John Ray, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Julie Zweig, MD

February 16, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Julie Zweig, MD

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Julie Zweig, MD (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 432)

Julie Zweig, MD joined host John Ray to discuss her specialties of sleep issues, hormone optimization, wellness, functional medicine, and allergies. Dr. Zweig left a large practice after twenty-one years to open her own practice so she could spend more time with her patients, enabling her to utilize all her areas of expertise and offer more integrated answers for her patients’ health issues. Dr. Zweig discussed the dangers of sleep apnea, how allergies and the gut are related, what functional medicine is, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Julie Zweig, MD

Julie Zweig, a physician in Alpharetta, is Board Certified in both Ear Nose and Throat Surgery and Sleep Medicine. She also has advanced training in aesthetics, hormone optimization, and Functional Medicine. Dr. Zweig had been practicing with a large group for over 21 years but has recently started her own solo practice.

Dr. Zweig grew up right here in Atlanta Georgia. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, her Medical Degree from Emory University, and her Specialty training at the Eye and Ear Institute in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Dr. Zweig enjoys spending quality time with her husband David and has three children. When she is not with her patients, Dr. Zweig loves to hike with her two very energetic Standard Poodles. She also loves Horseback riding and traveling. Unfortunately, she just lost the last of her 15 chickens.

Dr. Zweig is one of only a few Integrative Sleep and ENT physicians in the entire country, and to her knowledge, the only one in the southeast.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Why did you leave your big practice that you were with for 21 years?
Tell us a little bit about your practice and what you offer?
Tell us why you got interested in Sleep Medicine
How does it work when a patient comes in to see you for snoring or a sleep problem?
How do you treat Snoring and Sleep Problems?
I understand you have expertise in hormone optimization. Why Hormones… what are they? How do they help with sleep?
Can you explain what Functional Medicine is and how it related to Sleep and ENT?
What happens during a Wellness appointment?
There are quite a few Ear nose and throat and sleep physicians in the area as well as functional medicine doctors. Can you tell us how you are unique?
How can people find out more about your practice, both the more traditional side as well as the Wellness side

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked from scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

Golden Retrievers, the Need for Approval, and Pricing

February 16, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Golden Retrievers, the Need for Approval, and Pricing

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Golden Retrievers, the Need for Approval, and Pricing

The need for approval is hardwired in all of us as humans. You might call it a “golden retriever tendency,” and unless we’re always aware of it, it can get mixed up–to our detriment–with how we approach pricing and the clients we accept. The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

TRANSCRIPT

John Ray: [00:00:00] And hello again, everyone. I’m John Ray on The Price and Value Journey. My wife and I have a Golden Retriever who is in constant need of chest rubs. Yes, chest rubs. I’m convinced he’s got an alarm clock in his head, which measures intervals between pettings because he’ll appear seemingly out of nowhere ready for his fix.

John Ray: [00:00:24] I won’t even get into the Dachshund in our home who has an advanced case of separation anxiety. We’ve got a cat, on the other hand, who, while happy to be part of the tribe, is quick to go her own way. She’s okay to be petted and she likes to play, but only on her terms and in her good time. She receives enough contact from us to be a satisfied cat.

John Ray: [00:00:50] If you’re a professional services provider, one of your most vulnerable acts is to price your services. There are moments like when you slide that proposal across the table that it feels like you’ve got a price tag right on your forehead. Will this person with the shopping cart stop, pick you up, and take you home? Or will they just leave you laying there?

John Ray: [00:01:16] The need for approval is hardwired in us humans. We are all seeking validation for who we are and what we do. As professional services providers, we often let that need for approval overpower our good sense when it comes to pricing and the clients we take on. We’ll take on clients at a low price because the subconscious need we have to scratch the itch of affirmation can be overwhelming.

John Ray: [00:01:45] To be successful in professional services, you must become comfortable with the idea that you’re not the best fit for everyone who comes your way. You must almost thrive on a certain number of rejections because, you know, if you’re communicating your value well, that those rejections are a sign that your pricing is where it should be.

John Ray: [00:02:09] You must internalize the idea that sending a poor fit client on to someone else is better both for that client and for you. Their needs will be better handled by someone else, and you won’t have a piece of business which will exasperate you in time. You must be self-aware enough to know when your hardwired need for affirmation is getting in the way of running a successful practice.

