Fractionals Unplugged with Jay Kingley

In this episode of Fractionals Unplugged, Jay Kingley speaks with Jen Hamilton, founder of the Fractional COO Collective. They discuss the role of fractional COOs and integrators, the benefits of joining the community, and the challenges faced in business development. Jen shares her insights on the importance of support and mentorship for fractional COOs, as well as her plans for the future of the collective, including a new podcast to advocate for the profession. Email Jen or send her a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

In this episode of Fractionals Unplugged, Jay Kingley speaks with Rebecca Kushner, a Fractional CFO specializing in helping health and wellness practitioners navigate their financial challenges. They discuss the common issues practitioners face, including pricing, client volume, and overhead costs. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of understanding financial metrics to make informed decisions and achieve sustainable growth. The conversation also touches on the impact of industry consolidation and the misconceptions practitioners have about growth. Rebecca shares actionable steps for practitioners to improve their financial clarity and outlines her journey to becoming a financial educator. Email Rebecca or send her a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

In this episode of Fractionals Unplugged, Jay Kingley and Oleksii Lunkov discuss the challenges faced by early to mid-stage companies in the e-commerce sector. Oleksii shares insights on the importance of understanding revenue growth, identifying root causes of e-commerce issues, and the necessity of balancing basic e-commerce practices with unique brand elements. He emphasizes the role of a strong team and leadership in overcoming struggles and achieving success in a competitive digital market. Email Oleksii or send him a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

In this episode of Fractionals Unplugged, Jay Kingley speaks with Tom Dillon, a Fractional CFO specializing in helping businesses navigate financial challenges. They discuss the concept of 'sweaty startups', the importance of understanding cash flow, and the role of finance in driving business growth. Tom emphasizes the need for transparency and leadership in addressing key business problems and shares insights on building a successful team for the future. Email Tom or send him a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

Jay Kingley interviews Ashish Nanavati, a data-driven fractional marketer. They discuss the importance of understanding ideal client profiles (ICPs), the urgent problems startups face, and the challenges in achieving desired outcomes. Ashish emphasizes the need to identify root causes of marketing struggles, break down silos within organizations, and implement growth loop structures. He also shares his personal journey, including a life-threatening surgery that led him to consulting work, and his focus on leveraging AI in marketing for future growth. Email Aashish or send him a DM on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive or consultant and would like to be a guest on our show.

Jess Schultz, a Fractional CRO/CMO, talks about the challenges faced by founders of B2B SaaS companies as they transition from founder-led sales to a more structured go-to-market strategy. Jess and Jay discuss the emotional toll on founders, common mistakes in scaling sales, and the importance of understanding the ideal client profile. Jessica shares her insights on identifying root causes of revenue issues and offers strategies for effective execution while emphasizing the need for alignment within teams. Email Jess to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Russell Lookadoo, a Fractional Chief HR Officer, talks about the challenges small business owners face in hiring and managing staff. Russell shares insights on the importance of emotional connection in leadership, the pain points of hiring, and the need for clear communication and strategic planning. He emphasizes the significance of understanding one's ideal client profile and the necessity of creating a supportive work environment that fosters growth and innovation. Email Russell to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Marley Wagner discusses the evolving landscape of customer engagement and marketing strategies in B2B companies. They discuss the importance of retaining existing customers, the challenges of communication between marketing and customer success teams, and the need for a cohesive digital engagement strategy. Marley shares insights on identifying pain points, the significance of product-market fit, and the steps companies can take to improve customer retention and engagement. The conversation highlights the urgency for businesses to adapt to changing customer expectations and the competitive landscape. Email Marley to continue the conversation. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Omid Sadati discuss the importance of product market fit for early-stage companies. Key takeaways include: Connect with Omid on LinkedIn. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

The lack of awareness of the label 'fractional' is not the main reason why fractional executives struggle to get clients. Fractional executives need to differentiate themselves and communicate their intellectual property to stand out in a market with an vast oversupply of fractionals. Success as a fractional executive depends on redefining the market and focusing on value rather than the label. Labels are useful in marketing but irrelevant in sales; clients hire based on the ability to make a positive impact on their business. The focus should be on communicating one's genius or intellectual property rather than obsessing over the label. 00:00 The Myth of Awareness 01:25 Defining Fractional Executives 03:22 The Price vs. Value Dilemma 04:52 The Catastrophe of Supply and Demand 07:45 Insight and Wisdom: Meeting Demand 10:16 The Importance of Communicating Genius Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@fractionalmaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

