Grow For It!
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Top 10 Grow For It! Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Grow For It! episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Grow For It! 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 Grow For It! episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Why You Should Write a Book - Cathy Fyock
Grow For It!
04/20/21 • 31 min
Episode 24: Ever think about writing a book? In this episode, I interview Cathy Fyock who’s a professional book writing coach. We’ll discuss how she works with her authors, why you should consider writing book and part of the process involved in accomplishing it.
Cathy began coaching after writing her own books. She had been consulting, but wasn’t as happy in this role, as she’d hoped. She had managed to write 4 of her 5 books in less than 6 weeks. A colleague asked her about her process for accomplishing this so efficiently. That’s when it actually dawned on her that her process did, in fact, exist. She was invited to give a program on it and engage in a coaching role. That’s where it all began.
Many people want to write a book. They recognize the need, but they don’t understand where to get started or how to stay on course to complete it. Cathy has the solution to these and many other challenges.
What Types of Clients Does Cathy Fyock Help?
Cathy works with professional speakers, consultants, coaches, thought-leaders, solopreneurs, wealth advisors, CPAs, attorneys and realtors. If you use your expertise as a strategy to serve your client base, codifying that expertise is a way to educate, inspire and sell your client base.
Having published a book can position you as an industry expert. It lends a high-level of credibility to your personal and professional brand. The topics in your book can help people realize an alignment between their goals and your ability to help them to achieve those goals.
Your book will help promote a sense of trust and authenticity between you and your target audience. Cathy is a huge fan of writing your own book, rather than using a ghost writer. The process will help you to clarify your thoughts and mastery of the topic.
It May Not Be Easy
Cathy admits, writing a book is hard work. In fact, most of her clients don’t actually love to write. This is why having a coach is vital to the book’s organization, your accountability or other support issues.
Authority is one of Cathy’s latest projects. It’s about the power of authorship. It’s an anthology of stories and perspectives from 15 different thought-leaders who share their advice and experience. It’s already a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-seller.
3 Basic Challenges for Authors
The first challenge is FOCUS. It’s developing the strategic plan for your book that aligns with your business strategy. The second challenge is TIME. It relates to disciplining yourself to find the time with an already busy schedule. The third challenge is DEALING with that NEGATIVE INTERNAL VOICE. It’s the classic imposter syndrome. This can be one of the greatest obstacles for some authors. Cathy serves as their cheerleader to encourage them to accomplish what they’re capable of accomplishing.
Once the Manuscript is Written
Cathy functions as a “developmental editor.” Cathy can work with you to ensure all the correct pieces fit together regarding flow, logic and the ability to foster reader-engagement. She is not a publisher, but she has extensive connections with publishers and can help an author to find the right one for him/her and the subject matter.
There are different models for publishers. Cathy realizes the need for her authors to be able to purchase their own books at cost. They need to maintain creative control and own the copyright (as well as future rights). You have to understand the fine print. Cathy can help you to navigate part or all of it. She understands the business aspect of writing a book.
How Does Cathy Fyock Work with Authors?
Cathy loves to speak with anyone who’s even thinking about the idea, with no obligation. For those who are ready, she offers multiple types of services. Her Coaching Service is her main program. It’s a one-on-one process that lasts 6 months. It encompasses strategy planning, accountability calls, connections and post-publishing activities.
She also provides workshops, writing retreats, master classes, online courses and other services, all of which are described on her website.
Dealing with Accountability
This is obviously a significant factor for some people along their journey to writing a book. She can help to problem solve to determine what’s getting in the way of progress. Did you forget to book time to do it? Did it go on the To Do List, instead of the calendar? There are strategies Cathy can offer to help her offers to cope and to complete the journey.
While the subject matter will vary by author and the author’s experience, the process of writing a book is fairly similar. Cathy Fyock is your book-writing Sherpa as you climb this incredibl...
Insurance Topics with Wendy and Alan Hall
Grow For It!
09/17/20 • 32 min
Episode 20: My good friends Wendy and Alan Hall joined me in the studio for a discussion about the Alan Hall Agency. They work with various types of insurance. In June of 2018, they appeared on my small business radio show, Let’s Get It Started. Their business recently went through some changes, so I thought it would be a good idea to ask them to walk us through the process.
Their business was founded in 2013. Today, they primarily focus on Medicare, health, home and automobile insurance. Earlier this year, they relocated their office, just before the COVID crisis. All things considered, the business is still doing well.
One of the drivers behind the relocation was the opportunity to expand their lines of business insurance policies. However, that area if far more complicated and takes much longer to process. The other types of insurance they provide are much more efficient to quote and process, based on their years of experience.
