The Expensive Tax Mistake 90% of Business Owners Still Make

Christine Malfair, founder of Malfair Marketing, unpacks why less is more when scaling a service-based business. Drawing from her journey as an overwhelmed GM turned consultant, she reveals how to stop “spreading the peanut butter everywhere” and instead double down on profitable revenue. Christine shares how to run a friction audit, tap into owned guest databases, and cut “commission load revenue.” If you’re ready to replace chaos with a clear Revenue Roadmap, this chat shows how everything — from your website to your front desk — is marketing.Chapters:00:00:00 - Welcome: Merging Online & Real-World Touchpoints00:01:13 - Meet Christine Malfair: From GM to Growth Partner00:01:42 - Her Backstory: The Realities of Running Hotels00:02:12 - The Turning Point: Smarter, Sustainable Marketing00:02:56 - Why ‘Less is More’ Changes Everything00:03:51 - Cutting Through Noise: Smarter Channel Choices00:08:11 - Hidden Friction: How to Audit the Guest Experience00:11:19 - Inside the Revenue Roadmap: A Clear Plan00:13:05 - Must-Have Tools for Digital Wins00:18:45 - The Revenue Strategy Room: Where It All Connects00:19:56 - Final Take: Lead with Empathy, Grow with ClarityLinks and Resources:WebsiteChristine Malfair on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠answering 5-questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

What if your business isn’t broken — just buried? Ernesto sits down with Brien Gearin — digital strategist, founder of Ricochet Digital Marketing, and host of the Millionaire University podcast — to uncover the overlooked tools and tactics that can turn a stagnant service-based business into a lead-generating machine. Brien explains why credibility and authority now matter more than keywords, how your Google Business Profile can drive local traffic before you ever touch paid ads, and why vague, clever website headlines could be sabotaging your SEO. If you’re tired of bottlenecks, missed follow-ups, or a website that’s “just there,” this conversation offers a clear roadmap to becoming Unignorable — and scaling your business without burning out your team.Chapters:00:00:00 - Kicking Off with Fire: Retention + Growth00:00:02 - What Most People Miss About Paid Ads00:00:17 - Building Digital Credibility that Google Loves00:01:34 - Meet Brien: Millionaire University Powerhouse00:02:39 - Two Holes-in-One and a Marketing Mindset00:03:59 - Why Marketing Isn’t Optional — It’s Oxygen00:05:21 - Real-World Tactics That Actually Convert00:06:49 - How to Make Google Your Best Sales Rep00:10:10 - The Truth About SEO in 202500:12:15 - How Testimonials Turn Into Traffic00:14:55 - Your Website vs. Google: Who’s Winning?00:21:40 - Brien’s Free Website Roast (Prepare Yourself)00:25:27 - Final Thoughts: Get Found or Fade OutLinks and Resources:Ricochet Digital MarketingBrien Gearin on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠answering 5-questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

Ernesto lays down the tactical and technological blueprint for scaling your business without burning out your team—or yourself. He breaks down how to implement detailed playbooks, align your teams with powerful tools like Notion, and build rhythm into your operations using daily, weekly, and quarterly planning cycles. Learn how to connect your strategic vision with execution, turn inefficiencies into streamlined processes, and create a business that runs like a well-oiled, Michelin-starred kitchen. This episode is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs and operators who are tired of firefighting and ready to scale with clarity, consistency, and confidence.Chapters:00:00:00 - Kickoff: How to Multiply Results While Doing Less00:00:54 - Unlocking Game-Changing Business Tactics00:01:55 - Supercharge Productivity with the Right Tools00:02:33 - The Winning Trio: Tactics, Tools & Timelines00:03:20 - Find Your Flow: Daily to Quarterly Momentum Cycles00:05:51 - Weekly Planning Rituals That Drive Real Results00:07:16 - Track What Matters: Metrics That Fuel Growth00:09:08 - CEO Insights: Ask Bigger Questions, Scale Smarter00:10:02 - Purpose-Driven Teams: Building a Business That ThrivesLinks and Resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠answering 5-questions⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

