Resilience, Reputation, and Real Lessons in Entrepreneurship with Anik Singal

What separates businesses that scale from those that stall? In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan sits down with Ken Wentworth — also known as “Mr. Biz.” After a successful corporate career at JP Morgan, Ken left the corporate world to become a fractional CFO and business strategist, helping companies uncover hidden opportunities inside their financials. The conversation explores what many founders miss when building a business: strong financial fundamentals, leadership mindset, and the willingness to challenge the way things have always been done. Ken breaks down how improving cash flow, budgeting discipline, and margins can dramatically change the trajectory of a company. He also shares what he sees across the companies he works with — from why many businesses stay stuck at slow growth to how economic downturns can actually create major opportunities. Ryan and Ken also dive into the evolving role of technology and AI in business, the mindset needed to scale companies, and why many entrepreneurs underestimate the value of listening to their team. Topics Covered • Why many business owners are great at their craft but struggle with the business side • Ken’s transition from JP Morgan executive to fractional CFO and strategist • The three financial pillars every company must master: cash flow, budgeting, and margins • Why economic downturns can create major opportunities for growth • How mindset determines whether businesses stagnate or scale • The biggest mistakes companies make when trying to expand locations • Why great companies prioritize employees first • How AI is beginning to impact operations and decision making in business Connect with Ken Wentworth Website: mrbiz.com Instagram: @MrBizSolutions Book: Don't Fake the Funk: F Being Average Connect with Ryan Alford Website: ryanisright.com Instagram: @RyanAlford Listen to Collector Nation

In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford sits down with leadership coach and author Anniston Riekstins to talk about purpose, personal growth, and the mindset shifts that help people take action in their lives. Anniston shares the inspiration behind her book The Universe Is Hiring and explains why many people spend years consuming personal development content without actually applying it. The conversation explores how self-awareness, service, and small intentional actions can create real change. Ryan and Anniston also discuss how discovering your unique strengths and leaning into what truly lights you up can open new opportunities—both personally and professionally. Topics Covered • The concept behind The Universe Is Hiring • Why personal development only works when you apply it • Re-thinking your relationship with time and priorities • The “authentic self-resume” exercise for discovering your strengths • Overcoming fear and self-doubt when pursuing purpose • Why fulfillment comes from growth and progress • How service can shift your mindset and create momentum • Empowering individuals within organizations Connect With Guest & Host Anniston Riekstins Author — The Universe Is Hiring Co-Host — The InPowered Life Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annistonblairriekstins/ Podcast: The InPowered Life Podcast Book: The Universe Is Hiring: Discover the Role You Were Born to Fill Ryan Alford Host — Right About Now Website: https://ryanisright.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford sits down with entrepreneur and Wealth Accelerators founder Mike Sancho to unpack the unconventional journey that shaped his business mindset. From getting expelled from both high school and college to hitting rock bottom and rebuilding his life through relentless work ethic, Mike shares how adversity pushed him into entrepreneurship The conversation explores Mike’s early experiences in network marketing, the lessons he learned from losing income streams that weren’t fully in his control, and how those challenges ultimately led him to build his own ventures.  Throughout the episode, Mike emphasizes a mindset of resilience, continuous learning, and creating multiple streams of income as the foundation for long-term financial freedom Topics Covered • Mike Sancho’s entrepreneurial journey after being expelled from school • Lessons from hitting rock bottom and rebuilding through work ethic • How network marketing can develop entrepreneurial skills • The importance of diversification and multiple income streams • Amazon wholesale vs drop-shipping business models • Building YouTube Shorts channels through influencer partnerships • Opportunities and risks in NFTs and digital ownership • How the metaverse could impact gaming, commerce, and remote work Mike Sancho Founder — Wealth Accelerators Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themikesancho Website: https://wealthaccelerators.com Ryan Alford Host — Right About Now Website: Ryanisright.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