The learning here is that they noticed the strain on their productivity and took steps to make a vital decision for the health of their agency. Small business owners often simply try to gut it out, often to the detriment to both their businesses and their clients.
The Alan Hall Agency is a brokerage. They have access to multiple insurance carriers. Other agencies may be a “captive” agency, which only offers one carrier’s product (e.g. State Farm). Alan feels the inherent advantage to being a broker is the ability to shop for the best coverage, based on the needs of their clients.
Don’t Buy on Price
Wendy addresses the common mistake of purchasing insurance policies based on price. There are often gaps in the levels of coverage. Insurance policies aren’t always apples to apples, because they can be customized to achieve certain types of coverages and premium price levels. Buying insurance on price can lead to unanticipated risk and exposure.
Automobile Insurance Issues
Alan, Wendy and I have a mutual friend, Steve King of MK CPAs. In one of Steve’s podcast episodes, Steve discussed the importance of performing a mid-year review for your business. As your business and personal situations change, your needs often change as well. Wendy and Alan are happy to help you assess your coverage.
In the area of auto insurance, I described some good coverage recommendations my friend attorney Jim Desmond made to me about the value of maximizing your UM/UIM coverage. Wendy fully agrees that a minimal price increase to the premium can add thousands of dollars in coverage. She also described a tragic situation her client experienced after deciding not to upgrade his insurance policy.
Life Insurance Issues
Regarding life insurance and those types of issues, I mentioned how attorney Scott Scheynost recently helped us draft a Will, POA and healthcare directives for my college-age son. Anytime your children reach the age of 18 or older, they are legally considered adults. Having these important documents in place, even for young adults, is extremely important; especially when vital decisions need to be made on their behalf.
Taking out a life insurance policy at a young age gives you the advantage of locking in rates at a much lower price that if the individual were to wait until they’re older. Alan discusses how some policies are considered convertible.
Insurance for Business Owners
One way to protect your spouse and heirs is to consider using a term life insurance policy to pay off the note on a commercial property, should you pass away. It can prevent them from being burdened with unexpected debt and the loss of your income.
Business owners commonly underestimate the need for proper levels of health insurance and disability insurance. Unforeseen emergencies can easily place your business at risk. The sudden decrease or elimination of your income or ability to operate your business is something we don’t like to consider. Nevertheless, it happens.
Long-term disability insurance can be one of the strategies you can implement to replace some or all of the income you were producing before the accident or illness occurred.
To contact Wendy and Alan Hall:
502-345-9440
Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. I hope you found the information insightful. To listing to additional episodes of the Grow For It podcast, please visit my small business consulting website, search for it on Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Google Podcasts, iHe...
Leading with Gratitude
Grow For It!
05/28/18 • 9 min
Welcome to Episode 10 of Grow For It! This is a podcast for small business owners, managers and professionals. I’m Jim, and my goal is to work in the space between your ears - you know on your mindset – to help you move closer towards your Vision.
Today’s topic is Leading with Gratitude. It’s the art of inspiring loyalty and performance through a simple, but important, action.
Before we get started, let’s review where we’ve been. In Episode 9, we discussed Avoiding Negative Influences. I shared a personal story about how I had to rebound from a negative influence in my own life. I recommended several tips anyone can use to prevent negative influences from derailing your career and having a lasting impact on your life.
In the next few minutes, we’re going to discuss how you can have an impact as a leader, if you’ll add a simple activity to your week. So, if you’re ready, Let’s Grow For It!
Have you ever met or worked with someone who just seem to make you feel better about yourself? There was probably a reason you wanted to perform at your best level for this person. Often, it’s because we know how much our personal efforts mean to that person. There’s a connection; a willingness to go the extra mile. Think about how that makes you feel. What does that do for your self-worth? Your commitment? Your overall satisfaction?
Now, think about the last time a boss or coworker seemed to take you for granted. Regardless of how hard you tried, the hours you devoted or the results you delivered, it was never enough. That person considered you just another wrung on the ladder to THEIR success. Remember how that made you feel? Remember what it was like day in and day out?
Close your eyes for a minute. Imagine the vast difference in what it would be like to work for that inspirational leader for whom you wanted to perform versus what I’ll call that “perspiration leader” who only seems to take your blood, sweat and tears for granted.
Now, keep your eyes closed for this next question: Which leader are you?
I’m going to let that question hang there for a minute. Some of you listening might be tempted to avoid answering the question because you’re not leading an organization. But remember, you can still have a similar impact by the way you choose to treat your colleagues, your customer service reps, even your clients or customers.
