From $7 an Hour to Inc. 5000: How Natalia Zacharin Built a Multi-Million-Dollar CFO Firm | Ann Carden

From $7 an Hour to Inc. 5000: How Natalia Zacharin Built a Multi-Million-Dollar CFO Firm | Ann Carden

In this inspiring episode of Expert In You, host Ann Carden sits down with Natalia Zacharin, founder and CEO of Zacharin Consulting to explore her remarkable journey from earning $7 an hour as a single mom to building an Inc. 5000-recognized fractional CFO firm. Natalia shares the real story behind her success - the setbacks, self-doubt, market shifts, and hard-earned lessons that shaped her into an award-winning entrepreneur and business leader. This conversation goes beyond accounting and finance to reveal what it truly takes to build a resilient, scalable business in a constantly changing market. 🚀 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * How Natalia built and scaled a successful fractional CFO firm from the ground up * The mindset shifts that helped her overcome adversity and self-doubt * Why sales, networking, and strategic partnerships are critical to growth * How to navigate economic uncertainty and changing markets * The importance of multiple revenue streams and business resilience Whether you're a consultant, service-based entrepreneur, founder, or aspiring business owner, this episode delivers practical insights and inspiration for building a profitable business that can withstand challenges and continue growing. 🎧 Tune in now to discover how resilience, strategy, and determination can turn obstacles into opportunities - and create extraordinary business success.   Key Moments:  05:26 Inspired to Start a Business 06:48 Starting a business journey 11:04 Dealing with early career doubts 15:25 Dealing with business ups and downs 17:40 Building multiple income streams 20:45 Doing Your Own Sales 23:02 Joining a mastermind group 28:11 Creative problem-solving and learning 31:21 Delegating sales to an agency 33:34 Updating ad strategy with new agency 37:58 Challenges in Business Growth 40:35 Training new hires and challenges   About the guest :  Natalia Zacharin is the Founder of Zacharin Consulting, an award-winning accounting firm and Inc. 5000 honoree. She partners with founders of service businesses generating between $1 million and $30 million in annual revenue. Natalia specializes in elite fractional CFO services  and strategic financial planning. She brings unmatched perspective to her advisory work, having personally scaled her own firm from a solo operation born out of poverty to a $3 million powerhouse in just six years. Her core philosophy is simple: profit does not equal cash, and more sales will never fix broken systems. Natalia empowers entrepreneurs to use their financials as a forward-facing GPS rather than a backward looking historical report. By helping leaders identify silent cash leaks, optimize pricing models, and forecast decisions six months in advance, she turns chaotic growth into sustainable profitability. Her proven frameworks build resilient companies that operate independently and ultimately become highly sellable assets.   How to connect Natalia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/growyourbottomline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/growyourbottomline/] Website: https://zacharinconsulting.com/ [https://zacharinconsulting.com/]   About the host:  Ann Carden is a highly sought-after Business Growth Consultant, Marketing Strategist, and #1 Bestselling Author, with over 41 years of experience helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and coaches scale their success. As a Professional Speaker and three-time published author, Ann has coached and consulted hundreds of professionals across more than 80 industries.   Why Choose Ann Carden?  With a diverse background that spans over four decades, Ann has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in business growth, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship. She spent 13 years in corporate management before launching her own businesses, where she thrived for 35 years. Ann’s entrepreneurial journey began out of financial necessity, and she successfully grew her first business to an international level - even before the Internet era.   Work with Ann Carden  If you're ready to take your business to the next level, Ann offers customized solutions to help you grow. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or small business owner, Ann’s proven strategies can drive significant growth in revenue and market reach.  Get Free Resources: ➡️ Access Ann's Free Training: www.expertinyou.biz  ➡️ Read the latest edition of Expert in You Magazine: https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine [https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine]   Ready to grow your business? 📞 Book a strategy call today: https://acarden.com [https://acarden.com] 🔗    🌐Website: https://annlcarden.com  📞Contact Us: www.acarden.com  💟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509 [https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509]  💟Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/ [https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/]  💟LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach]

How Authentic Storytelling Attracts Premium Clients & Builds Resilient Businesses | Dan Grech & Ann Carden

