Sarah Finch, a former Second City improv pro turned leadership consultant, explains how techniques like “yes and,” scene framing, and self-deprecating humor translate into stronger executive presence, sharper listening, and teams that trust each other to take risks. She and host Dave Lorenzo discuss why normalizing failure accelerates growth, how CEOs can reset their mindset when stepping into the big chair, and practical ways to read a room whether you are on Zoom or a live stage. The conversation is packed with mini case studies, quick-hit exercises, and clear takeaways any leader can apply today.

Show Notes

“Normalize failure. There is no way you will be perfectly funny all the time.” — Sarah Finch

What You’ll Discover Today
• Why “yes and” is a power tool for collaboration and sales
• How improv’s scene framework helps leaders prepare without scripting every word
• Three traits Sarah looks for in ideal coaching clients: self-awareness, openness to growth, and a willingness to laugh at themselves
• Tactics for staying composed when the unexpected happens in a meeting or on stage
• Practical ways to build a culture that treats small failures as raw material for the next win

Key Topics Discussed

• From Second City to C-Suite coaching
• “Yes and” versus the reflex to say no
• Slowing down to speed up – preparation and presence
• Reading audiences in person and virtually
• Vulnerability, humor, and relationship capital

Call Us: 305-692-5531
Connect with Sarah Finch: 773-799-4571

Call to Action
Ready to lead with more agility and fun? Listen, take one improv tip into your next meeting, and let us know how it works. Then share the episode with a colleague who could use a dose of “yes and.”

Brett Hickey shares how the discipline he gained as a national-level speed skater fuels his success leading Star Mountain Capital. He explains the firm’s flexible capital model that provides loans, minority stakes, or majority buyouts for companies with 20 to 200 million dollars in annual revenue. Data-driven planning, strict risk management, and broad employee ownership underpin Star Mountain’s strategy. Brett details the sectors they favor (business services, healthcare, education, and niche logistics) and why they avoid highly cyclical or vice-related industries.

He closes with practical steps owners should take years before seeking private-equity money.

What You’ll Discover Today

• How athletic grit translates into private-equity resilience
• The three capital structures Star Mountain offers and when each fits
• Why lower-middle-market firms can out-perform bigger deals
• Key filters the firm uses to pick industries and reject others
• The role of data, technology, and alignment in protecting investor capital
• Actionable advice for founders on de-risking and succession planning

Key Topics Discussed

• Building a flexible capital solution for growth, recapitalization, or buyouts
• Aligning incentives by giving every employee equity participation
• Creating a dynamic business plan that balances short-, mid-, and long-term goals
• Importance of diversified revenue, long-term contracts, and low customer concentration
• Systematic sourcing: local deal teams in more than 20 U.S. cities and centralized underwriting
• Using acquisitions to turn fragmented sectors into higher-valued platforms
• Risk categories you can control versus those you cannot (commodity prices, etc.)
• Preparing for private equity: robust systems, clear succession, and documented processes

Call to Action

Ready to position your company for transformative growth? Call us at (305) 692-5531 to discuss how the Inside BS team can help you craft a compelling plan and connect with the right capital partners.

In this episode, Dave Lorenzo reveals the secret to getting powerful client testimonials without the cringe. From when to ask to exactly what to say, Dave breaks down the process so it feels natural and authentic. If you want more referrals, better credibility, and a stronger reputation, it starts with mastering the testimonial ask.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why professionals struggle to ask for testimonials
• The connection between asking for testimonials and referrals
• A simple, effective script to request testimonials
• When to ask clients for testimonials (timing is everything)
• Why video testimonials are more powerful than written ones
• How to follow up if a client delays sending the testimonial
• Three perfect times to use testimonials in your sales process
• How to showcase testimonials on your personal website and LinkedIn

Call Us:
(305) 692-5531

In this powerful episode of the Inside BS Show, Dave Lorenzo sits down with entrepreneur and author Brittany Anderson to explore how personal adversity can become a driving force behind a life of impact and fulfillment. Brittany shares a pivotal story from her childhood that shaped her entrepreneurial journey and her commitment to building a life of abundance and meaning. Together, Dave and Brittany dive deep into the importance of niche marketing for financial advisors, the true meaning of value creation, and how to transform retirement into a vibrant new chapter of purpose and passion. Brittany also introduces the “Dream Architect” process—a revolutionary approach to legacy planning and living fully beyond traditional retirement. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity in their personal or professional path.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How childhood adversity fueled Brittany’s drive for success
• The difference between chasing money and creating value
• Why niche marketing creates deeper client relationships
• The “Dream Architect” process for meaningful life transitions
• How to redefine retirement as a new beginning, not an end
• Creating a scalable coaching business by living your brand values

Call to Action:
To connect with Brittany Anderson and learn more about the Dream Architect, call 507-235-5587 or email her at brittany@sweetfinancial.com. Visit SweetFinancial.com to explore their approach to helping professionals live with intention and impact.

📞 Call Us: (305) 692-5531

In this episode, Dave Lorenzo shares the six key metrics every professional should track to evaluate their marketing strategy. Whether you're a consultant, CPA, attorney, or small business owner, these insights will help you assess and improve your plan to attract better clients, grow revenue, and boost ROI.