John Ray: [00:02:36] If our Golden Retriever was a professional services provider with his own firm, he’d price his services so that none of his proposals ever got rejected. He’d have a lot of clients and would carry an aura of success, but he’d be pricing too low, working too hard for too little money, and probably wouldn’t even know it. If he did understand what he was doing, he would still be happy because his need for affirmation would be fulfilled.

John Ray: [00:03:04] Our cat, on the other hand, wouldn’t have as many clients. The clients she did have, however, would be great fits for her service capabilities. They’d be paying fees which reflect the value she delivers, and all concerned would be content. In practice, we’d all rather be the cat, right? But to get there, we must be cognizant of our innate Golden Retriever tendencies which constrain our professional services practice.

John Ray: [00:03:37] I’m John Ray on The Price and Value Journey. If you’d like to know more, go to johnray.co. Or get in touch with me directly, john@johnray.co.

About The Price and Value Journey

The title of this show describes the journey all professional services providers are on: building a services practice by seeking to convince the world of the value we offer, helping clients achieve the outcomes they desire, and trying to do all that at pricing which reflects the value we deliver.

If you feel like you’re working too hard for too little money in your solo or small firm practice, this show is for you. Even if you’re reasonably happy with your practice, you’ll hear ways to improve both your bottom line as well as the mindset you bring to your business.

The show is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® and can be found on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray The Price and Value Journey — **John Ray, Host of “The Price and Value Journey”**

John Ray is the host of The Price and Value Journey.

John owns Ray Business Advisors, a business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneur and small professional services firms on their pricing. John is passionate about the power of pricing for business owners, as changing pricing is the fastest way to change the profitability of a business. His clients are professionals who are selling their “grey matter,” such as attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, consultants, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

In his other business, John is a Studio Owner, Producer, and Show Host with Business RadioX®, and works with business owners who want to do their own podcast. As a veteran B2B services provider, John’s special sauce is coaching B2B professionals to use a podcast to build relationships in a non-salesy way which translate into revenue.

John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Radio, Nashville Business Radio, Alpharetta Tech Talk, and Business Leaders Radio. house shows which feature a wide range of business leaders and companies. John has hosted and/or produced over 1,100 podcast episodes.

Connect with John Ray:

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

Business RadioX®: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Michael Horwitz, Transworld Business Advisors of Atlanta, Nancy Pridgen, Pridgen Bassett Law, and Dr. Jaeson Courseault, Trif3cta Sports Medicine

February 15, 2022 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

Michael Horwitz, Transworld Business Advisors of Atlanta, Nancy Pridgen, Pridgen Bassett Law, and Dr. Jaeson Courseault, Trif3cta Sports Medicine

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Michael Horwitz, Transworld Business Advisors of Atlanta, Nancy Pridgen, Pridgen Bassett Law, and Dr. Jaeson Courseault, Trif3cta Sports Medicine (Family Business Radio, Episode 29)

Financial and physical health is the focus of this episode of Family Business Radio. Michael Horwitz with Transworld Business Advisors of Atlanta discussed the need for clean books and sound preparation in advance to prepare for a sale. Nancy Pridgen of Pridgen Bassett Law discussed ERISA law and employment issues, including mask mandates. Dr. Jaeson Courseault with Lifehope Medical described his holistic approach to healthcare with his practice of non-surgical orthopedic medicine, prevention and wellness, and helping his patients get better by looking at all the factors that may be impacting their health. He describes his ideal patient as people who are active or want to be active who need help doing so.

All three guests reflected on the ways a client can identify the red or green flags that signal they may need a business broker, an ERISA attorney, or a holistic doctor.

In Anthony’s closing comments, he echos the guidance that the best time to reach out to a financial advisor is when major changes are occurring. Family Business Radio is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network.

Michael Horwitz, Business Broker and M&A Advisor, Transworld Business Advisors of Atlanta

Transworld Business Advisors is the world leader in the marketing and sales of small and lower-middle market businesses. Whether you represent an acquisition-minded corporation or are personally interested in owning your own company, Transworld offers the professional services that successfully bring buyers and sellers together.

Michael is a Business Broker and M&A Advisor with Transworld Business Advisors of Atlanta. He has been helping people buy and sell small and lower-middle businesses for over 5 years. His years of experience run the gamut from senior management roles in Fortune 500 corporations to leadership positions with venture capital-backed high-tech enterprises. Michael also brings small business knowledge through his seven years of owning an independent bicycle shop.

