The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Transformation Economy by THRESHOLD

Ron Baker and Ed Kless
  • 4.8 (93)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

The Soul of Enterprise is designed to champion the insight that wealth is created by intellectual capital, a product of the inexhaustible human spirit. Wealth is above all an accumulation of possibilities. These possibilities lie hidden in the womb of the future, waiting to be discovered by human imagination, ingenuity, and creativity, manifested in free enterprises dedicated to the service of others. Tune in to The Soul of Enterprise, with Ron Baker and Ed Kless, broadcast live.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 611 - Player Piano: Kurt Vonnegut's Warning About AI

    More than 70 years before the emergence of generative AI, Kurt Vonnegut imagined a world in which machines did nearly all the work, leaving humanity to wrestle with a fundamental question: What happens when technology makes human beings seemingly unnecessary? In this episode of The Soul of Enterprise, Ron and Ed revisit Vonnegut's remarkably prescient 1952 debut novel, Player Piano, exploring its themes of automation, economic efficiency, technological progress, and the search for human purpose. How accurately did Vonnegut anticipate today's AI revolution? Does technological advancement necessarily lead to human flourishing? And what happens to creativity, dignity, and the value of human knowledge when machines can increasingly perform tasks once reserved for people? Join Ron and Ed as they examine the novel's warnings, its biting satire, and its surprising relevance to the future of work, business, and the knowledge economy. Is Player Piano a cautionary tale about the dangers of technology, or a reminder that human ingenuity will always find a way to reinvent the future?

  2. Oct 23

    Episode 610 - Pricing Update: Nobody buys effort, not even from AI

    AI is changing how companies price, but are tokens and credits bringing back the same old cost-plus mistakes? In Episode 610, Ron Baker and Ed Kless explore why customers buy a better tomorrow—and why charging for effort misses what they value. The conversation ranges from price transparency to the limits of outcome-based pricing when "outcome" means only measurable profit. Peace of mind, trust, and transformation matter, too. Ron and Ed also examine where AI can strengthen pricing decisions and why strategy, imagination, and human judgment remain essential. When everyone has AI, what will still make your offering different?

  3. Oct 16

    Episode 609 - Zero Entry: Interview with Jeff Seibert and Rob Hamilton

    What happens to the accounting profession when the data entry disappears? Ron and Ed welcome Rob Hamilton and Jeff Seibert, authors of the new book Zero Entry: The Unstoppable Forces Reshaping the Accounting Profession—and the Opportunity of a Lifetime. They explore the technological, economic, and demographic forces converging on accounting, why AI represents far more than another efficiency tool, and what firms must do to thrive as routine work is increasingly automated. Rather than predicting the demise of the accountant, Rob and Jeff make the case for something much more interesting: technology can free professionals from tedious work and elevate the distinctly human capabilities of judgment, trust, ethics, and strategic guidance. The conversation examines what the next few years could mean for firm business models, talent, technology, pricing, and the changing relationship between accountants and their customers. Is AI a threat to the profession—or the opportunity accountants have been waiting for? Guest bios Jeff Seibert is co-founder and CEO of Digits, an AI-native accounting platform. Previously Twitter's Head of Consumer Product, Jeff co-founded Crashlytics, acquired by Twitter in 2013, and Increo, acquired by Box. A Stanford computer science graduate and longtime entrepreneur and investor, he also appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. His experience building technology companies gives him a distinctive perspective on how AI will reshape accounting. Digits Rob Hamilton is Head of Partnerships & Business Development at Digits. His career spans technology, finance, and strategic partnerships, with previous roles at Amazon, Twitch, Alexa, Twitter/Gnip, FactSet, and Apple. His years working at the intersection of technology, partnerships, and the accounting profession inform Zero Entry's examination of how AI and automation are changing firms—and the opportunities those changes create.

  4. Oct 9

    Episode 608 - The Abundant Accountant - Interview with Michelle Weinstein

    In this episode, Michelle Weinstein joins Ron and Ed to challenge many of the assumptions accountants have about sales, pricing, and client relationships. They discuss why so many professionals undercharge despite delivering tremendous value, how to overcome the discomfort of selling, and why moving from compliance work to trusted advisory starts with changing your mindset. Whether you're struggling to raise your fees, attract better clients, or simply become more confident in business development, this conversation offers practical insights for building a more profitable—and more abundant—practice. Michelle Weinstein believes that technical expertise alone isn't enough to build a thriving accounting firm—you have to be able to confidently communicate your value. As founder of The Abundant Accountant and The Pitch Queen, Michelle has helped accounting professionals add millions in revenue by replacing fear-based selling with authentic, value-driven conversations. Michelle's Bio Michelle Weinstein is a seasoned entrepreneur, sales strategist, and founder of The Abundant Accountant. She helps accounting, tax, fractional CFO, and bookkeeping firm owners own their value and confidently sell high-level services without pressure or burnout. Her clients have collectively added over $38 million in additional revenue to their firms, all without working more hours, chasing more clients, or doing anything they didn't want to do.