Dr. Christie McMullen unpacks the invisible drivers behind employee engagement, performance, and retention—offering a refreshingly human-centered approach to culture design. With over two decades of leadership and teaching experience, Dr. Christie reveals how small, repeatable shifts in communication and team dynamics can dramatically reduce turnover and increase productivity. You’ll discover her four-part framework—Safe, Logical, Fun, and Memorable—and how to leverage it to create workplaces where people thrive. From $30K retention mistakes to the power of personality types like "paperclip" and "slinky," this episode is packed with practical tools, psychology-backed insights, and enough “pixie dust” to transform how you lead. Whether your team is overwhelmed, disengaged, or underperforming, this episode is your playbook for building a workplace people don’t want to leave.Chapters:00:00:00 - Why Appreciation Isn’t Optional Anymore00:01:15 - Meet Dr. Christie: Culture Architect in Action00:03:02 - How Culture Quietly Shapes Who Stays and Leaves00:03:57 - What Losing One Employee Really Costs You00:06:13 - Real-World Tools to Fix a Broken Culture00:09:19 - Fast, Low-Lift Culture Wins You Can Start Now00:12:23 - Safe. Logical. Fun. Memorable. And Game-Changing.00:22:38 - Unlocking Your Team’s Hidden Superpowers00:27:30 - Start Here: Your First Move Toward Productive JoyLinks and Resources:Intentionality Group WebsiteAIM (Analyze Improve Move): https://www.aimwithus.comAVID Center: https://explore.avid.orgPodcast: Productive Joy (hosted by Dr. Christie)Book: Learning Can Stick: [Available via Intentionality Group] Dr. Christie McMullen on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠⁠⁠⁠answering 5-questions⁠⁠⁠⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

Ernesto dives into a transformative financial conversation with Mark Switaj and Rohit Punyani from Fusion Strategies. They break down a little-known but incredibly powerful tax strategy that allows business owners to unlock up to $400,000 in annual tax deductions per employee through cash balance plans. Forget the limits of your 401(k) — this conversation exposes outdated assumptions and provides actionable insights for scaling profitably, saving on taxes, and creating a retirement strategy that grows with your business.Chapters:00:00:00 - Assets vs. Liabilities: The Wealth Equation00:00:27 - Kicking Off Momentum Multipliers with Ernesto00:00:58 - Meet Mark & Rohit: Masters of Tax Strategy00:02:03 - Why Most Business Owners Miss Big Deductions00:02:46 - Unlocking $400K with Cash Balance Plans00:04:18 - Flexibility, Funding, and Freedom in Tax Planning00:06:50 - How to Activate Your Cash Balance Plan00:07:51 - 401(k) Limits vs. Cash Balance Power00:13:25 - Filers vs. Strategists: Choosing the Right CPA00:15:53 - Old Tax Codes, New Wealth-Building Tactics00:22:24 - Action Steps That Could Save You Six FiguresLinks and Resources:Fusion Strategies WebsiteMark Switaj on LinkedInRohit Punyani on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠⁠⁠answering 5-questions⁠⁠⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

Ernesto sits down with Rachel Starr, a seasoned virtual event and community strategist, to demystify the real anatomy of a successful online summit. Drawing from over two decades in event planning and her signature "Popsicle moments" philosophy, Rachel reveals why simply uploading content isn't enough—and how to architect deeply engaging, profitable summits using platforms like Circle. If you’re a growth-focused entrepreneur looking to reduce bottlenecks, boost team morale, and deliver unforgettable customer experiences through smart, scalable systems, this conversation delivers the blueprint you’ve been missing.Chapters:00:00:00 – Kicking Things Off: Confidence, Coffee, and Real Talk00:00:36 – Enter Rachel Starr: The Architect Behind Transformational Communities00:02:20 – From Bar Rooms to Boardrooms: Rachel’s Unconventional Path to Virtual Events00:03:11 – Demystifying Summits: What They Are and Why Most People Get Them Wrong00:05:47 – Why Community Isn’t Optional—It’s the Core of a Powerful Summit00:10:00 – Magic Moments & Popsicles: Making Virtual Events Unforgettable00:15:12 – Don’t Ghost Your Audience: How to Win Big After the Summit Ends00:19:33 – Rachel’s Rulebook for Building Communities That Actually Connect00:22:41 – Sneak Peek: The Game-Changing Community Creator Summit00:24:27 – How to Connect with Rachel & Keep the Momentum GoingLinks and Resources:Rachel Starr on LinkedInRachel Rose Coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠⁠answering 5-questions⁠⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

