In this episode, Hugh McPherson sits down with Chris Roehm, a seasoned financial strategist specializing in retirement planning for small business owners and self-employed professionals. Chris has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, farmers, and agritourism businesses maximize retirement savings, reduce tax liabilities, and create long-term wealth strategies tailored to their unique business structures.

Together, they explore cash balance retirement plans—a powerful, often overlooked tool that allows business owners to save aggressively for retirement while minimizing taxes. You’ll learn how these plans differ from traditional retirement accounts, how to structure them to match your profits, and practical steps to implement them with your CPA and financial advisors.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• How cash balance plans work and why they can outperform traditional 401(k)s

• Why profitability and paying yourself a reasonable salary are key

• Tax savings opportunities and financial aid strategies for families

• Flexible plan design options tailored to your business

• Eligibility, contribution limits, and year-end planning considerations

• How to coordinate with CPAs, attorneys, and financial advisors

• Real-life examples of business owners saving hundreds of thousands

⏱Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Why farmers and small business owners overlook retirement planning
02:10 – Chris Ream’s background and expertise in retirement strategies
03:16 – The link between profitability and retirement savings
04:03 – Using cash balance plans in financial aid planning
05:17 – Example: $385,000 saved in college aid
06:41 – Tax savings and income phase-outs affecting college aid
07:51 – History and evolution of cash balance plans
09:27 – Structuring plans for self-employed and small business owners
10:04 – Origins and benefits of cash balance plans
11:42 – Contribution limits and setup considerations
13:37 – Why these plans are rarely discussed
15:36 – How recent laws increased popularity
17:02 – Funding strategies and long-term growth potential
19:11 – Diversification and risk mitigation
20:38 – Planning for taxes and future income brackets
22:24 – Incorporating plans into estate and business succession
23:57 – Risks entrepreneurs face and how these plans provide safety
25:11 – Importance of early involvement with tax and legal advisors
28:27 – Evaluating if a cash balance plan is right for you
31:50 – Timing setup before tax deadlines
33:47 – Entity types eligible for cash balance plans
36:05 – Importance of reasonable salary for deductions
39:28 – Preparing for implementation over the next few years
45:04 – Age flexibility and planning options
48:52 – Planning for different future tax brackets
50:38 – Aligning retirement strategy with business growth
52:23 – Final thoughts and actionable next steps

Want to connect with Chris or see if a plan fits your business?
Chris works with small business owners, farmers, and entrepreneurs to design customized retirement and tax strategies. Many business owners start with a short, no-obligation consultation to determine if a cash balance plan aligns with their goals.

👉 Try our FREE survey https://besureassessment.com - then book a 5min call with Chris directly at https://calendly.com/chrisroehm

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👉 https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

#SmallBusinessFinance #RetirementPlanning #CashBalancePlans #TaxSavings #FinancialPlanning #BusinessOwners #FarmersFinance #WealthBuilding #EntrepreneurTips #BusinessGrowth #TaxStrategy #PersonalFinance #FinancialFreedom #BusinessPodcast #PositiveBusinessAction

What if real transformation didn’t come from big breakthroughs, but from small wins repeated every day? In this episode, Hugh and John explore how consistent daily habits — inspired by the idea of closing your activity rings — can drive meaningful change in both your personal life and your business.

You’ll learn how small, disciplined actions build momentum, why patience matters more than perfection, and how to create routines that stick long enough to change your results.

In this episode, you’ll discover:
• How “closing the rings” works as a powerful metaphor for daily progress
• Why small, incremental actions outperform big, ambitious goals
• How to build sustainable routines around mornings, gratitude, and communication
• Ways to push through the early discomfort of forming new habits
• The science of habit formation and why consistency beats intensity
• How identifying your deeper “why” keeps you motivated long-term
• Practical tools like reminders, tracking, and systems that reinforce behavior
• How to avoid the “if only” mindset and focus on present progress
• Simple strategies for measuring growth in business and life

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to the “Close the Rings” concept
02:22 – Why small habits beat big wins
04:23 – Starting small: examples from business and leadership
06:37 – Gratitude and small daily actions that build culture
07:55 – How morning routines create momentum
10:00 – Building discipline and resisting easy excuses
12:11 – The patience required when habits feel hard
14:48 – Finding a compelling “why”
16:33 – Motivating yourself through your future vision
18:46 – Escaping the “if only” mindset
22:10 – How long habits really take to stick
23:51 – Tools for tracking and reinforcing progress
26:17 – Final takeaway: consistency beats perfection

