Business RadioX ®

  • Home
  • Business RadioX ® Communities
    • Southeast
      • Alabama
        • Birmingham
      • Florida
        • Orlando
        • Pensacola
        • South Florida
        • Tampa
        • Tallahassee
      • Georgia
        • Atlanta
        • Cherokee
        • Forsyth
        • Greater Perimeter
        • Gwinnett
        • North Fulton
        • North Georgia
        • Northeast Georgia
        • Rome
        • Savannah
      • Louisiana
        • New Orleans
      • North Carolina
        • Charlotte
        • Raleigh
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Nashville
      • Virginia
        • Richmond
    • South Central
      • Arkansas
        • Northwest Arkansas
    • Midwest
      • Illinois
        • Chicago
      • Michigan
        • Detroit
      • Minnesota
        • Minneapolis St. Paul
      • Missouri
        • St. Louis
      • Ohio
        • Cleveland
        • Columbus
        • Dayton
    • Southwest
      • Arizona
        • Phoenix
        • Tucson
        • Valley
      • Texas
        • Austin
        • Dallas
        • Houston
    • West
      • California
        • Bay Area
        • LA
        • Pasadena
      • Colorado
        • Denver
      • Hawaii
        • Oahu
  • FAQs
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Audience
    • Why It Works
    • What People Are Saying
    • BRX in the News
  • Resources
    • BRX Pro Tips
    • B2B Marketing: The 4Rs
    • High Velocity Selling Habits
    • Why Most B2B Media Strategies Fail
    • 9 Reasons To Sponsor A Business RadioX ® Show
  • Partner With Us
  • Veteran Business RadioX ®

BRX Pro Tip: Activate the Network Effect

October 17, 2023 by angishields

BRXmic99
BRX Pro Tips
BRX Pro Tip: Activate the Network Effect
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

BRX-Banner

BRX Pro Tip: Activate the Network Effect

Stone Payton: [00:00:00] And we are back with BRX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, we’ve tried to break this into the Business RadioX methodology, but even if you’re outside of our system, I would certainly search for ways to activate the network effect. Yeah?

Lee Kantor: [00:00:20] Absolutely. Anything you could be doing to get your clients, your friends, anybody to elegantly tell other people about you and what you’re doing is fantastic. So, just really spend some time and think about creative ways that you can add incentives that encourage sharing and spreading the word. What are some things you can do to be memorable to be worth sharing? Like what stories can you be telling? What can you be doing to make it easier to help other people tell their friends and colleagues about the value you provide?

Lee Kantor: [00:00:54] Now, this is something that you can’t just hope works. This is something you have to put time into and really creatively brainstorm ways that you can have other people tell your story on your behalf. And number one, in order to do this, you better be doing something memorable. You better be doing something amazing that’s a story worth telling.

Cesar Garcia Gets Real About Representing Your True Self

October 16, 2023 by angishields

Caesar-Garcia
Northwest Arkansas
Cesar Garcia Gets Real About Representing Your True Self
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

Caesar-GarciaGet real about being your authentic self with Cesar Garcia, independent insurance agent, in this raw conversation on Northwest Arkansas Business Radio!

Host Adam Robison delves into why people hide their true struggles and project success online. Cesar emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and a strong support system.

Learn how a small trusted circle provides the space to process challenges instead of seeking validation through social media. Cesar argues self-acceptance is key to showing up genuinely.

Tune in now for straight talk on embracing honesty and imperfection in business and life!

Connect with Cesar on Facebook.

Get Out and Explore: Making the Most of Fayetteville’s Trails System

October 16, 2023 by angishields

Dave-Bowman
Northwest Arkansas
Get Out and Explore: Making the Most of Fayetteville's Trails System
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

This episode of Business RadioX® features a conversation between host April Pelkey and guest Dave-BowmanDave Bowman about the extensive trail system in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They discuss the benefits of utilizing the trails for recreation, exercise, stress relief, and commuting.

Dave highlights the wildlife and nature that can be experienced on the trails, like deer, foxes, snakes, and butterflies. He stresses the importance of safety, including being alert to your surroundings, yielding to others, and wearing reflective gear and helmets.

Dave explains the new trail map that indicates difficulty levels and folded size. Overall, he encourages listeners to get outside and enjoy the trails while being respectful of others. This engaging podcast provides an overview of what these trails offer residents and visitors of Northwest Arkansas.

Susana Silva on Building Community and Uplifting Small Business

October 16, 2023 by angishields

Susana-Silva
Northwest Arkansas
Susana Silva on Building Community and Uplifting Small Business
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

Susana Silva joins host Adam Robison to share her role at the Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Learn how she builds community through business networking events and supports NWA entrepreneurs. Susana opens up about childhood struggles with identity and bullying.

After surviving an abusive relationship, she found restoration through therapy and family. Now a single mom, her daughter motivates Susana daily to make positive choices. Tune in for an inspirational conversation about overcoming challenges and choosing joy. 

Susana-SilvaSusana Silva is an Account Executive and member of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce‘s member services team.

She helps connect local businesses through networking events, membership drives, and community partnerships.

Susana is passionate about supporting the NWA business community and empowering entrepreneurship. 

 

 

BRX Pro Tip: Success is a Moving Target

October 16, 2023 by angishields

BRXmic99
BRX Pro Tips
BRX Pro Tip: Success is a Moving Target
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

BRX-Banner

BRX Pro Tip: Success is a Moving Target

Stone Payton: [00:00:00] Welcome back to BRX Pro Tips. Stone Payton and Lee Kantor here with you. Lee, I know we try to stay focused on being successful. And, of course, we’ve learned helping other people become successful is perhaps the only really solid, predictable, consistent way to ensure our own success. But I mean, let’s be honest about it, success often is or maybe always is a moving target.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:27] Yeah. If you’re an entrepreneur, that’s especially true. Being an entrepreneur is like running a race with the finish line that keeps moving. And when you’re in a race like that and you’re, you know, just kind of grinding every single day, you can’t focus on one end goal because that goal is going to move and change over time as you get better, as your industry expertise grows. All of these things are changing. It’s a chaotic environment.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:56] So, instead of focusing on some goal number or anything like that, focus on continuous improvement. Focus on getting better, and being better, and serving people better every single day.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:09] And that’s why I’m a big believer in systems being more effective than goals. Because the goal really is moving at all times. You’re changing. Everything is changing. So, it’s hard to say that that one goal is the thing you should even be aiming at. But if you create a system that works predictably, it’s going to allow you smaller wins, then bigger wins over time, and everything’s going to get better.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:38] That’s why I’m not a big fan of goals. Goals or static and life is not. So, you got to create the systems that are going to work predictably and that you can kind of use that compounding effect to your advantage and turn little wins into big wins over time by getting the system right. And then, you’re going to get to where you want to go. And the journey really is the goal at the end of the day.

Lee Meyer with The Highlight Reel

October 13, 2023 by angishields

Highlight-Reel-Feature
Cherokee Business Radio
Lee Meyer with The Highlight Reel
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

Highlight-Reel-banner

Sponsored by Woodstock Neighbors Magazine

Woodstock-Neighbors-logo

Lee-Meyer-HSLee Meyer, the Creative Strategist and co-owner of The Highlight Reel, brings a unique blend of creativity, business savvy, and a passion for people to her work. Born and raised in the Midwest, Lee’s love for storytelling and design has been with her since childhood.

As a devoted mother to two teen girls, Lee spent most of her adult life as a stay-at-home mom. However, her curiosity about business and a thirst for knowledge never waned. She immersed herself in learning about entrepreneurship and marketing, fueling her entrepreneurial spirit.

Lee’s creative journey began early, fueled by her background in creative writing and design. Her love for people and their unique stories drove her to connect with individuals and uncover their passions. This passion, combined with her expertise in video production, led her to co-found The Highlight Reel.

With Lee at the helm as Creative Strategist, The Highlight Reel empowers individuals and businesses to share their stories through video. Lee’s keen eye for detail and her ability to capture the essence of her clients’ visions make her an invaluable part of the team.

If you’re seeking a Creative Strategist who brings a Midwest charm and a passion for storytelling to your project, look no further than Lee Meyer. With her dedication, creativity, and a genuine interest in what makes people unique, Lee will help bring your story to life on screen.

