
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
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Top 10 Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Embrace Uncertainty & Take Risks - David Hartley
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
11/08/22 • 48 min
Today we are joined by partner, director, and advisor at Anders CPAs, David Hartley to discuss how he has found success and happiness in his career by taking risks and embracing uncertainty. You'll hear about David's professional career journey, the catalysts for change early on, and how he handled changes he encountered along the way. We also talk about why we as leaders have to accept that we do not know all the answers and instead focus on being a facilitator for problem-solving.
David also shares his view on why it is critical to be open to learning, staying up to date with technology, asking questions, and staying true to yourself. We then dig into how to handle changing circumstances, manage your mental health, and why self-care is essential. Finally, David shares a piece of advice for professionals hitting the five-to-10-year mark in their career.
Key Points From This Episode:
- David talks us through some of the pivotal points in the beginning of his career.
- How to work your way through life change.
- Why it's okay not to know all the answers.
- The importance of facilitating a group as a leader rather than dominating problem-solving.
- The importance of embracing the newest tools and latest technologies.
- How to navigate constant change.
- The importance of asking questions and being a sponge in the beginning of your career.
- Why you don't need to know everything and why it's imperative to ask questions to learn.
- The themes that came out of the new partner presentations David's company has just done.
- Why we need to manage mental health in the workplace.
- The importance of being authentic to the things you enjoy early in your career.
- David shares some advice about self-care for professionals hitting their five-to-10-year mark.
David Hartley on LinkedIn
Anders CPAs
Dare to LeadConnection BuildersAlex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Rethink Your Approach to Work - Dan Montgomery
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
11/01/22 • 36 min
In today's high-paced professional world, it's easy to lose perspective on what moves the needle in your company and get mired down in a slew of everyday tasks and emails. And while creating a structure that prioritizes reflection and planning can be challenging, it is immensely beneficial in the long run. Here to help us unpack this topic and give us a fresh perspective on our approach to work is Dan Montgomery, audit partner and director of business development at Forge Financial and Management Consulting, a forward-thinking advisory firm. In our conversation, Dan expands on how Forge's novel approach is making the busy season more manageable for their team and what they are doing to prioritize planning, reflection, and productivity at their company. We then move on to what Dan has learned from the value of journaling, reflection, and planning and how those lessons have changed the way he works and lives his life. Finally, today's episode offers a high-level breakdown of creating an innovative professional services model that allows for increased profitability, greater productivity, and, most importantly, more personal life satisfaction.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Get to know today's guest, Dan Montgomery, and his fascinating childhood in Alaska.
- Why Forge Financial Management Consulting was created and who it is meant to serve.
- An overview of Dan's firm and its approach to accounting.
- The pitfalls of the busy season in accounting and how Dan's firm is addressing it.
- Why Forge Financial Management Consulting isn't taking on new tax-only clients.
- The importance of prioritizing the most impactful work within your company.
- Defining your value proposition and why it will attract more ideal clients.
- How reflection helps Dan function in a more healthy way.
- A breakdown of how Dan prioritizes daily and weekly 'Big Three' tasks.
- The most important elements of weekly reflection.
- How to create space for focused, deep work.
- What an ideal week for Dan's company looks like.
Forge Financial Management Consulting
Dan Montgomery on LinkedIn
Dan Montgomery's Email
Connection BuildersAlex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Increase Revenue with Client Advisory Services (CAS) - Ed Warren
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
10/25/22 • 33 min
Building a Client Advisory Services (CAS) practice can be challenging, but when you identify the right business opportunities and apply a value-based pricing model, you'll not only increase your business revenue but reveal your true worth to your clients! Today's guest has identified seven tips for growing your CAS practice and is here to share his insights on growth opportunities for professional service providers. Join us in welcoming Ed Warren, an accomplished sales executive with over 25 years of professional services, sales, and marketing experience. Ed has worked in marketing, business development, and practice growth roles in Top 100 CPA firms, and today, we discuss the seven ways that practitioners can leverage a CAS model to shift the traditional service model, create a more value-added service, and function more like a fractional provider while driving increased revenue and building a more scalable practice.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Defining Client Advisory Services (CAS).
- Thinking about CAS like an on-call fractional CFO.
- Why finding and mastering your niche is critical for advisory success.
- How to leverage low-hanging fruit with existing clients.
- Benefits of thinking like a general manager, especially in an increasingly virtual world.
- The importance of systems in building a replicable model.
- Ed's tips for creating a sales and marketing plan.
- The value of being anticipatory.
- Your responsibility to understand hard trends if you want to become a thought leader.
- Recommended first steps on your CAS journey.
