Shows
Empower & Elevate Podcast072: Why Everyone Thinks They're The Only OneSend us a textBreaking the silence around our personal struggles might be the most powerful gift we can offer others. That's the central message from this intimate conversation with a successful entrepreneur who reveals how feeling "not normal" shaped their approach to business, relationships, and life.Despite building impressive companies and commanding attention on stage, our guest describes the deep introversion that makes networking events "a necessary evil" and public speaking a personal challenge. The conversation pulls back the curtain on how someone can appear confident in professional settings while needing hours alone to...
2025-09-0317 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast071: There Is No Overnight Success: How Leaders Build Lasting ImpactSend us a textMoney makes stuff easy, but it's not everything. The real challenge lies in breaking through those invisible barriers that keep your business from reaching its full potential.Ever felt stuck in your business growth? You're not alone. Successful entrepreneurs often hit plateaus where traditional strategies no longer work, leading to years of stagnation. The breakthrough? Realizing you're not the smartest person in the room.This raw conversation unveils how peer groups transform business trajectories by connecting you with others who've walked your path. When you surround yourself with diverse...
2025-08-2613 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast070: Finding Your Fire: Why Personal Growth Must Come FirstSend us a textWhat happens when life takes an unexpected turn and suddenly you're a 20-year-old single mother needing to create a stable future? For Ashley, it became the catalyst that launched her remarkable journey from the factory floor to VP of Human Resources.Ashley's story defies conventional career trajectories. Growing up in a blue-collar family where college wasn't necessarily the expectation, she found herself working in the same hot dog factory as her mother—hired by the same HR professional who had brought her mother on board nearly two decades earlier. But ambition bu...
2025-08-1911 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast069: Your Unique Vibration Is the Key to Spiritual AwakeningSend us a textDiscover the revolutionary approach of Faisu meditation, where your unique spiritual signature becomes the key to profound transformation. This isn't just another meditation technique—it's a personalized path that recognizes your individuality while guiding you toward universal consciousness.At the heart of this practice lies a fascinating process where your eyes—truly the windows to your soul—reveal your distinctive vibrational signature. Unlike conventional systems that rely on pre-established mantras, Faisu meditation creates a personal mantra derived from the subtle vibrations emanating from your iris. This isn't an artificial tool but rather...
2025-08-1312 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast068: When Everything Falls Apart, You Still Have to Keep Moving ForwardSend us a textManaging an IT business demands resilience—something Paul learned firsthand through a series of staffing nightmares that nearly brought his growing MSP to its knees.After finding his first promising technician, the pandemic upended everything. When business stabilized faster than expected, bringing that tech back proved complicated due to childcare issues and remote work distractions. Then came the real challenge: a parade of mismatched hires. One refused to adapt to company processes, another lacked both technical skills and people skills, and a third quit abruptly after realizing "how much he hated" IT...
2025-08-0512 min
Cut The Tie | Own Your Success“I Hit Six Figures—and It Didn’t Feel Like Winning”—Marc Perea’s Wake-Up CallSend us a textCut The Tie Podcast with Marc PereaWhat do you do when the six-figure salary, the house, and the retirement plan still leave you unfulfilled? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Marc Perea—CEO of Thaea and founder of the MikroTik management platform—to explore the journey from comfortably miserable to purposefully aligned.Marc shares how a racquetball friendship turned into an entrepreneurial deep-dive, how Tim Ferriss’s 4-Hour Workweek shook his mindset, and why scaling prematurely nearly broke his company. If you...
2025-08-0319 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast067: Are You Making Connections or Missing Opportunities?Send us a textBuilding meaningful relationships in business isn't just nice to have—it's essential for growth and sustainability. When we make connections with people, we open doors to unexpected opportunities, friendships, and partnerships that transcend immediate business needs.The MSP industry has been stuck in a price-focused mindset for too long. We need to shift toward being prescriptive advisors, similar to how doctors diagnose and treat patients. Your customers don't just pick the "white pill" from a selection of medications—they trust their doctor's expertise. Similarly, MSPs should diagnose business technology problems and pres...
