Erin builds on the work Dr. Sabrina does with clients to get the A-Players they need.  Erin recommends Dr. Sabrina’s Masterclass and Complete Course at HowToHireTheBest.com She finds that business owners who have been through that program are much better positioned for quickly and successfully recruiting A-Players. Go to Erin's website, www.zephyrrecruiting.com, to read the article, The Five Secrets That This Is The One, to help you figure out if you have the right candidate to hire. You will also find The Eight Secrets To Ensure Employee Loyalty there. Both are available to you for free. Erin has a surprise gift too! If you need some recruiting for your business and you contact Erin within the next 60 days, you will receive a 20% discount. Resources: Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Profit by Design Facebook group Access Dr. Sabrina’s How to Hire the Best Masterclass for free at www.howtohirethebest.com  Erin's website: www.zephyrrecruiting.com   Check out Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com  If you are interested in taking part in our 2020 Breakthroughs on The Bayou 4 Week Vacation™ Legacy Retreat in March 2020, you need to get your application in right now! If you're interested in being a part of the retreat, all the information is available at  www.4weekvacation.com. Apply soon, as space is limited, and you may qualify for Super Early Bird Savings that is not listed on the website!   Books mentioned:  How to Hire the Best by Dr. Sabrina Starling   The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz Books by Brené Brown   Recommended podcast:   Listen to Unlocking the power of intuition | Bill Bennett from UNSTOPPABLE with Kerwin Rae in Podcasts. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unstoppable-with-kerwin-rae/id1435769990?mt=2&i=1000429575139Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Would you like to take a 4 Week Vacation™? John Briggs, owner of Incite Tax Works took the 4 Week Vacation™ challenge. In today's episode, he will share with us how he got there and what he has been through. He and Dr. Sabrina have an interesting discussion around mindset, sharing the mindset issues that they grappled with as they prepared to go on their 4 Week Vacations. The suspense was high in the final months as John needed to fill a critical role and the A-Players were not applying. John and Sabrina discuss the How to Hire the Best™ A-Player Attraction Strategies John implemented and what happened. Listen in today to find out how John used that difficulty to make his business even stronger for when he returns from his 4 Week Vacation.   John has owned a tax firm for more than a decade starting off as a solopreneur and now has a team of 18 people he works with.  He is a Mastery level Profit Frist Professional, has a lean six sigma black belt, is a CPA, a license financial planner, an owner of a CrossFit gym, an owner of an options trading newsletter, and is currently writing the book Profit First for Microgyms.     Show Highlights: It feels surreal for John to be taking a 4 Week Vacation. There are some pretty remarkable things about what John is doing because his 4 Week Vacation is set to happen in the height of the tax season. John explains how made his 4 Week Vacation™ happen. When John read Michael Michalowicz's book, Clockwork, he felt as if it was a personal challenge for him. John spent three years working towards his 4 Week Vacation™ after being inspired hearing Dr. Sabrina talk about it.  John explains how he prepared for his 4 Week Vacation™. The critical mindset shift that entrepreneurs have to make when delegating responsibilities to team members. John talks about the hardest of the mindset shifts that he had to make. Why it's critical to regularly tell your team members that you trust them. It took John three years of effort to get to the point of being able to thank his team members for their mistakes.  Dr. Sabrina is on a mission to make 4 Week Vacation™ the norm, rather than the exception, for entrepreneurs. Making a list was the first step towards John's 4 Week Vacation™. John explains the systems his business required, in order for him to be able to take a 4 Week Vacation™. John discusses the difficulties he had with his key hires. John got help from Dr. Sabrina for his hiring process. The doubts that John grappled with in his hiring process. The way that the How To Hire The Best system worked for John's business. The benefits of using Tap the Potential’s Key Employee Survey with your team. John and Dr. Sabrina share how John created a remarkable recruitment marketing video to convey how Incite Tax Works is different and attract the right team members.   The importance of sharing your uniqueness. John discusses his plans for his 4 Week Vacation™.  John discusses the book that he is writing, Profit First for Microgyms. John explains his free Five Day Cash Challenge resource. Links and Resources: Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Join our conversations in the Profit by Design Facebook Group   Video John’s team created on the Recruiting Page of their website: https://www.tapthepotential.com/great-place-to-work-spotlight-incite/ Dr. Sabrina’s How to Hire the Best System™ is introduced in this FREE MASTERCLASS:  www.HowToHireTheBest.com Get Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com  John’s Free 5 Day Cash Challenge https://cashiskinguniversity.com/5-day-challenge/ If you are interested in taking part in our 2020 Breakthroughs on The Bayou 4 Week Vacation™ Legacy Retreat in March 2020, you need to get your application in right now! If you're interested in being a part of the retreat, all the information is available at  www.4weekvacation.com. Apply soon, as space is limited, and you may qualify for Super Early Bird Savings that is not listed on the website!Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Are you clear about where your strengths lie? In today's episode, we're sharing our interview with Darren Virassammy, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of 34 Strong. Darren blew Dr. Sabrina away with his talk at ProfitCON last Fall, about working and living from our strengths. Darren has been bringing StrengthsFinder into organizations to help team members to gain clarity about where their strengths lie. And Dr. Sabrina has been looking for ways to help her clients deepen what they're already doing that works – leading from strengths.    Did you know that businesses with highly-engaged team members working from their business Sweet Spots have the potential be 200-10,000 percent more profitable than their peers in the same industry? This is because people are happiest when they are working from their strengths. The ability to work from your strength is key to creating a great place to work. Tune in today to hear Darren's conversation with Dr. Sabrina about tapping people's strengths!   Darren Virassammy is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of 34 Strong, comprised of a team that believes everyone deserves a great place to work and that any workplace can be great.  A leading expert in the global employee engagement community, the 34 Strong team leverages the Strengths-Based approach to human development to create massive shifts within organizations, both culturally and on the bottom line. Darren and his team have created sustainable change in small micro-businesses, all the way up to large organizational teams at the FDA, Bank of America, and The California Department of Public Health.  Recently, Darren keynoted for Hitachi Global Women’s Conference, The Rotary World Peace Conference, The Professional Grounds Management Society, and Author Mike Michalowicz’ ProfitCon.     Show highlights:   How Darren got into his work and why he's so passionate about what he does. When you work really hard on something that you don't love, it's called stress. And when you work really hard on something that you love, and that you feel is making an impact, it's called passion. Every employee deserves a great place to work, and every workplace can be a great place to work. It takes work! What happens when people become better versions of themselves. Talent is your natural patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that can be productively applied. Focusing on what's right with people. We can easily overlook our talents because those things come so naturally to us.  Creating awareness of how our talents align to create excellence. Moving our frustration to fascination. Learning the language of strengths to identify your talents. The way that tension dissipates in a team after understanding patterns of strength. What happens when business owners take the  StrengthsFinder Assessment. Team awareness starts with self-awareness. Everybody wants to be valued for being valuable. The way that your team interacts is the brand of your organization. Darren shares some data on the level of engagement of employees in America. Dealing with pushback within organizations. Catching people doing things right. Dr. Sabrina and Darren are teaming up together to offer Leading Your Organization from Strengths, to help small business owners build teams that are working from their strengths. What will be included in Leading Your Organization from Strengths, and what you will gain from it.   Links and resources:   Books mentioned in this episode:      How to Hire the Best by Dr. Sabrina Starling   The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz   Destination Unstoppable by Maureen Monte   Free Exercise Download: Grind. Greatness. Genius.   Discover your areas of Grind, Greatness and Genius https://www.34strong.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/GeniusZone.pdf   Video Links: 34 Strong Overview video:  https://vimeo.com/300826565 Darren’s Keynote: Creating Excellence Through Strengths (from Profit Con 2018): https://youtu.be/EkLUn9Vpfxs     Website links: 34 Strong website: www.34strong.com   34 Strong Blog: 34strong.com/blog Strengths-Based Parenting Blog: https://www.analynbrandon.com/blog/   Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strengthsfinder/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/34strong/ 34 Strong LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/34-strong-inc-/   Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Profit by Design Facebook group Email: sabrinaandmike@profitbydesignpodast.com     Check out Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com  If you are interested in taking part in our 2020 Breakthroughs on The Bayou 4 Week Vacation™ Legacy Retreat in March 2020, you need to get your application in right now! If you're interested in being a part of the retreat, all the information is available at  www.4weekvacation.com. Apply soon, as space is limited, and you may qualify for Super Early Bird Savings that is not listed on the website!   Please help us get discovered by leaving an honest review on iTunes! To get in on Leading Your Organization from Strengths, go to www.tapthepotential.com/34. Code PROFIT will save you $100 off your registration. If you are registering team members, use the code SAVE100 to save an additional $100 for each team member registered.  Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