Years ago, I ready book titled Lions Don’t Need to Roar. It was written by D. A. Benton and is still available on Amazon. Its subtitle is “Using the Leadership Power of Professional Presence to Stand Out, Fit In and Move Ahead.” I’ll put a link to it in the notes for this podcast, on my website at JimRayConsultingServices.com/podcasts.
The takeaway is you still have the capability to differentiate yourself by the way you present yourself on a daily basis. Regardless of whether or not you have an official title, you can still inspire and raise the bar for everyone around you.
Those personal connections you establish by how you interact with people will go a long way in contributing to your personal success. In a few minutes, we’ll talk about a simple activity you can do to inspire and motivate.
In late 2004, I went to work for a national marketing firm called FindLaw. We sold Internet marketing solutions to law firms. I had very little experience Internet marketing, other than I previously had P&L responsibility for our online sales in a management capacity for a regional distributor. This new company had a fantastic training program. More importantly, though, I was fortunate to go to work for an extremely talented manager, Jonathan Whitacre. JW was the inspirational leader I needed as I started a new phase of my career.
Jonathan has a way of sensing when something is working and when it isn’t. He knows exactly how to pinpoint problems, while helping you to both acknowledge and work toward consistent improvement. He’s the type of manager who adds value in every interaction. JW and I both left FindLaw after several successful years. I always look back fondly to playing a role on “Team Pinnacle” as he called us.
Jonathan’s gone on to become a Vice President at Ethisphere. It’s a corporate ethics company, where he continues to have a successful impact on the people around him. We still keep in touch through phone calls and LinkedIn.
Even this many years later, I look back on that experience has one of the highlights of my career. That my friends, is the impact an inspirational leader can have on an individual, a team and on the organization at large. Have you worked for this type of leader? I hope you have. More importantly, I hope we each become one.
Earlier in this episode, I challenged you to...
Interview with Psychologist Tony Sheppard
Grow For It!
06/17/20 • 46 min
Episode 18: There’s a lot of negative news with COVID-19, protests, riots and other factors. Jim and Dr. Tony Sheppard will discuss some useful perspectives and tips for filtering out that negativity so you can maintain positive mental health as you manage your business and protect your family.
Dr. Sheppard is the owner of Groupworks Psychological Services in Louisville, KY. He’s a certified group psychotherapist. The practice provides various types of psychological services for children, adults and families. During the COVID-19 crisis, his practice has successfully transitioned to a tele-health format.
Many of Dr. Sheppard’s 2020 business goals have been delayed or sidetracked. This is a common theme for many business owners, entrepreneurs and managers. In fact, Tony actually contracted the coronavirus at a conference in New York, earlier this year. Luckily, he’s made a full recovery.
Business owners are struggling with financial pressures, increased stress and anxiety, feelings of helplessness and maybe even failure. I’ve also dealt with so many distractions and a general inability to focus.
The temptation to constantly check the news for information is adding to the issue. We don’t deal well with uncertainty. Humans are wired to look for what’s coming next and to scan the environment for threats. It’s amped up and primed our anxiety levels. This anxiety spreads to and elevates our concern for our businesses, our families and our extended family.
Tips to Maintaining Your Mental Health at Work
- Give yourself permission to reframe and adjust to the current business climate. This year is simply going to be different than what we anticipated. It’s okay to understand you’re not in control of everything.
- Keep things in perspective. It’s important to stay in the present and deal with what’s actually in front of you, rather than the false narrative your fear may be whispering in your year. Live today and don’t spend too much time thinking too far ahead.
- The human mind is programmed to focus on negative information. One way to limit the impact of all of this uncertainty, is to limit your exposure to the constant stream of media stories and/or social media.
- Focus on the things you do know. Concentrate on tasks and hobbies. This can add a sense of control and normality to your day.
- Try making lists to counteract your anxiety. Routines are also helpful, especially in the midst of chaos. This is especially important for your kiddos who are struggling with the disruption.
Tips to Help Your Children’s Mental Health
- Find ways to implement structure back into your child’s day. Routines are familiar and can help them to feel less anxious.
- Maintain positive communication. Be conscious of the need to reassure them. We will get through this current situation. That positive message is a safety zone.
- Focus on the aspects of life that can be controlled. There’s a lot outside of our control right now. Don’t waste time worrying about things we can’t control.
- Find ways to maintain social connectivity. This promotes quality time with people whom you love and care about. Try taking a hike or some other outdoor activity. You may also need to ease the rules to allow your children to spend time with their friends.
Dr. Tony Sheppard’s practice, Groupworks Psychological Services is taking new clients. If you’re asking if you need to seek help, maybe that’s a good sign you should. The stigma around seeking mental health services has diminished. You don’t have to make a commitment for years of therapy. Some people find a few sessions with a qualified therapist to be extremely helpful.
