Podcast

How much better would you sleep at night if you knew your life was covered? Today I’m joined by Mike St. Croix at Covello Financial. MBA has personally completely switched to Covello because of the incredible work they’re doing with insurance and benefits.

Covello takes a different approach to finances and insurance because they think like entrepreneurs. They put the client first and they understand this is an investment in yourself and your employees. While every business might say they’ve got the best cost for the best service, Covello truly does. We discuss three hallmark services that set them apart:

•Their unique service model lessens the administrative burden
•They proactively price shop, making sure you’re getting the best deal when the market changes
•They are in constant review of fees to increase compound interest in group retirement and benefit plans

They are out to save you and your employees money because insurance and benefits aren’t something you think about till you need it … and they want you to know they’ve got you covered.

What’s Inside:

—Why MBA switched to Covello Financial.
—What value can Covello provide to entrepreneurs?
—Three key service differences that Covello provides.

Today’s Guest:

Michael St. Croix is an entrepreneur with 5 years of business experience in property management, enterprise sales and start-ups. After playing three years of professional hockey under a New York Rangers contract, Michael retired from professional sports in 2015 and attended the Asper School of Business in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

He is now the Chief Operating Officer for Covello Financial Group. They provide Group Benefits, Group Retirement, Estate & Succession Planning, and Financial Planning for Canadian business owners.

Mentioned In This Episode:
—Covello Financial Group: http://www.covellofinancial.com
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

“To get the best marketing results, you’ll need to assemble a team of badass people to work with you. Luckily, we have them in spades and raring to go.” That’s pulled straight from William Walczak’s website at Hiilite and it’s the same energy he brings to today’s conversation.

William works to bridge the gap between the scientific engineer brain and the aesthetic brain, formulating a total genius design and marketing combination. People do business with people who are passionate about their business; that has to translate into everything you do. Hiilite hallmarks on three topics we really get into in this chat.

1. Everything Communicates! — this profound statement means you literally cannot afford not to be intentional with every aspect of your business.
2. Where are you cringeworthy??? — Find those impediments to growth and make a change!!
3. You can’t manage what you can’t measure! — Data across companies, growth charting, and maximizing ROI — William explains all these crucial points.

If you bring in a professional to tell you what the next best step is, it is almost certainly going to be whatever they are selling. Hiilite helps you see what you need to see, so that your business can grow!

What’s Inside:
—Bridging the gap between science and aesthetics in marketing.
—Communicating your business to the world and ideal clients.
—Finding your impediments to growth.
—Why data measurement is important in the growth process.

Mentioned In This Episode:
—Hiilite: https://hiilite.com
—William Walczak, MBA – The University of British Columbia | LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/williamwalczak
—William Walczak on Instagram: https://instagram.com/william.walczak
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

Tony Woods shares his impressive resume, working with National Money Mart, BC Ferries, and now as the owner and president of THINK Communications, working with business owners with white glove IT services.

THINK stands for Truth, Honesty, Integrity, Networking and Knowledge; their tagline is “Great People, Great Ideas.” As a company, they focus on two key areas, Left of Boom and Right of Boom because it’s not a matter of if it happens, it’s when it happens. As Tony describes it, Left of Boom is how well you’re protecting your organization from cyber threats. Right of boom is ok; they’ve got you; how well can you recover from it.

Tony advises on a major point of protection: 14 Character Passphrases and multifactor authentication. You can also focus on training your human firewall with phishing campaigns. The truth is, ignorance is not bliss, and while Tony points out that you don’t truly need cyber insurance, you do need protection, and the best suited one is from a professional IT service like THINK.

THINK today offers a Security Stack that includes specific pieces of software on machines to block the execution of unknown files, 24x7x365 real-time monitoring from a SOC (security operations center), and other tools of the trade. Including MDR – Manage, Detect, Respond. And for free, they offer an Attack Surface Report and a Blast Radius report.

What’s Inside:
—How to protect your business from cyber threats.
—How to create better password protection.
—The Security Stack with THINK.
—Training your human firewall.

Mentioned In This Episode:
—twoods@thinkcommunications.ca
—Think Communication Inc.: http://www.thinkcommunications.ca
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

ADHD is not synonymous with unruly school kids; it’s about a different process going on in the brain. André Brisson, host of The Impulsive Thinker, owner of an entrepreneurial consulting engineering company, and creator of Tactical Breakthroughs, was himself diagnosed with ADHD at age 44. An entire lifetime of struggles and hardships explained by four little letters.

ADHD isn’t an uncommon diagnosis, especially in the entrepreneurial world. In fact, people with ADHD are 500% more likely to be entrepreneurs. It is estimated that 4–5% of adults and 29% of entrepreneurs have ADHD. Research estimates that 3.3 million American adults have been diagnosed with ADHD, but 85% of people are undiagnosed.

