Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge

Frederick Dudek (Freddy D)
  • 5.0 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Running a service-based business is hard. Most owners — in the trades or professional services — struggle with the same problems: - How do I get more of the right clients without spending more on marketing? - How do I find, keep, and motivate great people? - How do I stop being the bottleneck in my own business? - How do I fix my broken systems and get my time back? - How do I raise profitability when costs keep rising? - How do I use AI without feeling overwhelmed? If you’ve asked yourself any of these, this show is your missing playbook. Each episode reveals how to align People, Processes & Profitability so you can scale smarter, lead stronger, and build a business that runs with consistency, clarity, and sustainable profit — not chaos.

 As the author of Creating Business Superfans®, your host L. Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) delivers lively conversations with global founders, CEOs, sales and marketing leaders, culture architects, and SaaS + AI innovators — plus solo episodes where he breaks down the playbooks, mindsets, and systems service-based entrepreneurs need most.

 These insights help you turn your team, clients, and partners into unstoppable advocates — what Freddy D calls Business Superfans® (think sports-team superfans): your ultimate growth engine. Freddy D has lived the climb. After leaving home at 17 and working multiple jobs to finish high school, he rose from draftsman to global sales and marketing director in the emerging CAD/CAM industry, helping grow a software platform from zero to millions. In 2023, he added $1 million in revenue to a 30-year-old service business and positioned it for a successful acquisition.

 Tired of brainstorming by yourself? Join Entrepreneur Prosperity™—a free-to-join Skool community for service-based entrepreneurs who want clarity, support, collaboration, and a proven path to sustainable growth. Join today! Get Frederick’s book at https://linkly.link/2GEYI Join Entrepreneur Prosperity™ at https://linkly.link/2KjG3 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

  1. Company Culture Alignment: Designing Teams That Actually Fit Your Culture with Matthew Person | Ep. 164

    17H AGO

    Company Culture Alignment: Designing Teams That Actually Fit Your Culture with Matthew Person | Ep. 164

    Episode 164 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Company culture alignment is the difference between a team rowing in chaos and a crew gliding to victory. In Episode 164, Matthew Person, founder of Town Square Advisors and author of The Culture of Alignment, breaks down his Square Management System for designing culture with intention instead of copying “best places to work.” You’ll hear why so many hires fail within 18 months, how misalignment poisons morale and performance, and why there’s no such thing as a bad employee—only a bad fit. Matthew shows leaders how to define identity, instruction, intercommunication, and feedback so employees know exactly where they have freedom and where they have constraints. If you want superfan employees who proudly promote your brand, not quietly update their résumés, this episode gives you a concrete playbook for company culture alignment that actually scales. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge Key Takeaways Company culture alignment beats “best place to work” copycatting Matthew explains why imitating award-winning cultures often backfires and how to design a culture that fits your business realities.The Square Management System: four sides that define your cultureIdentity, Instruction, Intercommunication, and Information Feedback form a “square” that sets clear boundaries and freedoms for every role.Constrained independence: your secret weapon for speed and trust When employees know exactly where they can make decisions, you get faster execution, higher trust, and far fewer “Dad, can I?” approvals.Not a bad culture—just a misaligned culture Most problems aren’t about “toxic” people; they’re about people whose decision-making style doesn’t match the company’s constraints.Why onboarding is game day, not a warm-up Culture is cemented by how you onboard, train, and transfer knowledge—if you wing it, employees create their own unofficial standards.Culture in M&A: do the squares even overlap? Matthew shares how he’s used company culture alignment as a decisive factor to walk away from deals that would have wrecked both teams.Employees as superfans and brand evangelists When people fit the square, they brag about your company the way sports fans brag about their team—recruiting great talent for free.Leaders must have the courage to let misaligned stars go Keeping a high-performing but toxic “all-star” tells everyone the culture square doesn’t actually matter—and the locker room rots from within. Join the Entrepreneur Prosperity™ Skool Community for Free Guest BioMatthew Person is the founder of Town Square Advisors and creator of the Square Management System, a practical framework for company culture alignment in middle-market businesses. With a background spanning pro sports operations, investment banking, corporate development, and private equity portfolio companies, Matthew has seen the good, bad, and ugly of culture firsthand. He now helps leaders design aligned organizations that scale without losing their soul. Ninja Prospecting...

