I'm super happy to welcome Max Polec back to the show for a second time. In this episode, Max and I talk about revenue, what it means for a business, and how to leverage it to work for you business. We discuss how setting revenue goals can help orient and focus your business development efforts, and even how not to achieve your revenue goals. But most importantly, we talk about how to achieve your revenue goals. You can find Max at Abstract Collective ....
Sep 16, 2020•37 min
Today's episode features Rick Morris of R2 Consulting. We dive deep into Project Management, what it is, and how even a rudimentary understanding the basic principles can help you and your business build better products that solve big problems for your customers. You can find Rick at R2 Consulting . The Work Life Balance Podcast...
Sep 02, 2020•35 min
When COVID-19 began to grind life and business as we know it to a halt, my friend Max Polec of Abstract Collective, a former guest on The Dispatch, and I wanted to do something that would provide some context and wisdom for people and their businesses as we navigated the crisis together. Our idea was pretty simple; reach out to our networks and find folks that had weathered and even grown during previous crises such as the Dot-Com Bubble and, more recently, the Great Recession. We were overwhelm...
Jun 01, 2020•48 min
Wade Preston is the co-founder of Prevail Coffee Roasters based in Montgomery, Alabama. Of the many paths in the food and beverage industry, very few are as unique and, frankly, misunderstood as the world of specialty coffee. In today’s episode, we dive deep into the economics and strategies of working in the specialty coffee world, what makes this part of the industry so special, and why Montgomery, AL is kind of a badass place to own and operate your business. Wade is a super nice guy, a talen...
May 25, 2020•58 min
When COVID-19 began to grind life and business as we know it to a halt, my friend Max Polec of Abstract Collective, a former guest on The Dispatch, and I wanted to do something that would provide some context and wisdom for people and their businesses as we navigated the crisis together. Our idea was pretty simple; reach out to our networks and find folks that had weathered and even grown during previous crises such as the Dot-Com Bubble and, more recently, the Great Recession. We were overwhelm...
May 15, 2020•50 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Today’s guest is Carrie Rollwagen, former small business owner, author, and all around small business guru. I’ve known Carrie for years through the coffee shop world and now as we’re both folks working in the technology industry. Carrie is, as I describe it, a small business rockstar and I think her writing and podcasting are sources of great inspiration for small business owners. I hope you’ll check her content out and that you enjoy the interview! Carrie Rollwagen The Localist book The Localis...
Apr 30, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Lloyd Cooper is the owner and principle at PUSH Product Design in Birmingham, Alabama. Lloyd joined me in the studio to talk about creative problem solving, specialists vs generalists, and, as his company's motto states, “bending constraints.” Ever wonder how the most creative people generate their ideas? How they can possibly produce at such a high level? And have you ever suspected that there’s a better way to build your skills and expertise than simply reading another business book? If so, th...
Apr 15, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Today we talk with Kim Lee, founder and CEO of Forge Coworking in Birmingham, Alabama. Kim's is has an incredibly humble and inspiring startup story that charts all of the ups and downs of life in a startup. Not only that, given the unique nature of coworking, Kim has been able to play a part in the birth and growth of many Birmingham startups herself. Kim's approach to business and her amazing perspective on all of the ups and downs should make anyone on the fence about giving their startup ide...
Oct 31, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Welcome back to The Dispatch! Today I’m talking with Max Polec. Max is the interim COO at Fledging, a Birmingham-based startup building really cool hardware that helps make life easier for creatives that rely on technology to get their jobs done. Max also runs Abstract Collective, a design, marketing, and strategy firm that helps your brand stand out. Our conversation today centers around marketing, what it is, and how you can do it better for yourself and your company even if you have no formal...
Oct 03, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Welcome back to The Dispatch! Today's guest is Lydia Dick. Lydia is the Director of the Commercialization Accelerator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lydia spends her days working with university students to help clarify, refine, and, ultimately, commercially their business ideas. Starting a business is hard and no one I know has had more experience with that process than Lydia. She's worked with and coached hundreds of students on how to take their ideas from start to launch and I'm...
Sep 18, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome back to The Dispatch everyone! It’s been a long time and I want to personally apologize for the absence. I’m super fortunate that my business has been booming, but that means I’ve been a little too busy to create content lately. Excuses, excuses. Well, I’m back and I’m excited to bring you guys a series of interviews I’ve conducted and slowly, but surely, edited over the past few months. You’ll hear from directors of accelerator programs, entrepreneurs, project management experts, and mo...
Sep 03, 2019•53 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Today I'm talking with Austin Senseman and Nathan McMinn about their new company, MNMX. MNMX helps companies utilize the Internet of Things (aka IoT) to collect and interpret business data to make better business decisions and to understand their business processes better. I think this is a particularly fascinating subject and I hope you will, too! You can find Austin and Nathan at www.mnmx.io. Enjoy the show!
Feb 26, 2019•40 min
Today I'm talking to Wesley and Emma Teague, a husband and wife super-duo that run their own photography business, Wesley & Emma Photography (www.wesleyandemma.com). They're all around super folks and have some great insights into running a small business, how authenticity and kindness help you differentiate your services, and even have some great blooper stories at the end. If you enjoy The Dispatch, consider hopping over to the Apple Podcast store and leaving us a review. Thanks!...
