In this episode, Brian Montes interviews Todd Zive, a business consultant and author of 'The Mensch Method.' Todd shares his journey from the medical technology industry to becoming a strategic advisor and author. He discusses the inspiration behind his book, the importance of resilience in leadership, and the core principles that guide his approach to business and personal development. The conversation also delves into the challenges of organizational change, the significance of understanding team dynamics, and practical leadership tips for fostering a positive work environment. The discussion covers: - Todd Zive's journey from a corporate executive to business consultant - The Mensch Method meaning of character and integrity in leadership. - Why resilience is crucial for overcoming challenges in business. - How personal storytelling can enhance leadership effectiveness. - Why organizational change requires clear communication and purpose. - The importance of a positive attitude and hard work to inspire others. And more! We hope you enjoy this conversation. If you do, please subscribe to the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, leave a comment, and share the podcast with others. When our audience shares this podcast, we can impact more bootstrapped founders, business owners, and CEOs. Get in touch with Brian: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Email - brianm@scaleocityworks.com Website - https://www.scaleocityworks.com/ Subscribe to the podcast - https://apple.co/4cBwRoy Get in touch with Todd: Website: https://toddzive.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-zive/ Instagram: @todd.zive Book Information: https://toddzive.com/book/ Amazon Link to Book: https://a.co/d/8Zmq9uO Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Workplace investigations are high-stakes for business owners, CEOs, and HR leaders. If they are mishandled, you risk legal action, employee distrust, and damage to company culture. In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, we discuss how to structure and conduct a fair, unbiased workplace investigation, ensuring compliance, protecting your business, and maintaining trust within your team. You'll learn: ✅ Why unbiased investigations are essential for HR compliance and risk management ✅ A step-by-step process to conduct fair workplace investigations ✅ How to avoid bias when gathering evidence and making decisions ✅ The importance of documentation and consistency in handling employee complaints Whether you're a bootstrapped founder, small business owner, or CEO , this episode gives you the tools to handle workplace disputes like a pro and protect your company from liability. Resources & Next Steps: 👉 Need help structuring HR policies and compliance procedures? Work with us here - https://www.scaleocityworks.com/ 👉 Subscribe to the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast for more HR, risk management, and people operations strategies 👉 Share this episode with another business owner or HR leader who needs to hear it! 🚀 Follow me on X https://x.com/brianm2 for more actionable HR and leadership insights! Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Scaling your business sounds exciting, but if you don’t have the proper foundation, growth can break your business instead of building it. In this episode, Montes walks you through five foundational principles every business owner must establish before attempting to scale. If you want to grow your business sustainably—without chaos, burnout, or financial instability—this episode is a must-listen! Key Takeaways: ✅ Why profitability matters more than revenue when scaling ✅ The importance of documented systems and processes to avoid operational chaos ✅ How to ensure you have the right team before adding more employees ✅ Why a predictable and repeatable customer acquisition strategy is critical for growth ✅ The role of cash flow and financial stability in scaling successfully Who This Episode is For: ✔️ Entrepreneurs looking to grow their business but feeling overwhelmed ✔️ Small business owners struggling with operational inefficiencies ✔️ Founders who want to build a scalable, sustainable company ✔️ Business owners wondering if they are ready to hire and expand Resources & Next Steps: 📌 Take action today : Audit your business using these five foundational principles. Which area needs work before you scale? 📌 Join the conversation : Connect with Brian at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes / and share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode! 📌 Subscribe & Review : If you found this episode valuable, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a fellow entrepreneur! Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Are you constantly saying, “I don’t have enough time to get everything done”? Are your employees maxed out, leaving you thinking about hiring someone new? Before deciding, listen to this episode and discover the 5-Hour Challenge . In this episode, we’ll break down a game-changing process designed to help business owners and their teams free up time, eliminate unnecessary tasks, and refocus on what truly matters. You’ll learn: What the 5-Hour Challenge is and how it works. How to complete a task audit and identify tasks that can be delegated, eliminated, or automated. The four types of activities—Quick Wins, Major Projects, Filler Work, and Negative ROI—and how to handle each. Two key questions to ask when evaluating tasks to maximize productivity and profitability. Why should you complete this process quarterly before hiring new employees? Implementing the 5-Hour Challenge will eliminate wasted effort, improve team efficiency, and boost your bottom line—all while freeing up your time as a business owner. Don’t miss this episode! Tune in now and take the first step toward working smarter, not harder. Connect with Brian: brianm@scaleocityworks.