1261: From Firefighter to Founder: How a Side Hustle Became a Lighting Empire w/ Chris Rios

Tim Cassidy shares his incredible journey from a 14-year career as a "clipboard commando" for the federal government to co-founding Online CE Credits, a seven-figure online education platform. Tim gets brutally honest about the realities of scaling a business, detailing the inflection points, the mental toll, and the near-crippling fear that comes with downturns after periods of massive success. This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, revealing how Tim’s company experienced 350% revenue growth in its first year and grew into a multi-million dollar business, while also exposing the critical strategic mistakes made along the way. For any entrepreneur feeling the pressure of growth, this conversation provides a transparent look at the challenges of scaling and the vital importance of diversifying before it’s too late.📝 About Tim CassidyA recovering 14-year “clipboard commando” in the federal government, Tim Cassidy is the Co-Founder & CEO of Online CE Credits, a 7-figure continuing education platform for licensed mental health providers. Under his full-time leadership, the company saw 350% revenue growth in its first year, hitting $1M in 2023 and $2M in 2024, while consistently maintaining profit margins over 40%. In 2024, the platform was named “Most Investable” at a global business competition—a reflection of Tim’s systems-driven approach and commitment to creating scalable success. His ultimate goal: to share that success and build intergenerational wealth for future generations to pursue their own dreams.📢 Memorable Quotes"When you're inviting someone in to try you or if you want someone to become a customer, oftentimes you want to give before you have an expectation to receive.""Your perfect customer is someone that you're never going to hear from.""At one point, 80% of our revenue was coming from meta ads... I remember when I figured this out, I laughed at it, but then the hair also stood up on the back of my neck."💡 Actionable Takeaways✅ Audit your customer acquisition channels this week. If more than half your revenue comes from a single source, begin brainstorming at least two new channels to develop over the next quarter.✅ Dedicate time in your calendar for proactive networking. Identify and reach out to potential strategic partners who serve the same audience you do.✅ If your business is new, embrace doing things that don't scale. Personally answer customer emails and calls to build foundational trust and get positive word-of-mouth reviews.✅ Document your core workflows and processes now, even if you're a solo founder. Creating these SOPs early will save you from chaos as you begin to hire and scale.✅ For digital products, consider creating a free offering to lower the barrier to entry for new customers and give them a chance to experience your value before they buy.🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Online CE Credits’ WebsiteConnect with Tim on LinkedInFollow Online CE Credits on LinkedIn

Tired of only talking to your accountant during the stressful tax season? Garrett Paul is here to completely change your perspective. With a powerhouse background in sales, Garrett brings a unique, growth-oriented mindset to the world of accounting as the co-founder of a CPA and Business Advisory firm. He reveals how pairing complementary skills—like sales and technical expertise—can create an unstoppable business partnership.This episode is a masterclass in building a business that thrives on genuine relationships and smart, data-driven strategy. You'll learn why viewing your financials as a monthly "story" is critical for making game-changing decisions, how to build a referral network that generates endless opportunities, and why the most powerful sales strategy is simply to listen. Garrett breaks down complex business concepts into simple, actionable advice that will help you stop working in your business and start working on it.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 How pairing complementary skills (like sales and accounting) can create a dynamic co-founding duo that covers all bases.💰 Why you should transform your CPA relationship from a once-a-year transaction into a year-round strategic partnership for continuous growth.📊 How to read the "story" your financials are telling you every month to make proactive, data-driven decisions instead of reactive ones.🤝 The "Listen First" Sales Strategy: Discover why letting your prospect talk first gives you the "answers to the test" and builds immediate trust.🌐 How to become a super-connector by building a powerful referral network that drives good karma and business opportunities back to you.🛠️ Why simple, free tools like Trello can be more effective for managing your client pipeline than complex, expensive CRMs.🤖 How to use AI as a "red zone" tool to get 80% of the work done, freeing you up to focus on high-value, strategic tasks.