In this powerful episode of Expert In You, host Ann Carden sits down with Dan Grech, CEO and founder of YBYS and author of Your Business Is Your Story, to explore why authentic storytelling has become one of the most valuable business assets in today’s AI-driven marketplace. Dan reveals how founders can leverage their personal journey, values, struggles, and mission to build stronger brands, attract premium clients, and create deeper trust with customers, teams, and partners. Together, Ann and Dan unpack the critical difference between brand messaging and true story alignment - and why businesses that disconnect from their authentic story often lose trust, momentum, and long-term relevance.   In This Episode, You’ll Discover: * Why your founder story is your greatest competitive advantage * How authentic storytelling helps attract higher-paying clients * The difference between branding and genuine story-driven positioning * How personal adversity and transformation shape resilient businesses * Why storytelling matters even more in the age of AI and automation   With real-world examples - including lessons from companies like Starbucks - this episode offers a fresh perspective on how entrepreneurs can turn their experiences into meaningful business growth and lasting influence.   🎧 Tune in now to learn how to transform your story into a strategic business asset - and unlock deeper connection, clarity, and growth.   Key Moments:  05:25 Focusing on customer pain points 07:16 Discussing authenticity in marketing 10:34 Understanding your business story 14:24 Journalism career and public setback 17:59 Switching to legacy-focused storytelling 20:10 Adapting stories for new ventures 23:03 Building a lasting business story 26:33 Overcoming business challenges 31:41 Howard Schultz's origins and controversies 34:08 Prioritizing shareholders over values 37:16 Story to strategy transformation 42:01 Elevate your business strategy   About the guest :  Dan Grech is a serial entrepreneur, storytelling strategist, and founder of YBYS (Your Business Is Your Story), where he helps founders turn their story into a growth engine that drives revenue, aligns teams, and creates lasting momentum. Over the course of his career, Dan has built and scaled six startups—including a company that exited for $15 million—and also founded Miami’s first podcast company. Blending his entrepreneurial experience with a background in journalism, Dan specializes in helping leaders uncover the stories that differentiate their businesses in crowded markets. Dan is the creator of the Story-Driven Growth framework, a 2023 Minority-Owned Business of the Year honoree, a former member of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team, and has testified before Congress on AI and small business. He is also the author of the upcoming book Your Business Is Your Story: The Growth Strategy Your Competitors Cannot Copy.   How to connect Dan :  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangrech/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangrech/] Book a free 30-minute consult with Dan: https://ybys.com [https://ybys.com]   About the host:  Ann Carden is a highly sought-after Business Growth Consultant, Marketing Strategist, and #1 Bestselling Author, with over 41 years of experience helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and coaches scale their success. As a Professional Speaker and three-time published author, Ann has coached and consulted hundreds of professionals across more than 80 industries.   Why Choose Ann Carden?  With a diverse background that spans over four decades, Ann has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in business growth, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship. She spent 13 years in corporate management before launching her own businesses, where she thrived for 35 years. Ann’s entrepreneurial journey began out of financial necessity, and she successfully grew her first business to an international level - even before the Internet era.   Work with Ann Carden  If you're ready to take your business to the next level, Ann offers customized solutions to help you grow. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or small business owner, Ann’s proven strategies can drive significant growth in revenue and market reach.  Get Free Resources: ➡️ Access Ann's Free Training: www.expertinyou.biz  ➡️ Read the latest edition of Expert in You Magazine: https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine [https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine]   Ready to grow your business? 📞 Book a strategy call today: https://acarden.com [https://acarden.com] 🔗    🌐Website: https://annlcarden.com  📞Contact Us: www.acarden.com  💟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509 [https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509]  💟Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/ [https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/]  💟LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach]

The Perfect Plan: Elite Leadership & Decision-Making Strategies for Business Growth | Dr. Don Barden & Ann Carden

