Ben Hansen is a profitability specialist, award-winning entrepreneur, and speaker who helps business owners stop the financial bleeding and restore healthy profits and cash flow.

Known as The Profit Doctor, he specializes in curing Profititis - when the revenue is there, but the profit isn’t. A 5x Inc. 5000 founder and former Fortune 100 executive (Dell, Microsoft), Ben built an eight-figure staffing firm from the ground up. Today, he advises $2M–$50M owner-led companies looking to reclaim the dream that got them started.

Through his Profit Accelerator™ and private consulting, Ben helps leadership teams uncover and plug hidden profit leaks - often doubling profitability in 90 days or less, guaranteed. His approach is practical, field-tested, and built on one truth: growth without profit leads to frustration - not freedom.

The episode covers the common misunderstandings surrounding profitability and the essential strategies to combat them. Ben shares insights on financial literacy's significance and how misconceptions about profit often lead to ill-informed business decisions. Using practical examples and success stories, he elaborates on actionable approaches that lead to significant profitability improvements, quickly moving businesses from the bottom tier to the top echelon of profit performance.

Key Takeaways:

• Many business owners are experts in their fields but lack formal business training, leading to common issues in understanding and optimizing profitability.
• Allocating time and resources to financially strategic planning can drastically improve profit margins and business stability.
• A successful business needs to separate growth strategies from profitability optimization to avoid the inefficiencies found in combining these aspects.
• Implementing operational changes such as the "Operation Dog Catcher" strategy can help businesses identify and phase out non-profitable projects swiftly.
• Understanding the impact of your decisions on the bottom line is crucial for long-term business success and for increasing an entity's enterprise value.

Notable Quotes:

1. "If you don't know if you are above or below average profitability, there's a high likelihood that you haven't really optimized for profitability."
2. "I call this metaphor the profit bus... If you don't think that having the company that you work for be highly profitable is in your interest, you have missed the bus."
3. "If you're not spending half a day a week, you and your exec team focusing on profitability, you shouldn't be surprised that you are not well optimized for profitability."

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

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Ray Tse’s first fascination with architecture came by looking up - way, way up.

A native of Hong Kong, Ray spent a good deal of his youth gazing up at the city’s striking, monumental skyscrapers, like architect Norman Foster’s HSBC Headquarters and I.M. Pei’s Bank of China building. Ray and his family later moved to New Orleans, where the famous architectural heritage sits much closer to the ground but proved no less captivating. Ray explored his new city with his pad and pen at the ready, making sketches of the Crescent City’s old colonial buildings and historic homes. He wanted to do more than just appreciate architecture, however, so when the time came to pick a career path, Ray’s choice came easily.

As Principal at KTGY, Ray is involved through all design phases and specializes in developing strong concepts that excite clients. Working in high-rise and multifamily design for over 20 years, Ray’s goal is for each client to walk away with contextual, balanced design solutions that exceed expectations, invigorate communities, and elevate the built environment. Over his career, Ray has worked in different typologies but maintains an affinity for striking, soaring structures. He served on the AIA Board of Directors in Baton Rouge, and he remains an active participant in AIA committees and in the ACE mentorship program.

Ray elaborates on KTGY's comprehensive approach to architectural development ranging from the embracing of new technologies like AI to strategic diversification into various housing typologies. Emphasizing the importance of cultural integration post-acquisition, Ray shares insights on effective leadership, design innovation, and the overarching vision that continues to drive KTGY’s national prominence. Additionally, Ray touches upon the pivotal role of lifelong learning and offers valuable resources and takeaways for aspiring architects and industry enthusiasts alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Emphasizing the importance of cultural integration and strategic collaboration in successful mergers and acquisitions within the architectural industry.
• Leveraging high-rise and mixed-use residential design experiences to create efficient and impactful urban spaces.
• The significant role of technology, such as AI, in enhancing architectural workflow and efficiency, especially in tedious or repetitive tasks.
• The significance of continuous learning and open communication in fostering professional growth and building resilient teams.
• Drawing inspiration from diverse global influences and past architectural practices to innovate modern-day solutions in the built environment.

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

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Jonathan Garland is the President and Founder of JGE, a Boston-based 100% minority-owned architecture and design firm with a comprehensive portfolio comprised of multi-family housing, mixed-use development, academic, life sciences, commercial, and university projects.

JGE Development focuses on transforming underperforming assets and underutilized parcels into stabilized income-restricted, and market-rate multi-family housing. JGE Development partners with communities to activate and improve historically disinvested neighborhoods throughout Boston’s inner city and urban core.

Jonathan has over 25 years of professional experience planning and designing residential, mixed-use, academic, and institutional projects. He has cultivated a widely respected, seasoned approach to designing buildings and transforming neighborhoods and urban communities through high-quality collaborative design and development strategies. A Boston native, Jonathan launched his career with strong educational foundations from the Boston Architectural College and has since been committed to alleviating the housing crisis through innovative and socially responsible real estate solutions.

Jonathan discusses the strategic decision behind running both an architectural and development firm, underscoring the significance of community engagement in creating impactful projects. His firm focuses on solving the housing crisis through creative approaches and staying connected with the community.

Key Takeaways:

• Jonathan Garland emphasizes that launching a business requires careful client selection to align with the company's mission and prevent growth stifling.
• The housing crisis in Massachusetts is accentuated by high construction and living costs, making it crucial to provide affordable housing.
• Building with community involves genuine conversations to ensure developments meet the real needs of local populations.
• A deep understanding of development economics and proactive community engagement are essential for architects and developers.

Notable Quotes:

1. "When you deal with people in the community, and you engage them, they very rarely remember the designs. They very rarely remember how they got to the final result, but they absolutely remember how they were treated in those meetings."
2. “When we get on our horse every morning, it’s not just putting wall sections together and making floor plans; we’re really trying to marry cost-conscious budgets with housing.”
3. "It really is character, you know, before qualifications. There are certain things you can train with individuals and certain things you can’t train."

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comments and reach out if you want to be a valuable guest on the show!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube

Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/