Recent Updates
1521: Pivot on Purpose: Reinvent Your Calling with EOS for Greater Clarity, Freedom, and Team Momentum with Joshua Adams
Joshua Adams is a serial entrepreneur, EOS Implementer, and former branding agency founder dedicated to helping visionary leaders gain clarity, traction, and freedom in their organizations. After transforming his own business using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and selling it after twenty-four years. Joshua now coaches executive teams to break through chaos, foster alignment, and build healthy, sustainable companies. He draws on rich experience in agency leadership, fractional CMO work, and his passion for empowering people to operate in their unique strengths.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Joshua Adams returns to join Robert Plank, sharing the personal and professional pivots that set him on his current path. Joshua exposes the pitfalls of goal procrastination, the energizing power of “artificial urgency,” and why so many businesses need, not just more software but an operating framework like EOS to truly thrive. Listeners will learn about the importance of shared language, how consistency in leadership systems prevents organizational drift, and why, ultimately, professional success is built atop lessons learned from failure. Joshua also highlights the fulfillment he discovers daily by coaching leadership teams and empowering them to do their best work.
Quotes:
“Success is a big pile of failure that you’re standing on. Without our failures, we are not, we cannot be successful.”
“When you set that artificial sense of urgency, you spark the energy and momentum that gets things done. It’s healthier, and it pushes us forward.”
“Language matters. Calling things by different names creates confusion, but common language builds clarity and alignment across the team.”
Resources:
- Connect with Joshua Adams on LinkedIn
- Learn more about how Joshua helps leaders build healthy, sustainable companies on their website.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:28 — 36.4MB) | Embed
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1520: A-Line Mat: One Woman’s Journey to Heal and Reinvent Her Body Through Yoga with Innovator Annie Appleby
Annie Appleby is a yoga innovator, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for holistic health and wellness. Renowned for her resilience and ingenuity, Annie overcame a life-changing car accident to transform her healing journey into the invention of the patented YogaForce A-Line mat now used by athletes, rehabilitation patients, and celebrities alike. As the founder of YogaForce.com, she pioneered the concept of alignment-focused yoga accessories and introduced Doga Yoga, a practice for people and their canine companions. With decades of experience teaching at top companies and working with major health organizations, Annie empowers others to prioritize wellness, embrace alignment, and build resilience no matter where they begin.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Annie Appleby joins Robert Plank to share her inspiring path from overcoming injury to launching innovative yoga products and advocating for preventative health. Annie reveals the personal story behind her A-Line yoga mat, discusses the rise of Doga Yoga, and recounts the persistence required to stand out in a competitive industry even in the face of intellectual property challenges. Listeners will learn about the crucial roles of sleep, posture, and alignment in living a vibrant life, how Annie’s inventions reached from Hollywood sets to major retailers, and why helping others is her enduring motivation. Annie also offers practical guidance for maintaining health, cultivating confidence, and thriving in adversity.
Quotes:
"If you don't have your health, your life is miserable. Your health is your wealth."
"You can fall down, but you have to get back up, right? Don't freak out. Something's gonna happen to you. Don't freak out."
"Alignment is a big deal right now. I started it just like I started dog yoga in 2009."
Resources:
1519: Scale With Precision: A Clear Path for Visionary Entrepreneurs to Align Purpose, Genius, and Desires with Kelly O’Neil
Kelly O’Neil is a futurist, award-winning entrepreneur, market maverick, and the strategic architect behind the Fusion Paradigm. As the world’s leading authority on marketing to millionaires and a master brand strategist, Kelly partners with visionary CEOs to redefine, scale, and lead category-defining businesses in the new economy. She is renowned for helping elite entrepreneurs align their business models with core purpose, genius, and evolving desires, enabling high-profit, high-freedom enterprise without the grind. Kelly’s expertise lies in crafting harmonized, strategy-first frameworks to help leaders achieve unprecedented impact and growth while living on their own terms.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Kelly O’Neil returns to join Robert Plank and share her vision for entrepreneurial transformation in today’s ever-changing economic landscape. Kelly details the limitations of outdated business models and the urgent need for a new, harmonized approach that goes beyond tactics to focus on purpose, intuition, and strategic clarity. She reveals the importance of recognizing misalignment, architecting a business around personal genius and evolving desires, and why strategy must precede tools and tactics. Listeners will learn how Kelly guides clients through deeply personalized business realignment, helping high-performing leaders redesign their companies for lasting profit, freedom, and fulfillment. Packed with actionable wisdom, the conversation covers overcoming self-sabotage, the true meaning of growth, and the merging of masculine and feminine business practices for sustainable, category-defining results.