Follow The Highlight Reel on Facebook and Instagram.

This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Woodstock, Georgia. It’s time for Cherokee Business Radio. Now, here’s your host.

Stone Payton: [00:00:24] Welcome to another exciting and informative edition of Cherokee Business Radio. Stone Payton here with you this morning, and today’s episode is brought to you in part by Woodstock Neighbors Magazine, bringing neighbors and business together. For more information, go to Facebook and Instagram at Woodstock Neighbors wbvm. And if you have a heart for community and you run a small business, please consider joining our Main Street Warriors movement. It is just so incredibly rewarding to get the small business community here in Cherokee County rallied around other small businesses, helping them and supporting local causes. Please go check us out at Main Street warriors.org. All right, it is time for our headliner. Please join me in welcoming back to the Business RadioX microphone with the highlight reel. Miss Lee Meyer, how are you?

Lee Meyer: [00:01:27] Good morning. I’m doing great. Thank you so much for having me and letting me have this conversation with you today.

Stone Payton: [00:01:33] It is absolutely my pleasure. I’ve really been looking forward to getting you back in the in the studio. We get to see each other quite a bit because you are one of those people talk about a main Street warrior, and this young lady is everywhere trying to help everyone she can at every turn. I can’t wait for you to hear more about her story. But we see each other at young professionals of Woodstock. We see each other at Woodstock Business Club, and I see her in the local stores supporting our local community. I see her at all kinds of events, and you got this fellow that tags along with you now and again too. What’s his name again? Matt.

Lee Meyer: [00:02:12] Yeah, we can occasionally be seen together. Yeah, we are very corny and we like to say we’re business and partners in life. Uh, but yes, we we definitely are seen around town a lot, and we love to support our community. Like, you talk about being in the community and all of those things we don’t. And I really mean this. We don’t ever look at it like, oh, we’re going out and we’re doing all of these things. It’s always a mindset of, oh my gosh, we live in this amazing community and we get to be a part all of these amazing things. We get to walk down Main Street and see our true actual friends owning businesses and not only seeing them own those businesses, but also knowing the backstory of what they went through to get there, or roadblocks that they’ve overcome or support that they’ve gotten from people. And and we receive that same support and love back in many, many ways and support. So when you talk about being out and doing all of those things, it really is a full circle thing that we’re just honestly feel really blessed to be a part of.

Stone Payton: [00:03:16] Well, speaking of backstory, I know to the outside world you guys look like an overnight success at the highlight reel. I mean, you’re just knocking it out of the park and doing such great work, but I’ve been in business long enough to know it probably wasn’t quite that easy or quite that that fast. What is your backstory? How did you find yourself doing this kind of work for for these kind of folks?

Lee Meyer: [00:03:38] Well, it definitely, it’s one of those things that you look back on and you look at the story and you kind of chuckle because you think, oh my gosh, I can’t believe that I landed here. Never, ever thought in my life that I wanted to own a videography business or work in that kind of realm. And fate has kind of twisted things that way. So Matt and I met about two and a half years ago through other business functions. He was actually helping run an IT company. I was running a personal assistant business, and I spent a lot of time around Matt, because I was actually doing some work in the office where he was running the IT company and kind of annoying him to be honest. We like we like to tell that story that like we were really good friends, but it was it was almost like that annoying fun, like picking on each other, messing with each other, you know, and I just he would start sharing some of his passions with me because we did develop a friendship, and I would see his photography and he would do different videography projects for himself, just personally, just for fun things of his family or music events that he was attending. Just things that really were passionate to him. And I saw the work and I said to him, wow, this is really good, why aren’t you monetizing it? You could really do something really great for yourself. And he was like, no, absolutely not. No interest. Don’t want to monetize my passion. I’m not doing it. I’m never doing it. I mean, was adamant, almost like for months this conversation went back and.

Lee Meyer: [00:05:22] For because I really wanted him to do it and I’m annoying like that. So I just kept pressuring him. And finally he got a little annoyed with me and he said, I don’t want to monetize my passions. It’s not going to happen. And I said, okay, fine. So left it alone for a couple of months. And then in January, you talk about in Woodstock and being involved in the city I was attending. I don’t remember the official title of it, but it was basically the presentation for the city for the year. Our lovely mayor, Michael Caldwell, was speaking, and a lot of other folks were speaking from the city just about the path, the budget, what we can expect, what the growth, you know, all these wonderful things that I really highly suggest. If people want to be involved and informed in their community. Joining the Woodstock Group is a really great way to do that, because I learned so much in that meeting. In that meeting, I learned that the city had a budget set aside specifically for other companies to provide them marketing materials, video, photo. They don’t have their own in-house team. They don’t want to. They like to work with other creatives and people from all over, is my understanding. And and I learned that that budget was really substantial. And I just thought, well, I like getting to know people and I like helping people. And Matt does really good photo and video, and I think that we could combine the passion for people with the quality of work and make something really amazing. And it was just, I don’t know if you’ve ever had those moments in life where you think about something, an idea comes to you and you almost get a shudder or shiver.

Lee Meyer: [00:07:04] Yeah, through your entire body and it goes almost bone deep and you just think, oh my gosh, this is something like, I cannot ignore this feeling or this thought or this passion. I it has to come out. So I hightailed it out of that meeting. I mean, I didn’t even stick around and network or talk to anybody, which is very unusual. I called him and I literally we laugh about it because I said to him, I’m not telling you, you have to start a business with me, but you have to start a business with me. Just you have to. There’s no I just feel it. We have something we could make, something really unique, really special, and we could get to help and support people through video and. And just. I just see it, like, come on this vision with me, hear me out. And he did. And he was actually coming around to the idea and becoming all about it. And then what’s funny is I after I got him on board, I kind of froze because I thought, I’m not talented enough to do this. I don’t know anything about video. I don’t even take good cell phone pictures on my iPhone. I take them crooked. Like, what am I doing? Thinking I could run a business like this or have any insight or value. And that’s kind of where it all. It started and then it started also with a ton of doubt.

Stone Payton: [00:08:28] I am so glad that I asked this this doubt thing, and I’ve heard people use the term imposter syndrome when they have begun to achieve a little bit of success and they feel like, you know, I’m going to get found out or something. So it sounds like you really have lived through through that. And I think maybe a lot of entrepreneurs do. Right? They have doubts. And and the key is we, you know, we suit up and show up anyway, right?

Lee Meyer: [00:08:54] Absolutely. I mean, I don’t I haven’t now I’m a couple years into business. I’m still what I consider like a newborn baby in business. But I’ve talked to probably at least 100 people about this. No joke that we have all felt insecurities and we don’t just feel them at the beginning. We don’t just feel them when we’re getting it started, or we’re trying to learn new skills to be able to make this business successful and grow, but they keep rearing their ugly head. Yeah, most of the time for your entirety in that.

Stone Payton: [00:09:31] So how do you get through that? Like how do you push through that?

Lee Meyer: [00:09:35] It’s really hard. It’s not always super successful. Quickly. There have been times where I’ve gone down rabbit holes. Luckily, I am a really big believer in keeping yourself mentally strong, doing things proactive to help aid in that. You know, really taking care of yourself. Reaching out. I’ve learned that community really is more than just having fun people to be around and and people to go eat dinner with and all of these things. I think the reason, one of the reasons why our small business community is so tight is because we really are there for each other, and everybody I know finds a way to somehow finally let that out. Hey, I’ve been struggling. Hey, I’m going through this and immediately you can sense I’m not alone. I know people have gone through this. Oh, hey, here’s some advice. Or hey, here’s somebody that has some insight to get through this part or this obstacle, whatever it is. Or sometimes nothing is wrong at all. Sometimes you’re doing amazing and everything is great. You just have those mind, those mind trips. So oh, that’s.