📝 About Garrett PaulGarrett Paul is a business strategist and relationship builder who cut his teeth in the high-stakes world of kitchen equipment sales, helping drive over $16 million in revenue. He then brought his sales and operational expertise to the finance world, co-founding The Jones Group, CPA and Business Advisory, with his childhood best friend. Garrett’s mission is to shatter the stereotype of the distant, seasonal accountant. He focuses on building genuine, year-round partnerships with clients, acting as a strategic advisor to help them understand their numbers and scale their businesses effectively.🎯 Garrett’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Needing nothing attracts everything."📢 Memorable Quotes“If you don't understand your numbers, you're not able to make decisions. And if you look at a P&L or a balance sheet… and they're not telling you a story, then they're probably screwed up and we need to figure out what's going on.” – Garrett Paul“Listening to your clients and your prospects is going to give you the answers to the test. It's really simple, and people make it really difficult.” – Garrett Paul“AI to me is the start. It's not the finished product… AI should get you to within the red zone at best.” – Garrett Paul🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit The Jones Group’s WebsiteConnect with Garrett on LinkedInFollow The Jones Group on LinkedInFollow The Jones Group on YouTube

Every business, regardless of size, struggles with a costly disconnect between their sales and finance systems. This gap leads to revenue leakage, delayed payments, and poor business visibility. In this episode, Sandra Bustos, founder and CEO of Meshly, breaks down how she’s tackling this universal problem head-on. She shares her journey from being a "dot connector" in major tech companies to building a solution that acts as a "Google Translate" between go-to-market and finance teams. This episode is packed with insights on how to leverage technology to build trust, why a solid data foundation is more critical than chasing AI hype, and how to ensure you're capturing every dollar you’ve earned.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to identify the "upstream" errors in your sales process (like a missing PO) that cause massive downstream revenue delays and leakage.Why a solid data schema is often more important than AI for building trust and ensuring accuracy in high-stakes financial workflows.How to turn deep-seated corporate frustration and personal experience into a scalable, problem-solving business idea.The critical reason why founder-led sales is a non-negotiable for achieving and maintaining product-market fit, long after you’ve hired a sales team.A simple "pilot" strategy to start diagnosing exactly where your business is losing money and why your teams might be working with conflicting data.How to build a solution that meets customers where they are—even if that means exporting back to a CSV—to earn their trust and drive adoption.📝 About Sandra BustosSandra Bustos is the founder and CEO of Meshly, the real-time trust layer for go-to-market and finance systems. A lifelong builder and natural dot connector, Sandra spent a decade leading go-to-market and customer success teams at major tech companies like Talk Desk and Autodesk. This firsthand experience exposed her to the costly and frustrating disconnects between teams and systems, driving her to found Meshly. Sandra's unique perspective combines a deep understanding of complex business workflows with a passion for creating technology that empowers finance leaders to capture revenue faster and with more confidence.🎯 Sandra’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"If you have that itch to build, there's never going to be a right time."📢 Memorable Quotes“In the age of AI, one thing's for sure, you can actually get to the wrong answer faster. If you put dirty inputs upstream of the AI solution, you're going to get really wonky, not valuable output.” – Sandra Bustos“It wasn't just about tedious work or manual disconnects, but it was really about business owners not having a grasp on their business. And that felt like a disservice.” – Sandra Bustos“The best founders I've ever worked with are truly founder-led sales, even beyond hiring their VP of sales. It forces you to stay engaged in those customer conversations… Product-market fit, I don't believe it's a one and done.” – Sandra Bustos🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Meshly’s WebsiteConnect with Sandra on LinkedInFollow Meshly on LinkedIn

From firefighter and paramedic to the CEO of a multi-location lighting company, Chris Rios shares the gritty details of how he turned a simple side hustle into a thriving, multi-service business. His journey with Ultra Shine Holiday Lights is a masterclass in grit, strategic growth, and the power of continuous learning. This episode is packed with value for any entrepreneur feeling stuck, as Chris breaks down how he navigated pricing a premium service in a small town, leveraged technology to manage a massive seasonal sales influx, and expanded his services to create year-round revenue. Get ready to learn from someone who embodies excellence and a relentless drive to make things shine.