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Check out the E2E Coaching & Community - https://bit.ly/E2ECoachingandCommunity Subscribe to our newsletter - https://entrepreneurtoemployer.beehiiv.com/p/get-back-5-hours-per-week-with-a-task-audit Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast! In today’s episode, we explore how building effective business systems can empower your team, streamline operations, and set the stage for scalable growth. Whether you’re already running a thriving business or preparing to take your operations to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you confidently scale. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why systems are critical for scaling your business – Discover how systems reduce complexity, eliminate bottlenecks, and allow your team to thrive. The three pillars of effective systems – Learn how clarity, automation, and accountability can transform your processes and empower your team to take ownership. A step-by-step guide to building scalable systems— From identifying key processes to documenting workflows and training your team, we walk you through the system creation process. How empowered systems create empowered teams – Understand the link between strong systems, team confidence, and a thriving business culture. Why This Episode Matters: Scaling a business doesn’t mean working harder or micromanaging every detail. By building systems that empower your team, you can create a company that operates efficiently, even when you’re not in the room. This episode equips you with the tools and mindset needed to become a confident, strategic leader. Resources and Links: Get our free checklist: “6 Steps to Create Systems That Scale” in the Patreon Community. Join our Patreon community for exclusive resources, templates, and insider tips on scaling your business and leading confidently. https://bit.ly/E2ECoachingandCommunity Subscribe to the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast for weekly insights into building strong teams and thriving businesses. Listen and Share: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with another business owner who is ready to scale confidently. Also, remember to leave a review—it helps other entrepreneurs find valuable resources like this one. Connect with Brian: Email - brianm@scaleocityworks.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked but essential steps in the hiring process: crafting a great job description. A well-crafted job description is more than just a list of duties—it sets the stage for attracting the right talent, aligning expectations, and ensuring hiring success. We’ll walk you through a comprehensive checklist to help you create job descriptions that stand out, rank high on search engines, and meet compliance standards. Learn how to: Gather input from key stakeholders to define role expectations. Write compelling boilerplate text that communicates your company’s mission and culture. Identify the key behavioral traits and skills you need in a candidate. Use tools like O-Net, Textio, and Moz to optimize job descriptions for search engines and improve performance. Ensure ADA compliance to protect your company from legal risks. Whether hiring your first employee or your fiftieth, this episode will give you actionable tips to enhance your talent acquisition strategy. Tune in to learn how a great job description is the foundation for great hiring—and how to start creating one today. 💡 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us grow and reach more entrepreneurs like you. Plus, when you subscribe, you’ll never miss an episode packed with actionable insights to help you build a better business. Let's grow together! Get Connected! Email Brian at brianm@scaleocityworks.com Check out the Entrepreneur to Employer Coaching Community - https://www.patreon.com/c/entrepreneurtoemployer Link to download the Job Description Checklist: https://www.patreon.com/posts/policy-checklist-119796501?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Is your business hitting a growth plateau, and you’re unsure why? The answer might be YOU. In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, host Montes dives into the common challenge many business owners face: becoming the bottleneck in their operations. If you’ve built your business from the ground up, it’s easy to fall into the trap of needing to oversee everything. But to scale your business and reclaim your time, you must shift from doing to leading. In this episode, Brian outlines four actionable steps to help you remove yourself as the bottleneck, empower your team, and build scalable systems that drive growth. Whether you’re a business owner ready to break free from daily operations or an entrepreneur looking to implement better HR systems to support your team, this episode will give you the tools and mindset shifts you need to move from good to great. Key Takeaways for Business Owners: 🔑 Stop holding onto tasks that can be delegated 🔑 Empower your team with clear roles and responsibilities 🔑 Document repeatable systems to ensure consistency and efficiency 🔑 Let go of perfectionism