Business Mastery Podcast

Dawn Kennedy
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Business is dynamic. And everything affects you and your business. Fight with your mother-in-law? Mindset struggle? Market Changes? YUP.  So, we're going to talk about it all. No topic is off limits. The goal for every episode is to offer a new and different perspective or provide actionable strategies you can implement now. On the topics you need, to help you run the small business you love, more successfully. To master your own business and to master yourself as its leader and decision maker.Every Wednesday Dawn K. Kennedy, an attorney, author, mentor and the CEO of Convoy Road Coffee Roasters, releases a new episode for your middle of the week dose of ideas and inspiration.  In 45 minutes or less. Small bites, expert guests, big impacts. Whether you are a new or seasoned entrepreneur, this show is about all the things around making a bigger impact with your pursuit and growing into your entrepreneurial vision.

  1. 219. "Build Your Referral Pipeline" with Stacey Brown Randall

    14H AGO

    219. "Build Your Referral Pipeline" with Stacey Brown Randall

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn welcomes back Stacy Brown-Randall (previously featured in 2022 on “Generating Referrals Without Asking”) to discuss her updated work on referrals, including her second book, The Referable Client Experience. Stacy explains that referrals exist within a business “ecosystem” and outlines three foundational referral plans: generating more referrals from people who already refer you (covered in her first book), creating a referable client experience that bridges great work to referrals during the engagement (covered in her second book), and cultivating “potential referral sources” who have never referred you. She distinguishes referrals from word-of-mouth buzz, introductions, and warm leads, and argues referrals are a separate business-development leg from marketing and prospecting, driven by relationship-based trust, desire, and opportunity. She notes referrals can be built virtually and cites common stats such as ~70% close rates and 80%+ preference for recommendations in buying decisions. Who is Stacey Brown Randall, and to whom does she serve? 00:43 Referral Ecosystem Overview (01:09) Three Referral Plans (03:22) What Counts as Referral (06:16) Referrals vs Marketing (12:26) Desire Opportunity Trust (16:43) Virtual Referral Relationships (22:56) Timeline ROI Expectations (25:39) Referral Stats Close Rates (29:62) Books Links Farewell (32:15) Stacey Brown Randall’s Information: Website: https://staceybrownrandall.com/articles/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceybrandall/ Generating Business Referrals without Asking: https://generatingbusinessreferrals.com/ New Book: https://referableclientexperience.com/ Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    35 min
  2. 218. "Sales and Use Taxes" with Holly Hoffman

    APR 29

    218. "Sales and Use Taxes" with Holly Hoffman

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn Kennedy talks with Holly Hoffman (“the sales tax lady”), founder of Sales Tax Advisory Network, who serves businesses of any size and industry with sales and use tax training and guidance. Hoffman explains the difference between sales tax (seller’s liability) and use tax (purchaser’s liability) and notes audits often focus more on untaxed or undocumented purchases than on sales. They discuss state-by-state complexity, resale certificates and seller’s permits, manufacturing exemptions that vary by state, and the difficulty of determining whether services are taxable. Hoffman warns against relying on Google, AI, or non-official sites for tax rates, advising use of official Department of Revenue/Treasury lookups. They cover the Wayfair decision’s impact on interstate sales, the continued importance of physical presence nexus, increased post-COVID multistate audits and data sharing, and growing state focus on taxing digital goods. Hoffman shares she only provides audit defense in Wisconsin and can be reached at salestaxlady.com. Who is Holly Hoffman and whom does she serve? (00:52) Fear and Safe Space (02:33) Sales Tax vs Use Tax (04:49) Resale and Permits (07:45) Manufacturing Exemptions (09:24) Service Business Taxability (11:07) Retail Rates and Jurisdictions (14:38) Wayfair and Nexus Basics (19:06) Permits Across States (25:32) Audits and Digital Goods (32:24) How to Reach Holly (35:47) Holly Hoffman’s Information: Website: https://salestaxlady.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymhoffman/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hrhoffman99/videos Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salesincometax X: https://x.com/salesincometax?s=09 Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    39 min
  3. 217. “Financial Operations Architecture” with Linda Hunt

