John Ray, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Dr. Larry Gard, Hamilton-Chase Consulting (The Exit Exchange, Episode 3)

March 18, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Dr. Larry Gard, Hamilton-Chase Consulting (The Exit Exchange, Episode 3)

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Dr. Larry Gard, Hamilton-Chase Consulting (The Exit Exchange, Episode 3)

Selling or transitioning out of a business isn’t all about dollars and cents. Acknowledged or not, psychological and emotional issues come into play, and those considerations must be navigated by business owners and their advisors. On this edition of “The Exit Exchange,” Dr. Larry Gard covers the four psychological mistakes business owners make as they approach an exit. This edition of “The Exit Exchange” is co-hosted by David Shavzin and Bob Tankesley and is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Hamilton-Chase Consulting

Hamilton-Chase Consulting offers pre-hire assessments to ensure that the people you hire are a good fit for the job, executive coaching and 360-degree feedback to help your key staff perform at their best. They specialize in career coaching and pre-retirement consulting to foster a positive, smooth transition to your next chapter. Find your retirement transition readiness score here: https://assess.coach/donewithwork.

Dr. Larry Gard, Consulting Psychologist, Hamilton-Chase Consulting

Dr. Larry Gard is a consulting psychologist and president of Hamilton-Chase Consulting in Chicago. From hiring to retiring, Dr. Gard’s work centers around the concept of goodness-of-fit, ensuring that people are engaged in activities that are well-suited for their personality. He teaches firms how to refine their selection process so that hiring decisions are more accurate and the right candidates are chosen. Larry also works with late-career professionals and business owners, offering brief coaching to help them prepare emotionally for a satisfying transition to their next chapter.

He is the author of “Done with Work: A dozen perspectives on the decision to retire”.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook

Questions and Topics in this Interview

What led you to focus on psychological preparation for a business owner getting ready to sell?
What mistakes have you seen people make?
When business owners aren’t emotionally ready to retire, what consequences have you seen?
What specifically will affect business owners in the lower middle market that our XPX members can take into account when advising their clients?
How can we, as advisors, best raise this topic with our clients?
Why are you a member of XPX?

The Exit Planning Exchange Atlanta (XPX) is a diverse group of professionals with a common goal: working collaboratively to assist business owners with a sale or business transition. XPX Atlanta is an association of advisors who provide professionalism, principles and education to the heart of the middle market. Our members work with business owners through all stages of the private company life cycle: business value growth, business value transfer, and owner life and legacy. Our Vision: To fundamentally changing the trajectory of exit planning services in the Southeast United States. XPX Atlanta delivers a collaborative-based networking exchange with broad representation of exit planning competencies. Learn more about XPX Atlanta and why you should consider joining our community: https://exitplanningexchange.com/atlanta.

“The Exit Exchange” is produced by John Ray in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. The show archive can be found at xpxatlantaradio.com. John Ray and Business RadioX are Platinum Sponsors of XPX Atlanta.

Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

March 17, 2021 by John Ray

Business Beat

Frazier & Deeter's Business Beat: Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

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Frazier & Deeter’s Business Beat: Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation

Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation, joined host Roger Lusby to discuss the state’s budget, education funding, the impact of federal Covid relief, and much more. “Business Beat” is presented by Alpharetta CPA firm Frazier & Deeter.

Georgia Public Policy Foundation

A trusted, independent resource for voters and elected officials since its founding in 1991, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation provides actionable solutions to real-life problems by bringing people together. The Georgia Public Policy Foundation was created on the belief that good public policy is based upon fact, an understanding of sound economic principles and the core principles of our free enterprise system – economic freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, individual initiative, respect for private property and the rule of law.

State-focused, independent, non-partisan and market-oriented in its approach, the Foundation conducts scholarly research and analysis of state public policy issues, and works to educate citizens, policy-makers and the media.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Kyle Wingfield, President and CEO

Kyle Wingfield is a native of Dalton and a graduate of the University of Georgia. He joined the Foundation as president and CEO in April 2018 after spending nine years as an opinion columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has also worked for the Wall Street Journal, based in Brussels, Belgium, from 2004 to 2009, and for the Associated Press, based in Atlanta and Montgomery, Ala., from 2001 to 2004.

