The Builders

In this episode of The Builders, host Matt welcomes Carrington Crothers, a remarkable photographer and entrepreneur from Prospect Street Studio. Tune in for an insightful discussion as Carrington shares her intriguing journey from a student with changing majors to becoming a founder with a successful career in photography. The conversation dives deep into the power of networking, the pivotal moments that shape a career, and the importance of building relationships beyond immediate business needs. Carrington discusses her transition from feeling like a 'hot mess' with no clear career path to finding her passion in photography. After gaining hands-on experience and learning a valuable lesson in happiness over job security, she took the leap to start her own studio. The dialog also highlights the significance of being more than just a provider of photographs, as Carrington emphasizes the role of strategic imagery in solving business problems like return rates and enhancing search engine optimization (SEO). Key Takeaways: Networking and building long-term relationships can significantly influence one's career trajectory and create new business opportunities. Personalized photography holds more value and can significantly influence a brand's online performance compared to stock images. Strategic imagery goes beyond aesthetics, serving as a communication tool to enhance user education and business goals. Carrington values helping her clients bridge the gap between their current state and their desired achievements through tailor-made photography strategies. Prospect Street Studio is specialized in creating images that not only resonate with audience engagement but also contribute to tangible business outcomes.

In this insightful episode of "the builders," host Matt welcomes back Joel Solomon, a financial guru and self-improvement enthusiast who captivates the audience with his dynamic approach to money management and personal growth. As an advocate for continuous learning, Joel shares his unique perspective on turning financial responsibility into a fun and engaging activity. This episode not only delves into the significance of reading for professional development but also provides a deep dive into the power of budgeting and transforming one's financial landscape. Joel Solomon prompts entrepreneurs to always prioritize 'paying themselves first' and sheds light on the importance of understanding personal money personality types, which can significantly impact business decisions and relationships. As the conversation unfolds, Joel introduces fun and motivating techniques like 'The Budget Game' to help listeners effectively manage their finances. By the end of the episode, Joel passionately asserts that focusing on money with positive energy can lead to phenomenal growth both personally and professionally. Key Takeaways: Emphasize the importance of learning and growing every day, with Joel Solomon advocating the reading of a book a week to enhance knowledge and mindset. Understand the imperative of paying oneself first in a business to secure personal financial stability. Learn about the 'sugar pie' money personality types that Joel and his co-author created and their influence on how individuals and businesses handle finances. Discover 'The Budget Game,' an engaging approach to budgeting that turns a typically mundane task into a motivating and goal-oriented activity. Recognize the impact of concentrating on money and how this focused energy can lead to unexpected financial opportunities and 'money miracles.'

In this enlightening episode of The Builders, we warmly welcome back Pete Mohr, delving into the art of delivering transformative client experiences. Our focus: creating the greatest future impact for clients. This episode is a treasure trove of insights on business coaching, nurturing client relationships, and fostering strategic growth. It's an essential listen for anyone seeking actionable strategies to elevate their business's value to customers and refine operational efficiency. Pete introduces the 'Promise' framework, a pivotal concept spotlighting the transformative journey businesses undertake to elevate clients from their current challenges to a future of enhanced possibilities. We explore how to craft unique solutions that distinguish your business in a competitive landscape. Pete sheds light on visualizing and articulating the future benefits clients will gain, and the importance of a robust action plan to turn these visions into reality. Crucially, he underscores the power of feedback and success metrics in ensuring that your business consistently delivers on its promise of transformative impact. Key Takeaways: Deeply understand client challenges and innovate distinct solutions to stand out. Effectively communicate the future benefits and transformative potential of your services or products. Develop and implement action plans that resonate with your clients' future aspirations. Continually measure success and gather feedback to refine and enhance your impact. Ensure your team and resources are perfectly aligned to fulfill the transformative promise to your clients.

In this insightful solo episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into his strategic blueprint for 2024, focusing on the integration of services and products. He reflects on pivotal decisions, emphasizing the '4 Key Pillars' that are central to his vision for growth and innovation. Matt shares his journey of transitioning from an insurance niche to a broader focus, underlining the importance of adapting and refining business strategies. He also introduces Unified Plugins, a burgeoning product arm of his business, and discusses how it fits into his comprehensive services-plus-products strategy. The episode highlights the creation of a cohesive ecosystem, where diverse websites and content not only coexist but thrive together, bolstering the overall brand. Wrapping up, Matt expresses deep appreciation for his team's dedication and his listeners' unwavering support. Key Takeaways: The integration of services and products is key in a dynamic business landscape. Strategic planning and focus on core pillars are instrumental for business evolution. Adapting business strategies to current trends and needs is vital for success. A unified ecosystem of products and services enhances brand strength and growth. Passion, team support, and strong relationships are cornerstones of business success.