Stone Payton: [00:10:42] Good to hear that from someone else, right? Let someone else tell you, hey, you’re doing a great job and or to help to to pick you up. I am actively learning a lesson that you that you touched on. For 30 plus years I’ve been in business. I’m terminally unemployable. You know, I have to run. I have to run my own thing, but I don’t. Posturing may be a little bit severe, but I’ve never in that part of my life. I’ve never been vulnerable, openly vulnerable and asked for help and let people know when I really needed help or I was hurting. And I’m actively learning that lesson now as well. You heard me do the live read for the Main Street Warriors program. You’re intimately familiar with the Main Street Warriors Community Partner program. We have here in Cherokee, and I am learning that just tell people you need to help, and particularly in this community, I don’t. Maybe it’s not this way in a lot of communities, but but in Cherokee County, if you tell this group the in Woodstock, anybody here in town? Look, I’m trying to do this. I need some help. I mean, these people will rally around you to help. They they.

Lee Meyer: [00:11:50] Will. It’s shocking, I mean, it, I still I talk about it all the time. I’m very corny. And I also call Woodstock and Cherokee County like my slice of Mayberry, because growing up, you know, I grew up in small town Indiana. There wasn’t a lot of opportunities. There certainly wasn’t the community like we have here or, you know, anything close to that. And I just have never I’m in my mid 30s now. I have never had the kind of support or solidarity that I see, and not just for myself, but I see, like you said, for everybody and it. Yeah, I like to think there’s probably a lot of communities that are really wonderful and do amazing things. I just think Cherokee County is just is this special bubble. And you talk about vulnerability and learning that. I think what I’m realizing, especially in vulnerability, can relate in personal and business and marketing, even people really relate to and connect with people that they can empathize with their problems or their pain or, you know, it’s just a really great connector. So when you can be authentically vulnerable, you I have found that that is breeding some of the most, deepest, intimate, best connections that I’ve ever found business, personal, whatever it is. But it’s very hard. It’s very hard to do well.

Stone Payton: [00:13:13] It’s an ongoing process. So, so, so I’m learning. So now that you and Matt and your team have been at this a while, what are you finding the most? Rewarding about the work. What’s the most fun about it for you?

Lee Meyer: [00:13:28] I think we both have similar answers and a little bit different. Obviously we’re very, very different people, so we enjoy a lot of different aspects of our business and some combined. But I would say one of the biggest things for us really, is that we get to work really closely with small business owners. It’s just always been a big passion of ours. We just love the thought and the determination and the grit behind it and learning the stories, the cool. There’s always a story. That’s the really cool thing about business. It’s not just business, it’s dreams. It’s stories. It’s, you know, sometimes family lines of things. It’s wanting to do good. It’s wanting to put something out for things, you know, generations to come. It’s all of these really deep, meaningful things that go beyond, oh, I have a business and I want to sell you something. Help me know whatever that means. It’s it’s just a really deep thing for us. So definitely our small business community. And then something that we didn’t set out to pursue, but we got called to do is a lot of nonprofit work and not just donating, which we do, but also partnering with these folks and providing valuable content and being able to use video for good, being able to tell people’s stories and raise awareness or raise significant amounts of money to help them, you know, support this cause and be able to support others. I just last year was the first time we got to be heavily involved.

Lee Meyer: [00:15:00] Specifically, there’s a local salon, 313 salon and Spa. Every year they host an Angels of Life celebration, and that’s because their owner is a two time organ donor recipient. And so and they’re just in Woodstock, right down the road. And to give back, he really wanted to start a foundation that would donate money to another organization that we work with called Georgia Transplant Foundation. So this year is year number 13, which is their lucky number. And they’re hoping to hit $1 million raised to send to Georgia Transplant Foundation this year. So it’s a really big deal on the front end. We get to interview folks and hear their stories of what they’ve gone through as humans with organ donation or organ transplantation. You sit and listen to these folks stories for 30s and it moves you. It just sometimes we don’t realize how many things we take for granted. And that’s one thing also that we love about getting to do this. We get to connect with people, and it really keeps us kind of like at a ground level with folks hearing some of their trials and hardships. And also, it’s not just a sad thing. This video is used for an enlightening purpose to get a bunch of folks in a room, to raise a bunch of money so that so many people can be supported and get life saving care treatment, housing, a billion other things.

Stone Payton: [00:16:31] So I am so looking forward to seeing that video and it’s a very timely conversation. I don’t know if I’ve shared this with you or not. Some of my listeners know this, but my saint wife, Holly donated a kidney about three weeks ago.

Lee Meyer: [00:16:47] I did not know that.

Stone Payton: [00:16:48] Yeah, her best friend growing up needs a kidney now. She’s not a match for her, but because and I mean, they took it out of Holly early on a Tuesday morning. And by Tuesday evening it was in someone else. So to me, it was like a double win because she has helped that person obviously very immediately. And then Mary gets higher up on the list now. Right. Like like she and but she’s still she’s still recovering now. She’s actually grouting some tile at my sister in law’s house this morning. So I think she’s getting kind of sassy. So she’s about recovered. But but you know, we’re beginning to learn more and more about that, about that whole that whole world.

Lee Meyer: [00:17:27] Yeah, it’s a big world. And it’s really mind blowing. And it’s just, you see so many people be so selfless and like your wife. I mean, it’s a very significant thing to go through.

Speaker4: [00:17:40] But I believe.

Lee Meyer: [00:17:41] It for people and it’s needed. And to be able to get to work with people, this is my job that I get to do things like that to talk to people. You hear people say like, oh, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. And all the the funny, corny little sayings. But I used to think that that was complete bull crap. Like, there’s no way people actually enjoy their job that much, that it doesn’t feel like work. I mean, there’s no way. I think I was a teenager, and my only work experience at that point had been like fast food in the library. So I was like, these jobs are not fun. I don’t see how a job could ever be fun. No, it’s so funny. Like, you want these things and you don’t know how you’re going to get it, but then you. One day you look up and you’re like, dang, I have these fulfilling, amazing things that I get to do, and it really is just a lot of gratitude.

Stone Payton: [00:18:38] So, so getting the work. Let’s go there for for a moment. How does the whole sales and marketing thing work for a company like yours? Like, do you find that you’re out there having to eat maybe some of your own cooking, you know, and shake the trees a little bit, maybe use some of your talents to get the word out about what you guys do. Like how how do you get the work so far?

Lee Meyer: [00:19:01] I would say a large majority of our clients are in the local community, and the rest are all by referral. We’ve been very. Now, that’s not to say we don’t. We need my how do I word this? My strong suit is people. It is actually being face to face, having a relationship, being about the community, networking. Luckily, you know I’ve made a lot of connections and we’ve had a lot of people, a lot of small business owners support us and want and choose to work with us, which has been amazing. And then they’ve referred people or the word has spread. And we know some some business owners in the community that are a part of a much larger organizations in Atlanta. So it’s gotten us to some corporate work and other things through referral, which is amazing. What we need to be doing is more back end SEO, cold reach out. You know, all the stuff that everybody really loves to do and is really good at and just can’t wait to get started. So I will say if I have to, if I want to call out a weakness, we just don’t like to be salesy and I don’t want to do those things. But that’s not that’s not how business goes. So it’s it’s coming. I know I got to branch out, but so far, yes, it’s it’s all been local and, and just from the relationships that we’ve been fostering for the last few years. So, so.

Stone Payton: [00:20:23] Doing good work turns out is a marvelous sales tool, huh? Yeah.

Speaker4: [00:20:28] Yeah.

Lee Meyer: [00:20:29] That’s that’s the other thing. You have to actually exceed expectations and do what you need to do, because otherwise it won’t go so well for you.

Speaker4: [00:20:38] So let’s dive.

Stone Payton: [00:20:39] Into the processes the path, the strategy map, whatever. When you do take on some work, for example, you know, you and I are talking about you guys helping us capture some content, almost like documentary style for the Business RadioX business. We’ve been in business for 18 plus years. We continue to expand. We’re out trying to recruit other people to run studios like this all around the country. And I do think some kind of documentary style backstory, maybe mixed with some current studio partners talking about their experience would be great. So let’s say that we were to begin that work, walk us through what that looks like, because we don’t just show up and turn the camera on, right? There’s a lot of stuff that happens going into that. Yes.

