Struggling to compete for top talent without breaking the bank? In this game-changing episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with Anthony Markey, owner of the Markey Agency, to reveal a counterintuitive strategy that sounds too good to be true—but isn't.  The challenge in today's environment is that small business owners often face an impossible choice. Either they offer competitive benefits to attract quality talent (which can be expensive) or risk losing their best employees to companies with better benefits packages. Anthony shares his expertise on leveraging innovative wellness benefit structures and strategic benefit planning to create a win-win scenario where employees can see increased take-home pay while employers potentially reduce overall costs.   Whether you're facing small business challenges with retention, looking to enhance your workplace culture, or seeking innovative approaches to entrepreneurship, this business podcast episode delivers strategies you can implement immediately. Don't miss these insights that could transform how you approach benefits and talent management.  Key Takeaways:  Strategic benefit structures create opportunities: Properly designed wellness benefits can potentially increase employee net pay while reducing employer costs through various mechanisms  Shop your benefits annually: Loyalty to brokers often results in overcharging by thousands per employee, making regular competitive reviews essential for small business leadership   Wellness benefits drive engagement: Employees participate more actively when benefits directly impact their financial outcomes, leading to healthier teams and reduced sick days  Fiduciary responsibility is expanding: Companies over 100 employees already face legal requirements to secure best-value benefits, with smaller businesses likely following suit  Listen to employee feedback: Workers often share information about competitors' benefits that can guide your talent acquisition strategy  🔗 Connect with the Experts:  Learn More About Anthony: https://ikag.me  Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire  Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess    Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions.  Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock  Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content.  Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:corey@keyhire.solutions)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

At the midpoint of 2025, small business owners find themselves navigating an economic rollercoaster that has included surges, slumps, and everything in between. In this essential episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock delivers a candid assessment of the current market conditions and reveals why the seemingly stable 4.5% unemployment rate is misleading small business owners about the real talent acquisition challenges ahead.  Corey identifies the core problem: while the economy appears neutral on the surface, small businesses are caught in a deceptive calm before the storm. Economists predict ongoing market "mushiness" through the summer, followed by either a strong rebound or further slowdown, depending on the outcome of trade agreements. This uncertainty makes it even more critical for business owners to act decisively on workforce decisions now. The central question becomes: how do you maintain your competitive edge in talent acquisition when scaling a small business during uncertain times?  This episode examines the dynamics shaping today's job market and discusses the limitations of conventional hiring strategies employed by small businesses. Corey cautions against relying on "rental player talent”, which is a workforce that may be temporarily accessible now but will leave for better opportunities when the market improves. Instead, use strategic workforce planning to help your business prepare for the impending market acceleration. Focus on building long-term talent acquisition strategies that make your business bulletproof against market volatility.  Key Takeaways:  -Invest in keeping your best people – If you are struggling a bit or facing a tight summer, consider reducing hours or implementing temporary pay cuts rather than layoffs. Replacing skilled workers will be exponentially more expensive when the economy rebounds.  -Build passive talent pipelines now - Establish relationships with trade schools and implement structured internship programs to create a steady flow of qualified candidates before competition intensifies.  -Invest in AI integration during slow periods - Use current downtime to automate processes and reduce future hiring needs, positioning your business ahead of the talent shortage curve.  -Avoid bargain hunting in hiring - Pay above-market rates for quality candidates now to build loyalty and prevent them from leaving when better offers emerge.  -Prepare for the "war for talent" resurgence - Understand that current market conditions are temporary, and businesses that don't prepare will face severe disadvantages in the future.  This episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast provides the strategic framework needed for how to scale a business effectively during economic uncertainty, offering practical solutions that transform challenges into competitive advantages.  Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire  Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess  Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions    Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The KeyHire Small Business Podcast brings you a critical conversation with economist Dr. Bill Conerly that every entrepreneur needs to hear. As Principal Consultant of Conerly Consulting and senior contributor to Forbes, Bill identified a shocking demographic reality 20 years ago that's now reshaping how we think about talent strategy and small business management.  Bill defines the core problem facing today's business owners: "The current decade from 2020 to 2030 has the lowest growth of the working age population since the Civil War." This isn't just a temporary market fluctuation—it's a fundamental shift that's transforming hiring strategies across America. While many business leaders think the tight labor market will ease up, Bill reveals why scaling a small business will only get more challenging in the years ahead.  Host Corey Harlock, CEO of KeyHire Solutions and experienced business consultant, dives deep with Bill to uncover why traditional management approaches are failing and what successful entrepreneurs are doing differently. This episode delivers actionable solutions for organization design and leadership skills that actually work in today's competitive small business landscape.  This episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast isn't just about surviving the current labor market—it's about building a sustainable talent strategy that positions your business for long-term success.  