Small Towns, Big Dogs, and the Power of Being "Wildly Curious" with Kim McGownd

From Touring the World to Building Community: Reinvents and Reps with Michael Risinger

What happens when a former international touring metal musician trades life on the road to build a community and a thriving brand in the heart of the Midwest? In this week's episode of The Business Growth Journey, I sit down with Michael Risinger, the creative force behind the KCBC (Kansas City Business Cast). After navigating a major career pivot following a sudden layoff in March 2023, Michael leaned entirely into his own entrepreneurial journey, eventually launching his hit show to document the stories of creators and business leaders across Kansas City. We dive deep into the mindset shifts required to transition from an individual contributor to a community leader, exploring: 🎸 The School of Rock & Road: How touring the country in a metal band at age 13 accidentally fast-tracked Michael's people and networking skills. 🧠 The Hard Truth About Relocating: Why moving across the country taught Michael that "wherever you go, there you are"—and how external complaints are often internal mirrors. 🏋️‍♂️ Getting Your Reps In: Leaning directly into uncomfortable situations, "eating the frog," and why leaning into hard conversations builds professional muscle memory. 🛑 Ditching the Perfectionist Trap: How Michael saved his workflow (and his sanity) by letting go of hyper-editing, embracing the "cringe," and allowing authentic, unscripted human conversation to take center stage. 🎨 Building a Brand Visual Vibe: The creative inspiration behind KCBC's iconic 80s synthwave aesthetics and utilizing modern creative tools to stand out. Whether you are trying to find your footing after a professional setback, striving to be a more authentic leader, or looking to maximize efficiency in your creative workflow, Michael's perspective is packed with actionable grit.   #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Operations #Branding #CommunityBuilding #Podcast #KansasCityBusiness

Process over Perfection: Navigating the Realities of Entrepreneurship with Joe Beaver

What happens when you combine the obsessive eye of a professional detailer with the massive scale of a world-class kite company? In this week's episode, I sit down with Joe Beaver, COO of Great American Kites and founder of Rolling Magic Detailing. Joe started his first business at just 16 years old out of pure necessity. Today, he’s celebrating nearly a decade of entrepreneurship and helping run one of the largest event kite companies on the planet. We dive deep into what it actually takes to evolve from a "doer" into a strategic leader. From managing farm-vehicle cleanups in 99-degree weather to flying a 10,000-square-foot American flag kite at massive festivals, Joe’s journey is a masterclass in self-reflection and operational discipline. #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #ProcessImprovement #Operations #SmallBusiness #Podcast #KansasCityBusiness

From the Golf Course to the Boardroom: How to Build Unshakeable Confidence

What do high-level sports and high-level sales have in common? More than you think.  In this episode of The Business Growth Journey, host Nick Termini sits down with executive recruitment founder Jeff Janda to unpack the mindset shifts required to win in both business and life. Jeff shares his journey from high-school golf phenom to cutting his teeth in the high-stakes world of advertising sales and recruitment. They dive deep into why treating everyone the same eliminates the "intimidation factor" when dealing with executives, how to pitch yourself effectively without coming across as arrogant, and why early failure is actually the best feedback loop for future growth.

Re-Wiring the Creative Mind: From Costume Design to Neuroscience with Dr. Holly Battrum

This week on The Business Growth Journey, Nick Termini sits down with Dr. Holly Battrum for a riveting conversation that bridges the gap between high-level creativity and the complex science of the human brain. Dr. Holly’s path to understanding how people think, scale, and heal is anything but traditional. From her early years as a dedicated ballet dancer in Liberty, Missouri, to a "rebellion degree" in Fine Arts that led to a grueling, high-intensity career building 22 main-stage theater productions a year in costume design—she learned the art of making hard choices and defending creative ideas under massive pressure. Today, she uses that unique blend of experience to help high-performers break through the "head games" that keep them stuck. In this episode, Nick and Dr. Holly dive deep into: - The Anatomy of Rumination: Why your brain reads "worry" the exact same way it reads "action"—and how to stop spinning in place. - The Doorframe Reset: A practical, hospital-tested tool to clear toxic energy and reset your mind before entering your next meeting or room. - The Evolution of Systems: How Dr. Holly went from color-coding physical mailboxes to prevent office interruptions to creating sustainable communication systems in business today. - Flexing the "Hard Things" Muscle: How neuroplasticity allows us to actively rewrite poorly worn neural ruts into pathways of resilience.   Whether you are trying to align a team, implement a new operational system, or simply stop letting your own mind hijack your progress, this episode serves as a masterclass on going "through the ugly to get to the pretty." Tune in to learn how to move your growth journey from your mind, to your hands, and ultimately to your heart.

From Bakery Science to Fractional CFO: Taylor Busch on the Relentless Drive Required to Grow

In this latest episode of The Business Growth Journey, Nick Termini sits down with fractional CFO Taylor Busch. Taylor’s path is anything but a straight line—from a late-night teenage telemarketer to smuggling baby bunnies and mastering the exact science of pie crusts. Taylor shares how she balanced a 40-hour work week, 18 college credit hours, and raising a toddler, all while launching her first LLC out of her apartment. Tune in to hear a masterclass on time management, aligning with your future self, and making the hard choices that build unstoppable resilience.