Lee Meyer: [00:21:27] Oh, absolutely. We have realized the the further on we go with the highlight reel that the we call this pre-production. The pre-production is so important because we don’t operate in a, in a way where you, you look at our packages and you say I want option A let’s do it. We don’t even have packages. Everything we do is very custom built for the client that is interested in having a conversation or working with us. And really a ton of conversation goes in. And when I say a ton, I don’t mean long and drawn out. I mean whatever the necessary amount is to really figure out what do you need? What purpose is this going to serve? Is is there a pain point that we’re trying to address? Is it a message we’re trying to get out? And really it’s a very organic, almost like friends sitting around and having a conversation. And it’s always focused solely on what are the needs, what do we need to what do we need to unwrap here? And as things start unwrapping, then we make a plan. You know, we figure out, well, first of all, how much content do you even need? Sometimes we don’t even know. The conversation can really dictate dictate that the budget obviously can dictate that. But we really just it’s it’s just a lot of really organic uncovering. And then from there we make a game plan.

Stone Payton: [00:22:53] So when when we pull the trigger on this, we, being me and Lee, were the ones that own the network. I’m envisioning we go to Reformation and have a beer. That’s a great strategy environment. To me it is. But you’ll be you’ll be asking me and Lee all kinds of questions, probably things that we haven’t thought about and and that wouldn’t even occur to us to consider and really get, get, get down into what are your desired outcomes? Who are you trying to all that all those strategic kind of things. Right.

Lee Meyer: [00:23:24] Oh, absolutely. As we as. As our conversation unfolds, I get very inquisitive and we. So a funny thing. In my corporate job, before I was a small business owner, I was in data analytics. So I have a very analytical brain. I want to know everything. I want to know all the details. How does it connect what it somehow through these conversations, we just get to a really great place. Yes, I start leading the questions and we just get to this, this really amazing place where we’ve decided, okay, here’s the story. The the big thing is hearing the story of how did you guys start, what has it been like? Tell me about these years. Tell me about the highs, the lows. Like I really want to know. And that helps us shape so much as well.

Stone Payton: [00:24:15] And then there’s so there’s that whole pre-production and then there’s it seems to me like there’s there must be so many moving parts in the logistics of, of capturing those, those stories. I mean, to me, what we do here is very simple. You know, we just sit down, we have a conversation. I’ll send this off to Angie. And, you know, in a couple of days we’ll be able to share this with, with, with the community. But there’s a lot of moving parts figuring out where and when and how, and there’s a lot to the production phases and getting and getting the, the right quality of video and audio. Right. It’s.

Lee Meyer: [00:24:52] Oh, yeah, I mean, it’s definitely a very in-depth process. That’s why sometimes, folks, you know, video is an investment. You will anybody that has done the, you know, video marketing work with anybody knows that sometimes it is an investment that we come up with. But because there is so much into it. So you talk about the pre-production, that’s usually several hours of phone calls or conversations or like you said, meeting. And we are always down to meet at Reformation for a beer. We do a lot of great brainstorming and networking at Reformation. It’s the spot for sure, but I will send.

Stone Payton: [00:25:33] Spencer a bill. I think this qualifies as a product placement, right?

Speaker4: [00:25:37] We’re actually filming for.

Lee Meyer: [00:25:38] Reformation this Saturday. We’re excited.

Speaker4: [00:25:40] We’ll be there for cadence.

Lee Meyer: [00:25:41] For the cadence fair. Yes. So if anybody hears this before, then come say hi to us. But yeah, you’ve talked, you talk about your pre-production, you talk about keeping up with your equipment, you know, video equipment, audio equipment, lighting, all of those things. Yeah, it’s definitely an investment that we make as a company. We know that it doesn’t matter how good your video is, if your audio sounds like crap, nobody wants to watch it. Nobody. Interesting. Yeah. People do not like.

Speaker4: [00:26:09] You can have beautiful.

Stone Payton: [00:26:10] Video, but if the audio is not crisp or whatever it needs to be.

Lee Meyer: [00:26:13] People turn it.

Speaker4: [00:26:14] Off. Wow.

Lee Meyer: [00:26:15] Yeah. And in reverse you can actually have a lesser quality video, but if your audio is great and your messaging and content is great, you can also achieve that. But I’m getting in the weeds here.

Speaker4: [00:26:28] But well, no, it’s.

Stone Payton: [00:26:29] Encouraging for me because maybe we’ll capture a little video here. But I think if I’m going to do anything real video, you know, I got to get two pros in here.

Lee Meyer: [00:26:37] And I’m glad you brought that up because we talk about the investment and, you know, the affordability of of doing this and what is all entailed in that. We also understand that sometimes we got to do what we can and start where we can. So we really love to help people like you just talked about. Oh, you know, I’ve got great audio. Yeah. You could absolutely set up a tripod and set up a recording with your iPhone with the back camera, because it’s higher quality and just generate subtitles and just throw reels up. You talked about an interesting clip in studio with somebody and you think that people should hear it, chunk out that segment, have the video, just use your subtitles and boom, you’ve got amazing content. You could be creating a ton of content. And honestly, while we’re on the subject, I’m thinking that would be even something that could get further visibility for the folks.

Speaker4: [00:27:33] That you’re.

Lee Meyer: [00:27:33] Partnering with or that are coming on the show. So it’s things like this where even if we’re not going to do work together, I don’t care because I’m I’m here with you as a human, and I want to help you in any way I can. And I think that that’s how you have to be if you want to have true success. You you want to want to give. You have to want to give. And.

Speaker4: [00:27:59] Well, it’s just.

Stone Payton: [00:27:59] It’s how you’re wired. It’s how Matt is wired. It’s how a lot of people in this community are wired. And candidly, it all of that that you just said makes me want to work with you that much more, right? I don’t know, it’s it’s funny. So where where do you guys think you want to take this thing? Are you trying to grow and scale and have highlight reels all over the country and other people doing the work, or I don’t know, what’s what’s the world domination plan or is it just. Hang out here and have this really cool, I don’t know, almost a lifestyle business.

Speaker4: [00:28:32] Or do you know.

Lee Meyer: [00:28:33] I think I have learned one thing and that’s that your goals and dreams evolve a lot right now. I know that for both of us, something that we’re really passionate about is we want to create a documentary that could be on Netflix. We definitely would like to have our work on a large platform, and we’re very passionate about documentary work. We’re passionate about stories and helping tell those stories. So we we’re currently not saying what our subject is yet, but we have a subject identified. It’s going to be about a two and a half year process of documenting, just because there are things that will be happening scheduled that we have no control over, that are related to this, this story. But so super excited about that. That’s a big undertaking for us, and it’s pushing us, you know, in so many ways creatively, which I think is really important. When you own a creative business, you have to constantly push yourself mentally. You know, with your talents physically, with your equipment, you you have to have that thirst and want and need for more.

Lee Meyer: [00:29:43] So that’s definitely pushing us way outside of our of our comfort. And we’re excited. And then the big lofty goal is to definitely have a studio in our community where, you know, if it’s just us, if we are also partnered with other creatives, maybe there’s a marketing agency, maybe there’s a dedicated photography studio person. I’m really good with my technicalities, my technical words here, but we would love to have a creative studio. That’s just an amazing, fun environment that makes people feel like they want to create, that we can bring clients into, that we can personally work out of as well. Currently, we work at thrive, which is another co-working space in the community, and it’s been amazing. We go to lots of different co-working spaces and even do day rates or pop ins, because we constantly have to be moving or changing our scenes. And, and I think to be able to have our own space one day and be able to invite people into what more of what we see in our brains is definitely a goal and makes us excited to.

Stone Payton: [00:30:57] I feel like that’s a dream that can come true. And when you do see if there’s a spot for for a studio or radio.

Speaker4: [00:31:03] Studio Business RadioX studio, absolutely.

Stone Payton: [00:31:06] That would be fun to have, you know, people in that in all aspects of that arena and plus, plus you just you, Lee would say, crash. You bump into each other and you come up with a cool project to do together.

Speaker4: [00:31:17] Exactly right.

Lee Meyer: [00:31:18] You get to bring, I believe when you’re surrounded with creatives, you get to bring even more value because, you know, like they say, two heads are better than one. When Matt and I brainstorm with clients that want to collaborate and want to be creative, our product, I feel like, is always better because we’ve had more people sinking their teeth into it, and it just feels amazing to get to be in a collaborative state with people. And I just need an investor. I’ve already got the building envisioned. Oh sweet. I’ve already got the whole thing planned out in my mind, so hopefully.

