Capital to the Coast BNI

Steven Lipscomb didn't wait for someone to give him a business opportunity—he created one. After being told repeatedly that he was too young to get the internships he wanted, Steven started selling discount cards while in college. Nearly ten years later, Lions Eye Promotions has grown into a business serving local restaurants and businesses, along with a metal business card operation that tran...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning talks with Brian Bennett, owner of Clearline Experts , about operational clarity, delegation, business systems and the challenges that come with growing a small business. Brian helps business owners solve one operational problem at a time —then leave with it decided and written down. We talk about: Why business owners struggle to delegate...

What does it really take to build a business when you're working 100% on commission? Mike Manning talks with Ty Bellette , a residential Realtor with RE/MAX Choice in Fayetteville, about building his real estate business from the ground up. Ty shares the reality of his first six months, working a second job while building his pipeline, finding clients through networking and conversations, stay...

What do small business owners waste the most time doing? According to Carla Payne of Aging Care Matters: Trying to do everything themselves. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning talks with Carla about building a service-based business, growing through referrals, hiring and delegating, and learning when it's time to stop trying to do everything yourself. Carla shares the p...

What happens when you know you have a service that can help people — but you have to build an entire business around it? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning talks with Dr. Tim Beck of Neurofit Connections about building a specialized service-based business with his wife, Jackie. Tim shares how they went from recognizing a need in their industry to opening their own business,...

Are you building your business—or simply reacting to whatever happens next? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning explores how service-based small business owners can become more proactive with business growth, marketing, referrals, time management and business systems. You'll hear practical strategies for building your sales pipeline before you need it, continuing to mark...

How do you build a business that supports the life you actually want? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , business coach and BNI Trainer Mike Manning shares the Reverse Engineering framework he uses with coaching clients. Learn how to: Define your ideal business Reverse engineer your goals Build better business systems Automate and outsource effectively Grow your business without simply...

Should you have a home inspection on a brand-new house? Absolutely. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning sits down with Jeremy "JB" Simpson, owner of JB Simpson Home Inspections, to discuss why inspections are about far more than checking boxes. Jeremy explains how home inspections protect buyers, why new construction still needs an independent inspection, the value...

What if the fastest way to grow your business isn't saying "yes" to more opportunities—but learning when to say "no"? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning talks with business consultant, former Marine, former police officer, and entrepreneur Michael J. Soler about building businesses that create freedom instead of burnout. Together they discuss why ent...

Most people don't think about Medicare until they have to. That's exactly why this conversation matters. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning sits down with Bonnie Beliveau of Beliveau Insurance to discuss how she left a successful corporate accounting career and built a thriving Medicare insurance business centered on education, relationships, and referrals. Instead...

What does it take to turn a skilled trade into a thriving business? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI, host Mike sits down with Todd Saunders, owner of Saunders Construction & Renovation, to discuss his journey from commercial construction professional to successful business owner. Todd shares how referrals, networking, coaching, and continuous learning helped him grow his company, n...

What does it take to build a business that lasts more than 45 years? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI, Mike Manning sits down with John Ipock of Blue Arbor, a staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions company serving businesses across North Carolina and beyond. John shares how Blue Arbor helps businesses find the right employees, why hiring is about more than filling positions, and...

Many people work hard, but few have complete clarity around their finances. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI, I sit down with Julie Rashid of Anchor12 Financial Coaching to discuss why financial clarity matters, how small habits create long-term success, and why avoiding your numbers can keep you stuck. Julie shares practical advice on budgeting, communication between spouses, building...

What makes a business unforgettable? It’s not always price. It’s not flashy marketing. And it’s rarely the fanciest pitch. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning sits down with Matt for a conversation about what really drives business growth: strong customer service, responsiveness, relationship-building, and making life easier for your clients. One of Matt’s most memorable tak...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning talks with Matt Haveramp of Enradius and the North Carolina Ad Network about digital marketing, customer targeting, relationship-based sales, and how small business owners can stop wasting advertising dollars. They break down geo-targeting, paid social media, streaming ads, customer behavior data, and why today’s business owners must under...

Are you too busy to market your business? That might be the biggest mistake you can make. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning breaks down why small business owners must continue marketing—even during their busiest seasons—to maintain a strong sales pipeline and consistent referrals. Learn how to stay top of mind, generate referrals, and avoid the feast-or-famine cycle with s...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning sits down with Nick Dowgul, owner of North State Law, to discuss how clarity, specialization, and preparation impact referrals and business growth. Nick shares insights on professional licensing defense, the importance of relevant experience, and how word-of-mouth referrals really work in today’s business environment. Whether you're a...

Why do most networking events fail to generate referrals? Because most business owners don’t prepare. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning (business coach and BNI Trainer) shares a practical breakdown of how to approach networking with intention—so you can stop wasting time and start building real relationships that lead to business. If you’ve ever walked out of a networking...

Most industries—especially insurance—are built to be transactional. Quick quotes. Fast decisions. Minimal interaction. But Lukas Belletete with Insurance Service Center took a different approach—and that’s exactly why his business grew. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Lukas breaks down how he shifted from a transaction-based model to a relationship-driven strategy that consistently g...

Most small business owners think they have a marketing problem… But in reality, they have a clarity and consistency problem. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning sits down with Lori Denham of High Point Bookkeeping to break down how she built her business through networking, clear messaging, and showing up consistently. You’ll learn: Why “having a good year” isn’t enough with...

📝 Spotify Description In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , Mike Manning sits down with Devin, a lifestyle family photographer who turned burnout into a thriving business built on purpose, storytelling, and strong referral relationships. Devin shares how a single comment in college delayed her dream for years—and what finally pushed her to go all in while six months pregnant with her thir...

On this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning shares a small business success story featuring entrepreneur Shane Gentry , owner of Nanny’s Revenge Fishing Charter and Sally Said So Dog Training . Shane discusses his journey as a small business owner and entrepreneur , sharing how he built two successful businesses through referrals, networking, and strong relationships with clien...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning shares practical strategies for staying top of mind in business , building stronger referral relationships, and consistently generating opportunities through networking. If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or service professional , one of the biggest challenges is making sure people remember you when someone asks, “Do...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Angela Chamberlain of Kana Consulting about how small businesses lose leads, why speed to lead matters, and how AI tools are changing the way companies respond to potential customers . Angela is a business consultant and BNI member in the RD14 CarPex chapter in the Raleigh, North Carolina area , and she helps service busine...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , we talk about how BNI networking and referral marketing can help grow a small business . Ed “Big Ed” Leigh of Special T's Apparel shares how building relationships through BNI helped him triple his business and eventually replace traditional advertising with referrals. Ed has been a longtime BNI member in the RD10 Power Partners chapter in Garner,...