At the AJC, Kyle wrote often about state politics and policy, focusing especially on education and school choice, transportation, health care, and state and local taxation. He is a frequent guest on GPB’s “Political Rewind” show and was a finalist for the Reason Foundation’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2013. Kyle’s weekly column continues to appear in 10 newspapers around the state.

Kyle received the UGA Grady College’s John E. Drewry Young Alumnus Award in 2006, was named to the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2012 and is a member of UGA’s Board of Visitors. He is a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2018 and, as an Eagle Scout, remains an active volunteer in Scouting.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

An overview of the 2021 Georgia legislative session.
An overview of reforms under consideration that would affect education in Georgia.
A look at the budget picture for the state.
How the new federal COVID relief bill will affect Georgia (as well as how past relief bills have affected the state).
How the pandemic might affect healthcare in Georgia moving forward.

Frazier & Deeter

The Alpharetta office of Frazier & Deeter is home to a thriving CPA tax practice, a growing advisory practice and an Employee Benefit Plan Services group. CPAs and advisors in the Frazier & Deeter Alpharetta office serve clients across North Georgia and around the country with services such as personal tax planning, estate planning, business tax planning, business tax compliance, state and local tax planning, financial statement reviews, financial statement audits, employee benefit plan audits, internal audit outsourcing, cyber security, data privacy, SOX and other regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions and more. Alpharetta CPAs serve clients ranging from business owners and executives to large corporations.

Roger Lusby, host of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat,” is an Alpharetta CPA and Alpharetta Office Managing Partner for Frazier & Deeter. He is also a member of the Tax Department in charge of coordinating tax and accounting services for our clientele. His responsibilities include a review of a variety of tax returns with an emphasis in the individual, estate, and corporate areas. Client assistance is also provided in the areas of financial planning, executive compensation and stock option planning, estate and succession planning, international planning (FBAR, SFOP), health care, real estate, manufacturing, technology and service companies.

You can find Frazier & Deeter on social media:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

An episode archive of Frazier & Deeter’s “Business Beat” can be found here.

What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credits, with Justin Elanjian, Aprio, LLP

March 16, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credits, with Justin Elanjian, Aprio, LLP

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What You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credits, with Justin Elanjian, Aprio, LLP (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 339)

Aprio Partner Justin Elanjian joined John Ray to discuss the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC), why many businesses don’t know they’re eligible for ERC, and how business owners can maximize the benefits of these complicated programs. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Aprio, LLP

Aprio is a premier full-service, CPA-led business advisory firm that advises clients and associates on how to achieve what’s next.

Aprio’s associates work as integrated teams across advisory, assurance, tax, outsourced accounting solutions and private client services, bringing the best thinking and personal commitment to each client. Across practices, Aprio brings together proven expertise, deep understanding, and strategic foresight for industries including Manufacturing and Distribution; Non-Profit and Education; Professional Services; Real Estate and Construction; Retail, Franchise and Hospitality; and Technology and Blockchain.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Aprio has grown to over 700+ team members. To serve clients wherever life or business may take them, Aprio’s teams speak more than 30 languages and work with clients in over 50 countries.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Justin Elanjian, CPA, Partner-in-Charge, PPP & ERC Services, Aprio, LLP

Justin Elanjian, CPA, is the Partner-in-Charge of Aprio’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) & Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Services. As a national PPP expert, prominent speaker and strategic business advisor, Justin helps both lenders and borrowers navigate the complexities of the PPP.

He helps his clients realize benefits from other stimulus package programs, such as the ERC, and is committed to strengthening his clients’ balance sheets and helping them achieve what’s next.

