Systems Simplified

Adi Klevit
  • 4.4 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Daily

This is the Systems Simplified podcast where we feature top leaders who share stories on how to successfully systematize a business.

  1. 2h ago

    How to Use AI to Scale Your Business Without Losing the Human Touch With Adam O'Connor

    In This Episode Can artificial intelligence help businesses grow faster without sacrificing the personal relationships that make them successful? As AI becomes increasingly integrated into sales, customer service, and daily operations, business owners face an important challenge: determining which activities should be automated and which require human involvement. While AI offers significant opportunities to improve efficiency, implementing technology without clear processes or proper oversight can create new problems rather than solve existing ones. Adam O'Connor believes AI should strengthen human capabilities rather than replace them. Drawing from more than two decades of sales leadership and business growth experience, Adam explains how organizations can combine technology, operational discipline, and meaningful customer relationships to achieve sustainable results. He emphasizes that AI is only as effective as the processes supporting it. When companies automate inefficient workflows, they risk making mistakes faster and damaging customer relationships. Adam also shares why successful growth depends on choosing the right customers, building trust, delivering consistent results, and recognizing when a business opportunity is not the right fit. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Adam O'Connor, Chief Revenue Officer at Connectis, to discuss how AI is transforming business operations, customer experiences, and revenue growth strategies. Adam shares lessons from helping scale a company to approximately 8,000 employees and explains how he uses AI to improve sales preparation, customer research, and operational efficiency. Adi explores the importance of documenting workflows before implementing automation, identifying high-impact opportunities, and defining the responsibilities of employees when reviewing AI-generated information. Together, they discuss how businesses can use AI responsibly while preserving human judgment, accountability, and the relationships that support long-term success.

  2. 2d ago

    Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Mentorship and Business Education With Monica Smiley

    In This Episode What does it take to build an organization that empowers women entrepreneurs across generations and around the world? For many women business owners, access to education, mentorship, recognition, and meaningful professional connections can make a significant difference in their entrepreneurial journeys. Yet these opportunities are not always readily available, particularly for young women and entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Creating lasting change requires more than recognizing success. It requires building programs and support networks that help women develop the knowledge, confidence, and relationships needed to pursue their goals. Monica Smiley has spent more than two decades creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs through Enterprising Women magazine and the Enterprising Women Foundation. What began as a publication dedicated to sharing the stories of successful women business owners has expanded into an international network of recognition, education, and mentorship programs. Monica explains how the Young Enterprising Women program introduces high school students to financial literacy, STEM careers, and successful women leaders, while Peace Through Business provides established entrepreneurs with practical business training and mentorship. She also shares how these initiatives continue to evolve through strategic partnerships, volunteer involvement, and a commitment to helping women create economic opportunities for themselves and their communities. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women and President and Founder of the Enterprising Women Foundation, to discuss the power of mentorship, entrepreneurship education, and purpose-driven leadership. Monica shares how she launched Enterprising Women, developed its annual awards program, and expanded the organization's impact through educational initiatives serving women around the world. Adi brings her perspective as an Enterprising Women of the Year award recipient, advisory board member, and Entrepreneurs of Purpose participant, highlighting the value of meaningful connections and community involvement. Together, they explore how structured educational programs, strong partnerships, and supportive networks help women entrepreneurs build businesses, develop leadership capabilities, and create lasting legacies.