Stone Payton: [00:31:51] We’re going to make it happen.

Speaker4: [00:31:53] I love setting a.

Lee Meyer: [00:31:53] Five year goal, so knock on wood.

Stone Payton: [00:31:57] Most five year goals are meant to be accomplished in three. That’s my mantra.

Lee Meyer: [00:32:01] Wow, that’s that’s a lot of pressure. Even saying that out loud and saying five years was a lot.

Speaker4: [00:32:06] So all right, I’m.

Stone Payton: [00:32:08] Going to switch gears on you here for just a moment before we wrap. I’m genuinely interested, and I’m sure our listening audience is as well outside the scope of the work that we’ve been talking about. What passions, hobbies, interests do you and Matt like to pursue? Anything in particular that you guys nerd out about? Like my my folks, our listeners here know that Stone likes to hunt, fish, and travel, right? I mean, that’s that’s my thing. And oh, by the way, occasionally I’ll, you know, conduct an interview or two and it’s hunting season right now. So you haven’t heard as many interviews from me for the last few weeks. But yeah, outside the scope of the work, what do you guys like to do?

Lee Meyer: [00:32:46] Oh, I mean, we definitely love there’s so many events that are always going on around Cherokee County, Atlanta. We’re big music people, so anywhere where we can go listen to some live music. Matt actually used to travel and play music professionally. He needs to get in and tell his story because he has a way more fascinating background than my cornfields of Indiana. But yeah, live music. I have two teen girls, so they keep us very busy. Oh my.

Stone Payton: [00:33:17] You’re getting all this accomplished and you have two teenage girls.

Speaker4: [00:33:19] Yes, yes.

Stone Payton: [00:33:20] Oh my gracious.

Lee Meyer: [00:33:21] So you know, they’ve got dance and work and sports and all of the things. So obviously we love watching and. Supporting whatever the kids do. Being outdoors is huge. Getting up to the mountains. We’ve got a cabin trip in a couple of weeks. Again, just looking forward to cooking. We’re big into cooking together too. Yeah, yeah, love making all kinds of things. We send each other way too many reels of food on on social media so we can go cook together. And I don’t know, just, you know, just going out, enjoying life. We like to try new things, love to travel. I mean, who doesn’t like to travel, right? Yeah.

Speaker4: [00:34:00] Wow.

Stone Payton: [00:34:01] What an incredibly well rounded pair you are.

Speaker4: [00:34:05] I wouldn’t say that.

Speaker1: [00:34:07] I could tell you some other.

Lee Meyer: [00:34:08] Stories, but.

Speaker4: [00:34:08] But no.

Stone Payton: [00:34:09] And my brain’s firing off. I think you should do a cooking show. Maybe. Okay. And maybe we could do a special on highlight reel. Cooks cook like cooking venison, you know, because I.

Speaker4: [00:34:18] Oh, there you go. If you’d be real.

Lee Meyer: [00:34:21] Good.

Speaker4: [00:34:21] Cooking. That’s right.

Stone Payton: [00:34:22] I like it.

Speaker4: [00:34:23] I like it.

Lee Meyer: [00:34:24] I know that was very corny. I don’t expect anybody to think that was funny. I just need to give that warning.

Stone Payton: [00:34:31] All right. What’s the best way for our listeners to connect with you guys? Reach out. Have a conversation with you, Matt. Anybody on your team tap into the work. You’re already doing whatever coordinates you think are appropriate. Website, social. Let’s I want to make sure people can can touch base with you and maybe have that beer at Spencer’s.

Speaker4: [00:34:50] That’d be awesome.

Lee Meyer: [00:34:51] Yes, we say this all the time and we mean it. If you see us and find us like we would love to have a beer and chat and or whatever. I love taking walks down the trails, getting smoothies at Eden. I mean, lots of possibilities. But we finally got our website up this year, which was a huge accomplishment for us as a newer, you know, in the last few years small business, we wanted it to be done right. So we are very happy and proud. People can find us at the highlight reel Atom.com and reel is reel. And we also have Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and that’s all the highlight reel. And if anybody hears this and wants to connect, you can find me personally on all of these platforms as well under Lee Meyer. And I would love to say hello. Love to have a conversation even if you’re not in a place where you want to do professional video, but you want to talk with somebody who could brainstorm or be creative or help, you know, flow some some things for your own business. I truly love doing those things, and I believe in being able to have these things and give back and pour back out, because I’ve had it done so many, countless times to me. So any time I can be of any value in any way, I would love to do that well.

Stone Payton: [00:36:10] And I know how sincere you are when you say that. And I’ll give you guys a pro tip just anywhere around town. I learned it this morning when I went to a rotary breakfast. If you just tell people that you know Lee Meyer, your stock goes up amazingly. So just just now, you know her. So just just drop her name.

Speaker4: [00:36:26] Wherever you wherever you go. That.

Stone Payton: [00:36:29] Well, Lee, it has been an absolute delight having you on the show. Don’t be a stranger. You know, I’m quite sincere when I say come back. Keep us posted on what you’re doing around the community with your work. And yes, let’s get Matt, maybe Matt and the girls in here. We’ll just make it a family affair.

Speaker4: [00:36:45] Oh, yeah. We’ll get there for them having a microphone.

Lee Meyer: [00:36:49] They are teenagers and I don’t know what will come out so about about their mom.

Stone Payton: [00:36:53] Oh my goodness. Well, keep up the good work. You’re doing such important work and we sure appreciate you.

Lee Meyer: [00:36:59] Well thank you Stone, you are such a big support and rally to everybody around the community. And Business RadioX I know has done so much to help people get their voice out and be able to tell their story. So thank you for letting me come in today.

Stone Payton: [00:37:13] It is my pleasure. All right, until next time. This is Stone Payton for our guest today, Lee Meyer, with the highlight Reel and everyone here at the Business Radio X family saying, we’ll see you again on Cherokee Business Radio.

 

Tagged With: The Highlight Reel

BRX Pro Tip: 3 Reasons to Read More

October 13, 2023 by angishields

BRXmic99
BRX Pro Tips
BRX Pro Tip: 3 Reasons to Read More
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

BRX-Banner

BRX Pro Tip: 3 Reasons to Read More

Stone Payton: And we are back with Business RadioX Pro Tips. Lee Kantor and Stone Payton here with you. Lee, I have kind of gone in and out on reading consistently. I’m reading a book right now called Smart Brevity. One of our studio partners, John Ray, has shared his manuscript with me, and so I’m getting a chance to read through that. And I know that it’s good that I’m doing it, but what are some specific reasons to read and read more?

Lee Kantor: Three reasons to read more, number one, gain more knowledge. By being a subject matter expert in your niche allows you to charge more and separate yourself from your competitors. The more you know about your niche, the better you can serve your clients.

Lee Kantor: Number two, it sparks creativity. By reading books about other industries or other thought leaders that may be tangentially or not even connected to you allows you to connect dots about what is working somewhere else and see creatively if you can apply it in your field. This keeps you ahead of everybody else because you’re learning about how other things are successfully implemented and you’re pulling from that and bringing it into your world, and then that gives you, again, more of an edge.

Lee Kantor: And finally, it makes you way more valuable to your network because by summarizing what you’re reading, you’re helping your network save time because they didn’t have to read the books that you read. And it helps position you as another person that’s indispensable to your clients and to your team members.

Lee Kantor: So, reading more is only beneficial. It is not a waste of time. People waste so much time on so many things that really don’t bring value to themselves or to their network or to their customers. Reading pretty much always does if you’re reading business books and especially about successful people in business.