Resources Mentioned:
31 Day Workforce Turnaround by Hugh McPherson

https://a.co/d/012A3btQ

🔗 Explore more episodes, tools, and resources:
👉 https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

If this episode helped you:
• Follow the show
• Share it with someone building better habits
• Leave a review to help more people discover it

#SmallHabitsBigResults #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #ProductivityTips #HabitFormation #ConsistencyIsKey #PersonalGrowth #DailyHabits #MorningRoutine #LeadershipDevelopment #SelfImprovement #BusinessTips

Mastering Community Outreach: How to Tap Into Other People’s Audiences

Want to grow your business without spending more on ads? In this episode, Hugh and John share practical strategies for expanding your reach by partnering with businesses that already serve your ideal customers. Learn how authentic collaborations can drive exponential growth, strengthen your local presence, and build lasting community connections.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• What “other people’s people” means — and why it’s one of the fastest paths to organic growth
• How to build smart partnerships with local businesses, venues, and community leaders
• Why successful collaborations must create value for everyone involved
• How to treat partner audiences with care and build long-term trust
• Simple steps to identify, approach, and collaborate with the right businesses
• When influencer marketing works — and how to choose the right creators
• How to optimize listings, promotions, and events for maximum exposure
• Why starting small is the key to building sustainable outreach momentum
• The mindset shift from self-promotion to community-driven growth

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction & episode overview
02:12 – What are “other people’s people”?
03:38 – Finding local audiences through partnerships
04:34 – Real example: tapping into a body shop’s audience
05:58 – Why win-win collaborations outperform advertising
07:23 – Keeping partnerships authentic and cost-effective
08:52 – Respecting partner audiences (“sacred trust”)
09:49 – Common partnership mistakes to avoid
10:44 – Managing expectations in joint promotions
12:10 – Serving partner customers with integrity
13:37 – Scaling partnerships without losing quality
15:06 – Working with influencers strategically
16:04 – Using listings and directories for visibility
17:04 – Starting small with outreach
18:25 – First steps for small businesses
19:24 – Final takeaway: building a community-driven growth engine

Resources & Links:
• Customers Coming Out of Your Ears by Hugh McPherson

• Local tourism bureaus and event directories

🔗 Explore more resources, episodes, and tools:
👉 https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

Hashtags:
#PodcastMarketing #SmallBusinessGrowth #CommunityMarketing #BusinessPartnerships #LocalBusinessSupport #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #BusinessStrategy #WordOfMouthMarketing #CustomerGrowth #MarketingPodcast #BusinessNetworking #BrandBuilding #AudienceGrowth #SmallBusinessTips

Mastering Workforce Management: Insights from Hugh McPherson on Building Effective Employee Systems. Discover practical strategies for cultivating trust, streamlining training, and creating systems that empower employees to succeed. Hugh McPherson shares how to ownership, trust, and clear communication can transform your business operations.

• The importance of trusting employees until it hurts ("trust until it hurts") and why it’s essential for delegation
• How pre-writing systems and job descriptions simplifies delegation and onboarding
• Building systems that assume brilliance and positive intent for better team performance
• The value of writing down expectations to prevent confusion and reduce conflict
• Overcoming delegation pitfalls like abdication and micromanagement ("monkey on your back")
• Using ownership principles from "Extreme Ownership" to take responsibility for staffing issues
• The significance of sharing the bigger vision to motivate staff and foster engagement
• Steps to train employees effectively even when projects aren't explicitly written down
• The impact of creating a positive business culture through humor, recognition, and systemization
• Practical tips to let go of projects, trust staff, and scale operations confidently

• The 31 Day Workforce Turnaround Book: https://a.co/d/04Q1PR1Q
• Agritourism Manager Bootcamp:
• Agritourismmanagerbootcamp.com

