Business Roundtable

David W. Carr
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Business Roundtable Podcast, hosted by David Carr of Steward Your Business. This engaging and informative podcast series is dedicated to helping business owners, and entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of running a successful enterprise. Each episode features David Carr and a roster of industry experts, including regular contributors like Curtis Cochran, who bring their wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, organizational health, and team building. Dive into discussions that cover a broad range of topics essential to business growth and sustainability. From strategic planning and preparation to understanding the cycles of business ownership, the podcast provides invaluable insights into evaluating, enhancing, and exiting business ownership. Listeners can expect practical advice on scaling businesses, managing finances, and creating a culture that aligns with company goals. What sets this podcast apart is its focus on actionable strategies combined with real-world experiences. The conversations often delve into the importance of providing more value than the dollars earned and the necessity of adaptability in a rapidly changing business landscape. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, the Business Roundtable Podcast is vital for staying ahead in today's competitive market. Join David Carr and his guests as they explore the art of making a business profitable but also enjoyable and sustainable. Tune in for your dose of inspiration, guidance, and tools to make 2024 and beyond a resounding success for your business ventures. Become a podcast supporter at just $2 a month at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

  1. 2d ago

    You Don't Need a Number, You Need a Life

    How much money do you actually need? Most people answer with a number. Dr. Nicholas Michels says that is backwards. Don't start with a dollar amount. Start with the life you want, then let the money serve it. Nick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional, founder of Michels Family Financial, and author of Rich by Choice. In this conversation with David Carr he gets honest about why so many people are outwardly successful and inwardly stressed, and how to close that gap. He has lived both sides. He grew up comfortable until his family went, almost overnight, from a stay at home mom of four to a single mom working three jobs. Years later he had built real wealth as a fast rising advisor and still felt his happiness lagging behind his bank account. The turning point was a hard conversation with his wife and the humility to seek mentors. From there he shares the comparison game and the rocking chair test, why happiness comes from the steps and not the destination, how to 10X your business through your unique ability, and a legacy lens that reframes what money is really for. You will walk away ready to design the life first and let the number follow. Connect with Dr. Nicholas Michels on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-e-michels Michels Family Financial: https://michelsfamilyfinancial.com Rich by Choice (free gift): https://richbychoicebook.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    46 min

  2. 4d ago

    Your Business Is 3 Decisions From Bankruptcy

    Your business is growing. That does not mean it is stable. For a lot of founders, growth quietly hides the problems that will break the company later, and you do not see it until it snaps. Tracy Holland is a founder, investor, and operator who took HatchBeauty Brands from zero to 100 million dollars, then built a live selling business to 27 million in two years and sold it. She now buys distressed companies and rebuilds them, and she has worked with more than three thousand entrepreneurs. In this conversation with David Carr she names founderitis and its symptoms, lays out the three decisions that put a business near bankruptcy, and explains why revenue can climb while the company gets weaker. Then it gets practical: why most founders built a job instead of a business, how to move from operator to owner, and the one skill worth more than any technical talent, going deep into your customer's pain until you can describe it better than they can. You will walk away knowing what to look at first, and why if it is a money issue, it is not really an issue. Connect with Tracy Holland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyholland Tracy on Instagram: search Tracy M. Holland Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    49 min

  3. Jun 19

    Why Most Businesses Get AI Wrong

    Most owners buy the AI tool, skip the strategy, and wonder why nothing improves. Jason Alexander, CEO of Chief AI, explains why AI is a people and process problem, not a tool problem. Hand someone a guitar, and you still hear no music until you teach them to play. Jason has lived the operator side of this. Over 20 years, he built and scaled a staffing and consulting business to roughly 100 million dollars before selling, and now he helps founders turn AI into practical, measurable results. In this conversation with David Carr, he breaks down the three-year success roadmap he uses to determine where AI actually belongs, why "assess, one quick win, then scale" beats chasing silver bullets, and how to make AI part of your culture rather than hiding it from clients. He also gives a straight answer on the fear everyone carries: AI is a force multiplier, not a layoff plan. Arm 100 people to produce 400, rather than cutting headcount to save payroll. If you are a founder or leader trying to make AI pay off without losing what makes your business human, start here. Connect with Jason: ChiefAI: https://chiefai.co Jason Alexander on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonalexander Free AI Readiness Score: https://chiefai.co/ai-readiness-assessment/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    38 min