2025-07-2914 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast066: How To Break Every Glass Ceiling In Life!Send us a textBreaking through glass ceilings is the entrepreneur's constant challenge. Every stage of business growth demands new skills, knowledge, and experiences—gaps that must be identified and filled to reach the next level.Our guest reveals the bittersweet reality of entrepreneurship when he shares the heartbreaking moment his young daughter brought him her piggy bank saying, "So you don't have to work no more." This pivotal experience transformed his approach to work-life balance, teaching him to prioritize family while maintaining his business ambitions.Now, years wiser, he's intentional about creating me...
2025-07-2212 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast065: The WALL Effect Why You're NOT Making ProgressSend us a textWhat happens when you realize your head is bleeding from banging it against the wall of repeated behaviors? Lou Winter's riveting account of personal transformation begins with this visceral metaphor for the frustration that accompanies stagnation."I absolutely believe in holistic wellbeing," Winter explains, outlining his rigorous daily practices: 5:30 AM workouts, weekend beach runs, meditation, yoga, and consuming a book weekly. But his journey toward this balanced life wasn't straightforward. With refreshing candor, he admits to having been "a professional drinker" whose habits eventually stopped serving his growth. "Didn't serve me...
2025-07-1517 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast064: I Found My TRUE NORTH Values and It Changed Everything!Send us a textHave you ever wondered what makes truly great teams function so seamlessly? The secret might be simpler than you think: shared values that everyone genuinely believes in.When Mark set out to establish core values for his company, he initially approached it as a solo exercise. "I have to come up with what I believe my core values are," he explains, reflecting on his early leadership journey. But the magic happened when he opened up this process to his entire team. Suddenly, these weren't just Mark's values—they became the team's co...
2025-07-0815 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast063: How I Beat the Feeding Tube for Good!Send us a textWhat happens when the simple act of eating becomes impossible? For eight years, Zach lived on medical formula, rice cakes, and pears due to a severe case of eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE), a chronic illness that drastically restricted his diet and transformed his relationship with food and his own body.Zach's powerful story begins at age 15, when doctors determined he needed to follow an extremely limited diet to manage his condition. The physical limitations were challenging, but the mental and emotional toll of being unable to participate in one of life's most...
2025-07-0112 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast062: Are You Ignoring the Silent Crisis of Mental Health at Work?Send us a textWhat drives someone with a seemingly perfect life to take their own life? This raw, unfiltered conversation explores the devastating impact of unaddressed mental health issues, particularly in high-pressure professional environments.The episode opens with a deeply personal story about a friend who, despite all outward appearances of success—family, career, stability—died by suicide. This tragedy serves as a powerful launching point to examine how we often miss the warning signs in those around us, and perhaps more importantly, how we might fail to recognize them in ourselves.Phys...
2025-06-2414 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast061: Why I Left My Big Job To Join A Startup!Send us a textA virus named after Mountain Dew became the unlikely catalyst for a cybersecurity career that would eventually spawn a successful managed service provider during one of the worst economic downturns in modern history.The founder of Triada takes us through their fascinating journey from corporate IT professional to entrepreneur, describing how a 2003 "Code Red" virus attack sparked deep curiosity about cybersecurity. When malicious code rapidly spread through their investment firm's network, questions emerged that would shape their future: Why did someone create this? How did they do it? How could we...
2025-06-1715 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast060: What Happens When the Nightmare Becomes Real?Send us a textOne moment you're celebrating Christmas Eve with family, the next you're being told you'll never walk again. In this powerful conversation, we hear a firsthand account of what happens when life changes in an instant.The story begins on a snowy Christmas Eve in 2007, with an unexplainable urge to go running despite the weather. Hours later, a 90-year-old driver ran a stop sign, causing a collision that would permanently alter the course of a life. What followed was an 8.5-hour surgery, the devastating news of less than 1% chance of walking again...