  3. 2d ago

    How to Build a Business That Runs Without You With Michelle Coors

    In This Episode How can business owners build a company that delivers consistent results without requiring their involvement in every decision? Many entrepreneurs start businesses because they want independence, flexibility, and the opportunity to make a difference. Yet as their companies grow, they often become overwhelmed by daily responsibilities, employee questions, and operational challenges. Creating a successful business requires more than hard work. It takes a strong team, a supportive company culture, and reliable systems that allow employees to perform their responsibilities confidently. Michelle Coors understands the importance of combining people-focused leadership with practical business processes. After spending 25 years as an educator, she joined her family's remodeling company and applied her communication and relationship-building skills to business development and team leadership. Michelle believes that successful operations begin with hiring employees who share the company's values, providing clear process documentation, and training team members to follow established procedures. She also emphasizes the importance of regular communication and accountability to ensure processes remain effective. By building a dependable team and resisting the temptation to micromanage, business owners can reduce their involvement in daily operations and create more opportunities to focus on meaningful business growth. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Michelle Coors, business development leader at Coors Remodeling, to discuss how strong company culture, documented processes, and intentional leadership contribute to business success. Michelle shares her transition from education to entrepreneurship, explains how her company maintains a welcoming, family-oriented environment, and describes the systems that help employees deliver consistent customer experiences. Adi explores the importance of process adoption, employee accountability, and recognizing when business owners become operational bottlenecks. Together, they discuss how entrepreneurs can develop trustworthy teams, step away from unnecessary daily involvement, and create the freedom to pursue their passions while continuing to grow their businesses.

  4. Nov 6

    Achieving Operational Excellence Through Better Systems and Processes With Merlin Huff

    In This Episode How can business owners create systems and processes that improve efficiency without restricting employees' creativity or independence? Many entrepreneurs recognize the importance of documenting procedures, but worry that too much structure will create unnecessary bureaucracy or limit their team's ability to think independently. Others invest time developing processes only to discover that employees aren't following them. What if the problem isn't the idea of having processes, but how those processes are designed and implemented? According to Merlin Huff, operational excellence begins with understanding the outcome a business wants to achieve and creating a practical roadmap for getting there. Drawing from his experience in entrepreneurship, systems design, and theater, Merlin explains why effective processes should serve the people using them rather than force employees into rigid ways of working. He compares business processes to theatrical scripts, which provide a consistent foundation while allowing performers to bring their own creativity and expertise to the experience. Merlin also emphasizes that processes should be lightweight, adaptable, and continuously improved through feedback from the people responsible for executing them. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Merlin Huff, entrepreneur, integrator, and business systems expert, to discuss how thoughtful process design supports operational excellence and scalable business growth. Merlin shares how his background in acting and philosophy influences his approach to systems thinking, explains why processes should focus on outcomes rather than excessive documentation, and demonstrates how employee involvement leads to better implementation. Adi expands on these ideas with examples from her experience helping companies document and optimize processes, exploring how repeatable systems reduce the need to reinvent solutions, preserve operational consistency, and allow employees to focus on higher-value work. Together, they discuss how businesses can build practical processes that employees understand, use, and continuously improve.

  5. Nov 5

    Why Business Fundamentals Matter More Than Ever in the Age of AI With Lewis Schiff

    In This Episode Are you spending so much time handling the urgent demands of your business that you never get around to preparing for its future? Business owners often find themselves caught between managing daily operations and developing the skills, systems, and strategies needed for long-term growth. With artificial intelligence introducing new opportunities and expectations, it can be tempting to search for faster solutions. But what happens when the fundamentals of running a successful business get overlooked? Lewis Schiff believes that sustainable business growth requires entrepreneurs to balance immediate responsibilities with long-term strategic thinking. Through his book Swimming Lessons for Clayton, he explores the challenges of a business owner who must learn to recognize hidden risks, develop new capabilities, and make decisions that will shape the company's future. Lewis also explains why AI, despite its potential to improve productivity, cannot replace sound judgment, effective leadership, and disciplined execution. While technology can help businesses work more efficiently, lasting success still depends on strong operations, clear communication, and the ability to consistently deliver value. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Lewis Schiff, Chairman of Birthing of Giants and author of Swimming Lessons for Clayton, to discuss how entrepreneurs can strengthen their businesses while navigating technological change. Lewis shares the inspiration behind his new book, explains how AI is influencing business owners' expectations and decision-making, and discusses why operational excellence remains essential for building company value. Adi connects these insights to her work helping businesses document processes, preserve institutional knowledge, and implement effective workflows. Together, they explore how business owners can use AI thoughtfully, balance strategic planning with daily execution, and build more resilient, scalable companies.