00:00 - Introduction to Hugh McPherson and the significance of workforce turnaround00:53 - Inspiration behind the "31 Day Workforce Turnaround" book02:07 - Common management challenges from 30 years of industry experience03:01 - How the book’s structure facilitates manageable daily lessons03:50 - Explanation of "trust until it hurts" and trusting staff with responsibilities04:17 - The human wiring for negativity and learning to trust overcoming betrayal fears05:14 - Setting realistic expectations for staff performance07:29 - The importance of systematizing and writing down expectations08:18 - The concept of "assume brilliance" and positive intent09:42 - The importance of trust in long-term relationships and teamwork11:28 - Building detailed systems for training and delegating effectively12:45 - Pre-deciding processes to ease delegation and reduce micromanagement14:11 - Clear documentation for policies (e.g., cell phone use) to prevent confusion15:55 - Simplifying employee training through written procedures17:06 - Strategies for effective delegation, avoiding abdication and micromanaging19:38 - The value of letting go during project execution to empower staff21:20 - Calculating your business’s hourly rate to prioritize high-value tasks23:09 - Communicating the larger mission to motivate staff24:28 - Moving beyond command-and-control models to foster connection25:47 - Engaging staff with the "why" and making them feel important27:29 - Investing in employee training over marketing budgets29:38 - Recognizing discomfort in trusting staff vs. ensuring qualification30:54 - Setting standards and providing adequate training for new staff32:38 - Recognizing progress and lighting up employee motivation34:09 - The power of teaching others and developing future leaders35:26 - Applying accountability from "Extreme Ownership" to improve performance36:46 - Owning business problems to enable growth and resolve staffing issues37:39 - Transformation stories from the Agritourism Manager Bootcamp38:36 - Envisioning a system with 90-95% staff reliability and trust39:31 - The one actionable step to start today: Take ownership and adjust your approach40:17 - Embracing pain as part of growth; avoiding repeating management mistakes41:20 - The importance of proactive change over reactive frustration42:15 - The value of taking action to prevent future recurring problems42:42 - Final encouragement to listen, learn, and implement for a positive business future

Join on Linktree!

https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

#BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Delegation #ManagementSkills

Join Hugh and Reuben as Jeff and Jordan Pierce share their journey from traditional farming to revolutionary farm amenities and business models. Discover how they turned bathroom frustrations into a profitable, scalable venture, and learn practical tips for farm diversification and innovation.

• The process of designing and scaling luxurious farm bathroom trailers
• How repurposing semi-trailers revolutionized farm amenities
• The importance of persistence and creative problem-solving in business expansion
• Strategies for maintaining quality and cleanliness in specialized farm facilities
• Insights into balancing farm operations with new business ventures
• The role of customer experience in farm marketing and visitation
• Future plans: low ropes courses and other innovative farm attractions
• How farm families adapt and thrive in modern agritourism

• agrtSolutions.com — Official website for farm trailers and services
• NAFMA — National Association of Farm Marketing

• Website: agrtSolutions.com
• Phone: [Their contact info available on website]

00:00 - Introduction to Jeff and Jordan Pierce's farm innovations
02:08 - Challenges and solutions in farm business diversification
04:13 - The story behind the deluxe bathroom trailers
07:16 - How the "Throne Room" was conceptualized and built
10:25 - The transformation of porta potties into luxury bathrooms
13:09 - Guest reactions and guest experience improvements
15:29 - Debuting new farm amenities and measuring success
18:20 - Scaling the trailer business and building a manufacturing process
22:19 - Maintenance, cleaning, and operational systems for luxury bathrooms
26:42 - The future of farm attractions: low ropes course
36:11 - Managing attention between farm operations and ancillary ventures
42:02 - Why farm visitors come and the value of authentic experiences
46:56 - Farm life lessons: engaging families and balancing technology
49:51 - How to connect with Jeff and Jordan for trailer inquiries

Join us on Linktree!

https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

For farm owners considering similar innovations, the key takeaway is persistence. Start small, iterate, and scale thoughtfully. Maintaining quality and guest satisfaction can turn a simple idea into a major brand differentiator. Don’t be afraid to reinvent traditional farm amenities to create unique guest experiences that stand out in the agritourism industry.

#Agritourism #FarmBusiness #PodcastGuest #Leadership #SmallBusinessGrowth #GuestExperience #PositiveBusinessAction

What if one small change to your ticketing, marketing, or hours could boost your farm’s revenue by double digits this season?

Join us as we delve into the latest trends, data-driven strategies, and exciting new attractions shaping the future of agritourism. Whether you're looking to boost sales, enhance visitor experience, or introduce innovative activities, this episode provides practical insights and actionable tips.

