On It - Not In It

In this episode, Todd interviews Rob Heiser, the founder and chairman of Wired Views, about his journey as a serial entrepreneur. Rob shares insights from starting and growing multiple businesses, as well as lessons he's learned about fundraising, pivoting when needed, and the importance of resilience and surrounding yourself with great people. Entrepreneurs will walk away with practical advi...

In this episode, Todd interviews Bill Dysert, founder and CEO of Xscape designs, a full-service landscape company based in Cleveland, Ohio. Bill shares the story of how he started the business 20 years ago after finding his passion for working with equipment on farms as a child. He discusses the challenges of running an 85-person organization and how he adapts to changes in technology. Bill also o...

In this episode, Todd interviews David Bullivant, founder of custom metal fabrication shop Yellow Weld. David shares the story of starting his business from nothing more than a 10x10 storage unit with his partner Sean. He discusses the challenges of the early days, as well as the misconceptions many have about entrepreneurship. David also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. OnBrand Podcast S...

In this episode, Roy Stevens shares his experience starting and growing Henry Technologies, an electronics consulting company, over the past 11+ years. He discusses the challenges of the early startup phase, lessons learned along the way, and his goals for the future of the business. OnBrand Podcast Studios produced this episode. Special thanks to Audio Engineer Alex Winnenberg, Producer Nick Winn...

This episode features Jerry Harrison, CEO of Emissaries Financial Services. Jerry shares his story of starting as a factory worker and joining the military to support his family, then transitioning to real estate investing and eventually founding his own financial services company. He offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. OnBrand Podcast Studios produced this episode. Special thanks to Audio E...

On this episode Todd sits down with Bob Appenzeller, who has been a defense contractor since 1981. He discusses starting his own company Dragoon Technologies in 1992 and merging with ITCN in 2013. He shares insights on running a small business and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. OnBrand Podcast Studios produced this episode. Special thanks to Audio Engineer Alex Winnenberg, Producer Nick Winnen...

Shawn Waldman, founder and CEO of Secure Cyber Defense, discusses starting his cybersecurity company 9 years ago after a career in government work. He shares early challenges like finances and pricing, as well as current challenges scaling the business. Sean provides advice to entrepreneurs like getting help sooner and knowing you can achieve your goals with hard work.  OnBrand Podcast Studios pro...

In this interview, Lee Salisbury shares his story of starting his creative agency Unit One right out of design school 20 years ago. He discusses some of the early challenges he faced and how he overcame them through learning when to say no to clients. He also talks about how the industry has evolved with digital transformation and his views on the future impacts of AI and virtual/augmented reality...

In this episode, Todd Eppert interviews Bob Coppedge, owner and CEO of Simplex IT, a managed IT service provider based in Northeast Ohio. Bob discusses his background in IT, starting his own business, common misconceptions about entrepreneurship, evolving with technological changes, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. OnBrand Podcast Studios produced this episode. Special thanks to Audio Engine...

In this interview Todd sits down with Stephen Letourneau, founder and chief branding officer of Better For You Wellness, who discusses starting his plant-based wellness company to meet an unmet market need. He shares advice for entrepreneurs, including the importance of adaptability, mentoring employees, and maintaining a work-life balance. OnBrand Podcast Studios produced this episode. Special th...

In this episode Todd Eppert interviews Jeffrey Price, CEO of Planned Logistics Solutions. Jeffrey shares his background in logistics from serving in the military, how the pandemic inspired him to start his own freight brokerage business, lessons learned about maintaining work-life balance, and his goals for growing the business to $1 million per month in profit. He also discusses his books on lead...

In this interview, Ryan Ray shares the story of starting his first business Team Ray Technologies in 2004 after seeing gaps he could fill in the automation industry. He discusses some of the early challenges of leaving a stable job and scaling quickly. Ryan also talks about growing additional successful businesses Rockwerk Corp, Bubba Rock Meats, and more. He provides insights into staying adaptab...