🔗 Connect with the Experts:  Learn More about Conerly Consulting: conerlyconsulting.com (http://conerlyconsulting.com)  Connect with Bill: www.linkedin.com/in/businomics/ (http://www.linkedin.com/in/businomics/)  Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire  Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess  Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:corey@keyhire.solutions)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are you struggling to maintain your team's alignment and focus in today's unpredictable business environment? In this episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with Simone Janssen, founder of Bulletproof Business Growth, to explore how effective leadership can create internal certainty even when the external world feels chaotic.  The biggest hurdle isn't external pressures—it's the gap between what's clear in a leader's mind and how they convey that information in a way that their team truly understands. While leaders are laser-focused on growing the business, the best teams may be working without the clarity they need to deliver results. When vision doesn't translate into actionable direction, talent becomes wasted potential, and growth stalls regardless of market conditions.   Simone reveals her powerful "5 C's" framework and shares business growth tips that help entrepreneurs move from being the bottleneck to becoming the strategic leaders their companies need. Whether you're managing 10 employees or 50, this conversation offers actionable strategies for overcoming the leadership challenges that often prevent small businesses from reaching their full potential.  Key Takeaways:  The 5 C's Framework: Clarity, Context, Communication, Certainty, and Consistency—the non-negotiable foundation every high-performing team needs to thrive in chaos.  Leadership = Certainty Creation: Stop managing tasks. Start creating unshakeable certainty that empowers your team to execute without you.  Communication Flows Down, Not Around: Information must cascade through your chain of command—bypassing managers destroys accountability and undermines leadership.  No Accountability Chart = Business Failure: Without crystal-clear ownership of responsibilities, even your best people will underperform and burn out.  Slow Down to Speed Up: Building proper systems and leadership structures now prevents the expensive mistakes that come from reactive scaling.  Clarity Reveals True Performance: Give people clear expectations and consistent feedback—you'll instantly separate your A-players from those who need to go.  Learn more about Simone: bulletproofbusinessgrowth.com (http://bulletproofbusinessgrowth.com)   🔗 Connect with the Experts:   Learn more about Simone: bulletproofbusinessgrowth.com (http://bulletproofbusinessgrowth.com) ·   Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire ·   Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess  Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock   Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:corey@keyhire.solutions)    Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are you a small business owner dreaming of a successful exit strategy? In this compelling episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with serial entrepreneur Eric Grafstrom, founder and CEO of Exit Guide, to tackle one of the most critical challenges facing today's business owners: how to properly package and prepare your business for sale to maximize your return.  Eric defines the core problem plaguing small business management today: most business owners are completely unprepared for the complex exit process, leading to failed sales, collapsed deals, and significantly reduced returns. This isn't just about poor planning—it's about years of hard work potentially going unrewarded due to avoidable mistakes that savvy entrepreneurs can easily prevent with proper preparation.   This episode delves into the often-overlooked realm of small business exits, examining why businesses with revenue under $5 million are frequently overlooked by traditional advisors, despite representing a substantial market share. You'll learn about the crucial timing considerations, essential documentation, and common emotional pitfalls that can derail otherwise profitable exits. The discussion also includes innovative tools and strategies that make professional-level exit planning accessible to everyday business owners who have not previously navigated this complex process.  You'll uncover the critical timeline for preparing a business for growth, the essential documents every serious seller requires, and why having a post-sale plan is just as crucial as the exit strategy itself. Eric shares real-world examples illustrating what distinguishes successful exits from costly failures, offering practical business growth tips that every scaling small business owner needs to hear.  This isn't your typical business growth discussion, it's a roadmap for transforming your life's work into the financial freedom you've earned. Whether you're planning to exit in six months or six years, the insights shared in this episode could be the difference between a successful transition and a devastating disappointment.  Thanks for listening! Learn more about Eric: https://ericgrafstrom.com Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content." Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review, or share this episode with a friend. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:contact@podcastemail.com) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Have you ever tried to lead your team, only to be met with disappointing results? The problem might not be your leadership skills but rather the different ways your entrepreneurial brain operates in comparison to your team. In this insightful episode of the KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock welcomes Marina Morgan, founder of the Morgan Group, to discuss the neuroscience behind entrepreneurial thinking and its impact on small business leadership growth and workplace culture. The Core Problem: Neurological Disconnects in Communication The central challenge for entrepreneurs is a biological disconnect when communicating with teams. Entrepreneurs possess unique neurological traits, with more neural pathways between their brain's reward and planning regions, enabling them to perceive possibilities that remain invisible to others. Marina explains, "The first and most important, in my opinion, is the entrepreneur's sensitivity to the dopamine system. Your experience, the wave of dopamine, your pleasure, your enjoyment that you can feel when you achieve some results, is much higher than the average population." This fundamental difference affects how entrepreneurs communicate with their teams and sets expectations that may seem obvious to founders but not to employees. Common Leadership Mistakes Made by Entrepreneurial Minds Expecting the same level of motivation: Entrepreneurs experience a higher dopamine rush from achievement than the average person. This neurological difference leads them to anticipate the same enthusiasm from team members who do not receive the same chemical reward for their accomplishments. Speed of thought and decision-making: Entrepreneurial brains typically process information at an accelerated rate. This can create frustration when leaders fail to recognize that team members require more time to visualize paths forward. Misalignment between expressed values and actual leadership behavior: When organizational values don't match leadership behavior, team members receive mixed signals. This can erode trust, a critical factor in creating a positive workplace culture. Call to Action 🔗 Connect with the Experts: ·         Learn more about Marina Morgan: https://themorganimpact.com/ ·         Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire ·         Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess Thanks for listening! Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content." Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review, or share this episode with a friend. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:contact@podcastemail.com) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are you struggling to take your business to the next level? What if the very team you've built is now holding you back from scaling to the next growth milestone? In this transformative episode of the Key Hire Small Business Podcast, Corey Harlock and Neil Katz dive deep into the most critical yet often overlooked challenge facing growing businesses: leadership capacity. Listeners will discover the truth about leadership limitations, learning why the team that helped start a business might be the same team preventing future success. The discussion reveals how leaders who excel at managing 5-10 employees often struggle to lead teams of 100 or drive revenues from $1 million to $50 million.   The episode provides a compassionate yet strategic approach to managing challenging leadership transitions. These actionable insights provide a roadmap for strategic talent development, prompting entrepreneurs to reassess their approach to leadership and team building. Whether you're a small business owner feeling stuck or an entrepreneur planning your next phase of scaling, this episode promises to provide the clarity and direction you need to transform your leadership team and accelerate your business growth.  The Core Problem: Outgrowing Your Current Talent  Neil Katz defines the central issue: "What got you here won't get you there." As businesses scale, the harsh reality is that the leadership team that helped you start often lacks the skills to take you to the next level. Katz explains that "when you have five or 10 employees, that same leader, in many cases, does not have the capability, skills, or background to take you to 100 employees or 1,000 employees, or from $1 million in revenue to $50 million."  🔗 Connect with the Experts:  Learn more about Neil Katz: www.exceptionalhrsolutions.com (http://www.exceptionalhrsolutions.com)  Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire   Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess  Thanks for listening! Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content." Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review, or share this episode with a friend. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:contact@podcastemail.com) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This week on The KeyHire Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with Corey Morris, President of Voltage Digital Marketing, for an in-depth conversation on how small business owners can build a powerful and effective online marketing strategy. As part of our ongoing small business management podcast series, this episode focuses on real-world marketing strategies for small businesses that drive growth. From understanding your audience to choosing the right channels and measuring success, Corey breaks down the essential components every entrepreneur and business leader needs to know in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to sharpen your current approach, this episode delivers practical business growth tips and actionable steps to help you grow a small business and generate measurable results online. Learn more about Corey Morris: voltage.digital (http://voltage.digital) Connect with Corey Morris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreymorris/ Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess Thanks for listening! Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content." Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review, or share this episode with a friend. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:contact@podcastemail.com) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This week on The KeyHire Podcast, Corey Harlock dives into the growing trend of Boomerang employees—former team members who return after time away. He unpacks what makes them unique, how they can support your business growth goals, and the right way to bring them back into your team. From hiring challenges and the hiring process to organization design and talent acquisition, Corey shares real-world insights that help you make smarter, more strategic decisions. He also breaks down common mistakes—like assuming loyalty or cultural fit—that can hurt your efforts to grow or scale a small business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for small business lessons, trying to improve your hiring strategies, or focused on how to build culture and team alignment, this episode is packed with practical, no-fluff advice. Tune in to strengthen your workforce and support sustainable, smart growth. Whether you're considering bringing someone back or just curious about the dynamics, this episode will give you the insight you need to make smarter hiring decisions. Thanks for listening! Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram @keyhiresolutions. Follow Corey on LinkedIn @Corey Harlock Visit our website at https://www.keyhire.solutions/the-keyhire-podcast for more content." Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review, or share this episode with a friend. Want to get in touch? Email us at corey@keyhire.solutions (mailto:contact@podcastemail.com) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Clear communication can make or break a business. In this episode, host Corey Harlock sits down with Dr. Robert Johnson, Founder & Managing Partner of Shoreline Partners, to explore powerful strategies leaders can use to enhance communication within their companies. Dr. Johnson shares insights on why being “100% right” isn’t always enough in a world where multiple perspectives and interpretations exist. Learn how to navigate complex conversations, align your team, and create a culture of clarity and accountability. Tune in for expert advice on strengthening leadership communication and fostering a more effective workplace. Learn more: https://teamtransformationmethod.com Connect with Dr. Johnson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbobjohnson/ Check out our sponsor: https://bit.ly/CS-KeyHire Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.