Better Business for Small Business Leaders

Chrissy Myers
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Better Business for Small Business is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs looking to get 1% better in their business every day. Hosted by Chrissy Myers, CEO of AUI and Clarity HR, each episode dives into real-world stories and expert insights from resilient small business owners who blend passion, purpose, and philanthropy to drive success. 

  1. Alice Rhodes Talks How Small Businesses Cut Health Insurance Costs with Self Funding

    MAR 31

    Alice Rhodes Talks How Small Businesses Cut Health Insurance Costs with Self Funding

    Send us Fan Mail Your health insurance renewal shows up, and the numbers feel unreal. The cost jumps again, nobody can clearly explain why, and you are left trying to protect your team’s benefits while your budget gets squeezed. We sit down with Alice Rhodes, VP of Benefits at AUI, to unpack the real mechanics of self-funded health insurance for small and mid-sized employers and to explain why “self-funding” is less about going it alone and more about gaining control, clarity, and options. Alice walks through what actually changes when an employer moves away from a fully insured premium and starts paying claims directly. Alice explains why claims transparency matters, how seeing your data can reveal the true cost drivers, and how employers can use that insight to shape smarter benefits and better employee education. We also dig into customization, the ability to adjust deductibles, copays, emergency room incentives, and in-network vs out-of-network design so the plan fits your workforce instead of forcing your workforce to fit the plan. If risk is your biggest concern, we make it concrete. Alice breaks down stop-loss insurance, including specific stop loss for individual high claims and aggregate stop loss to cap total plan exposure, plus the role of a third-party administrator (TPA) and a broker in handling the complexity. We also cover level-funded health plans, a popular hybrid option that keeps monthly payments predictable while still offering potential savings and better reporting. If you are tired of unexplained premium increases and want a more strategic approach to employee benefits, this conversation gives you a clear starting point. Subscribe for more practical business leadership conversations, share this with a business owner who dreads renewals, and leave a review if it helped. What is the biggest question you have about self-funding or level funding? 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    19 min
  2. How Jim Barlett Broke The $3M Ceiling With Forward-Looking Finance

    MAR 17

    How Jim Barlett Broke The $3M Ceiling With Forward-Looking Finance

    Send us Fan Mail Growth feels great until it starts to choke your cash and your calendar. We sit down with Jim Bartlett, Navy mission commander turned e-commerce founder and now Area President at Focus CFO, to unpack how owners stop firefighting and start leading with forward-looking finance. Jim’s path from scaling a sporting goods brand on early AdWords to exiting as Amazon rose gives him a rare operator’s lens on what actually moves a business past the $3M ceiling. We dig into the first habit every founder needs: a rolling 13-week cash flow forecast. Jim shows how this simple discipline, paired with a practical “DNA model” of your operations, turns instinct into insight—linking pricing, pipeline, margins, inventory, AR, and AP to real cash outcomes. He explains why many small businesses think bookkeeper plus CPA equals coverage, and where the true gap lives: strategic, proactive financial leadership. That’s the sweet spot for a fractional CFO who’s been inside operating companies, not just advising from the sidelines. From navigating cash crunch during high growth to speaking “bank” with clear risk and mitigation plans, Jim shares how operator-CFOs act like Sherpas—carrying the analytical load while helping the owner climb. We talk delegation, coachability, and the moment some leaders realize they’re the bottleneck. Jim also offers a simple 1% daily practice: calendar a non-negotiable 30-minute outreach block to keep revenue motion consistent. If you’re feeling stuck near seven figures, worried about payroll despite rising sales, or unsure how to win your bank’s confidence, this conversation gives you a roadmap. You’ll leave with concrete steps to forecast cash, tighten your cash conversion cycle, translate vision into banker-ready numbers, and free up your time to lead again. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a founder friend, and leave a quick review telling us your top cash or delegation challenge. 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    29 min
  3. Sue Grabowski's Take On Why Your Nephew Should Not Run Your Ads

    MAR 3

    Sue Grabowski's Take On Why Your Nephew Should Not Run Your Ads

    Send us Fan Mail Quit a stable job, tell your boss you’re going home, then get asked if they can become your first client—how’s that for a plot twist? We sit down with communications leader Sue Grabowski to chart a three-decade journey from magazine keylining to AI-era strategy, and the common thread is relentless clarity. Sue shares how she built an agency that outlasted trends by shifting from production work to crafting precise specifications that guide both humans and AI toward measurable outcomes. We dig into why teams waste effort without clear objectives, how “understand, plan, execute” anchors creative ambition, and what happens when leaders stop chasing the latest tool and start documenting the process. Sue explains why she now requires a yearlong commitment for social ads, how patient A/B testing compounds through retargeting, and the simple metrics that align marketing, sales, and operations so leads don’t die in the handoff. If you’ve ever blamed the channel when the real issue was your follow-up, this conversation hits home. Crisis communication takes center stage as Sue outlines a practical, fast-acting plan: define roles, set severity thresholds, craft fact-first messages, and store the playbook outside your firewall for ransomware scenarios. Employees hear first; compassion and competence drive trust. We also talk about service—board work, township leadership, and a run for state office—as an extension of the same ethos: speak clearly, act decisively, and put people first. And yes, we end with a deceptively small habit that creates a big shift in focus: ending the day with an empty sink to start the next with a clear mind. If you’re ready to trade quick fixes for durable growth, tune in. Subscribe, share this with a leader who needs a plan, and leave a review with the one process you’ll document this week. 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    29 min
  4. How Zhao Liu Went From Solo Hustle To Scalable Team