AI isn’t about replacing people — it’s about unlocking productivity and making customer experiences feel more human. On this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford sits down with Vinod Muthukrishnan, VP & GM of Webex Customer Experience at Cisco, to discuss how AI is transforming customer experience from fragmented interactions into continuous, context-driven conversations. Vinod explains why the purpose of AI in CX is not efficiency alone — it’s humanization. From “concierge agents” that become the face of a brand to agentic systems that orchestrate complex multi-step requests across departments, this conversation explores the end of CX silos and the rise of intelligent, brand-aligned AI interfaces. They also tackle the real question everyone’s asking: is AI taking jobs — or elevating them? Key Takeaways AI should make CX more human. Automation should enhance context, empathy, and continuity — not remove them. Context is the missing link in customer loyalty. Most brands reset conversations every time. AI fixes that. Concierge agents become the brand. They orchestrate backend systems while delivering one seamless customer conversation. Agentic AI moves beyond tasks. It executes complex, multi-step “jobs” across systems over time. AI won’t replace humans — but AI-powered humans will win. Repetitive work declines. Strategic expertise rises. Connect With the Guest Vinod Muthukrishnan VP & GM, Webex Customer Experience – Cisco X: https://x.com/Vinod_CC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinodmkrishnan Connect With Ryan Ryan Alford Website: https://ryanisright.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-alford

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about growth — it’s about what holds when everything is tested. In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford speaks with entrepreneur and author Anik Singal about one of the most challenging periods of his career: navigating an extended FTC investigation that forced him to shut down operations just weeks before a major company acquisition. Anik walks through: What an FTC investigation is really like Why compliance and substantiation are critical at scale The dangers of building fast without the right guardrails How reputation and brand can protect you in the worst moments Turning professional setbacks into purpose and clarity This conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t defined by how fast you grow — but by how well you’re prepared when things go wrong. Host & Guest Info Ryan Alford Host, Right About Now Website: https://ryanisright.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford Anik Singal Entrepreneur & Author Website: https://dontsaythat.com Compliance Software: https://complylly.com

Most sales training focuses on tactics. Paul Ross focuses on the mind making the decision. In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford speaks with Paul Ross — a former founder of the global pickup and seduction community turned elite subconscious sales trainer for Fortune 500 teams. Paul shares why: People don’t trust themselves to make buying decisions Logic doesn’t close deals — emotion does Focus is the currency of persuasion Asking for the order actually lowers close rates Language creates leadership and compliance Prospects want to be led, even if they say they don’t This conversation reframes sales as influence, leadership, and subconscious trust — not scripts or pressure. Sponsors Are you interested in effortlessly growing your bitcoin portfolio?  ↳Gemini Crypto – Gemini.com/card Need help building a website? Wix has got you covered! ↳Go to wix.com/harmony.  That’s wix.com/harmony. To start your website today! Host & Guest Info Ryan Alford Host, Right About Now Website: https://ryanisright.com Paul Ross Subconscious Sales Trainer Website: https://www.sellwithsuggestion.com/rightaboutnow

Alex Morton has seen every side of success — early wins, massive income, public stages, and personal collapse. In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford talks with Alex Morton about the real journey from a broke college kid to multimillionaire, and why the moments no one sees matter more than the highlights. Alex opens up about: Making his first million at 24 — and what it didn’t fix Losing nearly everything after peak success Why network marketing works and why it gets a bad reputation How honesty beats hype in sales and leadership Why confidence and self-image determine outcomes What crypto and financial education really represent How success changes as life evolves This episode is raw, reflective, and grounded — a reminder that the journey is never linear. Host & Guest Info Ryan Alford Host, Right About Now Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford Website: https://ryanisright.com Alex Morton Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmortonmindset YouTube: Alex Morton Mindset