What does connected to learning mean to you? For Mike and Dr. Sabrina, it's been valuable to discover new things on this podcast, and to learn, grow, and evolve through the experience. Last week's episode got their wheels turning.  Entrepreneurship can be a lonely, isolated endeavor. We entrepreneurs sometimes feel nobody really knows or understands what we're going through. So when we hear entrepreneurs in conversation about solutions, ideas, and ways to improve ourselves through our challenges, it can help us to feel connected. The more people we bring into these conversations, the richer they become.  On the show today, Dr. Sabrina and Mike further the discussion about connecting to learn. Tune in now to connect, learn and grow from today's conversation. The 4 Week Vacation™ Breakthroughs on the Bayou Retreat is going on right now, at Dr. Sabrina's home, The Entrepreneur's Retreat Center. She wants to support you if you're interested in a 4 Week Vacation. To get Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide head over to www.4weekvacation.com.  While you're there check out the 4 Week Vacation Retreat which is coming up in soon.  If you're interested in being a part of the retreat, all the information is available at  www.4weekvacation.com. Apply soon, as space is limited, and you may qualify for Super Early Bird Savings that is not listed on the website! If you are finding value from the podcast, please leave us an honest review on whatever platform you listen on. We will be drawing to give away a signed copy of Dr. Sabrina Starling’s book, How to Hire the Best, The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz and a Profit by Design T-shirt.  Show Highlights: Dr. Sabrina and Mike would love to hear your thoughts about the idea of being connected to learning. Through the podcast, Mike and Dr. Sabrina are creating a community of learning for small business owners and their teams. A lot of this conversation is happening in the Profit by Design Facebook group. Join us there! Dr. Sabrina discusses the Breakthroughs on the Bayou Retreat currently occurring at Dr. Sabrina's home, The Entrepreneurs Retreat Center. The conversations on Profit by Design have grown out of the conversations that happen in those retreats.  Dr. Sabrina talks about her intention when creating the retreat. Dr. Sabrina shares The Corn Story, which is how she perceives the value of inviting others into the learning process and the model for the Profit by Design community.  Mike and Dr. Sabrina discuss the power of vulnerability and sharing the experience with others. The ways that male and female entrepreneurs benefit from being around each other. Diversity brings the opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas.  There are many opportunities for women in the construction industry. Of all the industries, the construction industry has the smallest gap between the earnings of men and women. The importance of injecting new ideas into a business. Dr. Sabrina has managed to be really successful in her business, working only 25 hours a week. Creating a sustainable business that you can step away from.  Creating businesses that support the lifestyle you desire. The importance of mentioning people's names and remembering people. It feels really good to be acknowledged! Mike shares some thoughts about the benefits of the Morning Huddle and 2 Week Lookahead.   Links and Resources:   Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Profit by Design Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProfitByDesign/   If you'd like to try out our 2 Week Lookahead Agenda in your business, and come back and share your experience with us, please reach out to us! The 4 Week Vacation™ Breakthroughs on the Bayou Retreat is going on right now, at Dr. Sabrina's home, The Entrepreneur's Retreat Center. She wants to support you if you're interested in a 4 Week Vacation. To get Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide head over to www.4weekvacation.com.  While you're there check out the 4 Week Vacation Retreat which is coming up in soon.  If you're interested in being a part of the retreat, all the information is available at  www.4weekvacation.com. Apply soon, as space is limited, and you may qualify for Super Early Bird Savings that is not listed on the website!Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Just back from a 4 Week Vacation, Dr. Sabrina Starling wants to inspire you to tap your potential. She runs her business only 25 hours per week, that's most weeks, and she's a single mom and author. On this interview, Tom asks Dr. Sabrina some outrageous questions, which gets her reflecting on her early days as an entrepreneur, and lessons she has learned from the school of hard knocks. Dr. Sabrina also discusses her next book in the How to Hire the Best series, focused on the construction industry. Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Are you an entrepreneur and need help getting yourself and company out of the weeds? Today our guest shares the tools and systems that she uses. A woman on the go, Christeen Era is constantly improving her business. Her reach extends far beyond her business due to her dedication in helping other entrepreneurs improve their businesses as well.  Christeen Era, the owner of Core Accounting Services, realized in 2005 that she had a unique skill set and decided to establish her own company – Core Accounting. She has worked in bookkeeping, accounting and administrative consulting for more than 20 years. Now she uses her expertise not only for accounting but to transition companies to the cloud and realize the benefits of strategic streamlining. In this episode, we get into some juicy deep topics including a discussion about how we as entrepreneurs play small and the implications on our own lives and for those we might be serving if we weren’t playing small. We talk about how Christeen has engaged her team to hold her accountable and the process she and her team use when they get into the weeds. Listen in and discover how to get out of your own way to improve your business. Are you dreaming of a 4 week vacation? Check out the 4 Week Vacation Free Jump Start Guide! Click Here   Show Highlights How Christeen got where she is today Going down some rocky roads to create the business Christeen’s biggest fears - dedication, being accountable, and showing up What Christeen would tell her self if she could go back 2 years ago. Don’t forget you need a good support system It is easy to get frustrated so stay connected to your tools and systems Being accountable for your own mistakes Some of Christeen and her team members’ favorite podcasts How Christeen handles things that come up with team members Having a theme every year and this year for Christeen her theme was - Get uncomfortable Tips on getting out of the weeds Staying connected to learning  Checklist – 21 things to do and when to do them, by Christeen Era Resources Check out the conversation between Mike and Dr. Sabrina that 95% of entrepreneurs never have at the Profit by design website.  Profit by Design Podcast  Website Profit by Design Facebook group Email: sabrinaandmike@profitbydesignpodcast.com   Please help us get discovered by leaving an honest review on iTunes! If you do, your name will be entered into a drawing to win the book, The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz, a signed copy of Dr. Sabrina’s book, How to Hire the Best, and a Profit by Design T-Shirt.    Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com while you're there check out the 4 Week Vacation Retreat which is coming up in a few weeks, and sign up for the waitlist.   Books mentioned in the episode: Mindset by Carol Dweck   Programs mentioned in the episode: Leadership Bootcamp: www.TapThePotential.com/Leadership Coach Approach: www.TapThePotential.com/Coach-Approach Checklist by Christeen Era Christeen Era’s Website Core Accounting Services   Sponsors: Tap the Potential Leadership Bootcamp Program Tap the Potential website Contractor Business Solutions - Small Business Consulting Group WebsiteMentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

How do you tap into your team’s greatness? Creating a great workplace culture is a struggle for many of us and it’s one Jeff McManus knows all too well. Author of the book Growing Weeders Into Leaders, at the age of 37, Jeff was hired by the University of Mississippi as the director of the newly formed landscape services department. At the time, Jeff one of the most junior directors on campus, and he faced an immediate and overwhelming challenge with the exceptionally low morale and the unacceptable lack of productivity of the staff. In many ways, the challenges he faced at Ole Miss's Landscape Services are typical of those small business owners grapple with daily.  In today's episode, you will hear what Jeff learned as he transformed Ole Miss’s Landscape Services into a great culture while weathering some difficult life lessons.  Tune in today to hear his conversation with Dr. Sabrina about leadership. Be ready to GROW!   Check out Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation™ Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com  While you're there learn more about the 4 Week Vacation™ Retreat.   Please help us get discovered by leaving an honest review on iTunes! If you do, (or if you've done so any time previously) your name will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz on the 25th episode. Send a screenshot of your review so that you get entered in the drawing. Email your screenshot to SabrinaAndMike@ProfitByDesignPodcast.com   Show Highlights: The experiences that led Jeff to write his book. How Jeff learned to have awareness about what his role was. Asking everyone, including the people that answered to him, for feedback worked for Jeff. Jeff's multi-pronged approach to increasing his team's efficiency. Jeff's way of empowering people. Learning how to hire effectively. Jeff now has committees for his hiring process. Jeff's role on the committee is to try to talk people out of the job. The traits and strengths that Jeff looks for in interviewees. Picking up on body language and non-verbal cues in interviews. How Jeff motivated his team to buy into his vision. Talking often about cultivating greatness is key to making it happen. Teaching the staff the protocol prior to a VIP visit. Jeff explains what Landscape University is all about, and how he built the program. Jeff shares his secret to getting training videos created. Holding accountability, The kind of support that Jeff offers to small business owners. There's a lot of work upfront with building a culture, but it becomes steady-going after a while. Jeff has a tip-sheet with 21 Ways To Walk Your Team In Wisdom. This has been a big part of his success. Jeff discusses his way of getting his staff to spend time with wise people. Jeff's team has won five national awards because of their hard work. Introducing the idea of a growth mindset to people with a fixed mindset.   