Interview

1001: BizVA: Grow and Build Your Business Using Virtual Assistants with Chris McShanag

Business leadership directly influences how well a company performs for its clients. When leaders prioritize innovation, employee engagement, and strategic alignment, it improves client satisfaction and operational efficiency. Connecting leadership goals with operational objectives creates a relationship that boosts both business success and client happiness.

Christopher "Chris" McShanag is the President and CEO of Med VA, Biz VA, and My Ortho VA. He is a transformational leader with extensive experience in delivering successful business solutions through innovative and scalable virtual staffing solutions. Today, Chris discusses his passion for making a difference in the business community by helping doctors, dentists, and small to medium-sized businesses handle their staffing needs through the use of virtual assistants. Stay tuned!

Quotes

“My current focus and passion is making a difference in the business community by helping doctors, dentists, and businesses handle their staffing needs through virtual assistants.” – Chris McShanag

“About 20% of our clients are adding additional services every month, showing the demand and capability we can provide.” – Chris McShanag

“We leverage virtual assistants not just for phone calls, but for a wide range of tasks like email, social media, and bookkeeping to allow business owners to focus on growth.” – Chris McShanag

Takeaways

01:29 Virtual assistants can provide significant cost savings (up to $80,000 per year) and productivity increases (up to 50%) for medical and business clients.

06:12 The main obstacle for clients is overcoming the skepticism of using remote workers, but many clients end up adding additional services every month as they see the benefits.

13:22 Virtual assistants can be leveraged for a wide range of tasks beyond just phone answering, such as email management, social media, bookkeeping, and more, allowing business owners to focus on growth and strategy.

16:11 Proper onboarding and training of virtual assistants is crucial to ensure a smooth transition and high client retention rates.

19:43 Delegating tasks to a virtual assistant team can significantly improve work-life balance and enrich the lives of business owners and executives.

Resources

• MedVA: Medical Virtual Assistants For Doctors, by Doctors. 
• MedVA on Facebook
• My Ortho VA: Elevate Your Orthodontic Practice with Remote Staffing
• BizVA: The Premiere Business Virtual Assistant Company
• Christopher D. McShanag on Linkedin

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1000: Read This Or Die: Write Copy That Sells and Persuade Yourself to a Better Life with Ray Edwards

Are you going through a problem or a challenge and think there’s nothing you can do? When facing adversity, we have the tendency to lose hope in ourselves, break apart, and slowly fall into the darkness, especially if it’s something that may permanently affect our lives. If you are in this situation, remember that a problem always has a solution and that you can live a better life. Reading the book “Read This Or Die” will encourage and empower you that no matter how big the problems you face, you can survive them.

Ray Edwards is a leading expert on the art and business of copywriting, with nearly 40 years of experience. He is the host of the Ray Edwards Show, a popular podcast on business and marketing, and the author of the book "Read This or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life.". Today, Ray shares his expertise on copywriting and his personal journey with Parkinson's disease. He discusses the importance of understanding customer pain points, the power of storytelling and reframing negative experiences, and how he used copywriting techniques to overcome his own struggles with the degenerative disease. Stay tuned!

Quotes

“My unique selling proposition is I teach people how to write the words that sell something.” – Ray Edwards

“The story of your life is not your life. It's just your story.” – Ray Edwards

“The last freedom man has is his ability to think about the circumstances he's in and change his own thoughts.” – Ray Edwards

Takeaways

06:40 Understand your customer's pain points and address them directly in your marketing, rather than focusing solely on the positive aspects of your product or service.

11:11 Reframing negative experiences through storytelling can help you find hope and meaning, even in the face of a degenerative disease like Parkinson's.

24:30 Using copywriting techniques to write a "sales letter" to yourself can be a powerful tool for personal growth and overcoming challenges.

28:07 Having faith in a higher power or a sense of purpose can provide hope and meaning, even in the darkest of circumstances.

32:10 Leading people to a good decision, rather than trying to change their minds through argumentation, is a more effective approach to persuasion and personal relationships.

Resources

• Read This Or Die by Ray Edwards   
• Ray Edwards: Communications Strategist and Copywriter 
• Ray Edwards on Facebook 
• Ray Edwards on LinkedIn 
• Read This or Die!: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life on Amazon

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999: Innovate and Futureproof AI Business Strategies with Bob Pellerin

AI business strategies involve the utilization of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance various aspects of a company's operations, from customer service and marketing to production and decision-making. By harnessing the power of AI, businesses can gain a competitive edge, making informed decisions, streamlining processes, and ultimately driving growth and innovation.

Bob Pellerin is an accomplished IT specialist renowned for his virtualization and artificial intelligence expertise. With a burgeoning YouTube channel boasting over 1.5 million views, Bob has cemented his status as a prominent figure in the tech world. In addition to his digital presence, he's an author of science fiction novels and a versatile writer, contributing articles across various domains, from IT and finance to the precious metal industry. Tune in as Bob shares his experience, insights, and knowledge about AI and utilizing it to make a successful business.