    43 min
  2. Stop Marketing to Everyone: Define Your Category and Dominate Your Market | Mark Donnigan | Ep. 163

    3D AGO

    Stop Marketing to Everyone: Define Your Category and Dominate Your Market | Mark Donnigan | Ep. 163

    Episode 163 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Growth stage marketing with Mark Donnigan is a masterclass in turning service-first value into deal-flow and category design into competitive moats. Mark shares why leading with genuine help attracts the right buyers and accelerates pipeline, even when not everyone is a fit—because serving is the best net for leads and loyalty. Listeners get real talk on sales–marketing alignment, buyer empathy, and messaging that lands “on the tip of the tongue” before the sales call. You’ll hear how lunch-and-learns, handwritten notes, and human-to-human selling still win in a digital world, plus why clear POVs like “a thousand songs in your pocket” beat feature lists every time. Expect play-by-play tactics you can run this week to build superfans, compress sales cycles, and own your category narrative. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge Key TakeawaysServe-first pipeline: “When you serve…people respond”—not all become customers, but it’s the best net for leads and pipeline. Sales–marketing alignment wins: Put positioning on buyers’ tongues before the meeting; it won’t make selling “easy,” but it makes it easier. Category design = fan magnet: Define who you’re for and the problem you solve so your market says, “Where have you been all my life?” H2H > B2B: People buy emotionally and justify logically; optimize for human-to-human trust, not just specs. Old-school still scores: Lunch-and-learns and handwritten outreach cut through inbox noise and open doors. Messaging that scores points: Outcomes beat features—think “a thousand songs in your pocket” over “128 MB.” Superfans compress cycles: Referrals from advocates can turn complex deals into 30-minute closes. Thought leadership ≠ vanity: Contribute useful POV to buyer conversations; help them make sense of AI and inflection points. Join the Entrepreneur Prosperity™ Skool Community for Free Guest BioMark Donnigan, founder of GrowthStage Marketing, helps technology companies craft category-defining messaging, align sales and marketing, and convert value-led content into revenue. He’s sold and represented video tech used by household-name streamers and now guides B2B teams to build pipeline with serve-first marketing, practical thought leadership, and superfan ecosystems. Explore his free resources at growthstage.marketing. Mailbox Superfans Ninja Prospecting Freddy D’s TakeMark plays the game like a seasoned point guard—seeing lanes before they open. His insistence on buyer empathy and field-time with sales turns marketing from highlight reel to scoreboard impact. The big unlock is category design: when your POV is tight, the right fans self-select, advocacy snowballs, and the middle of the funnel shrinks. I love his embrace

    37 min
  3. Performance Marketing Mastery: Jake Tlapek on DSPs, TikTok SEO & Conversions | Ep. 162

    NOV 4

    Performance Marketing Mastery: Jake Tlapek on DSPs, TikTok SEO & Conversions | Ep. 162

    Episode 162 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Performance marketing takes center court as Jake Tlapek of Finch breaks down demand-side platforms (DSPs), TikTok SEO, and conversion optimization playbooks that win customers on every channel. He shares his journey from Air Force IT to agency leader and founder-creator, including how posting twice daily sparked 100K+ TikTok followers and a steady stream of leads. You’ll learn why DSPs let brands place ads where buyers actually are—from Hulu to digital billboards—without juggling a dozen dashboards, plus why search isn’t dying, it’s moving (hello, Reddit, Pinterest, and TikTok). Jake caps it with two slam-dunk case studies: a landscaper scaling from 3 to 9 crews and a simple button-color change that 5x’d conversions. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge FREE 30/Min Prosperity Pathway™ Business Growth Discover Call Key Takeaways:DSP dominance: Use demand-side platforms to reach buyers across Hulu, Pandora, podcasts, and digital signage—meet fans where they play. TikTok SEO is real: Search is shifting—1 in 4 TikTok sessions starts with a search; optimize captions, hooks, and on-screen text. Founder-led content wins: Twice-daily posting built Jake’s 100K+ audience and inbound pipeline. Consistency > complexity. Conversions are a game of inches: A button color change lifted a landing page from ~1.2% to 6.5%—micro-tweaks, macro-results. Messaging mismatch kills deals: Most sites speak to the owner, not the customer—rewrite copy to the buyer’s “benefit of the benefit.” Search isn’t dead—just moved: Blend SEO + social search (Reddit, Pinterest, TikTok) to capture intent beyond Google. ROAS that scales: Finch’s DSP programs target money-in/money-out efficiency, with cited 17x ROAS examples. People over pixels: AI is the cream in the Oreo—useful in the middle, but humans bookend the brand experience. Mailbox Superfans Ninja Prospecting Guest Bio:Jake Tlapek is a performance marketing strategist at Finch, known for DSP-driven omnichannel campaigns and no-fluff SEO + CRO execution. He grew a 100K+ TikTok audience by posting twice daily and turns that attention into qualified demand. His wins range from doubling crews for a Chicagoland landscaper to 5x conversion lifts with surgical UX tweaks. Freddy D's TakeJake plays full-court press on performance marketing—open lanes via DSP buys, fast breaks via TikTok SEO, and high-percentage shots with on-page conversion. His stance that “search moves” reframes strategy: build content for platforms where your buyer already searches, then use DSPs to...