In this episode of the "On It - Not In It" Podcast, Todd sits down with Mike Abernathy, the President and CEO of Buckeye State Credit Union. Mike shares his journey from a traditional banking career to leading a credit union with a strong focus on underserved communities. Discover how Buckeye State Credit Union differentiates itself by offering a more personal and compassionate approach...

In this conversation, Todd discusses the significance of culture in business and the importance of balancing invitation and challenge to create an engaged and empowered workforce. They explore how a lack of intentional culture can result in a boring and disengaged workplace, while an effective balance of invitation and challenge leads to empowered employees who are motivated and excited about thei...

In this conversation with Todd, he discusses the importance of identifying the key components of a business that contribute to profit generation. He explores the concept of categorizing products, services, customers, and employees into four groups: cash cows, rising stars, question marks, and dogs. They delve into the financial analysis and evaluation required to determine the profitability of eac...

In this conversation, Todd discusses the transition from being a Rainmaker (the person responsible for generating sales and customer relationships) to an Architect (the person designing systems and processes for the business). The discussion highlights the challenges of transitioning, the importance of getting out of the way as the business owner, and the need to train others and develop effective...

On this episode of On It – Not In It, Todd breaks down “pivoting.” When is a good time to pivot? Do smaller more “nimble” companies have an advantage over large well-established companies when pivoting? Have your executives stopped to ask themselves “what business SHOULD we be in,” recently? Is it possible to pivot in the wrong direction? Join us for the answers to these questions and many more! O...

David Bowie, er, we mean - Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, tells us “The only constant in life is change.” Yet, most people are stubbornly resistant to any kind of trivial change in their routines and lives. This desire to keep everything the same can be a detriment to your business. Tune in to this episode to learn about Gleicher’s formula, how to create a sense of urgency, and why it’s not on...

Now that we have a firm grasp on what a value driver is – what can you do to increase them? How can you come closer to having a “monopoly” on your market? Do online reviews about my business really matter? Should I respond to negative reviews? How do I make my business less dependent on me or a specific vendor? Todd tackles all of these questions and more on this episode! OnBrand Podcast Studios p...

Do you know what your business’ value drivers are? Don’t worry – we didn’t either. That’s why we keep Todd around.  On this episode of On It Not In It, Todd breaks down what value drivers are, why they’re essential to selling your business someday, and how to improve yours. As a bonus he also teaches us about the hierarchy of reoccurring revenue, and how nearly ANY business can cash in on the tren...

Every occupation has its stereotypes. While some stereotypes may accurately represent reality, some couldn’t be farther from the truth. In this episode we explore the myths and realities of business coaching. Tune in to hear Nick grill Todd on the harshest, most prevalent, and most humorous business-coach-myths the internet could come up with.  Are business coaches too expensive? Will they do all...

It’s time to retire. You have listened to the episode about exit planning and have decided that you would like to hand the business down to the next generation. Simple, right? Not exactly.  Only approximately 20% of interfamily business transitions survive from generation 1 to generation 2. It’s more difficult to compartmentalize family and business than one might think.  On this episode Todd brea...

Let’s say you’ve taken all of Todd’s advice so far. Years of hard work have finally culminated in a formidable lemonade empire that is running like a well-oiled machine.  Now what?   For a lot of business owners, the concept of exit planning seems like a far-away task to be put off for another day. In this episode Todd breaks down your options and why it’s worth thinking about sooner than later. T...

On this month’s episode - Todd tackles the growing pains of Nick’s fictional Lemonade Empire. It’s a lemonade stand, how complicated can it be? The answer certainly surprised us.   Tune in to learn about how to use a SWOT analysis, all about the 80/20 rule, and how to plan for and set the “big rocks” that make up the foundation of any growing business. As always, Todd is standing by and excited to...

In today’s technology-focused society it’s easier than ever to access information. The sum of human knowledge is now accessible on a tiny device that fits right in our pockets. With the answer to nearly any question right at the tips of our fingers – why would anyone want to consult a human for advice? What does a business coach have to offer that a best-selling business book doesn’t?  The answers...