Ernesto sits down with Juan Manuel Barrero, the seasoned entrepreneur and CEO of Lazo, a Miami-based startup revolutionizing how founders manage finance, legal, and fundraising operations. Juan shares his journey from small-town Argentina to becoming a key figure in the U.S.–LATAM startup ecosystem, revealing how AI-powered automation is helping startup founders go from “dumpster-fire operations” to VC-ready in under an hour. You'll learn how Lazo is tackling founder overwhelm, integrating fractured systems like QuickBooks and payroll into one seamless experience, and building intentional founder communities that go far beyond transactional networking. Whether you're scaling a startup or drowning in disorganized processes, this episode delivers actionable insight and founder-tested solutions.Chapters:00:00:00 - Why Founders Feel Alone00:01:23 - Welcome to Momentum Multipliers00:01:41 - Meet the Man Behind Lazo00:02:31 - From Argentina to Startup Powerhouse00:05:17 - Lazo: Born to Solve Chaos00:05:32 - The Ultimate Co-Founder for Your Back Office00:10:36 - How Lazo Uses AI to Save Founders00:16:04 - Building Trust, Not Just Startups, in Miami00:18:37 - Exclusive Founder Offer You Don’t Want to Miss00:20:25 - One Final Thought for Every FounderLinks and Resources:Lazo WebsiteJuan Manuel Barrero on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by ⁠answering 5-questions⁠ about your business. See you on the next episode

Ernesto shares how growth-minded CEOs can escape burnout and bottlenecks by building self-managing, purpose-driven teams. Drawing from his Million Dollar Machine (MDM) framework, he introduces the concept of actualization—aligning your team through shared purpose to generate unstoppable momentum. With real-world strategies, cultural rituals, and vivid metaphors like the “Kool-Aid factory” and “momentum mountain,” Ernesto challenges outdated leadership models and offers a blueprint for designing high-functioning, autonomous organizations where purpose drives performance.Chapters:00:00:00 - Fueling a Culture That Moves00:00:49 - Unlocking Purpose That Scales00:04:26 - Leadership That Sets the Pulse00:07:45 - Culture Is What You Do00:11:01 - Metrics That Measure Meaning00:12:50 - When Structure Becomes Organic00:15:21 - Momentum Is a Designed Outcome00:16:35 - From Firefighting to FlowLinks and Resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Congrats on getting 10% closer to unstoppable growth. Keep Moving towards your future with The Growth Scorecard by answering 5-questions about your business. See you on the next episode

Ernesto sits down with ClickUp strategist and Tiptop Ops founder Natalie Gregorian to unpack the hidden costs of disorganized operations—and how to fix them with scalable systems. With over 10,000 hours of ClickUp mastery, Natalie reveals how she helps overwhelmed CEOs and business owners transition from reactive chaos to structured growth using smart hierarchy design, automation, and actionable dashboards. Whether you're drowning in overdue tasks or stuck micromanaging your team, this episode lays out the exact path to reclaim your time, streamline your workflows, and scale your business—without needing to be a tech expert.Chapters:00:00:00 - Systems Start at the Top00:01:32 - Welcome to Momentum Multipliers00:01:38 - Meet Natalie: Your Systems Whisperer00:03:22 - From Home Chaos to Business Flow00:04:35 - The ClickUp Confession Booth00:06:10 - ClickUp Hierarchy Made Easy00:08:40 - Auditing the Chaos, Designing the Fix00:11:14 - Building a System That Runs Without You00:18:32 - Real Clients, Real Results00:21:11 - The Human Side of Natalie00:22:41 - Ready to Systemize? Here’s How00:23:49 - Final Thoughts & Your Next StepLinks and Resources:Tip Top Ops Website Natalie Gregorian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to the Momentum Multipliers Podcast? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to leave us a review!

Ernesto breaks down the first installment of his “Organization” recipe from the MOM (Manage Operations for Momentum) series. Drawing inspiration from professional kitchens and the French concept of mise en place, he introduces a disciplined framework for decluttering both digital and physical workspaces. Ernesto shows how streamlining operations — from inboxes to project tools — unlocks mental clarity, empowers teams, and sets the foundation for scalable growth. He dives into the essential duality of expansion versus efficiency and offers actionable strategies to balance these forces so your business can thrive. Whether you're facing digital chaos or aiming for operational harmony, this episode delivers a structured path toward a high-performing, well-oiled business machine.Chapters:00:00:00 – Welcome to Momentum: Clear the Clutter, Ignite the Business00:00:52 – The Secret Sauce: How Mis en Place Transforms Operations00:01:26 – Chaos Check: Is Your Workspace Helping or Hurting You?00:02:41 – Ernesto’s Rapid-Fire Reset: 5 Hacks to Organize Everything00:03:57 – The Four Foundations of Operational Flow00:05:20 – Expansion vs. Efficiency: The Battle You Must Balance00:08:22 – The Performance Shift: It’s Not the Goal, It’s the Grind00:09:31 – Metrics That Matter: The Power of Leading Over Lagging00:12:39 – Wrapping Up: Tech Tools to Elevate Every ActionLinks and Resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Design your Growth Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ernesto Mandowsky on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MDM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to the Momentum Multipliers Podcast? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to leave us a review!