Podcast
Smooth Operator Podcast
Hosted by Adam Liette · EN
Ready to operationalize your business? This is a show for operators, business managers, operations directors, and integrators to help you manage the nitty gritty of running a thriving online business.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
158. Developing a Cash Culture with Peter Kingma
Jul 22, 202400:37:44Tap to summarizeWhat is the most urgent crisis that any business can face? If you've ever been in a pinch over cash flow, you understand just how much pressure and stress that can place on a business. It clouds your decision making, puts you into desperation, and can cause massive disruption to your operations and team. Having been in this situation once in a prior business, cash flow is now something that I'm particular about keeping an eye on. And I know that there's more I can do to level up my own understanding of how to best navigate ongoing cash flow considerations. Which is why I was excited to connect with Peter Kingma, author of CASH IS KING. Kingma has thirty years of experience helping companies drive operational resilience with better cash management. In his book he offers his unparalleled perspective on the necessity of developing a "cash culture." We discuss: Cash flow management and its importance in business Managing cash flow and metrics for business success Financial planning, inventory management, and forecasting demand Cash flow management and leadership in business Developing a cash culture and firm grasp on your financial operations is a game changer at any level of business growth. I know you'll find that it's just as important for maintaining business operations as it is for scaling your business. Links Purchase Cash is King today! https://www.amazon.com/Cash-King-Maintain-Liquidity-Opportunity/dp/1119983355 Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →158. Developing a Cash Culture with Peter Kingma
Jul 22, 202400:37:44Tap to summarizeWhat is the most urgent crisis that any business can face? If you've ever been in a pinch over cash flow, you understand just how much pressure and stress that can place on a business. It clouds your decision making, puts you into desperation, and can cause massive disruption to your operations and team. Having been in this situation once in a prior business, cash flow is now something that I'm particular about keeping an eye on. And I know that there's more I can do to level up my own understanding of how to best navigate ongoing cash flow considerations. Which is why I was excited to connect with Peter Kingma, author of CASH IS KING. Kingma has thirty years of experience helping companies drive operational resilience with better cash management. In his book he offers his unparalleled perspective on the necessity of developing a "cash culture." We discuss: Cash flow management and its importance in business Managing cash flow and metrics for business success Financial planning, inventory management, and forecasting demand Cash flow management and leadership in business Developing a cash culture and firm grasp on your financial operations is a game changer at any level of business growth. I know you'll find that it's just as important for maintaining business operations as it is for scaling your business. Links Purchase Cash is King today! https://www.amazon.com/Cash-King-Maintain-Liquidity-Opportunity/dp/1119983355 Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →157. Becoming a Category of One with Joe Calloway
Jun 22, 202400:46:49Tap to summarizeThis whole world we live in is amazing. The way we can connect with people the way we can get aligned with people and meet people in online in a way that just wasn't possible a couple years ago. And I know I'm preaching to the choir, you all do that the same. And it's really fun how, when we're in our businesses, when we're running it, it can feel very stifling. If you let it, it can feel like the walls are closing in around, you can feel like you got this whole big weight on your shoulders. But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone. As a matter of fact, the most inspirational leaders that I've ever worked with in my entire life, still have coaches. It's knowing that you don't know it all. It's knowing that you need help knowing that you it's not that you're not enough, it's that you are an unfinished product. And I think that's a very healthy thing to to just recognize and say I'm unfinished. I'm not perfect, I need someone else, if nothing else, to point me in the right direction when I need it, to keep me moving forward, because that's what growing is all about. Which is why I am super excited to have Joe Calloway with me. Joe is a performance coach and advisor who helps great companies get even better. So he's an author, coach, speaker and his client list reads like, whoa, who are these people? He's the author of four ground-breaking business books, including becoming a category of one how extraordinary companies transcend commodity and defy comparison, which received rave reviews from the New York Times. We discuss: The idea of having a simple mantra or phrase that can guide the team and have tactical application The value of coaching and exchanging ideas. Leadership, management, and caring for employees. Developing a "filter system" for ideal types of clients to work with This was an incredible episode that I am so proud to have been part of! If you're not connected with Joe already, do yourself a favor and take a listen to this episode. Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecallowaycoach/
Transcribe →155. Navigating Through Times of Change
Apr 11, 202400:14:42Tap to summarizeWhat does your team need from you during times of change? Change is inevitable in a business and you will encounter this at some point during your career. It can come from many places including opportunity, crisis, chaos, or turnover. But the process is very similar. I've been on both sides of these situations (and I'm sure you have as well) As you're navigating these waters, don't forget about your team. They're feeling the same apprehensions as you. The same fears and same uncertainty. How you lead in this situation will determine the ultimate success of your strategy. Links Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →154. Building An Etsy Empire with Dylan Jahraus