Quotes:
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory, but tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”
“If you did nothing else but the things that you are meant to do and thrive at, all day long every day, how would that change the trajectory of your business?”
“We need a harmonized business approach where we are actually pulling from both the masculine—strategy and structure—and the feminine—intuition and flow.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:40 — 42.1MB) | Embed
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1518: Unlock Explosive Growth: Align Your Leadership Team to Scale Smarter & Reach $100M+ with Todd Westra
Todd Westra is a leadership alignment expert, founder of the Growth and Scaling Podcast, and creator of the Growth Readiness Framework. Renowned for guiding CEOs, COOs, and CFOs to align strategy and execution, Todd helps mid-sized organizations unlock smarter, sustainable growth. With a deep understanding of leadership dynamics and operational challenges, Todd partners with firms at inflection points, unraveling misalignment and cultivating clarity. His process-driven approach empowers teams, clarifies decision-making, and transforms companies from stagnation to forward momentum enabling leaders and their organizations to reach ambitious new milestones.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Todd Westra joins Robert Plank to uncover the crucial role of leadership alignment in business growth and scaling. Todd shares actionable insights from his journey as a founder, consultant, and podcast host, illustrating how divergent leadership visions can quietly stall progress even in successful, well-funded teams. He describes his signature alignment exercises and deep-dive assessments, revealing how honest conversations, data-driven strategies, and a willingness to detach from old patterns can create breakthrough results. Through lively discussion and memorable stories, Todd demonstrates how to move a company from launch mode through realignment, toward true operational excellence. Listeners will learn why self-awareness, role clarity, and robust feedback loops are essential for building sustainable growth, strong exits, and lasting team harmony.
Quotes:
"Most growth is stifled not because they have a bad idea, not because they don't have market fit, but because the leadership is not aligned on which path they're going down."
"If you want to be market leaders, if you want a strong exit, you've got to align, and then it works out better for everybody."
"No success can compensate for failure in the home."
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:30 — 40.5MB) | Embed
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1517: Escape the Tool Trap: Achieve Compliance and Drive Growth Through Better Processes — with Operations Innovator Santiago Cortez
Santiago Cortez is a process-driven transformation specialist, founder of labcortex, and a trusted advisor for compliance-focused, mission-driven organizations. Renowned for his ability to turn tangled, manual workflows into organized, auditable systems, Santiago partners with firms in highly-regulated industries to drive sustainable growth. He champions a process-first mindset, helping businesses clarify their goals, align teams, and eliminate inefficiency empowering both organizations and individuals to reclaim time, reduce stress, and achieve lasting improvement.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Santiago Cortez joins Robert Plank to demystify the world of compliance, workflows, and operational excellence. Santiago shares his unique approach to consulting, emphasizing that tools should serve existing processes not the other way around. Listeners will hear how Santiago and his team dive deep into their clients’ day-to-day realities, uncovering the misalignments between written policies and practical actions. He reveals the communication pitfalls that stall progress, the importance of small wins, and why embedding continuous improvement into company culture is critical. Through practical examples and actionable insights, Santiago explains how focusing on people, clarity, and collaboration drives transformation making even the "boring" aspects of business work both effective and rewarding.
Quotes:
“Tools amplify a process. They don’t replace it.”
“You just want to ensure these little things don’t get caught in your way of the big things. They all lead to that.”
“Communication and feedback loops are essential to aligning teams and catching issues before they compound.”