    40 min
  4. Thanking to Grow: Turn November Gratitude into a Year-Round Referral Machine | Ep 161

    NOV 3

    Thanking to Grow: Turn November Gratitude into a Year-Round Referral Machine | Ep 161

    161 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) n this episode of Business Superfans®, Freddy D Take dives into the power of gratitude marketing—how saying “thank you” can transform your business ecosystem into a community of loyal superfans. Using real-world service examples, Freddy breaks down how appreciation emails, anniversary cards, and automated check-ins can drive referrals, retention, and revenue. Discover how gratitude isn’t just good manners—it’s a competitive advantage that fuels growth and connection in every direction. November’s not just for Thanksgiving—it’s your month to thank and grow. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge FREE 30/Min Prosperity Pathway™ Business Growth Discover Call Key TakeawaysGratitude = Growth: Saying thank you strategically keeps you top of mind and builds loyalty that competitors can’t touch.Differentiate with Appreciation: Sending a “thank you for the opportunity” sets you apart before the contract is even signed.Story Marketing with Photos: Before-and-after project images turn clients into brand storytellers—free word-of-mouth power.Automate Thoughtfulness: Schedule follow-ups at 1, 6, and 12 months to show you care—without adding to your workload.Birthday Surprise Effect: A simple birthday card from a contractor can create lasting buzz and emotional connection.From Referrals to Introductions: Gratitude nurtures warm introductions that shorten sales cycles and boost conversions. Mailbox Superfans Ninja Prospecting Guest BioFreddy D (Frederick Dudek) is the founder of Business Superfans®, a global authority on ecosystem-driven growth. A bestselling author of Creating Business Superfans, Freddy helps service businesses turn their teams, clients, and partners into loyal promoters who drive sustainable success. Freddy D's TakeFreddy D reminds us that championship teams win with fundamentals—and in business, gratitude is the ultimate fundamental. By transforming “thank you” from a formality into a growth system, service providers can build powerful ecosystems where every touchpoint—client, employee, partner—feels valued. This is exactly the type of strategy Freddy coaches inside the SUPERFANS Framework™ within his Prosperity Pathway™ coaching. When businesses lead with appreciation, they activate emotional loyalty that no discount or ad campaign can match. The playbook? Gratitude, automation, and storytelling—your winning trio for 2026. This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. One ActionThe Action: Send personalized thank-you notes this week. Who: Clients, employees, suppliers, and partners. Why: Gratitude strengthens relationships and sparks repeat business. How: Write 3 heartfelt thank-you messages.Automate one follow-up in 30 days.Capture a story or photo to share.Recognize a team member publicly.Repeat monthly. Copyright 2025 Prosperous Ventures, LLC This podcast uses...

    9 min
  5. B2B Marketing: How Richard Levy Wins the 95% Out-of-Market | Ep. 160

    OCT 31

    B2B Marketing: How Richard Levy Wins the 95% Out-of-Market | Ep. 160

    Episode 160 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) B2B marketing with Richard Levy centers on aligning sales and marketing to win today’s 5% in-market buyers while educating the 95% who aren’t ready yet. In this episode, Richard shares 25 years of lessons—from Santander’s graduate scheme to leading Sophera Marketing—on building demand without racing to discounts. You’ll hear why thought-leadership newsletters outperform hard sells, how to use global cultural nuance in messaging, and why AI is a true business revolution to embrace—not fear. He explains “market in the gap” thinking, anti-discounting discipline, and the power of warm introductions to create lifelong superfans and compounding referrals. If you want practical B2B marketing that compounds trust, this conversation gives you the frameworks and field examples to get started now. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: https://linkly.link/2HjPO Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge FREE 30/Min Prosperity Pathway™ Business Growth Discover Call Key TakeawaysSales–marketing alignment: Use field feedback to shape messaging and offers so both teams pursue the same ICP. Win the 95%: Create consistent, helpful content for out-of-market buyers; save hard sells for in-market moments. “Market in the gap”: Validate demand before building; a gap may exist simply because nobody wants it. Thought-leadership newsletter: One BIG monthly question, zero pitching, long-term trust > short-term clicks. Anti-discounting stance: Discounts pull demand forward, crush margins, and train buyers to wait. Hold the line. Global marketing nuance: Adapt tone to culture (e.g., UK indirect vs. Dutch direct) while keeping fundamentals constant. Embrace AI: Treat it like the internet shift—learn it, pilot it, and lead the pivot. Introductions > referrals: Warm intros collapse sales cycles and transfer trust instantly. Mailbox Superfans Guest BioRichard Levy is a marketing consultant and mentor at Sophera Marketing with 25+ years in B2C and B2B. He began on Santander’s UK marketing graduate scheme and now guides SMEs globally on strategy, measurement, and executive mentorship. Richard is known for his “95% out-of-market” approach, anti-discounting discipline, and a no-pitch monthly newsletter that compounds trust. Ninja Prospecting Freddy D’s TakeRichard’s operating system is pragmatic: align sales and marketing, respect buying timing, and earn future demand with useful ideas. His “95% not in market” lens reframes content from lead-grabs to trust-building—exactly what turns ecosystems into business superfans who advocate long after the campaign ends. Global examples reinforce that fundamentals travel, but tone must flex by...

