Can I Borrow Your Car?

Some episodes are worth revisiting. This conversation with process consultant Adi Klevit is one of them. Most professionals think referrals are about relationships alone. But the truth is: Referrals often fail because of what happens after the handoff. In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car , Mike Garrison and Adi Klevit break down: Why processes and systems directly impact referrals The importa...

Most business owners are building for a future that isn’t guaranteed. In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , Mike Garrison breaks down a powerful shift: 👉 Stop delaying your life 👉 Start designing your business around what actually matters From fly fishing in the middle of the week to building deeper client relationships, this episode is a reminder that: Your life is your greatest marketing...

This week’s episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? brings together a series of real, unfiltered conversations from Mike Garrison’s “Under the Hood Series.” Inside this episode, Mike tackles a few things that matter more than most people want to admit: Why saying “I’m going to steal that” is the wrong mindset, and what to say instead The simplest (and most overlooked) way to generate referrals A hard tr...

Most people think networking is the answer. It’s not. In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , Mike sits down with Jim Ries—business development leader and master connector—to break down the difference between knowing more people and knowing people more . Jim shares his journey from the family shoe business to becoming a key growth driver at a major law firm—and what he’s learned about trust, r...

Most professionals think referrals are about relationships. They’re wrong. In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car , Mike sits down with process expert Adi Klevit to unpack the real reason referrals succeed—or fall apart. Because it’s not just about getting the business… It’s about what happens after the sale. They break down: Why sales without delivery is a broken system The critical role of han...

In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , Mike dives into a hard truth many professional advisors avoid: You are in sales whether you admit it or not. Too many professionals hide from the sales process while expecting referrals, introductions, and new clients to magically appear. But successful firms understand that real growth comes from embracing sales as a disciplined, strategic process. Mike...

We are no longer in the Information Age. And if you’re in professional services, that should make you uncomfortable. In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , Mike unpacks what he believes is the biggest shift facing accounting, legal, consulting, coaching, and financial advisory firms: We are entering the Execution Age . AI isn’t the problem. It’s the symptom. The real challenge? Repricing. Tra...

What if the real reason advisors struggle… isn’t skill, it’s sales? In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , Mike sits down with George Sandmann, founder of Growth Drive, to unpack what truly separates elite professional advisors from everyone else. George shares his bold strategic intent: helping $1 trillion of private businesses increase strategic capacity. But here’s the catch: Nothing happe...

In this episode, Mike tackles one of the most uncomfortable topics in professional services: fees. AI is changing buyer behavior. Transparency is reshaping trust. And fee compression is coming whether you like it or not. If you’re an advisor, consultant, CPA, attorney, coach, or firm owner, this episode is a wake-up call. Mike dives into: Why “1%” isn’t the real conversation How AI is already infl...

Last week I recorded a series of short videos that turned into something bigger. This episode brings them together into one message: You are in commercial sales. AI is here. And how you buy determines how you’ll be bought from. If you’re a CEPA, attorney, CPA, consultant, financial advisor, or professional service firm selling to business owners, you are in commercial sales whether you like it or...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Carl Cox, a “recovering CPA,” strategic thinker, and one of the most authentic leaders I know. What starts as a conversation about strategy quickly turns into something much deeper: faith, fear, identity, and the courage it takes to show up fully as yourself. Carl shares a powerful story about stepping onto a stage, abandoning the polished business perso...

Social media isn’t the problem. How we use it is. In this episode, I unpack a paradox I see every day: good people using social media in ways that strip out their humanity. Automation, mass DMs, shallow tactics — all in the name of “marketing.” But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do social media. And if you are doing it, you should do it on purpose. We talk about: Why vision and mission must d...

In this eye-opening episode of  Can I Borrow Your Car? , Mike Garrison sits down with marketing strategist and longtime collaborator  John Lusher  to break down the latest 6sense Buyer Experience Report — and what it  really  means for small, elite professional service firms. Buyers are moving upstream. Decisions are being made before a seller ever enters the conversation....

In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , Podcast, I sit down with my good friend and marketing partner, John Lusher , founder of The Social Buzz Lab, to talk about one of the most misunderstood, yet absolutely vital, parts of business growth: Ideal Client Acquisition . We dig into what it really means to define your ideal client , why so many business owners get it wrong, and how refining your...

In this episode of the Can I Borrow Your Car? Podcast, Mike discusses the dual nature of AI, exploring its potential to simplify life while also questioning the authenticity of relationships and trust in a world increasingly influenced by technology. Mike also emphasizes the importance of human connections that cannot be replicated or replaced by AI. Takeaways AI has the potential to simplify life...

In today’s tech-driven world, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. In this episode, Mike challenges entrepreneurs, advisors, and professional service providers to ask a deeper question — does your marketing feed your soul? He explores how to build significance while building your business, why tactics alone will never replace relationships, and how true growth starts with being human. D...

In this episode of Can I Borrow Your Car? , I sit down with my longtime friend Mike Cook—entrepreneur, rancher-at-heart, and author of People & Profit —to talk about collaboration, referrals, and why vendors are people first, not just line items. We dig into the faith-driven mindset behind serving everyone who touches your business (customers, employees, vendors, stakeholders), and how an abun...

In this encore episode of The Can I Borrow Your Car Podcast, Mike talks with Bob Goldsmith, founder of Northern Edge Advisors, to discuss the intricacies of investment banking, the importance of trust in financial transactions, and the role of financial advisors in guiding business owners through mergers and acquisitions. Bob shares insights on valuation, the need for proactive investment bankers,...

In this episode of the Can I Borrow Your Car? podcast, Mike discusses the complexities of building business relationships through referrals. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and understanding personal differences in collaboration. Mike shares insights on how to navigate these differences while maintaining genuine connections and the significance of sharing one's story in professional s...

In this engaging conversation, Mike is joined by Tina Corner Stolz to explore the transformative power of collaboration in business. They discuss the importance of explicit roles and agreements, the impact of AI on collaboration, and the necessity of authenticity in building strong partnerships. The dialogue emphasizes that collaboration is not just a strategy but a vital component for personal an...

In this episode of the Can I Borrow Your Car? Podcast, Mike discusses the transformative impact of AI on customer relationships and decision-making processes. He emphasizes the importance of trust and personal connections in business, particularly through referrals. Garrison shares insights on how to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in marketing and sales, advocating for a proactive approach...

In this episode, Mike discusses the parallels between military training and the referral process in business. He emphasizes the importance of understanding fear, building relationships, and having a structured system to enhance referral effectiveness. Through personal anecdotes and insights, he illustrates how training and preparation can lead to better decision-making and outcomes in both militar...

In this encore episode of the Can I Borrow Your Car? podcast, Mike and Scott Couchenour explore the themes of career transitions, collaboration, and the importance of legacy. Scott shares his philosophy on the 'fourth quarter' of life, emphasizing the potential for impact and fulfillment during this stage. They discuss the significance of trust in collaboration and how to identify the right partne...

In this encore episode of the Can I Borrow Your Car podcast, Mike is joined by George Sandman, Owner of Growth-Drive.com to discuss the critical role of collaboration in business growth. They explore how effective collaboration can lead to better client outcomes, the importance of setting expectations, and the dynamics of professional relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear c...

In this episode of the Can I Borrow Your Car podcast, host Mike Garrison explores the powerful intersection between owned media (content you control) and his proactive referral methodology. Drawing inspiration from marketing thought leaders like Mark Schaeffer, Jeannie Dietrich, and Marcus Sheridan, Mike explains how integrating these two strategies can reduce friction in the sales process, create...