Soar Higher With Jason Ballard

E88: What’s the Real Price? w/ Jeff Maine

In business, if you aren't paying attention, you’re going to pay more.
 
This week, we are joined by Pay Proudly CEO & President Jeff Maine to talk about payment processing. Each business processes transactions differently, but all of them need it to be as fast, reliable, and simple as possible. Jeff and his team specialize in helping take the pain out of transactions and, in this episode, Jeff shares some of the biggest tips, mistakes, and red flags to look out for when it comes to payment processing, including:
Just ask. Even if you are happy with your current process, you could be losing money without knowing it. A second opinion is often the cheapest fix.
Will I need to offer a cash price and a credit price for my services going forward? Jeff weighs in on some big changes that we can expect to see soon.
How do I know when a solution (and provider) isn’t right for me? Jeff gives a tip to help you avoid bad actors.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links 
Website: https://www.payproudly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PayProudly/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proudlylive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9_zxzhAMMt9Nc_J96zQRmg/about

E87: Zero Waste w/ Heather Johnson

How do you make your organization greener? Sustainability is becoming more important every day, and this week, we interview Ingenium CEO Heather Johnson to talk about how to responsibly dispose of what we’re throwing away. More than just managing waste disposal, this discussion will illuminate where that waste goes, what the alternatives to landfills are, and what leaders need to consider before partnering with a disposal company. Plus, Heather shares her insights on:
Vetting your partners: irresponsible waste disposal could land you in hot water… even if another company is at fault. Heather talks about what to look for in a partner and how to avoid trouble.
Young workers care deeply about sustainability, according to Heather. Showing that you do too matters… and could be a massive boon when you are competing for young talent.
Heather talks about her own journey to CEO, from her first gig in the waste management business more than twenty years ago, to co-founding Ingenium and becoming Chief Executive Officer, and shares what her entrepreneurial experience has taught her.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links 
Website: https://www.pureingenium.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-johnson-formerly-heather-dody-260a124/

E86: Scale Smarter w/ Nicole Grinnell

Nicole Grinnell calls herself a “mompreneur” and, thanks to her fractional team, has plenty of time with both her family and her business, Bosun Solutions. This week, she joins up with Coach Jason to talk about how to scale your company... while still making time for the important things.
 
Going from zero employees to one is a big jump. While hiring W2 employees is the norm, many (like Nicole) are seeing the benefits of building a fractional team, a practice in which an employer hires contractors for limited, customized amounts of time to fill specific roles. This way, Nicole saves on both money and time… and avoids the wastage that can come with scaling up.
 
We dive into the details of this practice and how it could help your organization, with some key takeaways:
After starting her first business, Nicole pivoted within 30 days. How reactive are you to market conditions? How will this affect the way you grow?
Even though it’s your company, you likely aren’t the best person for handing day-to-day tasks, Nicole says. We talk about putting your time - and trust - into your hires.
A fractional team is still YOUR team: Nicole shares how she fosters goodwill with her lean support team, even when they aren’t right down the hall.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links 
Website: https://www.bosunsolutions.com/

E85: Does Your Business Own You? w/ James Grant

If you have been in business for a while, and you feel like you’ve lost control, this conversation with James Grant may provide you with a lifeline. This week, we talk about how to channel stress into success with James, attorney and co-founder of the Georgia Trial Attorneys. James’ law practice is far from typical: he and his team act as an outsourced litigation department for firms whose caseload is too great to see cases through trial. How James carved out a profitable niche in a crowded market, and the lessons we can take away from his success, is the focal point of today’s episode. Important stops on today’s flight include:
Red Ocean vs. Blue Ocean: Are you doing business in the aggressive “red” sea, where competition is tight and clients come and go quickly. Or are you in the “blue” ocean, where you set sail for calmer, uncharted waters away from the crowd? The framing of that sentence may give this away, but we talk about which sea may be a smoother one for you and your business.
From stress to success: James shares how he differentiated his company from the crowd, and how he keeps his competitive edge in business.
Hire cheap, hire twice: James advises leaders to consider their outsourcing partners with the same degree of skepticism (and attention) that they would give their own hires.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links
Website: https://www.gtakg.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-trial-attorneys-at-kirchen-&-grant-llc/

E84: Faith in the Workplace Part 2 w/ Alex Sezer Jr. & Marcy Young

Is there a law against bringing your faith to the workplace? As a leader, should you build the tenets of religion into your organization?
It's a tough topic, and one we are excited to revisit with two of our favorite recurring guests: Alex Sezer Jr. and Marcy Young. Together with Coach Jason, they offer insights into some of the most sensitive questions surrounding the subject of faith in the workplace:
Investing in your culture is no longer optional. We talk about what younger workers are looking for in an employer. Can faith be the key to cultural alignment?
How you do anything is how you do everything. Are you setting successful habits at home and at work?
Are the leaders and employees in your company moving in the same direction? Nothing can get off the ground if everyone is not plugged in to the same culture.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links - Alex
Alex's Website: https://www.alexsezer.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexsezerjr/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-sezer-b313337b/
Guest Links - Marcy
Website: YourHRAlliance.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-young-phr-57134722/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/yourhralliance
Email: Marcy@yourhralliance.com
Phone: 502-689-6009

E83: Why Are We Afraid to Plan?

