Strategic Counsel by ForthRight Business

Sure, it’s nice to be the category leader. But, there can only be one leader - making many of us underdogs. In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear from Paul Mellor, Founder & Managing Director of Mellor&Smith. They’re an advertising agency specializing in getting Underdog brands NOTICED. Make sure to check out their 13½ Ways to Grow Your Underdog Brand. And listen to the full episode here

Are you making the most of LinkedIn? We’re all on it, but the vast majority of us are missing out on its true potential to qualify leads, build pipelines, and connect social data directly to revenue. Cold outreach on LinkedIn has many pitfalls, but if you’re smart about it, it can be an unbelievable way to grow your business. We wanted you to learn from the master of cold calling on LinkedIn, so w...

Differences between generations aren’t anything new. But, this generation entering the workforce - mainly Gen Zers - seems to be throwing all of us for a loop. We’ve heard a lot about struggles with communication, motivation, and accountability. What’s going on here?! In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear from an expert on all things generational differences, Mark Beal. He’s the Assistant Professor of Pr...

We’re always talking about how to create strategic plans and then execute them with intention for immediate action and measurement. As we like to do on this show, we bring forth many different approaches and ways of thinking, because we know not every tool is a one-size-fits-all. Today, that focus is on the OKR framework aka Objectives & Key Results. We wanted you to learn from an expert who knows...

It’s a unique time for company culture. From dilemmas about flexible work schedules to generational gaps, leaders are throwing up their hands trying to figure out how to motivate without micromanaging. It might just take an unconventional culture to thrive. In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear from a thought leader who’s built just that, Gui Costin, the Founder & CEO of Dakota and Author of The Dakota W...

Our book on personal branding is launching in early 2026! Stay updated on the launch at ForthRight-Business.com & ForthRight-People.com New Year, New You! We all know the flood of trends, and usually tricks, to overhaul our lives that come with a new year. Resolutions tend to fail because people look for a quick fix and try unsustainable methods to make big changes in a short amount of time. The w...

Every time we turn around lately, we’re having discussions about accountability - with our clients, in our coaching sessions, and now on this podcast! A lack of accountability can be one of the biggest downfalls of an organization - it erodes trust and culture, causes even top performers to suffer, and leads to an overall lack of focus and delivery of business goals. In this Quick Hit, we’ll revea...

The fundamentals of leadership remain the same, no matter your level. Lead at any level by believing you’re a leader, having a POV, having followers, and testing-and-learning your leadership practice. There are also some characteristics that can sometimes get in the way of us being the leaders we were meant to be. Find out what they are, and what to do about them. For more about ForthRight Busines...

Are Google Ads dead? The answer may surprise you. Digital ads - along with other performance marketing vehicles - can feel like a black box. Even for the most skilled at managing these campaigns, it can be difficult to predict the behavior of the algorithms. In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear Anthony Chiaravallo, the Founder & CEO of Vallo Media. Listen to the full episode here

Our book on personal branding is launching in early 2026! Stay updated on the launch at ForthRight-Business.com & ForthRight-People.com Most successes and failures in business can be tied back to a leader’s ability to be aware of and manage their personal brand. Characteristics like empathy, ingenuity, and thoughtfulness are critical to bond people. If you have these as a leader, you are probably...

Traditionally, being a spokesperson meant you were the person fronted for interviews with media. This is still the case, but the definition has broadened as the media channels have broadened. How do you become a credible voice for your business when communicating across channels? In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear Peter Murphy Lewis, the Founder & CEO of Strategic Pete. Catch the full episode here

You want to be a leader. How do you take that into your own hands? Get very clear on your personal brand and clean out what is not serving you, develop your vision and declare it out loud on repeat, surround yourself with supporters and hire a coach, and build your reputation and skills beyond your current role. Take these to heart and you’ll be on the right path to keep rising in your career. For...

There are many things that can distract even the very best leaders. Those include the lack of prioritization, leaning too far into empathy, the inability to give timely & direct feedback, and the desire to be liked over being respected. In this Quick Hit, we take our 40+ years of combined experience paired with the many leaders we have coached and contextualize what happens, why, and what to do ab...