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to transition from a passion-fueled side hustle into a full-time, scalable business.The critical mindset shift required to price your services as a premium, luxury offering—and stop discounting yourself.A breakdown of a multi-channel local marketing strategy using yard signs, door hangers, Facebook Ads, and direct mail to dominate a market.How to use systems like GoHighLevel to manage a huge influx of leads, track proposals, and automate follow-ups during your busiest season.The strategic advantage of expanding your service lines (like from holiday lights to permanent lighting and window cleaning) to create year-round cash flow and serve the same customer base.Why continuous learning through conferences, forums, and courses is the single most important habit for avoiding plateaus and ensuring long-term success.📝 About Chris Rios Chris Rios is the founder and CEO of Ultra Shine Holiday Lights, a full-scale professional lighting company serving Kansas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. After 15 years as a dedicated firefighter and paramedic, Chris transformed his side hustle into a booming business built on passion and a sharp eye for design. He brings a hands-on approach and a commitment to excellence to every project, whether it's a home glowing for the holidays or an entire downtown square showing its town pride. Chris’s story is a powerful example of how a service-oriented mindset can build an incredible and scalable business.🎯 Chris’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Never stop learning. The moment you quit learning is the moment that you kind of hit a plateau or stall or even fail."📢 Memorable Quotes“It was about three or four years into it before I really realized this is a luxury product and service that we provide and it needs to be taken care of that way.” – Chris Rios"I didn't want to lose a customer. I was discounting here, discount there. Then I really started weighing the risk of being on a roof that's two or three stories up in the air." – Chris Rios“If the moment you quit learning is the moment that you kind of hit a plateau or stall or even fail. So never stop learning. Always be an open book.” – Chris Rios🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Ultra Shine Holiday Lights’ Website (Kansas)Visit Ultra Shine Holiday Lights’ Website (Dallas)Connect with Chris on LinkedInFollow Ultra Shine Holiday Lights on LinkedInFollow Ultra Shine Holiday Lights on Facebook

Ever had a no-show for a big call, a proposal go unanswered, or a launch fall flat, leaving you feeling utterly frustrated? In this raw and real Solo Sunday episode, Brian pulls back the curtain after a frustrating no-show experience of his own. Instead of just venting, he reveals how these moments of annoyance are actually powerful trigger points for massive growth. He shares the exact mindset shift that turns frustration into innovation, and walks through real-life examples from his businesses—from fixing a broken sales process to solving the "no one visits our website" problem. This episode is your invitation to stop seeing frustrations as setbacks and start using them as the fuel for your next great optimization.✨ Why This Matters for YouEmbracing this mindset will fundamentally change how you build your business:It transforms frustration from a paralyzing emotion into a productive signal that a process is broken and needs fixing.It gives you radical ownership, empowering you to change things instead of blaming external factors you can't control.It’s the key to continuous improvement in every area—sales, marketing, operations, and client experience.It helps you build more robust, "frustration-proof" systems that set you and your customers up for success.It stops you from falling into the trap of doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.📝 Key TakeawaysFrustration is a Trigger. Don't ignore it or just vent about it. Recognize it as a clear signal that something in your business needs to change.Ask “What Can I Do Differently?” When something goes wrong, the most powerful question you can ask is how you can change the process to improve the odds of success next time.You Have Unilateral Power. As the entrepreneur, you don't need permission. You can make immediate decisions and optimizations to fix what's not working.Innovate, Don't Stagnate. Brian used frustration over a no-show to innovate his pre-meeting workflow and frustration over low website traffic to create a whole new content strategy.Set Everyone Up for Success. Optimizing your processes isn’t just for you; it creates a better experience for your clients, your team, and everyone you interact with.🚀 Put It Into ActionThis week, perform a "Frustration Audit" on your business:Identify one recurring thing that consistently frustrates you. Is it a type of client question you always get? A task that takes too long? A system that always seems to break?Instead of just getting annoyed the next time it happens, pause and ask: "What process can I create or optimize right now to prevent this from happening again?"Take one small, immediate action to begin that change. Document the process, create a template, or adjust a setting. Turn that frustration into forward momentum.🔗 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the show so you never miss an episodeConnect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrianShare this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to turn their frustration into fuel