and trust your team to deliver Connect with Brian and the Entrepreneur to Employer Podcast: 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ 🎙️ Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple Podcasts | YouTube 📧 Get in Touch: brianm@scaleocityworks.com Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, we dive into the five non-negotiable building blocks every small business owner and first-time CEO needs to create a scalable and effective People Operations system. Whether you’re just starting or looking to fine-tune your processes, these foundational elements will set your business up for long-term success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why a strong People Operations system is critical for small business growth. The role of recruitment and hiring in finding the right talent for your team. How to design an onboarding process that drives engagement and retention. Clear employee policies are essential to ensure compliance and consistency. Tips for building a culture of performance management and continuous feedback. How to foster employee engagement and retention in a competitive market. Key Takeaways: Recruitment and Hiring: Learn how to attract candidates that align with your company’s values and goals. Onboarding and Training: Discover why a structured onboarding program can improve productivity and reduce turnover. Policies and Compliance: Understand the must-have policies every small business needs to stay compliant and consistent. Performance Management: Explore actionable strategies for setting goals, tracking progress, and boosting team accountability. Engagement and Retention: Get tips on creating a culture where employees feel valued and motivated to stay. I am here to help! If you have a question, feel free to email me at brianm@scaleocityworks.com. Connect with me! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Website - https://www.scaleocityworks.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/scaleocityworks/ Book a Free Call - https://www.scaleocityworks.com/contact/ Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, Brian Montes discusses the importance of reflecting on the past year as a business owner. He shares ten key questions entrepreneurs should ask themselves to ensure they progress, learn, and make impactful decisions for the upcoming year. The conversation emphasizes the significance of mindset, risk-taking, value creation, and building meaningful relationships in achieving personal and professional success. Episode takeaways: Building a business is more manageable with fundamental principles. Regular reflection helps in making intentional decisions. Asking the right questions can expose blind spots. Growth requires stepping out of comfort zones. Value creation is essential for long-term success. Habits need to be upgraded for better performance. Defining personal success is crucial for motivation. Support systems are necessary for growth. Continuous learning is key to personal development. We hope you enjoy this episode! Connect with Brian Montes: https://www.scaleocityworks.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ https://www.instagram.com/scaleocityworks/ Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, Brian Montes guides you through one of the most challenging decisions business owners face: letting go of an underperforming employee. If you've been struggling with whether to fire someone now or wait, this episode provides a clear, step-by-step framework to make the process less daunting and more strategic. You’ll learn: How do you decide whether to fire now or wait? The importance of separating the decision to let go from the actual departure process. How to assess time, resources, and business disruptions during the transition. The hidden opportunities in employee departures, such as outsourcing or streamlining workflows. How to overcome procrastination and act with confidence. Whether you're dealing with a difficult situation now or want to be better prepared for the future, this episode offers actionable insights for navigating employee transitions with integrity and strategy. Connect with Brian Montes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ brianm@scaleocityworks.com If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Your support helps us bring more valuable content to business owners like you! Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Efficient business operations are the cornerstone of growth and profitability, yet many business owners resist implementing systems. Why? In this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast, we explore the four biggest reasons entrepreneurs avoid creating operational systems and how overcoming these challenges can transform your business. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of delegation, worried about losing control, or unsure where to start with creating processes, this episode is for you. We’ll break down the misconceptions holding you back and show you how simple systems can save time, reduce stress, and improve your bottom line. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The #1 reason business owners avoid creating systems—fear of losing control—and how to shift your mindset. Why time constraints make training impossible and how to prioritize system implementation for long-term gains. How decision paralysis keeps entrepreneurs stuck and actionable steps to start small and gain momentum. The misconception that systems limit flexibility and how they enhance adaptability and innovation. Connect with Brian Montes- https://www.scaleocityworks.