In this powerful episode of Expert In You, host Ann Carden sits down with renowned economist, leadership expert, and author of The Perfect Plan, Dr. Don Barden, to uncover the mindset and decision-making strategies behind elite business performance. Drawing from decades of research into high achievers, leadership psychology, and institutional finance, Dr. Don Barden reveals the science behind what separates top-performing leaders from everyone else - and how entrepreneurs can apply those same principles to accelerate growth and influence. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: * The leadership principles elite performers use to scale faster * How understanding the “why” behind behavior drives stronger decisions and better results * The neuroscience of influence, communication, and high-performance leadership * Dr. Don Barden’s 3-step “Perfect Plan” framework for business growth * Why gratitude, emotional intelligence, and clarity create lasting success Whether you’re a founder, consultant, executive, or coach, this episode delivers practical insights on leadership, sales, and strategic thinking that can help you elevate your business and impact. 🎧 Tune in now to learn how elite leaders think, communicate, and execute - and how you can apply the Perfect Plan to your own success. Key Moments:  05:14 Working on international deals 07:27 Backing insights with science 09:55 Staying present to extend success 12:52 Corporate structure and communication 16:47 Return on Time Investment 20:10 Effective presentation techniques 22:23 Co-creating with buyers 25:58 Building Genuine Connections Through Gratitude 28:57 Making work easy for others 32:04 Evolving meaning of "perfect"   About The Guest :  Dr. Don Barden is a classically trained economist and globally recognized expert in leadership and decision-making. He spent 25 years as a corporate executive in institutional finance and global economics, building teams that averaged over $1 billion in annual revenue. During his doctoral studies at Columbia International University, he identified a common thread among elite leaders that became the foundation for his book The Perfect Plan, now published in 39 countries worldwide.   Don was named one of the Top 30 Most Transformational Leaders in North America by John Maxwell, the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and received full honors from the Department of Defense and the 75th US Army Ranger Regiment. He lectures at Oxford University, The Wharton School of Business, and Wake Forest University, and is a frequent instructor at the US Army Ranger Leadership and Professional Development Program.   His newest work, Here Come the Girls, is a #1 Amazon release in economics exploring the global leadership shift that will occur between 2028 and 2032 as women take over global leadership roles. Don is the founder of Perfect Plan Consulting and The Perfect Plan community, where he brings his frameworks directly to entrepreneurs and leaders ready to grow.   How to connect Dr. Don Barden :  Website : https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwbarden/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwbarden/] LinkedIn: https://donbarden.com/ [https://donbarden.com/]   About the host:  Ann Carden is a highly sought-after Business Growth Consultant, Marketing Strategist, and #1 Bestselling Author, with over 41 years of experience helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and coaches scale their success. As a Professional Speaker and three-time published author, Ann has coached and consulted hundreds of professionals across more than 80 industries.   Why Choose Ann Carden?  With a diverse background that spans over four decades, Ann has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in business growth, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship. She spent 13 years in corporate management before launching her own businesses, where she thrived for 35 years. Ann’s entrepreneurial journey began out of financial necessity, and she successfully grew her first business to an international level - even before the Internet era.   Work with Ann Carden  If you're ready to take your business to the next level, Ann offers customized solutions to help you grow. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or small business owner, Ann’s proven strategies can drive significant growth in revenue and market reach.  Get Free Resources: ➡️ Access Ann's Free Training: www.expertinyou.biz  ➡️ Read the latest edition of Expert in You Magazine: https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine [https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine]   Ready to grow your business? 📞 Book a strategy call today: https://acarden.com [https://acarden.com] 🔗    🌐Website: https://annlcarden.com  📞Contact Us: www.acarden.com  💟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509 [https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509]  💟Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/ [https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/]  💟LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach]

How Niching Down Helped Marilyn Jenkins Build a High-Growth Marketing Agency for Law Firms | Ann Carden

In this insightful episode of Expert In You, host Ann Carden sits down with Marilyn Jenkins, founder and CEO of Law Marketing Zone, to explore how specialization, systems, and smart marketing strategies can transform a service business into a scalable growth machine. After building and selling multiple businesses, Marilyn found her sweet spot helping law firms dominate their local markets through targeted marketing, strategic positioning, and strong lead generation systems. Together, Ann and Marilyn unpack why niching down creates faster growth, how AI is reshaping digital marketing, and why the most successful agencies combine technology with human expertise and relationship-driven strategy. ⚖️ In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * Why specialization gives agencies a major competitive advantage * How law firms can leverage local SEO and lead generation for consistent growth * The role of AI in modern marketing - and where human strategy still wins * How to build scalable systems and expert-led teams * Why marketing success depends on both lead generation and strong sales processes Whether you’re an agency owner, consultant, or service-based entrepreneur, this episode offers practical insights on scaling smarter, positioning stronger, and building a business designed for long-term success. 🎧 Tune in now to learn how to stand out in a crowded market and create sustainable growth through specialization and strategy. Key Moments:  04:05 Digital marketing strategies overview 08:20 Importance of Specializing in Business 11:35 Ideal client criteria for law firms 14:53 Improving client intake process 17:29 Qualifying guests for the podcast 20:11 Specializing in a niche field 25:07 Working with AI and prompts 27:13 Critiquing business strategy 31:56 Embracing remote work benefits 33:35 Hiring full-time employees 36:48 Hiring experts for changing fields 41:31 Knowledge sharing and exit strategies 46:19 Working with various business types About the guest : Marilyn Jenkins is a digital growth strategist and founder of Law Marketing Zone®, specializing in helping law firms scale their business. Since the early 90s, she has developed strategic digital marketing plans spanning paid ads, SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, and a 24/7 bilingual call center. Her expertise has generated remarkable results, including some clients exceeding seven-figure revenues and achieving a return on investment over 14x. An expert in her field, Marilyn hosts the top 2.5% podcast, *Leadership In Law*, where she interviews prominent legal professionals on topics vital to growth and team building. Her cable TV show, The Marketing Zone, is on NowMedia.TV networks.    How to connect Marilyn: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynjenkins/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynjenkins/] Website: https://lawmarketingzone.com/ [https://lawmarketingzone.com/] Get Marilyn’s book at https://amzn.to/4h6j4ra [https://amzn.to/4h6j4ra]   About the host:  Ann Carden is a highly sought-after Business Growth Consultant, Marketing Strategist, and #1 Bestselling Author, with over 41 years of experience helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and coaches scale their success. As a Professional Speaker and three-time published author, Ann has coached and consulted hundreds of professionals across more than 80 industries.   Why Choose Ann Carden?  With a diverse background that spans over four decades, Ann has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in business growth, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship. She spent 13 years in corporate management before launching her own businesses, where she thrived for 35 years. Ann’s entrepreneurial journey began out of financial necessity, and she successfully grew her first business to an international level - even before the Internet era.   Work with Ann Carden  If you're ready to take your business to the next level, Ann offers customized solutions to help you grow. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or small business owner, Ann’s proven strategies can drive significant growth in revenue and market reach.  Get Free Resources: ➡️ Access Ann's Free Training: www.expertinyou.biz  ➡️ Read the latest edition of Expert in You Magazine: https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine [https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine]   Ready to grow your business? 📞 Book a strategy call today: https://acarden.com [https://acarden.com] 🔗    🌐Website: https://annlcarden.com  📞Contact Us: www.acarden.com  💟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509 [https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509]  💟Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/ [https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/]  💟LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach]