Jan 11, 2019•54 min
In today's episode I talk with Taylor Clark, REV Birmingham's Director of Business Recruitment and Growth about a wide range of topics from work she's done with food deserts in Birmingham, to non-profit funding, all the way to creating an environment for small businesses to thrive in the Magic City.
Dec 13, 2018•45 min
What do startups miss when getting off the ground and how can you get an edge when launching your own startup? Check out today's mini-Pod to find out!
Nov 30, 2018•7 min
Today on The Dispatch, I’m joined by my good friend Deon Gordon! As the former Business Development director for REV Birmingham and the current President and CEO of Tech Birmingham, Deon has been a huge part in helping shape the business landscape in Birmingham for a long time. Today we talk about how business in the Magic City is changing, what big issues are facing technology companies today, and what we can be doing to help foster more technology startups in Birmingham. I hope you enjoy the s...
Nov 26, 2018•38 min
Hello! I'm so happy to be back with you guys! Today I'm sharing my interview with Amanda Storey, Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, Alabama. Jones Valley is an amazing organization that partners with schools and communities to incorporate farming and agriculture into curricula to teach everything from STEM, to commerce, cooking, and more! Jones Valley Teaching Farm is near and dear to my heart and I'm really excited to share this interview with you today.
Nov 14, 2018•44 min
What's a freebie and how can it work for your business? Today we look at how selling something at break even (or even giving it away for free) can be a useful strategy for your business and how recognizing other companies employing this strategy can help you protect your place in the market.
Sep 28, 2018•6 min
Today we're revisiting two mini episodes from the early days of the podcast. We're talking about hiring strategies in the middle of a staffing crisis and how to lose an argument, for leaders. Enjoy!
Sep 14, 2018•6 min
What can we do when faced with unfair criticism that makes us question our self-worth and abilities?
Sep 07, 2018•8 min
Today, we're going back to the early days with a re-recorded version of two of the shorts I produced at the very beginning of the Dispatch. First up, "Is the Customer Always Right?" Second, "Your Team is Your Greatest Asset" Enjoy!
Aug 31, 2018•6 min
I'm super excited to announce that we're taking the podcast to the next level! We're rebranding, reformatting, and building an exciting roster of guests for you guys over the coming months. Check out this update for details.
Aug 24, 2018•4 min
Today, I'm really excited to welcome my friend Katy Ward to the show! Katy is a marketing consultant, artist, and story teller that helps Social Impact companies clarify their message and connect with their ideal clients through the power of story. In this episode, Katy explains how and why using a centuries old story telling technique works with our human psychology to connect simply and, more importantly, powerfully with our clients and customers. You can find Katy at www.katyward.com.
Aug 17, 2018•33 min
What does Story Telling have to do with your brand? People connect with stories with which they can relate. On Monday, we talked about how Authenticity was more than just being honest and truthful. We talked about how a shared language and vulnerability can act synergistically with honesty and truthfulness to create a powerful messaging system for your brand. Today we're taking it one step further. We're talking about the elements of a good story and how to use that structure to communicate with...
Aug 15, 2018•5 min
Everyone wants authentic, but what exactly IS authentic anyway? Today, today I'm talking about what I think authenticity is, how it differs from more common understandings of the subject, and how you can use it in your communications to win more customers and cultivate more loyalty.
Aug 13, 2018•4 min
We've been talking about hardship and adversity this week. We've covered plenty of way to handle the hard times, but today we're talking about a new way to think about the hard times. Can adversity be a boon to your business? Today we're joined by Caleb Chancey. Caleb has been a freelance photographer, musician, and, most recently, the Creative Director for Good Grit Magazine, a southern lifestyle magazine based in Birmingham, Alabama. Today, Caleb brings us some important perspectives on how yo...
Aug 10, 2018•29 min
What happens when things go wrong....and then they keep going wrong? We've all dealt with the inevitable crises that pop up in our workplaces, but sometimes the hits just keep on coming. What can you do to cope with the persistent stress and anxiety that comes along with times like these? Today we're talking about what to do when work begins to feel like trench warfare.
Aug 08, 2018•5 min
This week we're tackling hardship and adversity in the workplace. We've all dealt with tough times, both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, not all of us have handled those times as well as we could have. Handling hardship and adversity with skill is a necessary skillset for any business owner or manager. Truly, it can make all the difference between a healthy, nurturing workplace environment and a toxic one. Today we're talking about a couple of things that, in my experience, go wron...
Aug 06, 2018•5 min
Hello! I'm super excited about this week's guest, my good friend Jeremy Carter. Jeremy is an experienced entrepreneur, leadership coach, and podcast host with a lot of really great insight into hustle culture, work-life balance, and leadership. You can find Jeremy at www.breakoutgames.com and you can listen to his podcast, Bold Future, on most podcast players or at www.boldfuture.co.
Aug 03, 2018•33 min
Today we're diving a little deeper into how the idea of "hustling" can work for you AND maintain a happy lifestyle. Take it from me, burning every minute working is not sustainable. Today I'm outlining concrete steps to make the most of your time while still preserving your mental, physical, and emotional wellness.
Aug 01, 2018•6 min