Visit www.GroupworksKY.com. Feel free to explore the COVID-19 page and the Services page for additional links to additional resources.
For more information about Jim Ray Consulting Services, additional episodes of the Grow For It! small business podcast or to contact Jim Ray, visit www.JimRayConsultingServices.com.
Thanks for taking the time to listen to this episode!
Interview with Bank President Jason Hawkins
Grow For It!
05/20/20 • 37 min
Episode 17: In this episode I interview Jason Hawkins, First United Bank’s CEO and President. We discuss a regional view of the economic crisis related to the COVID-19 lock down and its impact on small businesses throughout Kentucky.
Jason’s Background
Jason and I are very good friends. We went to college together at Murray State University and are brothers in the Sigma Chi fraternity. Jason has an undergraduate degree in Finance and an MBA. While in college, he worked at a community bank. He took a job in the trust department for Old National Bank, in Evansville, Indiana, after graduation. He worked in corporate trust doing bond issues and escrow arrangements. In 2005, he moved to First United Bank and Trust, based in Madisonville, Kentucky. He eventually became the CFO. In 2017, he assumed his current role as President/CEO.
Community Banks vs. Large National Banks
First United Bank focuses on what is best for the communities they serve. They currently have loans in more than 40 Kentucky counties. They are servicing about 1/3 of the state on a county by county basis.
Community banks don't have to work through a lot of red tape. They want to bring local decision making to their markets. When clients come in, they are able to have a personal touch because they are not dealing with 800-numbers. Local, community banks don’t have to send their decisions off to a remote location. They don't have to call committee meetings with people across the country to make a decision. They decide how to operate and then put that into action. First United Bank establishes strong connections and relationships with their clients. Jason and his team provide a high level of client communication to ensure they are servicing local needs.
Macro Climate
The Covid-19 crisis came out of nowhere. The government’s decision to lock down businesses across Kentucky has been economically devastating. This is not meant to be a political statement. Rather, an observation that the environment changed overnight.
When the government funding came through, it became a challenge for the banking industry and remains a challenge. The Treasury’s guidance was delayed and confusing to both small business owners as well as lenders. The SBA’s infrastructure was overwhelmed. It’s been a huge learning curve for everyone. Typically, when the government institutes a program it takes 6-12 months to implement, and in this case, they had 2 weeks. Congressman Andy Barr said, “In the first 14 days of this program, there were more SBA loans made than in the last 14 years.”
In one of my previous podcasts, I interviewed Tommie Causey of the SBA, and Dave Oetken of the Louisville Small Business Development Center. Both of them were really proud of the work they did to assist small business owners. I also interviewed my CPA, Steve King on the Make the Numbers Work podcast. We talked about it from an accounting standpoint.
One of the biggest concerns was the US Treasury did not initially tell the banks how to treat this money and the specific requirements. The guidance has been slow to come out. It has been frustrating for small business owners. However, the US Treasury has created a list of FAQs to clarify many of the issues. Here’s a link to that information resource. Please make sure you’re reading the most recent version.
A Community Bank’s Response
As Jason explained, the banks took a first come first served basis. Speed of action wasn’t related to the size of the loan. They tried to deal with customers as they received applications.
In Episode 16, I explained that deal with a larger bank, but they had trouble because of the onslaught of PPP applications. I went across the street to a local community bank and within a matter of hours I had the loan approval numbers and with a matter of days directly thereafter, I had money sitting in my account. I was surprised how quickly a community bank moved this through the system. Whereas a large bank tends to get bogged down for a lot of different reasons.
One of the proactive steps Jason has implemented is to provide deferments on existing loan payments. This refers to loans outside of the Payroll Protection Program. This local decision typically allowed up to 90 days of payment deferral to help his banking clients. He required them to be current in order to get that, meaning they had to pay through their March payment in most cases to be able to qualify for deferral for the months of April, May, and June. This is another ad...
Overcoming FEAR by Listening to Your Heart
Grow For It!
03/14/18 • 9 min
Welcome to Episode 5 of Grow For It! This is a podcast for business owners, managers and professionals. The goal is to give me a chance to work in the space between your ears – you know, on your mindset – to help you to focus on the things that really matter to your success.
I want to enable you to concentrate on pursuing your vision, setting meaningful goals and engaging in the day-to-day activities that will have the biggest impact.
Thanks for joining me and investing a few minutes of your time. This episode deals with one of my favorite consulting topics.
We’re going to consider reasons you should Harness the Power of Listening to Your Heart as a method to overcome FEAR.
