Episodes

  • 2016 Year in Review Special Edition: Part 2

    2016 Year in Review Special Edition: Part 2
    Dec 19 2016
    With 2016 winding down, we feel it’s a great time for small business owners to reflect on their successes and failures (or better stated, growth opportunities) in the past year, and then begin developing new strategies that build on these experiences in the year to come. In keeping with the spirit of this show, cultivating cultures of continuous learning, we’d like to share not only our own reflections and experiences over the past year, but those of some of our post popular guests in this two part series. We have had the opportunity to speak with a wide range of incredibly talented individuals, all of whom offered their time, talents and perspectives to help entrepreneurs create the ideal environment for a thriving business. We hope, as in all of our episodes, to provide a few key takeaways to help guide you on your journey as you plan, grow and prepare for an eventual—and prosperous—exit from your business.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • 2016 Year in Review Special Edition: Part 1

    2016 Year in Review Special Edition: Part 1
    Dec 12 2016
    With 2016 winding down, we feel it’s a great time for small business owners to reflect on their successes and failures (or better stated, growth opportunities) in the past year, and then begin developing new strategies that build on these experiences in the year to come. In keeping with the spirit of this show, cultivating cultures of continuous learning, we’d like to share not only our own reflections and experiences over the past year, but those of some of our post popular guests in this two part series. We have had the opportunity to speak with a wide range of incredibly talented individuals, all of whom offered their time, talents and perspectives to help entrepreneurs create the ideal environment for a thriving business. We hope, as in all of our episodes, to provide a few key takeaways to help guide you on your journey as you plan, grow and prepare for an eventual—and prosperous—exit from your business.
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Encore: Is Investment Crowdfunding a Viable Option for My Business?

    Encore: Is Investment Crowdfunding a Viable Option for My Business?
    Dec 5 2016
    On today’s episode of The Second Stage we welcome Bill Hubbard, Owner and Founder of Hubbard Business Counsel, to shed light on the newest of the crowdfunding options for both business owners and investors, Reg CF or Title III. In effect as of May sixteenth of this year, Title III allows businesses to raise equity capital online from non-accredited investors, unlike the previous forms of crowdfunding. We will discuss both the opportunities and challenges investment crowdfunding poses for business owners, as well as resources and internal steps to prepare your business, should you decide investment crowdfunding is right for you. Join us to learn more!
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Encore: From Entrepreneur to Investor

    Encore: From Entrepreneur to Investor
    Nov 28 2016
    We are thrilled to welcome Joan Crain, Global Family Wealth Strategist, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, this week to The Second Stage. Joan works closely with wealthy families and their advisors to provide comprehensive and customized wealth planning solutions. We will speak with Ms. Crain about steps one can take to ensure a successful navigation of the transition from an active owner/operator to a business investor, post exit. Ms. Crain notes that it is extremely important for a business owner to carefully consider both lifestyle and psychological changes that accompany the transition from entrepreneur to investor. She will touch on the significance of having a good team of advisors in place, who the team should consist of, and the role each plays. Join us to learn more!
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Encore: How financially capable are your employees?

    Encore: How financially capable are your employees?
    Nov 14 2016
    We talk often about the importance of great financial metrics and reporting as you establish and grow your organization. And it doesn’t stop with just having solid financial practices in place, but must be accompanied with a culture of transparency and accountability to empower your employees for better decision making. Today’s guest however takes the concept of being financially sound one step further, as he shares the importance of teaching your employees how to manage their own personal finances and the impact to not only their own life, but that of the organization. Mr. Clint Greenleaf, founder and CEO of Greenleaf Groups and founder of Greenleaf Book Group, speaks passionately about entrepreneurship and personal finances. He shares his own experiences working with employees and how implementing a brown bag lunch series, Personal Finance 101, was just the beginning of what became an ongoing education and modified version of open book management. Join us to hear the results.
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Encore: Conquer Complexity in Your Business: Scale is Possible

    Encore: Conquer Complexity in Your Business: Scale is Possible
    Nov 7 2016
    At a certain point in the lifecycle of every business, there comes an awkward phase of organizational development where the complexity of a business is overcoming its team’s capabilities as leaders and the systems they created. Too big to be small, and too small to be big, this wilderness phase is what Doug Tatum’s bestseller refers to as “No Man’s Land,” a critical transitional stage in the metamorphosis of a growing company. And just as every teenager thinks they’re the only one struggling with fear, doubt, and the pressure to grow up faster, so every business owner needs to understand that this phase is normal and in fact manageable. A serial entrepreneur and 20 year member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, we are excited to welcome back Rich Manders to discuss how leaders can identify that their business is at this pivotal point, where complexity is growing at an exponential rate, and more importantly, how to overcome the transition.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Encore: Employee Onboarding Best Practices

    Encore: Employee Onboarding Best Practices
    Oct 31 2016
    As business owners grow their organizations, attracting AND retaining the right talent is crucial. Without the right team in place with everyone understanding their individual and team roles and how they fit into the organization, it is hard to reach desired company goals. So where does one begin when it comes to ensuring employee success? Does it start with employee onboarding or before? Who is responsible for onboarding? How do you measure the effectiveness of acclimating new hires? These are just a few of the questions we will answer on today’s episode of The Second Stage with our guest, human resource expert and President of Organizational Architecture, Mark Fiala. Investing in talent is a significant undertaking for any company, especially small businesses. So join us on today’s episode to learn best practices when it comes to employee retention – it starts even before an individual’s hire date.
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • Encore: Exit Your Business on Top

    Encore: Exit Your Business on Top
    Oct 24 2016
    A journey every business owner MUST take, exiting your business can either be the most rewarding or the most deflating. The part of an entrepreneur’s journey not often highlighted, the question is, what defines a great exit and how can it be planned for so that the entrepreneur leaves on his or her own terms (with satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment) and not by happenstance (with remorse). Here to join us is author Bo Burlingham, his new book “Finish Big” focused on this very subject. During our discussion we will walk through what Bo defines as the four phases of exit (Exploratory, Strategic, Execution and Transition), including what each of these phases entails. There is a process every entrepreneur can take to ensure that the factors important to them personally and professionally are dealt with in the best possible manner. And these factors can include everything from company culture to simply the involvement or lack thereof of the entrepreneur upon exit.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins