Referrals Done Right

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Keith Brown to break down what it really looks like to bring the Infinite Referral Advantage to life in the real world. Keith shares his experience stepping into a brand new role, learning how to build relationships, structure his days and create momentum from scratch. What started as uncertainty quickly turned into a system rooted in c...

In this solo episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott takes a different approach and revisits one of the most impactful sections from his book. He challenges listeners to think about time in a way most people avoid. Time is always moving forward, whether you are ready or not. You cannot slow it down, pause it, or get it back. The only thing you can control is how you choose to show up while the cloc...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Krista Hawkins for a powerful conversation on growth, identity, leadership, and legacy. Krista shares her journey from a shy and insecure young girl to a Division I athlete, coach, business leader, and woman grounded in faith and service. Her story is filled with honest reflections on self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the internal work...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott highlights a powerful initiative called Quotes for a Cause and how it creates meaningful impact for businesses, nonprofits, and the community all at once. The concept is simple but effective. Every time someone requests a quote, a donation is made to a local cause. What starts as a business conversation quickly becomes something bigger, bringing aware...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Deb Stanley, founder of Transition Bridges, to explore the power of meaningful connection in both life and business. Deb shares how her journey from special education teacher to coach and author has been guided by a simple but profound belief. Real impact comes from understanding your strengths, sharing your story, and building authenti...

In this solo episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates challenges one of the most common habits holding people back in sales and in life. Waiting to feel ready. He breaks down how most people overestimate the risk of taking action while completely underestimating the potential reward. The real problem is not fear itself, but the cost of inaction that we cannot see. When you do nothing, you als...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott Grates sits down with Marc Guthrie, an insurance professional from Delaware whose approach to business was shaped long before he ever entered the industry. Marc shares the story of starting his first business at age eleven, cutting grass around his neighborhood after deciding he wanted to buy a stereo system himself. That early experience taught him a...

In this solo Thursday riff of Referrals Done Right, Scott tackles one of the biggest barriers to building relationships and growing a referral based business. Fear. More specifically, the fear of rejection that shows up when it is time to make a call, schedule a meeting, or reach out to someone new. Scott challenges RDR Nation to recognize that this fear is often rooted in ego. When we focus too m...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Brooke Koeninger, a fractional CFO and strategic finance partner who helps service based founders move from financial confusion to clarity. Brooke shares how her background in corporate finance, consulting, and growing up in an entrepreneurial family shaped the way she now serves small business owners. Her perspective is refreshing beca...

In this solo episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott dives into one of the most common struggles entrepreneurs and sales professionals face: feeling busy all day but still feeling like nothing truly important got done. Inspired by conversations with newer agents and team members overwhelmed by endless to do lists, Scott shares a simple but powerful framework that has shaped his own productivity for...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Jennifer Kok, entrepreneur, former bakery owner, franchise builder, and now business coach for creative entrepreneurs. Jennifer shares her raw and real journey from corporate life to opening a brick and mortar bakery, delivering her second daughter just days after opening the doors, and navigating the chaos of early entrepreneurship. Wh...

In this solo Thursday riff of Referrals Done Right, Scott gets personal about something he has struggled with for years: self-deprecating humor and the identity statements we casually speak over ourselves. What started as a simple joke about needing to get back to the gym turned into a powerful realization about how our brains do not process sarcasm the way we think they do. When we repeatedly say...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott sits down with Andrew Cambria, agency owner, father of three and deeply rooted community leader serving Cicero and Camillus. Andrew shares the unlikely path that led him into insurance, including a failed deli venture on Long Island and how that early failure shaped his approach to planning, leadership and long-term thinking. What emerges is a powerfu...

In this powerful solo episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott unpacks a fascinating psychology experiment from Dartmouth College that reveals just how much our beliefs shape our reality. Participants who thought they had a visible facial scar believed they were being judged, avoided, and treated differently — even though the scar had been secretly removed before their interactions began. The only p...

In this energizing episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott and Kelly Grates sit down with Christine Spiak and Tricia Sticca, co-founders of Success Circle — a membership community for women solopreneurs in the Mohawk Valley. What started as two coaches sharing office space has grown into a powerful movement built on collaboration over competition, vulnerability over ego, and action over perfection....

In this solo riff, Scott Grates brings the heat with a timely reminder that championship moments - whether in sports or in business, don’t happen by accident. Drawing inspiration from a visualization exercise led by Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald years before a Super Bowl victory, Scott challenges listeners to do the same for their own business: to stop winging it, and start seeing it. Because...

In this heartfelt and wisdom-packed episode, Scott sits down with Dan Collison, a former pastor turned agency owner, community builder, and passionate educator. With a unique background in ministry, tech, and small business ownership including a tech startup and an escape room, Dan shares how his life’s calling has always centered around serving others. Now, he brings that same mission into the wo...

In this thought-provoking solo episode, Scott Grates draws inspiration from the classic “Mexican Fisherman” parable to ask one powerful question: how much is enough? Using storytelling, self-reflection, and a fishing metaphor that hits home, Scott unpacks the dangers of chasing “more” without defining what truly matters. It’s a reminder that in business - and in life - depth often beats width, and...

In this episode of Referrals Done Right, Scott and Kelly Grates sit down with Ryan Miller — the driving force behind the thINCubator, founder of Rust Belt Startup, and a true connector in the Mohawk Valley. What unfolds is a masterclass in community building, modern entrepreneurship, and the power of showing up and serving others. From humble beginnings in New York Mills to becoming one of the are...

In this Thursday riff, Scott Grates is joined by surprise guest Keith Brown for a spontaneous but powerful conversation on value—what it really means, how to communicate it, and why price should never be your leading pitch. Through the analogy of flying coach vs. first class, Scott breaks down the “value equation” in a way that’s impossible to forget, challenging listeners to stop selling themselv...

In this episode, Scott sits down with Vanessa Colangelo, founder of LifeWellBranded, to unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in business: branding. Together, they explore why branding is not just a logo or color palette, but the emotional translation of who you are, what you stand for, and how people experience you when you’re not in the room. Vanessa shares her philosophy on why people a...

In this solo Thursday episode, Scott zeroes in on one of the most misunderstood forces in sales and leadership: ego. Not the loud, arrogant kind—but the quiet voice that keeps us from asking for referrals, speaking up, or taking the next bold step in our business. Through personal stories and a truth-packed perspective shift, Scott challenges listeners to reframe introductions not as a risk, but a...

In this episode, Scott sits down with Bob Bartlett—insurance agency owner, community leader, and part-time rock band drummer—to talk about leadership, culture, service, and the art of being different in a crowded, commoditized industry. Bob shares how getting laid off pushed him into entrepreneurship, how he grew a thriving agency in Barre, Vermont during COVID, and why real conversations will alw...

In this short but powerful solo riff, Scott Grates kicks off the new Referrals Done Right format with a gut-check on commitment, goals, and the uncomfortable gap between “good” and “great.” Inspired by lessons from Jim Collins’ Good to Great and David Goggins’ no-excuses mindset, Scott shares a brutally honest look at what happens when we sell ourselves short—and how accountability can change ever...

In this episode, Scott sits down with Erik LaChance, a seasoned insurance agency owner and community builder, who opens up about his journey from the corporate world to launching two successful offices in New York’s Capital Region. From bartop business deals to nonprofit partnerships, Erik shares how his roots, relationships, and relentless authenticity have shaped both his business and his legacy...