Out of the Hourglass, presented by Nolan Consulting Group, is here to help Small Business Owners and Contractors alike visualize their goals, develop their team & build sustainable growth. You'll hear from our panel of NCG Coaches on a variety of topics, guest speakers from top industry resources, Business Owners sharing best practices and a focus on strategies across sales, marketing, business planning, human resources and more. We're here to take you "out of the hourglass" and reach YOUR S ...
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Nolan Consulting Group Podcasts

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Ep. 239: Compensation Planning for Growth – A Conversation with Utopia HR Solutions
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50:54Lisa DeMaria, founder of Utopia HR Solutions, joins us to discuss strategic compensation planning and employee retention for small to mid-sized businesses in the trades industry. We explore how to create competitive compensation packages that go beyond salary, including flexible benefits, performance-based incentives, and structured development pro…
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Ep. 238: From Founder to Coach – Mike Freeman's Entrepreneurial Evolution
49:09
49:09
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49:09Join us as we sit down with Mike Freeman, Co-Founder of Mike's Quality Painting and One Day Concrete Coatings, and newest Associate Coach with Nolan Consulting Group. From starting a lawn mowing business with his brother at age 11 to building multiple successful ventures in Albuquerque, Mike shares his journey of creating opportunity-driven busines…
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Ep. 237: The Dual Impact – Safety Focus as a People Strategy and Business Advantage
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47:28Implementing robust safety practices creates a powerful dual advantage—protecting your most valuable asset, your people, while simultaneously driving business growth and opportunity. Paul Cook and Darren Lottes of Painters USA and pioneers of Safety within the Summit group, share field-tested insights on transforming safety from a compliance burden…
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Ep. 236: Pain Points & Price Points – Winning the Objection Game Before It Starts
51:01
51:01
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51:01In this episode, Colin Nolan shares the importance of transforming objections into opportunities by mastering the art of uncovering customer pain. Discover why the most successful objection handling happens during discovery, not at the end of the sales process, and learn practical techniques to leverage emotional buying motives when facing resistan…
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Ep. 235: The Hourglass Scorecard – A Tool for Business Assessment and Growth
26:25
26:25
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26:25Brian Nolan, Co-founder and President of Nolan Consulting Group, and Business Coach Sydney Bates discuss the rollout of the NEW Hourglass Scorecard, a dynamic assessment tool for trades businesses focused on building value and growth. They explain how this updated version of the Business Systems Checklist helps identify a company's current status a…
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Ep. 234: What Small Business Owners Should Know When Choosing a Financial Advisor
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44:35
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44:35Ever wonder how to find a financial advisor who really 'gets' your business? Join us as we chat with Michael Pallozzi of HFM Investment Advisors about navigating the financial advisory landscape as a small business owner. Michael shares his practical wisdom on why the right advisor should understand both your business and personal goals, how to spo…
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Ep. 233: The Rise of AI Search & Digital Marketing for Home Service Businesses
48:22
48:22
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48:22Sarah Adkins, owner of Big Shark Marketing, discusses the evolution of digital marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of adapting to AI-powered search and creating high-quality, authoritative content. She highlights the challenges businesses face in keeping up with marketing trends and offers advice on optimizing websites, utilizing AI to…
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Ep. 232: Planning for the Unplanned – Every Business Owner Needs a Crisis Plan
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17:25Crisis planning should be non-negotiable for every business owner, regardless of age or company size. On today’s episode with Brian Nolan we discuss why having a comprehensive crisis plan isn't just about preparing for worst-case scenarios, but a strategic tool that protects your business, provides peace of mind, and ensures your team (and family) …
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Re-Release Episode #196: Unlocking the World of Crucial Conversations – High Stakes, Disagreeing Opinions and High Emotions
41:47
41:47
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41:47Whether it be a tough conversation you need to have with an employee or need to de-escalate an issue or job gone awry with a customer, we are unlocking the tools to better prepare ourselves for the dynamic of crucial conversations. With a passion for this topic, NCG Sr. Business Coach Colin is here to share key points from “Crucial Conversations: T…
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Ep. 231: Budget B Agility – Preparing Your Business for Whatever Comes Next
36:12
36:12