    APR 22

    217. “Financial Operations Architecture” with Linda Hunt

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn talks with financial architect Linda Hunt about “financial architecture” and why a P&L alone can hide what’s really happening in a growing business. Linda explains that many companies operate with disconnected financial pieces and misaligned workflows, causing inaccurate revenue, inventory, and cost of goods data—especially when industry-specific systems integrate poorly with accounting tools like QuickBooks. Using a multi-location medical spa example, she describes how standard costs, consistent delivery processes, and tighter financial operations reveal true profitability by offering or location and stabilize commissions. She distinguishes layers of a well-structured financial function—money operations, accounting/reporting, oversight, and strategy—and notes businesses often need fractional roles (controller/CFO/COO) plus internal ownership of key processes like invoicing. She advises owners to map delivery steps, identify financial impacts, and “nourish” operations instead of defaulting to cost-cutting, and shares how to contact her at SUMSolutions.com for a Financial Clarity Consult. In this episode... Who is Linda Hunt and whom does she served? (00:52) Why P&L Can Mislead (01:29) Profit by Offering or Location (02:20) Financial Operations Explained (03:04) Inventory and Data Lag Pitfalls (04:07) Hidden Number Feeders (06:27) Fleet Costs and Budget Assumptions (08:03) Layers of the Finance Function  (11:29) Industry Software and Workflow Fit (14:09) Standardized Delivery and Pricing (16:51) Med Spa Operational Money Touchpoints (17:55 ) Service Cost Breakdown (19:13) Pricing Meets Marketing (20:39) Map Steps to Costs (21:46) Standard Costs Fix Leaks (24:04) Why Teams Resist Standards (25:33) Fractional Finance Roles (26:58)  When to Upgrade Ops (31:22) Nourish Not Cut Costs (33:04) Where to Find Help (34:22) Linda Hunt's  Information: For a financial clarity consult:  Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    36 min
  4. 216. "Speaking to Market Your Business" with Leisa Reid

    APR 15

    216. "Speaking to Market Your Business" with Leisa Reid

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn talks with Leisa Reid, founder of GetSpeakingGigsNow.com and the author of Get Speaking Gigs Now. Dawn and Leisa talk about how you can use speaking engagements to enhance the credibility of your business.  Lisa explains that “speaking” isn’t only keynotes; it can include facilitation, workshops, and even Facebook Lives, and she shares early steps for local businesses such as leveraging chambers of commerce and addressing common questions or myths in an industry. She outlines a simple process for creating a signature talk by starting with the desired audience action step, then building around three main points. They discuss monetizing speaking through paid engagements or “waive your fee” talks that generate clients, plus the personal fulfillment and content-repurposing benefits of speaking. In this episode… Who is Leisa and whom does she serve? (0:50).  Speaking Styles Explained (01:48)   Local Speaking Ideas (2:46). Build Your Signature Talk (5:53).  Monetize Your Message (8:23).   Modern Speaking Myths(11:09).  Personal Benefits of Speaking (12:08).   Repurpose Your Content (15:26).   Leisa’s Information.  Website- https://getspeakinggigsnow.com/ Leisa’s Books-  https://getspeakinggigsnow.com/get-speaking-gigs-now-book https://getspeakinggigsnow.com/manage-to-success-book Speaker Readiness Assessment- https://getspeakinggigsnow.com/speaker-assessment Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/getspeakinggigsnow Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    18 min
  5. 215. "Payment Processing: Navigating the Financial Fast Lane" with George Csahiouni

    APR 8

    215. "Payment Processing: Navigating the Financial Fast Lane" with George Csahiouni

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn talks with George Csahiouni. With over 23 years of experience in sales to the fintech industry,  with a specialized focus on payment processing, and as a sales expert and chief revenue lead, George has been instrumental in driving sales and revenue growth for ISOs and various businesses. Dawn and George talk about payment processing costs and small-business financing In this episode… Who is George and whom does he serve? (00:59).    Processing Fees Explained  (1:19). Surcharging vs Cash Discount (4:19) Customer Pushback Factors  (6:19). Getting Better Rates (10:09).  Shopping Your Processor (15:31) Financing Market Shift (16:34).  Equipment Financing Basics (19:21) Line of Credit Strategy(23:53) Fast Cash Options (29:52) George Csahiouni’s Information. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/george-c-43277758 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgeCsahiouni/about Website: https://swoopbusinesssolutions.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swooppay/ Landline: +1 877-707-9667 Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    35 min
  6. 214. “People Problems in Disguise” with Mike Matalone

    MAR 25

    214. “People Problems in Disguise” with Mike Matalone

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn talks with Mike Matalone, founder of the XP3 Talent System and author of “Hire, Train, Retain,” about creating a “people operating system” that improves hiring, onboarding/training, daily management, and retention so other business systems execute effectively. Mike argues many business problems presented as financial, marketing, or operations issues are often people issues in disguise, and success starts with defining roles granularly (clear results, KPIs, and timeframes) rather than vague job descriptions. He emphasizes hiring for culture using mission, vision, and values, testing coachability and fit through open-ended questions and follow-up assignments, and retaining talent by identifying candidate needs, creating clear career paths, and intentionally building workplace relationships.  In this episode… Who is Mike Matone and whom does he serve? (00:48) Why People Need Systems (01:38) People Problems Disguised (04:05) Define Success Clearly (07:04) Granular Job Requirements (08:22) Roles Evolve Over Time(10:52) Success Formula KPIs Timing (11:59) Workforce Planning Backwards (13:40) 63M QuickBooks Cautionary Tale (15:36) Owner Expertise Five Pillars (18:02) Enjoyment Versus Skill Fit (23:04) Consistency Formula (25:07) Hiring for Culture (27:12) Mission Vision Values (27:20) Two-Way Interviews (29:49) Values-Based Questions (32:19) Retention Starts Hiring (34:20) Career Path Planning (36:50) Relationships Drive Retention (39:40) Book and Contact Info (42:52) Turnaround Success Story (45:09) Mike Matalone’s Information: Website: https://www.xp3talent.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-matalone-6029b87/ BOOK: "Hire, Train, Retain" Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    48 min
  7. 213. "The Science of Intuition" with James M. Powell