Edward Warren on LinkedIn
7 Tips to Increase Your Revenue with Client Advisory Services
Sage Intacct
The E-MythThe Anticipatory OrganizationConnection BuildersAlex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Drive Innovation with Curiosity & Discipline - Gary Thomson
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
10/18/22 • 44 min
Insatiable curiosity is often correlated with leadership and business success. But if it isn't combined with a healthy dose of strategy and discipline, it can have the opposite effect. With more than 35 years of experience in public accounting, Gary Thomson is a sought-after consultant and leadership development expert. His years of experience working in firm structures and as an entrepreneur make him well equipped to discuss what it takes to drive innovation and growth for yourself and your business.
Although every person and every situation is unique, Gary shares his thoughts on why curiosity and discipline are two essential keys to success and how you can cultivate these traits and use them to your advantage along your own career journey. For the technology geeks out there, we also go down a bit of an unplanned rabbit hole about the rapid pace of technological advancements today. Make sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The biggest change that Gary has witnessed in his industry since his career began.
- Technological advancements that are taking place in the CPA world today.
- Why a high level of curiosity is correlated with great leadership.
- The downsides of too much curiosity amongst people within an organization.
- How taking breaks will benefit your business.
- The value in setting goals and being flexible in your approach to achieving them.
- Cultivating your curiosity within a corporate structure.
- A hypothetical example of implementing a cascading, organization-wide strategy.
- How boundaries promote creativity.
- How to foster creativity amongst your employees.
- A better way to think about sunk costs.
- Examples of indirect ROIs, and the value these hold.
Thomson Consulting
Gary Thomson on LinkedIn
True ProfessionalismExtreme OwnershipConnection BuildersAlex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn

Building Connections & Taking Ownership - Gary Lewis
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
06/10/20 • 35 min
Welcome to the Branch Out Podcast, where we focus on the vital professional skills of building connections and networking! Joining us for our first episode is Gary Lewis, founder and managing partner at Aquila Equity Partners in Detroit. We are so excited to share this great conversation with all of our new listeners, as Gary unpacks the foundational nature of this part of his work and why it should not be an occasional pursuit, but rather a daily attitude and exercise. We also get into how to balance the immediate requirements of work with the long-term strategy of networking and relationship building. For Gary, there is a definite selflessness involved in finding commonality and nurturing a shared interest and the keys he points out specifically are open communication and honest dialogue. Our conversation also covers work-life balance, avoiding burnout, and the need for positivity and fresh energy when dealing with people, so make sure to tune in for this fantastic conversation with a great friend and inspiration!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The core value of networking in building connections.
- Measures that Gary has taken to keep networking central to his work.
- Lessons that Gary learned from a young age from his father and other good mentors.
- The focus on people in your company and others; allowing everyone to win!
- Humility, patience, and balance in your approach to professional life.
- Avoiding burnout and learning the painful lessons that lead to longevity.
- The shared benefits of healthier practices at work and during downtime.
- What is work-life balance? Finding a comfortable and individual standard for yourself.
- Networking requires positivity; don't forget to bring that energy to the table!
- The integral position of networking in daily work and people-based business.
- Constant evolution and honesty in the pursuit of building connections and problem-solving.
Gary Lewis LinkedIn
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn
Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

Ask, Listen, Act: Enhancing Your Client Experience - Alyson Fieldman
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
09/12/23 • 37 min
According to research, one in seven clients has an unvoiced complaint. Do you know how your clients feel about your firm's service?
In today’s episode, Alyson Fieldman, founder of Rockit Results, an independent consulting firm specializing in strategic marketing for high-growth professional services firms, shares her expertise in client experience (CX) and why it is a strategic differentiator in the marketplace. Alyson explains that CX is the sum of all a firm's touchpoints with its clients and how it makes the client feel. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding the emotional components of CX, which technical professionals often overlook.
The key to happier repeat clients, less client attrition, more client loyalty, an easier sales cycle, and more referrals is to ask, listen, and act. It’s as simple (and as complicated) as that. Although it requires time, resources, and ongoing effort to get to the bottom of what your clients really want and to make the changes that will give them that, it will always be a worthy investment!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Alyson shares her thoughts on why client experience (CX) is a strategic differentiator in the marketplace.
- Elements that CX is made up of and why they matter to your firm’s success.
- The difference between client service and client experience.
- Why so many professional services executives struggle with CX.
- Examples of different CX approaches.
- Ask, listen, act; why this is Alyson’s favorite CX approach.
- How to ask questions in a way that will allow you to make the biggest impact.
- The opportunity that presents itself when there is a breakdown in client service.
- Some of the obstacles that prevent companies from enhancing their CX.
- The many benefits of taking the time to understand what your clients really want.
- Why CX is a program rather than a project.