    FEB 17

    How Zhao Liu Went From Solo Hustle To Scalable Team

    Send us Fan Mail What if one smart hire could flip your business from constant scramble to controlled scale? That’s the spark behind our conversation with Zhao Liu, the operator-turned-founder of ZL Workforce, who transformed an eight-year solo grind into a data-driven, delegation-first machine after hiring a single virtual assistant. We walk through the pivotal moves: quitting corporate while running a growing product company, joining Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, and confronting the limit of doing everything alone. Zhao shares how he trained his first VA live over Zoom, then had her write the SOPs as she learned, turning messy reality into usable playbooks. From there, he explains the systems that make offshoring work for small business: rigorous vetting, background checks, role-matched evaluations, and productivity tracking that respects privacy while revealing patterns across video editors, recruiters, and client-facing roles. Culture matters just as much as process. Zhao outlines weekly optional huddles that keep distributed assistants connected, rotating prompts that build relationships, and a biannual Manila retreat that makes remote teams feel real. We also get tactical about what to delegate first—calendar, email, research, light design—and how to prevent underperformance by setting clear channels, goals, and definitions of success on day one. If letting go is hard, Zhao offers a roadmap: grant access in stages, measure outcomes, and expand trust as competence compounds. For the metrics-minded, Zhao contrasts key KPIs for B2C and B2B. Profit margin beats vanity revenue in product businesses, while capacity and productivity rule in services. His “power of one” play—raise price 1 percent, grow volume 1 percent, trim overhead 1 percent—shows how small moves compound into meaningful cash flow. Whether you’re considering your first VA or retooling a growing team, this candid guide blends real-world delegation, remote culture, and performance data you can use today. If this conversation helps you think differently about scaling with virtual assistants, subscribe, share with a founder friend, and leave a quick review to tell us what you’ll delegate first. 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    23 min
  5. Marc Lee Shannon on How Resilience and Systems Transform a Creative Career

    FEB 3

    Marc Lee Shannon on How Resilience and Systems Transform a Creative Career

    Send us Fan Mail The myth says a creative life runs on inspiration; the truth is that it runs on timing, resilience, and a reliable system. We sit down with guitarist and former VP of Sales Marc Lee Shannon to map the dirt roads that led from LA session work to corporate leadership and back to a purpose-driven creative practice. Along the way, Mark explains how he learned to read industry headwinds, pivot before ego dragged him under, and rebuild from a humbling retail job into a role leading hundreds across the Western Hemisphere. What makes Mark’s story hit harder is what lived in the shadows: a high-functioning drinking habit that traveled with him from trade shows to stages. Sobriety didn’t just clear the fog; it reset his definition of success and brought a sharp focus to the habits that protect creative energy. Mark shares his Five W’s system—Wellness, Warm-heartedness, Working, Wonder, and World—and why none of it matters unless it’s scheduled into your week. He adds a simple daily code built on equanimity, kindness, non-judgment, and generosity that keeps emotions from steering decisions and keeps relationships at the center. We also dig into team dynamics and the power of the right tribe. Mark shows how to spot collaborators who raise the room’s energy, why it’s okay to pull over and let the wrong people out of the boat, and how the three most valuable words in business might be “I was wrong.” Finally, as a certified peer recovery supporter, he talks about replacing shame with treatment, modeling recovery without preaching, and redefining “enough” as a competitive edge for leaders and artists alike. If you’re building a creative career, leading a team, or just trying to get 1% better each day, this conversation offers clear tools, honest stories, and a path you can start using today. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a pivot, and leave a quick review—what’s one W you’ll schedule this week? 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    28 min
  6. Playing The Long Game: Alicia Jarboe on Values, Community, And Sustainable Growth

    JAN 20

    Playing The Long Game: Alicia Jarboe on Values, Community, And Sustainable Growth