Teaching your team with audiobooks. Jeff’s TED talk is Growing Weeders into Leaders. Links and Resources:   Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Profit by Design Facebook group Email: sabrinaandmike@profitbydesignpodast.com   Jeff’s TEDxtalk, Growing Weeders into Leaders, referenced in the interview: https://youtu.be/gKlv-mNlw3w Motivational Video created by the Landscape Services at Ole Miss University: https://youtu.be/-2ShQg3Qkyo   Books mentioned in the episode: Growing Weeders Into Leaders by Jeff McManus How to Hire the Best by Dr. Sabrina Starling It's My Pleasure by  Dee Ann Turner Who by Jeff Smart Mindset by Carol Dweck Change Your Questions Change Your Life by Dr. Marilee Adams Jeff recommends audiobooks by John Maxwell  Mentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Do you get all fired up after discovering a new system for your business only to find that you lack the confidence to implement the necessary changes? After listening to the previous podcast, with Vicky Suiter from The Profit Bleed, Mike was triggered with some familiar, yet uncomfortable feelings. In today's episode, Mike and Dr. Sabrina explore what to do to prevent feelings of failure and resistance to change. Listen in and find out how to build the confidence you need to implement new systems in your business. On today's Profit by Design, Mike and Dr. Sabrina are building on the topics from the previous two episodes. They got lots of great feedback from you, the listener, for both episodes! The concept of breaking even to thrive, and really thriving, not just surviving, in episode 21, struck a chord with many of you, so today Mike and Dr. Sabrina will be delving deeper, and taking a closer look at how you can ensure that you thrive in your business. They also talk about the new program they're developing to support entrepreneurs in designing a lifestyle business. Their ideas are being fleshed out in the conversation right here, on the Profit by Design podcast with input from listeners. Listen in to find out more. Dr. Sabrina's free 4 Week Vacation Jump Start Guide: www.4weekvacation.com While you're there check out the 4 Week Vacation Retreat which is coming up in a few weeks.  Please help us get discovered by leaving an honest review in iTunes! If you do, (or if you've done so any time previously) your name will be entered into a drawing to win a book- The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz, on the 25th episode. Show Highlights: Mike talks about a feeling he had that was triggered by the previous podcast, with Vicki Suiter from The Profit Bleed.  He explains the fears that came up for him. Mike discusses the importance of entrepreneurs building up their confidence to break through their barriers. Getting all fired up after reading a book, and then lacking the confidence to implement what you have read brings about resistance to change. Why the resistance comes in. Mike explains why it’s important to make a commitment to the change--even on the days it feels like an uphill battle. What it looks like in our business when we're losing our confidence. The difference between implicit and explicit knowledge, and why drawing on implicit knowledge is so helpful in moving change forward. When we're trying to implement new systems in our business, we can benefit by drawing on the collective wisdom of the people who have already been there and done that to guide us through the rough spots. The psychology of the change process. Mike and Dr. Sabrina are launching a new program later this year, to create a group of entrepreneurs to work on their systems together and to establish goals and move towards them. The Two Week Look Ahead resonated with Mike. How Dr. Sabrina implemented a Two Week Look Ahead in her business. The benefits of having a tool to create clarity in your business. Be thinking about what your business is doing for you.  Mike and Dr. Sabrina invite your feedback as they develop their program.   If you're doing a Two Week Process, or something similar, and you have a set agenda that you take your team through, please leave us some feedback on the Profit by Design Facebook group about what you are including in your agenda. Mike would love to hear from anybody struggling with the implementation of systems.  Links and Resources: Profit by Design Podcast: www.profitbydesignpodcast.com  Profit by Design Facebook group Email: sabrinaandmike@profitbydesignpodast.com   Books mentioned in the episode: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Traction by Gino Wickman The Profit Bleed by Vicki Suiter How To Hire the Best by Dr. Sabrina StarlingMentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.