Justin also leads a team of more than 50 professionals who share his passion for helping businesses maximize their liquidity by leveraging the benefits of these COVID legislative programs.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

About Aprio and Justin Elanjian
How Aprio pivoted during COVID to offer relief-based services such as the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credit
How to plan for 2021 Paycheck Protection Program & Employee Retention Credit benefits
How to leverage the Employee Retention Credit pre-and post- PPP Loan Forgiveness
How to know when your business needs the help of an advisor

North Fulton Business Radio” is hosted by John Ray and produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® 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.

James Connelly, Results Rehab, Lisa Sretenovic, Visionating, LLC, and Phillip Williams, P & P Business Solutions (Family Business Radio, Episode 18)

March 16, 2021 by John Ray

Family Business Radio

James Connelly, Results Rehab, Lisa Sretenovic, Visionating, LLC, and Phillip Williams, P & P Business Solutions (Family Business Radio, Episode 18)

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James Connelly, Results Rehab, Lisa Sretenovic, Visionating, LLC, and Phillip Williams, P & P Business Solutions (Family Business Radio, Episode 18)

Host Anthony Chen was joined by Lisa Sretenovic, Visionating, LLC, who discussed her advisory and tax work with business owners. James Connelly, Results Rehab, also joined the show to profile his physical therapy practice, and Phillip Williams, P&P Business Solutions, discussed how he helps family business owners in their transition and succession issues. “Family Business Radio” is underwritten and brought to you by Anthony Chen with Lighthouse Financial Network.

Dr. James Connelly, PT, DPT, OCS, Owner, Mobile Concierge Physical Therapist, Results Rehab

Results Rehab strives to provide top-quality physical therapy by utilizing evidence-informed practice and client values to best meet their needs.

James Connelly views his Mobile, Concierge Physical Therapy practice as a tool to serve his clients so that they can return to the life that they love and enjoy. He wants to give his clients the confidence to move freely, without fear of injury, to gain long-term success and happiness in their everyday lives.

Company website | LinkedIn

Lisa Sretenovic, CPA, CGMA, CITP, CAAS, Founder, Visionating, LLC

Visionating – [verb] act of continuously pursuing your business passion.

Lisa loves seeing professional practice owners with enough passion, drive, and belief in themselves to launch their own business. However, there are way too many of them flying by the seat of their pants, not knowing where their cash is going, and chasing after every sale, all while spending way too much time at the office.

She is on a mission to help these business owners understand they don’t have to give up their dream business. They can have a thriving company and spend time with their family. Not by getting better at their functional skills, but by focusing on three often neglected steps.

Sherlock Holmes is one of her favorite childhood heroes because he is known as a master of deduction and observation. Inspired by these skills, she takes pleasure in sleuthing through small businesses to optimize their costs and maximize their growth. Watching the mindset change of a practice owner go from defeated and burned out to joyful and inspired brings a smile to my soul. The thrill of deducing ways to ensure they have timely information is exhilarating. Having data allows her and her clients to collaborate efficiently, thus ensuring a positive, rapid change of direction. She hates seeing struggling owners, fatigued with the stress of money in their business, and lack of time with their loved ones, flounder by continuing to keep doing what they’ve always done. Lisa delights in explaining evidence to them because she knows how powerful the transformation will be.

Company website | LinkedIn

Phillip Williams, CEPA, President, P&P Business Solutions

**Phillip Williams, P and P Business Solutions**

P&P Business Solutions tackles the financial concerns that small businesses like yours face: Improving cash flow and profitability
Securing financing to fund capital projects
Generating working capital to fund business growth
Developing a successful exit strategy in preparation for retirement.

If wondering how you’d benefit from their guidance in navigating your finances, then simply contact P&P Business Solutions for a private consultation.

Company website | LinkedIn

Anthony Chen, Host of “Family Business Radio”

family owned craft breweries — **Anthony Chen**

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.

