Episode #237: Donald Cox
Donald Cox (myERTCRefund.com): Unlocking the ERTC for Small Businesses Donald Cox helps business owners claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)—a powerful, often-missed IRS credit created under the CARES Act and expanded by the American Rescue Plan. If you kept W-2 employees on payroll during COVID shutdowns, Donald explains how you may qualify for up to $26,000 per employee, even if you also received PPP. With a CPA-led process, legal research on local shutdowns, and streamlined document requests, Donald’s team turns a daunting “tax closet” into a cash-flow boost that can help stabilize, invest, or even relaunch a business. Key Takeaways: ERTC ≠ loan: It’s a refundable IRS tax credit, not like PPP; no spending restrictions on funds once received. PPP still okay: You can qualify for ERTC even if you had PPP—just no double-counting the same wages. Real-world results: Examples ranged from $57,080 for a small restaurant to ~$1.9M for a multi-location team; typical small-business refunds average ~$150K. Who qualifies: Businesses with 5+ non-owner W-2 employees and $100K+ payroll (Q2 2020–Q3 2021). Even shuttered businesses can qualify for the periods they operated. What you’ll need: Questionnaire + payroll docs (941s Q2 2020–Q4 2021, W-3 for 2019, payroll journals, P&Ls). Many can export from QuickBooks/payroll in about an hour. A “rapid rebate” option can accelerate access to funds (at a higher fee). Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnF1U5TcqU Memorable Quote: “It is not a loan—it’s a tax credit.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Donald Linkedin Envelope Phone-alt
Episode #235: Shawn Shewchuk
Shawn Shewchuk, Change Your Results — Turning Fear Into Fuel Shawn Shewchuk is “THE Productivity Speaker” and a results-driven advisor to high achievers. With 28+ years in the trenches, 43 companies launched, and two bestselling books, he helps leaders trade busywork for outcomes and build businesses that run on systems—not stress. If you’ve ever felt stuck firefighting instead of scaling, Shawn’s mindset-first, results-always approach will hit home. Why he matters: Shawn’s philosophy is simple and surgical: fear lives only in your head, and progress starts the moment you make an irrevocable decision. From breaking audacious goals into hourly actions to designing teams for peak productivity, he shows entrepreneurs how to create their own economy—on purpose. Key Takeaways: Fear is mental, not material. Move from your head to your heart, make one decisive first step, and walk through the “paper-mâché” terror barrier. Results over titles. “Coach” is meaningless without measurable outcomes. Everything—business, career, relationships—goes on the table to remove hidden anchors. Decisions drive destiny. Success is the compounding effect of conscious choices; default mode equals drift. Know where you’re going, then reverse-engineer yearly → monthly → daily → hourly actions. Productivity is precision. It’s any action that moves you toward your goal. One extra hour of high-productivity per person, per day, can transform the bottom line. Lead people, design systems. Put players in roles where they win, cross-train for context, and build a company that functions if you step away for 90 days. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZnpXiY0U0E Memorable Quote: “Fear exists nowhere except in your head—make an irrevocable decision to move forward.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Shawn Linkedin Globe Globe
Episode #234: Colton McKey – Five Freedoms
Colton McKey – Five Freedoms Colton McKey is on a bold mission: to acquire and grow a cash-flowing business while building his entrepreneurial freedom. After a decade in manufacturing operations and two successful e-commerce exits, Colton left corporate America to fully commit to business ownership. Based in Prosper, Texas, and operating under his company Five Freedoms, Colton is charting his own path toward building a legacy. Key Takeaways: The leap of faith: Colton left a stable corporate career to pursue full-time entrepreneurship, giving himself a year-long runway to acquire a business. Focus on profitable stability: His acquisition strategy targets businesses with at least $1M in revenue and a 15–20-year track record, minimizing risk while maximizing potential. Leveraging SBA loans: Colton highlights how Small Business Administration financing can help aspiring owners secure deals without needing massive upfront capital. Systems for success: From creating a professional buyer profile to networking with over 50 brokers, Colton shares the importance of presenting yourself seriously to gain access to quality opportunities. Balancing family and ambition: With a supportive wife and three young kids, Colton’s story is also about managing personal stakes while chasing entrepreneurial dreams. Catch the full story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM4ycx4JkUs Memorable Quote: “I don’t regret what I did… I wanted to own and operate my own business, and I decided to put my whole heart and soul into making it happen.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Colton Globe
Episode #179: Kristin Clark – College Planning Untangled
