Knack 4 Business

When the founder is the face of the business, it can lower its sale price and make it hard to pass on value.

Caroline Troy walked into many companies where the founder was the star: everyone knew them, they did many things, and the business depended on them. One day she had a founder ask, “If I stepped away, would my business still be worth something?” That question led her to help businesses change so they are more than just one person. In this episode, we hear how being the face of your business can be a hidd...

Many business owners struggle to make their message heard because they don’t tell their story in a way that feels real.

Once upon a time, there was an entrepreneur who felt invisible. Her words were lost, her brand quiet. Then Helen Harwood Snell stepped in—storyteller, coach, expert in turning simple messages into powerful stories. In this episode of Knack 4 Business, hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt sit down with Helen to learn how stories can change everything—from building trust to increasing sales. Helen shares how she crafts messages that feel true, clear, and hard to ign...

Eric Pierre once chased a basketball dream—but life had a twist. He redirected that drive into numbers, taxes, and accounting. Today, Eric’s using lessons from courtside grit to help high‑net‑worth individuals and entrepreneurs win financially.

He wrote The Great Tax Escape, drawing on years at Fortune 500 firms and his own path. In this episode, Eric reveals how pro athletes’ financial habits can become your tools for tax savings, smarter planning, even preparing for business exit—all grounded in real experience.

Key topics covered:

Too many diverse workplaces struggle to build clarity and connection across cultural and communication gaps.

What happens when a community leader brings comedy, curiosity, and courageous questions into the boardroom?

You get Jason Doiron—a leadership and dialogue expert at The Purposeful Group—who helps diverse teams unlock deeper connection through intentional hosting and vulnerability. In this episode, Jason sits down with Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt to explore how leaders can build better communities at work by creating space for real conversations, honest mistakes, and shared purpose.

You’ll hear stories from the fr...

Many people fail to prepare a will, leaving families to face messy legal trouble and unknown outcomes.

Once upon a time, Sara thought she’d be okay without writing a will. But when she had health trouble, people fought over decisions. In this episode, Redmond O’Brien from Odette Rwigamba Lawyers PC tells why wills matter, how divorce and family law cases get messy without honest disclosures, and how powers of attorney protect you.

We talk about:

Business owners often underestimate cyber risks—and that leaves them exposed.

Once upon a time, many businesses thought cyber threats were problems for “big companies only.” But Greg Young from Trend Micro—with over 35 years of experience—shows us that the dangers are real and that everyone is at risk. Picture a business owner who opens one phishing email… and suddenly, ransomware locks everything. Greg explains how that can happen, why older tech is a soft target, and how AI is both a friend and a foe in this fast-changing world.

In our chat, Greg guides us st...

How can you attract clients without ever feeling or being pushy?

With 25+ years of experience, Shawn isn’t about slick sales—she’s about being you, thinking right, and messaging clearly.

In this episode, Shawn shares:

Whether you're a founder, coach, or consu...

Gerry Lalonde of X-Roads Technology Partners joins hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt to explore what most founders overlook—until it's too late. From preparing for IPOs and private placements to building leadership teams and managing exits, Gerry shares key strategies for founders at every stage. Learn how to recognize your company's true health, embrace future-focused thinking, and plan for success even in uncertainty. Don’t miss the wisdom—and surprises—in this candid conversation.

The problem this episode solves:
Most business owners wait too long to plan their exit or prepare for unexpected events. T...

Burned out by the business side of your art? Marjorie Gutierrez of Smart Business Designs shares her journey from fine art shipping to soulful systems. With over 20 years of experience, she offers creative entrepreneurs tools to create order without sacrificing passion. Hear how she balances creativity and structure, why pricing matters, and how to build boundaries that protect your energy. This episode is packed with practical advice and soulful encouragement. Join hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt for this inspiring conversation.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/-3e71FGn3HU
Questions or comments? Email...

How to sell without feeling pushy, stressful, or inauthentic.

Imagine you dread selling—too much pressure, too much push. That’s how many of us feel. Today, we welcome Mark Kempf, author of Unfurl Your Sales, who shakes things up with his “Quoin” principle—a gentle, respectful way to build long‑term client trust without the stress of aggressive tactics.

With over 40 years in insurance sales, Mark has seen it all—and he knows the shortcuts don’t work. Instead, he invites us to slow down and personalize. In this episode, he walks us through real stories of...

What would happen to your business if your systems went down tomorrow?

That’s the question Erika Andresen helps answer in this powerful episode of Knack 4 Business. Erika, founder of EaaS Consulting LLC, is a military veteran and former lawyer turned business continuity strategist.

She shares her inspiring journey from legal and military service to helping businesses survive and thrive through crisis planning. Erika shows us how even the smallest companies can prepare for the unexpected—from natural disasters to digital disruptions—without breaking the bank.