    Send us Fan Mail What if your best marketing isn’t marketing at all, but the way you show up when it costs you? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Alicia Jarboe, the Worcester-based realtor and nonprofit leader who proves that relationships, not transactions, build businesses that last. We dive into the practices that turn clients into community: thoughtful follow-up, handwritten cards, and client appreciation nights that feel like family gatherings. Alicia shares how transparency, like telling a seller to wait out short-term capital gains or walking away from a misaligned deal, creates trust that compounds into multi-year referrals. When rates spike and deals stall, she leans on diversification, stress-tested systems, and a simple priority framework that keeps her son and family time as non-negotiable “rocks,” while still delivering for clients. Alicia also opens up about the hard season that sparked the Jarboe Foundation: insurance shocks, a foreclosure, and the choice to build the kind of help they once needed. Now a 501c3, the foundation’s Thanksgiving project fed 173 families and partners with schools and pantries to meet real needs—coats, boots, blankets—over “nice-to-have” gifts. Looking ahead, Alicia outlines a compelling vision for a community garden and pantry integrated with their real estate work, creating year-round dignity and hands-on impact for local kids and families. Expect practical wisdom you can use today: how to say no with empathy, how to design follow-up that feels like friendship, and how to ride the market roller coaster without losing your values. If you’re ready to trade quick wins for enduring trust, and turn your business into a force for good, this conversation will give you both a blueprint and a push. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs the long game, and leave a review to help more people find the show. 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    25 min
  7. Building Unshakable and Intentional Leaders with Janet Kendall White

    JAN 6

    Building Unshakable and Intentional Leaders with Janet Kendall White

    Send us Fan Mail What if the difference between a resilient culture and a fragile one is a single intentional choice? We sit down with Janet Kendal White, author of Unshakable Leadership and founder of Berkshire Group, to unpack how real leadership moves beyond titles, clever slogans, and “crappy wall art.” From a jarring early career story to building a company that equips managers with practical tools, Janet shows why values must be defined in observable behaviors—and how to act when they’re violated. We dig into the tough calls leaders face and the ripple effects of consistency. You’ll hear a memorable integrity case—the infamous mayonnaise moment—that proves culture breaks not at grand ethical scandals, but in the small, everyday decisions. Janet explains how to align HR, IT, accounting, sales, and delivery with core values so your systems reinforce trust instead of eroding it. We explore why promoting top performers without training creates “accidental leaders,” and how simple assessments and emotional intelligence coaching help people lead themselves before they lead others. This conversation also reframes work-life balance as harmony. Seasons will tilt your time one way; intention, communication, and creativity bring you back. Janet shares practical ways to protect what matters, design policies that assume trust, and keep values alive by repeating them in meetings, stories, and decisions. Her favorite practice—becoming a learning junkie—anchors it all: ask after every interaction what could be clearer, kinder, faster, or more aligned. Promotions don’t create leaders; habits do. If you want unshakable leadership that scales with uncertainty, start with values, translate them into behaviors, align your systems, and commit to getting 1% better every day. Love conversations that turn big ideas into daily action? Follow the show, share this episode with a leader who needs it, and leave a review to help more people build cultures they can trust. 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    28 min
  8. Small Starts, Strong Bonds: Why Mutually Beneficial Partnerships Win According to Chris Canova

    10/21/2025

    Small Starts, Strong Bonds: Why Mutually Beneficial Partnerships Win According to Chris Canova

    Send us Fan Mail Collaboration only works when both sides win—and when you can prove your value every single day. That’s the lens Chris Canova brings as he walks us through how Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) scaled from a small team to 70+ staff across ten counties, serving youth, specialized populations, and now adults in manufacturing, business, and the growing polymer sector. We unpack the hard truth behind the word “collaboration”: it’s overused, under-practiced, and only becomes real through engagement, relationships, and clear mutual benefit. We dig into a practical framework leaders can use right away: meet partners where they are, invest in the relationship before the contract, and set expectations that tie results to shared goals. Chris explains why nonprofits must operate like businesses to earn trust with employers and schools, and how to avoid common traps—charity posture, misaligned incentives, and one-sided deals. Inside the organization, we talk about ending silos with intentional, face-to-face time, cross-team outcomes that demand cooperation, and simple rituals that make a growing culture feel connected. For small businesses eager to join the talent solution, we lay out a realistic starting path: be transparent about wages, schedules, and access; run a small pilot; and build from proof, not hype. Chris shares hard lessons from partnerships that went sideways and the guardrails that prevent a repeat. We also explore two big forces shaping the next five years of workforce development: engaging younger workers who crave investment and belonging, and embracing AI as a training and productivity tool that retains talent rather than scares it away. If you’re ready to build partnerships that last, strengthen your team, and turn “collaboration” from a buzzword into a competitive edge, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with your top takeaway so we can keep bringing you practical strategies that work. 🎙️ Connect with Chrissy Myers  and discover how resilience, expertise, and community can transform your world: 🔗 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes insights, leadership tips, and updates on her journey as the CEO of two thriving businesses. 📘 Grab your copy of 'Reluctantly Resilient' to learn how Chrissy turned challenges into opportunities and how you can do the same in your life and business. 🤝 Explore Clarity HR and discover how Chrissy’s team simplifies HR for small businesses, giving you peace of mind to focus on what matters most. 💼 Visit AUI to see how Chrissy's employee benefits expertise can help you build a healthier, happier workforce.

    26 min
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About

Better Business for Small Business is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs looking to get 1% better in their business every day. Hosted by Chrissy Myers, CEO of AUI and Clarity HR, each episode dives into real-world stories and expert insights from resilient small business owners who blend passion, purpose, and philanthropy to drive success. 

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