BizBooks

Abby Donnelly On Succession Planning

Straight Talk will help you set the foundation for succession planning, whether you plan to exit in one year, five years or 15 years. Every owner will exit his or her business one day. In this fast-paced easy read, we explore the critical strategies and tools that pave the way for a successful exit -- on your terms, and we help you avoid the pitfalls that can derail your best intentions.
Abby Donnelly, Founder of The Leadership & Legacy Group, works closely with business owners and CEOs to develop successors who can run the business profitably and sustainably and both parties have confidence that the new leaders are ready. She helps them navigate the often complex conversations and challenging emotions that come with a transition of this magnitude. She guides clients in their 50s and beyond who are facing a transition, to discover their meaningful and rewarding next job, next career or next chapter.
A fourteen-year veteran of Procter & Gamble, Abby led improvements in leadership effectiveness, productivity, and streamlined business processes.  She was a partner at Sandler Training, a franchise specializing in sales and sales management training, for over eleven years and she is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Master of Statistics. Her clients consistently appreciate her ability to get to the root of an issue. She asks powerful questions and is exceptional at providing clarity, keen insight and fresh perspective. She can identify the barriers that get in the way of success and provide powerful guidance to help leaders make intentional change, improving performance and delivering better results.
Topics in this episode include:
01:48: About April
10:15: When there's no qualified buyer
15:32: The real ugly truth about succession planning
20:13: Thinking beyond the sale of your business
27:08: Why your people are your biggest asset
39:38: Answering "what's next?" - Three things to uncover about yourself once you sell your business
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06...
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

Succession Planning: John Martinka on Business Acquisitions

With twenty years’ experience as an acquisitions intermediary, John Martinka knows the ins and outs of succession planning and the industry. In Company Growth by Acquisition Makes Dollars & Sense, he guides you through the planning strategies you need to purchase and nurture additional business interests.
Starting with nineteen compelling reasons to consider growth through acquisition, Martinka explains how to find the “hidden” market: businesses not actively listed for sale but open to offers. He covers financing, deal structure, due diligence, valuation, and how to build a winning transition plan. Most importantly, he shows you how to get the deal done so you can reap the profits.
From financing options to the importance of developing a positive relationship with sellers, Martinka offers a nine-step process to grow your business through the exciting world of acquisitions—all supported by real-life examples and interviews. If you’re ready to grow your business, you need this book.
Topics in this episode include:
00:56- About John Martinka
11:13- When busy owners want to buy another company
20:13- What to consider for free cash flow
31:15- Is it all about debt maintenance?
38:34- Conventional debt vs. SBA
43:47 Why growing your company through acquisition makes dollars and sense
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Company-Growth-Acquisition-Makes-Dollars-ebook/dp/B07982TSTC
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

Ivy Walker on Risk Management

This is the ultimate guide for small business owners to quickly learn actionable steps they can take to protect their most valuable asset from a range of risks especially cybersecurity, fraud, reputation risk (social media), and workplace violence. Chock full of relatable, real stories that perfectly bring to life key risks, this easy to read, always informative and sometimes funny how-to-guide arms readers with advice, tips—and importantly—access to time-saving, free and low-cost tools they can use to immediately implement effective risk management strategies for their businesses.
Ivy Walker is a serial entrepreneur, award-winning author, teacher, business coach, and award-winning director and executive producer of documentary films. Ivy has founded or co-founded multiple companies, including Helios Digital Learning, a company using digital storytelling to help business professionals and students improve their ethical decision-making, Purpose Workforce Solutions, a staffing firm that specializes in connecting the aspirations of disconnected youth to job opportunities, and AskCoda, a risk-management platform for small businesses.
Ivy's professional background includes successful stints at Fortune 500 companies in consulting and investment banking and experience in private equity and the social venture/non-profit sector.
Topics in this episode include:
01:28: About Ivy Walker
09:45: What is Occupational Fraud?
16:29: Ivy's expert insight and advice on cyber attacks.
21:29: Investing in training to protect yourself against cyber attacks.
32:31: Applying Ivy's risk management steps.
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Minute-Risk-Management-Strategies-Business-ebook/dp/B09TQ7XZDZ
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia

Tim Koelzer & Kristin Kurth on Addressing Customer Needs & Upstream Marketing

In Upstream Marketing, authors Tim Koelzer and Kristin Kurth aim to help address customer needs. In the book they share best practices, research, case studies, and analysis informed by their more than twenty years of experience helping transform client brands and businesses through their work at EquiBrand Consulting, a top management consultancy. The result is a groundbreaking deep-dive into the fundamentals of upstream marketing—the process of identifying and fulfilling customer needs, which relies on the strategic implementation of three core principles: insight, identity, and innovation. An invaluable tool for business leaders looking for mindset, strategy, and processes that will help them improve their organization proactively, instead of reactively. Upstream Marketing includes meticulous analysis of seven profile companies, breaking down the values and principles that make them great—and offering some how-to tips you can apply yourself. The authors also draw on examples from their own work with clients to help illustrate how applying the principles of upstream marketing correctly and at the right time can impact the health, growth, and success of any business.
Topics in this episode include:
0:54- About Kristin and Tim
10:33- What Are Proprietary Insights?
15:44- The Benefit Hierarchy
26:17 - Identify From an Upstream Perspective
33:33- Brand Architecture
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Upstream-Marketing-Transform-Principles-Innovation/dp/1626347514
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

Kathryn Finney on Starting a Business and How to Be Successful

On this episode, Kathryn Finney shares her experience in starting a business and provides steps to her success.
Finney is the Managing Partner of Genius Guild, a $20 million dollar venture fund & studio that invests in amazing Black founders. One of the most influential women in tech (Inc Magazine), her groundbreaking work has laid the foundation for generations of black entrepreneurs and investors.
On the heels of the events of the Summer of 2020, Kathryn created Genius Guild, a venture studio (Platform & $20MM Venture Fund) to invest in Black entrepreneurs building scalable businesses that serve black communities and beyond. Kathryn raised investment from a number of partners including Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company founded by Melinda Gates, Impact Seat, an investment company led by serial investor Barbara Clarke, and individual investors such as Andrew Bosworth (Facebook) and the Lorenzini Family (Docusign).
Topics in this episode include:
01:20: About Kathryn Finney
09:15: Building Your Internal Foundation
15:05: Importance of a Personal Advisory Board
26:13: Kathryn's Experience of Building Her First MVP
36:38: Centering Your core Values When Hiring
Get her book here: https://www.kathrynfinney.com/build-the-damn-thing
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

BizBooks: Donnie Boivin on Scaling Your Business

Donnie is considered one of the leading global minds on sales, business development, and business growth. He is described as the first person to make sales and business development relatable and human. Donnie is also a top-200 Apple Podcast host of the world-renowned Growth Mode podcast. He’s been called a motivator and a straight talker.
In F*cked to Focused Donnie Boivin gives you the systems and advice you need to get out of your own way and truly build the business and life you want. You didn’t grow up as an entrepreneur or have an entrepreneurial family. You worked for others and did what you were told. You are programmed with an employee mindset trying to run a business. It's time to flip the switch and become a CEO.
Get his book here: https://www.amazon.com/cked-Focused-T...
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

BizBooks: James D. White

As a Black man at the highest levels of corporate America for over thirty years, James D. White has built a deep understanding of how to operationalize and integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agendas. As CEO and Chairman of the global smoothie chain Jamba Juice, he led a remarkable turnaround to make the company a model of strong performance built on a foundation of a diverse, anti-racist culture.
He also draws on the experiences of other leaders at the vanguard of DEI. White writes with his daughter, Krista White, who brings to this book the heart and sensibilities of a younger generation devoted to equity and inclusion and intent on justice.
Business leaders ready to take a bold stance to make the world better for employees, for consumers, and for the greater community: Read this book. As leaders, you have the unique ability to reach thousands of employees and millions of consumers. It's time for you to build a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and, by extension, a more just society.
This book provides a comprehensive plan for leaders who are ready to get serious about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and to create an anti-racist company culture.
Topics include:
01:04: About James D. White
14:35: How White audited the company culture at Jamba Juice.
19:53: When does the idea of Chief Diversity Officers really work?
29:55: Empty gestures or genuine commitment to changing company culture?
39:58: Is there a way to measure the ROI of a diverse workforce?
Get his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Racist-Leadership-Transform-Corporate-Race-Conscious/dp/1647821975
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