The Hardy Realty Show – Tanya Dean with Hope4HeartsGa.org

October 12, 2023 by angishields

The Hardy Realty Show - Java Joy
The Hardy Realty Show
The Hardy Realty Show - Tanya Dean with Hope4HeartsGa.org
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

Tagged With: Broad Street, Hardy on Broad, Hardy Realty, Hardy Realty Show, Hardy Realty Studio, Hope4HeartsGa.org, Lori Walker Davidson, Tanya Dean

The Wrap Podcast | Episode 064 | Building a Strong Future in the Construction Industry | Warren Averett

October 12, 2023 by angishields

podcastpromonew-constructionBRX
The Wrap
The Wrap Podcast | Episode 064 | Building a Strong Future in the Construction Industry | Warren Averett
Loading
00:00 /
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file

Construction is a booming industry across the United States with a bright future partially fueled by an increase in governmental infrastructure projects. However, the industry is also facing unique challenges due to a shrinking pool of trade labor, economic uncertainty in the private sector and continued supply chain issues post-pandemic.

In this episode of The Wrap, our hosts welcome Will Aderholt, CPA, CCIFP, leader of Warren Averett’s Construction Industry Practice, as well as special guest Jay Reed, President of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, to discuss specific challenges and opportunities affecting the construction industry.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How workforce development programs are looking to address labor shortages of skilled trade positions
  • Information about supply chain issues and how they are still impacting construction projects post-pandemic
  • Discussion surrounding the fear of a recession and how it is affecting construction projects and financing
  • Insight about succession planning specific to the construction industry
  • Advice for diversifying your construction business and building relationships with competitors

Resources for additional information:

  • Blog: Four Economic Factors Impacting Construction Companies (And How To Overcome Them)
  • Blog: Proactive Planning for Contractors in Uncertain Times
  • Blog: Bouncing Back From the Pandemic: Tips for Contractors
  • Blog: Selling a Business: Checklist From a Buyer’s Perspective
  • Podcast: Episode 010 – Don’t Let the Sell Run Dry
  • Podcast: Episode 050 – Employee Retention and Recruiting in Today’s Competitive Environment
TRANSCRIPT

Commentators (0:02): You’re listening to The Wrap, a Warren Averett podcast for business leaders designed to help you access vital business information and trends when you need it. So, you can listen, learn and then get on with your day. Now, let’s get down to business.

Kim Hartsock (0:17): Hello, everyone, and welcome to The Wrap. I am Kim Hartsock, and I’m excited to be back with you for another episode. We are continuing with our series focused on our industry experts. Today, I’m excited to have back with me co-hosting: Derek Johnson. Hey, Derek!

Derek Johnson (0:35): Hey, Kim, how are you?

Kim Hartsock (0:37): I’m doing great. I’m glad you’re back recording another episode with us, and we’re continuing with our industry focus today on construction. Why don’t you tell us who’s joining us as our guest today?

Derek Johnson (0:49): Yeah, that’s exciting. Thanks for having me back. Last time it had been a very long time since I’ve been on the podcast. And I think I’ve barely passed Paul’s exam. So, the waters are warm. I’m getting comfortable. Hopefully you’ll see more of me. But enough about me. We’re here to talk with our good friends: Will Aderholt and Mr. Jay Reed. The people need to know and they want to know, so why don’t you two gentlemen tell us a little bit more about who you are and what we’re going to talk about today?

Will Aderholt (1:19): Well, my name is Will Aderholt. I’m a Partner out of our Birmingham office and I lead our construction practice. I’ve been with the firm about 15 years and have been blessed to know our guest, Jay Reed, getting to know him over the last few years. Jay, thanks for joining us.

Jay Reed (1:35): Thank you, guys, for having me as well. Again, I’m Jay Reed, President of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama. And I have the pleasure now, for around 27 years, of serving the commercial construction industry in Alabama. Basically, at the end of the day, I’m responsible for ensuring our strategic plan is implemented for the construction industry and most of those bullet points in our plan that we’re going to be getting into today, because they’re certainly the pulse of the industry right now.

Derek Johnson (2:01): Thanks, Jay. Since you’re our most immediate guest, I’ll pick on you first. All right, thanks. Tell us why should we be focusing right now on the construction industry?

Jay Reed (2:13): Well, thanks. Thanks a lot for asking the easy question first, for sure. Commercial construction is already over $12 billion to the state’s economy. Our Association has just taken a pause over the last five years to ensure that not just our industry knows that when we say the economic wills of Alabama—when we say what keeps the light on at the statehouse, for lack of a better word—it is commercial construction, and our industry exports more construction outside of Alabama in the U.S. than we import right here in our own state. So, we’re fortunate to have a lot of the top contractors across the U.S. domiciled here in Alabama, and when they succeed, Alabama succeeds.

Kim Hartsock (2:57): Will and Jay, I’d love to hear both of your perspectives. But we’ve been doing a series focused on different industries, and I’d love to hear from you: what challenges and opportunities are unique to the construction industry? Maybe some things that the construction industry is facing that other industries are not. Just tell us a little bit about what makes it unique.

Will Aderholt (3:21): Yeah, I think the obvious answer is that the construction industry is facing a lot of similar issues, but maybe to a different degree. When we talk about staffing shortages, particularly in trade skilled laborers, carpenters, welders, electricians, heating and HVAC technicians, you name it—from a demographic standpoint, a lot of those really skilled trade positions, those people are aging and retiring. Face it. For the last few decades, those jobs have not been very sexy, for lack of a better word. Society has told people they have to go to college, which has led to the shortage of trade labor. If you put that on top of COVID issues and all of the issues we’ve had with people just, for whatever reason, exiting the workplace altogether, it’s just compounded. You’ve got that as an issue, for sure. Jay, the association, ABC of Alabama, and several others are trying to combat that, right?

Jay Reed (4:35): Right. That is front and center for our Association right now is workforce development. We have been really fortunate in the state. Traditionally, the governor’s office would have someone appointed to workforce development. I know for a fact this is the first time I’ve seen as many hands as possible on deck to try to ensure the workforce shortage is addressed in the commercial construction industry.

Will and I were talking, I think it was just yesterday. We’ve got the lieutenant governor in the state of Alabama currently working on workforce development. The speaker of the house has a workforce development committee. When we talk about what’s keeping this $12 billion industry up at night right now, first and foremost, it’s going to be the workforce.

But I took the time just to jot down a couple of other things from a board of directors’ perspective right now. If I had to put everything in one bucket that’s keeping our guys up at night, it is workforce development. It’s the recession. Where’s this bubble going? What does next year look like?

You’ve got immigration, regulatory reform and then something that we’re going to get to in a minute: the supply chain issue. The supply chain issue is back, you know, at second or third. We thought that had really started to taper away a little bit, but it was the highlight of a meeting that I was in Mobile for this morning. That was one of the topics of our membership today.

Kim Hartsock (5:58): Jay, I know you’re in Alabama, I sit in Georgia and Derek sits in Florida. We’re representing our region that the firm covers in terms of our geographical footprint. I know that in Georgia, we’re having the same challenges in terms of finding that skilled labor. An initiative that the state started—I don’t recall what year it was started—but in in recent years, which is a program out of the Hope Scholarship Program, which funds undergraduate programs in the state of Georgia. But there’s also this program now focused on technical college and trying to get students leaving high school to go the technical college route and focus on the skilled labor positions just like you’re speaking about. I believe there are 11 different programs that you can qualify for and go to school for free in the state of Georgia to get a technical degree. Every state is approaching this a little differently, but all of us are having that same challenge of trying to attract the students into this as a career and provide them with the opportunities.

Jay Reed (7:10): Yeah, we’ve seen a similar pattern. We have got state legislature right now that really understands the workforce shortage needs. As an Association, we were fortunate enough to get an audience in front of the governor and other key representatives to form the Academy of Craft Training. So, I think as you saw student debt take front and center, parents got to thinking, “You know, is it really x value? And this kid is sitting here telling me he’s not for college, or she’s not for college anyway.” You had the student debt, you had construction is cool again, and now you’ve got the public-private partnership where you’ve got state funds, local funds and contractor funds all going together to help us afford the Academy of Craft Training in Alabama. It has got some of the brightest seniors. If you ever want a dose of reality and bright sunshine, look at the students coming out of this Academy of Craft Training. It’s changing lives for sure.

Derek Johnson (8:05): Jay, tell me. I mean, we could talk staffing and talent all day. That’s something that the firm has been involved with for the better part of 10 years now, but you mentioned supply chain in there. You glazed over it. Let’s peel that back. Tell us more about the current supply chain issues that you’re seeing.

