Struggles Presented by NCBI

NCBI
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Welcome to Struggles, the podcast where we discuss the common challenges faced by entrepreneurs and business leaders across all industries. Hosted by Chris Inman of NCBI, each episode brings candid conversations with business owners who share their real-world experiences, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're dealing with scaling pains, financial hurdles, or leadership dilemmas, this podcast offers practical insights and support to help you navigate your journey. Subscribe to Struggles and join us as we tackle the tough issues that every entrepreneur faces, together.

  1. 12/23/2025

    Staying Focused on Your Mission with Chris Inman

    In this episode of Struggles, presented by NCBI, Chris Inman sits down to share a real conversation about one of the hardest parts of running a business: staying focused on your mission while the world throws opportunities, distractions, and shiny objects at you. Chris opens up about his early years in video production, from working on sports broadcasts to managing large corporate shoots, and the moment he realized the path he was on no longer aligned with the life he wanted.  He talks about the turning point that forced him to rethink everything — including how he wanted to help clients, the lifestyle he wanted with his family, and how to build a business that aligns with personal goals, not just revenue. This episode gets into the honest challenges many entrepreneurs face: chasing every project, losing clarity, doing work that doesn’t fulfill you, and drifting away from your purpose.  Chris also explains how working with a business coach helped him redefine IDEA Cleveland, focusing on virtual content creation, strategy, and meaningful conversations instead of high-end production for big corporations. He shares practical tools like the 24-hour rule, pros and cons lists, and creating a decision scorecard to help business owners stay rooted in what matters most.  If you’ve ever struggled with staying on track, taking on too much, or saying yes to things that don’t move your business forward, this conversation will remind you that focus is a skill — and a powerful one. Tune in to hear a transparent, relatable story about growth, clarity, and building a business that supports your life instead of taking over it. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    13 min

  2. 12/10/2025

    How Photographer Justin Gamble Scaled His Business Without Burning Out

    In this episode of Struggles, Jon sits down with Justin Gamble, a Northeast Ohio photographer who built his business from the ground up and made the difficult leap from contractors to hiring his first employee. Justin shares the real story behind growing a photography brand, shooting 30–40 weddings a year, managing burnout, and learning how to delegate the creative work that used to live only in his head. We talk about the challenges of scaling a creative business, building SOPs for editing, trusting contractors, shifting into commercial work, and balancing financial decisions with personal life goals. Justin breaks down how he went from running everything himself to creating real processes that protect his time and help him keep wedding turnaround times at four to five weeks — something almost unheard of in the industry. If you're a photographer, creative professional, or business owner trying to grow without losing your mind, this is a must-listen. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    25 min

  3. 11/26/2025

    How Kim Klima Built Squeaky Clean NEO from Scratch

    In this episode of Struggles, Brian Butkowski sits down with Kim Klima, founder of Squeaky Clean NEO, to talk about the real story behind building a cleaning company from scratch with nothing but a vacuum, a vision, and a ton of grit. Kim opens up about the early days — from figuring out business basics without capital to juggling full-time jobs while cleaning houses at night. They talk about what growth really looks like, how she brought her kids into the business, the slow and scary process of hiring the first employees, and the balance between affordability, fair wages, and profit margins. Kim also shares the mindset shifts that helped her stay grounded, why referrals beat paid marketing every time, and what it actually takes to build a brand that feels like family. If you’re a small business owner, someone in the service industry, or just someone who needs to hear the honest version of entrepreneurship, this conversation will hit home. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    30 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Investing in Innovation: How Vedda Printing Is Disrupting the Industry

    In this episode of Struggles presented by NCBI, host John Carpenter sits down with Phil Vedda, third-generation leader of Vedda Printing, to talk about the bold decisions behind investing in new technology — even when it’s not the “safe” choice. Phil shares how his team is embracing a revolutionary new inkjet press, why betting on yourself matters, and how modern print innovations can actually lower costs while raising quality. They discuss the pressures of running a family business, navigating big purchases in a changing economy, and leading with confidence when adopting cutting-edge tools. From behind-the-scenes teasers to open-house plans, this episode offers insight into what it takes to stay ahead in a traditional industry through innovation and trust. 🎧 Presented by North Coast Business Initiative — where we navigate challenges together. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    12 min

  5. 10/29/2025

    Finding Intentional Success: From Corporate Burnout to Purposeful Leadership with Janelle Bernheimer

    In this episode of Struggles presented by the North Coast Business Initiative (NCBI), host John Carpenter sits down with business coach and advisor Janelle Burnheimer to explore what it means to live and lead with intention. After nearly two decades in corporate finance, Janelle made the bold decision to step away from burnout and redefine success on her own terms. She shares her journey of becoming more intentional—balancing family, health, and business—and how she now helps other leaders and entrepreneurs find alignment between their personal vision and professional goals. Together, Jon and Janelle discuss creating strategic plans, building advisory boards, leading with authenticity, and the importance of vulnerability on social media. If you’ve ever struggled with defining what success really means or how to align your work with your values, this episode offers insight, humor, and actionable advice. . Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    27 min

  6. 10/15/2025

    Eliminating Pain Through Purpose: Dan Cullen’s Journey from Athlete to Healer

    In this episode of Struggles, presented by NCBI, host Brian Butkowski sits down with Dan Cullen, owner of More To Give Fitness, to discuss how he helps people eliminate chronic pain and injury through advanced stretching techniques. Dan shares his personal journey from competitive athlete to pain-relief specialist after discovering a unique approach that traditional healthcare couldn’t offer. From helping clients avoid surgeries to relieving migraines and scoliosis, his story highlights the power of movement, standards, and purpose-driven work. Listen as Dan reveals: The difference between his stretching method and traditional yoga or stretch labsWhy establishing standards in flexibility is key to long-term healingReal success stories from clients of all agesHow his personal struggle with pain became his mission to help others🎧 Struggles is a podcast by NCBI, where we navigate challenges together—sharing the real stories of entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders who’ve turned adversity into strength. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    10 min

  7. 10/08/2025

    Stop Posting For You: 3 Mistakes & 3 Fixes with John Carpenter & Chris Inman

    You’re posting for you—and your buyers don’t care. In this Struggles episode, Chris Inman and John Carpenter break down the three mistakes killing small-biz social (me-centric posts, stock visuals, wrong platform) and the three fixes that work: a simple Hook → Educate/Entertain → CTA formula, being social on social, and telling real, interesting stories. You’ll learn where to put links so reach doesn’t die, how to reframe “we won an award” into a client-focused story, and how to pick channels by audience—not personal bias. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    35 min

  8. 09/24/2025

    Big Swings: Three Entrepreneurs on Leaps, Lessons & What It Really Takes

    Entrepreneurship is full of big swings. In this NCBI panel, three owners at different stages share the leap they took, the struggles they faced, and the systems and teams that helped them grow.  Guests: Amy Mucha (Daisy Pops), Marvin Montgomery Jr. (Kicks n’ Cuts), and Adam LaFaber (Digital Sandwich Agency).  We cover leaving a stable job, starting during COVID, hiring and delegation, building processes, handling failures and chargebacks, pricing/legitimacy checks, and the mindset shift from “doing it all” to leading a team. You’ll leave with practical ideas—and honest encouragement—to take your next step.  Presented by NCBI. Moderated by Josh Muller. Sponsors: Erie Bank • Vedda Printing • Fit2Grow CFO Solutions. Let us know what you are struggling with as a business owner Support the show

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Struggles, the podcast where we discuss the common challenges faced by entrepreneurs and business leaders across all industries. Hosted by Chris Inman of NCBI, each episode brings candid conversations with business owners who share their real-world experiences, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're dealing with scaling pains, financial hurdles, or leadership dilemmas, this podcast offers practical insights and support to help you navigate your journey. Subscribe to Struggles and join us as we tackle the tough issues that every entrepreneur faces, together.

Information

  • Creator
    NCBI
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Struggles Presented by NCBI
  • Show Website
    Struggles Presented by NCBI