
In this milestone episode, we celebrate 350 episodes dedicated to helping you generate referrals in your business without asking or manipulation. Join me as I chat with Mindy Passmore, a VIP client who has doubled her referrals in just six months by...
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Stacey Brown Randall
Hey there and welcome to the Roadmap to Referrals Podcast, a show that proves you can generate referrals without asking or manipulation. I'm your host, Stacey Brown Randall. I'm a card carrying member of the Business Failure Club, have taught my Referrals Without Asking methodology and strategies to clients in more than 14 countries around the globe. And my mission is to help you unleash a referral explosion by leveraging the science of referrals and respecting your relationships. Well, welcome to episode 350. Let's play some music like this. Like a boo boo boo. I just feel like this is a momentous occasion. 350 episodes. There have been moments, so many moments, my friends, where I thought maybe I just won't make it to this number of episodes. The first goal when you start a podcast is like, let me just get to 10. Like, it's just 10 episodes in. Let me just see if I can do this for a couple of months, get those 10 episodes in. And then after you hit 10 and you're like, okay, I'm gonna do this, then the next big goal is like, 52. Let me just get to 52 episodes. That means I've been doing this for a year. And then after that, well, really it just starts to grow and take on a life of its own. And the fact that I have now been doing this for 350 weeks, 350 episodes, every single Tuesday, landing in your AirPods, your earbuds, within your favorite podcast listening app is wow. It's actually one of the things I'm super, super proud of. And, like, just. I'm gonna be honest, I'm kind of impressed with myself because whereas I can be very dedicated and very committed, I can also not always be that way. And so I'm just really pleased that I have shown up every week to provide information and dispel myths and terrible lies about referrals and help you understand that it is possible to grow your business with referrals and do it in a way that doesn't make you, you know, like, want to poke your eye out because you're supposed to go ask people or pay people to give you referrals. So it is an honor and a joy to show up here every week to know that you're listening. It's funny, before I was recording this introduction for this episode, I was actually on a call, an onboarding call, with a new BRB member, and it was so funny. He said, he goes, you know, I heard you on another podcast, which is a great way for people to find your podcast. He was like, but I heard you on another podcast and I loved what you had to say. And then I started listening to your podcast and sometimes I feel like you are speaking directly to me. And my response to him was, I am just you and only you. And of course we had a good laugh. But the truth is, is I hope you feel that way about this podcast every week when you decide to show up. Whether you binge a bunch of episodes at one time or you are my loyal Tuesday listeners, when it drops, you're listening. If that is the case, that both types of listeners make me so happy, I'm so glad you're here. But I hope you feel that way about this podcast. I hope you feel seen, I hope you feel heard. I hope you understand that what I'm teaching, more than likely when you think about it, it's because I have the opportunity to work with clients just like you. They're just like you. They've been told they have to ask. They've been told they have to say, hey, if you know anybody just like you who needs what I do, you should send them to me. Right? They've been told that you have to offer incentives and bonuses and kickbacks under the table. Kickbacks. There are so many people that have been told exactly what you've been told. They've heard the same tired advice about generating referrals, and then they show up here. And my number one goal is for you to get the information you need so you can believe that something else is possible, something else is true when it comes to generating reflection referrals. And I hope that this podcast is that for you. I hope you show up and you feel seen and you feel heard. And my new clients, you know, his example, you may feel a little called out from time to time. That's okay, we'll take it. But the reality is, I hope that you feel like I get it, because I do. And it doesn't really matter what industry you're in. It doesn't matter if you are are an investment banker, a cpa, an interior designer, a real estate agent, a cfo, a bookkeeper, an attorney, a consultant, a business coach. It doesn't matter what you're doing. Every industry has been told and has heard for years these terrible ways you have to go about generating referrals. And I've been showing up for 350 episodes dispelling all those myths and telling you that that's not true when you say, say it ain't so. When someone says, you must Ask for referrals. I want you to know I'm over here screaming at the top of my lungs, you're right, it's not so. And you don't have to do it that way. So I hope you feel seen. I hope you feel heard. And, you know, sometimes if you. If you need to be a little called out, I hope you feel that way too. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my 350 episodes than by giving you guys a chance, maybe not to hear from me. I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity that when you hear me talk about that all these things are possible, that you can generate referrals, you can have success, you can have more success than you ever thought possible when you hear me talk about what it actually is reality, that maybe you needed to hear from somebody who's experienced it because they've worked with me. So to round out the final must do right? Or sorry, sorry, must. This is the must know. I'm already jumping ahead to the end of March, friends. This is the must know series on the podcast. So throughout February, I have been doing a series of episodes on the things you must know about referrals. And I could not think of a better way to round out that series than by having you listen to somebody who's gonna talk about the things that they've learned in working with me that certainly support the things that you must know if you want to generate referrals. And then because this person I'm going to interview for you guys on the podcast has had amazing success, I'll go ahead and do a tiny spoiler alert. Then we'll move into the must dos and you'll learn some of the things that she did to have that type of success. So we will move into the must do for referral section of the podcast when we roll into March. But this is a great, wonderful, and my personal opinion fitting way to celebrate 350 episodes of me showing up here every week, delivering the best resources and advice and guidance that I can give you when it comes to referrals and letting you hear from somebody who's taken that guidance and advice and decided to work with me and put all the strategies into place and then reaped the benefits and reaped the rewards. And I can't think of a better way than introduce you to Mindy Passmore. She is one of my VIP clients. So remember, there are two ways to work with me at a higher level, and that is the BRB building a referable business coaching program and Then of course, there is the VIP referrals and day experience. The VIP experience, you have to have at least one other person on your team, and I actually build your strategy for you and come to you and deploy it to you and your team over two days. Mindy is located in Dallas, Texas. I went up there a couple of times last year for VIP experiences, which was pretty awesome. I really enjoyed that. Maybe I'll be going back this year. Who knows? It just depends who. Who in Dallas wants to have a VIP session. I would love to come back to your beautiful city. So the VIP experience is a little bit different and you're going to hear Mindy talk about that. She's going to talk about why she chose VIP over the coaching program and then what she was looking for and what ultimately was different that she experienced. So I do want to put that in context for you. There's no right way or wrong way to work with me. Every way is a great way. It just depends on how best you want to learn and the budget that you have and the time that you're willing to invest. That's really what it all comes down to. And the other part of that is at the VIP level, you have to have somebody else on your team. You have to have either an operations manager or an office manager or an assistant or a marketing coordinator or marketing director. You got to have somebody else who's going to be in the room with you as a business owner while we're putting everything into place because we move fast. And so that's important to note. So, okay, without further ado, I want to introduce you guys to Mindy. I had so much fun working with her. Mindy founded Maximum Possibilities to guide companies through growth, fundraising, mergers, acquisitions, and business transition processes. Maximum Possibilities helps companies reach their next level and build sustainable growth with mergers, acquisitions and strategy. Mindy has over 35 years and the private and public corporate growth strategy and successful acquisition initiatives with dozens of buy and sell transactions. She is a business leader with a strong financial background and a proven track record of creating action plans that drive value to the bottom line. She is a force, my friends. She is a force to be reckoned with. And I have just had the greatest pleasure and privilege to be able to work with her and call her now a friend. So without further ado, let's dive in to my conversation with Mindy. Mindy, welcome to the Roadmap to Referrals podcast. It is always a pleasure to be able to see you and spend some time with you. I'm so Glad that you could be here to have this conversation with me. Thank you for joining me.
Mindy Passmore
Thank you, Stacy. I'm really delighted to be here.
Stacey Brown Randall
Awesome. Okay, so I already gave the official bio when I was doing the introduction for this episode, but I think it's really important for the audience to hear from you just how you would explain your business and what you do for your clients.
Mindy Passmore
Well, you know, Stacy, many business owners, when they want to exit their company to move on to bigger dreams, they think about selling their business. And many of them, unfortunately, don't get the results that they wanted after they sell their company. And also the preparation process for going through the sale is way more difficult and arduous than they had planned as well. And so our company has a proven process for helping business owners prepare for and sell their businesses. And we also help owners who want to grow and acquire on the other side, and we help those owners acquire companies as well as fundraise as needed.