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36:12Discover the importance of Plan B Budgeting with Kathryn Freeman, Senior Business Coach and Director of Operations, as we transition from Q1 to Q2. Learn why financial contingency planning is essential in today's market conditions and how having alternative budget scenarios ready can help business owners navigate uncertainty with confidence and be …
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Re-Release #179: Job Site Leadership – Their System vs. Our System and the 3-Legged Stool
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24:09
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24:09For many businesses who experience the swing of seasonality, the wheels of the busy season are quickly starting to roll and it’s a great time to ensure your production team is prepared to lead effectively. We released an episode focusing on Job Site Leadership as a workshop preview back in December 2023 for one of our upcoming programs at the time.…
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Ep. 230: From Trades to Real Estate — How Dan Brady Built a Second Seven-Figure Business in the Short Term Rental Space
1:13:28
1:13:28
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1:13:28In this episode, we sit down with Dan Brady, owner of Dan Brady Painting and Adventure North Vacation Rentals, to explore his journey from CEO of Painting business to real estate investor. Dan shares how he built a thriving short-term rental business generating seven figures in annual revenue while maintaining his successful painting company in Nor…
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Ep. 229: A Journey to CEO & Intentionality – How Eric Tilghman Transformed His Leadership & Mindset Approach
55:12
55:12
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55:12This impactful conversation with Eric Tilghman, CEO of Tilghman Builders, walks us through his transformative journey over the last 10 years of becoming more intentional, goal-driven and embracing "the ideal day" concept that revolutionized his leadership approach. Eric offers practical insights on how this mindset shift has enhanced both his leade…
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Nolan Consulting Group Co-Founder & President, Brian Nolan, explores the multifaceted dimensions of effective leadership - How do YOU show up as a Leader? Brian breaks down how leaders can better understand their personal leadership style through strengths identification, Working Genius assessments, DISC profiles, adapting to team needs and underst…
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Ep. 227: Values-First Leadership – Building a Foundation of Unreasonable Hospitality
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29:17In this episode, our three guests - Brian Nolan, Sydney Bates & Maureen Richard - explore how principles from Will Guidara’s "Unreasonable Hospitality" can transform workplace culture beyond the restaurant industry. They discuss the critical distinction between basic service and genuine hospitality, emphasizing the importance of hiring for cultural…
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Ep. 226: Marketing Blueprint & the Painting Industry – From Digital Presence to ROI with Brandon Pierpont of Painter Marketing Pros
50:59
50:59
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50:59Brandon Pierpont, Founder & CEO of Painter Marketing Pros and recipient of the PCA’s 2025 Industry Partner of the Year award, reveals game-changing strategies for painting contractors, including the critical role of Google Business Profile and Local Service Ads. Learn valuable tips about building a sustainable marketing blueprint, understanding ROI…
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Re-Release #116: What does it mean to get Out of the Hourglass?
39:43
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39:43What does it actually mean to get OUT of the hourglass? It’s a phrase we speak to often here at Nolan Consulting Group and a core part of our mission statement. We released an episode on this topic back in July 2022 and its relevancy today remains at the forefront of conversations we continue to have with new clients and existing as they grow their…
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Ep. 225: The Learning Never Stops – A Chat with Business Coach Jim Bradley on His Love of Knowledge
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43:42
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43:42Jim Bradley, Business Coach at Nolan Consulting Group opens up about his ongoing love of learning, including what pushed him to go after his doctorate in business. Molly and Jim share insights about different learning approaches and discuss how to effectively balance theoretical knowledge with practical application - we know both are critical for s…
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Ep. 224: Shifting Your Financial Perspective — From Accounting to Strategic Management
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31:36
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31:36Join us as we dive deep into the crucial distinction between Accounting and strategic financial management with Senior Business Coach, Kathryn Freeman. Discover why looking at your business finances purely through an accounting lens might be holding you back, and learn how to adopt a more strategic approach that goes beyond tax compliance and histo…
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Ep. 223: Catching up with DASH Content Collective – The Ins and Outs of Social Media Marketing in 2025
55:29