Kristin Clark — College Planning Untangled Kristin Clark is the CEO and founder of College Planning Untangled, where she helps high school and college students identify career paths they’ll actually love. After 20+ years running marketing departments, Kristin saw a bigger need: students (and plenty of adults) are overwhelmed by picking a major, anxious about the future, and missing a strengths-based roadmap. Her work shifts the conversation from “What’s your major?” to “What career fits your interests, talents, and skills?” Key Takeaways: Start with the career path, not the major—when you pick the path, the right major follows. Traditional counselors focus on getting into college; Kristin fills the gap on why you’re going and what outcome you want. Two-thirds of students find choosing a major the most overwhelming part of planning; about 30% don’t return after freshman year—clear signals the system is broken without better guidance. Kristin layers interests + skills + CliftonStrengths (Gallup) to spot patterns—turning “I don’t know” into concrete options (e.g., a creative, golf-loving builder exploring golf-course design). Alternatives and on-ramps matter: dual-credit classes, associate paths, or a structured gap year can boost readiness and outcomes. Watch the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xze0veFbuGU Memorable Quote: “If you pick a career path, the major falls out of it.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Kristin Globe
Episode #227: Ben Nizri – Congruent Clarity
Ben Nizri, Congruent Clarity — Turning Small Business Plateaus into Scalable Systems Ben Nizri is a Business Breakthrough Strategist and Exit Planning Advisor behind Congruent Clarity. Born in Azerbaijan, raised in Israel (including eight years in the Air Force), and now based in Winnipeg, Canada, Ben brings a systems-first lens—quality assurance, operations, and certified lead auditing—to help small businesses break through growth ceilings. He matters because he shows founders how to shift from “more of the same” growth to true scalability, with pricing, process, and mindset working in sync. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COHYqSaJAug 5 Key Takeaways from this Episode: Growth ≠ Scale: Growth adds resources linearly; scalability breaks the link between resources and results by building repeatable systems. Fix the offer before the ads: Doubling leads without capacity or clean processes just multiplies unhappy customers and margin mistakes. Price for profit: Small increases flow straight to the bottom line; discounting comes directly off it. Compete on value—not price. Delegate to scale: Founders stall when they try to run everything themselves. Effective delegation and structure beat heroics. Mindset + discipline beat talent: Skills can be learned. Discipline, clear “why,” and consistent action outpace natural talent over time. Watch the full interview now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COHYqSaJAug Memorable Quote: “I’m coming in and reading the label on the jar you’re sitting in.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ben Linkedin Globe
Episode #220: Joel Klein – Fizyx Investment Group
Joel Klein, Fizyx Investment Group — Finding Exponential Winners & Leveling Up Mindset Joel Klein is the award-winning portfolio manager behind Fizyx Investment Group, known for spotting market leaders early and compounding results over decades. Mentored by William O’Neil and forged by real-world adversity, Joel blends deep market research with battle-tested mindset practices. If you care about building wealth and resilience, this episode is your playbook. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBPnk1YKtg Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Study the roots, not just the fruit. Don’t chase “the next Tesla”; understand why markets move, build rules from the data, and act with discipline. Exponential focus. Fizyx hunts for stocks compounding ~40%+ over sustained periods—aiming to build portfolios exclusively from true leaders (think Apple, Google, Tesla). Asymmetric risk. Define outcomes before you act: Joel targets ~3:1 reward-to-risk (e.g., +20% upside vs. −7% stop) so he doesn’t need a 50% win rate to win big. Timing matters. In tough, choppy markets, he prefers stalking and patience; for most investors, dollar-cost averaging into indexes remains a smart long-game. Mindset is a multiplier. Leveling up your business (or investing) demands leveling up your mindset—embrace discomfort, learn from setbacks, and build a diverse team aligned to one clear goal. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBPnk1YKtg Memorable Quote: “Failure is an illusion—you only fail if you don’t get back up.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Joel Linkedin Globe Envelope
Episode #210: Asad Ahmad, FitBiz CPA — From Big Four to “All-In” Partner for Small Businesses
Asad Ahmad, FitBiz CPA — From Big Four to “All-In” Partner for Small Businesses Asad Ahmad is a CPA and former Deloitte/PwC accountant who left the corporate ladder in 2020 to launch FitBiz CPA—a relationship-driven firm helping owners stay compliant, keep more profit, and scale with confidence. He matters because he translates complex tax and accounting programs (ERC, R&D credits, PPP/EIDL fallout) into real cash relief and month-to-month clarity for entrepreneurs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_vhR5J-oI Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Compliance = survival. “If you don’t take care of the compliance side…you don’t have a business.” Sales and taxes are the two pillars you can’t ignore. Origin story with purpose. “FitBiz” started serving gyms during lockdowns (PPP/EIDL help), then expanded to Florida’s hot real-estate market—growing from a solo practice to a five-person team. ERC made simple. If you had W-2 employees, you may recover up to ~70–75% of eligible payroll per quarter (from March 2020–2021) by filing amended 941-X returns; typical IRS timelines range from ~8–16 weeks, sometimes longer. Virtual CFO value. Bundled service starts around $800/month and includes tax planning & prep (business + personal), monthly financials by the 15th, QuickBooks support, payroll/941/940, sales tax, and IRS resolution—one accountable point of contact. Hire, systemize, and lead. Asad scaled via Upwork and a social media intern, runs a quarterly five-star performance model, and lets people play to their strengths—while keeping standards high. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_vhR5J-oI Memorable Quote: “You don’t pay your taxes, you don’t have a business.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Asad Linkedin Globe Phone-alt Youtube
