Fractional CMO Reveals: Why 90% of Solopreneurs Underprice Their Services | Carly Ries

Tech as a Force for Good, Merging Brands, and Leading with Purpose with Sheryle Gillihan

In this episode of EO Voices, host Brent Peterson sits down with Sheryle Gillihan, CEO and owner of CauseLabs, a web agency that has been leveraging technology as a force for good since 2003. Sheryle shares how she and her husband merged their agencies, chose to keep the more established brand, and navigated the unique challenges of being partners in both business and life. Sheryle dives into the world of CauseLabs, explaining how they go beyond typical web development to serve as true strategic partners for nonprofits and social impact organizations. She shares a compelling story about guiding a nonprofit away from building the wrong product — reminding us that building the right thing matters far more than just building something fast. The conversation shifts to the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), where Sheryle has served in multiple board roles and is stepping into the presidency of EO Fort Worth. She talks about the transformative power of forum, the importance of slowing down for genuine self-reflection, and why EO shouldn't remain "the best kept secret." Sheryle's vision for her chapter includes elevating the member experience and growing brand awareness in the Fort Worth community. Brent and Sheryle also bond over the joys and struggles of working with a spouse, setting boundaries between business and personal life, and the entrepreneurial instinct to turn everything into a business opportunity. They discuss the value of EO's global events — from GLC in Hawaii to regional conferences — and how those connections with entrepreneurs around the world create lasting friendships and growth. Whether you're a business owner considering EO, a nonprofit leader thinking about your next tech investment, or an entrepreneur navigating a partnership with your spouse, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical wisdom. Learn more about Sheryle and her work: 🔗 CauseLabs: https://www.causelabs.com [https://www.causelabs.com/] 🔗 Sheryle's Personal Site: https://www.sherylegillihan.com [https://www.sherylegillihan.com/] 🔗 EO Fort Worth: https://www.eofortworth.org [https://www.eofortworth.org/] Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Sheryle Gillihan 02:00 – Passion for Tech as a Force for Good 02:40 – The Dad Joke Break 03:11 – Working with Your Spouse: Highs & Lows 05:09 – Code Words & Setting Boundaries 06:24 – Merging Brands: Choosing the Right Name 08:49 – What Drew Sheryle to EO 11:09 – The Power of Forum & Intentional Reflection 14:32 – Growing Through EO: GLC, Regional Events & Global Connections 18:11 – Serving on the EO Board & Upcoming Presidency 21:09 – Making EO Known in the Community 25:06 – CauseLabs: Strategic Partners, Not Just Developers 28:05 – The 90% vs. 100% Rule for Tech Investment 29:05 – Shameless Plugs & Closing Thoughts

From Exit Strategy to Life Strategy: Lessons in Scaling, Leverage, and Giving Back with Troy Hoffman

