Welcome back to Growth by Design, brought to you by RX2 Solutions, because growth doesn’t happen by accident-it happens by design. This week, Ross Rosner and Rob Graham unpack how leaders can cut through headlines and hot takes to make clear, confident decisions. We discuss labor statistics versus reality, what “market softness” really means, and how to position your company to win, whether the economy dips or accelerates. From identifying A-players in a challenging market to refining job descriptions and onboarding, this episode provides a practical playbook for small and mid-sized businesses.

What you’ll learn:
A simple framework to filter news and focus on what actually affects your business
Why a softer labor market can be the moment to hire that game-changing performer
Sector signals (including IT/offshoring cycles) and how to plan around them
How to turn job descriptions into effective ads—and streamline onboarding for impact
The leadership moves that boost retention: clarity, flexibility, and real feedback loops

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & tagline
01:10 “Cutting through the noise” for SMB decision-making
05:20 Labor data vs. on-the-ground hiring reality
10:00 Spotting opportunity in a softer market (A-player strategy)
14:45 Sector watch: where teams are tightening and where to lean in
18:30 Make job descriptions work like ads
22:40 Onboarding upgrades that reduce ramp time
26:30 Takeaways & action plan
28:15 Tip of the Week & wrap

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Because growth doesn’t happen by accident-it happens by design.