Michael has been in the north Atlanta area for over 25 years now. He grew up in Cleveland, OH, and received his undergrad degree from Case Western Reserve University. After ten years in the workforce, he went back to receive his MBA from Capital University in Columbus, OH. Michael is an avid cyclist, kayaker and backpacker.

Company website | LinkedIn

Nancy Pridgen, Attorney and Managing Member, Pridgen Bassett Law

Pridgen Bassett Law is a boutique law firm situated in beautiful historic downtown Roswell, Georgia, but its attorneys handle ERISA and employment disputes literally across the nation.

Pridgen Bassett Law’s attorneys combine some 40+ years of litigation experience to offer legal strategies and solutions tailored to each client’s unique situation. Clients include employees and employers, private and public businesses, and ERISA plan sponsors and fiduciaries. Pridgen Bassett Law equips clients with cutting-edge ERISA and employment law strategies and a wide range of legal options and offers modern answers for modern benefits and employment issues.

Pridgen Bassett Law attorneys have spent many years at Alston & Bird and King & Spalding representing sophisticated top-tier clients in complex ERISA litigation and employment matters. Pridgen Bassett Law was created to make that experience accessible to a wider range of clients. ERISA and employment matters require knowledge and experience.

Employees, executives, businesses, plan sponsors, and fiduciaries should have access to that resource — no matter the size of the matter or the size of the business. Pridgen Bassett Law is that resource.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Dr. Jaeson Courseault, Trif3cta Sports Medicine, A Lifehope Company

Lifehope Trif3cta Sports Medicine provides non-operative sports orthopedic services for patients with muscle, bone, or joint pain. The practice also has a mobile component that will go to the patient’s home or other location.

Lifehope specializes in regenerative injections like PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, umbilical product injections, Amniotic fluid injections, cortisone injections, and hyaluronic acid injections. They also provide COVID testing, either in-house or at your location for personal use or group testing, with results in 10 minutes.

Their goal is to make you feel better as safely and as quickly as possible in the comfort of their brand new office or their State-of-the-Art Mercedes Benz Sprinter converted to a mini medical office, which is sterilized after each visit. They also offer IV hydration therapy and other recovery treatments.

They are proud to provide a safe, modern-day, high-quality level of care, medical experience, and commitment to all of their patients, as trusted by professional athletes.

As an Atlanta native, Dr. Jaeson Courseault received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology Pre-Med from Morehouse College on a full academic scholarship. While at Morehouse he played cornerback for their football team and graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. With roots in New Orleans, LA, he went to medical school at Tulane University and completed a Family Medicine Residency at LSU.

He completed his fellowship specialty training in Sports Medicine in Waco, TX. For the past 5 years, he served as Team Physician for several high schools, 2 junior colleges, and Baylor University Men’s Basketball Team and Track/Cross Country Teams. Dr. Jaeson Courseault left his practice in Texas and returned to Georgia in October 2020 to serve his home community.

After such an awesome experience in Waco, TX he decided that it was time to be closer to family. He enjoys golfing and spending time with his wife Brittany and his baby daughter Xoé. His Christian faith drives his love for people through medicine. Part of his daily prayer is that his patients see the high level of care that he has for his patients. He prides himself in having an excellent bedside manner.

Company website | LinkedIn| Facebook | Instagram

Anthony Chen, Host of Family Business Radio

**Anthony Chen, Lighthouse Financial, and Host of “Family Business Radio”**

This show is sponsored and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network. Securities and advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (RAA), member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of RAA. The main office address is 575 Broadhollow Rd. Melville, NY 11747. You can reach Anthony at 631-465-9090 ext 5075 or by email at anthonychen@lfnllc.com.

Anthony Chen started his career in financial services with MetLife in Buffalo, NY in 2008. Born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, he considers himself a full-blooded New Yorker while now enjoying his Atlanta, GA home. Specializing in family businesses and their owners, Anthony works to protect what is most important to them. From preserving to creating wealth, Anthony partners with CPAs and attorneys to help address all of the concerns and help clients achieve their goals. By using a combination of financial products ranging from life, disability, and long term care insurance to many investment options through Royal Alliance. Anthony looks to be the eyes and ears for his client’s financial foundation. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid long-distance runner.

The complete show archive of “Family Business Radio” can be found at familybusinessradioshow.com.