  6. Nov 4

    How to Get Your Business Found on ChatGPT and AI Search With John Corcoran

    In This Episode How can entrepreneurs keep their businesses competitive when artificial intelligence is changing the way companies operate, deliver services, and attract customers? AI tools are making it easier and less expensive to start businesses, but they are also raising customer expectations and transforming how people discover products and services. For business owners who have spent years building their brands through traditional marketing and search engine optimization, understanding how to adapt to AI search is becoming increasingly important. John Corcoran believes that AI is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs by making capabilities that were once available primarily to large organizations accessible to smaller businesses. However, he emphasizes that customers will continue to value specialized expertise and professional guidance. As businesses adopt new technologies, their competitive advantage will depend on the outcomes they deliver rather than the specific tools they use. John also explains how generative engine optimization (GEO) is reshaping online visibility as potential customers increasingly turn to platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity for recommendations. By improving website structure, addressing technical issues, and publishing relevant content consistently, businesses can strengthen their chances of being discovered through AI-powered search. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by John Corcoran, Founder of Smart Business Revolution AI, to discuss entrepreneurship in the age of artificial intelligence and the evolving landscape of business marketing. John shares his experience transitioning from podcast production to AI consulting, explains how technology is lowering the barriers to starting a business, and introduces his three-part framework for improving AI search visibility. Drawing from her experience as a business owner and longtime podcast host, Adi explores how entrepreneurs can use AI without losing the value of specialized services, asks practical questions about getting businesses recommended by AI platforms, and discusses the importance of clear communication, consistent content, and adapting business strategies to changing technology.

  7. Oct 31

    Fight Less, Win More: Negotiation Strategies for Business Leaders With Jonathan Smith

    In This Episode How do you get employees, clients, and leadership teams to embrace change when they seem resistant to doing things differently? Whether you're asking someone to document a business process, commit to a quarterly goal, or adopt a new procedure, getting people on board can be one of the biggest challenges of running a business. But what if the key to overcoming resistance isn't convincing people to agree with you, but helping them feel heard? Effective negotiation isn't limited to sales conversations or high-stakes business deals. According to Jonathan Smith, negotiation happens anytime someone wants or needs something from another person. By using tactical empathy, calibrated questions, and active listening, business leaders can uncover the real reasons behind resistance and create more productive conversations. Jonathan emphasizes that successful process implementation requires more than documenting procedures. Employees need to feel involved, understand the value of the process, and have opportunities to contribute to its improvement. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Jonathan Smith, negotiation expert, Black Swan Group trainer, and author of Fight Less, Win More, to discuss how negotiation techniques can improve leadership communication and business process implementation. Adi presents practical scenarios from her work helping businesses document and implement processes, while Jonathan demonstrates how to use labeling, calibrated questions, dynamic silence, and accusation audits to overcome objections and build employee buy-in. They also explore why leading with value strengthens business relationships, how to encourage teams to follow documented procedures, and why practicing negotiation skills in everyday situations builds confidence for more challenging conversations.

  8. Oct 29

    Building a Repeatable LinkedIn Lead Generation System With Jason Osborn

    In This Episode How can you turn LinkedIn connections into meaningful business opportunities without relying on cold pitches or constantly creating content? Many business owners spend time posting on LinkedIn, sending connection requests, and reaching out to potential clients, only to struggle with generating meaningful conversations. Jason Osborn believes the key to effective LinkedIn marketing is focusing on relationships rather than immediate sales. Through his LinkedIn Reverse Podcast Method, businesses can connect with ideal prospects by inviting them to share their experiences and expertise on a podcast. This approach creates opportunities for authentic conversations, builds trust, and makes professional networking more valuable for everyone involved. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit is joined by Jason Osborn, CEO of Impact for Leads, to discuss how businesses can use LinkedIn and podcasting to create a repeatable, relationship-driven lead generation strategy. Jason explains why traditional LinkedIn outreach often fails, how the reverse podcast method works, and why shorter podcast interviews can be effective networking tools. Adi shares her own experiences as a podcast host, explores practical ways to approach ideal prospects, and discusses the importance of avoiding sales-driven conversations that undermine trust. Together, they offer practical insights into building professional relationships, developing a consistent outreach strategy, and turning genuine connections into long-term business opportunities.

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4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

This is the Systems Simplified podcast where we feature top leaders who share stories on how to successfully systematize a business.

Information

  • Creator
    Adi Klevit
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    529
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Systems Simplified

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