The KeyHire Small Business Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Every business owner measures success differently. Some focus on profit, others on cash flow or growth. But few truly understand the three numbers that determine whether a company can scale or survive. In this episode, Corey Harlock talks with Dave Saunders, early internet pioneer and founder of Base Reality Group, about the three essential numbers every small business owner must know: revenue, cost, and runway.

Before the conversation begins, Corey shares some exciting news. The KeyHire Podcast was named Best Business Consultant by the Best of Small Business Awards, and the show was recently featured in Forbes after economist Bill Connerly referenced one of their past episodes. It has been a rewarding start to the year, and Corey credits the KeyHire community for helping the podcast grow and reach new milestones.

Dave’s career began at Lucent Bell Labs, where he helped create the first commercial Wi-Fi hotspot in partnership with Apple. From there, he co-founded Galen Robotics, raised $25 million in funding, and built a reputation for helping founders grow profitable, process-driven businesses. His book, Founders Who Finish, captures much of what he has learned along the way, but today he focuses on the three financial metrics that matter most.

Dave explains that many business owners rely on endless dashboards filled with metrics and acronyms that often confuse more than they clarify. He believes success can be simplified into three numbers.

1. Revenue: The total of what is coming in, including both cash on hand and incoming payments.
2. Cost: Every expense required to keep the business operating, both fixed and variable.
3. Runway: The amount of time the company could continue operating if income stopped today.

Corey and Dave discuss why understanding these numbers is essential for making smart, timely decisions. They outline what it means when a business has less than three months of runway, how to identify waste in operations, and how to reduce costs without cutting too deep. Dave shares examples of companies that failed to monitor their financial health and the consequences that followed, as well as stories of those that corrected course and grew stronger.

The conversation also explores what happens when a company’s growth outpaces the leadership team’s ability to manage it. Corey and Dave talk about the challenges that appear when a business hits the 50-employee mark and the importance of learning to lead through process rather than constant effort. They discuss the self-awareness required for a founder to know when to delegate, bring in new leadership, or evolve their own role.

Dave’s insights are practical, clear, and grounded in experience. His approach helps business owners simplify the way they think about performance and make better decisions about growth, stability, and sustainability.

This episode offers real-world advice for anyone trying to understand their numbers, build a stronger foundation, and create a business that can grow with confidence.

Listen now to learn how to simplify your numbers, make smarter decisions, and build a business that lasts.

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Learn More about Dave: davesaunders.net

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What if every customer call was answered instantly, every lead was qualified accurately, and your sales team spent 100% of their time closing instead of chasing?

 In this episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with Shawn Boehme, Director of Sales at PanTerra Networks, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of inbound sales and customer communication.

Shawn shares his insider experience helping small and mid-sized businesses integrate AI-driven sales agents that not only answer calls around the clock but also think like seasoned sales reps. These agents qualify leads, analyze tone and intent, and even match regional accents to ensure every caller feels understood. From there, human salespeople can jump in with complete context, ready to have meaningful conversations and close more deals. As Shawn puts it, “AI doesn’t replace your sales team—it makes them better.”

Throughout the conversation, Corey and Shawn dig into what it takes to get AI working effectively in real-world sales environments. Shawn explains how tools like conversational AI and CRM integration enable a seamless handoff between bots and humans, giving sales reps access to detailed customer histories without wasting time on repetitive questions. The result? Happier customers, faster conversions, and fewer missed opportunities.

Shawn also breaks down the technical and strategic side of implementation—from tuning AI agents through hours of test calls to ensuring they ask the right qualifying questions 100% of the time. He explains how modern AI can detect emotion and context, improving response accuracy and reducing handle time in customer support situations. And as businesses move away from offshoring and back toward “onshoring,” AI is playing a major role in reducing costs while elevating the customer experience.

For business owners, this episode offers a practical roadmap for starting small with AI—whether that means deploying a virtual receptionist, experimenting with Agent Assist, or automating parts of your inbound call process. Corey and Shawn also discuss common mistakes companies make when trying to build AI tools themselves, including underestimating the time it takes to properly train and fine-tune an agent.

If you’ve ever wondered how to use AI to qualify leads, improve customer satisfaction, and boost sales performance, this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to take the first step. As Corey reminds us, it’s not about replacing people—it’s about helping small business owners stop grinding and start growing.

Tune in to learn how AI can help your business capture more leads, improve efficiency, and deliver a better experience for every customer who calls.

Connect with the Experts   
Learn More about PanTerra Networks: www.panterranetworks.com/
Connect with Shawn: www.linkedin.com
Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: bit.ly/KHSuccess      

Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram

Text us your comments or topic ideas for future shows.

Connect with Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyharlock/ 

Take the Key Owner Stage Assessment: www.keyhire.solutions/assessment 

If you’ve ever stared at your social media feed wondering why it isn’t bringing in business, this episode will change the way you think about Instagram. Host Corey Harlock sits down with Tara Wagner, an accredited small business consultant and creator of the Breakthrough Boss Method, to unpack a smarter, saner way to use social media: the Instagram Business Card Strategy.