• How farms grew ticket sales by 12.3% in 2025 compared to last year
• The importance of optimizing your ticketing flow for higher conversions
• Effective remarketing strategies to increase repeat visitors
• Creating engaging, Insta-worthy experiences and props
• Launching a new chicken-themed attraction: the Hen House Hustle
• Using AI tools to craft compelling ads and track ad spend
• Practical tips for reducing operating hours and increasing profitability
• Handling guest behavior with clear code of conduct signs and policies
• Managing staff and maintaining a positive team culture
• Nerdy but powerful: how to use attendance data and weather factors for planning

00:00 - Welcome and overview of season highlights
02:07 - Building ticket pages for maximum sales
04:19 - Farm growth stats: ticket volume and revenue increases
05:13 - Engaging customers pre-visit and on-site marketing
06:11 - Remarketing tips: increasing returning visitors
07:09 - Ticket layering, offers, and package strategies
08:03 - Upgrading ticket options: experiences, food, and merchandise
09:27 - Case study: Boosting sales via email and SMS campaigns
10:23 - Successful examples of urgent, time-bound promos
11:18 - Visibility of high-margin items during purchase
13:06 - Creating flexible ticket types: flex passes and any-day options
14:30 - The trend of last-minute, impulsive buyers post-COVID
15:52 - Using urgency and countdown timers for conversions
16:42 - Crafting effective email drip campaigns with minimal text
18:05 - Visual engagement: pop-ups, limited-time offers, and color calls-to-action
19:25 - Integrating additional sales opportunities: Santa photos, add-ons
20:19 - Launching AI-powered ad creator to simplify marketing
21:38 - Demo: Generating Facebook and Instagram ads with AI tools
24:12 - Free marketing & ticketing funnel audits offered by Hugh & team
25:03 - Responding to seasonal challenges: pumpkin sales decreasing
28:25 - Managing guest misbehavior with clear signage & expectations
30:14 - Creating signs that spell out behavioral expectations
32:33 - Developing a code of conduct for staff & guests
33:51 - Living with gratitude amidst chaos and stress
34:17 - The biological basis of stress and how to counteract it
36:38 - Practical ways to foster gratitude daily
37:22 - Hugh's ordering algorithm for food & merchandise planning
38:14 - Nerdy calculations to prevent shortages & streamline ordering
40:35 - Adapting hours and props to match customer preferences
44:31 - Upgrading ticket experiences: bundling, add-ons, and premium options
55:34 - Introducing the Hen House Hustle: a new, staff-free attraction
58:45 - What’s included in the Hen House Hustle and how to get yours
60:56 - Designed for quick throughput: under 30 seconds per run
62:37 - Final thoughts and Q&A wrap-up

Find us on Linktree!

https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

TicketSpice:

https://www.ticketspice.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TS_Search_Brand_VD&utm_term=Brand-Exact&utm_content=ticketspice&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_acc=1893792831&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19620039259&gbraid=0AAAAAD7W1gq0eXCFAS3h-XBUdx2cLnCsr&gclid=CjwKCAiAtLvMBhB_EiwA1u6_Prk2Qm-YWjnKaVweOCdw3t8raoKLaew-AsHV-_C5sNdX0Levhbu36xoCVBAQAvD_BwE

#TicketSales #EventMarketing #VisitorExperience #FallFestival #FarmEvents #FamilyAttractions #ExperienceDesign

In this episode, Hugh shares practical insights on how to use clarity, strategic planning, and margin management to boost farm business success in 2026. Discover how thoughtful calendar organization, event triage, and mindset shifts can transform your operational efficiency.

Key Topics:

• The importance of seasonal clarity and how to align events with business goals
• Using a big calendar approach to visualize and plan the entire year
• Identifying your season anchors and understanding their purpose
• Event triage: prioritizing high-impact activities and cutting low-impact ones
• The concept of margin: balancing load versus limits in labor, emotion, and finances
• How to build emotional and financial margins to handle unexpected events
• Lessons learned from past attraction failures and adjusting strategies
• The role of the Experience Economy in creating memorable guest experiences
• Practical steps for delegating, automating, and managing your personal and business calendar
• Cultivating a positive workplace culture to attract and retain good staff