Jay Reed (8:27): Yeah, well as I mentioned, we had a speaker here this morning in Mobile about it, but COVID just exposed some of those layers. Will was mentioning the COVID issue, but during that time, we just really got to looking deep into where all the components of a construction project are coming from. It just seems, for some reason, whether it’s transportation concerns or epidemic concerns, our subcontractors now are having a major issue in getting some products to the job site. So, we formed a special committee to take a look at that, and they’re now putting out a quarterly supply chain newsletter that goes through every division of a commercial construction project and gives the owner or the general contractor expectations of when that can be delivered. But it’s just a major concern now for our base here in Alabama.

Kim Hartsock (9:24): Yeah, and you referenced this, what COVID brought to us and what we’ve learned, but what it also brought is a lot of different funding sources and different opportunities. But with that comes challenges. So, I know that you hear from your members. What are they facing in terms of that funding that source and trying to meet those qualifications, but also, how are they dealing with this? Are we in a recession? Are we not in a recession? Are we going into a recession? There’s not really conclusive evidence and some industries are feeling it a little more than others. But talk to us a little bit about the economic environment right now as it relates to the construction industry.

Jay Reed (10:10): Yeah, good point. It seems like all the meetings that Will and I are in, they keep asking us for the crystal ball, and we keep saying, “Well, as it gets closer to December, we’re going to give you an answer.” We’re almost in December, and we still don’t have an answer. But the data right now…Those doing federal projects and the larger projects, they do have more certainty about next year. They see an easier path to get through, and they’ve got a great backlog. But what we’re really concerned about now is probably that $20 to $50 million window that’s doing one retail shop, one dental office. That’s real money and real funds that need to be put forward to get the project. But right now, all we are seeing is the federal funds. That’s a great thing. But unfortunately, we must bring up the fact a lot of the federal funds are tied to some regulatory parameters that does exclude some of our membership.

So, we’re working through D.C. to try to get some of those regulatory changes made so that a broader group of contractors in the state (and Warren Averett’s clients as well) can have opportunities to bid that work. Some of those obstacles are being a little bit harder than usual to overcome. But it’s again, my nutshell on that is the bigger they are, the better they see next year, and the better they see a backlog.

Will Aderholt (11:27): That’s true, Jay, and I can’t help but say it out loud, the longer I’ve worked in the construction industry, in particular, I’ve gotten more and more of an appreciation of just how much our construction clients hang on to economic data. I didn’t really have a good appreciation for why that was early in my career. Here recently, it’s really just come together, and I’ve come to realize that… and it goes back to what Kim said earlier about what’s specific to construction that sets it apart from other industries. It’s really, you know, everything. They’re building a big capital project most times, right? It’s a long lead time and a long construction period most times.

And for it to begin, there has to be some sort of capital outlay, right? The bigger the project, the more capital there needs to be. Who’s the biggest spender in our country? The government, right? It goes back to what you said, those bigger guys that are doing government work, the money seems to be there. But then from there, everything trickles down to the private sector.

People have to be pretty sure that they’re going to be able to pay for these projects when they go to spend money. Interest rates affect that. Overall economics affects that. The labor force participation rate affects that because that affects how much money people have in disposable income. So, to your point, it’s all of those factors factoring into project owners making decisions to either build or expand or not, which then affects all of your and my clients.

It’s a long lead time decision that’s dependent on looking in that crystal ball and trying to figure out what it says. It’s anybody’s guess right now, right?

Derek Johnson (13:34): What are you telling them? Give us some hints to the test. I know there’s no silver bullet, but when it comes to planning, what are maybe some tips and tricks, some best advice that you’re leaving with your folks?

Will Aderholt (13:46): I’m going to give you a non-answer, which my clients always love. You know, it sort of goes back to what I tell a lot of people is: even if you have no intention of selling your business, run it like you’re planning to sell it, because you’ll never go wrong. I think similar advice applies here, which is we all hope and somewhat expect the economy to be good and backlogs to remain strong here for the next year or maybe longer. So, you want to go capture all those opportunities, but you also want to run your business as though the backlog you have could be the last. The spigot could turn off, not to be scared, but you just want to tighten up and run a lean operation. Make sure—again, I can harp on it all day long—but, you know, construction is risky. There are so many hands in the cookie jar over that whole timeline. Put in all those safeguards. Make sure everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to do from business development to estimating to project management to close out and to warranty. There are so many people that touch a job from beginning to end, and there’s a lot of ways that things could go wrong, and little things can slip.

When things are good, nobody notices that. If they do, it’s not that big of a deal. We’re still going to make X million dollars this year. So, it’s really just focusing on not letting complacency creep in, just because we’ve had some good years and really just operating it as if things are about to maybe not be as good. Watch the little things.

Commentators (15:39): Want to receive a monthly newsletter with The Wrap topics? Then head on over to warrenaverett.com/thewrap and subscribe to our email list to have it delivered right to your inbox. Now, back to the show.

Kim Hartsock (15:52): You just said operate as if you’re always about to sell your business. We tell people that all the time. You want your business to be attractive and ready to sell, so that you can maximize your investment. We are certainly seeing that. I mean, the statistics are all there of the boomer generation that owns all of these businesses and is looking to exit in the next 10 years or so. Construction is not immune to that. I’m sure, Jay, you’re seeing it. I know we’re seeing it. How do owners of construction companies plan for succession? What are you seeing, and what are you advising them to do?

Jay Reed (16:39): Yeah, if I could jump in just really quick on that one. I’ve been 27 years with the Association. I’ve never seen the number of companies that are reaching out to us now for some type of assistance or referrals on succession planning. 10 years ago, I would tell you, there wasn’t one subcontractor in the world concerned about it. But if you take the risk that Will talked about, and you take an aging workforce that David was speaking about at the meeting this morning… everyone’s getting ready to inherit trillions of dollars. So maybe or maybe not, that takes the kids out of the equation to buy X sub-contracting firm. Then it’s the regulations we spoke of, that does have some people saying, “Okay, I’m not going for the federal funds right now. It’s not my fit, but I need to do something with my business now.”

Shake that all in a crystal ball and it comes up succession planning. Will has, fortunately, you guys have been able to have some of our clients with it in the Birmingham market, for sure. But I just never thought I would see that many people calling me to say, “Do you guys know some people who can help us with succession planning? I mean, it’s bubbled up out of nowhere, but it’s an issue.

Will Aderholt (17:55): Yeah, it is. You know, when we were talking about hot topics, which has to be up there. That’s what we get a lot of phone calls about, and it’s what I spend a lot of my time trying to help people through for a lot of reasons. The reasons you just described—the aging workforce or aging ownership, generational wealth, all of those things. If you think about other industries, I think you mentioned it earlier. There’s a lot of money in the economy. There’s a lot of private equity type financial buyers for a lot of businesses in other industries. Manufacturing businesses? Very easy to sell if it’s profitable. Just one example, almost any industry. You know, it’s easy to sell.

It’s easier for people to wait until later in their career, and maybe see if the kids want to be involved in the business. Maybe they don’t, they’re not ready to retire. You know, they can wait longer. In 12 months—I’m not being flippant here—but, you know, it’s not unrealistic that you could decide to sell your business today and in three, six or certainly 12 months, it can be sold, and you can have money in the bank. That’s true in a lot of industries. But it is not true in construction.

There are some private equity buyers in certain sectors of our industry, but it’s fairly limited. That presents a problem, right, in that there’s not some third party that’s necessarily out there as easily to come by a construction business. So, most times, what ends up happening is an internal transition, either to employees, family, whomever, and a lot of times that has to be paid for out of the cash flow of the ongoing operations of the construction business. For all the reasons we said, it’s very risky. A lot of times can be low margin, can be unpredictable. There’s very little recurring revenue. All those things make it hard. That’s where we have luckily been able to help is by coming in and really doing an overall assessment, because it’s not just about, “Hey, help me figure out a way to structure this buyout to pay the least amount of tax.”