📊 Key Topics Discussed:

1. Ideal Client Attraction – Are you bringing in more of your best-fit clients?
2. Revenue Growth – Is your income increasing month over month and year over year?
3. New Client Acquisition – How many new clients are you consistently converting?
4. Client Lifetime Value – Are existing clients buying more, more often?
5. Client Acquisition Cost – Are you lowering the cost it takes to earn each client?
6. Diverse Lead Sources – Are you using multiple methods to attract new business?

🚫 One Thing You Should Never Do:

Never implement a marketing tactic you can’t measure. If you can’t track the result, it doesn’t belong in your plan.

🎁 Free Resource:

Grab your free Revenue Roadmap – Dave’s marketing plan template that walks you step-by-step through building a measurable and scalable strategy.

The episode insists that cold-calling is dead and that the only way to earn a prospect’s attention is to lead with genuine, tangible help: publish thought-leadership content that educates and scales your credibility, introduce prospects to people who can put money in their pocket, become a recruiter who eases their talent crunch, tap your network to fix urgent headaches even when your product isn’t the answer, and—most overlooked, offer the rare gift of attentive listening; stack these five value-first plays and prospects will see you as an indispensable growth partner, making the eventual sale a mere formality.

What You’ll Discover Today

• Why thought leadership instantly positions you as the go-to expert.
• How a well-timed introduction can put money in a prospect’s pocket and fast-track trust.
• Smart ways to solve a hiring headache so you become indispensable.
• Why stepping outside your product sandbox to fix an urgent problem cements loyalty.
• The overlooked power of simply listening to your prospect’s real challenges.

Key Topics Discussed

1. Thought Leadership Content – Speeches, videos and articles scale your reach from dozens to hundreds while building credibility.

2. Revenue-Generating Introductions – Bring a prospect a new client first, then ask for their business.
3. Talent Recruitment Support – Supplying qualified candidates demonstrates genuine commitment to their success.
4. Problem-Solving via Your Network – Use your connections to eliminate a critical pain point even when it has nothing to do with your offering.
5. Active Listening – Being a sounding board for another business owner fosters a relationship money can’t buy.

Call Us: (305) 692-5531

In this episode, we break down the only seven things you need to focus on to build a high-performing sales team. Forget what you’ve been taught. This is a no-fluff, results-driven roadmap from someone who’s led teams in the trenches. If you're ready to go beyond tired KPIs and outdated scripts, listen in.

What You’ll Discover Today:

• Why setting clear, specific expectations is the foundation of sales team success
• How to focus on outcomes instead of micromanaging activity
• The few KPIs that actually matter—and how to use them as coaching tools, not weapons
• The role of communication frequency in building trust and driving performance
• How removing internal barriers (like meetings, reports, and commute time) unleashes selling time
• The difference between meaningful recognition and hollow praise
• Why relationship-first leadership creates loyalty, motivation, and long-term performance

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Set expectations that define good and great—then let performers perform
2. Manage outcomes, not activities
3. Identify KPIs by reverse-engineering top performers
4. Communicate frequently, especially with struggling reps
5. Eliminate meetings, reports, and anything else that drains sales time
6. Celebrate wins publicly and consistently
7. Treat your salespeople like family—because relationships drive results

Links and Resources:

• Subscribe Via Email: GetInsideBS.com
• Listen on Spotify: Inside BS Show on Spotify
• Listen on Apple Podcasts: Inside BS Show on Apple Podcasts
• Call Us: (305) 692-5531

Call to Action:
Want your sales team to crush their goals and stay loyal long-term? Start by fixing your leadership style. Follow this 7-step blueprint—and share this episode with anyone you know who manages a sales team.

Let me know if you'd like a short promo blurb or LinkedIn post to go with this.

In this episode, Dave breaks down a no-nonsense digital marketing strategy that every B2B professional can use to grow visibility, build credibility, and differentiate in a crowded market. Whether you're a solopreneur or part of a large sales team, this episode gives you a simple, scalable roadmap for using written content, podcasts, and video to attract ideal clients and close more business. From posting weekly articles to launching your own podcast and producing daily educational videos, Dave lays out the playbook for turning content into cash.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER TODAY:

• Why digital content is the single most important tool in B2B marketing
• The 3-part strategy to build visibility, credibility, and differentiation
• How to start producing high-value content with just a phone
• A real-world example of how a YouTube video turned a doctor into a trusted expert
• Why quality and quantity both matter in B2B content strategy
• How even highly specialized professionals (like lawyers and doctors) can win business with smart content
• The minimum content cadence for serious growth
• What separates B2B winners from invisible players in the market

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Content strategy for B2B professionals
• Using articles, podcasts, and video together
• Building trust through repeated exposure
• Leveraging interviews with clients and prospects
• Why B2B sales professionals should act like media companies
• Creating evergreen video assets
• Scaling from basic content to professional-grade assets

CALL TO ACTION:
Ready to stop hiding and start building authority in your market? Start today. Write one article, record one video, or reach out to a client and book a podcast interview. Want help with your digital strategy? Call Dave at (305) 692-5531 and schedule a strategy audit.