What You’ll Learn:

Once, James Mackenzie, co‑founder of Purecolo, had big dreams but knew that growth meant more than just ideas—it needed strong teams and smart systems. He learned that when people work well together, the company grows stronger and faster. Today, he tells that journey as five simple strategies that anyone can use.

Key topics covered:

Guest link: James Mackenzie (Purecolo COO & co‑founder)

Acknowledgments:
Tha...

Too many young learners lack engaging, future‑focused tools that spark curiosity about science, play, and innovation.

Imagine a child looking up at the sky, wondering what comes next, but feeling boxed in by stale toys and stale lessons. That’s when Anthony Hall stepped in. After years in Silicon Valley, Anthony founded TREO (The Rose of Education Organization) with a simple vision: to make learning playful, inspiring, and space‑ready. His brain‑child, the Dragons Fire Flying Egg, isn’t just a toy—it’s a zero‑gravity exercise platform that brings storytelling, technology, and movement together.

...

🏡 What if finding the perfect buyer for your home wasn’t about luck—but strategy?

In this episode of the Knack 4 Business Podcast, we sit down with Eric Perron, a licensed real estate professional at Engel & Völkers, who brings over a decade of experience from both the luxury property market and the world of high-net-worth investment advising.

🛠️ THE PROBLEM ERIC SOLVES:
Most homeowners and investors don’t know how to attract the right buyers or understand what truly motivates a home purchase.

🎧 PODCAST STORY SUMMARY

From drone footage to digital...

Decision fatigue and multitasking myths erode focus and workplace culture.

Picture this: You and your team are juggling so many choices every day—from minor decisions to big strategic ones. Soon, everyone feels worn out, productivity drops, and morale takes a hit. That’s exactly the trap Bob Wendover helps you avoid.

Bob, with more than 37 years of experience at Common Sense Enterprises, takes us on a journey through the hidden dangers of decision overload and multitasking. Drawing from his book Overcoming Overwhelm, he explains how tiny changes—like simplifying choices and reinforcing clarity—can transform your...

How can you make money and make a difference?
In this episode, Mark Engstar, founder of Strangers Community, shares how his mission-driven approach helps build financially independent communities. You’ll discover strategies to blend business and social good—covering multiple income streams, sustainable models, and impact-driven growth. A must‑listen for entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and changemakers. Stay with us as we bring you stories, tools, and ideas to grow profitably and purposefully.

Problem solved: How to make money while making a real difference in your community.

Mark Engstar is the founder of Strangers Communi...

Ryan Chute from Wizard of Ads reveals how businesses can remove friction to grow faster. In this episode of Knack 4 Business, Ryan shares his journey from retail and automotive struggles to championing frictionless systems. Learn why compensation, culture, and communication matter—and how simple fixes can multiply your revenue. Startup founders, solopreneurs, and scaling business owners will gain actionable insights, real-world examples, and growth strategies. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SGoLeYrd91g. Comment, connect, or share your thoughts with us at info@kreativinsight.com or visit https://knack4business.com/.

Most businesses lose money because of fr...

What if a few strategic design choices could turn your rental property into a tenant magnet? How to increase the value and appeal of rental properties through cost-effective staging and furnishing strategies.

In this enlightening episode of The Property Wizard, originally aired on April 19, 2022, host Fred Crouch and co-host Bernie welcome special guest Monique Doucette of Trendsetter Home Staging & Design to uncover the transformative power of furnishing and staging your rental spaces.

📺 Watch on YouTube

With over 20 years of experience in furniture rental and home staging, Monique shares the hard-won lessons and str...

In this episode of Knack 4 Business, hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt welcome Adam Kirkaldy, founder of From Aspiring to Inspiring and the UK’s only certified MindTime facilitator. Adam’s unusual path — from opera singer to global leadership trainer — reveals why kindness is not weakness, but a strategic advantage. He shares how psychological insight and thinking styles can transform management, lower stress, and build trust across cultures. From tackling micromanagement to navigating hybrid workplaces, Adam’s advice equips leaders at every stage to inspire their teams. Perfect for business owners, emerging managers, and anyone ready to lead with confidence...

The Problem:
Too many leaders focus on productivity—but neglect the mental health of their teams.

Story:
Robert Manolson knows what it’s like to face depression and anxiety while building a business. Today, as the founder of Powerful Play Experiences, he’s on a mission to challenge business leaders to embrace mental health optimism.

In this episode of Everything Starts With a Conversation, hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt dive into how the right mindset, language, and leadership approach can create a thriving workplace culture where people—and profits—flourish.

You’ll dis...