Do you know if you have a profitable business? You may think you do, and only find out at the end of the year that you’re barely breaking even. Today’s guest emphasizes that we need to build profit into our budgeting and we need to go beyond breaking even.    Vicki Suiter is the author of the new book, The Profit Bleed. As an author, business consultant and coach Vicki has been proving for 25 years that good market or bad, raging competition or not, any contractor or designer can run a healthy profitable business. She has been helping hundreds of businesses achieve that kind of success, by helping people to SEE things differently than giving them the tools they need to DO things differently. Vicki enables her clients to get a grip on their business vision from day one; then she shows them how to make that vision a reality. Join us as we build on the topic of Breaking Even to Thrive.   Check out the 4 Week Vacation Jump Start Guide! Click Here   Show Highlights Vicki’s background and how she came to writing The Profit Bleed Intimidation with numbers  Numbers we should be paying attention to in our businesses What Vicki recommends for contractors to not feel ashamed to ask for help Labor prices and how they are changing and what that means for the future How confidence in your numbers translates into higher value for your client Product management, controls that can be put in place, things to track, and meetings to have to run profitable projects The 2 Week Look Ahead and cost to complete are critical things to help you stay in front of where a project is headed. Tips to get your team on board Tips from Mike   Social Media Quotes: Sabrina “The more complex your business is the harder it is to make it automated, sustainable and profitable” “It starts with getting a handle on your numbers”   Vicki “I just found that I loved the complexity of construction, and the people in it. I really love working with contractors” “I love turning on the lights for people, and having them be able to see how they can turn that really hard work into more profits and having more time and having more fun in their life” “Part of what I try and help them do is to be able to see what are the most critical elements that they need to pay attention to” “When we eliminate the uncertainty and the confusion we are so much more capable and confident about what we can do” “If I can see it I can do something about it”   Resources Check out the conversation between Mike and Sabrina that 95% of entrepreneurs never have at the Profit by design website.  Profit by design Podcast Website Profit by design Facebook group Email: sabrinandmike@profitbydesignpodast.com   4 Week Vacation Jumpstart Free Guide & Retreat Waitlist   The Profit Bleed by Vicki Suiter for Free! Click Here Vicki Suiter’s Website   Sponsors: Tap the Potential Leadership Bootcamp Program Tap the Potential website Contractor Business Solutions - Small Business Consulting Group WebsiteMentioned in this episode:TapthePotential.com/assessmentWould you like to have your own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities, the things that you know with confidence? If I focus on this area, it's going to improve the ease of doing business and the profitability of our business. Not only that, it will improve your quality of life. You can take our Better Business, Better Life assessment at TapthePotential.com/assessment, and you will have the opportunity to receive your very own personalized list of $ 10,000-an-hour activities. Plus, we will also send you a signed copy of my book The 4 Week Vacation™. Head on over to tapthepotential.com/assessment.