In this raw and inspiring conversation, Brian sits down with DevRaj Patel, the first-generation Indian American founder behind Jivati, the first Indian-inspired beverage brand in the US. Dev shares the unfiltered story of Jivati's creation, from the initial idea to navigating massive hurdles, including a formulator who disappeared with $10,000, and having his product rejected by federal regulators. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, scrappy problem-solving, and the power of building a brand that is a true extension of your personal story. For any entrepreneur facing setbacks or struggling to find their unique angle, Dev's journey proves that your biggest challenges can become your greatest strengths and that you don't need a formal title to solve problems and build something incredible.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 How to transform your cultural heritage and personal story into a powerful, unduplicatable brand identity.🛠️ The scrappy founder mindset: Why you must be willing to wear multiple hats (like becoming your own food scientist) to push your vision forward.💪 How to navigate catastrophic setbacks—like losing partners and facing regulatory rejection—and use them as learning opportunities to make your business stronger.📈 The "Riches in the Niches" strategy: How to solve a specific problem for an underserved community to build a loyal customer base.🤝 Founder Credibility 101: Why your personal habits, reliability, and pre-founder reputation are the true foundation of your business's trustworthiness.🧠 How to stay motivated through the lonely moments of entrepreneurship by keeping your mission deeply personal.📝 About DevRaj Patel DevRaj Patel is a first-generation Indian American founder building companies that reflect culture, intention, and real human connection. He is the visionary behind Jivati, the first Indian-inspired beverage brand in the US, created to fill a void he noticed in the beverage aisle. Dev's approach to business is raw and transparent, a philosophy he shares weekly in his newsletter, "The Weekly D-Brief." He is a firm believer that the best brands are built with conviction, curiosity, and a story so personal that it cannot be imitated.🎯 Dev’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Get the story right. Don't copy someone. It's not going to take you anywhere... Whatever you're going to create, make it personal."📢 Memorable Quotes"I wasn't born in India. India was born in me." – DevRaj Patel"You have to be uncomfortable at being comfortable. If you get comfortable, you're going to be obsolete very soon." – DevRaj Patel"The only one who's going to save you is you. No one's out there to come saving you… You wear the cape, you know, show them your superpower." – DevRaj Patel🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Jivati’s WebsiteConnect with DevRaj on LinkedInFollow Jivati on LinkedIn

Tired of the constant pressure to be "salesy"? This episode flips the script on traditional sales by revealing how a hospitality-first mindset can create sustainable, long-term growth. Sales expert Shelley Mann shares her unique journey from the hotel industry to sales consulting, offering a fresh perspective that prioritizes service, relationship-building, and genuine understanding over aggressive closing tactics. This episode is a must-listen for any founder struggling with the feast-or-famine cycle, as Shelley breaks down how to build a repeatable and scalable "commercial engine." You'll learn a practical, non-sleazy framework for sales that feels authentic and gets powerful results.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to transform your sales process from a transactional chore into a relationship-building powerhouse by adopting a hospitality mindset.The step-by-step framework for building a "commercial engine" that generates predictable and consistent revenue for your business.Why looking for "white space" in your market—by listening to your clients' adjacent problems—is the key to unlocking new, profitable revenue streams.The secret to conducting discovery calls that make prospects genuinely want to work with you (without you ever having to "pitch").How to leverage emotional connection in the sales process to align with how modern buyers, particularly women who influence 80% of decisions, make choices.Why planning your business exit from day one is the ultimate strategy for building a scalable and valuable company that doesn't depend on you.📝 About Shelley Mann Shelley Mann is the founder of Strategic Sales Advisors, a consulting firm dedicated to helping high-performing founders and CEOs build repeatable, scalable commercial engines. With a rich background in the hospitality industry, Shelley brings a unique blend of service-minded strategy and real-world sales expertise to her clients. She focuses on helping business owners move beyond the status quo to drive meaningful, sustainable growth by implementing systems that work. Her approach is a game-changer for entrepreneurs who want to master sales without sacrificing authenticity.🎯 Shelleys BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Prepare for an exit; set your business up where it can function outside of you."📢 Memorable Quotes“If you can bring a bit of that hospitality in... that's where companies get really sustainable in their business and that's where they set themselves apart from their competitors.” – Shelley Mann“If you're doing discovery right, you will convert more business. It's guaranteed.” – Shelley Mann"My favorite way of engaging with people is saying something like... 'I really want to learn more about you and your business. I would love to hear from you about what's going on... and how I can then support you.'" – Shelley Mann🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Strategic Sales Advisors’ WebsiteConnect with Shelley on LinkedInFollow Strategic Sales Advisors LLC on LinkedInFollow Building Sustainable Sales on YouTube

