Tough Love for Business Podcast Archive

In this episode of the Tough Love for Business podcast, Mike McKay and Jackie Zach delve into the essentials of selling. They emphasize that selling is a perishable skill requiring regular practice to avoid becoming rusty. Effective selling is less about elaborate techniques and more about genuinely understanding and addressing the prospect’s needs. Role-playing and ongoing training are highlighted as

Tune in as Jackie Zach and Mike McKay explore the natural law of entropy and how it might be affecting your business. Mike explains that entropy is the tendency of systems to move towards disorder over time, using the metaphor of a drop of food coloring dispersing in water to illustrate how processes, if not regularly maintained, can lose their

In another insightful episode, hosts Mike McKay and Jackie Zach focus on the critical role of mindset in personal and professional growth. They discuss how mindset shapes identity and influences everything from business decisions to team interactions. Mike emphasizes that mindset affects how we perceive challenges and opportunities, often reflected back at us through our experiences. Jackie shares her own

In today’s discussion, hosts Mike McKay and Jackie Zach tackle the concept of perturbation, a state of discomfort and resistance that occurs when someone is pushed to the edge of their comfort zone. Mike likens perturbation to the phase change of water from liquid to steam, highlighting the intense energy and growth potential that come from pushing through discomfort. They

Discover how Jackie Zach and Mike McKay faced and overcame substantial changes in their business, and how involving your team in the process can lead to success. They reflect on their own experiences, particularly focusing on the transition from a traditional marketing approach to a more digital strategy. Mike shares a pivotal moment from 2014 when they had to rethink

Listen as hosts Mike McKay and Jackie Zach share the transformative changes in their business and the lessons learned along the way. They delve into the challenges and revelations from their journey, emphasizing the importance of transparency and honest communication. Mike shares insights from their transition, including the decision to shift from being “doers” to focusing on true ownership and

The first step in the buying journey is the customer identifies a problem and what do they want. Listen as we discuss the customer buying journey and how you can help to influence it. Want to learn more about how to influence the customer buying journey in your business? Take advantage of a complimentary business strategy session to discover the

On today’s Tough Love for Business podcast, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay tackle the frustrations business owners face when they feel their businesses aren’t reaching their full potential. They emphasize that hard work alone isn’t enough for success; strategic thinking and leadership are essential. The hosts advocate for adopting a clear business philosophy, such as “The ONE Thing” or “The

In this episode of the Tough Love for Business podcast, hosts Jackie Zach and Mike McKay discuss the key qualities that define a championship team, drawing parallels between sports and business leadership. They emphasize that business owners must eliminate excuses, set clear expectations, and act as coaches for their employees. Both hosts stress that teamwork, singular focus, and clearly defined

Tune in as Jackie Zach and Mike McKay discuss the crucial role of setting clear expectations in a business environment. Jackie shares a story from a management class experiment where clear expectations around punctuality and accountability improved participants’ behavior without the need for penalties. Mike adds a more Draconian perspective from his experience in a union factory, where enforcing strict