Renasant Roots Entrepreneurial Success Series, with Antonio Henson, Renasant Bank, Mia Martin, Modern Creatif, and Trenton Carson, TC Productions

February 14, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Roots Entrepreneurial Success Series, with Antonio Henson, Renasant Bank, Mia Martin, Modern Creatif, and Trenton Carson, TC Productions

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Renasant Roots Entrepreneurial Success Series, with Antonio Henson, Renasant Bank, Mia Martin, Modern Creatif, and Trenton Carson, TC Productions (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 431)

The Renasant Roots Entrepreneurial Success Series is a capacity-building program designed to assist small business owners with business development, marketing, networking, and many other benefits. Two participants in the most recent Atlanta-based cohort, Mia Martin of Modern Creatif and Trenton Carson of TC Productions, joined Antonio Henson of Renasant to discuss how the program came to be, their experience with it, the benefits they have realized, and much more. North Fulton Business Radio is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Renasant Roots Entrepreneurial Success Series

Renasant Bank is proud to introduce the Renasant Roots Entrepreneurial Success Series to the Atlanta market. The capacity building workshop is a four-week program customized to help small business owners sharpen their business development skills and fill gaps in their knowledge and experience to make their enterprises stronger. Renasant Roots was created in partnership with the Birmingham Business Resource Center four years ago.

With the program having great success in the Birmingham market, Renasant’s Birmingham team and the BBRC are sharing the Renasant Roots template with the Atlanta Renasant team to share with small business owners in Atlanta. “We are excited to bring the Renasant Roots program to the Atlanta market. After watching the success and growth of the program in Birmingham, we decided that it would be a great opportunity to share these business resources with the Atlanta community as well,” said Zennie Lynch, Atlanta Market President. “In addition to the skills development and powerful information these participants will receive, they will also be provided with a small business development grant of $2,500 when they complete the program.”

The workshop will focus on business development and planning, marketing and branding, accounting principles and tax preparation, funding options, and resource development. Speakers for the sessions will be provided by Invest Atlanta, Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, LiftFund, and Atlanta Black Chambers.

There is no cost to participate in the program other than committing 10 hours over five weeks. 10 participants will be selected through an application process.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Antonio Henson, MBA, First Vice President – Community Lending Relationship Director, Renasant Bank

**Antonio Henson, MBA, First VP- Community Lending Relationship Director, Renasant Bank**

Antonio Henson has over twenty years of experience in business and banking. He has facilitated training sessions for staff aimed at enhancing product & credit knowledge and regulatory procedures.

Antonio has structured project financing designed to spur neighborhood revitalization efforts in the low-income communities throughout the State of New Jersey and Metro Atlanta. This action involved community outreach and working with elected officials, government agencies, quasi-public agencies and the private sector to promote revitalization and commercial development.

He has provided expertise and assistance to various community-based organizations, to assist them with meeting the financial needs of their respective organizations.

Mia Martin, CEO, Modern Creatif

Modern Créatif was founded in 2013 by Mia D. Martin because of her passion to educate and help professionals position themselves as subject matter experts with their professional brands and businesses. Mia worked in sales and marketing for a Fortune 10 Consumer Package Goods company for 14 years. During her professional career, she developed hundreds of employees throughout the country and managed thousands of retail and wholesale relationships.

Mia is passionate about taking her professional experiences and transferring it to her clients through effective strategy development for marketing, branding, and professional presentation.

Modern Créatif takes pride in not just providing deliverables but also effective education and strategy development. To date, Modern Créatif has served hundreds of Atlanta entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs throughout the country. Modern Créatif is passionate about workforce development in Atlanta and has provided free online training resources through our free Agency Academy. We have also developed educational resources for Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs to service the NPU-V and developing businesses.

Our Mission is to provide premium-level services that empower entrepreneurs to best represent their business and brand.

Mia has worked with SBDC UGA at GSU, SCORE, the Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, General Assembly, Atlanta Business League, 21st Century Leaders, The Network of Executive Women, The Commerce Club-Marketing Club, Georgia Power Supplier Diversity Council, and more to help educate entrepreneurs and professionals on Professional Presentation, and Branding and Marketing Strategy as a strategist and professional speaker.