Interest-driven behavior and time blindness are just some of the behaviors that come from an ADHD brain André explains. But there isn’t anything wrong with you. André actually says ADHD is the only diagnosis that is actually triggered by how your behavior affects those around you, not how it affects yourself. With Tactical Breakthroughs, he’s developed an ADHD Transformation Journey program that helps entrepreneurs align three key pillars affected by ADHD: Environment Control, Habits, and Personal Rules.

If you’re listening to this episode and your brain is pinging all over the place and you’re thinking “Hey! That’s me!,” check out some of the resources mentioned, like the personality tests (PRINT, Kolbe, or Clifton Strengths), reach out to organizations like CADDAC for ADHD awareness, and go check out the work André is doing with his podcast and new company, Tactical Breakthroughs.

What’s Inside:
—What does ADHD do to the brain?
—Why ADHD isn’t a “problem”.
—How societal norms make things difficult for ADHD brains.
—How common is ADHD?
—How to be a successful entrepreneur with ADHD: 3 key pillars!

Mentioned In This Episode:
—André Brisson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andre.brisson.1447/
—André Brisson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrebrisson/
—Objective Engineering Inc.: http://www.objectiveeng.ca
—Tactical Breakthroughs on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TacticalBTs
—Tactical Breakthroughs | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tactical-breakthroughs/
—Tactical Breakthroughs: http://www.tacticalbts.com
—The Impulsive Thinker Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/impulsivethinkerpodcast
—The Impulsive Thinker Podcast | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impulsive-thinker-podcast/
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

How much more excited would you be about your future if you had everyone working in your unique ability? Julia Waller, Unique Ability Expert, is like a guiding light, showing people and businesses the power of Unique Ability. It’s all about breaking free from the rut of just being “good” or “excellent” at something and diving deep into what truly lights you up.

Finding your UA is not just coaching; it’s a journey into people’s souls, unlocking natural energy and helping discover what makes people truly unique. Imagine a workplace where everyone is doing what they love most, where passion fuels productivity and creativity knows no bounds. That’s the vision Julia paints, and it’s a game-changer for any business.

Julia explains the levels of activity we can use to classify and find our Unique Abilities: 1. Superior Skill, 2. Passion, 3. Energy, 4. Never Ending Improvement. We all work in a variety of activities, including incompetent, competent, excellent, and Unique Ability. I like to say I suck at it, I’m good at it, I’m great at it, or it’s my unique ability. The difference between “great” (my excellent activity) and my unique ability is my energy. Julia Waller’s number one tip … follow your energy.

Who wouldn’t want a self-managing company culture where individuals are empowered to bring their talents and energy to the table, contributing to the bigger picture in their own unique ways? Then add a self-multiplying company to the picture, because that’s what happens when people use their passions and energy to grow the value of a business.

Julia’s approach isn’t just about professional success; it’s about personal fulfillment too. It’s about saying no to the things that drain your energy and yes to the ones that make your heart sing. It’s about nurturing your true self and watching as your potential explodes into purposeful action. It’s about having fun, creating results and expanding your freedom all at the same time. That’s the world Julia Waller is working to create — one where work doesn’t feel like work because you’re doing what you were meant to do.

Be sure to check out the resources we’ve linked to learn more about Strategic Coaching and Unique Ability!

What’s Inside:
—How can Unique Ability change the future for you, your business and even the world?
—Finding the difference between excellent activities and Unique Ability.
—What can Unique Ability do for your business?
—The four levels of activity: Incompetent, Competent, Excellent and Unique Ability.

Mentioned In This Episode:
—Strategic Coach: http://www.strategiccoach.com
—Unique Ability: http://www.uniqueability.com
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

John MacDonald is the publisher of the Business Examiner News Group. The mission of this British Columbia news publisher is to facilitate local economic development by providing business news online on three different platforms and in the production of in-person events.

During our discussion, John shares trends BC businesses should be aware of, from understanding where to put their marketing dollars when it comes to digital marketing to political moves that have a big impact, like inflation due to environmental taxing.

John also shares three big takeaways for B2Bs:
1. What is your sales cycle? Consider the touch points to convert clients.
2. Examine your return on investment over the lifetime of your client.
3. Look at your marketing budget like you would an investment portfolio.

The Business Examiner is not only news, but also 50 per cent events. The news group hosts six annual events with the intent of providing a platform for organizations to showcase who they are to the region’s business community, the projects they’ve completed and for participants to network with other business leaders, ultimately driving more sales, new hires and fostering new connections.

What’s Inside:
— The current trends for British Columbia businesses.
— 3 tips for marketing for B2B companies.
— How to navigating the shift from print to digital marketing.
— The Business Examiner News Group: digital news and events.

Mentioned In This Episode:
— Business Examiner: http://www.businessexaminer.ca
— MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

Host Erik Solbakken is joined by “Frustrated Anthroplogist” Don Barden. Don is bursting with industry knowledge and insights from his recent works.

Don discusses his work for the internationally acclaimed book “The Perfect Plan,” where he studied the elite producers in the global economy. Outlining their secret sauce, structures and common threads. His great science of business continues in his new book, Here Come The Girls.

