Podcast
THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast
Hosted by Paychex, Inc. · EN
Designed for those who crave the inside scoop on everything from people to policy to profits, each THRIVE episode transforms complex business and HR topics into clear, actionable advice. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or an aspiring leader, this podcast is your go-to source for cutting through the noise and gaining a competitive advantage.
51episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
More Taxes on Imports, Job Lock for Health Insurance, ChatGPT Training for SMBs
4d ago00:11:11Tap to summarizeJust when you thought it was safe to expand your budget and return to importing more products and goods from other countries, a change in policy will leave many businesses paying higher taxes to do so. Host Gene Marks says, unfortunately, the cost of this policy change will fall to customers already battling higher prices because of inflation. He offers a few tips for businesses that might help. Employers also are facing employees stuck in job lock – those staying for health insurance coverage despite not liking their job. Gene says there are several ways to approach this, plus he shares news about the latest tech giant sponsoring AI training for small businesses. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:18 – Higher Import Taxes Expected 05:03 – Healthcare Needs Increases Job lock 07:35 – Access AI Training Through ChatGPT 09:50 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Entrepreneur’s Jason Feifer: Practical AI Strategies for Busy Business Owners
6d ago00:33:27Tap to summarizeAI is reshaping how small businesses work, but knowing where to begin is the hard part. Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer joins Gene Marks for a practical conversation about where AI delivers real value. Learn why AI is “normal technology,” the real reason small businesses haven’t adopted it yet, and how to find the simple, high-value wins that deliver real ROI. Plus, why the smartest place to start isn’t the tech at all, it’s fixing what’s already broken in your business. Want more from Jason? Subscribe to his newsletter, One Thing Better, for one weekly way to build a career and company you love: https://bit.ly/3RTMlyx Our free AI & Automation Toolkit will help you find your first AI use case in just five minutes: https://bit.ly/4yaSarA Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 02:00 – What’s really happening with AI in small business 06:40 – AI as “normal technology” & early adoption patterns 08:40 – The microwave oven analogy for AI 12:33 – Practical AI use cases 16:09 – AI breaking what’s already broken 18:00 – An AI ROI story: Window & door company: 19:29 – “Stop doing what people hate” 23:16 – Data privacy concerns 27:50 – Jason’s $10M business idea 31:51 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Boomerang Employees, Retirement Advice, AI Accelerates Freelancer Status
2w ago00:11:19Tap to summarizeMore than one-third of new hires in March were boomerang employees. Host Gene Marks explains why people are returning to their former places of work, and the value employers gain from the experience. Gene also points out the benefit of educating and guiding employees on their retirement options, which a survey found is an expectation from the current workforce. Options include offering planning sessions and hiring financial planning consultants. In AI news, Upwork’s Future Workforce Index shows that AI is accelerating the shift toward highly skilled freelancers. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:18 – Boomerang Employees 04:08 – Seeking Retirement Guidance 07:08 – AI Accelerates Freelancer Value 09:55 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Workplace retirement plans: https://bit.ly/workplace-retirement-plan Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Top States for Business, a Social Security Surprise, Taking Wheel from Copilot
3w ago00:10:56Tap to summarizeA recent survey using 138 metrics – access to a skilled workforce, the cost of doing business, infrastructure, and cost of living, to name a few – found one state rose above all as the best for where to run a business. Host Gene Marks talks about the top five. See if your state is highlighted. Gene also shares a few tips on how to structure paying oneself in an S Corporation to avoid a surprise when it's time to receive social security payments. In AI news, Microsoft listens to users’ concerns over constant monitoring and offers options to turn off some Copilot functions. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:50 – Top States for Businesses 03:19 – S Corp Payroll and Social Security 07:07 – Microsoft Adjusts Copilot’s Course 09:38 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources S Corp Payroll: https://bit.ly/s-corp-payroll Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →AI Expert Dan Chuparkoff: Try It Before You Fear It