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55:29In this episode we dive into the Ins and Outs of Social Media Marketing for Small Business in 2025 with Shannon Hinderberger & Darlene Veenhuizen, the co-founders of Dash Content Collective. From highlighting challenges they see in the content creator space, to the increasing need to create authentic video content and how to capture audience attent…
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Ep. 222: Highlights from the Experience Mindset, a Book by Tiffani Bova – Where EX & CX are Intricately Intertwined
41:42
41:42
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41:42We are kicking off 2025 and the first podcast of the year with a focus on The Experience Mindset, Changing The Way You Think About Growth, a book by Tiffani Bova. This is a read that several of us here at Nolan Consulting Group really enjoyed, it was part of an internal Book Club and we thought it was worthwhile to bring to the podcast table as an …
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Ep. 221: The Sellers Peer Group – Maximizing Business Value in a Changing Market
41:48
41:48
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41:48In this episode of Out of the Hourglass, Brian Nolan, Jim Bradley, and Molly Nolan delve into the trades industry's evolving landscape, and the influence of private equity on small business transitions. They announce the February launch of the Sellers & Acquisition Peer Group, designed to support business owners navigating valuation, sale preparati…
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Ep. 220: AI Meets Small Business: Productivity, Culture, and Innovation - A conversation with Ross Hartmann of Kiingo AI
56:45
56:45
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56:45In this episode of Out of the Hourglass, Molly sits down with Ross Hartmann, founder of Kiingo AI, to explore the transformative potential of AI and generative AI for small businesses. They discuss practical applications of tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, emphasizing strategies to integrate AI into company culture, optimize efficiency, and …
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Ep. 219: Safety First – Navigating an OSHA Audit and Building a Culture of Safety at Webfoot Home Improvements
51:43
51:43
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51:43Our conversation this week features Travis Ulrich, the CEO and co-founder of Webfoot Home Improvements based in Bend, OR. A few weeks ago, Travis shared with his Mastermind Group that Webfoot experienced a random, very extensive and unexpected OSHA Audit. Today - we’re hearing about the experience straight from Travis - how it happened, what went d…
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Ep. 218: Breaking Sales Barriers – Mastering Mindset and Unlocking Potential, Highlighting an Upcoming Sales Workshops
46:27
46:27
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46:27Join Mike Shannon and Molly Nolan as they delve into the transformative power of self-awareness in sales. They explore the role of mindset, emotional control, and belief systems in driving success, with insights from the Objective Management Group's assessments. Hear how overcoming limiting beliefs and setting clear expectations can unlock sales po…
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Ep. 217: The Roadmap Reset – Gearing up your 2025 Planning
31:21
31:21
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31:21Join us as we dive into the planning season with Molly Nolan and Jay Rogers. We’re speaking to what we’re seeing and how we’re involved with our clients; from budgeting tools, conversations and planning site visits, the essentials of effective business planning. We want to set the tone on the importance of this practice and empower teams through in…
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Ep. 216: Inside the Coaching Room: Sales Leadership Strategies with Mark Repkin, Josh Cornell & Mike Green
1:03:35
1:03:35
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1:03:35Step into the Coaching Room with Sales Coach Mark Repkin and two high performing Sales Leaders, Mike Green from Fitzpatrick Painting & Josh Cornell from Kennedy Painting, as they share real-world insights on effective selling strategies. In this episode, we explore the importance of preparation, engagement, value of quantifying competency, utilizin…
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Ep. 215: – An Acquisition Story Connecting with the Co-Owners at Central Oregon Garage Door
38:54
38:54
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38:54Kim Merryman, Vice President of Central Oregon Garage Door and Kyle Fetzer, President, discuss their journey to becoming co-owners of Central Oregon Garage Door in April 2024. Highlighting the importance of trust, values alignment, and trusted advisors through this venture, Kim and Kyle share the timeline of closing the deal, the challenges and ris…
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Ep. 214: Organic Authenticity & Building Relationships with Jaclyn Rogers, Client Relations Manager at Ai Painting Plus
58:51
58:51
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58:51We’re thrilled to welcome Jaclyn Rogers, Client Relations Manager at Ai Painting Plus in Columbia,MO , to today’s episode for a conversation focusing on her transition from retail management to the painting industry and her emphasis on providing an exceptional client experience. Known for her organic authenticity, Jacyln thrives off intentional, ge…
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Ep. 213: Retirement & Exiting Well – The Final Chapter with Kevin Nolan