    MAR 18

    213. "The Science of Intuition" with James M. Powell

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn talks with James M. Powell, an expert on the science of intuition, about tapping into our intuition and using it to make better business decisions.               In this episode… Who is James M. Powell and whom does he serve? (00:57).  In everything we learn about running a business, why don’t we learn about tapping into our intuition in business school? (2:26) The meaning of “everyone is a spiritual being” (Cliff’s Notes Version). (4:12). What is intuition, where does it come from, and why do we need to have it? (7:03).  How do we know we are getting into our intuition? (9:08).  Since we have intuition as children, why do we “grow out of” using it as adults to make decisions? (12:10). To make better decisions, in what ways can we step back into our intuition? (15:23).  How can we differentiate between intellectualizing and being more intuitive? (19:16). Feel it first, then think about it, then take action. (23:11). James M. Powell's Information:  James’ Podcast Website- www.thespiritualitypodcast.com Intuition Hacks- www.thespiritualitycoach.com Facebook: https://facebook.com.james.m.powell Entre Money Coach Website: https://entremoneycoach.com/ Links and Freebies- https://entremoneycoach.com/linktree/ What Clients Say About Working with Dawn- https://entremoneycoach.com/about-dawn/ In-Depth Information, Tips, and Strategies- https://entremoneycoach.com/blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/entremoneycoach  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entremoneycoach Entre Pay Day Newsletter: Entre Pay Day | Entre Money Coach Support the show Thanks Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    29 min
  8. 212. “Small Business Cybersecurity” with George Bakalov

    MAR 11

    212. “Small Business Cybersecurity” with George Bakalov

    Send us Fan Mail Dawn Kennedy talks with George Bakalov, a cybersecurity professional and virtual CISO, and founder of Executive Solutions USA. They talk about small business “information security,” emphasizing that risk extends beyond phishing to protecting all business assets, reputation, and expanding attack surfaces across devices, cloud, and email. George explains common scenarios such as criminals hijacking domains or infrastructure to run malicious campaigns, identity-based attacks that compromise user accounts to access third-party systems, and the high recurrence rate of breaches. He recommends requesting vendor security certifications, using company-wide password managers, enabling multi-factor authentication, and running measurable employee awareness training since most attacks use email. He stresses starting with a security assessment, asset inventory, and prioritized risk-reduction plan, noting cyber insurance is increasingly standard and AI is already enabling more sophisticated attacks. In this episode…. Who is George Bakalov, and whom does he serve? (00:57) What InfoSec Covers (02:11) Universal Business Risk (04:13) Real Breach Stories (07:24) Third Parties and Identity (11:03) Password Manager Basics (14:07) MFA and Training (17:59) Too Many Security Tools (21:42) Incident Response Planning (25:03) AI and Future Threats (29:35) Where to Find George (32:52) Final Takeaways (34:66) George Bakalov's Information: Website: https://executivesolutions.us/ 10% off for initial security assessment with coupon: DAWN10 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgebakalov/ Support the show Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard and want more, please visit and subscribe: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@dawnkkennedyxo?si=DcRcjv7H0KN5_vFP Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dawnkkennedyxo Follow us in Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/dawnkkennedy For weekly in-depth articles, tips, and strategies: https://getinweredoingbusiness.substack.com  Dawn’s Website: https://dawnkkennedy.com/ Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources  Support the show SUPPORT THE SHOW Order Dawn’s book, The Profit Accelerator for Small Business ...

    36 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Business is dynamic. And everything affects you and your business. Fight with your mother-in-law? Mindset struggle? Market Changes? YUP.  So, we're going to talk about it all. No topic is off limits. The goal for every episode is to offer a new and different perspective or provide actionable strategies you can implement now. On the topics you need, to help you run the small business you love, more successfully. To master your own business and to master yourself as its leader and decision maker.Every Wednesday Dawn K. Kennedy, an attorney, author, mentor and the CEO of Convoy Road Coffee Roasters, releases a new episode for your middle of the week dose of ideas and inspiration.  In 45 minutes or less. Small bites, expert guests, big impacts. Whether you are a new or seasoned entrepreneur, this show is about all the things around making a bigger impact with your pursuit and growing into your entrepreneurial vision.

Information

  • Creator
    Dawn Kennedy
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    219
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business Mastery Podcast
  • Show Website
    Business Mastery Podcast