2025-06-1018 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast059: Billing Secrets You Need to Know TodaySend us a textRunning a profitable MSP remains an elusive goal for half the industry. Shocking statistics show that 25% of providers are barely breaking even, while another 25% lose money each year. Yet despite these sobering numbers, entrepreneurs continue entering the space, drawn by dreams of independence and growth.So, what separates successful MSPs from those that struggle?Too many rely on questionable sources—anonymous Reddit threads, outdated conference decks, or one-size-fits-all coaching programs that overlook the unique nuances of each business. A strategy that thrives in California might fail in Columbus, yet ma...
2025-06-0311 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast058: The Secret To Becoming Your Best Self!Send us a textHave you ever wondered what it really takes to transform your life? This raw and powerful conversation explores how profound loss can become the catalyst for extraordinary change.After losing his mother to cancer when she was just 32, our guest developed a unique perspective on time and opportunity. "My life was spared," he reflects, contrasting his survival through nights of reckless behavior with his mother’s lack of a second chance. That realization sparked an urgency that continues to fuel his success: "It's go time. There's no...
2025-05-2918 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast057: Why Customer Service Changed Forever!Send us a textDigital accountability has revolutionized customer service—and it's the best thing that ever happened. With everyone carrying a camera and a megaphone in their pocket, businesses can no longer hide behind poor service. Yelp scores, online reviews, and viral moments now reveal the true character of an organization.This radical transparency brings us to what customer experience expert John DeJulius calls the “Service Recovery Paradox”—the counterintuitive truth that customers whose problems are brilliantly resolved often become more loyal than those who never had a problem at all...
2025-05-2118 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast056: Side Gigs and Survival Building Tech Business at 13Send us a textThe power of necessity as a driver of innovation shines in this remarkable conversation with a tech entrepreneur who turned childhood hardship into business success.Growing up in foster care and group homes without parents, he faced challenges most of us can’t imagine—where government assistance covered only the bare essentials and violence and negativity were daily realities.School became his sanctuary. While many of his peers from similar backgrounds tragically ended up incarcerated, addicted, or lost to suicide, he found refuge in computer labs. Compassionate teac...
2025-05-1516 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast055: Limiting Beliefs to Liberating Mindsets: Uncovering What We Can't SeeSend us a textEver searched frantically for glasses perched on your head or keys clutched in your hand? These everyday moments reflect a deeper truth about human perception: scotomas—cognitive blind spots that hide crucial realities in plain sight.In this eye-opening conversation, we explore how these blind spots create resistance and limit our potential. We share a humbling personal story—a moment when, despite being “the boss applesauce” with all the trappings of success, failing a simple perception exercise became a spine-straightening catalyst for transformation. It wasn’t a test of intelligen...
2025-05-0707 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast054: Simple Mind Tricks That Actually Work For Emotional Control!Send us a textKindness might be the most undervalued currency in our fast-paced world. This conversation explores how approaching situations with positivity can transform not just outcomes, but our entire experience.When travel plans go awry or technology fails, our first instinct might be frustration. Yet, as personal stories reveal, treating the person behind the counter or the technician on the phone with genuine kindness consistently leads to better results. “I’ve never missed a flight,” shares one speaker, explaining how a smile and understanding attitude has gotten them onto fully booked planes—while others r...
2025-04-3011 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast053: How to Create a POWERFUL Support Network That Actually Works?Send us a text"Community is not about belonging. It’s about belonging to something that makes belonging matter."This powerful distinction lies at the heart of our conversation about what genuine community means in today’s business landscape.When businesses confuse having customers with having community, they miss the transformative power of authentic connection. True community emerges when we help others grow without constantly asking, “What’s in it for me?” The results are extraordinary—customers evolve into passionate advocates, sales conversations shift into relationship-building opportunities, and everyone thrives together.During COVID...