In episode 4, we touched on several ways to use your financial metrics for business planning. We talked about the importance of focusing on net margin dollars, as opposed to top-line, gross revenue.
Since this podcast deals with your mindset, today we’re going to explore “motivation.” If you’re ready, Let’s Grow For It!
You may recall we’ve spent the last four episodes discussing vision, goals and a few tactics. Now, let’s come back to a very basic question. It’s related to your vision. “What’s Your Motivation?”
Think of your career (maybe even your life) as a book. When you get to the end of the last chapter, will it have been worth the read?
Some of the best business coaching discussions I’ve had are those during which we pushed back from the conference room table and explored the question: “Why Are You Actually Doing This?”
Some of the answers I’ve heard amazed me. Guiding a client through this unpacking of his/her answer is an incredibly interesting process. Some of the most rewarding moments are when you see that lightbulb turn on. It doesn’t happen automatically. I have to be able to reach that point with my client where he/she feels safe enough to be vulnerable.
I continue to be surprised by how many people allow their dreams to be confined or ignored, simply out of FEAR.
“What would my colleagues think?”
“Would my family support my decision?”
“Do I really have what it takes?”
Over the years, I’ve met and worked with some incredible people who’ve dealt with these issues and found a way to break through.
There’s my friend, Matt Maudlin, in Indianapolis. He runs Memo Marketing. He does terrific work in marketing and strategic planning. I really admire the way he executes.
There’s Mark Palmer over at Oohology. We’re former competitors. We’ve worked together. We’ve been friends for years. He’s one of the most creative guys I know.
There’s Neil James, owner of Rain Marketing + Consulting in the San Diego area. We’ve worked together for years and now collaborate on multiple projects. He’s one of the most genuine people I’ve ever known. I can’t tell you how many hours we’ve spend working through business issues together.
Then there’s John Black in Louisville. I met this guy several years ago. He has a corporate gig, but is an entrepreneur at heart. I love watching how he balances all of it and still has time to be a great dad and husband.
What each of these guys did, and continue to do, is to follow their dreams. In doing so, they’re finding fulfillment. They’re carving out niches. They’re contributing with the talents they were given. It’s inspiring to watch.
So, let me ask you these important questions:
- When was the last time you took a break to simply dream?
- Once you did, were you able to capture it?
- More importantly, are you taking steps to pursue it?
When we dream, we give our heart room to speak.
Our hearts are so much more powerful than our brains. It’s your heart that can overcome the logic of why you can’t or shouldn’t. Our hearts are what makes it possible for us to say, “You know what? Maybe I can!”
That’s the inflection point. It’s a core theme of any of marketing superstar, Gary Vaynerchuck’s keynotes addresses and Q&A sessions.
Listening to your heart gives you the chance to dream. The motivation to take a chance. The belief that you really do have what it takes. Listening to your heart, gives you the courage to step beyond FEAR.
Don’t let fear be a roadblock to your life, your vision, your success. At best, fear should be a speed bump causing us to slow down and to consider the path. But fear should NEVER prevent us from embarking on the journey.
Greg Blakemore is a friend, colleague and client of mine. We’ve known each other for about 10 years. Greg handles complex construction projects such as hospitals, data centers and other commercial developments.
One of his motivations ...
Interview with Dogwood Veterinary Clinic
Grow For It!
03/31/20 • 47 min
Episode 14: As we discuss topics related to new business start-up, marketing and other important topics, this episode features a conversation with husband and wife team who launched the Dogwood Veterinary Clinic in Norton Commons. They offer some innovative procedures and services, combined with a strong focus on building relationships with their clients. We’re going discuss their vision, their journey (so far) and a few comments on facts you need to know about your pet and the corona virus (Covid-19).
Dr. Katie Franklin and Dr. Chris Franklin met while attending the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Katie earner her undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky. Chris earn his undergraduate degree at Murray State University, where he was also a quarterback for 5 years.
After an extensive search, they decided to build their new practice in Louisville’s Norton Commons, rather than buying an existing, veterinary practice. The risk is that they started off without a client base, but were confident that their vision for the business would lead to success.
Creating a Vision:
While both initially thought they’d focus on equine medicine, Katie and Chris explain how and why they decided to transition to a small animal veterinary practice. Some of the advantages include a better work-life balance, more opportunities to build relationships and the chance to create a unique environment for pet and the pet-owners. For them, it’s about creating a terrific experience.
Developing Unique Selling Propositions to Standout in Your Market:
Concierge Service – An optional service to provide cell phone access 24/7 for emergencies. You can see if your pet is having a true emergency, or if it’s something that the pet-owner may be able to handle the following day. It can be a significant cost savings vs. a trip to an emergency veterinary hospital. If it is an emergency, Dr. Katie and/or Dr. Chris can communicate directly with the other vets about your pet’s history.