Stacey Brown Randall
That's awesome. You know, it's interesting. I've never really experienced, like, the selling of a business myself personally, except for when my husband sold 50% of his ownership in the restaurant to his business partner. So it was like we were selling to a known entity. It was like the business partner, we were just selling his 50% to him. That's my only experience with it. But, man, it can be a little bit like a roller coaster. Like, you have to have that person, I think, guiding you through that process. Because it's just if you don't do it often, like, there's a. There's a lot to it.
Mindy Passmore
Yes, you're right. And most business owners only do it once. There are a few that are serial entrepreneurs that do it more than one time. But still, it really helps having an expert who knows current market conditions, deal structures, etc. Etc. Because a deal may be valued at the same dollar amount, but the deal structure could be very different. And that makes the value of what the seller receives completely different.
Stacey Brown Randall
Yes. So true. So true. Okay, so when you think about your business, obviously you are a VIP client of mine. And so when you decided to work with me, you were referred to me by somebody else. That's a client as well. Melanie, Give her a little shout out. But you came to work with me because you ultimately knew without, like, before working with me, that referrals were really important to your business. So what has kind of always been your thoughts around why referrals are so important within the work that you do and receiving potential clients because they're referred to you.
Mindy Passmore
Well, it's about trust, Stacy. Mostly trust is a big factor when people decide to hire my firm. It's people that trust the person who's referring me, but also because that person then has a relationship with me and referral partner, they also transfer that trust over to me. And, you know, if you think about it, it's probably one of the biggest decisions a business owner ever has to make is selling their company or buying another company and who is going to be their advisor and help them through this. And they want someone that they can trust. And so that is the number one reason why referrals are so important to me. And also on the other side of it is, you know, with. With the referral sources I have, they're all people that I love. They're people that I enjoy working with. They're people that have similar core values. And core values are extremely important to me and clients as well as people that I do business with all the way around. So that's sort of the second reason is just knowing the people knowing my referral sources, knowing the core values that they have. And then they refer people that have similar core values and that appreciate core values that we have. And also I like to refer back to them. So there are people, I'm a boutique firm. We don't have a huge staff. And so we like to refer back to people that we can trust as well. And many of the people that are my referral sources are also people that I refer back to.
Stacey Brown Randall
Yeah, I think that's such a benefit. Not every business has that right. Not everybody who receives referrals from, you know, other businesses can turn around and refer back to them. Right. I mean, I've used this example before, but when I was a productivity and business coach, I received a number of referrals from different financial planners and financial advisors because if they worked with business owners and that business owner was like struggling or was having productivity issues or anything like that, they would refer them to me because they had a vested interest in their client, like becoming more productive and all the things too. But I always joked and like, I never knew enough people with money to refer clients back to all the financial advisors that also referred to me. So I think it's great when you are in a situation where who's referring to you, you can refer back to them, but it's not, I would say it's more unique than it actually is the like standard for most businesses in that way. So I think that's awesome that you can do that and really that you Pay attention. That is something you can do. And so you make it a point to do that. I think that's really important as well.
Mindy Passmore
And I think your point is really good too, because I can't do it for everyone because like some people, it just wouldn't, it just wouldn't work. But I think it's a value to them by being able to refer someone who's a quality performer, someone who, who does what they do well, who's an expert in their field, who treats people really well. I mean, that's a value to the my referral sources as well as being able to know that they have a good go to person in my field and that I will do those things for their clients.
Stacey Brown Randall
That's awesome. That's awesome. Okay, so we started working together summer of last year, summer of 2024. And I wanted to, first off, I know people are like, just tell us what the results were and how much success Mindy had. I know that's what some of the listeners are thinking, but we're going to make them wait. We'll get there in a second. You do have some great results to share. But I think what's really valuable is in addition to the results, of course, are the, some of the intangibles that you receive. When I work with a client and sometimes that's the aha moment you have or the light bulb that goes off of like thinking about referrals differently, looking at them differently than you ever have before. So what were some of like the aha moments you had about referrals when we started working together?