Instead of chasing viral trends or dancing for likes, Tara shares how business owners can treat Instagram like a digital business card, a simple and strategic presence that validates your credibility when customers check you out. She explains why most small businesses don’t need to go viral to grow and how to turn your social profile into a tool that supports your actual marketing plan, not another full-time job.

Together, Corey and Tara break down what to include in your bio, highlights, and posts to build trust and lead visitors to take the next step, whether that’s booking a call, visiting your location, or requesting a quote.
 
Tara walks through her clear, repeatable framework:

- Start with the end in mind. Know the single next step you want potential customers to take.

- Craft your bio and highlights with intention. Make it about your audience, not your accolades.

- Curate content that answers unspoken questions. Think: “Where do I park?” “What does this place feel like?” “Can I trust these people?”

They also talk about common mistakes like boosting posts that hurt organic reach, over-posting without purpose, and following influencer advice that doesn’t fit real business needs. Tara emphasizes that for most entrepreneurs, Instagram’s real value lies in validation, not visibility, and that freeing yourself from the pressure to perform online can give you more time for what actually drives profit.

This episode is packed with practical, down-to-earth advice for owners who want results without burnout. Whether you’re a solopreneur or have a small team, Tara’s approach will help you simplify your marketing, attract the right clients, and make social media work for your business, not the other way around.

Listen now to learn how to transform your Instagram from a time-sink into a powerful credibility tool, no trends, no dances, no burnout required.

Connect with the Experts      
Learn More about Tara: xotara.us
The Business Card Checklist: xotara.us/socialbizcard
Be KeyHire's Next Success Story: https://bit.ly/KHSuccess     
Follow us on YouTube @keyhiresolutions, Facebook @keyhiresolutions, and Instagram

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If used strategically, benefits can help a small business gain a competitive edge when courting and retaining important high-value talent. This week, we're going beyond the standard yawn-inducing 401(k) presentation. Our guest Katelynn Diamond, Benefits Advisor at Insgroup, is walking us through everything a small business owner needs to know about benefits, how you can use them to effectively recruit new talent, and what you can do to stay ahead of the competition.

Learn more about Insgroup: https://insgroup.net

Schedule a Call with Corey: https://lnkd.in/gzzkUx6W

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#smallbusinessowners #runningabusiness #entrepreneur #hiringemployees #wealthmanagement #finance #personalfinance 

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Financial management can be a confusing topic for many, so how do you ensure that your personal and business finances are receiving the care and attention they deserve? 
We're speaking with Best-Selling Author and Founder of Manske Wealth Management, Chris Manske, about the questions you need to ask when consulting with a financial advisor and the most common mistakes made when selecting an advisor that's right for you. 

Schedule a free consultation with Corey: https://bit.ly/3LSRbo2 

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Learn More About Manske Wealth Management:

https://manskewealth.com/

#smallbusinessowners #runningabusiness #entrepreneur #hiringemployees #wealthmanagement #finance #personalfinance

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Join us in conversation with Nelson Quinnell, the Founder of Apex Operations Group, on the importance of measuring your production performance and establishing baselines - and what can happen if you don't.

Whether you're looking to start upgrading your productivity or have been measuring your company's performance for years, Nelson has some great insights to share that will certainly help any business level up!  

Schedule a free consultation with Corey: https://bit.ly/3LSRbo2

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#smallbusinessowners #runningabusiness #entrepreneur #hiringemployees #EOS #ISO #leansixsigma

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Consideration is one of the key pillars of Keyhire's Guide to Hiring Success. Although often overlooked by business owners, consideration can impact your ability to land the person you want, and more importantly, their loyalty to your business.Schedule a free consultation with Corey: https://bit.ly/3LSRbo2Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://keyhire.solutionsFollow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/KeyhireSolutions#smallbusinessowners #runningabusiness #entrepreneur #hiringemployees

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Small businesses can be a powerful force for social good by providing opportunities to first-generation and low-income college graduates. Join The KeyHire Podcast for a conversation with Paul Posoli, Founder of CareerSpring, about his insights on how small business is uniquely positioned to help level the playing field in hiring practices by valuing potential over experience alone. 

Learn more about Career Spring: www.careerspring.org

Schedule a FREE consultation: https://bit.ly/3lEmYN3

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Small Business Owners can fall victim to inefficient practices and processes because they 'have worked in the past' - but in order to grow, it might be time to turn to the experts. Today, we're speaking with James Warren III, Director of Supply Chain at Marx Brothers Inc, about leveraging expertise to help a small business grow.

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Protecting your intellectual property is vital for the success of any small business - but where do you start? 

Join us in conversation with Craig Kaiser, Partner at Phillips Kaiser as we discover how you can guard and secure your competitive edge. 

SUBSCRIBE for more business and organization development tips!

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