From Special Forces to Fortune 500: Chris Majer’s Blueprint for Transformational Leadership & 10X Growth | Ann Carden

In this powerful episode of Expert In You, host Ann Carden sits down with Chris Majer, founder and CEO of the Human Potential Project (HP2), whose leadership work has impacted everyone from Army Special Forces and Olympic athletes to Fortune 500 giants like Microsoft, Boeing, and AT&T. Chris shares his extraordinary journey and reveals what it really takes to create lasting transformation inside organizations not just temporary motivation or surface-level training. From driving massive business turnarounds to helping leaders develop “embodied competence,” this conversation dives deep into the future of leadership, learning, and high performance. 🚀 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: * Chris Majer’s proven framework for transformational leadership * Why practice and embodiment matter more than theory alone * How the Human Potential Project creates measurable organizational growth * The leadership shifts required for modern teams and businesses * Lessons from coaching elite performers from Special Forces to Fortune 500 executives Whether you’re a founder, executive, consultant, or team leader, this episode offers practical wisdom on building stronger leaders, scaling performance, and creating change that actually sticks. 🎧 Tune in now to discover how to unlock human potential and drive extraordinary results in business and leadership.   Key Moments:  07:04 Length of cultural shift programs 11:53 Building trust in coaching relationship 14:03 Working with people in Seattle 15:59 Learning to delegate leadership 19:47 Manufacturing airplane doors efficiently 25:12 Young manager challenges the status quo 27:21 Investment in Human Potential Project 30:41 Building trust and team commitment 33:01 Introducing new leadership practices 38:01 Feedback from workshop attendees 41:14 Early days in advisory services 43:36 Struggling with financial decisions 47:32 Challenges with HR and budget constraints 51:12 Identifying your real buyers About the guest :  Chris Majer is the Founder and CEO of The Human Potential Project (HP2) and a globally recognized leadership and transformation expert. Over the past three decades, he has worked with everyone from Army Special Forces and Olympic athletes to Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, AT&T, Intel, and Boeing - helping organizations unlock high performance and generate measurable business results. An Amazon best-selling author and sought-after keynote speaker, Chris is known for his groundbreaking work in leadership, organizational culture, and Commitment Based Management, with clients documenting more than $4 billion in value created through his transformational strategies. How to connect Chris:  Website: http://www.humanpotentialproject.com [http://www.humanpotentialproject.com/]  LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismajer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismajer/]  Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/chris.majer.75 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.majer.75]  About the host:  Ann Carden is a highly sought-after Business Growth Consultant, Marketing Strategist, and #1 Bestselling Author, with over 41 years of experience helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and coaches scale their success. As a Professional Speaker and three-time published author, Ann has coached and consulted hundreds of professionals across more than 80 industries.   Why Choose Ann Carden?  With a diverse background that spans over four decades, Ann has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in business growth, marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship. She spent 13 years in corporate management before launching her own businesses, where she thrived for 35 years. Ann’s entrepreneurial journey began out of financial necessity, and she successfully grew her first business to an international level - even before the Internet era.   Work with Ann Carden  If you're ready to take your business to the next level, Ann offers customized solutions to help you grow. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or small business owner, Ann’s proven strategies can drive significant growth in revenue and market reach.  Get Free Resources: ➡️ Access Ann's Free Training: www.expertinyou.biz  ➡️ Read the latest edition of Expert in You Magazine: https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine [https://expertinyoumagazine.com/magazine]   Ready to grow your business? 📞 Book a strategy call today: https://acarden.com [https://acarden.com] 🔗    🌐Website: https://annlcarden.com  📞Contact Us: www.acarden.com  💟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509 [https://www.facebook.com/ann.carden.509]  💟Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/ [https://www.instagram.com/anncardenconsulting/]  💟LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anncarden-business-consultant-coach]