Our book on personal branding is launching in early 2026! Stay updated on the launch at ForthRight-Business.com & ForthRight-People.com Personal branding in business has always been important, but is arguably more so now than ever as we live out our lives and attempt to stand out on screens. In this episode, we discuss 4 reasons now is the time to work on your personal brand. We also talk through...

Humor in marketing is great in theory. But, it’s not great for every brand. If you’re using humor in your marketing, it needs to be strategically on-brand for who you are (brand story) and how you communicate (brand character). In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear from Emily McGregor, the Founder & CEO of PenguinCat Creative and Scrappy Ads. They’re a creative agency of marketing geniuses who craft copy...

Today, we’re continuing our Strategy That Moves Your Business series with our 3rd episode: Go-To-Market Strategy That Wins Business. Specifically, how to bring new or existing products or services into existing or new markets and position yourself to win. We see many businesses underestimate the time and effort it takes to successfully execute these go-to-market efforts. Today you’ll learn what’s...

Do you have a CRM system (Customer Relationship Management)? CRM tools have become a bit diluted over the years. But, a true CRM system can drive leads for your business like no other. In this Quick Hit, you’ll learn from Jason Kramer, the Founder & CEO of Cultivize. They’re your CRM guru for sales, marketing, and agency teams. Visit AfterTheLead.com and use code: StrategicCounsel to get $50 off t...

Is it possible for marketing & sales to work together? If they’re doing so, are they able to actually stay consistent with the brand? These things need to happen for your business to be successful. Unfortunately, in many cases, marketing & sales become so siloed from each other, it hurts the business. We wanted you to learn from an expert with experience in all aspects of The Power Trifecta - bran...

There are so many powerful things you can accomplish once you have found your voice. Your voice is what breaks you out of the “I can’t do it” mindset. In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear from Kari Warberg Block, the Founder & Chief Rebel at EarthKind. They’ve revolutionized pest control with solutions that are as kind as they are effective. Listen to the full episode here

You’re very familiar with leadership. Do you have a high degree of awareness when it comes to your impact on others as a leader? When teams are in a dysfunctional state, this is always a good place to look first. We wanted you to learn from a guest who even coined a term for this phenomenon - your Leadership Wake - so we welcomed on Grift Krehnbrink. He’s a Partner and the Chief Commercial Officer...

What’s the key to breaking through and capturing attention? Finding new and unexpected places to connect with your audience. One of the most fascinating ways to do this is to create an experiential digital experience. In this Quick Hit, you’ll learn how from Zack Sugarman, the Former Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of SUPERPLASTIC. They’re the world’s top creator of animated celebs, vinyl toys, and d...

Have you ever considered EOS - the Entrepreneurial Operating System? It was first introduced by Gino Wickman in his book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business. Since then, it has become a tool many small and medium businesses leverage to drive operational excellence. But how does it work - and how do you know if EOS is right for you? We wanted you to learn from an EOS Implementer who has achieved...

Interested in selling your service business one day? Service firms can be difficult to sell, because there are so many variables and so much emphasis on the people. Never fear, it can be done - even for an amount you dream of! In this Quick Hit, you’ll hear from Jonathan Baker, the Practice Lead of M&A for Punctuation and the Co-Founder of Monday Night Brewing. He advises small-to-midsize marketin...

Brand positioning can be a key strategic generator of business. In fact, it’s what we’ve built our business around at ForthRight People. But what exactly is your brand positioning? It comes down to what your brand is, why is it different, and why do customers want you. We wanted you to learn from a true “wizard” when it comes to brand positioning, so we welcomed on Kathy Guzmán Galloway. She’s The...

In this Quick Hit, we wrap up the interviews for our Creative Series, focused on the issues facing creative agencies today and how they need to evolve to stay relevant. Our 10th special guest is Fred Richards, Founder of The Hive Principle. He has over 30 years of experience in the branding industry, and has led creative work for some of the biggest brands in the world. Catch the full episode here