Want A Raise? Pitch It Like a Business Deal, an Interview with Paul Lefcourt

The Hidden Risk of Letting Employees Figure Out AI on Their Own

Are your employees using AI? What platforms? Are they using your business accounts or one of their own? AI is showing up at work whether leaders plan for it or not. The real risk isn’t that employees are using it. It’s that they’re using it without direction or structure, making companies vulnerable to what happens with your information. In this episode, Jody continues the conversation with Andy McClure, CEO of Longview Marketing and fractional CMO, to unpack what managers and business owners need to decide right now about AI in the workplace. Andy reframes AI in a way that makes the stakes immediately clear. Think of it as a powerful new employee that never sleeps, gets smarter over time, and touches marketing, operations, communication, and strategy. The question is not whether you use it, but who is training it, where it lives, and what it has access to. You’ll hear why: 1. Letting employees “figure it out on their own” creates chaos, not innovation 2. Free tools come with hidden risks leaders often overlook 3. AI needs architecture, governance, and ownership just like any other function 4. The companies that win won’t just use AI, they’ll use it more intentionally than their competitors Andy walks through what’s at stake when knowledge, prompts, brand voice, and strategy live outside your control, and why now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build durable capability inside your business. This episode is a call for leadership, not fear. AI doesn’t replace judgment, clarity, or accountability. It amplifies whatever already exists. Andy is also the author of The In-House Growth Machine: Build Your Own AI-Powered Marketing System and Escape the Agency Trap [https://www.amazon.com/House-Growth-Machine-AI-Powered-Marketing-ebook/dp/B0G881LDM7], available on Amazon. Website for Longview Marketing [https://longview.marketing/] Jazz Business Consulting Website [http://www.jazzbc.com] Have Your Managers Become Trained and Certified Link Here [http://www.jazzbc.com/training]

Your Marketing Advantage Hiding in Plain Sight- Interview with Andy McClure

Most companies believe their marketing problem is messaging. What Andy McClure sees instead is something hiding in plain sight. In this episode, Jody sits down with Andy McClure, CEO of Longview Marketing and fractional CMO, to explore a marketing approach that runs counter to speed, hype, and guesswork and has been enormously successful for many of the their clients. Rather than starting with what a company wants to say, Andy starts with what customers are already saying. By intentionally listening to the people who keep coming back, companies uncover an advantage they often overlook because it feels too obvious or too familiar. In this conversation, you’ll hear: 1. Why your best customers describe the experience, not the service 2. How leaders miss what’s working when they’re too close to the business 3. Why emotion still drives decisions, even in practical, technical industries 4. How strong marketing is often about revealing, not reinventing Andy shares real-world examples of companies that improved their marketing simply by paying closer attention to what customers already valued most, closing the gap between promise and experience. This discussion also quietly sets the stage for what’s coming in the next episode. As AI and new tools accelerate how work gets done, the real risk isn’t the technology itself, it’s moving forward without clarity or intention. That’s a conversation we’ll continue in the second part of the interview (The Hidden Risk of Letting Employees Figure Out AI on Their Own) Andy is also the author of The In-House Growth Machine: Build Your Own AI-Powered Marketing System and Escape the Agency Trap, where he outlines how leaders can build sustainable marketing capability inside their organizations. Andy is also the author of The In-House Growth Machine: Build Your Own AI-Powered Marketing System and Escape the Agency Trap [https://www.amazon.com/House-Growth-Machine-AI-Powered-Marketing-ebook/dp/B0G881LDM7], available on Amazon. Website for Longview Marketing [https://longview.marketing/] Jazz Business Consulting Website [http://www.jazzbc.com] Get Your Managers Trained and Ready for Growth Link Here [http://www.jazzbc.com/training]

The Rhythm of Reinvention- Balancing Innovation with a 90-Year Legacy- Interview with Scotty Barnhart

This exciting discussion with Grammy-winning director Scotty Barnhart explores how vibe, trust, and humanity can transform any team into a high-performing ensemble. Scotty draws powerful parallels between music and management that every leader should hear. He shares behind-the-scenes (crazy) stories from his tours, while giving strategic insights to balancing innovation with legacy. His approach not only wins Grammys, it has revised the love of jazz for audiences all over the world. This interview is the true definition of "EDUtainment." Show Links: Watch the Video on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/9eZetzdNrCw] Download the FREE Worksheet to Prepare for Your Compensation Conversation [https://vibebuilders.mykajabi.com/comp] The Count Basie Orchestra [https://thecountbasieorchestra.com/] Stream - Basie Swings The Blues [https://music.apple.com/us/album/basie-swings-the-blues/1697544293] Our Sponsor: JAZZ BUSINESS CONSULTING [https://jazzbc.com/]

Want A Raise? Pitch It Like a Business Deal, an Interview with Paul Lefcourt

What if asking for a raise didn’t sound needy, but strategic? In today’s episode, we talk with Paul Lefcourt — national leader, co-founder, and master negotiator — about how to turn compensation conversations into business proposals. If you've ever wondered how to make your manager drop their guard when asking for more, or how to stand out in annual reviews, this episode is packed with frameworks that work. We cover: 1. The 4-part business plan that gets yeses — even in tight budget years 2. The #1 mistake people make when negotiating raises (spoiler: they make it about themselves) 3. Why Paul offered to co-fund a hire — and how that got him a raise and more 4. The math every employee should know before walking into a compensation conversation 5. What great leaders actually look for in a raise request Plus, we unpack a free resource you can use to prep your own annual business proposal (link below). Free Download: Business Plan Prep Outline → jazzbc.com/comp [http://www.jazzbc.com/comp] Get Paid What You're Worth Webinar: Join us on Wednesday Jan 14th at 10:00am (PT) for a live workshop on negotiating your next comp package CLICK HERE TO REGISTER BEFORE JANUARY 9TH FOR THE EARLY BIRD PRICING OF ONLY $97 [https://vibebuilders.mykajabi.com/event-promo-landing-page-pv-styles-1] USE CODE COMP100 Have questions? Email us at info@jazzbc.com or call us at 888-938-5299

'Want Your Company To Be On The Best Places To Work' List?

You’ve seen the list. “Best Places to Work.” But your company isn’t on it... yet. So what gives? In this episode, we break down the 5 disciplines that separate award-winning workplaces from the ones that miss the mark. Whether you’re leading a small team or an entire organization, these habits are the building blocks of a culture people want to stay in. You’ll hear: * Real examples from companies who continually make the list (and those who have crashed and burned) * Wild stories - including a Zoom slap fight * The exact habits shared by leaders who make “Best Places to Work” year after year Key Takeaways: * The single leadership habit that shows up every time * Why habit stacking might change your mornings forever * The hidden ROI of executive coaching (spoiler: it’s 788%) * What happens when internal drama ruins external success Mentioned: * CD & Power [https://www.gotpower.com/] * RT Specialties [https://rtspecialty.com/] * Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear * Organizational Vibe Assessment [https://jazzbc.com/assessments/] * JAZZ Business Consulting [http://www.jazzbc.com]