Whether you lead two people or two thousand, you need to have a plan. Further, you need to have a plan that is both comprehensive enough to achieve your objectives and also simple enough to be actioned at every level in your organization.
 
So, this week, Coach Jason is here to preach the Strategic Planning GOSPA (Goals, Objectives, Strategies, Plans, Activities), an organizational tool that encompasses everything from the broadest goals you envision to the most granular tasks of running your business. Instead of focusing on the broader why behind your vision, this podcast will address the question: How do I communicate that vision across my organization? Takeaways:
Plan for bad luck. While we cannot anticipate everything, expecting the best-case scenario every time will set you up for disappointment.
Coach Jason breaks down GOSPA and how you can use it to streamline your business today.
At every level, GOSPA only works with proper communication. Listen in for how this framework can simplify the everyday back-and-forth that causes plans to break down.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com

E82: Take Control of Your Money w/ Tim Yurek

According to Tim Yurek, finance is like golf: buying better, more expensive tools may help, but not if you don’t know how to use them.
 
Welcome back! This week, Coach Jason is joined by Tim Yurek, Founder and CEO of Tier 1 Capital. According to Tim, two thirds of business owners are not in control of their cashflow and, therefore, not in control of their company. On this podcast, we want to arm you with the tools to soar to your highest potential and with a lot of help from Tim, we are expanding your financial toolkit:
 
Should I replace one type of debt with another? Tim gives counsel for those working through multiple repayments.
It’s not what you buy, it’s what you pay for it. Tim tells us that where the money comes from can be even more important than how much you spend.
Whoever controls your cashflow controls your life. If you do not control the repayment process on your debts, you cannot freely operate.
 
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links
Website: https://tier1capital.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-yurek/

E81: The Zenpreneur w/ Mario Lanzarotti

Mario Lanzarotti has a special gift for Soar Higher listeners: Check out Mario's free 30-minute training and TEDX talk here: https://www.mariolanzarotti.com/welcome-soarhigher/. A big thank-you to Mario for sharing these resources with our community!
 
What you perceive, you will create, according to business coach and entrepreneur Mario Lanzarotti. Our imaginations are so powerful, Mario argues, that they can either free us or trap us in our thinking. If you are an entrepreneur who believes that business is a constant, chaotic slog that rarely pays off… you’ll be right. 
 
But, for those who can recognize the potential in challenges (and see the potential within themselves), business suddenly gets fun! 
 
In this episode, Mario sits down with Coach Jason to talk about the keys to perspective in business. After burning out as a Lufthansa pilot, Mario’s soul searching took him into the world of coaching, where he helps clients all over the world find peace in leadership. In this episode, we dig deep into topics that every leader grapples with:
Are you, as a leader, filling the wrong roles in your organization? Mario talks about finding out where your intelligence is best spent.
Recognizing the signs of burnout: as someone who has been through burnout, Mario explains the consequences of being out of alignment.
Mario gives three easy takeaways that you can start using today to help be more confident and self-aware.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links
Check out Mario's free training & other resources: https://www.mariolanzarotti.com/welcome-soarhigher/
Website: https://www.mariolanzarotti.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mario.lanzarotti/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_Lanzarotti
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanzarottimario/

E80: Path to Pivot w/ Jason Shen

Want a shortcut to being a more resilient leader? Today's guest, Jason Shen, is sharing some wonderful free resources with you on how to be more adaptable in business and in life. Check it out: https://www.jasonshen.com/soarhigher/
 
Pivot isn’t a buzzword, it’s a skill. According to business coach Jason Shen, a leader’s ability to pivot is rooted in their resilience. Jason has pivoted enough times - from Stanford gymnast to Meta employee to entrepreneur - that he literally wrote the book on the subject (Path to Pivot, available in beta here: https://www.jasonshen.com/).
 
This week, Coach Jason (and, well, the other Coach Jason) discuss how leaders today can build resilience and shift their business - and their vision - effectively. Key takeaways include:
The four skills of resilience.
Resilience is NOT self-reliance. According to Jason S., many entrepreneurs need to unlearn the willingness to do everything themselves.
Are you in need of a pivot and are afraid to take the first step? Coach Jason may be able to help. Check out the links below to learn more about how we help leaders everywhere soar to their highest potential.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com
Guest Links
Website: https://www.jasonshen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonshen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonshen

E79: 5 Steps to Conquering Crises

Do you find problem solving to be an uncomfortable process, or do you thrive in the action?
 
Welcome back! This week, Coach Jason is flying solo to share the 5-Step Problem-Solving Process he uses to make decisions in life and in business. As an Air Force commander in Iraq, and as a leader in the C-Suite, this framework has served him for decades. Today, Coach Jason distills his secrets into a simple, actionable framework you can start using today. Big takeaways from this episode:
Every problem in life can be boiled down to one of eight categories. Jason talks about understanding the root cause of the problem before taking action… and why lesser leaders are afraid to do either!
Jason relates a story of leadership during crisis, and walks you through how he dealt with a tense situation.
When a crisis breaks out, how do good leaders keep their cool? We break it down.
Show Links/ Social Links
LinkedIn: Jason Ballard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ballard-795a0587/
LinkedIn: Soar Higher - https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-higher-business-solutions/
Soar Higher Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarhigherjasonballard
Soar Higher Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazXTUWfddwR9blL-3KUG_A
Website: www.soarhighercoaching.com