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Book a Call with Brian - https://calendly.com/brianmontes/training_coaching_call Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Brian Montes discusses the challenges of managing underperforming employees in this episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast. He shares personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of addressing performance issues to maintain workplace morale and culture. Brian introduces a three-part test to help business owners evaluate underperforming employees and make informed decisions about their future with the company. The conversation highlights the need for confidence in leadership and the impact of underperformance on team dynamics. I hope you enjoy this short but actionable episode! Do you have a topic or question you want answered on the podcast? Please email me at brianm@scaleocityworks.com Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Follow me on X - @brianm2 Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

In the Entrepreneur to Employer Podcast episode, Brian Montes dives into employee retention by uncovering the seven signs your top performers are about to quit. Losing your best employees can devastate your business, especially when you’re a first-time founder or small business owner trying to scale. But how can you spot the early warning signs before it’s too late? Tune in as Brian explores the telltale signs that your top talent may be ready to walk out the door. These include bowing out of long-term planning, a sudden surge in networking activity, hoarding knowledge, last-minute schedule shifts, changes in meeting behavior, declining work quality, and social withdrawal. Learn actionable strategies to re-engage top performers, boost employee satisfaction, and prevent costly turnover. Whether you’re struggling with employee engagement, strengthening your leadership skills, or building a more loyal and committed team, this episode is packed with insights to help you retain your star players. Follow us on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Website: A new website is under construction! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@entrepreneurtoemployer X: @brianm2 Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

In today’s episode of the *Entrepreneur to Employer* podcast, we’re diving into one of the most crucial steps in building a successful business: creating a hiring process that brings in your ideal employees. We’ll guide you through designing a hiring strategy that fills open roles and attracts candidates who align with your company culture, values, and goals. From writing job descriptions that attract high-quality applicants to refining your interview techniques, this episode equips you with actionable steps for each stage of the hiring process. Whether hiring your first employee or expanding your team, these tips will help you confidently choose candidates who will drive your business forward. **Tune In To Learn:** - How to develop a hiring framework that consistently finds strong, compatible employees - Strategies for interviewing that help you spot top talent with ease - Why the race to "NO" is more important than a "YES" - How to build a talent pipeline before you need it. **Listen Now** and get ready to build a hiring process that fills roles and finds the perfect team members to help your business grow and succeed. **Subscribe** to the *Entrepreneur to Employer* podcast and never miss an episode! If you found today’s episode valuable, please leave a review and let us know what you’d like to hear about next! --- Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…

Brian Montes discusses the importance of overcoming fear-based decisions as a business owner in this episode. He explains that fear can hinder business growth and lead to reactionary and cautious decision-making. Common triggers of fear in business include financial instability, intense competition, and sudden market changes. Brian provides ten steps to help business owners embrace fear and make it an asset, including understanding the validity of fear, breaking down each decision, and maintaining an objective outlook. He emphasizes the need to embrace change and learn from mistakes and suggests working with a business coach to navigate fear-based choices. Takeaways: 1. Making decisions from a position of fear can hinder business growth. Common triggers of fear in business include financial instability, intense competition, and sudden market changes. 2. To overcome fear-based decisions, it is crucial to understand the validity of fear, break down each decision, and maintain an objective outlook. 3. Embracing fear and learning from mistakes can lead to better decision-making. Want to work with me - check out the Entrepreneur to Employer Business Solutions - https://hub.scaleocityworks.com/ Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/ Struggling with hiring your first employees? As your business grows, you can’t do it all alone—but hiring the right people can feel overwhelming. That’s why I created a free mini-course to help you transition from solopreneur to employer with confidence. In just a few short videos, you’ll learn: ✅ Who to hire based on your business stage ✅ How to avoid common hiring mistakes ✅ How to shift from doing it all to leading a high-performing team Get instant access now! https://forms.gle/o2mDLiSR6sovSruN8…