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54:01We are welcoming back Kevin Nolan, Former CEO of Nolan Painting & Co- Founder of Nolan Consulting Group to discuss a pretty momentous point in his life - On September 21st, Kevin celebrated his 65th birthday AND his official retirement from Nolan Painting. As he said in his speech and in today’s episode, it is time to pass the baton onto the next g…
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Ep. 212: The Art of Sales Coaching, A Conversation with Jeff Cramer
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48:18
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48:18With over 40 years of experience in both B2B and B2C sales, Jeff Cramer, a seasoned Sales Professional and Coach, has seen it all. Now, he uses his extensive knowledge to help sales representatives and managers in their personal and professional growth. We're excited to have him on this week's episode to discuss his coaching philosophy, which empha…
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Ep. 211: Where Resistance Meets Strengths – A Retreat Debrief Unlocking the Power of the Reflected Best Self Exercise
38:59
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38:59In this episode, we dive into the Reflected Best Self Exercise™ (RBSE) with Brian Nolan, a powerful personal development tool designed to help you see your best self through the eyes of others. Originating from research from the Center for Positive Organizations (Ross School of Business, University of Michigan), RBSE invites participants to gather …
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Ep. 210: Top 10 Leadership Mistakes People Make from an SLII Experience™ Framework
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39:11Colin Nolan, Senior Business Coach at Nolan Consulting Group and Certified Trainer of Ken Blanchard’s SLII Experience™ (Situational Leadership) Program is back to talk the Top 10 Leadership Mistakes People often make from an SLII Perspective. From new employee attitude changes to confusing confidence vs. competence, leadership of people is hard and…
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Ep. 209: Fast Growth Planning – Organizational Development & Strategic Decisions
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46:39
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46:39Today we’re wrapping the discussion of the Fast Growth Planning Program, designed to give Business Owners with a “fast growth” mindset the framework to achieve. Joined by Jay Rogers and Kathryn Freeman, two Nolan Consulting Group Business Coaches, we’re highlighting the final stages of the program - focusing on the Organizational Development of you…
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Ep. 208: Where Technology Meets Data Driven Decision Making – A conversation with Christi Fabela of busybusy of Align Technologies
53:51
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53:51Today we are connecting with Christi Fabela, the Director of Product Optimization at busybusy of Align Technologies, a time tracking software built for the construction and remote Industries with the goal of helping their clients utilize the data insights driven from their technology to make better, more strategic business decisions. With a profess…
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Ep. 207: The Financials Fundamentals – Laying the Groundwork & Workshop Preview
33:35
33:35
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33:35The Financial Fundamentals Workshop is coming up next month and we’ve got a preview ahead on this week’s episode of Out of the Hourglass with Kathryn Freeman, Sr. Business Coach & Director of Operations at Nolan Consulting Group. We are quickly entering the Fall Season and it’s going to be an interesting next few months with a lot of factors at pla…
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Ep. 206: Fast Growth Business Planning – The Growth Fundamentals
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34:25
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34:25Whether you're a startup looking to scale quickly or an established company aiming to break through growth barriers, you need the strategic framework, tools, and support to achieve your ambitious goals. Today we’re continuing a discussion of the Fast Growth Planning Program, designed to give that framework to those with the fast growth mindset. Joi…
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Ep. 205: It’s Time for a Review – Highlighting the Company Process and Keeping it Relevant
42:34
42:34
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42:34Sydney Bates, Project Manager at Nolan Consulting Group, brings us into the world of process documentation and the framework for the why, the how and the impact a solid work flow documentation system can have on your business. This is a topic we’ve discussed in an early episode on Out of the Hourglass, but it’s been some time and so much has change…
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Ep. 204: Introducing the Fast Growth Business Planning Program
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50:20Whether you're a startup looking to scale quickly or an established company aiming to break through growth barriers, you need the strategic framework, tools, and support to achieve your ambitious goals. Today we’re introducing a new Program offered by Nolan Consulting Group, the Fast Growth Planning Program, designed to give that framework to those…
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Ep. 203: 5 Ways to Boost your SEO without Touching your Website
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1:00:56We are excited to welcome back Chris Kiefer, Founder of Boolean Review + Automation, for an engaging conversation on how to improve and increase your SEO and search rankings through AI Technology, process standardization and dedication to making the most of your Google Reviews. We walk through the 5 R’s to keep front of mind with actionable takeawa…