Mia is a proud member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and a board member for the Kettering Executive Network.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Trenton Carson, President, TC Productions

TC Productions Video Production Company is a full-service video production company that partners with marketing executives and business owners. They develop and execute highly customized video marketing campaigns focused on driving leads, awareness, brand loyalty and retention. Their focus is in Branding, Marketing and Testimonial video production.

The two areas their company specialize in:

They produce videos specifically for your intended audience – Video Production.
They get those videos in front of your intended audience – Video Marketing.

They have helped their clients:

*Build brand awareness and establish an influencing presence online
*Effectively use video as a tool in their marketing strategy
*Create evergreen content that enhances their marketing message
*Become comfortable with the growing demand the market has for videos

What they learned:
Stories are in everything you do. Your brand and the story it tells impacts people, what they believe, how they feel, and the decisions they make. The combination of visuals and sound evokes emotions more effectively than text alone. If you want to draw your viewers in, connect with them emotionally, and move them to take the next step, working with TC Productions to produce your next video will make you the company hero.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Antonio Henson
Renasant Roots and how it started
Mia Martin and Modern Creatif
Trenton Carson and TC Productions
Applications for the next Cohort

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray, and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Roxie and Michael Hernandez, The Hernandez Group

February 14, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Roxie and Michael Hernandez, The Hernandez Group

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ATL Developments with Geoff Smith: Roxie and Michael Hernandez, The Hernandez Group

Host Geoff Smith welcomed Roxie and Michael Hernandez with the Hernandez Group. They discussed the current real estate market, how they work together as a couple, staying nimble amid uncertainty, the role of the buyer’s and seller’s agents, and much more. Regular episodes of ATL Developments with Geoff Smith are broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The Hernandez Group

The Hernandez Group, a team of specialists out of the Keller Williams Consultants office, serves real estate buyers, sellers, and investors in the Atlanta Metro Area. Since 1995, Roxie and Michael have been dedicated to building relationships and are committed to providing the highest level of service by being honest, loyal, understanding, and attentive.

They strive as a team to ensure a smooth and seamless transaction from start to finish as well as make every effort to be proactive and limit surprises. They are committed to always exceeding our clients’ expectations that they always think of and recommend the Hernandez Group to friends and family for any Real Estate needs.

If you know of anyone who needs help buying or selling Real Estate, Roxie and Michael would love the opportunity to earn their business!

Company website | Facebook

Roxie and Michael Hernandez, Agents/Brokers, The Hernandez Group

**Michael and Roxie Hernandez, The Hernandez Group**

Roxie is a native Texan and moved to Atlanta in 1990 where she met her husband, Michael. They have 3 beautiful daughters. Roxie sits on the board for the Foster Care Support Foundation and Michael also sits on the boards for Roswell First Responder Foundation as well as the Roswell Rotary board since 2000.

Both are leaders and mentors in their communities. Roxie and Michael have been selling real estate full-time in the Atlanta metro area since 1995. They are deeply passionate about giving back to the communities that they serve and live in.

Roxie’s LinkedIn | Michael’s LinkedIn

Geoff Smith, Host of ATL Developments with Geoff Smith

ATL Developments with Geoff Smith covers all things economic development in the Atlanta Metro area. From everything inside the Beltline to Avalon and beyond, Geoff Smith interviews the movers and shakers making the ATL one of the best places to live, work and play. An archive of past episodes can be found here.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial working with Real Estate agents and homebuyers to help them get happily to their closing table. Geoff is an authority on the latest economic development trends shaping the Atlanta Metro area. His interviews reveal an inside perspective at how things get done in the ATL.

Geoff is an active member of his community serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, as well as holding the position of chairman for the Chamber’s Education Committee. He is also Secretary of the Roswell Youth Baseball Association and coaches his sons in football, baseball and basketball. Geoff enjoys golf, camping and traveling with his wife and two sons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Becca Goldsberry, Southwestern Coaching

February 14, 2022 by John Ray

Business Leaders Radio

Becca Goldsberry, Southwestern Coaching

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Becca Goldsberry, Southwestern Coaching

Becca Goldsberry with Southwestern Coaching joined host John Ray to address why a coach can be indispensable for a business owner or executive as they strive for their professional and personal goals. Becca discussed the role of a coach in providing accountability, the value of coaching at all stages of a career, success stories, how she works with clients, and much more. Business Leaders Radio is produced virtually from the Business RadioX® studios in Atlanta.