This episode features a truly unique and inspiring story: the mother-daughter duo behind Corporate Coach & Co. (C3), a business that’s been thriving for over 32 years. Carrie Mayers, the "accidental entrepreneur" founder, shares her journey of building a powerhouse consulting firm purely on referrals, while her daughter, Sam Mayers, explains her intentional leap from the hyper-structured corporate world of PwC to join the family business. This conversation is a masterclass in blending decades of experience with fresh, systematic thinking. For any entrepreneur, this episode is packed with invaluable wisdom on building sustainable client relationships, identifying the real problems inside a business (hint: it’s almost always communication), and leveraging your unique personality as a competitive advantage.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR BusinessHow to Build a Referral Engine: Discover the mindset and relationship-building strategies Carrie used to grow her business for 32 years without a website or marketing materials.The Power of Pattern Recognition: Learn why most business problems fall into 3-5 common categories and how seeing these patterns across industries can make you a better problem-solver.Blending Opposing Work Styles: Gain insight into how a free-flowing, experienced entrepreneur (Carrie) and a highly structured, process-driven professional (Sam) merged their styles to create a stronger, more dynamic business.Why Intentionality Beats a Lecture: Understand why "designing and delivering" experiences is far more impactful than just "hosting" a workshop, and how to create genuine engagement and buy-in from your team or clients.Monetizing Your Personality: Hear how Carrie and Sam make "fun" a core part of their high-level corporate training, proving that your authentic self is one of your greatest business assets.The "Next Step" Mentality: Learn Sam's powerful advice on why your next move doesn't have to be perfect or final, and how to "bet on yourself" when you're on the fence about a big decision.📝 About Carrie and Sam MayersCarrie and Sam Mayers are the dynamic mother-daughter partners behind Corporate Coach & Co. (C3). For over 32 years, Carrie has been an "accidental entrepreneur," building an incredibly successful consulting practice focused on leadership development and team cohesion. Sam brought a new dimension to the business after leaving a successful career in tech consulting at PwC, introducing systems and structure that complement Carrie's deep-rooted experience. Together, they leverage their generational perspectives and complementary skills to help teams and leaders improve communication, streamline processes, and build thriving company cultures.🎯 Carrie’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Don't take yourself too seriously and don't take what you do too seriously."🎯 Sam’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs"Your next step doesn't have to be your perfect step. It also doesn't have to be your final step. Action is better than any inaction."🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Corporate Coach & Co.’s WebsiteConnect with Carrie on LinkedInConnect with Sam on LinkedInFollow Corporate Coach & Co. on LinkedIn

Matthew Halfacre, a 25-year trading veteran and multi-time entrepreneur, joins the show to completely demystify the world of Bitcoin and digital assets. He breaks down the complex shift of Bitcoin from a volatile, speculative asset into a Treasury-style reserve asset, much like digital gold. Matthew explains why the boat for crypto investing hasn’t sailed yet—in fact, it’s just leaving the shore. This episode is a masterclass for entrepreneurs on how to gain a competitive edge through deep macroeconomic research, leverage new technologies like AI, and apply historical market lessons to today’s opportunities.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 Why the approval of Bitcoin ETFs signals a new era of maturity and opportunity, not the end of the line for investors.💰 How to reframe Bitcoin from a speculative gamble to a strategic "digital gold" for long-term wealth preservation and growth.📈 The power of algorithmic trading to fight volatility and generate yield on your assets, turning a chaotic market into a structured system.🧠 How to apply lessons from past market shifts (like the dot-com boom) to identify and capitalize on today's financial revolutions.🤖 The role of AI (like GPT) as a great equalizer, empowering solo entrepreneurs to build complex systems and gain a technological edge.💡 A philosophical framework for understanding why decentralized finance is a direct response to the frustrations and limitations of the traditional banking system.