Quotes

“People should not be aware that AI is there assisting them. The best AI works quietly in the background.” – Bob Pellerin
“AI is not magic—it’s a tool, like a calculator. The value comes from how you use it, not what it is.” – Bob Pellerin
“With AI, interpretation and intent are everything. One wrong command can unleash 200,000 instant mistakes.” – Bob Pellerin
“At the end of the day, if you don’t adopt AI, your competitors will—and they’ll do more with less, at lower cost.” – Bob Pellerin

Takeaways

00:00 Bob’s background spans Microsoft, Micron, the U.S. Navy, and executive leadership, blending coding with strategy.
03:00 AI works best as a quiet assistant, from speeding prevention to surgical safety.
06:00 Unrealistic expectations frustrate users; AI should be seen as an assistant, not a replacement.
08:00 AI transforms sales and service with digital assistants making adaptive calls.
13:00 AI uncovers hidden patterns but needs human oversight to prevent “hallucinations.”
17:00 Deepfakes raise fraud and manipulation risks.
19:30 AI helps fight fraud, fake invoices, and email overload.
22:00 AI has costs in energy, resources, and money; leaders must weigh impact.
25:30 Bob shares resources: books on Amazon, videos at CTOBob.com, sci-fi at BobPellerin.com.
28:45 Final insight: words matter. Poor commands create chaos, so context is key.

Resources

• Bob Pellerin: Official Author Site
• Bob Pellerin on Linkedin 
• Bob Pellerin on Amazon

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998: Qream: Develop Your Brand’s Identity with Bohdan Paladiichuk

Building your brand involves creating a website that looks good and communicates your message effectively. The design and aesthetics of your site play a crucial role in expressing your brand's personality and values, ensuring a strong and memorable connection with your audience. Combining web design, aesthetics, and messaging creates a unified brand identity that leaves a lasting impact.

Bohdan Paladiichuk is the CEO & Creative Director of Qream. Qream specializes in a comprehensive range of creative services, including branding, website design, UI/UX design, and product design. They believe that design is not just about creating beautiful images but, more importantly, about delivering a message in a visually compelling manner. Today, Bohdan will be talking more about what his company does and many other interesting topics so stay tuned!

Quotes

“Ugliness is not the absence of beauty—it’s just carelessness about what you’re doing.” – Bohdan Paladiychuk
“There’s no elevator to the top. You always have to take the stairs.” – Bohdan Paladiychuk
“When you invest your soul into something, people feel it.” – Bohdan Paladiychuk
“Be yourself and amplify it. That’s the best way to make it in the world.” – Bohdan Paladiychuk

Takeaways

00:00 Bohdan introduces himself and The Qream, a branding and design agency.
02:10 Landing Viber as a client became a career highlight, reaching 10M viewers.
03:50 Design is more than visuals; effort and care always show.
05:20 Building Qream taught resilience—entrepreneurship is “stairs, not elevator.”
08:40 Story of failure turned to success, leading to co-ownership.
11:10 The Qream way: hire passionate people who overdeliver.
14:00 Services include branding, websites, product design, and explainer videos.
17:35 Projects start at $25k–$50k, balancing emotion with function.
19:25 Connect at theqream.com.

Resources

• Qream: The Baddest Web Design Company Crafting Striking Websites & Branding for SaaS That Drives Progress
• Bohdan Paladiichuk on Linkedin

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997: Overcome the Odds with Scott A. McCreight

Against overwhelming odds, tenacity becomes the driving force for change. With determination, people can navigate through adversity, forging a path with perseverance. In the crucible of challenges, the human spirit, fueled by hope and courage, triumphs over even the most formidable obstacles, proving that resilience is the key to overcoming adversity.

Scott McCreight is the Senior Program Manager at Gainwell Technologies and Author of the book 'Overcoming Insurmountable Odds: How I Rewired My Brain to Do the Impossible.' Scott takes us on a remarkable journey in this book, detailing his transformation from a shy, underdeveloped kid with cerebral palsy to a confident engineer, extreme athlete, and bodybuilder. Today Scott will delve into his  life secrets, exploring topics ranging from achieving one's best self to productivity, happiness, and beyond. Stay tuned!

Quotes

“Two principles I live by are to always keep learning and to never stop. If we allow complacency to set in, we get lazy, and unwanted things start to happen.” - Scott A. McCreight

"Our brain is always learning, whether we're asleep or awake. I like to think of dreaming as ‘defragging your hard drive,’ so to speak." - Scott A. McCreight

“Perfect practice makes perfect. Not practice makes perfect.” - Scott A. McCreight

Takeaways

00:00 Scott introduces himself with the mission “Never quit, never give up.”
05:00 Neuroplasticity and overcoming early discouragement.
10:00 Adventure stories show resilience through extraordinary challenges.
15:00 Engineering mindset applied to retraining the brain.
20:00 Mentorship revealed mindset as the real barrier.
25:00 Small steps led to massive wins like the Grand Canyon.
30:00 The “Brain Muscle Alliance” highlights community and mentorship.
35:00 From pre-diabetic to competitive powerlifter.
40:00 Skydiving accident reframed setbacks as part of the journey.
45:00 Community and mentorship are key to big goals.
50:00 Dedication to all told “you cannot do that.”

Resources

• Gainwell Technologies: Creating Meaningful Health Outcomes
• Scott McCreight on Linkedin
• Overcoming Insurmountable Odds: How I Rewired My Brain to Do the Impossible on Amazon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:33 — 73.7MB) | Embed

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