Intentional Disruption
123 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 14 ratingsThe Intentional Disruption podcast is a top 10% globally ranked podcast that features expert guests in a variety of business-related fields, including Marketing, Distribution, Logistics, SEO, HR, Lean 6 Sigma, Agile, and Veteran Affairs. Host Mike Demo, a business consultant with over 20 years of experience, provides real-world lessons and strategies from his successful consultancy, The Delta Enhancement Group. With a track record of training and leading over 500 sales reps and consulting with over 900 financial advising offices, Mike has helped generate over $400 million in sales and increase client revenue by over $20 million in the financial sector. He has also helped trades-based small businesses like electricians, landscapers, framers, renovators, and even doctors optimize their businesses to grow revenue, increase profit margins, and automate systems, all while working fewer hours and spending more time with their families.
You can connect with Mike through his company website https://growwithdelta.com
or on social media
https://www.facebook.com/mike.demo/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-demo/
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Episodes
Overnight Success with the Matthews Twins
September 28, 2023 09:38 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBToday I speak with two brothers I have known for over 25 years. Eric and Evan Matthews were former teammates and classmates who have persevered through significant adversity to be in the position to serve others in their chosen fields. We discuss the path to overcoming early childhood trauma, putting in the work to achieve success, intentional parenting and how to accomplish growth in business while being present for your family. Some of the content also relates to the currently wrapping Ho...
#122 62 ways to fund a business
July 31, 2023 09:39 - 16 minutes - 18.3 MBToday's episode discussed how many ways there are to fund a business and some of the pitfalls I have noticed in the funding process. I will also share some insights as I continue preparing for my collaboration with the University of Connecticut in August. Please help the show by leaving a rating. For additional information please connect with me here:
#121 UCONN EBV 2023 Prep
July 24, 2023 09:54 - 18 minutes - 20.7 MBToday I am discussing the mindset behind my prep to be a presenter, panelist and judge for the University of Connecticut's Entrepreneural Bootcamp for Veterans. My discussions with the attendees will relate to acquisition of businesses instead of going the start-up route. Hopefully this episode gives you some good insights for your own ventures. To connect with Mike and to schedule you can use the following:
Too much on your plate?
July 17, 2023 09:00 - 17 minutes - 31.7 MBIn this episode of my podcast, the Intentional Disruption Podcast, I delve into the overwhelming feeling of having too much on my plate. I discuss the symptoms and common causes of this issue, emphasizing the importance of identifying the problem and being open to fixing it. I share a recent real-world example of a client who struggles with delegation and decision-making. Throughout the episode, I stress the significance of efficient processes and systems in business, highlighting the need fo...
#119 Define your Power List
July 10, 2023 09:00 - 10 minutes - 9.82 MBIn this episode of the Intentional Disruption Podcast, I want to share with you a workshop that had a significant impact on me and can also benefit your business and personal circle. I recently reflected on my mentor, Ryan Niddel, and the exercise I went through to identify the people who would make my business better. I encourage you to think about the individuals you admire and respect, and the qualities they bring to the table. By identifying these key traits, you can create your own power...
#118 Here's how two clients lost $10m each
June 26, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 34.6 MBIn this episode of the Intentional Disruption Podcast, hosted by Mike Demo, he shares a story about the significant financial losses that can occur in a business due to easily fixable issues. Mike discusses two clients who have lost eight figures each in funding opportunities and millions of dollars in revenue. He highlights the importance of accountability and taking responsibility for one's actions or inactions. Mike also emphasizes the need for businesses to identify and address the core i...
#117 Lessons from The Choice Factory
June 19, 2023 09:52 - 15 minutes - 35.2 MBThe Intentional Disruption Podcast, hosted by Mike Demo, explores a wide range of topics with a focus on personal growth, marketing strategies, and business insights. In this episode, Mike discusses the lessons he learned from the book "The Choice Factory" by Richardson. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior and leveraging the primitive brain to influence decision-making. Mike shares his unorthodox approach to marketing, highlighting the power of authenticity and imper...
