Tough Love for Business Podcast Archive

In another engaging episode of Tough Love for Business, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay explore the concept of building a business that operates independently, allowing owners the freedom to choose their level of involvement. They emphasize that a successful business should be a profitable entity that doesn’t require the owner’s constant presence, debunking the misconception that loving one’s business means

In this episode of Tough Love for Business, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay explore the critical distinction between the mind and the brain, emphasizing how each influences decision-making and behavior. Mike explains that while the brain is a physical organ handling basic functions, the mind holds beliefs and perspectives, often shaped by generational influences, which guide actions and determine success.

In this podcast episode, Mike McKay and Jackie Zach discuss the pitfalls of worry as a management tool, stressing that worry rarely leads to productive outcomes. Mike recounts a conversation with his coach, who prompted him to evaluate the actual outcomes of his past worries—revealing that most were unfounded. The duo explains that worry creates a “parent-child” communication dynamic, where

Listen in as Jackie Zach and Mike McKay explore the transformative potential of subscription and membership models in various industries in this episode of the Make More Work Less podcast. They highlight innovative examples, such as Porsche’s subscription service, which allows customers to select different vehicles weekly without the usual hassles of ownership. Mike emphasizes that businesses must adapt to

In this episode of the Make More Work Less podcast, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay delve into the essential elements of staffing and employee retention, inspired by insights from a recent networking event. They outline six keys to creating a winning team, starting with strong leadership, which involves both inspiring employees toward shared goals and providing clear expectations. The duo

In this episode of the Make More Work Less podcast, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay discuss the four factors of selection that influence decision-making. These factors—control, fear, distinction, and story—are crucial in guiding individuals to make effective choices. The first factor, control, emphasizes giving the person you’re communicating with a sense of control, often through no-oriented questions, which helps them

In this episode of the Make More Work Less podcast, Jackie Zach and Mike McKay discuss the crucial topic of customer retention. They emphasize the importance of knowing your customer retention rate, highlighting that it’s often more cost-effective to retain existing customers than to acquire new ones. Jackie explains that many businesses mistakenly think customers leave due to price, but

This episode of the Make More Work Less podcast dives into the 6 S’s of experiential marketing with Jackie Zach and Mike McKay. They begin by discussing how marketing should tell a story that resonates with prospects, using a framework that includes the mess, turning point, and success. This narrative structure helps customers identify with the struggle and the solution,

In this Make More Work Less episode, Jackie Zach introduces a new series with Mike McKay called A Diary of a Fast-Growing Company. Jackie shares her excitement about the company’s rapid growth and reflects on how much things have changed since she joined three years ago. She and Mike plan to discuss the journey of leading a fast-growing business, using

Jackie Zach and Mike McKay discuss the value of creating an external “enemy” or competitive focus for teams within a company, rather than allowing internal competition and conflict to thrive in this podcast episode. They explain that as companies grow, they are increasingly susceptible to internal friction, which can drain management time, energy, and productivity. To counter this, Mike suggests