Mindy Passmore
Well, it was really that I don't have to have a thousand referral sources and, you know, having to go to all the happy hours and all of that, you know, kind of thing. And I was spending a lot of time on business development, but it wasn't focused. And so having, I'm a process oriented person, I like having processes. So having a proven process and actually also recording it, you know, recording results, keeping track of it, tracking, you know, who we're meeting and what the results were. And, and it also, because we're of the proven process and the way that we're tracking, then expressing gratitude to people, which, you know, I would do sometimes and not always, unfortunately, we're all busy. So sometimes I wouldn't, I wouldn't remember to thank someone or follow up with them when I got a client from a referral. So all those things really helped me put together something really focused. It started getting results almost immediately when I started putting in place. And it really was a time saver for me. And because of the results, I felt way more confident that my business development program was actually effective.
Stacey Brown Randall
Yeah, it was, like, headed in the right direction quickly.
Mindy Passmore
Yes, very quickly. And some of the things I was doing were things that could be incorporated into it, and some I quit doing. But, you know, it really. It was good to really know that I was on the right path and get those results fast and those, you know, reinforced that we were doing it correctly. And then just the relationships that with people, you know, people appreciate the touch points if they're genuine, which they are for me, you know, and. And the relationships now when I see people in my referral sources or they'll just. The conversations we have are. Are really nice. They're. They're different.
Stacey Brown Randall
Yeah, I think. I think that's the thing that people like, we understand, okay? Referrals come from relationships. I mean, it makes perfect sense. It's part of the formula. But I think when you actually start putting into practice taking care of your referral sources because you believe that it's the right thing to do, take care of those who take care of you, I think you start seeing relationships in a different way and understanding the true value behind them. So I think that's always a great aha. That people have as well and that it doesn't have to be a massive time suck, let's be honest, because we're all very, very busy. But I'm just curious. Okay, I'm going to put you on the spot because I did not prepare you for this question, so I'm gonna put you on the spot for a quick second. Do you remember one of the things that you used to do from a business development perspective that you just stopped doing? Like you mentioned, there are some things you used to do that you don't do anymore. Are you comfortable maybe sharing one of those since that you and I started working together? Hey there. Pardon the interruption. Would you like to experience the VIP experience the same way that Mindy has? Well, I would love to have a conversation about if the VIP referrals in a day experience is the right next best step for you. The quickest and easiest way to figure out is, hey, do I want to be the next VIP working with Stacy directly, one on one? If the answer is yes, then just go to stacybrownrandall.com VIP those are the letters. VIP. I would love for you to check out the information that explains how the VIP process works and then, of course, submit your application. Or you can just reach out to me directly as well. I will say Most of the VIPs that I work with are referred to me, but not all of them. So if you're interested, go on over to the VIP Referrals in a Day page and make sure you submit your application today. I only work with a limited number of VIPs because I come to you to work with you for two days, and I only do so much traveling in a year, so that limited number of VIPs will fill up. So please, please, if you're interested, submit your application now. Back to our episode.
Mindy Passmore
Yeah, sure. So going to random happy hours. You know, go. I'm way more focused on which organizations I'm in, those that I can build more relationships with people as opposed to knowing, you know, 100 people, you know, getting to know three or four really good, good connections that I really like, you know, working with. And it's just changed my whole. My whole day, really. If you think about it, it's, you know, what I do during the day now in business development is different. You know, I might call a person and talk to someone who's a referral source. I look at developing new referral sources differently. I'm way more picky about that, you know, about who I meet with and my time. And it's become more of a much more disciplined process than just kind of a shotgun. Oh, I got an invitation to this event. I think I'll go to it. No. Now it's like, okay, I know what I'm doing because I have my plan. And so is this fit with my plan or not? Or if I'm going to do it, should I add it to my plan? If not, the answer is no, then I don't do it, and I don't feel guilty about not doing it before. I used to feel like, oh, I should be going to that happy hour. And, you know.
Stacey Brown Randall
But it's only your 18th one that week. But you feel guilty. Yes, I think people do. Right, Right. Oh, but then you go to it. You're like, why am I here? I knew better.
Mindy Passmore
Exactly. And then I just want to leave.