How Attention to Key Performance Metrics Strengthened My Business, with Mike Holden, Nextgen Pest Solutions

March 15, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

How Attention to Key Performance Metrics Strengthened My Business, with Mike Holden, Nextgen Pest Solutions

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How Attention to Key Performance Metrics Strengthened My Business, with Mike Holden, Nextgen Pest Solutions

Bill McDermott: [00:00:00] So, a result of COVID and some of the challenges, how have those challenges made your organization stronger?

Mike Holden: [00:00:09] It’s became one of the things that we look at as more focused, more flexibility. How do we move faster yet not move too fast. You know, everybody always talks about growth and you’ve got to be careful with growth, that double edged sword. But it’s one of the things where we went through and done a really good job as a company to mature.

Mike Holden: [00:00:29] And data is the key. So, if we go through and we look at our numbers and we understand all the different variables with all the different things that go on, it’s amazing how they speak to you and how you can go through. And even people that have never seen anything in their career metrics go through and talk to them about it and they didn’t go through an impact. So, it’s been amazing for the organization as a whole. It’s been extremely exciting taking people that never have really had the opportunity to look and see how they can personally get back in a lot of different ways. And it’s been awesome. And, definitely, we came out of 2020 a much better organization than we started 2020. So, I can say that probably.

Mike Holden, Nextgen Pest Solutions

Nextgen Pest Solutions’ core mission is to provide jobs for veterans of the armed forces after their military careers. They strongly believe that it is important to create careers that give veterans a chance to continue to protect us even after their service is complete.

They also provide the training, competitive pay, and benefits that give them a life-long career. They also have the ability to learn new skills that will help them advance in the organization. Nextgen Pest Solutions is a full-service residential/commercial pest control company in the greater Atlanta metro area, Birmingham Alabama, Clearwater, and South Florida. Each service center is able to treat, remove, or prevent essentially any type of pest, bedbug, rodent, and wildlife issue. They use the latest technology in pest management practices to restore your peace of mind that your home is protected. Throughout their markets, they specialize in hard-to-treat pests for homes, apartments, and hotels.

Nextgen even provides a free guide on how to get rid of various pests for anyone’s use. These include Ants, Roaches, Bed Bugs, Possums, Raccoons, bats, fleas, silverfish, ants, beetles, spiders, mosquitos, and snakes currently. Their wildlife services including raccoon removal, squirrel removal, bat removal, snake removal, possum removal, bee and wasp removal, and other types of wildlife common to Florida and Georgia. While in some cases animals are beneficial, some are nuisances, others represent real emergencies.

They want you to feel protected and know that you have a partner with your pest control service provider. It is these factors that set them apart and these missions that help them protect your property and family. They also GUARANTEE their services, so if you are ever unsatisfied or you find pests that should have been eliminated, they will always come back to solve the problem.

Company website | LinkedIn

Listen to Mike’s full ProfitSense interview here.

The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.

Dr. Jacob M. Chacko, Dean of the College of Business, Clayton State University

March 12, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Dr. Jacob M. Chacko, Dean of the College of Business, Clayton State University

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Dr. Jacob M. Chacko, Dean of the College of Business, Clayton State University (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 338)

Dr. Jacob M. Chacko of Clayton State University joined host John Ray to discuss the growth of the business program at CSU, an accreditation it holds which is held by only 5% of business schools worldwide, the affordability and flexibility of the College’s degree and certificate programs for students, and much more. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Clayton State University

Clayton State University is a public university in Morrow, Georgia. Clayton State University is a part of the University System of Georgia. The campus is located fifteen minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The University has 208 full-time faculty and 356 full-time staff.

The institution was founded in 1969 and was originally known as Clayton Junior College. When the school became a four-year institution in 1986, the institute took on the name Clayton State College. In 1996, the Georgia Board of Regents renamed many higher-ed institutions, with Clayton State becoming Clayton College & State University. In 2005, the name was changed to Clayton State University.

College of Business, Clayton State University

Clayton State University’s College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The AACSB Accreditation is an internationally recognized distinction among business schools around the world that pursue excellence and continuous academic improvement of their business programs. AACSB Accreditation is held by just five percent of schools worldwide. The College has been recognized for preparing the next generation of leaders in today’s economy, including being named among the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business by U.S. News and World Report.