📝 About Matthew Halfacre Matthew Halfacre is a lifelong entrepreneur and a 25-year independent investor with a deep commitment to macroeconomic research. With a primary focus on technology, he naturally integrated algorithms into his trading practices, leading him to create his own algorithmic trading system. This system, now known as the Bitcoin Treasury Codex, is a testament to his expertise in navigating and capitalizing on the evolving landscape of digital finance. Matthew's unique perspective is born from decades of hands-on experience, a relentless dedication to research, and a passion for building systems that create freedom and performance.🎯 Matthew’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and EntrepreneursMatthew's best advice is to stop classifying yourself as a "good" or "bad" person and instead focus on being accurate. He argues that labeling yourself as one or the other means you're missing half of the picture, which leads to inaccuracy and stunts your growth.📢 Memorable Quotes “If you went to 1900, what would you expect? You would have just stacked gold… I see Bitcoin as the gold layer. So I said to myself, naturally, let's stack it. That's it.” – Matthew Halfacre“Don't try to classify yourself as a good person or as a bad person… If you want to bear fruit with whatever your mission is, the most important part of your mission is… accuracy.” – Matthew Halfacre"The boat, let's call it digital assets, the shore, let's call that the old school banking system. We are so close to the shore right now that we, we haven't even thought about reaching another country." – Matthew Halfacre🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Halfacre Research's websiteConnect with Matthew on LinkedIn

Tired of thinking of HR as just paperwork and a necessary evil? In this episode, 20-year HR veteran Melanie Parrish flips the script, revealing how to transform your people strategy from a dreaded cost center into a powerful growth driver. She explains that for small businesses, people solutions aren't about bureaucracy; they're about building a customized, intentional foundation that scales culture, retains top talent, and directly fuels your bottom line. This episode is packed with practical, no-fluff advice for entrepreneurs who want to stop avoiding people issues and start leveraging their team as their greatest competitive advantage.💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business🚀 How to build a "culture of feedback" that drives performance without complex, corporate-style reviews.💰 Why your HR infrastructure is the key to talent retention (and it’s not just about salary bumps).📈 The specific elements of an HR audit that uncover hidden risks and growth opportunities in your small business.🤝 How to create a company culture that reflects your unique vision, even with a remote or global team.🛠️ Why you should quit avoiding HR and how a fractional "people partner" can be a game-changer for lean businesses.⚖️ How to reframe compliance and risk management from a burden into a tool for protecting your business and your team.📝 About Melanie Parrish Melanie Parrish is a seasoned HR leader with over two decades of experience helping entrepreneurial CEOs and founders align their people strategy with aggressive business growth. She specializes in building scalable organizations from the ground up, with a focus on companies under 50 employees. As the founder of Strategic People Solutions, Melanie brings a customized, hands-on approach to transforming HR from a source of confusion into a clear driver of revenue, culture, and employee success.🎯 Melanie’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs "Quit avoiding HR because it feels overwhelming… step into the discomfort of dealing with your people."📢 Memorable Quotes “Everything you do with your people is building your culture. How you decide to give PTO… how you decide to pay people… every little policy… and how you handle your business builds your culture, and your culture is unique to you.”“I find that owners and entrepreneurs really, generally, so care about the employees, and they carry the burden of these people's paychecks... they also realize how it will impact the 20 people or so that, you know, their livelihood is depending on this owner making good decisions.”“Quit avoiding HR because it feels overwhelming… step into the discomfort of dealing with your people… people are complex no matter how you break it down.”💡 Actionable Takeaways✅ Conduct a simple audit of your people processes. Start by asking: How do we hire? How do we give feedback? Are our i9s and employee classifications correct?✅ Define what a "culture of feedback" looks like for your business. It could be weekly 1-on-1s, quarterly check-ins, or simply making it safe for employees to ask, "How am I doing?"✅ If you have a global team, schedule time to intentionally ask what's important to them to foster a more inclusive culture.✅ Instead of avoiding HR, identify one "people problem" you've been putting off and seek advice from a peer or expert on how to tackle it.🔗 Links & ResourcesVisit Strategic People Solutions’ WebsiteConnect with Melanie on LinkedInFollow Strategic People Solutions on LinkedIn