Stacey Brown Randall
And then you got to drive all the way back out to the farm. So that's a drive for you. Like, it's you. It's a commitment for you. So I love that. Okay, cool. So most people who listen to this podcast, they know that there's a couple of different ways to work with me. One of them, that building a referable business, the BRB group coaching program. And then there's the VIP Referrals in a day experience, which is what you did. What was kind of the reason why you decided to go the VIP route and work with me at that level? What were your deciding factors?
Mindy Passmore
Well, the main deciding factor was the, the quick ramp up. So in other words, having a complete program put in place quickly so that, and then, you know, I just had to maintain it. I didn't have to architect it or, you know, obviously you, in our session, you, we co created it together, but you use the framework that's been proven over time that you have. So I didn't have to go and figure it out. I didn't have to drag it out. I really wanted to really kickstart it because I felt like I was. My personal energy was being drained by so many business development events and my business was picking up and so I had to optimize my time and so I felt like it was the most productive way. And from a return on investment perspective, you know, the quick start of the cost of the VIP program versus, you know, just one new client, you know, two months ahead of what I would have gotten them. For example, doing it the old way or doing it the longer way, you know, was a payoff. So. And the other thing I will say is I did, I do have the staff, the team to help me. So that was an important consideration, knowing that I had someone to help some. A team to help me and it wasn't just me doing it all.
Stacey Brown Randall
Yeah, that's really important. Like I had people reach out to me and they'll say, I want to do vip and I'm like, who's on your team? Because at a minimum, you've got to have an assistant or a marketing director or coordinator or an operations manager. You've got to have somebody that can help you. Because when I show up, like I came to you in Dallas for those two days when I show up and I'm like, it's built. Let's go. Like, let's put this in place. Let's co create what we need to, but let's get moving. Like you and Jenna, you guys were like ready, but you could have never moved that quickly if it were just you, Right?
Mindy Passmore
Exactly. And I think not just the team member having a body, but it's a person that has an interest and has the passion and enthusiasm for it, you know, as well. So a the right team member.
Stacey Brown Randall
True. I mean, everybody's a Jenna in their life, let's be honest.
Mindy Passmore
Yes, that is true.
Stacey Brown Randall
Hi, Jenna. I know she'll listen to this. Okay. I'm sure she will. Let's talk about what I know. Everyone's like, okay, tell us what the results have been. So it's been about the time of this recording. It's been a right around the six month mark, maybe a little more, a little less. People know I do not try to do math in my head and publicly because I always get it wrong. But we're around that six month mark. Talk to us about the results that you've had with referrals received in the first six months from working with me.
Mindy Passmore
Well, the results really have been dramatic. Now not only do I get referrals, but I expect them that it's just been, I've more than doubled the number of referrals in six months that I got the whole year before I started. And it's, it's, it's just been a big win all the way around. And they come in spurts. And so a couple of months there last fall or last summer, fall, I had so many referrals going I could barely keep up with the clients. So it's been a really a big difference. And not only that, not only the number of referrals, but the quality of the referrals in terms of my business, what I actually am evolving my business into in terms of services, doing more of certain things and less of certain other things, it's really helped, you know, get that the focus on what I. My business as it evolves and you know, being able to communicate properly with people and all of that has really helped, I believe as well. And a lot of the referrals are actually from repeat partners. So that's a really cool thing. So I'm not having to go out. Yes, I am developing new referral sources because that's part of the program. But a lot of the referrals I'm getting are actually from the same referral partners. And just strengthening that relationship has made a really big difference.