At the same time, CSU’s College of Business is consistently recognized for affordability. They strive to provide graduate and undergraduate programs that combine quality and value. SR Education Group ranked the College no. 2 for the Most Affordable Colleges for a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Education Reference Desk just recognized CSU’s online MBA program the 6th most affordable in the country, and first on the list for the state of Georgia.

The MBA program offers both in-person and fully online options, with six areas of concentration (Accounting, General Business, Management, Marketing, Digital Marketing and Supply Chain Management). Additionally, a Master of Strategic Leadership Development and a Master of Science in Supply Chain Analytics plus multiple post graduate certificates are offered.

The College recently sign MOUs with Dalton State College and Georgia Gwinnett College to allow graduates from those respective institutions to move directly to graduate programs at Clayton State.

University Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Dr. Jacob M. Chacko, Dean, College of Business at Clayton State University

Dr. Jacob M. Chacko is the Dean of the College of Business at Clayton State University (CSU) in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining CSU, he was the Dean of the College of Business at Abu Dhabi University (ADU) in the UAE.

Dr. Chacko has also held administrative positions as Associate Dean and Department Head at the University of North Dakota. He led the College of Businesses at Clayton State University and Abu Dhabi University through their initial accreditation from AACSB-International.

As Dean, Jacob led the development of the MBA with multiple concentrations, the Doctor of Business Administration and dual degree programs at Abu Dhabi University. At Clayton State, he led the development of the Professional MBA program, the Online MBA, Master of Strategic Leadership Development, and MS in Supply Chain Analytics.

Dean Chacko is a member of AACSB’s Initial Accreditation Committee member of the Board of Governors of Beta Gamma Sigma the international honor society for AACSB accredited business schools worldwide and the Board of Directors of Southern Business Administration Association (SBAA).

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Strategic Initiatives of the College
AACSB Accreditation
Growth of the online business program
Community engagement
Career Spine

“The Author’s Midwife”: Anita Henderson, The Write Image Consulting, LLC

March 11, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

"The Author's Midwife": Anita Henderson, The Write Image Consulting, LLC

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“The Author’s Midwife”: Anita Henderson, The Write Image Consulting, LLC (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 337)

Anita Henderson, known by many as “The Author’s Midwife,” joined host John Ray to share success stories of helping business professionals become published authors. “North Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Anita Henderson, CEO, The Write Image Consulting, LLC

Known by many as The Author’s Midwife, Anita Henderson is the owner of The Write Image Consulting, LLC, and creator of the Write Your Life Author Coaching Program.

Her work with professionals and entrepreneurs has transformed them into proud published authors and has resulted in multiple award-winning and bestselling books, helping her clients grow their media and online visibility, speaker platforms, and industry credibility. She helps authors create compelling prose, weave engaging stories, and explain their processes and insights in a way that serves readers and draws them to want to work more closely with the author.

An eight-times published author, Anita co-founded Write Books That Sell Now, LLC, an online learning platform for aspiring and published authors. She is the creator of the Book Your Success author program, and she speaks at conferences, workshops, and associations about using book publishing as a marketing strategy

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

There are a lot of professionals writing books these days. Why is that?
When someone comes to you with a book idea, what are a few things you look for to decide if it’s a project worth taking on?
How do you help authors take their years of knowledge and experience and condense it into a book?
What’s that process like?
Writing seems like the hard part of book publishing. What are some common areas authors neglect when writing a great book?
Self-publishing has become very popular these days. How can professionals use book publishing to profit in their business or career?
What advice do you have for someone considering publishing their own book?

John Fitzpatrick, Force Marketing

March 11, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

John Fitzpatrick, Force Marketing

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John Fitzpatrick, Force Marketing (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 336)

John Fitzpatrick joined host John Ray to discuss how Force Marketing is transforming the brand-to-consumer buying experience in the automotive market. Fulton Business Radio” is produced virtually from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta.