Southwestern Coaching, a division of Southwestern Consulting

Southwestern Consulting’s story actually begins with another member of the Southwestern Family of Companies—Southwestern Advantage. Established in 1855 in Nashville, Tennessee, The Southwestern Publishing House published and sold Bibles door-to-door, allowing young people to not only learn the sales profession at an early age, but also to earn money to pay for a college education. Southwestern Advantage was developed out of that model, and today, Advantage continues to thrive as the Family of Companies’ core entity, with college-aged entrepreneurs around the world selling and promoting educational study systems.

One of those savvy entrepreneurs, Dustin Hillis, saw the opportunity to take the skills he learned in Advantage and teach them to other sales professionals and leaders, elevating the perception of sales to a true relationship-building profession. Thus, Southwestern Consulting was born. Co-founder and CEO, Hillis, along with other top-producing Southwestern Advantage alumni founded the company on the principles of sales and leadership coaching, establishing the first division, Southwestern Coaching. In the coming years, those principles would be expanded to the newer divisions, elevating events with high-quality, engaging speakers, and empowering people to reach their true potential.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Becca Goldsberry, Elite Sales and Leadership Coach, Southwestern Coaching

Becca is an Elite Sales and Leadership Coach and an expert at recruiting, lead generation, and business development. She has led a large organization with over 300 team members. As a leader, she is recognized as a top recruiter and loves developing team members to help them achieve their goals and dreams.
She has worked with her family’s five businesses, which included a 65-year-old excavation company, a lake management and treatment company, and a farm management company. While working with the family businesses, she helped develop a family foundation, sat on numerous boards, and helped with business plans and strategies on how to incorporate the third and fourth generations.

Becca worked as a family therapist and school counselor for six years prior before moving into sales. While in sales, Becca has held sales positions focusing on new business development, territory management, recruitment, and retention.

Becca graduated from the University of Louisville with a master’s in social work and an undergraduate degree from Concordia University.

• Was in the Top 50, out of over 10,000 sales associates
• Former top producer in business development by increasing new business sales by over 170%
• Experienced merchandiser for several large Fortune 500 companies including the world’s largest retailer
• Former certified corporate trainer and trained hundreds of new consultants

You can find Becca volunteering her time raising money for cancer research, The Junior League of Indianapolis, volunteering with Church charities, traveling around the world when she can with her husband and kids, cooking up awesome meals for her family and friends to have some quality time together. Becca is an avid parrot head and you can find her at Jimmy Buffett’s concerts when they come into town.

Becca’s mission and purpose is to help others see their greatest potential and pursue their dreams. She is committed to helping people to believe in their ultimate potential in life and inspires them to live a life of excellence, joy and success.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Questions and Topics

What is a coach, why should people in business or salespeople have a coach?
The Power of Perspective
How do you maintain perseverance and focus?
Becca’s passion for helping clients find their why, purpose, and passion for what they do.
How connecting your vision with your day-to-day activities makes you unstoppable
The importance of daily motivation
The various ways Southwestern Consulting can serve companies.

Business Leaders Radio is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. The show can be found on all the major podcast apps and a full archive can be found here.

There’s Value in Consistency

February 14, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

There's Value in Consistency

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There’s Value in Consistency

Clients and prospects value consistency. There’s not much of a revelation in that statement. What’s interesting, though, is that clients and prospects value consistency so highly that it can show up in odd or even negative ways. Here’s a story to illustrate the point. The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

TRANSCRIPT

John Ray: [00:00:06] And hello again. I’m John Ray on the Price and Value Journey. Consistency is important, even when it’s negative. Consistency is a trait we must cultivate as professional services providers because it’s so important to our clients. It’s so important for us to be consistent, as consistent as we possibly can in the work that we do on their behalf and just showing up and doing so on a regular basis. Not only though, with our work, but in what we ask of our clients to help bring about their transformation.

John Ray: [00:01:02] I joke with some of my clients that when they hire me, I’m their mother, and I will bug them about what’s needed and what we need to have to keep everything moving along. Consistency is so important that even when the issues are negative, the client values that consistency.

John Ray: [00:01:38] Years and years ago, as it seems, I was a securities analyst with a major regional investment firm. My clients were institutional funds, and I regularly made trips to see them, to update them on the various bank stocks, because that’s the industry I covered, that they were owned and that they were interested in. I remember being in Boston visiting a fund manager, and we were in his office talking. And we were well into the meeting when his secretary opened the door, rushed in with a note, and someone was on the phone for him.