What happens when the brand you build isn’t actually you? In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford sits down with Jen Gottlieb, co-founder of Super Connector Media and one of Maxim Magazine’s Top Entrepreneurs, to explore the cost of pretending — and the power of authenticity. Jen opens up about her early career on VH1, how playing a character led her to lose alignment with herself, and why that experience shaped her approach to business, PR, and personal branding today. This conversation covers: Why authenticity is the fastest path to authority How rejection builds resilience and confidence The difference between rented credibility and owned credibility Jen’s CIA framework: Credibility, Influence, Authority Why being visible is a responsibility if you want to help people How to reframe “no” into momentum Why you should stop waiting for permission and choose yourself If you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or business leader struggling with visibility, confidence, or imposter syndrome — this episode is a must-listen. Sponsors Are you interested in effortlessly growing your bitcoin portfolio?  ↳Gemini Crypto – https://www.gemini.com/card?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=right_about_now&utm_content=host_read&_bhlid=160d7f4fc923d552d3acfd8e1b631d57799c5196 Connect with the Host & Guest Ryan Alford Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford Website: https://ryanisright.com Jen Gottlieb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb Company: https://superconnectormedia.com Podcast + Programs: Link in her Instagram bio If this episode resonated with you: Subscribe to Right About Now Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it Follow Ryan and Jen for daily insights on branding, visibility, and confidence

AI is no longer just a tool — it’s becoming a business operator. In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford talks with Ethan Ouyang, Head of U.S. Operations at DeepWisdom, about the rise of agentic AI and how their platform Atoms enables anyone to build revenue-ready products without writing code or managing teams. Ethan explains how Atoms differs from traditional AI tools by running a full autonomous decision loop — from market research and planning to execution, launch, and SEO-driven monetization. The discussion covers real-world use cases including DTC brands, SaaS products, internal tools, and small-business systems. Topics Covered: What agentic AI actually means Why most AI tools stop at tasks — and Atoms doesn’t How AI coordinates multiple agents autonomously Building MVPs without engineering teams Human judgment vs AI execution Cost efficiency through open-source models Who this technology is really for This episode breaks down why the barrier to building businesses has fundamentally changed — and what that means for founders willing to adapt. Sponsors Are you interested in effortlessly growing your bitcoin portfolio?  ↳Gemini Crypto – https://www.gemini.com/card?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=right_about_now&utm_content=host_read&_bhlid=160d7f4fc923d552d3acfd8e1b631d57799c5196 🔗 Connect with Host & Guest 🎙️ Host Ryan Alford Website & full episodes: https://ryanisright.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanalford 👤 Guest Ethan Ouyang Platform: https://atoms.dev Company: https://deepwisdom.ai X (Twitter): https://x.com/atoms_dev

Entrepreneurship isn’t about shortcuts — it’s about staying disciplined long enough to create your own luck. In this episode of Right About Now, Ryan Alford sits down with Josh Snow, founder and CEO of Snow, for a raw and wide-ranging conversation on adversity, discipline, and what it really takes to build a lasting business. Josh shares how starting his first business at 13 out of financial necessity shaped his mindset, why he bootstrapped Snow into a global brand with over $100M in sales without pulling money out early, and how discipline early in life leads to freedom later. The conversation also explores reinvention, legacy, and why most people quit right before things start working. This episode is for builders who are playing the long game. Topics Covered Why adversity exists at every level of success Burning the boats and reinvesting in yourself Discipline vs. regret — and why discipline always wins How luck is created through preparation Producing vs. consuming in the age of distraction Reinventing yourself without asking permission Transitioning from survival mode to legacy mode Sponsors Are you interested in effortlessly growing your bitcoin portfolio?  ↳Gemini Crypto – gemini.com/card https://gemini.com/card?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=right_about_now&utm_content=host_read Connect & Learn More 🎧 Follow the Show & Host Ryan Alford Website & full episodes: https://ryanisright.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanalford 👤 Follow the Guest Josh Snow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshsnow Snow: https://www.instagram.com/snow Affiliate Marketing: https://affiliatemarketing.com If this episode challenged how you think about discipline, success, and legacy: Subscribe to Right About Now Leave a review  Share this episode with someone who’s building for the long term Your support helps us keep bringing real conversations to builders everywhere.