Resources:
- Connect with Santiago Cortez on LinkedIn
- Helping organizations work smarter, safer, and more efficiently
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:38 — 39.3MB) | Embed
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1516: Niche Marketing Strategy: Grow from $0 to $2.5M and Acquire Businesses Like a Pro with Digital Service Business Expert Karl Hughes
Karl Hughes is an agency acquisition entrepreneur, business builder, and advocate for thoughtful leadership in the digital services sector. Best known for scaling Draft.dev to seven figures and then acquiring and growing agencies such as Podcast Consultant, Karl specializes in buying, improving, and uniting niche service companies to unlock their potential. Drawing on years of hands-on entrepreneurship, personal coaching, and navigating rapid industry shifts, Karl empowers business owners with actionable strategies for growth, resilience, and financial clarity, whether they’re scaling for the first time or preparing for acquisition.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Karl Hughes joins Robert Plank to share his journey from building content agencies from the ground up to orchestrating successful business acquisitions. Karl breaks down how the pandemic changed agency work, what it really takes to buy and scale small companies, the realities of leadership, and why mental stability is crucial for entrepreneurs. Listeners will learn about the hidden challenges behind running multimillion-dollar agencies, the importance of financial literacy, and the lifelong work of separating personal self-worth from business performance. Karl also offers practical advice on thriving through setbacks, building support networks, and the essential need to embrace discomfort for growth.
Quotes:
“How do I get my own mental health, my own stability, regardless of the ups and downs of the business... That’s my life’s work, really.”
“The hard part is when either market externalities change and the business needs to change, or you lose a key team member... There’s no substitute for rolling your sleeves up and doing hard work.”
“Consistency just sticking with it even through the ups and downs and making yourself uncomfortable when you get stuck, those are the key skills.”
Resources:
- Connect with Karl Hughes on LinkedIn
- Discover Karl Hughes’ strategies for agency growth and acquisitions.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:28 — 35.0MB) | Embed
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1515: Appreciation Is the Secret Sauce: A Simple System to Retain Top Talent and Shift Workplace Culture with Matt Rieck
Matt Rieck is the Chief Human Resources Officer at End Zone Insurance and author of "The Employee Retention Bible." Focused on practical strategies that reverse turnover and elevate morale, Matt specializes in teaching leaders how to foster cultures of appreciation, strengthen management, and deliver measurable HR results. From hands-on consulting with major enterprises to building loyalty-driven workforces, Matt’s passion lies in blending culture, communication, and data to help companies retain their very best talent.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Matt Rieck joins Robert Plank to decode the real reasons behind employee turnover and reveal how businesses can nurture loyalty, drive engagement, and transform company culture without breaking the bank. Matt shares the hidden costs of losing great employees, actionable tactics for implementing company-wide appreciation, and insights on developing managers into true leaders. The discussion covers leveraging social media for internal recognition, organizing effective team meetings, and the importance of training managers beyond their initial promotion. Matt also highlights how recognizing and leveraging individual strengths—and transparently addressing weaknesses—can set both teams and organizations apart.
Quotes:
“Most businesses underestimate the cost of losing good people—when you show real appreciation, culture shifts and people stay.”
“Training managers doesn’t end with the promotion. Ongoing development is the missing link at most companies.”
“Recognition isn’t expensive. Internal emails, social posts, and simple appreciation systems can change everything.”
Resources:
- Connect with Matt Rieck on LinkedIn
- Order “The Employee Retention Bible” on Amazon.
- Matt Rieck teaches leaders how to boost morale and reduce turnover.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:28 — 35.0MB) | Embed
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1514: Get Off the Hamster Wheel: : Steps Employers Use to Control Healthcare Costs and Improve Outcomes with Charles W. Gragg
Charles Gragg is an accomplished healthcare benefit solutions strategist, consultant, and author with over four decades of experience inside the American health insurance industry. Having worked in virtually every aspect of health insurance claims management, brokering, risk, and employer consulting, Charles is renowned for guiding CEOs and HR leaders to reclaim control over one of their company’s largest operating expenses: employee health insurance. His bestselling book, “Get Off the Hamster Wheel: An Employer’s Guide to Controlling His Second Largest Operating Expense,” is transforming how business owners approach group health plans for long-term savings and better employee outcomes.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Charles joins Robert Plank to expose the myths and hidden costs plaguing employer health insurance. Drawing on his unique vantage point as an industry insider turned transparency advocate, Charles unpacks actionable strategies to shift from overpriced, opaque insurance models to self-funded, outcome-driven plans. He explains how employer ignorance, market consolidation, and entrenched carriers (“the cartel”) conspire to keep costs high and what leaders can do to fight back. Discussion covers stepping away from traditional carriers, hiring independent third-party administrators, leveraging technology and analytics, educating employees, and how reference-based pricing benchmarks real savings. Charles shares riveting success stories, practical challenges, and the essential mindset shift required for sustainable change.