Don takes us on a walk through history, trends of male dominance, and the rise of women in business, leading to a takeover with women leaders in 2028. There are 3 vital needs for women, employees, and consumers alike.

Be Seen, Be Heard, and Be Understood.

These are the natural ways women lead. Don describes this by explaining problem solving in the workplace and how women allow employees and consumers to feel valued and empowered.

Here is where it gets REALLY good. This is not just a girl thing; its just something girls do. Anyone, man or woman, can adopt these traits of leadership, and it will transform their business.

Want an e-copy of “The Perfect Plan”? Reach out to Don Barden on LinkedIn. Already read it? Be on the lookout for “Here Come The Girls” and connect with Don about how he might be able to help you and your business.

What’s Inside:
—History’s impact on the insurgence of women leaders in the coming years?
—Why are women owned businesses performing 3x over men owned businesses?
—What are the three things employees and consumers need to feel valued?
—Is it just a girl thing… or can everyone impact their businesses like women leaders?

Mentioned In This Episode:
—Don Barden – The Perfect Plan | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwbarden/
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

The news is covering AI in the media as a dangerous technology here to take your jobs. Founder and CEO of Teammate AI Evan Ryan joins me to share how AI is not only not taking your job, but making your job easier.

Evan’s mission with Teammate AI is to simplify AI to automate time consuming, boring tasks so that humans have more time to be creative, solve problems and bring value to their clients. And in recent years, industries like accounting have experienced an increased loss of staff due to the Great Resignation post pandemic. AI elevates the pressure on your lowered staff levels, lightening the load of basic tasks no one really wants to do.

Stay tuned to the end, where Evan walks us through a resource he has shared with our listeners to get started with AI. He has included access to common AI tools, videos, tutorials and a space to experiment and demystify AI in a safe, less intimidating way.

If you take anything away, understand that AI is not a fad. You have probably used it in some form to take the burden off certain tasks without even realizing it. Automation is only improving; you have the choice of how you will use it to help you.

What’s Inside:
—The difference in vision between national accounting firms and the MBA way.
—Why business owners are so important.
—The three step formula of Profit Advisory.

Today’s Guest:
Evan Ryan is the founder and CEO of Teammate AI, a company that specializes in showing businesses how to automate boring tasks, expand their teamwork and scale their impact using AI.
As a digital nomad, he’s traveled to more than 20 countries since March 2022 by harnessing AI to give him a life of freedom.

Mentioned In This Episode:
​​—Free AI Resource (Teammate AI): https://teammateai.com/mbaway/
—MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca

MBA Chartered Professional Accountants see business owners as the most important people in the world; they see the flaws of the traditional accounting model and want to put the MBA Way to work to grow your business and your life. Welcome to The MBA Way podcast.

Host, Erik Solbakken interviews Steve Wilkinghoff, CPA Business Intelligence Officer and author of Found Money. Steve shares about his career and when his vision for a focus on profit became clear. National firms didn’t see eye to eye with him on the importance of increasing profit for business owners. Now, teamed up with Erik, they have created Profit Advisory, a new service for business owners.

Profit Advisory consists of three prescriptive focuses.
1. The team analyzes your unique data.
2. Receive a totally customized dashboard for your business focuses.
3. Monthly check-ins with Red-Yellow-Green actionable profitability steps.

Business owners make the world go round – Erik and Steve see that and want to do everything they can to increase profit through the 360 of their lives. Reach out to Erik at MBACPA.CA for more information.

What’s Inside:
•The difference in vision between national accounting firms and the MBA way.
•Why business owners are so important.
•The three-step formula of Profit Advisory.

Today’s Guest:
Steve’s background has evolved from CPA and partner in a national accounting firm to bestselling author and business analytics expert. Steve brings more than 20 years of analyzing small and mid-sized companies to find additional profit opportunities. His work includes projects inside private equity firms, operational and CFO roles and advising small and mid-sized private companies. Along with a variety of companies, his work has also spanned the globe – from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Romania, the USA and of course, Canada. He has an obsession with helping small and mid-sized companies succeed at becoming more profitable. His Data-Driven Framework guides companies to smash through the Data-Driven Barrier and outperform and outcompete their less data-driven competitors by finding overlooked profit opportunities using their data. This framework has become the hallmark of Profit Advisory Formula, the company he co-founded. Steve has a fondness for working with growth-oriented small and mid-sized companies and several clients have been recognized with membership on lists such as Inc. 500, Profit 500, Profit Hot 50, Venture 250, and Canada’s Best Managed Companies. When he’s not geeking out about frameworks, profit analytics techniques and data models, you will find him spending time with his family, traveling overseas, or enjoying a nice pint of craft lager. If you want a laugh, ask Steve about the time he was delivered to his Liverpool hotel in a police car, with lights and sirens on, after being mistaken for a mobster.

Mentioned In This Episode:
•MBA CPA: http://www.mbacpa.ca