Alexander Day Ritter shares his origin story, growing up in a small village in Belgium and his early fascination with computers and technology. He discusses the importance of creativity and how it has shaped his career in AI. Alexander emphasizes the need for businesses to embrace AI and the potential it holds for improving processes and creating value. He also talks about the concept of AI agents and how they can revolutionize industries and transform the way we work. Key Takeaways: Embrace AI as a tool to improve processes and create value in your business. Think of your company as a story and communicate that story to inspire your team and customers. Focus on soft skills and creativity to thrive in the AI industry.Start collecting and storing data now to prepare for the future of AI. Use AI agents to offload tasks and increase productivity in your business.

Donna Dubay, a certified Director of Operations and Business Growth Strategist, joins the show to discuss the importance of operations in small businesses. She explains that while marketing and front-end activities are important, it is equally crucial to focus on the back-end operations to ensure the smooth running of the business. Donna emphasizes the need for a clear vision, measurable goals, and a well-defined team to achieve success. She also highlights the importance of work-life balance and taking time for personal well-being. Key Takeaways: Operations in small businesses are often overlooked but are crucial for success. Having a clear vision and measurable goals is essential for growth. Building the right team and delegating tasks can help alleviate the burden on the business owner. Prioritizing work-life balance and personal well-being is necessary to avoid burnout.

Victoria Pelletier shares her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful corporate executive and entrepreneur. She emphasizes the importance of personal branding and how it has played a significant role in her career success. Victoria highlights four key components of a strong personal brand: subject matter expertise, storytelling, differentiation, and legacy and impact. She also discusses the importance of authenticity and connecting with your audience on both digital and in-person platforms. Key Takeaways: Personal branding is essential for career advancement and building relationships with clients and customers. A strong personal brand goes beyond subject matter expertise and includes storytelling, differentiation, and a focus on legacy and impact. Authenticity is key in building a personal brand and connecting with your audience. Personal branding should be consistent across all platforms, both digital and in-person.

Summary:Anne Laffin, a marketing consultant and fractional head of marketing, joins Matt Levenhagen on The Builders podcast to discuss how she helps early-stage startups wrangle their chaos and get organized. Anne shares her own journey from working in market research and financial services to starting her own company and working with startups. She emphasizes the importance of being open to feedback and flexible in the ever-changing startup environment. Anne also highlights the significance of messaging and creating a marketing plan that is adaptable and focused. She concludes by discussing the challenges of defining roles and maintaining clear communication within startups. Key Takeaways: Startups should be open to feedback and flexible in order to adapt to changes and find the right path. Messaging is the foundation of effective marketing and should be clear, consistent, and aligned with the company's goals. Marketing plans for startups should be shorter-term (3-6 months) and regularly evaluated and adjusted based on results. Startups often struggle with defining roles and maintaining clear communication, which can lead to chaos and inefficiency.

In this riveting episode of The Builders podcast, we sit down with Roy Coughlan, a man whose story is a beacon of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. Roy takes us through his remarkable journey, starting from his early days as an entrepreneur in Ireland to becoming an influential podcast coach. We delve into the highs and lows of his career, exploring how he navigated through significant challenges, including a tough stint in the construction industry and navigating financial hurdles in property investment. What stands out is Roy's unwavering resilience, as he shares how he overcame personal and professional setbacks and transformed them into opportunities for growth. The episode shines a light on his transition into the world of podcasting, where he conquered his fear of public speaking and embraced meditation for mental clarity and strength. Roy's expertise and insights into podcasting are not just about techniques but also about the heart and soul that goes into creating impactful content. Join us as we uncover the inspiring story of Roy Coughlan, from enduring hardships to coaching others in the art of podcasting.

Welcome to this inspiring episode of 'The Builders' featuring the dynamic Dan Hafner! In today's talk, we delve into Dan's incredible journey from embarking on a DIY app-building project to founding a thriving business and agency, Dapper Mobile Apps. Discover how Dan, starting with a passion for technology and a self-taught approach, turned his app-building hobby into a professional venture. We'll explore the challenges and triumphs of his path, including his initial steps into app development, overcoming industry hurdles, and the strategies that led to his business success. Dan also shares valuable insights into entrepreneurship, the importance of hands-on experience, and his approach to App development can provide a quick turn around - money loves speed! Join us as we uncover the story of a man who transformed a personal project into a leading name in the app development industry.