Small businesses are losing time, customers, and profit by relying on outdated systems—especially when 60% of calls go unanswered. Ken Cox has seen this over and over. After decades in tech and entrepreneurship, he’s now helping small businesses automate their customer communication with “AI employees” that work 24/7, speak every language, and never forget your policies. The kicker? Most businesses don’t even realize how accessible this tech is—or how much it can increase their valuation and efficiency overnight.

In this episode, Ken breaks down how AI voice agents are revolutionizing service-based businesses, how to train your first AI receptionist, and what the future looks like when humans become orchestrators—not operators. Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar owner or just exploring your next business idea, this is your roadmap to the next wave of work.

Key Takeaways:

• AI Employees for Small Business: Ken explains how voice AI can answer your phone, reply to reviews, and even schedule appointments—without hiring extra staff.

• Why You’re Losing 60% of Business Calls: Learn why most businesses miss opportunities daily and how automation can fix it instantly.

• Training AI Is Easier Than You Think: If your website has the right info, your AI agent can be trained in minutes to handle customer interactions.

• Automated = More Valuable: Businesses with AI systems are not only more efficient—they’re worth double at exit.

• The $100M Mistake: Ken shares a personal story about an overlooked contract clause that cost him a fortune—and what every entrepreneur should learn from it.

About the Guest:

Ken Cox is a dynamic and accomplished President of Hostirian and the host of the Clicks and Bricks podcast. As an entrepreneur, Ken has built a successful career creating safe and happy workplaces, providing critical IT services to companies of all sizes, from small businesses to the Global 500. His commitment to trading value for value and developing products that benefit everyone involved has earned him recognition as a leading figure in the business world.

Ken is also the author of Reclaim Sobriety: The 12 Rounds of Sobriety, a transformative guide for achieving lasting sobriety. Additionally, he co-authored a chapter in Kevin Harrington’s book, Many Paths to Profit. His expertise in navigating digital privacy, modern HR strategies, product marketing, and entrepreneurship, combined with his personal journey through adversity, makes him a perfect fit for podcasts with an audience of CEOs, CTOs, founders, IT directors, and CFOs.

Links:

https://www.jamesrobbins.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobbins97/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Start 3–5 service-based businesses using Inlink’s AI tools—test what works and double down.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Accepting a $1M buyout clause in a contract that ultimately cost $100M+ in missed revenue."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “The Phoenix Project — a must-read for understanding systems, operations, and how to document magic into SOPs.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT Pro — his go-to for creative writing, SOP development, and running every corner of the business.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “The ability to act...

Many high achievers build success externally but feel stuck, exhausted, or unfulfilled internally. Even leaders can lose their way, unsure what the next evolution of their purpose looks like. That’s exactly what happened to James Robbins. From the foothills of the Rockies to leading ministry teams and global business audiences, James was always seen as a leader. But behind the scenes, he wrestled with self-doubt, burnout, and a longing for deeper alignment. His experience navigating leadership, storytelling, and identity helped him build two businesses—and now, a powerful new message for those ready to reclaim their calling.

In this episode, James shares the behind-the-scenes story of building a speaking and leadership company, writing Nine Minutes on Monday, and his transformational new book, The Call to Climb. We explore how storytelling drives leadership, how to lead with empathy, and why your soul is calling you to something more.

Key Takeaways:

• From Ministry to Leadership Training: How James transitioned from church leadership to corporate consulting, and how his experience with volunteers became his “PhD in people.”

• The Power of Story: Why storytelling—not statistics—is the secret weapon for speakers, leaders, and educators who want to create lasting impact.

• Nine Minutes on Monday: James breaks down his simple weekly ritual to build engaged teams using just 9 questions—still used by leaders around the world.

• Burnout and Reinvention: His journey through midlife burnout inspired his new fable, The Call to Climb—a story for those feeling stuck, restless, or called to something greater.

• Designing a Business that Supports Your Life: James shares how he’s restructuring his work, choosing simplicity over scale, and planning for the next three years with purpose and intention.

About the Guest:

James is the founder of First Ascent Leadership. He is a rare mix of management consultant, behavior-change specialist, adventurer and inspirational speaker.

He helps organizations world wide reach higher levels of performance by transforming managers into inspirational leaders.

James was named one of the top leadership speakers by INC. Magazine and regularly shares the stage with other experts in business.

He is also the author of Nine Minutes on Monday; The Quick and Easy Way to Go From Manager to Leader which was named the 2012 Business Book of the Year by Canada’s Globe and Mail.

Links:

https://www.jamesrobbins.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobbins97/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Niche down and sell what you do best—James would teach speakers how to generate leads from stage, a skill that’s brought him 70–90% of the room.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Launching a SaaS platform without understanding its complexity. The result? Bankruptcy of a partner, personal financial loss, and losing his house.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life by James Hollis—a deep, reflective read for anyone evaluating the “why” behind their path.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT (daily use for ideation, writing, clarity), Upgraded Camera Setup (elevated his brand presence for remote work)”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “Choosing your path—and owning...

Many creative professionals feel trapped in 9-to-5 careers that drain their energy—even when they love their craft. That was Matthieu Mehuys. A gifted landscape architect from Belgium, he found himself stuck in a corporate job, staring at a screen instead of designing nature. Burned out and unfulfilled, he packed a backpack and set off on a global journey that changed everything—from eco-resorts in the Amazon to creating edible gardens in Australia.

In this episode, Matthieu shares how he built a freedom-first business by offering high-end design services and scalable online courses to clients around the world. You’ll learn how he blends regenerative design with timeless principles of nature, and how he's helping everyday people build the gardens and the lives of their dreams.

Key Takeaways:

• From Burnout to Blueprint: Matthieu shares how hitting rock bottom while traveling the Amazon led to the birth of his international landscape architecture business.

• Teaching What You Love Can Scale: By launching an online masterclass called Garden of Your Dreams, Matthieu empowers clients to build regenerative gardens from anywhere—while creating passive income.

• The Power of Nature’s Laws: His award-winning book 12 Universal Laws of Nature teaches how working with—not against—nature drastically reduces maintenance and increases garden success.

• Balancing High-End Clients with Online Education: Matthieu explains how teaching others hasn’t hurt his luxury design business—instead, it’s created more demand and global opportunities.

• Designing for Freedom: Living in the Azores, Matthieu continues to work with clients globally while surfing, traveling, and teaching—on his own terms.

About the Guest:

Matthieu Mehuys is an award-winning author and passionate landscape architect whose journey from a family farm in Belgium to regenerative farming practices has led him to believe that landscape architects can indeed change the world. His fascination with plants since childhood drove him to become a landscape architect, a role he sees as instrumental in crafting environments that marry aesthetics with positive environmental impact. Through his work, he aims to empower individuals to transform their gardens into spaces that foster biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and reverse climate change.

Links:

https://www.paulownia-la.com/

linkedin.com/in/matthieu-mehuys-64b0b5111

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Use $10 for a calling plan, reach out to personal contacts, offer services for a low rate, and reinvest only in food to keep going.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Ignoring his coaches’ advice once success hit—thinking he “knew better” and abandoning proven strategies too early.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi and How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Calendly for scheduling, Google Calendar for managing his life and ChatGPT for creating offers and course content.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “The ability to live and travel anywhere, at any time, while doing meaningful work on my own terms.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had...