Apr 9, 202400:32:00Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to build an empire? There are so many things that are consistent with the many leaders that I've been fortunate to have interviewed on this show. A tenacity for getting things done, willingness to do what no one else would do, and a positive energy that is infectious are just a couple of them. Today I was really excited to speak to someone about a platform that I've only just barely even used: Etsy. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to Dylan Jahraus. Dylan is a $1.5M Etsy seller with a corporate e-commerce background. She's consulted 2,000+ Etsy sellers from 30+ different countries within a variety of categories– digital, POD, handmade, supplies and vintage! We discuss: Journey into Etsy - Dylan discusses her journey from starting a small Etsy shop to scaling it into a $400,000 annual business. Dylan reflects on her transition from a seller to a coach, helping others succeed on Etsy. The Art of Scaling and Fulfillment - Dylan emphasizes the importance of building a scalable model and outsourcing tasks like fulfillment. She shares her experience of employing military spouses to handle fulfillment, enabling her to focus on growing the business. Etsy SEO and Building Brand Loyalty - Dylan dives into the intricacies of Etsy SEO, emphasizing its differences from traditional search engine optimization. She highlights the significance of functional SEO and the impact of brand loyalty on Etsy. Building an Etsy Empire - Dylan shares her journey of transitioning from a solo seller to a coaching business, emphasizing the importance of providing value and building a strong team. She reflects on the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship compared to corporate life. I'm still so excited by how much I learned from this amazing interview and can't wait to apply these lessons into my own business. Even if you aren't selling on Etsy, these are universal skills that will apply to your business as well. Links Dylan's Website: https://dylanjahraus.com/ Follow her on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeO8Gmc2B-3G2fgcFnRR4Xw Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →153. Being On An Island
Apr 4, 202400:14:26Tap to summarizeHave you ever felt completely alone or exposed in your business? As you're building your business you will have times where you feel completely vulnerable and like there's no one there to help you. Because, in many cases, there isn't. While this is exhilarating for some, for most of us this can lead to indecision, wishy-washyness, burn out, or constant context-shifting in what we're working on. In this episode, I discuss the lessons that I've learned not only in business, but also draw on my experience as a special operator to help you through these times. There are key strategies that you can begin employing today that will help ensure you come through these periods with success. Happy hunting! Links Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →152. Boosting Your Profit Centers with Marcia Riner
Apr 2, 202400:41:13Tap to summarizeWhat's the most important metric for your business? It's not a trick question! It's your profit. Profit enables us to not only have a better life, but also increase our impact and make a greater mark on the universe. We can reach more people, help more clients, improve the lives of our clients all while making our own lives more enjoyable. Which is why I wanted to bring on my friend Marcia Riner. Marcia is the go-to guru for all things business growth and greater profitability. With over 25 years of experience under her belt, she's the brains behind Infinite Profit, where she's known as the Profit Booster™️, a business growth strategist, and leading as the CEO. We discuss: - Profitability and cost reduction strategies for businesses - How to empower employees to find inefficiencies and improve company operations - Creating revenue centers through empowering team members. - Building a profitable business with long-term growth The good news is that profit centers and opportunities are all around us in our business. The bad news? You need to make the decision to pay attention and take action to realize the potential profits that you're sitting on. I highly recommend connecting with Marcia and your not-so-humble host to help you bring your business to the next level. Links Profit With A Plan Podcast with Marcia Riner: https://www.marciariner.com/ Download your FREE Profit Booster Playbook http://www.BoostingProfit.com Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →151. What's Holding Your Growth Back
Mar 20, 202400:12:03Tap to summarizeIf you could fix one thing to move your business forward, what would it be? As a business operations coach, I have the fortune to be able to work with businesses in multiple different niches and industries. And yet, what holds many of them back are common characteristics. The bad news is that without fixing these parts of your business you'll always feel like you're pushing a boulder up a mountain. The good news… they are all within your control! Fix the foundation of your business and watch the results start to come easier and allow you more freedom to move forward with what drives you.
Transcribe →150. Working Less and Making More with Jeremy Shapiro
Mar 19, 202400:49:21Tap to summarizeWhen you're faced with difficulty in your business, who do you turn to? For many years, I've been fortunate to have several close people that I can truly share what I'm going through. The most powerful of these relationships have come through Mastermind groups. Joining a Mastermind is a great step forward that will have a tremendous impact on your business. You'll have real accountability and sound advice from people that have not only been there before, but have an understanding of your business. That's why I was so thrilled to meet Jeremy Shapiro. Jeremy runs Bay Area Mastermind and has a unique knack for helping entrepreneurs to get out of their own way, create the business that supports their freedom, and help them enjoy more of their lives. In this deep interview, we uncover a wide variety of difficulties that many business owners face and how to navigate those waters. After getting time with Jeremy, I'm encouraged to continue the mastermind that I'm already part of, but also consider the next step that I'll take on journey. Links Join Jeremy's Mastermind: https://BayAreaMastermind.com/ Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →149. Why You Need to Use Stories as a Leader
Mar 14, 202400:13:31Tap to summarizeDo you remember the first time you truly discovered entrepreneurship? If I ask you to tell me about this moment in time, it's likely that this will evolve into a story. One that has twists, turns, successes, and failures. And ultimately teach something that you learned along the way. That's the power of storytelling and as leaders we must find ways to use story throughout our communication. In this episode I go through a couple of tips that I've used to improve my own storytelling in a very natural way. Whether you're a natural storyteller or not, this episode will help you elevate your skills to have an even greater impact. Links Learn more at https://www.adamliette.com Activate The Warrior Within https://www.adamliette.com/awaken-the-warrior
Transcribe →