- Examples of the types of questions to ask your clients in order to understand their feelings towards your company.
- How to respond to different types of client feedback.
- The best place to start on your journey of improving CX.
Alyson Fieldman on LinkedIn
Rockit Results
Connection BuildersAlex Drost LinkedIn

Disconnect to Connect: Transforming Your Workplace and Your Life - Amy Vetter
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
08/22/23 • 46 min
Does it ever feel as if your life has become mechanical or routine? Do you find that it’s becoming more and more difficult to find success in your career? This is the episode for you! Today, we speak with keynote speaker, CPA, yogi, technologist, TEDx speaker, Breaking Beliefs Podcast host, and CEO of the B3 Method Institute, Amy Vetter, who guides business professionals on their journeys to become happier, more engaged, and more successful.
As a CPA and a yogi, Amy has a unique perspective to offer on achieving work-life harmony, changing our thoughts and habits, becoming connected leaders, and more; all of which we discuss in this episode. Above all, Amy emphasizes the importance of doing the work, and she encourages listeners to step back, get still, and embrace new perspectives, especially when doing so feels like it challenges your existing belief systems. To discover some of the tools you need to overcome adversity, identify your personal purpose, and align it with the work you do, be sure to tune in to this insightful conversation with Amy Vetter!
Key Points From This Episode:
- A look at the B3 Method Institute and its methodology: business plus balance equals bliss.
- The importance of doing the work to change your thoughts, habits, and belief systems.
- Tips for taking the first steps on your journey to transform your work and life.
- Dispelling the myth that there’s never “enough time” for self-development.
- Why individual buy-in is essential for workplace transformation.
- Leadership, self-deception, and the importance of prioritizing people.
- What it means to become a more connected leader (according to Amy).
- Key elements of successful workplace transformation, including intentional culture.
- The role of empathy, mutual respect, collaboration, detachment, and mindfulness.
- Listening and feedback techniques for connected leaders.
- Finding the energy for iterative growth and the value of learning in real-time.
- Why firms need to evolve to continue to attract the talent they want.
- How organizations can benefit from allowing people to inform their strategy.
- Actionable advice for firm leaders: begin with self-assessment.
Amy Vetter
The B3 Method Institute
Breaking Beliefs Podcast
Disconnect to ConnectBusiness, Balance & BlissAmy Vetter on LinkedIn
Amy Vetter on Twitter
Amy Vetter on Instagram
Connection BuildersAlex Drost LinkedIn

Continually Seek Growth Opportunities - Elliott Holland
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
01/13/21 • 35 min
Stepping out of your comfort zone is a difficult thing to do, but it is absolutely essential for growth, in both a business and personal capacity. The world is changing at a rapid rate and if you aren't continuously growing, you are going to get left behind. Our guest on today's show, Elliott Holland, Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence, believes that your most frustrating experiences will often be your biggest learning opportunities, so you shouldn't shy away from situations that are difficult or stressful. Elliott also shares why and how he maintains a practice that has been invaluable to his success in business; reflection. There is always room for improvement, and if you don't look back and figure out where you went wrong (or where you went right), you will struggle to move forward. Learning from the experiences and the reflections of the more senior people in your field will also benefit you greatly. Don't let fear prevent you from fulfilling your dreams; most people suck at the beginning, and you have to start somewhere!
Key Points from This Episode:
- The world is rapidly changing, and it is so important to stay up to date in terms of your knowledge and skills.
- Invest in yourself in order to move forward and grow in your chosen career.
- Elliott mentions an example of how things can go wrong when people aren't keeping up with the times.
- Growth can occur in numerous ways, not just through books and the internet. Elliott shares examples of different ways of investing in oneself.
- As you grow, you will realize how much your younger self didn't know.
- Make sure that in every situation, you are either winning in monetary terms or you are learning and growing.
- Don't be too quick to walk away from deals that aren't working out; instead, use them as an opportunity to learn a lesson.
- Books are helpful, but the best way to learn how to negotiate is through on-the-job-training.
- Looking back at your previous work and figuring out where you went wrong (i.e., reflection) is an extremely valuable practice.
- Smart, dedicated, well-prepared people don't often make mistakes; look at their behavior and learn from it.
- See stress as a blessing because it means you are learning, but make sure you also take time to recover.
- Don't be scared to step out of your comfort zone; everyone 'sucks' in the beginning.
- Practice, practice, practice, and you'll get to where you want to be!
- Elliott shares some of the toughest things he has had to learn in his career.
- In order to grow, you need to let yourself be vulnerable and open to change.
- Knowing when and when not to trust your intuition is a skill that comes with growth.
- Listen to and learn from the more mature people in your space.