Loyalty Program – A way to reward loyal clients. You earn rewards based on the money you spend to be used toward the cost of future services at Dogwood Veterinary Clinic. They want a way to give back to their clients for deciding to support a local business.
Regenerative Medicine – A new procedure involving using your pet’s own stem cells and platelet-rich plasma to help it recover more quickly. The entire process is handled at Dogwood. The benefits include:
- Cheaper than a full surgery
- Less pain and anesthesia for your pet
- Your pet can usually go home the next day
- It’s used on both cats and dogs
House Calls – You can schedule a home visit with your vet and a technician for your pet. This is an excellent option if you have limited mobility, multiple pets, large pets or even if you’re worried about avoiding the corona virus.
The Dogwood Veterinary Clinic offers a variety of standard surgical procedures including broken bones, abdominal surgeries, bladder stone removal, spay and neutering services. Dr. Chris discusses how they specifically target the market opportunity to provide these services much more cost-effectively than going to a board-certified surgeon.
They also offer dental cleanings, extractions and other veterinary dental procedures.
The clinic’s website features an online store. This enables you to order medication for your pet and other items to be shipped to your home. You can use the clinic code to order pet food from Purina Vet Direct. During this time of dealing with the Covid-19 virus, Dogwood is offering home delivery.
Can My Pet Get the Corona Virus (Covid-19)?
Dr. Katie and Dr. Chris explain that while one dog, in Hong Kong, did test weakly positive, it’s not clear that your pet can pass Covid-19 to you. The AVMA’s current position is there’s no evidence a pet can contract, transmit or get sick from the Covid-19 corona virus. Animals do and can carry a corona virus. Note however, that this doesn’t mean it’s the Covid-19 virus. The risk to any virus is its ability to potentially mutate.
Spring & Summer Tips for Your Pet:
- With Easter approaching there’s a risk that certain house plants (e.g. lilies) can be dangerous if your pet chews on them. the plastic grass in your Easter baskets can be very dangerous for cats.
- Chicken bones, beef bones and fatty foods are dangerous and could lead to pancreatitis.
- Dogs can be susceptible...
10/09/20 • 50 min
Episode 21: Louisville attorney Parker Wornall joins Jim to discuss the work he does for healthcare providers. His focus includes dental offices, foot and ankle practitioners, APRN practices, chiropractors, mental health practioners, adult day-care practices and others.
There are legal aspects to establishing a practice, developing the internal forms and processes, HR-related policies, regulatory compliance issues, planning for growth and eventually a sale or wind-down of the practice.
Parker handles both transactional and litigation matters. Ideally, he enjoys getting involved in the early stages to protect the healthcare provider and the practice. He works to help avoid potential legal exposure.
Entity Startup
There are both strategic and practical considerations for the entity structure. This could include PLLCs, LLCs, PSCs and others. There are issues surrounding non-provider members (e.g. investors, directors, practice business manager). Due diligence for the proper structuring of shares may also need to be considered.
Parker has a network of colleagues in related fields, such as CPAs, who can also add valuable perspectives.
Compliance Checks
A thorough review of forms, policies and procedures is extremely important. While COVID has highlighted some of the compliance requirements from governmental agencies, there are always the day-to-day issues related to the Department of Labor, Kentucky wage and hour and/or Federal wage and hour laws, the Fair Labor Standards act and more.
There are disparities between some of the Kentucky regulations and the Federal DEA regulations. Testosterone clinics (nurse practitioner clinics) can run afoul of the various regulations because of the various requirements.
Employment Law Issues for Healthcare Providers
Your practice will often include individuals who are there to help run/manage the business. Some may be salaried, while others could be 1099-based. You may need to perform adequate reviews of credentials. How you work with your employees and practitioners may also require guidance from your general counsel.
Non-compete and other restrictive covenants may come into play in the hiring of employees. Parker can work to either defend the covenant or to prove why one may be invalid. This can also include the protection of trade secrets (enforceable under the Kentucky Uniform Trade Secrets Act and Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016). The 3 common types of restrictive covenants in Kentucky are:
- Non-Compete Agreements
- Non-Solicitation Agreements
- Confidentiality Agreements
Having properly drafted and executed contracts in place, before they are tested, is a smart option to reduce your legal expenses should an action need to be filed or defended.
