In this episode of Fractionals Unplugged, Jay Kingley speaks with Tom Dillon, a Fractional CFO specializing in helping businesses navigate financial challenges. They discuss the concept of 'sweaty startups', the importance of understanding cash flow, and the role of finance in driving business growth. Tom emphasizes the need for transparency and leadership in addressing key business problems and shares insights on building a successful team for the future.

Email Tom or send him a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

Jay Kingley interviews Ashish Nanavati, a data-driven fractional marketer. They discuss the importance of understanding ideal client profiles (ICPs), the urgent problems startups face, and the challenges in achieving desired outcomes. Ashish emphasizes the need to identify root causes of marketing struggles, break down silos within organizations, and implement growth loop structures. He also shares his personal journey, including a life-threatening surgery that led him to consulting work, and his focus on leveraging AI in marketing for future growth.

Email Aashish or send him a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

Jess Schultz, a Fractional CRO/CMO, talks about the challenges faced by founders of B2B SaaS companies as they transition from founder-led sales to a more structured go-to-market strategy. Jess and Jay discuss the emotional toll on founders, common mistakes in scaling sales, and the importance of understanding the ideal client profile. Jessica shares her insights on identifying root causes of revenue issues and offers strategies for effective execution while emphasizing the need for alignment within teams.

Email Jess to continue the conversation.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Russell Lookadoo, a Fractional Chief HR Officer, talks about the challenges small business owners face in hiring and managing staff. Russell shares insights on the importance of emotional connection in leadership, the pain points of hiring, and the need for clear communication and strategic planning. He emphasizes the significance of understanding one's ideal client profile and the necessity of creating a supportive work environment that fosters growth and innovation.

Email Russell to continue the conversation.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Marley Wagner discusses the evolving landscape of customer engagement and marketing strategies in B2B companies. They discuss the importance of retaining existing customers, the challenges of communication between marketing and customer success teams, and the need for a cohesive digital engagement strategy. Marley shares insights on identifying pain points, the significance of product-market fit, and the steps companies can take to improve customer retention and engagement. The conversation highlights the urgency for businesses to adapt to changing customer expectations and the competitive landscape.

Email Marley to continue the conversation.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Omid Sadati discuss the importance of product market fit for early-stage companies. Key takeaways include:

• Product market fit is crucial for the success of early-stage companies.
• Founders need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and continuously learn and grow.
• Critical and strategic thinking are essential in navigating the complexities of achieving product market fit.
• Engaging with customers and validating assumptions is key to understanding their needs and preferences.
• Frameworks and models can be helpful, but they should be used in conjunction with critical thinking and a deep understanding of the business context. Entrepreneurship is about finding meaningful problems and solving them in a meaningful way.
• Understanding people and their motivations is crucial in building successful products and businesses.
• Product market fit is about aligning with the customer's vision and serving their needs.
• Collecting feedback and validating ideas is an important part of the product development process.
• Resilience and curiosity are key traits for personal and professional growth.

Connect with Omid on LinkedIn.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

The lack of awareness of the label 'fractional' is not the main reason why fractional executives struggle to get clients. Fractional executives need to differentiate themselves and communicate their intellectual property to stand out in a market with an vast oversupply of fractionals. Success as a fractional executive depends on redefining the market and focusing on value rather than the label. Labels are useful in marketing but irrelevant in sales; clients hire based on the ability to make a positive impact on their business. The focus should be on communicating one's genius or intellectual property rather than obsessing over the label.

00:00 The Myth of Awareness

01:25 Defining Fractional Executives

03:22 The Price vs. Value Dilemma

04:52 The Catastrophe of Supply and Demand

07:45 Insight and Wisdom: Meeting Demand

10:16 The Importance of Communicating Genius

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

When I want to be the best I can be, I look to how those rise to the top in Darwinian industries - sports, entertainment, the the C-suite. I've put together 7 lessons that fractional executives can learn from the NFL:

1. Repetition is key to improvement. Treat every interaction as a learning opportunity and reflect on what you've learned.

2. Practice before you play. Implement a rigorous process to find the right people to practice on before going after your ICPs.

3. Measure your performance and take responsibility for your results.

4. Focus on becoming an expert in your area of specialization.

5. Strategic game planning is crucial. Take the time to research and create unique engagement plans for each prospect.

6. Build a team of coaches and experts to help you succeed.

7. Develop resilience and mental toughness to overcome challenges and reach your full potential.

Connect with Jay

Email me at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.