In this episode of EO Visionary Voices, host Brent Peterson sits down with serial entrepreneur Troy Hoffman, who currently works across roughly 40 companies and is the driving force behind FNDRS — a platform dedicated to helping founders scale, exit, and re-enter with purpose. Troy opens up about the stages most entrepreneurs go through — from the early hustle of building systems, teams, and processes, to the often-overlooked "exit prep" phase that can make or break your financial future. He breaks down the three pillars he teaches at FNDRS: the businessman, the business plan, and the exit promised land. Troy explains why your estate plan, tax plan, team plan, company plan, and re-entry plan all need to be in alignment long before you sign a deal — and why most founders are dangerously underprepared when it comes time to sell. Drawing from hard-won experience and wisdom from fellow entrepreneurs — including a conversation with a founder who owns a home on Richard Branson's Mosquito Island — Troy shares the top mistakes entrepreneurs make after exiting: jumping into real estate, investing in too many companies, and failing to give themselves permission to rest. He's candid about his own missteps and how ego can silently hold any entrepreneur back from growth. The conversation goes deeper than business. Troy talks about the importance of energy, clarity, and continuous learning. He shares how Warren Buffett's discipline of reading three hours a day inspired his own habits, and how he's adapted his learning style around a traumatic brain injury he sustained as a child. He advocates for trusting your intuition, investing in coaching across every area of life — from business to marriage — and architecting a schedule that balances body, being, balance, and business. Brent and Troy also explore the tension between the "40-hour work year" philosophy and the 120-hour work week mentality championed by founders like Elon Musk. Troy's take? It's about leverage. The goal isn't to work less for the sake of it — it's to become so leveraged that your company grows without you, making it exponentially more valuable and sellable. At its core, this episode is about living with intention. Troy's passion for serving others — from building a youth church of 800 kids as a young man, to supporting a children's hospital in Kenya, to pouring into the next generation of founders — shines through every answer. His message is clear: entrepreneurs are society's innovators, and when we support them holistically, everybody wins. If you're an entrepreneur thinking about your next chapter — whether that's scaling, exiting, or figuring out what comes after — this conversation is for you. Follow Troy Hoffman on Youtube: ⁨@troyhoffman837⁩ [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCBLQnVezCPLIY-9DUs1v-bg]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoffmantroy/  Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/troy-hoffman Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Meet Troy Hoffman 00:44 - Troy's Passions: Serving Leaders and Adventure Sports 02:29 - The Free Joke Project 03:46 - The Midpoint Most Entrepreneurs Miss 04:55 - Stages of Entrepreneurial Growth and Exit Prep 07:19 - Top Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make After Exiting 09:44 - Why Ego Is the #1 Growth Killer 10:14 - The Power of Continuous Learning 13:11 - 40-Hour Work Year vs. 120-Hour Work Week 14:23 - Finding Your Purpose and Architecting Your Life 17:24 - Body, Being, Balance, and Business 20:10 - Overcoming a Traumatic Brain Injury and Trusting Intuition 22:02 - Energy as the Entrepreneur's Greatest Asset 22:40 - First Things First: Prioritization and Calendar Planning 26:28 - Shameless Plug: What FNDRS Does for Founders 29:38 - Closing Thoughts

Scaling Financial Success with Brooke Lively

Running a business demands constant attention to detail, specifically regarding fiscal health. In a recent episode of the Talk Commerce podcast, host Brent Peterson discusses critical financial management strategies with guest Brooke Lively. They examine how business owners can move beyond basic accounting to implement structural changes that foster long-term profitability. This conversation offers a practical look at how firm leaders, struggling with complex data, can gain clarity and achieve operational growth. Key Takeaways * Business owners often face stagnation due to a lack of understanding regarding their core financial metrics. * Prioritizing profitability over top-line revenue growth creates a more sustainable and valuable enterprise. * Delegation remains a crucial skill, allowing owners to move away from day-to-day operations to focus on strategy. * Implementing structured frameworks, such as the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), helps leadership teams align goals and execute plans effectively. * Cash flow forecasting serves as a vital tool to prevent unforeseen financial surprises and ensure ongoing stability. About Brooke Brooke is the founder and president of CathCap, a firm specializing in providing fractional CFO services and profitability consulting. Working primarily with fast-growing businesses, Brooke brings expertise in analyzing operational data to drive financial improvement. By helping founders understand their numbers, she enables them to scale profitably. Leveraging her background as a former administrator for a successful law firm, Brooke offers actionable advice tailored to the challenges entrepreneurs encounter when trying to transition from a small operation to a high-performing organization. Episode Summary During the episode, Brooke highlights the necessity of transforming financial data into a roadmap for growth. She emphasizes that many entrepreneurs suffer from paralysis by analysis because they lack clear, concise metrics. "When you have the right data," she explains, "you can make informed decisions that change the trajectory of your business." The dialogue moves into the mechanics of building a company that functions independently of the owner. Brooke discusses the importance of creating scalable processes, noting that "a business should provide the owner with options, not just another full-time job." She details how CathCap assists clients by installing financial discipline and operational rigor, which ultimately makes a firm more attractive for potential investors or future buyers. Final Thoughts: Achieving true business independence requires shifting focus from owner-centric operations to systems that produce predictable results. By prioritizing accurate financial reporting and strategic planning, founders can secure their firm’s future and realize their personal goals. Remember, if your business cannot function without your constant input, it is time to rethink your strategy. This has been produced in cooperation with Content Cucumber https://www.contentcucumber.com/ [https://www.contentcucumber.com/] Follow Talk Commerce on your favorite platform: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce [https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce] * Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.social] * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656] * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1n [https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1n] * Twitter: @talkingcommerce * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerce [https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerce] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerce [https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerce] * Website: https://talk-commerce.com/ [https://talk-commerce.com/]

CRM Secrets That Boost Sales 29% | Why 70% of Businesses Fail at Data Management with Jason Kramer

Discover why nearly 70% of businesses fail at implementing their CRM and how to avoid becoming part of that statistic. Jason Kramer, founder of Cultivize and known as the "Yoda of CRM," reveals how a well-organized CRM can boost sales by 29%, generate 50% more sales-ready leads, and reduce marketing costs by 30%. In this episode of EO Visionary Voices, Jason shares his journey from advertising designer to data expert, breaking down the essential components every business needs in their CRM system. Whether you're using HubSpot, building custom solutions, or still relying on paper files, this conversation will transform how you think about customer data. Learn why email marketing should live inside your CRM, how to implement lead scoring to identify your hottest prospects, and why that "How did you hear about us?" dropdown could be the most valuable element on your website. Jason also shares actionable strategies for Black Friday preparation and how to leverage holiday traffic data for Q1 success. If you're frustrated with disconnected marketing and sales efforts, struggling to prove marketing ROI, or just starting your CRM journey, this episode provides the blueprint for turning customer data into your most valuable business asset. Key Takeaways: * The three essential components of an effective CRM system * How to bridge the gap between marketing spend and sales results * Why your accounting software isn't enough for customer management * Lead scoring strategies to prioritize high-intent buyers * How to reconnect with churned customers and increase lifetime value Visit afterthelead.com for Jason's free fit assessment and download "The Blueprint For Lead Nurturing" ebook. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to Jason Kramer 1:02 - Passion for Boating on the Hudson River 1:44 - The Free Joke Project 2:51 - Why 70% of CRM Implementations Fail 5:51 - What is a CRM? The Three Essential Components 7:40 - Why Every Business Needs a CRM 9:21 - Integrating CRM with ERP Systems 10:26 - Single Source of Truth Strategy 13:07 - Where to Start: Finding Your Customer Data 15:13 - Lead Scoring and Qualification 17:47 - Reconnecting with Past Customers 19:01 - Black Friday Preparation Strategies 20:44 - The "How Did You Hear About Us?" Secret 21:58 - Shameless Plug and Resources For more interviews with entrepreneurs and business leaders, follow Talk Commerce: https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce [https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce] This has been produced in cooperation with Talk Commerce Follow Talk Commerce on your favorite platform: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce [https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce] * Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.social] * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656] * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1n [https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1n] * Twitter: @talkingcommerce * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerce [https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerce] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerce [https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerce] * Website: https://talk-commerce.com/ [https://talk-commerce.com/]

Fractional CMO Reveals: Why 90% of Solopreneurs Underprice Their Services | Carly Ries

Carly Ries, Fractional CMO at LifeStarr and co-author of "Solopreneur Business for Dummies," shares the brutal truth about building a sustainable solo business. After escaping the RV walls of corporate slavery, she discovered the three critical areas where every solopreneur struggles—and how to fix them. In this conversation, Carly breaks down why most solopreneurs think they need 50 clients when they actually need just 3-5 at the right price point. She reveals the mindset shifts required to transition from busy work to productive growth and explains why relationship-driven marketing beats SEO every time for solo businesses. Whether you're planning your corporate escape or already flying solo, this episode delivers actionable insights on pricing your services, building your support network, and creating a business that supports your life instead of consuming it. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Carly's Role at LifeStarr 01:22 Training for Pike's Peak & Personal Passions 03:28 The Three Core Challenges Every Solopreneur Faces 05:51 Mindset Shifts from Corporate to Solo Business 08:24 The Virtual Assistant Investment & Trading Services 10:44 Balancing Fractional CMO Role with Entrepreneurship 12:57 Designing Your Ideal Work-Life Integration 14:32 Why Solopreneurs Hit Income Ceilings 16:38 Relationship-Driven Marketing Strategy 18:39 Shameless Plug: Solopreneur Business for Dummies This has been produced in cooperation with Talk Commerce  Follow Talk Commerce on your favorite platform: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce [https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerce] * Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.social] * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656] * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1n [https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1n] * Twitter: @talkingcommerce * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerce [https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerce] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerce [https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerce] * Website: https://talk-commerce.com/ [https://talk-commerce.com/]