Stacey Brown Randall
Yeah. So I always like to put in context results like that, that happen really quickly. So you know, when you think about the fact that you got double the number of referrals and a six month period, when you're comparing that to a whole entire year prior. Right. That, I mean for a lot of people, they're like, whoa, right. Like that's a lot in terms of regardless of what the numbers are, like, it's just a lot in terms of volume and like to your point, like they like to, they like to show up with partners and pairs. Like they don't just like one today and One in two weeks and one two week? No, they're like four today and then maybe none next week. Like, they like to like show up with their friends, which is kind of awesome. But you know, I think to put that in context, right, for some folks to understand, when I have clients like yourself that have that initial boom, like that uptick that are going to happen with referrals, it's because when I did my investigation into your business and you completed that lengthy assessment, right, and you did your data dive into figuring out who your referral sources are, who they could be, and then you're kind of looking at your numbers in the past and all that assessment stuff that you complete for me to build your strategy for the VIP days. The truth is when I look at that, I can tell, oh, Mindy's been sitting on some low hanging fruit. And I know exactly what we need to do, exactly what levels we need to like push and pull, right? Let's get those levels going. Let's make sure that we do what we need to do quickly. And what I loved is that you guys were doing one of them. We're not going to say what it is because always that's what I do with my clients. But like, you guys, you and Jenna were doing one of them before I even left to for the airport. You guys were like, okay, we're gonna do this, we're gonna stay here and do this thing we gotta do. And I think a, that goes to show that you were a fast action taker and you were just sitting on the potential of some low hanging fruit. And I'm just so glad that we got to work together because we just got to capture that quickly and now you're just building on it moving forward.
Mindy Passmore
Yes, that is true. That is true. I think, I think many entrepreneurs, especially folks that, that do business to business consulting and things like that, have a lot of low hanging fruit. A lot of us have our expertise, but we're not referral experts.
Stacey Brown Randall
Could not have said it better myself. You are. I always tell us, the folks, you're an expert at what you do, right? And sometimes we need to bring in other outside resources, outside experts to be an expert in an area within running business that maybe we're not great at. I mean, to be honest, I don't know the first. I mean, I'm not, I always say, like, I'm not stupid, I know what my finances are, but I would never do my own bookkeeping and my own taxes. Right? I mean, of course I would bring somebody in for that. Like, there are people who can do that better than me and can probably find savings for me as well. So definitely. Experts inside your business are so important. Okay, so in wrapping up, I just want to end with one final question. If you were having a conversation with someone who was considering. Considering working with me or you were considering referring them to me, what would you say as to why they should hire me?
Mindy Passmore
Well, first of all, I would say that you're really an expert in what you do, that you're the real deal. Everything that. That they hear on your podcast or that they've seen on your website, there's a lot of substance and quality behind that and quantity of proven practices. And so that means that, you know, there will be work for the person who engages you. But that's good because it means that they're doing things that are changing their. Their. Their business for the best. And it also helps that you're just plain joy to work with, that you're a fun person, you care about your clients a lot, you're a super good listener, and you're super good communicator. So you're really able to understand and. And really address people's questions and concerns, or, you know, everyone goes into this and kind of like, oh, gosh, well, really, does that work? Do I really have to do that? You're able to explain, you know, why. And then also, I think you just. You hold people accountable, but in a really, really nice way. And. And so. And. And that's important. We. We have to be accountable, you know, to get results. And. And then I would say just, you are very strategic partner. So, you know, I feel like you're someone who I, as a. As an entrepr entrepreneur and the founder of a company that I. You're on my level. I can work with you as a strategic thought partner, and you provide a lot of value to me and to my business.
Stacey Brown Randall
Oh, gosh, thank you so much. I may just listen to that on repeat over and over again. That was so sweet. Or like, when my kids are like, don't hold me accountable, I'll be like, let me just tell you what my client Mindy said about the need for me being really good at the accountability, because I'm sure they'll be like, no, thank you, mom. Thank you. And I have to say, you know, a lot of people will ask me the question before they decide to work with me, why is someone not successful after they've hired you? And I will always say it's because you either come in not expecting it to work. Like, almost like you're trying to prove me wrong every step of the way. And that is just not putting out good energy and the ability for anything to happen. And then it means you're not doing the right things or saying the right things because you're trying to make it not work or that you just don't make the space to do the things that you need to do. And you and Jenna did. You guys made space, and you continue to make space. I mean, I think when I came back from Dallas after being with you guys for those two days in August, like, Jenna was in my inbox almost every week, sometimes multiple times a week. And that is what I want. I tell people, like, you cannot email me too much, not when you're working with me. We need to get your answers. We need to get them sold. We need to get you moving forward, because I don't want your momentum to be stalled out while you're waiting to get an answer or to get something that you need. And so when I came back from Dallas and, like, Jenna started showing up in my inbox, I was like, oh, I got a good one. Like, this is a great. Mindy and her are going to do great things. They're going to make it happen. They're asking quality questions. And it was really. I wasn't surprised at all when Jenna would, like, give me updates like, oh, Mindy got some more referrals. I was like, of course she did, because you guys are doing the work, and I think that's so very valuable. And then I got to see you in December, too, when you guys came to the end of your retreat that we do for the BRB and VIP members. And that was great, too, to see you guys kind of like, lock in. It was like, five months in, and you're like, okay, now we're just gearing up for 20, 25. But it was great to see you guys, like, lock in and get ready to take that to the next level. So I can't wait to see what happens for you throughout this year.