  4. Jun 17

    Why You Don't Do What You Know You Should

    You can have the right strategy, the right team, and the right systems. But if you are running on empty, none of it performs the way it should. And most leaders already know what they should do. They just do not do it. Jalene Szuba is the founder of Happiness Anchor, a nationally board certified health and wellness coach, TEDx speaker, and Tulane University wellness consultant. In this conversation with David Carr she starts with sleep as a performance driver, not a lifestyle topic, then goes where most leadership talks never reach: why knowing better so rarely changes what we do. She unpacks the Immunity to Change framework from Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey, the same process she uses in her coaching and in research at Tulane. You will hear how hidden commitments and big assumptions work against your goals, one foot on the gas and one on the brake, why small tests beat massive overhauls, and why a healthy culture has to start at the top. Underneath it all is the Steward Your Business idea that the biggest constraints on a leader are internal, and they will not fix themselves. You will walk away able to name the change you keep avoiding, and with a simple first step you can take tonight. Connect with Jalene Szuba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaleneszuba/ Happiness Anchor: https://www.happinessanchor.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    37 min

  5. Jun 15

    Why More Visibility Might Just Be More Noise

    Most business owners think PR is about getting featured. More placements, more visibility, more attention. Ronica Cleary says that is exactly where it goes wrong. Visibility without a strategy behind it is not a win. It is just noise. Ronica is the founder and CEO of Cleary Strategies and a former White House correspondent who spent years in newsrooms before building her agency. In this conversation with David Carr she pulls apart what PR actually is, and why chasing placements so often backfires. Your business alone, she says, is rarely newsworthy. The real work is figuring out what is. She walks through the period of discovery her team runs with every client, turning a founder's story into four to six clear pillars, why a guarantee of a set number of placements every month is a red flag, why she personally turned down a media hit that looked like an obvious fit, and how thinking like a producer instead of a publicist is the difference between a pitch that lands and one that dies in an inbox. Running underneath it is the Steward Your Business idea that PR is not just about getting attention, it is about being ready for it. You will walk away able to tell whether your own message would hold up once it lands, and with a simple self-check to see whether you are even ready for PR. Connect with Ronica Cleary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronica-cleary/ Cleary Strategies: https://www.clearystrategies.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    44 min

  6. Jun 12

    Leading With Purpose When Your World Turns to Ashes

    What do you do when your world turns to ashes? In one season, Elaine Lankford faced a yearlong attack on her character, lost her father, and watched her husband get a cancer diagnosis. Then, on a mission trip, she heard God whisper, "Go home and raise up my daughters." That whisper became She Steps Forward. Elaine is the founder of She Steps Forward Coaching and the nonprofit She Steps Forward International, and she spent over 16 years in nursing before coaching women into their callings. A certified John Maxwell Team member, she now mentors women through the hardest first years of building a business, ministry, or nonprofit, in the United States and across Africa. In this conversation, she and David Carr talk about leading with purpose through adversity, why a God-sized dream is supposed to feel bigger than you, and the confidence gap and comparison game that keep capable women stuck. She shares the picture of Mary and Elizabeth from Luke 1 that anchors her work: who is pouring into you before you step forward, and who are you pouring into? Running underneath it is the Steward Your Business conviction that leading yourself well is where everything starts. You will walk away with permission to dream bigger and a simple first step to take when you feel the pull toward something more. Connect with Elaine Lankford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-lankford/ She Steps Forward Coaching: https://www.shestepsforwardcoaching.com She Steps Forward International: https://shestepsforwardinternational.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    38 min

  7. Jun 2

    Why Your Business Can't Run Without You

    Most owners think they have a people problem, a time problem, or a strategy problem. Usually, it's none of those — the business is just built to keep everything flowing back to you. Carol Schultz, Founder & CEO of Vertical Elevation, has spent 30 years as a recruiter and executive coach, helping CEOs stop being "hostages" to their own companies. In this conversation, she unpacks founder's syndrome, why "just hire the right person" rarely works (hint: you're the common denominator), and the succession mindset that separates owners who scale from owners who stay stuck. She also walks through her Organizational Scaffold System — a roughly 12-week process that closes gaps in communication, accountability, and structure, and then places a chief of staff to act as the CEO's copilot. Plus, a simple pen-to-paper exercise you can start this week to see where your time really goes.  Carol Schultz — author of "Powered By People," Inc., and CEOWORLD columnist, host of "Authentically Successful." Website: https://verticalelevation.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbschultz/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    40 min

  8. May 14

    Before You Deploy AI, Ask These Questions — Or Pay the Price | Jill Stover Heinze

    You are moving fast on AI. Your team is experimenting. You are deploying tools. But you have not asked the critical questions that will determine whether you are building competitive advantage or exposing your business, your people, and your customers to serious risk. Jill Stover Heinze has spent her career helping organizations think through complex technology decisions. When generative AI hit the market, she realized that speed was replacing judgment. Companies were racing to deploy without asking basic questions about data, bias, security, privacy, and alignment with their values. She created an AI Trust Architecture framework to help leaders slow down and ask the right questions before deployment, not after something breaks. In this episode, David Carr and Jill break down what responsible AI governance actually looks like in practice, which questions every leader should be asking right now, and why slowing down is not falling behind. In this episode:Why most organizations are making Band-Aid decisions about AI instead of building intentional governanceThe fundamental difference between speed and readiness in AI deploymentWhat data flows you should be questioning in every AI tool you considerHow to identify and evaluate bias before it impacts your customersThe role of privacy and permissions in responsible AI adoptionHow to align AI decisions with your core values and business strategyWhy your instinct that something is not right about an AI implementation deserves serious attentionThe four AI horizons framework for asking the right questions at each stageAbout Jill Stover Heinze: Jill Stover Heinze is an AI Trust Architect and founder of Saddle-Stitch Consulting. With a background in user research, product strategy, and library science, Jill has spent over two decades helping Fortune 500 companies and institutions think through complex technology decisions. She is currently the Responsible AI Program Director at the American College of Financial Services and has championed AI governance functions across multiple organizations. Her approach combines human-centered design with rigorous risk assessment. You cannot build trust in AI by rushing its deployment. You build it by asking hard questions, being transparent about limitations, and aligning technology decisions with human values. That is what governance is actually for. If this episode made you realize you have been moving too fast on AI without asking the right questions, that is the conversation to have with your team this week. Share this with one leader who needs permission to slow down.  Links mentioned in this episode:Jill Stover Heinze on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-stoverheinzeSaddle-Stitch Consulting: https://www.saddlestitchconsulting.comAI Horizons Framework: Available through Saddle-Stitch ConsultingThe American College of Financial Services Responsible AI Program: https://theamericancollege.edu Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support. Connect with Steward Your Business: Book a Leadership Clarity Call: https://calendar.stewardyourbusiness.com/ccCall: +1 909.404.9865Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarrWatch more episodes  and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Business Roundtable Podcast, hosted by David Carr of Steward Your Business. This engaging and informative podcast series is dedicated to helping business owners, and entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of running a successful enterprise. Each episode features David Carr and a roster of industry experts, including regular contributors like Curtis Cochran, who bring their wealth of experience in mergers and acquisitions, organizational health, and team building. Dive into discussions that cover a broad range of topics essential to business growth and sustainability. From strategic planning and preparation to understanding the cycles of business ownership, the podcast provides invaluable insights into evaluating, enhancing, and exiting business ownership. Listeners can expect practical advice on scaling businesses, managing finances, and creating a culture that aligns with company goals. What sets this podcast apart is its focus on actionable strategies combined with real-world experiences. The conversations often delve into the importance of providing more value than the dollars earned and the necessity of adaptability in a rapidly changing business landscape. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, the Business Roundtable Podcast is vital for staying ahead in today's competitive market. Join David Carr and his guests as they explore the art of making a business profitable but also enjoyable and sustainable. Tune in for your dose of inspiration, guidance, and tools to make 2024 and beyond a resounding success for your business ventures. Become a podcast supporter at just $2 a month at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

Information

  • Creator
    David W. Carr
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Steward Your Business
  • Show Website
    Business Roundtable