John Ray: [00:03:00] He looked at the note and he said, “Sorry, John. Just a minute. I really need to take this call.” He took the call and listened. He didn’t say much. He just said, “Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes. Thank you,” and concluded the call. And he looked at me, and apologized, and he said, “This is someone whose call I always take. So, thank you for allowing me to do that. It’s not that he’s always correct. In fact, he’s never right. He’s never right about any of the calls or predictions that he makes. Period. But there’s value in that. So, remember that, John, there’s value in consistency.”

John Ray: [00:04:19] So, even when the situation or the circumstances aren’t favorable, there’s value in consistency. Clients value consistency.

About The Price and Value Journey

The show is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® and can be found on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.

John Ray, Host of The Price and Value Journey

John Ray is the host of The Price and Value Journey.

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Atrial Fibrillation

February 11, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Atrial Fibrillation

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Atrial Fibrillation (Episode 69, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow)

Recalling his wife’s transient ischemic attack (TIA) several months ago in the middle of the night, Dr. Jim Morrow says the ultimate diagnosis was Atrial Fibrillation. Dr. Morrow describes the symptoms, but notes that some people do not experience symptoms and sometimes have events, such as a TIA, which point to atrial fibrillation. Because of the risk of blood clots, he stresses the need to check all symptoms that may arise without delay, discusses treatments, and much more. To Your Health is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, which brings the care back to healthcare.

About Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical

Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” The practice has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.

Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Atlanta-area patients can learn more about the practice here.

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder and CEO of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7788088/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toyourhealthMD

The complete show archive of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

Dr. Morrow’s Show Notes

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart.
- A-fib increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly —
- out of sync with the lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart.
- For many people, A-fib may have no symptoms.
  - However, A-fib may cause a fast, pounding heartbeat (palpitations), shortness of breath or weakness.
- Episodes of atrial fibrillation may come and go, or they may be persistent.
  - Although A-fib itself usually isn’t life-threatening, it’s a serious medical condition that requires proper treatment to prevent stroke.
- Treatment for atrial fibrillation may include medications, therapy to reset the heart rhythm and catheter procedures to block faulty heart signals.
- A person with atrial fibrillation may also have a related heart rhythm problem called atrial flutter.
  - Although atrial flutter is a different arrhythmia, the treatment is quite similar to atrial fibrillation.

Symptoms

Some people with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) don’t notice any symptoms. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may have signs and symptoms such as:

- Sensations of a fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness

Atrial fibrillation may be:

- Occasional (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation).
  - A-fib symptoms come and go,
    - usually lasting for a few minutes to hours.
    - Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly.
    - Symptoms might go away on their own. Some people with occasional A-fib need treatment.
- Persistent.
  - With this type of atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm doesn’t go back to normal on its own.
    - If a person has A-fib symptoms, cardioversion or treatment with medications may be used to restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm.
- Long-standing persistent.
  - This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months.
- Permanent.
  - In this type of atrial fibrillation, the irregular heart rhythm can’t be restored.
    - Medications are needed to control the heart rate and to prevent blood clots.

When to see a doctor

If you have any signs or symptoms of atrial fibrillation, make an appointment with your doctor.
If you have chest pain, seek immediate medical help.
- Chest pain could mean that you’re having a heart attack.

Causes

To understand the causes of A-fib, it may be helpful to know how the heart typically beats.
The typical heart has four chambers —
- two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles).
- Within the upper right chamber of the heart (right atrium) is a group of cells called the sinus node.
- The sinus node is the heart’s natural pacemaker.
  - It produces the signal that starts each heartbeat.
- In a regular heart rhythm:

- The signal travels from the sinus node through the two upper heart chambers (atria).
- The signal passes through a pathway between the upper and lower chambers called the atrioventricular (AV) node.
- The movement of the signal causes your heart to squeeze (contract), sending blood to your heart and body.

In atrial fibrillation,
- the signals in the upper chambers of the heart are chaotic.
  - As a result, the upper chambers shake (quiver).
  - The AV node is then bombarded with signals trying to get through to the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
  - This causes a fast and irregular heart rhythm.
- The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute.
  - The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute.

