I'm super happy to welcome Max Polec back to the show for a second time. In this episode, Max and I talk about revenue, what it means for a business, and how to leverage it to work for you business. We discuss how setting revenue goals can help orient and focus your business development efforts, and even how not to achieve your revenue goals. But m…

Today's episode features Rick Morris of R2 Consulting. We dive deep into Project Management, what it is, and how even a rudimentary understanding the basic principles can help you and your business build better products that solve big problems for your customers. You can find Rick at R2 Consulting. The Work Life Balance Podcast --- Support this pod…

When COVID-19 began to grind life and business as we know it to a halt, my friend Max Polec of Abstract Collective, a former guest on The Dispatch, and I wanted to do something that would provide some context and wisdom for people and their businesses as we navigated the crisis together. Our idea was pretty simple; reach out to our networks and fin…

Wade Preston is the co-founder of Prevail Coffee Roasters based in Montgomery, Alabama. Of the many paths in the food and beverage industry, very few are as unique and, frankly, misunderstood as the world of specialty coffee. In today’s episode, we dive deep into the economics and strategies of working in the specialty coffee world, what makes this…

When COVID-19 began to grind life and business as we know it to a halt, my friend Max Polec of Abstract Collective, a former guest on The Dispatch, and I wanted to do something that would provide some context and wisdom for people and their businesses as we navigated the crisis together. Our idea was pretty simple; reach out to our networks and fin…

Today’s guest is Carrie Rollwagen, former small business owner, author, and all around small business guru. I’ve known Carrie for years through the coffee shop world and now as we’re both folks working in the technology industry. Carrie is, as I describe it, a small business rockstar and I think her writing and podcasting are sources of great inspi…

Lloyd Cooper is the owner and principle at PUSH Product Design in Birmingham, Alabama. Lloyd joined me in the studio to talk about creative problem solving, specialists vs generalists, and, as his company's motto states, “bending constraints.” Ever wonder how the most creative people generate their ideas? How they can possibly produce at such a hig…

Today we talk with Kim Lee, founder and CEO of Forge Coworking in Birmingham, Alabama. Kim's is has an incredibly humble and inspiring startup story that charts all of the ups and downs of life in a startup. Not only that, given the unique nature of coworking, Kim has been able to play a part in the birth and growth of many Birmingham startups hers…

Welcome back to The Dispatch! Today I’m talking with Max Polec. Max is the interim COO at Fledging, a Birmingham-based startup building really cool hardware that helps make life easier for creatives that rely on technology to get their jobs done. Max also runs Abstract Collective, a design, marketing, and strategy firm that helps your brand stand o…

Welcome back to The Dispatch! Today's guest is Lydia Dick. Lydia is the Director of the Commercialization Accelerator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lydia spends her days working with university students to help clarify, refine, and, ultimately, commercially their business ideas. Starting a business is hard and no one I know has had mo…

Welcome back to The Dispatch everyone! It’s been a long time and I want to personally apologize for the absence. I’m super fortunate that my business has been booming, but that means I’ve been a little too busy to create content lately. Excuses, excuses. Well, I’m back and I’m excited to bring you guys a series of interviews I’ve conducted and slow…

Today I'm talking with Austin Senseman and Nathan McMinn about their new company, MNMX. MNMX helps companies utilize the Internet of Things (aka IoT) to collect and interpret business data to make better business decisions and to understand their business processes better. I think this is a particularly fascinating subject and I hope you will, too!…

Today I'm talking to Wesley and Emma Teague, a husband and wife super-duo that run their own photography business, Wesley & Emma Photography (www.wesleyandemma.com). They're all around super folks and have some great insights into running a small business, how authenticity and kindness help you differentiate your services, and even have some great …

In today's episode I talk with Taylor Clark, REV Birmingham's Director of Business Recruitment and Growth about a wide range of topics from work she's done with food deserts in Birmingham, to non-profit funding, all the way to creating an environment for small businesses to thrive in the Magic City.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spoti…

What do startups miss when getting off the ground and how can you get an edge when launching your own startup? Check out today's mini-Pod to find out!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedispatchncs/support

Today on The Dispatch, I’m joined by my good friend Deon Gordon!As the former Business Development director for REV Birmingham and the current President and CEO of Tech Birmingham, Deon has been a huge part in helping shape the business landscape in Birmingham for a long time. Today we talk about how business in the Magic City is changing, what big…