When I want to be the best I can be, I look to how those rise to the top in Darwinian industries - sports, entertainment, the the C-suite. I've put together 7 lessons that fractional executives can learn from the NFL: 1. Repetition is key to improvement. Treat every interaction as a learning opportunity and reflect on what you've learned. 2. Practice before you play. Implement a rigorous process to find the right people to practice on before going after your ICPs. 3. Measure your performance and take responsibility for your results. 4. Focus on becoming an expert in your area of specialization. 5. Strategic game planning is crucial. Take the time to research and create unique engagement plans for each prospect. 6. Build a team of coaches and experts to help you succeed. 7. Develop resilience and mental toughness to overcome challenges and reach your full potential. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Carla Titus, a Fractional Chief Financial Officer of Wealth Worth Within, discusses the challenges faced by business owners in managing their finances and the solutions she provides. She helps business owners evaluate how their billable hours are impacting performance and profitability, and she assists in making data-driven decisions to improve financial outcomes. Carla's ideal clients are sophisticated business owners who struggle with the complexity of financial decision-making. By working with her, clients see increased profits, improved cash flow, and better compensation for themselves. Carla emphasizes the importance of proactive planning and scenario analysis to navigate uncertainty and achieve business goals. In this episode, she makes these points: Fractional CFOs help business owners evaluate the impact of billable hours on performance and profitability; Proactive planning and scenario analysis are essential for navigating financial complexity and uncertainty; Financial management is crucial for business success and requires expertise and strategic decision-making. Email Carla at info@wealthworthwithin.com Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Rich Daniels, a Fractional General Counsel, talks about the importance of legal risk mitigation for small and medium-sized businesses. Rich explains that his role is to help businesses save money, mitigate risk, and focus on their core business. Rich discusses common contract issues and the consequences of not understanding contracts. Kay takeaways from the episode include: Fractional General Counsel provides personalized legal advice tailored to the specific needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Contracts are a critical aspect of business and should be thoroughly understood to avoid legal issues. Business owners often overlook legal risks, but being proactive and addressing legal issues can save money and protect the business. Email Rich at rdaniels@intrepidlegalinc.com. Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

How do you know when a prospect will buy or pass. Here's what you need to know: * Qualifying prospects involves determining if they meet the fit and impact criteria. * Understanding what prospects believe about their future is crucial in predicting their buying behavior. * Prospects are more likely to buy if they believe their future will be worse than the present. * Providing hope and offering solutions that align with prospects' goals and timeframe is essential. * Convincing prospects that working with your company offers high ROI and is the best alternative is key. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Taylor Crane, founder of Fractionaljobs.io, discusses how Fractional Jobs is an open job board connecting companies with fractional talent. Fractional Jobs does not act as an agency and does not charge a percentage fee. Fractionals can join the network by entering their email address and do not need to create a profile or pay any money. Fractional Jobs sends job opportunities to fractionals based on their function area, and they can choose which ones they're interested in. The platform is designed to be a no-brainer for fractionals looking for work. Email Taylor at tc@fractionaljobs.io. Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Paul Arugs is a fractional chief customer officer, serving B2B and B2C services industries with Au$5m - Au$100m annual revenue with 20 - 200 employees. Paul helps mid sized companies embed data-driven customer strategy across their organizations. This fosters a more evidence based, customer centric culture that focuses on capability rather than campaigns to drive sustainable growth. In this podcast, Paul drops many insights including how monthly and quarterly targets place companies on a short term, sales and lead gen based treadmill, making it difficult for even the leadership team to look more than 6 months ahead; and that lowering customer acquisition costs in and of itself is the wrong way to look at it. Email Paul at paul@paulco.com.au. Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Ben Wolf, founder and CEO of Wolfs Edge Integrators provides fractional Integrators and COOs to growing mid-market companies. Ben's focus is on building a roster of team-first Integrators to serve clients. Ben provides deep insight into the challenge the solo fractional COOs face in building their business and how Wolfs Edge Integrators solves the business development challenge. He also shares his move from an independent contractor model to one of partnership. Email Ben at bwolf@wolfsedgeintegrators.com. Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

... so why are you still doing them? 95% of fractional executives base their sales process on starting with a discovery call or conversation. How do you know if your prospect has one or more issues that you can help them with if you don’t ask? Whether you must do a discovery conversation depends on your level of genius or as the lawyers like to call it your intellectual property. Fractionals with insight and wisdom don’t do discovery conversations because they don’t need to discover. Prospects engage with these fractionals to discover the truth as to why they are in pain or why an opportunity seems out of reach. In this discovery conversation, the prospect learns from the fractional the path forward allowing them to go from squalor and misery to prosperity and success. If you have insight or wisdom, then stop doing discovery calls and start helping those in your target market discover what’s holding them back. Every time you do a discovery call, you are telling your prospect you’re average. Connect with Jay Email me at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com to set up a conversation to discuss your gap and if it is large enough what you can do to close it. Also email me if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show.

Ross Stockdale works with SMB B2B service companies as a fractional CMO to help them grow profitably in 12 months or less. His approach is to take owners out of the marketing seat and into the investor seat. Ross's formula for success is Leadership + Strategy = Growth. Ross believes that marketing a business is about communicating to clients and prospects where they are, not where you are. Adapting the messaging, target audience, offer, and service to the market works better than wishing the market would bend to your will. Email Ross at j.ross.stockdale@gmail.com. Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Ryan Walter is a Managing Director with ProCFO Partners - a marketplace for senior level fractional CFOs. ProCFO Partners believes the financial function is not just about managing and reducing cost but serving as a catalyst for growth. ProCFO Partners provides expert part-time/fractional CFO’s who ride co-pilot with you looking out the windshield ensuring you achieve your goals and strategies. There is no upfront cost to join ProCFO Partners provided you meet their criteria which Ryan walks through in the video. Payment is made as a percentage of revenue during your affiliation with them. Email Ryan ryan.walter@procfopartners.com Connect with Jay Email Jay at jay.kingley@referabilitymaven.com if you're a fractional executive, fractional community leader, or fractional community marketplace proprietor and would like to be a guest on our show. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.