    41 min
  6. Trust in Leadership: How Adam Malone Sustains High Performance | Ep. 159

    OCT 28

    Trust in Leadership: How Adam Malone Sustains High Performance | Ep. 159

    Episode 159 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Trust in leadership drives everything—and Adam Malone explains why it’s the linchpin of sustained high performance. In this episode, Adam breaks down a practical, three-part trust model—empathy, authenticity, and performance—and shows leaders how to inspire reciprocal trust so teams truly operate with autonomy, speed, and accountability. You’ll hear how “window-and-mirror” leadership creates superfans on your team, why trust is contextual (not universal), and how to design systems that separate inspection from curiosity to fuel long-term results. Adam also shares a real-world turnaround where empowering directors—supported by a trust-first performance cadence—transformed operations from fear to flow. If you lead people (or want them to become your loudest advocates), this conversation gives you the playbook to build trust that lasts beyond the next sprint. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: https://linkly.link/2HYZD Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge FREE 30/Min Prosperity Pathway™ Business Growth Discover Call Mailbox Superfans Ninja Prospecting Key TakeawaysTrust = Empathy, Authenticity, Performance: Adam’s three-part model clarifies what to grow—and measure—for sustained results. Reciprocity beats “I empowered you”: Leaders must also inspire teams to trust them, or “empowerment” turns into CC-everything fear. Window in wins, mirror in losses: Protect the team when it’s hard; share credit when it’s good—trust skyrockets. Trust is contextual: You can trust someone with secrets—but not your kids. Design roles and guardrails accordingly. Systems over heroes: Build processes that allow empowered execution and visible inspection—without fear. Recognition creates superfans: Publicly celebrate individuals; the whole team’s belief and momentum compound. Curiosity + inspection, not either/or: Separate idea-time from plan commitments to unlock innovation without sacrificing delivery. Guest BioAdam Malone is an operations and supply-chain executive turned leadership consultant focused on building trust-driven, high-performance cultures that last. After exiting corporate in May 2024, Adam now helps leadership teams operationalize empathy, authenticity, and performance to scale sustainably—without fear-based management. Connect with him on LinkedIn at “Adam Malone Speaks.” This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Freddy D’s TakeAdam’s trust framework maps directly to ecosystem performance: when leaders model empathy and authenticity, teams self-correct and execute at pace—no micromanaging required. I loved his “window in wins, mirror in losses” approach; it’s exactly how you convert employees into superfans who’ll “walk through glass” for the mission.

    37 min
  7. Employee Empowerment: Jon Grannis & Bob Chonka Build Cultures Fueling Growth | Ep. 158

    OCT 25

    Employee Empowerment: Jon Grannis & Bob Chonka Build Cultures Fueling Growth | Ep. 158