Episode #208: Tim Kerin, Casa Dare To Dream — From DC Cleaning Boss to Costa Rica Luxury Villa Builder
Tim Kerin, Casa Dare To Dream — From DC Cleaning Boss to Costa Rica Luxury Villa Builder Tim Kerin is a multi-business entrepreneur who built and ran large commercial cleaning and construction companies before launching a high-touch luxury villa brand in Costa Rica. He’s also the author of 10 Lessons Learned… How to Build a Successful Business, and his story is packed with real-world tactics on cash flow, networking, and scaling the smart way. If you want a playbook for moving from “in the trenches” to owner/operator—and knowing when to pivot—this episode delivers. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Niche and proximity win. Tim and his wife started in residential cleaning by hosting a rooftop mixer at a high-income DC building, then stacked clients in the same tower to cut travel time and boost margins. Work in the business before you work on it. Early on, they cleaned themselves—then hired, documented, and backed away as they grew into commercial accounts. Learn via franchise, then graduate. He used a commercial cleaning franchise to grasp operations, later negotiated to take over vulnerable accounts and phase out royalties as his team out-performed. Scale adjacently. After reaching 4M+ sq ft/night and 135 employees, Tim added commercial construction for the same customers—“if we’re in the building mopping, we can be in the building painting.” Costa Rica play: concierge, pre-sell, debt-free. They bought/finished a villa, ran it like a full-service experience (manager, chef, driver, tours), exited profitably, and are building a larger, wedding-ready property—pre-booked and funded in cash to keep cash flow strong. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7klVS_aQqR0 Memorable Quote: “Cash flow is king.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Tim Kerin Linkedin Globe Envelope
Episode #207: Camila Santo – Building Global B2B Connections with Rizhoma
Camila Santo: Building Global B2B Connections with Rizhoma Camila Santo, founder of Rizhoma, is redefining how businesses build meaningful B2B partnerships around the world. An immigrant from Brazil with a background in design, production engineering, and international project management, Camila has turned her passion for innovation and human-centered systems into a thriving consulting and tech business. From helping small businesses navigate digital transformation to filing a patent aimed at revolutionizing B2B trade, her story is a masterclass in resilience and visionary entrepreneurship. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: The power of adaptability: Camila transitioned from the entertainment industry in Brazil to building an international business network in the U.S. Innovation meets inclusivity: Her pending patent focuses on creating a platform that simplifies and democratizes B2B trade without the high costs or exclusivity of current systems. Beyond marketing: Rizhoma helps clients with cooperative networking, workforce optimization, and digital transformation to improve both internal systems and customer engagement. Small businesses matter: While she works with companies of all sizes, Camila thrives in helping small and medium-sized businesses scale and optimize their operations. Success is about persistence: Her journey highlights the importance of patience, courage, and redefining failure as part of the growth process. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oWQk1iINCM Memorable Quote: “If you’re going to fail, fail big. I’d rather fail trying to change the world than never try at all.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Camila Linkedin Globe
Episode #180: Weston Seid – Building Opportunities with Oppti
Weston Seid: Building Opportunities with Oppti Weston Seid, founder and CEO of Oppti, is on a mission to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world work experience. A USC Marshall graduate and the youngest planning commissioner in his city’s history, Weston brings a unique mix of strategic thinking and entrepreneurial drive to solving a critical problem: helping students find internships that align with their passions while giving businesses an easy way to nurture future talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9zz-gTPaRU Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: From Commissioner to Entrepreneur – Weston transitioned from being the youngest planning commissioner to building a platform that connects students and employers nationwide. Solving the Internship Gap – Oppti addresses the lack of internship opportunities, especially for high school students, by streamlining how businesses create and manage internship programs. Bootstrapping for Success – Rather than rushing into venture capital, Weston and his team bootstrapped Oppti to stay true to their mission and build a platform that truly works for students and businesses alike. Virtual Internships are the Future – The shift toward remote work opened new possibilities for businesses and students, making internships more accessible regardless of location. End-to-End Solution for Businesses – From recruiting and screening to training and performance tracking, Oppti handles the heavy lifting so businesses can focus on integrating interns into meaningful projects. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9zz-gTPaRU Memorable Quote: “It’s not just about giving students opportunities—it’s about helping them make informed decisions that shape their future careers.” – Weston Seid Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Weston Linkedin