Mindy Passmore
Thank you very much, and we really appreciate all your help. Stacey. It's been really wonderful working with you. And if someone asked me, would you do it again, I would say yes.
Stacey Brown Randall
Thank you so much. I appreciate that. Well, and thank you for taking the time to come on the podcast as well. You were lovely to chat with again.
Mindy Passmore
Thank you.
Stacey Brown Randall
Well, I hope you enjoyed that interview with Mindy. As much as I enjoy doing it, I love spending time with her, and I am sorry I could not convince Jenna from her team to be on the interview as well because they are a wonderful, wonderful partnership. They are a great company and I'm so privileged and I'm so pleased that they are clients of mine. So the Show Notes page where you can learn more about Mindy if you are interested. Definitely. If you want to connect with her that information is available. We will put that on the Show Notes page for this episode. I'll link to her website and her LinkedIn profile and you can find all of that on the Show Notes page for this episode@staceybrownrandall.com 350Woo. I can't believe it. All right, so my friends here we go. We're on the path now to another 350 episodes. So we're back with another great episode next week created with you and your needs in mind. Until then you know what to do my friend. Take control of your referral roles and build a referable business. Bye for now.
Episode: #350: 350 Episodes & Counting
Host: Stacey Brown Randall
Guest: Mindy Passmore
Release Date: February 25, 2025
[00:04 – 10:18]
Stacey Brown Randall opens the milestone episode by reflecting on her journey to 350 episodes of the Roadmap to Referrals podcast. She shares her initial goals of reaching 10 and then 52 episodes, emphasizing the dedication required to sustain such consistency. Stacey expresses pride and gratitude for her loyal listeners, highlighting how the podcast has grown into a platform where she dispels common myths about referrals and demonstrates that business growth through referrals is both possible and ethical.
Notable Quote:
“I have shown up every week to provide information and dispel myths and terrible lies about referrals and help you understand that it is possible to grow your business with referrals.”
— Stacey Brown Randall [02:15]
[10:18 – 10:37]
Stacey introduces Mindy Passmore, a VIP client, and provides an overview of her impressive background in business growth strategies, mergers, acquisitions, and business transitions. Mindy co-founder of Maximum Possibilities, brings over 35 years of experience in private and public corporate growth strategy.
Notable Quote:
“I’ve had the greatest pleasure and privilege to be able to work with her and call her now a friend.”
— Stacey Brown Randall [09:45]
[10:37 – 12:19]
Mindy elaborates on her company, Maximum Possibilities, explaining how they assist business owners in preparing for and selling their businesses. She highlights the challenges business owners face during the sale and acquisition process and the importance of having expert guidance to navigate market conditions and deal structures effectively.
Notable Quote:
“Trust is the number one reason why referrals are so important to me.”
— Mindy Passmore [11:56]
[12:19 – 15:59]
Stacey and Mindy discuss why referrals are crucial in Mindy’s line of work. Mindy emphasizes trust as the cornerstone of referrals, explaining that referrals from trusted sources allow clients to make significant business decisions with confidence. Additionally, she appreciates the reciprocity in referrals, where she can refer clients back to her trusted partners, fostering strong, value-driven relationships.
Notable Quote:
“It's about trust, Stacy. Mostly trust is a big factor when people decide to hire my firm.”
— Mindy Passmore [12:56]
[16:43 – 22:10]
Mindy shares her transformative "aha" moments after working with Stacey. She realized she didn’t need to maintain an extensive list of referral sources or attend countless networking events. Instead, by implementing Stacey’s structured and focused referral strategies, Mindy was able to streamline her business development efforts, saving time and increasing efficiency. She highlights the importance of tracking results, expressing gratitude, and maintaining genuine relationships.