3w ago00:32:17Tap to summarizeWhat if the best thing you did with AI this week wasn’t a big strategy overhaul, just one small experiment? Dan Chuparkoff spent three decades building software, from the early PC era through a stint at Google, before going all in on AI. Now he travels the country helping business leaders make sense of the hype. In this episode, Dan joins Gene Marks to explain why trying AI beats fearing it, why it’s about doing more rather than working faster, and how your AI assistant can double as your new coach. Want to start experimenting like Dan suggests? Grab our free AI & Automation Toolkit to find your biggest automation opportunity: https://bit.ly/4yaSarA Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:31 – Dan’s work as a speaker & career path 04:54 – AI, change, and public perception 09:00 – What “using AI” actually means 11:08 – Connecting AI to your data 17:10 – Small businesses building their own AI 21:10 – High-ROI use case: Capturing conversations 24:42 – “Our Data Is a Mess” – Does it matter? 28:18 – AI as a coach 30:36 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Positive Jobs Data, Blue-Collar Millennials, AI Deployment Gets Assist
4w ago00:11:19Tap to summarizeMultiple sources show job growth trending upward, including the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch that showed a fourth consecutive month of improvement. This bodes well for businesses that had been feeling pressured by the labor market, says host Gene Marks. He also discusses the trend of Millennials snapping up skilled-trades businesses, and for many good reasons, including recurring cash flow and currently resistant to AI disruption. In AI news, Microsoft put $2.5 billion into a firm that helps with AI deployment and training on many AI models, some not even their own. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:20 – Paychex Small Business Employment Watch 03:37 – Blue-Collar Business Acquisitions 06:57 – Microsoft Invests in Helping AI Deployment 09:48 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Paychex Small Business Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Spending and Inflation, Procurement Expenses, Impatience with AI Service Bots
Jul 200:10:14Tap to summarizeAmericans seem undeterred by inflation hovering at 3.4%, as the personal consumption expenditures index rose 0.7% in May and is up 4.1% year over year. This could trigger raising interest rates, although host Gene Marks says a rate increase would be manageable. Gene also looks at Walmart Business uncovering the hidden costs of procurement, and what 60% of people dealing with AI-powered customer service bots say they do when faced with that situation. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – Consumer Spending and Inflation 04:15 – Hidden Costs of Procurement 06:07 – Response to AI Customer Service 08:56 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Celebrity Interior Designer Nate Berkus: Hiring, Hard Clients, and Knowing What You’re Bad At
Jun 3000:37:36Tap to summarizeAt 24, Nate Berkus launched an interior design firm with no business plan and a whole lot of nerve. Thirty years later? Offices in three cities, 50 employees, and a spot among the most recognizable names in design. The celebrity designer joins host Gene Marks on Paychex THRIVE to get real about hiring, handling difficult clients, and why admitting what you're bad at is where real business growth starts. Plus, the advice from his father that changed everything. Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:21 – Nate’s path into design 05:27 – Running a 50-person firm across three cities 09:42 – Which projects Nate still gets personally involved in 11:57 – Why his firm still grounds him after fame 16:10 – Dealing with difficult clients and when to say no 19:33 – Handling problems: accountability and ownership 23:05 – Nate’s hiring wake-up call 25:01 – How Nate keeps great employees 28:10 – Starting a business at 24 32:41 – Walking through doors & staying in the room 36:27 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Business Applications Up 3.7%, Cascading Healthcare Costs, AI Resource Credits
Jun 2500:09:41Tap to summarizeEntrepreneurs continue to make a go of it despite current economic uncertainty, with business applications increasing 3.7% in May. Host Gene Marks says with access to new markets and inexpensive technology, there’s never been a better time to own a business. The news isn’t all rosy, as rising healthcare costs point to a potential trickle down to employees in 2027, but Gene shares a few strategies to offset. In AI news, a partnership with Perplexity is creating opportunities for some SBA loan recipients to get credit to afford resources to help with AI training. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:03 – Rise in Business Applications 03:36 – Shifting Healthcare Costs 06:20 – AI Credits Through SBA partnership 08:21 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
Transcribe →Appeals Could Hurt Refunds, Policies Limiting Contractors, AI and ROI
Jun 1800:10:49Tap to summarizeBusinesses that got in on the front end of requesting refunds for illegal tariffs are better off than those applying now. Why? As host Gene Marks explains, the federal government filed an appeal that could make it more difficult. Additionally, certain contractors, including women- and veteran-owned ones, are finding opportunities to land government contracts reduced, according to a report that shows a reduction of $47 billion in investment. In AI news, a survey indicates that despite a savings in time created by using AI at work, employers need to audit the ROI. Listen to the podcast to learn more. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – Tariff Refund Decision Appealed 04:00 – Funding Cuts Hurt Some Contractors 06:33 – Consider Auditing the ROI of Your AI 09:24 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.
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