    Episode 158 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Employee empowerment takes center stage as Sollah leaders Jon Grannis and Bob Chonka reveal how to turn training into behavior change and build superfan cultures. They unpack their E+I=C formula—Emotion + Information = Communication—and explain why “dramatic edutainment” outperforms lecture-style compliance courses. You’ll hear real stories: a major automaker whose teams started raving about sexual-harassment training, and a lean HR group that delivered ~500 sessions using facilitator-ready assets. We dig into microlearning, consistency of messaging, recognition that reduces turnover, and leading teams to respond—not react. If you want employees, contractors, and partners advocating for your brand like sports fans, this is your playbook for culture, retention, and results. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: https://linkly.link/2HVbD Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge FREE 30/Min Prosperity Pathway™ Business Growth Discover Call Mailbox Superfans Ninja Prospecting Key Takeaways:Employee empowerment beats compliance — Empowered teams make better decisions and excel when trusted and equipped. E+I=C training formula — Lead with emotion, layer information, achieve real communication that changes behavior. Dramatic edutainment works — Hollywood-level scenarios create engagement that boring lectures can’t match. Microlearning + consistent messaging — Short, consistent communications empower faster understanding and action. Recognition drives retention — Small gestures of appreciation and flexibility spark culture shifts and advocacy. Leadership: respond vs. react — Redirection and facilitation boost performance more than top-down commands. Case study—automaker turnaround — Engaging harassment training created internal buzz and voluntary promotion. Case study—500 sessions at scale — Facilitator-ready assets helped green trainers deliver hundreds of classes. Guest Bio:Jon Grannis is a training-industry veteran who began in the early 1990s and co-built Sollah’s high-impact content library to help employees maximize potential through facilitator-ready programs and microlearning. Bob Chonka entered the industry in 1989 and co-developed the E+I=C formula and “dramatic edutainment” approach that transforms compliance into culture change and advocacy. www.sollah.com This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Episode Deep Dive (Freddy D’s insights + framework)Jon and Bob show how emotion unlocks learning and how empowerment fuels advocacy. Their E+I=C framework maps perfectly to ecosystem transformation: spark emotion with cinematic scenarios, guide with clear information, and establish communication norms that stick. I loved the sports analogy—momentum and synchronization win games and workplaces. Their case studies illustrate how recognition, micro-messaging, and consistent leadership shift teams from reacting to responding. This is exactly the type of strategy I help clients implement through my SUPERFANS Framework™ in...

    40 min
  8. Beyond the Cubicle: Fun, Friendship, and Leadership in Tech Culture

    OCT 21

    Beyond the Cubicle: Fun, Friendship, and Leadership in Tech Culture

    157 Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) Freddie D dives into the pivotal relationship between leadership and culture in the tech industry, drawing from his own experiences from decades ago. He reflects on his early days in the CAD Cam field, where he learned the importance of empowering teams under the guidance of his manager, Tom. Tom's approach of fostering camaraderie through shared experiences, like happy hours and group outings, created a strong culture of teamwork and appreciation. Freddie emphasizes that great leadership involves setting clear missions and then stepping back to let team members thrive, often leading to unexpected achievements. The episode serves as a reminder that empowering individuals can turn them into super fans of both the leader and the organization. Discover more with our detailed show notes and exclusive content by visiting: https://bit.ly/43OpIwY Kindly Consider Supporting Our Show: Support Business Superfans®: The Service Providers Edge FREE 30/Min Prosperity Pathway™ Business Growth Discover Call Mailbox Superfans Ninja Prospecting This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Takeaways: Empowering leadership creates a culture where team members become invested in their work and the company. Building camaraderie through social events, like happy hours, strengthens team bonds and enhances productivity. Recognizing team efforts, especially during challenging times, fosters loyalty and motivates employees to go the extra mile. Successful leadership involves setting clear goals, providing support, and then stepping back to let the team excel. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

    10 min
See All (164)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Running a service-based business is hard. Most owners — in the trades or professional services — struggle with the same problems: - How do I get more of the right clients without spending more on marketing? - How do I find, keep, and motivate great people? - How do I stop being the bottleneck in my own business? - How do I fix my broken systems and get my time back? - How do I raise profitability when costs keep rising? - How do I use AI without feeling overwhelmed? If you’ve asked yourself any of these, this show is your missing playbook. Each episode reveals how to align People, Processes & Profitability so you can scale smarter, lead stronger, and build a business that runs with consistency, clarity, and sustainable profit — not chaos.

 As the author of Creating Business Superfans®, your host L. Frederick Dudek (Freddy D) delivers lively conversations with global founders, CEOs, sales and marketing leaders, culture architects, and SaaS + AI innovators — plus solo episodes where he breaks down the playbooks, mindsets, and systems service-based entrepreneurs need most.

 These insights help you turn your team, clients, and partners into unstoppable advocates — what Freddy D calls Business Superfans® (think sports-team superfans): your ultimate growth engine. Freddy D has lived the climb. After leaving home at 17 and working multiple jobs to finish high school, he rose from draftsman to global sales and marketing director in the emerging CAD/CAM industry, helping grow a software platform from zero to millions. In 2023, he added $1 million in revenue to a 30-year-old service business and positioned it for a successful acquisition.

 Tired of brainstorming by yourself? Join Entrepreneur Prosperity™—a free-to-join Skool community for service-based entrepreneurs who want clarity, support, collaboration, and a proven path to sustainable growth. Join today! Get Frederick’s book at https://linkly.link/2GEYI Join Entrepreneur Prosperity™ at https://linkly.link/2KjG3 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Information