Quotes:
“Employers must know where every dollar is going and I will account for it for you.”
“The only way to control the cost is to control owning the business.”
“You can't just keep doing what you've been doing and expect a different result. That’s insanity.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:29 — 37.7MB) | Embed
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1513: Patient Number One: The Miraculous Survival Story That Defied COVID-19 with Sandra and Greg Mundis
Sandra and Greg Mundis are the resilient couple behind the inspirational real-life account, “Patient Number One: Embracing Hope in Times of Despair.” Greg, a global leader as Executive Director of Assemblies of God World Mission, and Sandra, a gifted storyteller and founder of Europe’s Children ministry, have spent decades impacting lives across 195 countries. Their new book chronicles Greg’s harrowing journey as the first COVID-19 intubation patient at his hospital—given little chance to live—and Sandra’s fierce faith-fueled advocacy, demonstrating the miraculous power of hope, family, and community in the darkest times.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Sandra and Greg join Robert Plank to share their journey from devastation to hope. They candidly detail Greg’s critical illness, the emotional and physical ordeal of prolonged hospitalization and rehabilitation, Sandra’s steadfast persistence, and the profound role faith and global prayer played in recovery. The conversation highlights themes of family unity, the psychological toll of crisis, finding purpose beyond suffering, and the decision to turn their collective trauma into a published story of inspiration. Listeners will learn about the importance of documenting miracles, building a support network, and how adversity can lead to deeper connection and renewed mission.
Quotes:
“If it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you.”
“God’s word was like my food... There’s power in those words, and it truly brought me through.”
“If I take him home, it’s the best thing I can do for him... But if I leave him, I want to receive the glory.”
Resources:
- Buy “Patient Number One” on Amazon.
- Learn more about how they turn challenges into opportunities for change on their website
- Follow Sandra and Greg Mundis on Facebook
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:39 — 39.4MB) | Embed
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1502: The Co-Parent Secret: How to Turn Divorce into a Respectful, Love-Filled Environment for Your Child with TEDx Speaker and Author John Bassford
Jon Bassford is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and the driving force behind a movement transforming co-parenting through intentionality, respect, and child-centered strategies. As the author of "The Co-Parenting Secret: It’s Not About You," Jon empowers parents, whether divorced, separated, or in parallel parenting situations, to let go of animosity, nurture genuine relationships, and build supportive environments where children thrive. Drawing on his personal journey and coaching expertise, Jon helps entrepreneurs, business owners, and families turn the challenges of separation into opportunities for growth, clarity, and lasting connection.
In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Jon Bassford joins Robert Plank to reveal the mindset shifts and practical steps that make co-parenting successful even in high-conflict or complex family situations. Jon explains why focusing on the child’s experience (rather than parental scorekeeping) is the key to reducing conflict and fostering deep, lasting relationships. He discusses the initial discomfort of building new co-parenting routines, overcoming external skepticism, and strategies for letting go of the past to create a positive future. Listeners will hear actionable advice on communication, adapting business skills to parenting logistics, and the transformative power of small, intentional choices like beginning with just one "yes" or "of course."
Quotes:
“If you don’t have a reason to say no, you should always say yes in this type of environment.”
“It’s not about you. It’s about what’s best for the kids: let go of animosity, remove your ego, and focus on their time.”
“Start with one yes. Or, even better, of course, and let it snowball into something more positive for everyone.”
Resources:
- Connect with Jon Bassford on LinkedIn.
- The Co-Parenting Secret: It’s Not About You on Amazon
- Operational clarity for leaders who want disciplined execution and dependable growth.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:36 — 33.8MB) | Embed
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