What Every Business Owner Should be Doing with AI Right Now

Why Great People Are Passing on Your Company

Most businesses think marketing drives growth. Shawn Busse argues that it starts much earlier, with your culture. In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with the founder and CEO of Kinesis and author of Marketing From the Inside Out to discuss why brand and culture are inseparable, how a strong employer brand attracts better talent, and why mission, vision, and values should shape every hiring decision. If you're struggling to recruit great people or differentiate your business, this episode is your playbook. Key Takeaways * Culture is a growth strategy: Companies with intentional cultures build stronger teams, happier customers, and more sustainable growth. * Clarity attracts the right people: Clearly communicating your mission and expectations helps great candidates opt in, and poor fits opt out. * Your employees are part of your brand: The experience your team has directly influences the experience your customers receive. * Purpose belongs in your hiring process: Job descriptions should sell your mission first and list technical skills second. Episode Highlights 02:44 – Brand is your reputation: your brand isn't your logo, it's how customers, employees, and partners experience your business. 05:54 – Culture creates business growth: investing in mission, vision, and values produces a stronger ROI than increasing marketing spend. 07:03 – The hiring-to-customer cycle: hiring people who align with your purpose leads to happier customers and more referrals. 17:16 – Use AI to evaluate your employer brand. 21:34 – Why understanding your best employees is just as important as knowing your ideal customer. 23:12 – The first steps every business should take to build a culture that attracts and retains A-players are to have their mission, vision, and values clear. About the Guest Shawn Busse is the Founder and CEO of Kinesis, a growth studio that helps owner-led businesses build stronger brands through strategy, culture, and marketing. He's the author of Marketing From the Inside Out, a Certified Vistage Speaker, and has spent more than 25 years helping businesses grow by aligning their brand with their people. Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnbusse/] Check out Kinesis [https://www.kinesisinc.com/] Your next read: Marketing From the Inside Out [https://a.co/d/08mgrCuv] by Shawn Busse Turn today's conversation into a better team-shaping strategy. Download the free Action Kit. [https://39625878.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39625878/Podcast/Action%20Kit%20S6E8.pdf] More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Thenewtalentplaybook]! Follow Rob Levin on Substack [https://newtalentplaybook.substack.com/]. Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/03IKBRtr] or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com [https://thenewtalentplaybook.com/] and get the free scorecard.

Consider this Your Wake Up Call (For Business Owners Only)

Rob Levin argues that small and midsize business owners need to act now: get hands-on with AI, intentionally improve culture, and carve out time to think strategically. He points to a growing economy with inflation pressure, a setup he describes as "profitless prosperity", and says the owners who win will be the ones who adapt faster. Key Takeaways * AI is no longer optional. Owners should take a course, experiment, and build with AI personally. Block 2 hours this week to learn one AI workflow that could free up your time and help your team deliver better service. * Culture determines who joins, stays, and leaves. Audit your culture, review Glassdoor/Indeed, then ask your top performers what is working and what is broken. * You need strategic time away from the noise to rethink products, vendors, customer behavior, and new capabilities. Schedule a weekly strategy block. * The businesses that move quickly will outperform the ones that keep waiting for conditions to improve. Identify one product, service, or process to improve, automate, or eliminate in the next 30 days. Timestamps 01:06 — Wake-up call for business owners 02:44 — Why now: AI, growth, and inflation 04:09 — Dive into AI yourself as the owner 05:41 — Improve culture by design 07:12 — Protect time for strategy and next moves 08:15 — Final challenge: which group will you be in? Additional Resources * ITR Economics on Profitless Prosperity [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTZa8TMqMIw] * What Every Business Owner Should be Doing with AI Right Now [https://www.thenewtalentplaybookpodcast.com/what-every-business-owner-should-be-doing-with-ai-right-now/] * The State of AI for Business Report [https://www.thenewtalentplaybookpodcast.com/the-state-of-ai-for-business-report-4-takeaways-every-owner-should-know/] * 7 Culture Moves Behind a Fast-Growing Company [https://www.thenewtalentplaybookpodcast.com/7-culture-moves-behind-a-fast-growing-company/] * Don't Have an Assistant? You are One [https://www.thenewtalentplaybookpodcast.com/dont-have-an-assistant-you-are-one-stings-a-little-doesnt-it/] Ready to apply these insights to your own business? Download the free Action Kit [https://39625878.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39625878/Podcast/Action%20Kit%20S6E7.pdf] More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Thenewtalentplaybook]! Follow Rob Levin on Substack [https://substack.com/@newtalentplaybook]. Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aGO0mph] or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com [https://thenewtalentplaybook.com/] and get the free scorecard.