- Two calls to action for today from Alex: Take time to reflect on a past work experience and how you can improve, and reach out to a more mature person in your field to ask for their advice.
Elliott Holland LinkedIn
Elliott Holland Email
Guardian Due Diligence
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn
Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

The Power of Resiliency – Kurt Wilkin
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
11/10/20 • 25 min
Part of being in a leadership position is that you cannot take a “woe is me, hide in the closet mentality”; you have to take a “we are going to get through this mentality” or you may ultimately struggle to be successful. The winners in life are not the ones who never get defeated or never fall on their face. It’s how you respond afterward — it’s about resiliency and persistence and bouncing back off of the mat. Today on the show, we welcome Kurt Wilkin, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist of HireBetter, your strategic talent partner. During this episode, Kurt and I talk on the topic of resiliency and why it is something we all need to have the right mindset around. We are in a time where we are facing challenges that we have never seen before and Kurt shares some insightful thoughts on how to maintain a resilient mindset. As an entrepreneur, Kurt has experience growing, scaling, and exiting high-growth companies and now devotes his time to helping business leaders unlock their own success. His responsibilities include strategic client consultation, client satisfaction, recruiting, and practice development. His success as an entrepreneur stems from his ability to build long-term relationships with clients, attract a loyal team of dedicated leaders and associates, and consistently deliver on commitments. Kurt is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas, a Certified Public Accountant, and an active member and officer of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He is passionate about entrepreneurship, is an active angel investor, and sits on the boards of several companies and nonprofits. Stay tuned for this interesting conversation with one of our leading experts on today’s episode of Branch Out.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Kurt shares his general thoughts on resiliency.
- How Kurt maintains his resilient mentality while dealing with challenges: Leadership responsibility.
- What Kurt would recommend to someone who was crushed by COVID-19: Survival.
- Comfort zone versus growth zone: Growth requires discomfort.
- Failure is not an option: What does failure really mean?
- Kurt unpacks one of his most inspiring quotes.
- The way self-care ties into the concept of resiliency.
- Taking time for self-care will influence your productivity and effectiveness.
- Kurt shares his number one thing to do in order to remain resilient: Connecting with others.
Kurt Wilkin LinkedIn
HireBetter
Alex Drost LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn
Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]

Building Value-Added Connections In Today's World - Adam Klein
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders
08/30/21 • 45 min
In an ever-changing world, one thing that remains constant is the power and importance of relationships. On today's episode, we speak with Adam Klein, Chief Growth Officer with Bennett Thrasher, a full-service, CPA advisory business advisory firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, about his perspective on the ins and outs of building value-added connections. We kick off our conversation with an overview of what has changed since the pandemic and what has stayed the same. This introduces us to today's theme: relationships as the core of business-building. Adam gives us his predictions for the future of communication, encourages us to embrace flexibility, and be strategic about when to meet online, and make the additional effort to see someone in person. He introduces us to the practice of reframing selling as helping and seeking to understand people in order to add value. We talk about developing soft skills, why people do business with people they like, how to adjust our networking expectations for a post-COVID world, and why there is no shortcut to building fruitful relationships. We hope you join us for an episode packed with insights with the power to change your perspective today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What the pandemic has not changed: relationships at the core of business development.
- What has changed: bringing internal and external communication into the digital space.
- How the pandemic has highlighted the importance of relationships.
- Why building rapport supports business.
- A prediction for Zoom going forward: a new dynamic for what is considered face-to-face.
- Bridging the gap when you have different needs to the person you are meeting with.
- The benefit of arranging an initial meeting digitally before engaging in person.
- How Zoom has created greater ease of making new connections.
- Ways we should adjust our networking expectations in a post-COVID world.
- Reframing selling as helping.
- Seeking to understand people in order to add value.
- The value of developing soft skills: people do business with people they like.
- Why there is no shortcut to building relationships.
- Adam's advice: don't overcomplicate it, enjoy the process, and treat people well.
- Call-to-action: write down three ways that you can be helpful to your existing network.
Adam Klein on LinkedIn
Adam Klein Email
Bennett Thrasher Alex Drost LinkedIn
Branch Out Podcast LinkedIn
Connection Builders LinkedIn
Have thoughts or comments? We want to hear from you. [email protected]
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FAQ
How many episodes does Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders have?
Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders currently has 113 episodes available.
What topics does Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders cover?
The podcast is about Professional, Development, Growth, Podcasts, Business Development, Business, Networking and Careers.
What is the most popular episode on Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders?
The episode title 'Ask Questions to Uncover Opportunity - Gary Braun' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders?
The average episode length on Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders is 37 minutes.
How often are episodes of Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders released?
Episodes of Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders?
The first episode of Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders was released on May 21, 2020.
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