Causes of atrial fibrillation

Problems with the heart’s structure are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation.
Other possible causes of A-fib include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Heart defect that you’re born with (congenital heart defect)
- Heart valve problems
  - High blood pressure
Lung diseases
- Physical stress due to surgery, pneumonia or other illnesses
- Previous heart surgery
- Problem with the heart’s natural pacemaker (sick sinus syndrome)
- Sleep apnea
- Thyroid disease such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and other metabolic imbalances
- Use of stimulants, including certain medications, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol
- Viral infections
Some people who have A-fib have no known heart problems or heart damage.

Risk factors

Things that can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (A-fib) include:

- Age. The older a person is, the greater the risk of developing A-fib.
- Heart disease. Anyone with heart disease — such as heart valve problems, congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, or a history of heart attack or heart surgery — has an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
- High blood pressure. Having high blood pressure, especially if it’s not well controlled with lifestyle changes or medications, can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.
  - Thyroid disease. In some people, thyroid problems may trigger heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), including atrial fibrillation.
Other chronic health conditions. People with certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, lung disease or sleep apnea have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
- Drinking alcohol. For some people, drinking alcohol can trigger an episode of A-fib. Binge drinking further increases the risk.
- Obesity. People who have obesity are at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
- Family history. An increased risk of atrial fibrillation occurs in some families.

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication that can lead to stroke.
- In atrial fibrillation, the chaotic heart rhythm can cause blood to collect in the heart’s upper chambers (atria) and form clots.
  - If a blood clot in the left upper chamber (left atrium) breaks free from the heart area, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
- The risk of stroke from A-fib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase your risk of a stroke due to A-fib, including:

- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart failure
- Some valvular heart disease

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation.
Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

- Eat a nutritious diet
- Get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight
- Don’t smoke
- Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine
- Manage stress, as intense stress and anger can cause heart rhythm problems

George Westinghouse and the Value Equation

February 11, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

George Westinghouse and the Value Equation

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George Westinghouse and the Value Equation

The Current War is a movie based on the competition between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose vision of the electrical power delivery system in the United States would be implemented. In the movie, the character of George Westinghouse offers a compelling description of the value equation, which he used to his advantage. It’s a lesson for us as professional services providers. The Price and Value Journey is presented by John Ray and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

TRANSCRIPT

John Ray: [00:00:00] I’m John Ray on the Price and Value Journey. I recently heard some words from George Westinghouse on the value equation. Well, it was probably not George Westinghouse himself, but actually the words put in his mouth. You see, I was watching a movie called The Current War, a movie which tells the story of the race between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to sell their competing visions of an electrical grid in the late 1800s. Edison pushed his original vision of direct current, while Westinghouse championed alternating current. Westinghouse’s vision won as alternating current was much more effective and less costly to distribute over long distances.

John Ray: [00:00:55] At one point in this movie, Westinghouse says, “The value of something isn’t what someone’s willing to pay, but the value of something is what it contributes.” This statement is the value equation at work. When a client assesses your service or product, they are judging the contribution your services will make to their business and their life. For them to buy, they must perceive that the benefits they will receive, whether in money earned, time saved, pleasure derived or something else is more than the price they pay. The only person who can determine this value is the client. It’s their perception, their determination of that contribution.

John Ray: [00:01:46] As depicted in the movie, Westinghouse used the value equation to his advantage. After Edison reneged on paying the talented inventor, Nikola Tesla, a promised $50,000, Tesla quit and Westinghouse pounced. He offered Tesla a royalty of $2.50 per AC horsepower, which would amount to much more than the flat $50,000. Tesla accepted and Westinghouse’ vision was on its way to realization.

John Ray: [00:02:22] The actual history is a bit more complicated, but the movie illustrates the point quite well. All Edison saw is that $50,000 was an immense amount of money. His ego kept him from seeing Tesla’s value. Tesla has no perceived value to Edison. Westinghouse, on the other hand, saw that the long-term contribution Tesla could make to his company dwarfed even a royalty payment like the one he proposed. The value which was at stake was immense. The opportunity to build the electrical grid for the entire United States.

John Ray: [00:03:06] That’s the value equation at work, Westinghouse and Hollywood style. It’s utilized by the buyer in every transaction. I’m John Ray on the Price and Value Journey. If you’d like to connect with me, go to Johnray.co or email me John@JohnRay.co.

About The Price and Value Journey

The show is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® and can be found on all the major podcast apps. The complete show archive is here.