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Ep. 202: The Power of the Pause - A Conversation with Tamara Chase
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50:55Today we’re connecting with Tamara Chase, Co-Owner and CEO of Chase Roofing based in Pompano Beach, FL on a topic that should resonate with us all. Like many of you, Tamara wears many different hats - in addition to running a business, she is also a Speaker, a Mentor, Host of the Pink Hard Hat Podcast, a mom, a wife, a grandmother and so much more!…
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Ep. 201: How’d They Do That- Face to Face Marketing with George Apap
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31:59Colin Nolan takes over as host in this episode of Out of the Hourglass for “How’d They Do That” conversation with George Apap, President of George Apap Painting based in Patterson, NY. Frustrated by high marketing spend without recognizable return and customer acquisition costs that seem unsustainable, George was determined to find a better way to …
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Ep. 200: “I’m Okay, Your Okay” and Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Sales Coaching with Jim Falk
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54:22We’re featuring Jim Falk, the VP of Sales at Nolan Painting and a Sales Coach here at Nolan Consulting Group on today’s episode of Out of the Hourglass. Jim recently co-facilitated a Sales Fundamentals Workshop for Summit Members focused on executing and mastering the Sales Process. As part of this workshop, he spoke on a topic called Neuro-Linguis…
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Ep. 199: Scaling your Business with Overseas Talent – Sharing Insights & Approach from Michael Murray
59:43
59:43
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59:43We are welcoming back a former podcast guest and Summit Member, Michael Murray, the Founder and President at Textbook Painting in Cleveland, OH to today’s episode! Michael shares his experience and insights when it comes to hiring overseas talent, more commonly referred to as Virtual Assistant (VAs) for his organizational growth. From his approach …
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Ep. 198: Exploring SEO – Strategies for Small Business Success with Chris Long
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52:44“ If your website isn’t helping people, then you’re just selling something… and Google might not like that” Today we’re talking to Chris Long, the VP of Marketing at Go Fish Digital, a full-service digital marketing agency that works with mid-market to Fortune 500 companies. Chris is an SEO expert, a thought leader in this space and he’s helping us…
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Ep. 197: Leadership Training at Bowman Painting – Developing Leaders, Impacting Culture & Cultivating Role Success
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46:50Today we’re sharing a conversation with Scott Bowman, the Owner of Bowman Painting based in Ormond Beach, FL and a long-term Summit Member. Over the last couple of years, Scott has made Leadership Training a true focus within their organization, creating a formal program with bi-weekly training across a spectrum of content - from Job Site Leadershi…
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Ep. 196: Unlocking the World of Crucial Conversations – High Stakes, Disagreeing Opinions and High Emotions
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41:53Whether it be a tough conversation you need to have with an employee or need to de-escalate an issue or job gone awry with a customer, we are unlocking the tools to better prepare ourselves for the dynamic of crucial conversations. With a passion for this topic, NCG Sr. Business Coach Colin is here to share key points from “Crucial Conversations: T…
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Ep. 195: Fortifying your Organizational Citadel - Excerpts from the 2024 Grand Summit Keynote
48:42
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48:42We're changing things up today on Out of the Hourglass! We're sharing an excerpt from our Keynote presentation at the Grand Summit Conference last month in Savannah. The conference theme was "Build Your Inner Citadel." A citadel is a fortress or castle - built for war, bulletproof. Now consider your organization the same way - how can you make it b…
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Ep. 194: Navigating the Digital Maze – SEO vs. SEM with Brittany Murphy, Marketing Strategist
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1:03:50We are joined today by Brittany Murphy, the Marketing Manager at Bloom Consulting and a Marketing Strategist who has years of experience working in not only the Trades space but also other small businesses. One of Brittany’s missions is to help Small Businesses use their marketing dollars most effectively, especially in the digital space of SEO and…
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Ep. 193: Family Business Dynamics – Understanding the Core Pillars to Build Healthy Relationships In and Out of the Workplace
55:35
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55:35Today we are talking about Family Business dynamics and to do that we've brought on Brian Nolan our Managing Partner here at NCG and Senior Business Coach This is an important topic, and while most people know that here at Nolan Consulting, we are a family business, but we also work with a lot of companies that employ family members - whether it's …
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