Notable Quote:
“I don't have to have a thousand referral sources and... having to go to all the happy hours and all of that, you know, kind of thing.”
— Mindy Passmore [16:43]
[22:10 – 24:22]
Stacey explains the different ways to collaborate with her, distinguishing between the Building a Referable Business™ coaching program and the VIP Referrals in a Day experience. Mindy chose the VIP option for its rapid implementation and comprehensive support, facilitated by her capable team. This choice allowed her to quickly adopt proven strategies without having to develop them from scratch.
Notable Quote:
“I wanted to really kickstart it because I felt like my personal energy was being drained by so many business development events.”
— Mindy Passmore [23:01]
[25:05 – 29:15]
At the six-month mark of implementing Stacey’s referral strategies, Mindy reports a dramatic increase in both the quantity and quality of referrals. She has more than doubled her referrals compared to the previous year, experiencing periods of high referral influx. Mindy notes that many referrals come from repeat partners, strengthening existing relationships and ensuring a steady stream of quality leads. This disciplined approach has allowed her to focus on building meaningful connections rather than spreading herself thin across numerous superficial contacts.
Notable Quote:
“I've more than doubled the number of referrals in six months that I got the whole year before I started.”
— Mindy Passmore [25:40]
[29:15 – 30:04]
Stacey underscores the importance of leveraging expert guidance to unlock business potential. She likens her role to that of an accountant or bookkeeper—specialists who handle specific aspects of a business to optimize performance. Mindy echoes this sentiment, appreciating Stacey’s expertise in referrals which complements her own business strengths.
Notable Quote:
“Experts inside your business are so important.”
— Stacey Brown Randall [29:15]
[30:04 – 33:52]
Mindy offers a heartfelt endorsement of Stacey, praising her expertise, strategic partnership, and ability to hold clients accountable in a supportive manner. She highlights Stacey’s exceptional communication skills and strategic insights that have significantly benefited her business. Stacey reciprocates by thanking Mindy for her kind words and reiterates the importance of client commitment in achieving success. The episode concludes with Stacey expressing excitement for future episodes and continued growth.
Notable Quotes:
“You're the real deal. Everything that you hear on your podcast or that they've seen on your website, there's a lot of substance and quality behind that.”
— Mindy Passmore [30:04]
“You and Jenna did... you and Jenna were like ready, but you could have never moved that quickly if it were just you.”
— Stacey Brown Randall [24:52]
[33:50 – End]
Stacey wraps up the episode by thanking Mindy for her participation and sharing how much she enjoys working with her. She provides information on how listeners can learn more about Mindy and her business through the show notes. Stacey hints at continuing the journey towards another 350 episodes, encouraging listeners to take control of their referral roles and build a referable business.
Notable Quote:
“Take control of your referral roles and build a referable business.”
— Stacey Brown Randall [33:50]
Consistency is Crucial: Stacey's achievement of 350 episodes underscores the importance of dedication and consistency in building a successful platform.
Trust as the Foundation of Referrals: Trust is paramount in generating and receiving referrals, particularly in high-stakes fields like business acquisitions and sales.
Quality Over Quantity: Focusing on meaningful, quality relationships with a select number of referral sources can be more effective than maintaining a vast network of superficial contacts.
Structured Referral Strategies Save Time: Implementing a proven, structured approach to referrals enhances efficiency, allowing business owners to focus on what they do best.
Expert Collaboration Enhances Business Growth: Partnering with experts in specific areas, such as referrals, can significantly amplify business growth and success.
Accountability and Strategic Partnership Lead to Results: Stacey’s ability to hold clients accountable and act as a strategic partner is instrumental in driving tangible business outcomes.
Stay Tuned:
Join Stacey Brown Randall next week for another insightful episode designed to help you master the art of generating referrals naturally and effectively. Don’t miss out on the strategies that can transform your business!
This summary captures the essence of Episode #350, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven’t listened to the episode. For more detailed insights, listening to the full episode is highly recommended.