Insurance Coverage Issues
Parker can help communicate the needs of the practice and its business plan to insurance professionals to ensure the risks are fully considered and adequately quoted. Often, business specialists tend to look at the issues from a single perspective (e.g. insurance agents, CPAs, etc.). In the role of general counsel for the healthcare practice, Parker can coordinate with each of the business partners to provide clarity and to maintain a focus on the overall business plan for the practice.
Hiring and Firing
Parker is very familiar with cases involving the Kentucky Human Rights Commission and the EEOC. At times, these cases can also end up in litigation.
An interesting issue recently surfaced deals with older employees who were either working from home or off work due to COVID. If the practice is ready for them to come back to work, but they refuse, you may have exposure to actions under the Age Discrimination and Employment Act, the Federal Civil Rights Act and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. Each situation is unique and often complex. Having proper contract verbiage and documentation can reduce the risk of litigation to the practice.
Workplace Investigations
These can involve in-house HR professionals, or out-sourced HR resources. However, some of instances may require the professional to see the advice of legal counsel to determine the best way to approach or handle a particular investigation. Again, having well-drafted, comprehensive contracts can shield the practice from potential adverse legal actions.
Medical Licensure Defense
Parker has significant experience defending the licenses of healthcare providers. Most of the licensure issues are handled before the licensing boards. Parker has successfully defended both doctors and nurses, as well as other medical providers.
Certificate of Need Applications
Many healthcare providers are required to apply for a Certificate of Need (CON) if they plan to exp...
Businesses Should Think Differently in 2021
Grow For It!
01/15/21 • 53 min
Episode 22: The business assumptions, rules and paradigms you used to guide your business through 2020 and previous years won’t necessarily apply in 2021. Join me for a discussion with Industrial psychologist and business coach Rita Ernst and photographer/brand & image consultant Coral Abood. If 2020 was the year of pivot, 2021 will be the year of flex.
Rita discusses how her background as an industrial and organizational psychologist gives her a unique perspective in how she approaches her client issues. She works with small businesses who have achieved significant earnings, but now realize that the tools and approaches the business leader relied upon during start-up may no longer be the right tools, as the business evolves.
Rita can assist with defining the organization structure, roles and responsibilities, culture, etc. She works to bring clarity to business challenges and to empower the leaders to resolve issues and continue making solid progress.
As a small business owner, do you feel as if your business is running you, instead of you running your business? Maybe it’s time to engage a business coach to help you.
Coral has been in business for almost 12 years. She works with businesses to create and/or improve their images and brand positioning. She often begins with 2 key questions:
- What sets you apart and makes you unique in your marketplace?
- Who is your target audience?
Coral brings a level of intention to how and why the images are going to be used to appeal to the audience and convey meanings. This is about visual story-telling and your imagery needs to support your brand’s story.
Evolving Business Require New Skills
I asked Rita Ernst about the importance of recognizing that your skill-set has to change if your business is going to be managed effectively. Rita understands that when leaders fail to understand this, they themselves can actually be a roadblock to the company’s success.
Business leaders bring passion and vision to the business. They have enormous energy to devote to the details, as well as the overall operation. Delegation of some decisions and/or responsibilities can be very difficult for some people.
The number one result of engaging Rita as a business coach is that the leader is now active spending time working on the business, rather than in the business. The impact in almost instantaneous.
Rita views herself as a catalyst. The results created are created by the leaders. She shares the effort, but in the end, they need to implement the changes and enable the results to occur.
Perspective and Commitment
Leaders sometimes struggle because they are too close to the situation. Hiring a professional business coach enables you to consider another perspective. It’s always valuable to have another pair of eyes on the business challenge. At the same time, you’ll be forced to speak out loud. This simple step promotes ownership of the situation and of the potential solutions.
Solopreneurs and small business owners don’t have those multiple layers of support often found in larger corporations. Besides the need to be really effective in your role, you also need to recognize when it’s time to raise your hand and admit you might not have with the knowledge or skill to effectively navigate your current business challenges. Industrial and organizational psychologist Rita Ernst is a resource whom you can look toward for help.
Do you ever wonder if it’s time to engage a business coach? Rita offers a free coaching assessment on her website.
Rita brings an intentional presence, the ability to listen without judgement and a competency to form observations from a perspective that’s not bogged down by being so wrapped up in the situation.
Recognizing the Impact of Millennials
We’ve heard many stories and read articles about how different the millennials are. While Gen Xers learned to grind through it and take a DIY approach, millennials are much more into speed. This generation is very different and, in many cases, are now stepping into larger and larger roles. They want to connect with people who can help them to “get there” faster. The legacy norms and perspectives are rapidly being discarded. It’s sometimes requiring a disruptive change when it comes to your business. As a leader, you need to be ready.