That’s easy stuff. You know, we need to figure out how’s it going to get paid for. A lot of that then gets into all the things I talked about before, which is, you know, how good or how predictable the cash flow is going to be in the future. That’s really predicated on all of those different components working together. Business development, estimating project management, that whole accounting and finance—all of those tentacles have to be working the right way in order for everybody involved to feel comfortable with that transition. That’s just kind of a little bit of kind of what we do, you know, increasingly, often over the last few years.

Kim Hartsock (21:05): Will, you brought that up, I mean, that there are more stakeholders involved. You’ve got to make sure that your bonding company is okay with what the transition is. You’ve got to make sure that your bank is okay with what you’re planning. It’s not like most privately held businesses that can just pull together their ownership, make a decision and move on. You mentioned the risk earlier. There’s more risk. So, there are more things to consider. I’m glad, Jay, that they’re calling you and asking you for help. That’s good.

Jay Reed (21:42): You know, now that you mentioned that—just a quick, quick note on that bonding. On the bonding side of it, we’ve actually also seen an uptick because of the financial market bonding requirements out there for our subcontractor community. Right now, your larger subcontractors are required to have a bond in place. That is dropping by trade category, especially in public works. In the state of Alabama, we’ve seen a huge uptick in that. So, I think that’s something else, you know, for the listeners of this today to realize in our industry, that’s been increasing, and we’ve been doing a lot of service out in that area.

Will Aderholt (22:19): The other thing that I’ve run into a lot lately is maybe an aging business owner or two, they have their management team lined up to be the buyer of their business, and they need help structuring it and that sort of thing. Then, we get into it because of everything we talked about, particularly either banking or bonding requirements. This owner thinks, “Hey, I’ve got these five people, they’re ready to buy my business. I just need your help doing it.” Then, we start educating the buyer on “What does this really mean: to sign an indemnity on your surety bond program? You know, what does it mean to sign a note at a bank? What does it mean to have a much more complicated tax return and be dependent on the company paying distributions to be able to repay the note, either to the banker to the owner?”

We come in and start educating them on this. We all can kind of rail on the millennial generation, but it’s just true. You know, people don’t necessarily want to take entrepreneurial risk the way that these baby boomers did when they started these businesses, and so I’ve seen a lot of false starts too lately. They think they had the people lined up, and then once we get in educational phase, it peters out. Again and again, it’s a long lead time. So, we don’t want to wait till “Hey, I want to be retired in three years.” Then, we have to restart the whole thing after a year into a project. Again, just there’s a lot of ways that it cannot go as planned. So, the longer lead times you have the better.

Derek Johnson (24:10): With all these dynamics, we chatted a little bit about succession planning. We walked through some supply chain issues we’re working with, obviously the staffing piece. But for the near term, what would you say these construction business leaders should be doing to best prepare themselves for success? Again, just near term.

Jay Reed (24:30): If one of my members were to ask me that right now, soon we’re talking not just financial, but in the whole scheme of running their business. It would be relationships, partnerships and diversifying the markets that you’re performing work in. I’m not saying go out there and recreate the wheel or something, but every industry is changing. I really see joint ventures, partnerships, relationships and really starting to play a much more important role in securing work. I would say, for the upcoming future in the state, we have a lot of large projects that are moving to the front burner. A lot of those massive projects are here in the near future in the state of Alabama, and there’s going to be enough of that work to go around. But you’re going to have to put your relationships out there and relationships develop, so that you’re on some of these teams put together.

Will Aderholt (25:26): Yeah, I couldn’t say it any better than that. I mean, the two things that went in my head were relationships and diversification, because those are really your two. We talked about recurring revenue, or the lack thereof in a construction business; the one way to combat that is to diversify in the various industries, size and owners. You know, all of those things, the more experience you have, the more irons you have in different fires and different sectors. Now that you want to go, you run the risk of doing something that you’re not qualified to do. You don’t want to do that. But to the extent that you can get comfortable doing what your capabilities are in various industries or various sectors to diversify, the better off you are. The other thing was relationships. I’ve seen a lot of clients have a lot of success with recruiting and retaining talent, getting jobs and getting institutional knowledge of others. You know, the construction industry has gotten a lot better in terms of having friendly competitors. I think we’re better than a lot of industries in that respect. And a lot of that, I think, is to Jay’s credit, at least here in Birmingham. That Association, I think that’s where a lot of those relationships are formed. I think they’re invaluable. I would highly encourage clients to be there and get to know their competitors.

Kim Hartsock (26:55): Will and Jay, it’s been great conversation. You’ve left the listeners with a lot to think about, but here on The Wrap, we always like to wrap it up in 60 seconds or less. So, I’ll let you go first, Will, and then we’ll close with Jay.

Will Aderholt (27:10): Yeah, I just think, again, I appreciate Jay being on with us. I mean, if I had to give the listeners one piece of advice, it would be really to seek advice—be that from advisors, associations, competitors and owners—just be inquisitive and really take time asking questions of others. It’s really easy to get focused on our own business and the day-to-day of putting out fires. But I would encourage everybody to intentionally take time to really seek advice, and be inquisitive of others, because it can do nothing but help you.

Jay Reed (27:48): For the commercial construction industry in 60 seconds, you know, I would concentrate on workforce. If you read from the Wall Street Journal to the local business journal, worker shortage, and the sky is falling, but the resources and the amount of emphasis that’s being put on workforce development. Now, there is a solution coming. There are a pipeline of young people coming into the industry, both skilled trade, project management and estimating. Again, it’s being plugged in and being a part of some group that’s helping solve that. Do not sit in your office and scratch your head on workforce development. All hands are on deck working on that. Just get plugged into some group that’s addressing it and make sure you’re part of the end of the pipeline and getting that future workforce. Jobs are going to come, the market’s going to be okay, and the sky is not going to fall. You’re going to need people. So, plug in to some people that have those resources like great associations.

Kim Hartsock (28:49): Well, this has been fantastic. So, thank you, Jay, for joining us. And Will, it was great to have you on again. Thank you so much, and we’ll see you guys next time.

Jay Reed (28:59): Thank you guys so much for having me. It really meant a lot to be selected by Warren Averett to be on the show. I think it’s a great tool. For us to be able to showcase our strategic plan and what we’re doing to the industry to partners like Warren Averett means the world. So, thanks. Derek and Kim, it was great meeting you guys.

Will Aderholt (29:18): Kim and Derek, thanks for having me on again. I always enjoy it. It’s always fun. Jay, thanks for joining us. I appreciate our friendship and you having us in the Association, allowing us to serve.

Commentators (29:33): And that’s a wrap. If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a review on your streaming platform. To check out more episodes, subscribe to the podcast series or make a suggestion of other topics you want to hear, visit us at warrenaverett.com/thewrap/.

Listen to More Podcast Episodes
Listen to additional episodes of Wrap—a podcast by Warren Averett designed to help business leaders access the information that you need, when you need it, in the time that you have, so you can accomplish what’s important to you.

Keep Listening

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 153
  • 154
  • 155
  • 156
  • 157
  • …
  • 1319
  • Next Page »

Business RadioX ® Network


 

Our Most Recent Episode

CONNECT WITH US

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Our Mission

We help local business leaders get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession.

We support and celebrate business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignores. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

Sponsor a Show

Build Relationships and Grow Your Business. Click here for more details.

Partner With Us

Discover More Here

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy

Connect with us

Want to keep up with the latest in pro-business news across the network? Follow us on social media for the latest stories!
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Business RadioX® Headquarters
1000 Abernathy Rd. NE
Building 400, Suite L-10
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

© 2025 Business RadioX ® · Rainmaker Platform

BRXStudioCoversLA

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of LA Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversDENVER

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Denver Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversPENSACOLA

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Pensacola Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversBIRMINGHAM

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Birmingham Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversTALLAHASSEE

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Tallahassee Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversRALEIGH

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Raleigh Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversRICHMONDNoWhite

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Richmond Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversNASHVILLENoWhite

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Nashville Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversDETROIT

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Detroit Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversSTLOUIS

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of St. Louis Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversCOLUMBUS-small

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Columbus Business Radio

Coachthecoach-08-08

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Coach the Coach

BRXStudioCoversBAYAREA

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Bay Area Business Radio

BRXStudioCoversCHICAGO

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Chicago Business Radio

Wait! Don’t Miss an Episode of Atlanta Business Radio