Force Marketing

Force and its family of brands deliver a complete front-to-back consumer lifecycle marketing solution. They are changing the way the auto industry connects with consumers: not just changing how to reach consumers through personalized messaging, but changing the way consumers shop and then buy. They are introducing dealers and consumers to a new kind of marketing.

Force creates unique experiences through a specialized mix of omnichannel messaging.

Through their tech-driven products and solutions, it’s their mission to transform the brand-to-consumer buying experience.

Company Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

John Fitzpatrick, President and CEO, Force Marketing

John Fitzpatrick co-founded Force Marketing in 2007, and since then, has led the company to become the leading provider of ROI-driven and tech-enabled multi-channel automotive marketing services to clients throughout North America. Its clients include large dealer groups, Tier II ad associations, and OEMs.

Today, he leads a team of more than 100 marketing professionals in Force Marketing’s Atlanta headquarters. The company also has a New York City office on Madison Avenue, to which Fitzpatrick often travels.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Tell us more about Force Marketing, and why you created this company.
Have you always been interested in the automotive world?
You recently made an acquisition with another automotive tech company in Houston. Tell us about this.
What are the benefits to your company and employees as a result of this acquisition?
How important is work culture at Force Marketing?
How has your business been impacted by the pandemic?
What does the future hold for Force Marketing? Any more acquisitions?
Anything to add?

The Best Advice I’ve Ever Heard on Listening, with Dr. Bill Lampton, “The Biz Communication Guy”

March 11, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The Best Advice I've Ever Heard on Listening, with Dr. Bill Lampton, "The Biz Communication Guy"

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The Best Advice I’ve Ever Heard on Listening, with Dr. Bill Lampton, “The Biz Communication Guy”

Bill Lampton: [00:00:00] The best advice I’ve heard on listening comes from Stephen Covey. I’m sure many of our listeners have read his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. And I love Chapter 5, which he begins with a statement, “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” Now, John, most of us want to say, “Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I want people to understand me first.” But that’s not how it’s most effective.

Bill Lampton: [00:00:29] And I’ll give you very quickly the five levels of listening that Covey identifies. Number one is ignoring. You know, you’re talking with someone and they got this glassy eyed stare and you know their thoughts are elsewhere. Secondly, pretending. Okay, somebody is talking to us and we’re giving them eye contact and we’re nodding our head. But, John, you’re thinking problem, “Wait a minute. What was it my wife said for me to pick up on the way home from the grocery? Was it milk and bread or what was it?” So, you’re pretending.

Bill Lampton: [00:01:05] The next level is selective listening. Think of the times that an employee is in a performance appraisal interview. And during the first part of the interview, the supervisor tells them all the great things they’ve accomplished that year. They’re listening intently. But then, the supervisor would say, “Now, Bill, we’ve also got some problems we need to work on. Some things you need to improve.” I get into selective listening. Not listening nearly as attentively. The fourth step up the ladder of listening is attentive listening. This means that we really are getting the words and the meaning.

Bill Lampton: [00:01:46] But the fifth level, the highest level which Covey recommends, and you and I and every business person knows how valuable this is, is empathic listening. Empathic listening means we not only know the words, but we get the feelings, and we listen, and we ask questions until we make sure that we understand the person’s content and their intent as well.

Dr. Bill Lampton, “The Biz Communication Guy,” Championship Communication

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., known as the “Biz Communication Guy,” taught Speech Communication at the University of Georgia, then spent two decades in management at the vice presidential level. In 1997, he became a professional speaker, communication consultant and coach, helping leaders and corporations with management, sales, customer service, crisis communication, video production and presentation skills. His top-tier client list includes the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Missouri Bar, University of Georgia Athletic Association, Environmental Protection Agency and Gillette.

His company, Championship Communication, operates from Gainesville, Georgia.

Dr. Lampton is also co-host of “North Georgia Business Radio,” produced in the North Georgia studio of Business RadioX®.

Listen to Bill’s full North Fulton Business Radio interview here.

The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.