  5. Oct 2

    Episode 607 - Beyond the Software: Rethinking Accounting Technology

    Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome John Dierkhising of Bottom Line Accounting Services and returning guest Shannon Kaiser of Summit for a conversation at the intersection of accounting, technology, and service. John brings the perspective of a practitioner who supports businesses using Sage and other accounting technologies, while Shannon brings deep experience in application hosting, cloud infrastructure, and managed services. Together, they explore how the right technology environment can remove friction, improve support, and allow firms to serve more clients without adding unnecessary complexity. Expect a practical discussion about Sage, hosting, scalability, reliability, and what accounting professionals should really be looking for from their technology partners. About John Dierkhising John Dierkhising is the owner of Bottom Line Accounting Services, a Minnesota-based firm providing accounting, bookkeeping, and financial software consulting. John and his team specialize in helping businesses get more from systems including Sage, QuickBooks, Crystal Reports, and related technologies. A longtime Sage practitioner and consultant, John brings a hands-on perspective on how accounting technology, support, and hosting can help firms operate more efficiently and serve clients at scale. About Shannon Kaiser Shannon Kaiser is General Manager of Application Hosting at Summit and a veteran technology executive with extensive experience in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, application delivery, and managed services. He has led engineering, operations, and technology teams and today focuses on helping organizations build secure, scalable technology environments that support growth while reducing operational risk. Shannon previously joined TSOE for Episode #590, "Security, Scale, and Trust."

  6. Sep 25

    Episode 606 - Adhūc Magis Magnifica Humanitas: Interview with Fr. Robert Sirico

    Ron and Ed welcome back Fr. Robert Sirico, co-founder and president emeritus of the Acton Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about human dignity, liberty, economics, and the moral foundations of a free society using the framework of Leo XIV's encyclical, Hagnifica Humanitas. Drawing on decades of work at the intersection of theology and economics, Fr. Sirico explores why the human person must remain at the center of economic life and why markets, entrepreneurship, and business are ultimately about far more than material prosperity. Along the way, they discuss the relationship between freedom and virtue, the dignity of work, the moral responsibilities of business, and the institutions necessary for human flourishing. It's a conversation that goes to the very soul of enterprise: How do we build an economy that recognizes not merely what people produce, but who they are? About Father Sirico Rev. Robert A. Sirico is co-founder and president emeritus of the Acton Institute, which promotes a free and virtuous society grounded in individual liberty and religious principles. A Catholic priest, author, speaker, and commentator, he has written extensively on economics, ethics, religion, and civil society. His work explores the moral foundations of markets and the essential place of human dignity, freedom, and responsibility in economic life.

  7. Sep 18

    Episode 605 - Free-Ridin' Ron: The Jury's Out

    What happens when there's no guest, no predetermined topic, and possibly only one host? It's time to bring back the spirit of Free-Rider Friday. With Ed potentially sidelined by jury duty, Ron raids his ever-growing stack of articles, ideas, observations, and assorted intellectual curiosities for a wide-ranging tour through whatever has captured his attention lately. Economics, business, technology, culture, pricing—and probably a few things that defy categorization—are all fair game. No agenda. No guest. No guarantee where we'll end up. Just the kind of intellectual free ride longtime listeners of The Soul of Enterprise will remember fondly.

  8. Sep 11

    Episode 604 - Remembering 9/11, Reflecting on America at 250

    Twenty-five years to the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Ron and Ed commemorate a day that changed America and changed each of us in ways both large and small. They share personal stories and memories from that time, reflecting on where they were, what they experienced, and what remains vivid a quarter-century later. Against the backdrop of America's 250th anniversary, the conversation broadens to consider the country we were then, the country we are now, and the ideals that have endured through crisis, conflict, and change. Along the way, Ron and Ed offer a few additional USA 250 reflections on liberty, citizenship, national character, and the remarkable resilience of the American experiment. A personal and contemplative episode about memory, gratitude, loss, and what it means to remember.

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4.8
out of 5
93 Ratings

About

The Soul of Enterprise is designed to champion the insight that wealth is created by intellectual capital, a product of the inexhaustible human spirit. Wealth is above all an accumulation of possibilities. These possibilities lie hidden in the womb of the future, waiting to be discovered by human imagination, ingenuity, and creativity, manifested in free enterprises dedicated to the service of others. Tune in to The Soul of Enterprise, with Ron Baker and Ed Kless, broadcast live.

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