Growing a small business can be overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode of Knack 4 Business, hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt explore how the Canada Growth Network helps entrepreneurs scale smarter with AI-powered tools, CRM systems, and referral marketing. Guests Percy Barr and Chris Sturges share real-world strategies for building community, mastering the perfect pitch, and creating consistent revenue without burnout. Learn why collaboration, education, and smart automation are the future of small business growth. Perfect for founders, coaches, and service-based professionals ready to grow with support.

What if th...

How can you break free from pressure and performance to find sustainable fulfillment?

A Story of Transformation

Once upon a time, Sheila Williams was stuck under the weight of pressure—performing, hustling, and pushing ahead. She felt burnt out, disconnected from her emotional needs, and stuck in a cycle where success felt empty. Then she discovered that one simple shift—asking the right question—changed everything.

Sheila, a Canadian mindset coach, took the step to stop chasing performance and started tuning into her emotional needs. She learned to build her life around fulfillment instea...

🎙 Episode Overview

The problem this speaker solves in one sentence:
Teams fail when they misunderstand each other across departments.

In this episode of The Secret Reason Teams Don’t Understand Each Other, we bring on John Taylor McEntire of Mutual Prosperity to share his Sync Method—a revolutionary way to decode and align communication across different teams. He shows how to remove barriers caused by culture, generational gaps, and language differences so everyone can work in sync.

🧠 Summary of the Conversation

John opens with a story of a team divide...

The problem Daniel solves:
Why LinkedIn posting doesn’t bring in leads—and how to fix it.

Once upon a time, Daniel Alfon posted on LinkedIn every day—but still didn’t get any leads. He felt frustrated: lots of activity, no results. That all changed when he focused on being really well‑connected, matching his online profile to who he truly is, and sharing stories that matter. Now, his LinkedIn strategy brings real results.

In this episode, we follow Daniel’s journey from mistakes to mastery.
We learn how he shifted from chasing foll...

Many leaders struggle to get buy-in and drive results when they don’t have formal authority. This episode reveals how to lead with influence instead of titles.

Have you ever been asked to lead—but didn’t have the official title to match? You’re not alone.

In this episode of Knack 4 Business, we sit down with Mohammed Lahloub, a seasoned leadership coach and entrepreneur, who knows what it means to guide others without formal power. Whether you're running a volunteer group, managing a cross-functional project, or leading a startup team, Mohammed shares the tools...

Most leaders chase outside success and lose touch with who they truly are. Peggy helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom to lead with purpose—and thrive.

Have you ever followed all the “rules” of success—yet still felt something was missing?

Peggy O’Neal knows that feeling well. After more than a decade as a successful lawyer, Peggy took a bold step: she walked away from the traditional path to follow a deeper calling.

In this powerful episode of Knack 4 Business, Peggy sits down with hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt to sh...

Many companies struggle to attract and keep Gen Z talent in a fast-changing world.

Summary:
In this inspiring episode, TEDx speaker and Chief Emerging Talent Officer Brien Convery shares smart, doable strategies to connect with the next generation of talent.

As the founder of Convery and Company, Brien helps businesses build ecosystems where young professionals can learn, grow, and lead. His work at Emerge Talent focuses on what really matters to Gen Z: meaning, mentorship, and mindset.

👉 Watch the full episode here: YouTube Link

🧭 What You’ll Learn:

The Problem:
Too many business owners chase profits without purpose—leaving impact, fulfillment, and connection behind.

One quiet evening, Genevieve Piturro heard a voice inside her heart ask a simple, life-changing question: “If this is the next 30 years of your life… is this enough?”

That moment turned everything upside down.

She was a successful TV marketing executive—living the dream on paper. But deep down, something was missing. That question sparked her mission to start a nonprofit from scratch: Pajama Program, which has now delivered over 8 million pajamas and books to children in need.<...

The problem Andrew Dewar solves:
Many people chase success but still feel unfulfilled—this episode offers a path to real, lasting joy.

What if you woke up excited for your day, every day?

Meet Andrew Dewar, a former certified professional accountant who left a high-paying corporate life behind to become an advanced energy healer. Why? Because like many of us, he hit a point where financial success no longer equaled personal fulfillment.

Now, through his work at Five Year You, Andrew helps people reconnect with themselves, break free from "default living," and cr...

Imagine building a business that runs like clockwork—without you having to be there 24/7. That's exactly what Oliver Wolf from 
Beyond The Peak has mastered, and in this episode, he walks us through how you can do it too.

From a young, scrappy entrepreneur to a systems-driven business coach, Oliver shares his journey and the key frameworks that helped him—and now his clients—scale sustainably.

In this candid conversation with hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt, Oliver breaks down the 80-20 executive model, the power of team harmonization, and how to shift from being t...

Protecting your home title from identity theft and fraud.