Hello! I'm so happy to be back with you guys! Today I'm sharing my interview with Amanda Storey, Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, Alabama. Jones Valley is an amazing organization that partners with schools and communities to incorporate farming and agriculture into curricula to teach everything from STEM, to commerce,…

What's a freebie and how can it work for your business? Today we look at how selling something at break even (or even giving it away for free) can be a useful strategy for your business and how recognizing other companies employing this strategy can help you protect your place in the market. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/…

Today we're revisiting two mini episodes from the early days of the podcast. We're talking about hiring strategies in the middle of a staffing crisis and how to lose an argument, for leaders. Enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedispatchncs/support

What can we do when faced with unfair criticism that makes us question our self-worth and abilities? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedispatchncs/support

Today, we're going back to the early days with a re-recorded version of two of the shorts I produced at the very beginning of the Dispatch. First up, "Is the Customer Always Right?"Second, "Your Team is Your Greatest Asset"Enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedispatchncs/support…

I'm super excited to announce that we're taking the podcast to the next level! We're rebranding, reformatting, and building an exciting roster of guests for you guys over the coming months. Check out this update for details. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedispatchncs/support…

Today, I'm really excited to welcome my friend Katy Ward to the show! Katy is a marketing consultant, artist, and story teller that helps Social Impact companies clarify their message and connect with their ideal clients through the power of story. In this episode, Katy explains how and why using a centuries old story telling technique works with o…

What does Story Telling have to do with your brand? People connect with stories with which they can relate. On Monday, we talked about how Authenticity was more than just being honest and truthful. We talked about how a shared language and vulnerability can act synergistically with honesty and truthfulness to create a powerful messaging system for …

Everyone wants authentic, but what exactly IS authentic anyway? Today, today I'm talking about what I think authenticity is, how it differs from more common understandings of the subject, and how you can use it in your communications to win more customers and cultivate more loyalty. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/…

We've been talking about hardship and adversity this week. We've covered plenty of way to handle the hard times, but today we're talking about a new way to think about the hard times. Can adversity be a boon to your business? Today we're joined by Caleb Chancey. Caleb has been a freelance photographer, musician, and, most recently, the Creative Dir…

What happens when things go wrong....and then they keep going wrong? We've all dealt with the inevitable crises that pop up in our workplaces, but sometimes the hits just keep on coming. What can you do to cope with the persistent stress and anxiety that comes along with times like these? Today we're talking about what to do when work begins to fee…

This week we're tackling hardship and adversity in the workplace. We've all dealt with tough times, both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, not all of us have handled those times as well as we could have. Handling hardship and adversity with skill is a necessary skillset for any business owner or manager. Truly, it can make all the diffe…

Hello! I'm super excited about this week's guest, my good friend Jeremy Carter. Jeremy is an experienced entrepreneur, leadership coach, and podcast host with a lot of really great insight into hustle culture, work-life balance, and leadership. You can find Jeremy at www.breakoutgames.com and you can listen to his podcast, Bold Future, on most podc…

Today we're diving a little deeper into how the idea of "hustling" can work for you AND maintain a happy lifestyle. Take it from me, burning every minute working is not sustainable. Today I'm outlining concrete steps to make the most of your time while still preserving your mental, physical, and emotional wellness. --- Support this podcast: https:/…

This week we're tackling the hustle culture, what it is, what's wrong with it, and how to move forward. I'll be bringing on my good friend Jeremy Carter for Friday's episode, but today I wanted to start by simply defining what hustle culture is in the first place. I hope you enjoy the show! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/p…

Today we're talking with Emily Wells, owner and operator of Emily Wells Design. Emily is a super talented brand designer and educator located in Birmingham, Alabama. Emily and I talk about what creativity is what techniques and processes she uses to create an environment that supports creative work. We even get a little philosophical talking about …

Today we're talking about how your coworkers are a potentially untapped source of creative work in your business. If you're an owner or manager and you haven't begun nurturing creativity in your coworkers, you could be missing out on a gold mine of creative problem solving and even innovation for your business. --- Support this podcast: https://pod…

This week we're talking about creativity in the workplace. How can you practice creativity in a profession that isn't inherently creative? Today, we look at problem solving as a creative process that not only helps solve problems, but can also lead to new innovations for you and your company.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/…

Today we're talking to Stephanie Kruse about mental health in the workplace and getting some great guidance and advice on how to handle mental health issues at work. Stephanie holds a Masters degree in Counseling and runs the website www.sessionnotes.org , a website that provides information, interviews, and resources for Mental Health Professional…