#116 $40m in sales made easy
June 12, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 14.1 MBIn another no frills episode Mike shares the key shifts made inside his clients businesses to generate $40m in sales this year. In many organizations the simple and effective thing we do well becomes boring and we feel the need to innovate away. Mike's clients had some of this but also a few structural opportunites to increase efficiency and specificity in their outreach. Take a listen to gather top tips that Mike has used to help his clients generate over $500m in sales. As always you can...
#115 Visionaries need good implementers
June 05, 2023 10:04 - 13 minutes - 30.7 MBToday I want to discuss the critical relationship between the visionary (owner) and implementer inside of businesses. I will give real world examples from the week inside my consultancy and share why it is critical to have a good working relationship between these two roles. Having a good implementer can drive your profit margin, overall profits and give you back quality of life as you step out from the day to day of your business. You can connect with me here: https://www.growwithdelta.c...
#114 Memorial Day thoughts
May 29, 2023 09:59 - 10 minutes - 12 MBToday is a day of reflection, gratitude and rededication. There are many who say this weekend should be a somber day. I understand the feeling. So many do not understand the sacrifice of those who have served. Many take advantage of liberties not available in places we have fought. Many in America are on a campaign to feel oppressed, to grade themselves on the number of intersections they can connect to that. I have struggled with these facts for many years. I have given keynote speeches at...
#113 Say what? Asking the right questions.
May 22, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 35.7 MBIn this podcast episode, I'm talking about the crucial art of asking questions the right way. Drawing from my extensive experience with social media groups on veterans and entrepreneurship, I dive into the importance of asking specific questions to get high-quality answers. I also shed light on how to avoid unhelpful or snarky responses, which can be a major hindrance in any quest for knowledge. But that's not all! As a seasoned consultant, I share some of the most insightful questions I ask ...
#112 Equity for Employees?
May 15, 2023 09:24 - 16 minutes - 37.4 MBIn the latest episode of my podcast, Intentional Disruption, I'm discussing equity in business. I talk about the potential problems that can arise when giving someone an ownership stake in your business, such as additional reporting and complicated buyout processes if the company is to sell. To illustrate this, I provide an example of how I structured an acquisition deal to retain a critical employee, without giving them a stake in the company. This helped reduce risk factors and ensured the ...
#111 Acquisition Speed Bumps
May 07, 2023 01:19 - 12 minutes - 28.9 MBIf I told you things always go to plan I would be lying. It doesn't happen in your business and sometimes it doesn't happen in mine as well. In today's episode I will walk you through some of the friction that came up in side a potential acquistion and funding round. Having solid fundamentals and operating procedures will help mitigate the damage unforeseen issues can deliver. The more sound your foundational processes the easier it is to adapt and overcome. I hope you find value and are a...
#110 Always accountable
May 01, 2023 09:00 - 18 minutes - 21.4 MBNo frills or music for this one. Today's episode is about taking accountability for the results of our business, relationships and every aspect of our being. I had some setbacks recently that left me more stressed than I should be. To use current terms, I was a bit triggered by the results. I was frustrated, angry and I cussed quite a bit as I tried to clear up the issues. I am sure you've been there too. It's a ache in your chest dealing with things that should be operating properly. In m...
#109 Efficient onboarding and billing
April 24, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 34.5 MBIn this week's episode, I'll be answering a question from one of our listeners. I'll be sharing with you three indispensable apps that have transformed the way I manage scheduling and invoicing in my small business. These apps have helped me improve my business's efficiency and productivity, and I'm confident that they'll be of great benefit to you as well. So tune in and learn how to revolutionize your small business with these essential apps! Speaking of essential, here are the best ways to...
# 108 Built to sell takeaways
April 17, 2023 12:18 - 17 minutes - 39.8 MBIn this episode I reflect on valuable lessons from the book "Built to Sell" by John Warrillow, and how he has applied these lessons to his marketing company. I emphasize the importance of reviewing and disrupting processes that are not serving the business efficiently and explain how the book provides useful tips to achieve this. I share an examples from the book about from big businesses such as Saab. I also discusses the five-step process for building a logo outlined in the book and how it ...
#107 Zero Down Acquisition Mistakes
April 10, 2023 09:57 - 15 minutes - 35.2 MBIf you are interested in acquiring or growing a business you have no doubt seen posts referring to "zero-down" business buying (or real estate) strategies. Many of these folks are great people but a significant portion are not what you may call credible. There are very interesting ways to finance an acquisiton, this is not what we are debating here. What I want to share today is what you're actually getting going down this path. What seems good on the surface, buying a biz with no cash down,...
#106 Leading your toddler
April 03, 2023 09:15 - 11 minutes - 27.3 MBBusiness managers, we all know how hectic work can be, but have you ever thought about the importance of stepping back and focusing on what really matters? In this episode, I share my experience of taking care of my two young children while my wife was away for the weekend, and the lessons I learned can be applied to your business. As a manager, it's essential to have a plan and be able to adapt when things don't go as expected. The parallels between this experience and nurturing relationsh...
#105 Mismanaging layoffs destroys culture
April 03, 2023 09:12 - 18 minutes - 41.2 MBIn this podcast, I delve into the critical importance of staying true to your principles and keeping it real. With a captivating example of a business that charges large sums for advice yet lacks integrity and authenticity, I drive home the point that true success goes beyond the bottom line. Plus, I reveal the key to skyrocketing productivity and delivering outstanding results: streamlining your operations and reducing bureaucracy. And as a bonus tip, I share why it's crucial to ensure that ...
#104 Don't loss lead
March 27, 2023 09:00 - 18 minutes - 42.6 MBIn this podcast episode, I discuss a conversation I had with a social media influencer regarding their marketing strategy in which I point out the significance of generating sufficient revenue to avoid adopting a loss leader strategy. To achieve revenue neutrality, I go over optimization techniques like split testing and landing pages. Additionally, I share a story about a client who successfully negotiated a sponsorship deal and stress the importance of evaluating the potential return on inv...
#103 Only being good cost $500k
March 20, 2023 09:00 - 18 minutes - 42.8 MBEver made a mistake and wonder what the impact will be? Today I have the ability to show you. As leaders we need to work to continually hone our craft. I had a conversation recently that reminded me of the critical role systems have inside business. See I realized one of my clients who has seen what most would call good success while we have been working together should have been generating significantly more revenue and profit inside their business. When we first began working together I ...
#102 Finding your voice
March 13, 2023 09:00 - 13 minutes - 31.4 MBIn this episode, I reflect upon my struggle with accepting praise and acknowledging my wins. Despite receiving numerous awards and medals throughout my life, including in the military, as a franchise owner, and in the corporate world, I have never been comfortable with it. I often feel a sense of internal conflict, knowing that I am capable of performing better than almost anyone else but not feeling that I am personally better or worthy than anyone. As I approach my best year in business, I...
#101 Simplicity and the word NO
March 06, 2023 11:53 - 19 minutes - 51.2 MBIn this podcast, I discuss the importance of saying "no" and the importance of simplicity in business. I share my own struggle with saying no and how I have seen clients struggle with the feeling of being overwhelmed despite their success in their businesses. I emphasize the need for strategic management and ownership status where I look into the future and create a business that can sustain itself. I also talk about the "Holy Trinity" of serving myself, my family, and then others. I explain...
#100 Redefining the Mission
February 27, 2023 10:37 - 17 minutes - 40.3 MBIn this podcast, I reflect on reaching episode 100 and look back on key events that have shaped my path to today. I share my personal journey from running a past business which failed due to my inability to delegate properly. I discuss how working with my own coach revealed the cause of my problems. I look at how understanding my clients' stories is crucial in identifying the causes behind their areas of opportunity and how coaches who haven't run a business or experienced failure may str...
#99 3 things ELITE parents and biz owners do
February 20, 2023 10:00 - 13 minutes - 9.13 MBToday I discuss the interesting intersection of parenting and business ownership. One may thing they are divergent but they have quite a few similarities. I will cover three main points, actionable items and offer you a complimentary opportunity to create the company (or family) you have dreamed of. For more information connect with me here: Please do me a favor and leave a rating and review. I receive a ton of direct messages (much appreciated!) but the podcast will grow as we add mo...
#98 Seal the deal... on Valentines day and in business
February 13, 2023 10:00 - 10 minutes - 12.1 MBToday I share a skill that has led to untold success in both sales and personal relationships. Feeling heard is crucial to making a prospect decide to become a client. In this short episode I share the first secret to growing your closing percentage. For more information feel free to connect or book time on my calendar.
#97 I need your help..
February 06, 2023 10:54 - 9 minutes - 10.5 MBToday I pose a question that is designed to help you create a massive shift in your business over the next 12 months. All I need is your input. Please leave a review on itunes with whether you would like more tactical tips for your business or if you would prefer to hear from other successful business owners and what is working for them. If you are not using itunes (i know many are not) you can connect with me here:
#96 How AI Chat can make money and save time
January 30, 2023 10:30 - 9 minutes - 10.6 MBIn this episode of the "Intentional Disruption" podcast, we discussed the benefits of using AI chat tools to save time and improve ROI for your advertising budget. We discussed how AI chatbots can automate repetitive tasks such as client scheduling on social media messenger apps, creating marketing plans, and posting on social media. By automating these tasks, business owners can focus on growing their business and spending time with their family. Additionally, we discussed how AI chat tools ...
#95 Make the shift today
January 23, 2023 10:30 - 22 minutes - 25.2 MBNew year's goals already giving you anxiety? Business plan is already taking hits? Is your family life making you stressed out? The issue I faced for years is possibly the one you have too. It's that nasty cycle where we take a hit and push on. We're tough, we can deal with it later.... Today I draw a mental map of what that looks like, why it doesn't work and how a simple shift in mindset can vastly improve your business, health and family life. I have been busy updating to provide free to...
#94 5 Free tools to Grow your Business
January 16, 2023 10:45 - 18 minutes - 21.2 MBOne of the major problems today's business owner faces is finding the right tools to grow and optimize your business. Today I will share tools that I use to help grow my clients business (and my own) Whether its worksheets my clients use or digital branding tools I include it here. Links below: Canva is the software you can use to create business cards, social media posts, banners and ads. I use it for all of my branding and social media images. Calendly is a scheduling tool that is fantas...
#93 Do you own or operate your business
January 09, 2023 16:48 - 12 minutes - 14.2 MBToday I pose a question that I had to ask myself years ago. It has come up multiple times in client conversations over the last few months and I wanted to share my thoughts. I learned years ago that delegation properly accomplished allowed for greater success. I did it inside my role in the Marine Corps but I struggeld with it inside my business. Take a listen to this short episode as I wallk through creating awareness and a resource that can help you make a shift inside your business. P...
#92 How I will generate $15m in profit for my clients in 2023
January 02, 2023 15:49 - 26 minutes - 29.8 MBHappy new year! Today's eposide will take you on a detailed discussion of the keys to sucessfully implementing your plan to achieve success in 2023. In 2022 my clients who followed this process averaged 25% growth with one achieving 41% growth. That is a multiple six figure increase in profits compared to prior years. I break down the skills, processes and mindset that you can implement immediately to make more, work less and sleep better at night. As always you can reach me here:
#91 Gratitude inside Family and Business
December 19, 2022 10:32 - 8 minutes - 10.2 MBAs Christmas approaches and the year is wrapping up I wanted to share an area of opportunity that I am working on. I share this area of improvement because there is a good chance you have a similar one that you are struggling with. Since my childhood I have had trouble expressing gratitude verbally. When I win awards I feel uncomfortable. I have been putting in the work, however, to create a pattern interrupt. In this episode I discuss the shift I am making so you can implement a similar "...
#90 Deal Funding lessons learned in 2022
December 12, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 25.4 MBToday I wanted to share the lessons learned from my work with 26 companies in 2022. I will be covering some tips that have helped make deals run smoothly as well as the things that created massive friction points. I discuss takeaways I have for what I need to improve on in 2023 and offer those shifted startegies up for you to use as well. If you are part of a funding group, PE firm or Family office I would be happy to discuss a few of the vetted finance deals I am currently working on fun...
#89 Hit the ground Running in 2023
December 05, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutes - 9.14 MBToday I give 4 tips to ensure your 2023 is massively better than your 2022 results. These 4 items are critical to ensuring your business accelrates into Q1 and beyond. As always if you have questions feel free to reach out.
#87 Gratitude, even for the small things
November 24, 2022 15:33 - 4 minutes - 5.39 MBHappy Thanksgiving! I wanted to share a struggle I have been working on and today seemed the perfect day to bring it forward. If you are listening today there is a chance there is stress and "things" weighing you down. Business, the economy, relationships.. they all carry weight. This is a short episode on something I have struggled with and how I will be working through it. I hope it helps provide clarity and an opportunity to experience gratitude today.
#85 Lessons from Junior Achievement
November 13, 2022 10:39 - 21 minutes - 23.8 MBThis week I volunteered as an instructor for Junior Achievement. It is a program to help teach America's youth about business, economics and how to upskill to get into the field you want as an adult. In today's episode I discuss how the lessons delivered to this 5th grade class can make an inpact in your success for 2023. To connect with me you can use these link:
#85 We're in a fix
November 10, 2022 10:14 - 8 minutes - 9.99 MBHappy birthday to my fellow US Marines out there! On todays episode I won't be giving investment advice or offering securities but I do want to walk through what the interest rate market has done for new growth opportunities I have seen. Without answers to this situation many small businesses will lack the growth capital needed to prosper through the next market cycle. Educational topic but also one that brings home the negative impact of failed monetary policy at the federal level. ...
#84 Excellence in Execution
November 07, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 17.1 MBToday I discuss one of the biggest things holding most business owners from the growth, revenue and life they have always wanted. I was having a conversation with leadership at a Fortune 500 company regarding their technology suite. Similar to the main street business this company has a little bit of shiny object syndrome. In saying that some may think it is a dig. It is simply a asssesment of current state. Even if the technology is not ideal, the execution of process and the people managin...
#82 Opportunities lost forever
November 02, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutes - 13.8 MBToday's podcast comes on the heels of a dear family friend passing a few days ago. My message relates to your personal life but it has implications inside of your business as well. When I ran my first business I tried to outthink my competition. I tried to dedicate more time and resources to the 5% activities. It turnes out the blocking and tackling of business that made up 80% of revenue were where my business needed the work. In life we talk about wanting to do more, be more but we miss ...
#83 Lessons from the Emergency Room
November 01, 2022 09:32 - 31 minutes - 34.5 MBGood morning You may notice that this episode did not come out on Monday. Today I am going to share some very personal behind the scenes information on what's happening at the Demo household. My goal in doing this is to help you understand the process of managing chaos and incertainty in your family, your business and your health (or your child's health) I hope this provides value and I appreciate the kind words so many of you have sent in my social messengers.
#81 Shifting from dark to light.
October 17, 2022 10:30 - 21 minutes - 22.5 MBToday's episode comes off the heels of my son carrying a 104* fever for a week. Personally it was very tough and exposed some breakdowns in process and communication. In business it took everything and put the emergency brakes on. Shifting from the darkness to to the light requires work. As you get better at it it can take seconds. It used to take me a month. Flowing from anger/fear/dark to gratitude/love/abundance is an important growth step. In my first business I had trouble recognizin...
#80 It takes two..
October 09, 2022 10:08 - 21 minutes - 23.7 MBToday I discuss the importance of having a fantastic partner in life to help enrich every other function of life. I discuss the value of open an honest conversation in a relationship and being able to find the common mission. That mission can be kids, health, business or any shared end goal. There are infinite reasons this partnership is important to your business life. What I have found is many businesses will mirror the life of their founder. If the house is in disarray the business proba...
#79 Expect to self rescue
October 03, 2022 09:05 - 18 minutes - 20.5 MBIn a rare occurance I had to record this one a few times. The lessons and takeaways are extremely timely but the analogy honestly made me frustrated as I saw the white house response to Hurricaine Ian. In "super storm" Sandy I had to pull a woman and her car out of the storm surge. She had been sitting there waiting for a tow truck for hours. She expected someone to come save her because she was of means. In life and business you need to put the plan in place to execute. You have to be able...
#78 Becoming Elite w. Tim Grover
September 26, 2022 09:00 - 35 minutes - 38.9 MBToday I share lessons from my trip to Salt Lake City. I met with Tim Grover author of "Winning" and 'Relentless". He was the performance coach for Michael Jordan, Dwanye Wade and Kobe Bryant. He discussed the reasons the elite performers in life operate on a different level than 99% of other people. He shared the mindset required to move from average to elite. I also share how I implemented some of the lessons he shared in real time. Towards the end of the podcast I discuss how some of thes...
#77 It's a 2 man job
September 19, 2022 09:00 - 24 minutes - 27.3 MBToday I explore how picking up a entertainment center for the playroom can grow your business massively. I will discuss the concept of leverage inside your business and its proper implementation. We will dive into the two key players on the leadership team of elite businesses and how you can execute that playbook. We also discuss how important it is to implement, especially if you are a parent. If you would like to learn more reach out to my team or myself. You can email us at: Our we...
#76 That 9/12 feeling
September 12, 2022 10:40 - 19 minutes - 443 MB VideoThere is now a generation who does not remember 9/11. That means they cannot remember 9/12 either. Today I want to have a heart to heart on what has changed and what needs to change to bring back the unity we held so dear on that day. This isn't a political episode as both sides have done wrong, but I will talk about who you should avoid based on the idea of personal agency. (it isn't who you think) If you find value in this conversation let me know. rate/review, message me on social medi...
#75 Joe Meisch - Inventor, Engineer, US ARMY Vet
September 10, 2022 10:17 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBToday's eposide with Joe Meisch provides insight into the iterative process of manufacturing and invention. There are a lot of takeaways you can use in your business as you consider a new product or service. Joe created the Temple Massager to fill a gap he identified in the market. His device has been shown to help by commanders in Afghanistan, the VA and numerous first responder groups. He discusses how he was looking to solve the strain he was feeling in the temporal area (you probably fe...
#74 Cult or Culture: Labor Day thoughts
September 03, 2022 10:06 - 18 minutes - 20.7 MBOn this Labor Day I share thoughts on the role of the business owner in creating a culture of empowered growth. Over the last few years corporate America has been on a crusade that isn't aligned with the beliefs of the majority of Americans. Are you actually hurting your corporate culture by imposing these beliefs on your organization? I know one fortune 500 company (and I can imagine there are many I am not aware of) having significant retention issues, engagement issues and a culture where...
Front End Mastery
August 29, 2022 09:00 - 16 minutes - 18.9 MBToday I start a conversation on how elite businesses guide their clients through the scheduling experience. As you listen assess where your business falls with the processes I mention. No shame or guilt, where you are is simply a starting point. The companies that implement the processes discussed will be the ones that thrive in this next season. It will be the difference between millions in addtional revenue and needing to do layoffs. As always feel free to reach out with questions. You c...