Curt Moore left the energy sector to build Moat Title Security, a company focused on defending homeowners from title identity theft. He explains why standard title insurance isn’t enough, especially with rising fraud. Through products like the Notice of Title Freeze and Notice of Occupancy, Moat gives homeowners ongoing, expert protection.

We dive into:

🛠 The Problem Ron Solves in One Sentence:
Many businesses have data backups—but no tested recovery plan when disaster strikes.

🎙 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Beyond Backups: Smart Disaster Recovery Strategies, Ron Klink of Disaster Recovery Solutions shares true stories and clear steps businesses can take before—and after—cyber or system crises. He explains why too many rely on backups alone and how preventive maintenance, insurance, and ransomware readiness create real toughness. Whether you're a solopreneur or scaling team, Ron gives easy-to-follow guidance backed by real-world examples.

📌 Key Topics Covered:

Small businesses struggle to use AI because it seems too complex and expensive.

Meet Rahel Gunaratne from Web Indexer, who shows how everyday businesses can use AI tools to attract leads, talk to customers, and clean up data—no PhD required.

📖 The Story

Rahel started coding, joined hackathons, and realized AI doesn’t have to be flashy to work. In this episode, he shares the “why” behind his startup journey and how he built Web Indexer to help small businesses. Instead of chasing buzzwords, he focuses on tools that make sense, deliver real ROI, and sc...

The Problem: Many businesses look profitable—but struggle because cash isn’t managed properly.

In this story-driven episode, Matt Partrich from Gaines Capital Books shares a journey familiar to many small-business owners: the shock of discovering that “profit on paper” doesn’t mean money in the bank. Starting with poor invoicing and weak payment terms, through hired help like CPAs and CFOs, Matt takes us from watchful panic to financial confidence. He reveals how he helped clients rework budgets, forecasts, and separate personal vs. business expenses—turning financial stress into sustainable growth.

Key takeaways include:

Too many entrepreneurs feel alone while building their business—without access to a meaningful, supportive network.

Podcast summary in a storytelling format:
When Sandra Saric joined Hive, it was a coworking space. But what she saw was much more—a launchpad for innovation, connection, and wellness.

In this inspiring conversation, Sandra walks us through how she reimagined Hive as a global membership club, where professionals don’t just rent a desk—they become part of a vibrant community. Her journey is about more than spaces and memberships—it’s about people coming together to grow.

...

The Problem Greg Solves in One Sentence:
Struggling with business growth, goal-setting, and team unity? Greg shows you how to fix that.

Summary:
In this episode of Mastering Business Growth with Peak Experience Strategies, we chat with Greg Hess, founder of Coach Hess On Demand. Greg reveals how staying true to your purpose, building a winning team, tracking financials, and focusing on peak moments can accelerate growth. From his early days coaching basketball to helping businesses drive revenue, Greg shares practical tools and mindset shifts to elevate your journey.

Key Topics Covered:

Many people attend networking events but don’t build real, lasting connections that help grow their business.

In this episode, Jeffrey DeSocio, AIMC Business Solutions, shares how his networking journey—from working at Staples in 2007 to founding Mass Professional Networking—led him into entrepreneurship. Jeffrey stresses that networking isn’t transactional—it’s about building genuine relationships. He dives into techniques for meaningful follow‑up, balancing face‑to‑face connection with digital tools like LinkedIn and e‑cards, and aligning your connections with career ambitions. Filled with practical advice, this episode helps you turn every handshake and connection into...

How can MedTech innovators effectively bring life-changing technologies to market in a complex healthcare world?

In this episode of Knack 4 Business, we welcome Dan Gibson of Gibson Growth Insights, a MedTech sales leader with over 20 years of experience. Dan has helped pioneering companies bridge the gap between innovation and impact—especially in the intricate systems of healthcare in North America.

From deep sales strategy to navigating regulatory challenges, this episode offers listeners a masterclass in how to sell complex medical solutions and thrive in a competitive marketplace.

🎙️ Watch the full episode on YouTube: Click h...

Early subconscious beliefs can block your success—Judy helps you identify and reshape them.

In this episode, Judy Kane of Aligned Consciousness reveals how up to 95% of our behaviors are driven by subconscious beliefs formed by the age of seven. These hidden beliefs often fuel fear of success, fear of visibility, and imposter syndrome—holding you back both personally and professionally.

🎯 Key Topics Covered

Many service-based businesses struggle to truly understand and retain their ideal clients.

In this episode, Catharine O’Leary, founder of Client Intelligence Agency, dives into using AI to gain deep client insights and build lasting relationships. With over 30 years of experience working with Fortune 100 companies, she shows how to identify your ideal client, craft meaningful conversations, and boost revenue through storytelling and retention strategies.

Key Topics Covered: