You don’t need more RFQs.
You need a better sales system.

In this episode, Mike Fritz sits down with Nick Goellner to break down what sales actually look like in manufacturing—and why most machine shops stall at the same revenue ceilings.

We cover the real difference between marketing and sales, why prospecting is always important (but rarely urgent), and how to grow without hiring a sales team or chasing bad-fit customers.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build a simple Top 10 target list
• Prospect consistently without sounding salesy
• Reduce customer concentration risk
• Sell like a partner, not a job shop

If your shop is busy but not breaking through, this episode gives you a practical, repeatable approach to growth.

Subscribe to our 2026 weekly format:
Sales & Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays)
Operations & Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays

If this episode helps, please leave a review—it helps more shop owners find the show.

You don’t need more machines.
You need to stop wasting capacity.

In this episode, Kirk Phelps breaks down why most shops misdiagnose growth problems and how operations—not sales—ultimately decide profitability. We dive deep into OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and explain how availability, performance, and quality reveal hidden capacity, wasted margin, and smarter paths to growth.

Learn how to:

• See where capacity is leaking inside your shop
• Stop defaulting to “more people, more machines”
• Use OEE to guide smarter planning, budgeting, and reinvestment
• Grow your bottom line before chasing top-line revenue

If you’re tired of being busy without getting ahead—and want a shop that’s profitable, disciplined, and intentional—this episode is for you.

Subscribe to our new 2026 format:
✅ Sales & Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays)
✅ Operations & Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
✅ Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays

If this episode helps, please leave a quick review—it helps more shop owners find the show.

2026 isn’t about staying busy—it’s about winning on purpose.

In this episode, Mike Fritz breaks down a simple, proven framework to grow your shop using Top Line, Bottom Line, and People. Learn how to clarify who your shop really is, cut loser parts, focus on winner work, and pull the lowest-effort, highest-impact levers for growth.

If you want to break through plateaus like the $2M ceiling and build a shop that’s profitable, scalable, and intentional—this episode is for you.

Subscribe to our new 2026 format:
✅ Sales/Marketing (1st & 3rd Tuesdays)
✅ Operations/Engineering (2nd & 4th Tuesdays)
✅ Bonus joint episodes on 5th Tuesdays

If this episode helps, please leave a quick review—it helps more shop owners find the show.

💡 “It’s not automation. It’s not another machine. It’s one thing that can touch EVERY part of your business.”

This week, Mike sits down with Paul Van Metre of ProShop ERP to reveal the #1 system that impacts your shop’s top line, bottom line, and people.

From replacing hours of manual tracking to discovering hidden profit leaks. This tool doesn’t just make you more efficient… it makes your entire business more valuable.

Tune in to find out how one software born inside a job shop became the secret weapon for manufacturers everywhere.

What if your next big customer came with a whole shop attached?

In this episode, Mike Fritz sits down with Mike Payne—shop owner, dealmaker, and host of By the Numbers- to pull back the curtain on how real machine shops grow through acquisitions.

From understanding what makes a deal worth it to financing it without millions in the bank. This episode reveals the real-world strategies behind building an empire, one acquisition at a time.

Tune in to learn how to avoid costly mistakes, find the right opportunities, and structure deals that actually make money.

Need a new operator yesterday? Or wondering if a recruiter’s worth the 20% fee?

In today’s episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the messy, costly, and sometimes surprising world of hiring in machine shops. From sifting through 100+ job board resumes to building career ladders that keep people around, Mike and Kirk break down what really works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to finding good people.

If you’ve ever asked, ‘Where do I even start?’… this episode might just change how you think about hiring.”

Hiring can make or break your shop’s growth, but how do you know when it’s the right move? 👀

In this episode, Mike and Kirk share their playbook for spotting the signs that it’s time to hire… and the costly mistakes to avoid if you pull the trigger too early. Should you automate first? Push more overtime? Promote from within? Or make that big hire now?

Listen in before you post that job ad—you might be looking at the problem all wrong.

How do you attract the next generation of machinists and inspectors?

Here’s a hint: it’s not just about offering more money or better hours.

In this episode, Mike and Kirk are joined by Nush Ahmed, a young quality inspector who’s making waves in the manufacturing world—not just on the shop floor, but online too. She shares what helped her stay in the industry, how leaders can better support young workers, and why shops need to rethink how they show up—physically, culturally, and digitally.

We also dive into what it takes to bring more women into manufacturing—and help them thrive. From mentorship and visibility to updating environments and challenging outdated norms, this episode explores how to build a workplace where everyone feels like they belong.

You’ll hear powerful insights about training, inclusion, curiosity, and how to build a culture that actually grows your people—not just expects them to figure it out.

This is one of our most energizing episodes yet—tune in and see manufacturing through a fresh lens.