00:32 - Welcome and overview of the year's planning approach

0:39 - Shifting from pressure to clarity in farm management

1:06 - How busy seasons create certainty and how to find clarity in off-season

1:47 - The impact of workload versus lack of clarity on business tension

2:11 - Studying seasonal ebbs, flows, and the importance of strategic scheduling

2:56 - The role of ideas and chaos in reducing margin and increasing stress

3:30 - Understanding margin: more than just profit—covering capacity in various areas

3:54 - Exploring three key areas of margin: financial, emotional, and labor

4:19 - How chaos and overcommitment drain margin and lead to burnout

4:44 - Clarity beats hustle: avoiding decision fatigue through organized planning

5:14 - The significance of boundaries and learning to say no

6:06 - Implementing the Big Ass Calendar to visualize the year

7:54 - The perspective shift: viewing the business as serving your life, not the other way around

8:44 - Personal and business alignment through intentional scheduling

9:53 - The concept of "Misogi" or the big personal goal for the year

11:02 - Planning around non-working days, holidays, and mini adventures

12:26 - Integrating seasonal festivals and events for workload balance

13:44 - Building timelines for event setup, takedown, and recovery

14:21 - Running an integrated family and farm calendar to reduce cognitive load

15:08 - Moving from big-picture planning to detailed event triage

16:31 - Clarifying the purpose of seasonal anchors (e.g., sunflower festival)

17:41 - How to evaluate which events and festivals serve business growth or experiments

19:04 - Adjusting event timing based on resource availability and natural energy peaks

20:22 - Maintaining calendar truth to reduce impulsive decisions and last-minute chaos

21:35 - The value of event triage: sorting activities by urgency and impact

24:52 - Margin by design: understanding capacity versus workload

25:46 - Recognizing signs of being pushed to your limit and managing load

26:09 - Building labor, emotional, and financial margins proactively

28:31 - Automating and planning financial margins to prevent cash flow crises

29:50 - Personal stories illustrating the importance of margin and contingency planning

31:34 - Lessons from attraction failures and strategic kill points

34:01 - Introducing the concept of the Experience Economy inside your business 3

5:39 - Aligning business activities with personal values and long-term goals

36:03 - Systematizing delegation and automation for sustainable growth

36:56 - The Family Freedom Flywheel: designing business to support lifestyle

38:29 - Leadership and positive culture as key to attracting good staff

39:46 - Upcoming theme ideas, farm attractions, and event planning—looking ahead to 2026

41:04 - Final reminders for conference deadlines and upcoming events

Join us on Linktree

https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

In this conversation, Hugh and John discuss effective cross marketing strategies for businesses, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer perspectives and leveraging events to enhance customer engagement. They share practical techniques for cross marketing, the significance of channel switching in today's digital landscape, and how to simplify marketing efforts for better results. The discussion is rich with insights and actionable advice for business owners looking to maximize their customer interactions and drive growth.

• Action is essential for achieving results in business.
• Business owners have in-depth knowledge, but customers do not.
• Customers prioritize their own needs and experiences.
• Cross marketing can enhance customer exposure to various offerings.
• Events can attract new customers and promote other products.
• Marketing should be adaptable and not require perfection.
• Engagement through interaction is crucial for customer retention.
• Groupon can be effective if used strategically.
• Channel switching is vital in modern marketing.
• Start with one product to connect customers to other experiences.

Keywords: cross marketing, customer engagement, business strategies, marketing techniques, customer experience, event marketing, channel switching, customer retention, business growth, marketing tips.

00:00 Introduction to Cross Marketing Strategies

02:39 Understanding Customer Perspectives

05:19 Leveraging Events for Cross Marketing

08:05 Practical Cross Marketing Techniques

10:56 Channel Switching in Marketing

13:41 Utilizing Groupon Effectively

15:53 Starting Small with Cross Marketing

18:26 Final Thoughts and Action Steps

Follow us for more business growth tips:

Instagram: @positive.business.action

Facebook: @positive.business.action

TikTok: @positive.business.action

YouTube: @positive.business.action

Customers Coming Out of Your Ears by Hugh McPherson - https://a.co/d/08W0n3Uv

Join our LIVE, 8-Module, 8-Week class with other operators:
March 2nd, 2026 - the ONLY LIVE training this year!
Don't let another season of
EMPLOYEE HEADACHES hold back your
business.

For more information go to agritourismmanagerbootcamp.com

#Leadership #Productivity #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #PositiveBusinessAction