BizBooks: Claire Jarrett

In Rapid Google Ads Success, Claire Jarrett helps readers learn how to create a successful Google Ads campaign.
She talks through examples across industries such as personal trainers, will writers, locksmiths, and personal trainers. She debunks the commonly-held belief that Ads should be managed by a Google specialist.
Drawing from her 14 years of experience and real-life examples, Jarrett delves into strategies that work for developing a profitable Google Ads account.
Rapid Google Ads Success is for anyone frustrated by the complex Google Ads interface, or for anyone worried about poor results from their existing campaigns. This book will change the way you think about Google Ads marketing.
Claire Jarrett was born in Bristol, UK in 1975 and is a qualified school teacher. Her first book, "Successful Google AdWords Strategies" was published in 2009 and her second book "How to Get Selling on AdWords Fast!" was published in 2012. Her brand new Google Ads book "Rapid Google Ads Success" was released on 24th May 2022. Claire lives with her husband Kirk, her children Ben and Charlotte, 3 cats and a dog.
Topics in this episode include:
01:10: About Claire Jarrett
08:53: Why Relevance Is Important
14:32: Negative Keywords
22:48: Remarketing
32:20: Which Ads are Most Effective?
36:05: What are Ad Extensions?
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B253PCLH
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

BizBooks: Tyler Cowen

Tyler Cowen is the Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics at George Mason University and serves as chairman and faculty director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
With colleague Alex Tabarrok, Cowen is coauthor of the popular economics blog Marginal Revolution and cofounder of the online educational platform Marginal Revolution University.
He writes a column for Bloomberg View; has contributed extensively to national publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Money; and serves on the advisory boards of both Wilson Quarterly and American Interest. His research has been published in the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, Ethics, and Philosophy and Public Affairs.
Cowen is host of Conversations with Tyler, a popular podcast series featuring today's most underrated thinkers in wide-ranging explorations of their work, the world, and everything in between. Past guests include David Brooks, Malcolm Gladwell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek profiled Cowen as “America’s Hottest Economist” after his e-book, The Great Stagnation, appeared twice on the New York Times e-book bestseller list. Columnist David Brooks declared it “the most debated nonfiction book so far this year.” Foreign Policy named Cowen as one of 2011’s “Top 100 Global Thinkers,” and an Economist survey counted him as one of the most influential economists of the last decade.
Cowen graduated from George Mason University with a BS in economics and received his PhD in economics from Harvard University.
Topics in this episode include:
06:02- Defining energizers, creatives, and winners
17:18- Going meta
27:44- Looking for the energizers, creatives, and winners
31:02- The evolution of the legal landscape of interviews
40:50- Convincing talent to join your cause
45:39 - Most thought-provoking studies in the book according to Tyler
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Identify-Energizers-Creatives-Winners/dp/1250275814
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.

BizBooks: Emily Morgan

Emily Morgan is an entrepreneur with an innate heart for supporting others. Emily’s mission is to create freedom for people to do what they love and have a big impact. As the leader of Delegate, she works tirelessly to help reshape the culture of the traditional workforce by providing professional flexible employment for her team while also providing entrepreneurs with strategic workforce options to help them grow more efficiently and effectively.
Emily speaks nationally on the topic of delegation, automation, remote workforces and flexwork culture. She’s been featured in Forbes as a Top 50 Remote Employer, contributed articles to the Huffington Post, and highlighted in the NY Times, Inc. Magazine, NBC News, CNBC as well as numerous podcasts. She is a Goldman Sachs 10kSB Alum, and recent winner of the Philly Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Person of the Year award. Emily is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) and a proud EO Philly Member.
Topics in this episode include:
02:15- About Emily Morgan
07:00- Understanding why we don’t want to let go of tasks to delegate
15:35- Respecting systems
23:48- 5 golden rules of successful delegation
37:04- What makes great delegators?
Get the book here: https://info.delegatesolutions.com/let-it-go-book
About Gene: Gene Marks is a former columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post and now writes weekly on political, economic, management and technology issues affecting small and mid-sized businesses for The Guardian, The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Times, Forbes and  Entrepreneur. He runs a 10 company financial and technology consulting firm near Philadelphia.