Artificial intelligence is working for and against Gen Z, hindering their first job searches while also enabling them to manage workloads as they engage in polywork. Gene Marks looks at the latest trend of the new generation of workers, as well as what this eventually could mean for the labor market. In other news, cybercrime is costly – nearly $22 billion in losses in 2025, according to an FBI report. Gene suggests training and other precautionary steps for businesses. Plus, a Microsoft mea culpa. Its Copilot AI terms of service state it is not reliable and should not be used for important decisions, but the tech giant claimed those were out of date. Do your due diligence. Listen to the podcast.

Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:18 – Gen Z, AI, and Polywork 02:28 – Cyber Crime Financial Costs 05:55 – Microsoft’s Copilot “mistake” 08:35 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Cybersecurity Plan: https://bit.ly/cybersecurity-plan

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Think org charts are just boxes and lines? Think again. Gene Marks sits down with OrgChart CEO Tom McCarty to explore how a living, data-connected org chart can transform workforce planning, boost company valuation, support AI-readiness, and give employees a clear path forward. From 30-person shops to enterprise teams, this conversation will make you rethink how you manage your most valuable asset.

Simplify your business operations: Visit paychex.com/MeetPaychex to learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts.

Check out OrgChart and more trusted partners in the Paychex Marketplace: https://bit.ly/41uO9zk

Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics

Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:18 – Why org charts matter beyond spreadsheets 03:48 – Org charts as career paths and transparency tools 05:16 – Succession planning, exits, and M&A 07:08 – Org charts as the foundation for HR 10:01 – What OrgChart does 14:07 – Why not just use ChatGPT for org charts? 17:30 – Using your org chart for strategic decisions 21:24 – OrgChart pricing, wrap up, and thank you

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartSummit #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Job growth and wage growth have cooled, according to the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch and even Homebase, but the overarching theme is that small businesses continue to be resilient in an ever-changing landscape. Gene Marks points out that businesses are being more selective when hiring and cutting costs rather than jobs. In other news, lawsuits around accessibility – mainly concerning websites – under the Americans with Disabilities Act have risen 37%, and Gene offers some tips for owners. Businesses continue to adopt artificial intelligence at a rapid rate, but among users there is a diminished trust in the accuracy of AI’s output.

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction 00:49 – Jobs and Wages 03:00 – ADA Accessibility Lawsuits 05:20 – AI Accuracy and Trust 07:55 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Paychex Small Business Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

With the many challenges small business owners face on a regular basis, add forgoing pay for themselves. A survey by Bluevine found that 3 in 10 have invoice problems that cause cashflow issues that result in them not paying themselves. Host Gene Marks offers four tips on how to address the problem. In the tech startup world, funding might get a little easier with Congress voting to free up billions in grants. Speaking of easier, Anthropic’s tools, Claude Code and Claude Cowork, are performing tasks such as paying invoices and purchasing inventory with limited human prompting. Listen to the podcast to find out more about the next layer of agentic AI.

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction 00:18 – Invoicing and Cashflow Issues 04:14 – Potential Tech Industry Funding 07:14 – Agentic AI and Small Businesses 10:18 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Learn About Invoice Factoring: https://bit.ly/invoice-factoring-types

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Small business owners are feeling cautiously hopeful, but far from settled. In this episode of THRIVE, host Gene Marks sits down with Holly Wade and Peter Hansen from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) to break down what their three signature indexes — Optimism, Uncertainty, and Employment — are really telling us about small business in 2026. From interest rates to federal policy shifts, find out why confidence is up, but small business owners are still holding their breath.

Simplify your business operations: Visit paychex.com/MeetPaychex to learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts.

Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics

Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:18 – Peter’s background and NFIB podcast overview 04:06 – Holly’s background and NFIB Research Center history 05:25 – NFIB Indexes: Optimism, Uncertainty & Employment 10:24 – Dealing with Bias: Optimism, politics & perspective 14:50 – NFIB survey demographics 21:41 – New NFIB Employment Index: What and why 25:21 – Reconciling NFIB data and survey challenges 29:47 – Current read on optimism and uncertainty 33:03 – Wrap up and thank you

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartSummit #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

A new Mercer survey finds that only 54% of U.S. employers are ready to comply with pay transparency regulations, while host Gene Marks says it’s a smart business practice, whether or not your state requires it. A 1-800Accountant survey reveals that 57% of small business owners admit to questionable tax deductions, with complexity, not intent, being the real culprit. And while a Goldman Sachs study shows most small businesses are using AI, only 14% have truly integrated it into core operations. Listen to the podcast.

Topics: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Pay Transparency 03:44 - Questionable Tax Deductions 06:32 - Small Businesses and AI 09:27 - Episode Wrap Up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Article on AI for small business: https://bit.ly/4uVEhvW

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

A report finds that entrepreneurs are optimistic about business prospects but nearly one-third want to sell. Gene Marks says take the positivity with a grain of salt from the sellers, plus take advantage of buying a business that already exists. Employers struggling to find labor aren’t shy about paying more for what they can find, according to a report by the National federation of Independent Businesses, with nearly 50% increasing compensation to lure candidates. And speaking of money, KPMG is offering cold, hard cash to employees who start innovating with AI tools.

Topics:

00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Entrepreneurs Planning Exits 03:42 - Small Business Wages and Labor Market 06:11 - Incentivizing AI Innovation (KPMG's Case) 08:01 - Episode Wrap Up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeart #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

What happens when a Hallmark star meets a business podcast? Actress and Lioness executive producer Jill Wagner joins Gene Marks to reveal the business savvy behind her 20-year career. From cold-calling Taylor Sheridan to building a real estate portfolio, Jill treats her career like a CEO treats a company. She opens up about handling rejection, knowing your worth, managing money, and finding structure in the chaos of Hollywood. Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or just hustling toward your next big break, Jill’s candid advice will leave you ready to pick up the phone.

Simplify your business operations: Visit paychex.com/MeetPaychex to learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts.

Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics

Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 02:03 – Why acting is a business 04:46 – How Jill’s “business” is structured 06:12 – Creating your own opportunities 11:00 – The perspective of experience 13:05 – How to handle rejection 16:01 – Taking work that isn’t perfectly aligned 18:45 – Reframing competition and success 22:29 – The reality of balancing career and motherhood 25:57 – Jill’s approach to money management and legal protection 30:01 – Time management in a multi-hat career 32:34 – Jill’s outlook on her future 35:03 – Wrap up and thank you

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartSummit #ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcasts

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.