What A-Players Really Need from their Leaders | Scott Mesh

Scott Mesh explains how strong leadership starts with listening, solving the right problem, and building a culture where A players feel valued. He shares why appreciation, peer recognition, and treating remote or offshore teammates like full team members are essential for retention. He also introduces Opportunity Focus: a practical way to reframe problems as opportunities, surface blind spots, and improve through deliberate feedback. Key Takeaways * Effectiveness comes before efficiency. If you are solving the wrong problem, speed will only make the mistake faster. * Set clear culture goals. Scott credits Los Niños Services becoming a great company to deliberately setting the goal of improving recruiting and retention. * People stay when they feel appreciated. Make public recognition and honest peer appreciation part of your weekly rhythm, not a once-a-year gesture. * Remote and offshore teams should be integrated, not separated. Scott's rule is simple: treat everyone like one team. * Opportunity Focus reframes challenges as opportunities, which changes motivation and action. * The most important growth question is: "What can I do better next time?" Ask it often and invite direct feedback. About the Guest Scott Mesh is an award-winning CEO and leadership coach making a real impact on early childhood education and organizational development. Scott founded Los Niños Services, which provides specialized education and support to young children in New York City. He also helps leaders unlock their potential through the Opportunity Focus methodology, guiding them to recognize and capitalize on both internal and external opportunities. As a psychologist-turned-executive, Scott brings a unique perspective to modern leadership challenges, including scaling teams, building resilient cultures post-pandemic, and navigating the complexities of both onshore and offshore talent. Ready to apply these insights to your own business? Download the free Action Kit [https://39625878.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39625878/Podcast/Action%20Kit%20S6E6.pdf] More About Scott Mesh Connect with Scott on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmeshnyc/]. Check Out scottmesh.com [https://scottmesh.com/] More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Thenewtalentplaybook]! Follow Rob Levin on Substack [https://substack.com/@newtalentplaybook]. Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aGO0mph] or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com [https://thenewtalentplaybook.com/] and get the free scorecard.

The State of AI for Business Report: 4 Takeaways Every Owner Should Know

Rob Levin breaks down key findings from SmarterX's 2026 State of AI for Business report and translates them into a practical roadmap for founders and SMB leaders. The big message: AI is no longer optional, and the companies that start building skills, workflows, and a culture of experimentation now will outpace those that wait. Key takeaways * Most employees believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, but only 20% are worried about their own role, a sign that awareness is lagging behind reality. * Most teams struggle with four common barriers: not enough training, lack of awareness, no time to implement it, and fear or mistrust of something new. * The best starting point is the leader: learn AI, build workflows, and focus humans on judgment-heavy work while AI handles repeatable tasks. * Training, recognition, and team show-and-tell sessions can help build confidence and momentum across the organization. Timestamps [01:57] Employee beliefs about AI job loss vs. personal job security [02:37] Why AI layoffs in the news are mostly noise for SMBs right now [06:59] Where to start: the leader adopts AI first, then builds workflows and strategy [09:02] Training the team, making time for learning, and recognizing AI wins [10:52] Why founders must set the tone and create a culture that embraces change Ready to apply these insights to your business? Download the free action kit [https://39625878.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39625878/Podcast/S6E5%20Action%20Kit.pdf] Bottom line AI adoption is not just a technology decision; it is a leadership and culture decision. Start with your own workflows, invest in team training, and create a company rhythm that rewards learning and experimentation. Related Substack posts * How WBN Is Becoming an AI-First Company [https://www.thenewtalentplaybookpodcast.com/how-wbn-is-becoming-an-ai-first-company/] * Don't Have an Assistant? You are One [https://newtalentplaybook.substack.com/p/inside-wbns-ai-transformation] More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Thenewtalentplaybook]! Follow Rob Levin on Substack [https://substack.com/@newtalentplaybook]. Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aGO0mph] or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com [https://thenewtalentplaybook.com/] and get the free scorecard.

Why "Good Enough" is Standing in the Way of Your Growth | Karen Caplan

Most business owners are too busy working IN their business to ever work ON it. After 30 years running Frieda's Specialty Produce, Karen Caplan knows exactly what that costs. She now coaches CEOs and leaders of companies from $10M to $200M in revenue. In this episode, Karen breaks down the three patterns keeping business owners stuck, why really wanting a shift is non-negotiable, and the four coaching questions that redefine the annual performance review forever. About the Guest Karen Caplan spent 30 years as CEO of Frieda's Specialty Produce, a family business whose story, including how kiwi fruit and over 200 exotic produce items made their way to American tables, is the subject of the documentary Fear No Fruit. Since selling the company, she has founded an executive coaching and consulting practice, helping CEOs and company leaders navigate the challenges of scaling. For over 15 years, she has also been sharing her thinking on business and leadership through her blog "What's on Karen's Plate". Episode Highlight "You have to really want it. Whether it's making a to-do list, a checklist, or deadlines for what needs to get done. You have to really want it and have the discipline to stay focused on whatever the goal is." Actionable Insights * Working in your business is the number one growth killer: Karen identifies the single biggest impediment to growth as owners staying buried in day-to-day operations instead of carving out time for vision, strategy, and planning. An outside perspective cuts through that blind spot fast. Most CEOs don't have someone holding them accountable unless they're part of a public company or have investors. That gap is where growth dies. [01:59] * The pain has to get real before change happens: Karen's own wake-up moment came when her CPA told her she was 'basically spending her inheritance' to keep the business afloat. That shock was the catalyst. Comfort is a trap, and waiting for pain to peak is not a strategy. Having someone on the outside hold up the mirror is. [06:53] * Replace annual reviews with four coaching questions: What's working well right now? Where are you feeling stuck or frustrated? What support do you need from me? What are you learning? Karen's framework transforms managers from judges to coaches. Consistency and genuine interest in the answers are what build team performance, and it has to happen biweekly, not annually. [16:15] Ready to apply these insights to your own business? Download the free Action Kit [https://39625878.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39625878/Podcast/ActionKit%20-%20S6EP4.pdf] More About Karen Caplan Connect with Karen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenbcaplan/]. Check Out Karen Caplan [https://karencaplan.com/] More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@Thenewtalentplaybook]! Follow Rob Levin on Substack. [https://substack.com/@newtalentplaybook] Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon [https://a.co/d/aGO0mph] or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com [https://thenewtalentplaybook.com/] and get the free scorecard.