2025-04-2216 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast052: EXIT Like A PRO With These 3 Essential TipsSend us a textWhat happens when you sell the business you've built from the ground up? More importantly, who will take care of the clients who’ve trusted you for years?These questions lie at the heart of a powerful conversation about the human side of business exits. While most discussions around mergers and acquisitions focus on valuation multiples and deal structures, this one dives into the relationship dynamics that truly define success.When fielding acquisition calls, savvy business owners flip the script. Yes, potential buyers are evaluating your business—but you shou...
2025-04-1616 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast051: The Hidden Network That Powers Tech Industry Jobs!Send us a textWhat does it take to build a successful career in the technology channel? The answer might surprise you. It's not technical prowess—or even owning a computer. It's relationships.The journey from industry outsider to respected insider shows how a few key connections can completely transform your career. Entering the MSP ecosystem without a technical background? Your ability to form genuine, lasting relationships becomes your greatest asset.This approach has even earned a name: the Rob Ray effect—where consistent, authentic interactions at industry events build over...
2025-04-0920 min
Product Led Growth Leaders92 - Collaborate or Fail: The Key to Successful Technology Projects in Today's Market with BetterEngineer's Marc BoudriaYour host, Thomas Watkins, talks with the Chief Innovation Officer of BetterEngineer, Marc Boudria. Marc shares his extensive experience in technology innovation, emphasizing the challenges of AI adoption and the importance of understanding user experience. He discusses the need for a pragmatic approach to technology implementation and highlights the significance of assembling the right teams. Marc also addresses the current job market, advocating for a holistic hiring approach that values problem-solving abilities and creativity alongside technical skills. Learn more about Marc's work HERE.Connect with Marc on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd...
2025-04-0326 minEmpower & Elevate Podcast050: The Fire Within: Discovering Your Full Capabilities Against All OddsSend us a textWhat happens when someone pushes the boundaries of their potential? Ashley's journey—from working in a hot dog factory to becoming a Vice President of Human Resources—is a testament to the power of self-belief and determination.Raised in a blue-collar family with no clear path to college, Ashley never envisioned an executive career. At 20, as a single mother, she walked into a staffing agency looking for work—only to leave with an opportunity that would launch her into the world of HR. "I wanted to be a mom my son could...
2025-04-0114 min
REICHtum für Unternehmer | Der Podcast, der Unternehmer reicher machtMänner sterben nicht an Schwäche, sie sterben an Ignoranz | Im Interview mit Dr. MarcIn dieser Folge spreche ich mit Dr. Marc über ein Thema, das viele Männer gerne verdrängen: Ihre eigene Gesundheit. Männer sterben nicht an Schwäche – sondern an Ignoranz. Dr. Marc hat seine Karriere als Arzt in einer erfolgreichen Gemeinschaftspraxis hinter sich gelassen, um sich voll und ganz der Männergesundheit zu widmen. Wir sprechen über: ✅ Warum Männer oft erst handeln, wenn es zu spät ist ✅ Die fatalen Fehler, die viele Unternehmer in Sachen Gesundheit machen ✅ Wie du deine Gesundheit aktiv in die Hand nimmst, bevor dein Körper dich ausbremst ✅ Warum Erfolg ohne Gesundheit nich...
2025-03-291h 03Empower & Elevate Podcast049: Want a DREAM Job? Listen To This NowSend us a textThe difference between business survival and failure often comes down to one thing: the people you hire. In this candid conversation, we dive into why grit beats impressive resumes every time.Our guest, who built and sold two companies before 40, shares how their hiring philosophy evolved through both wins and hard lessons. "I'd rather hire someone who never says, ‘That’s not my job’ than a billion-dollar executive who won’t roll up their sleeves," they explain, recalling hires who looked great on paper but crumbled under pressure.This mindset...
2025-03-2521 min