Tip for Approaching 2021
One of the most important tip Rita recommends is to avoid carrying the negative energy of 2020 forward in to the new year. There two basic reason:
- Realize the old assumptions you operated regarding your business are irrelevant after this pandemic.
- This is the year of flex. You may need to alter your business practices, processes and expectations. There’s still a tremendous amount of uncertainty. It may be time to cast a new vision for your business.
While change can b...
04/30/18 • 9 min
Welcome to Episode 8 of Grow For It! This is a podcast for small business owners, operators and professionals. I’m Jim and my goal is to work in the space between your ears – you know, on your mindset – to keep you focused on the activities that will move you closer to your Vision.
Today’s episode focuses on the importance of taking time to work “ON” your business, instead of “IN” your business.
Before we get going, let’s review where we’ve been. In Episode 7, we discussed Cultivating Your Brand and tips to begin influencing how the market receives and perceives your brand.
Today, our discussion will cover important activities a small business owner must do to be successful over the long-term. If you’re ready, LET’S GROW FOR IT!
I’m going to be very transparent in today’s discussion. Like most of you, I’m a small business owner. An extremely common challenge for most of us is carving out enough time in the day to handle everything we need to accomplish. This may include:
- Working on current client commitments
- Developing relationships for new business opportunities
- Managing vendors and tasks we’ve assigned to them
- Paying bills and handling internal administrative issues
- Resolving computer or system-related fire drills when they happen (because these nightmares are always pre-scheduled)
- Allocating family-time and social activities so you have a reason to avoid working 20-hours a day
- And then there’s that often-neglected topic of marketing for your business
All of us battle these challenges each day. It’s part of this adventure called entrepreneurship.
We’re all trying to do more with less. Many times, that means we run our businesses with the absolute minimum number of employees – if we have any at all. It’s a generally accepted fact that full-time employees (FTEs) are the most expensive cost to a business. Now, I realize HR professionals are going to argue “good employees contribute added value. You’re investing in talent.” This may be absolutely true. But in the early years, especially, it might not be possible to make those investments, even if you have them under a 1099-status.
What this means is your dream, your Vision, rests fully on your shoulders. This responsibility and the pressure that comes with it constantly temps us to work on tactics, when we really need to be focused on strategy. It’s what I mean when I say, “working ON your business, instead of working IN your business.”
Blocking out time to do this takes discipline. Large companies or law firms may have the luxury of taking executive-level retreats. Sure, you can get a lot done, especially when someone else is covering the cost of your time, others are handling the phone calls and unending stream of emergencies and client requests.
However, for most of us, myself included, that’s simply not our reality. If we’re not at the wheel, the bus might run off the road. Does this sound familiar?
So how do we address this, with the least bit of disruption to our workflow and deadlines? The most important recommendation I can make is to remember something we discussed in Episode 1. Do you recall how I described The Sisyphus Effect?
If you don’t, please pause this podcast. Go back and listen to that section of Episode 1. This is about aligning our activities with our visions. It’s worth the few minutes it’ll take to remind yourself who and what Sisyphus represents.
By the way, if you’re not sure how to get back to the first episode, you can access it on the podcast page on my website: JimRayConsultingServices.com. I’ve pinned Episode 1 to the top of the right side of the page, just above those black buttons.
Now that we’re on the same page about Sisyphus, doing the same thing each day doesn’t usually lead to different results. We have to remember to get beyond the day-to-day habits. We have to be on guard so we’re not just busy, we’re productive.
Running a small business requires having the proper mindset. Namely this: Net profit gives us options.
With net profit on the books, we can expand. We can hire. We can pay bills. We can take a vacation or make that donation. Most importantly, net profit gives us the “privilege” of coming back to fight another day.
Remember friends, it truly is a privilege. Just think about how many of your family members, friends and colleagues will never get the freedom to pursue their visions. It’s truly a gift. The day we refuse to admit this to ourselves, is the day we need to change course and do something else.
I said earlier, it’s a discipline. Let’s break down a few ways you can begin making progress in this area. So as usual, I want you to take out a sheet of...
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FAQ
How many episodes does Grow For It! have?
Grow For It! currently has 28 episodes available.
What topics does Grow For It! cover?
The podcast is about Entrepreneurship, Podcasts, Business and Smallbusiness.
What is the most popular episode on Grow For It!?
The episode title 'Interview with Bellarmine's Dr. Frank Raymond' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Grow For It!?
The average episode length on Grow For It! is 29 minutes.
How often are episodes of Grow For It! released?
Episodes of Grow For It! are typically released every 26 days, 17 hours.
When was the first episode of Grow For It!?
The first episode of Grow For It! was released on Dec 1, 2017.
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