Everyday Business Problems

In this follow-up episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler is joined again by Sean Stormes, founder of the Demand Creation Institute, to go deeper into variation, systems thinking, and why most leaders chase the wrong problems. Building on their first conversation, this episode focuses on how to recognize real signals versus noise, why rushing to solutions makes things worse, and how purpose, culture, and continuous improvement actually work together. Sean shares practical examples from decades of leadership experience, including how Deming's principles still apply today, why most organizations unintentionally reward the wrong behaviors, and what it really takes to slow down, reduce chaos, and build durable growth systems. What You'll Discover: How to tell the difference between normal variation and real system problems. Why reacting too quickly to spikes and dips often creates more chaos. How Deming's thinking applies to modern leadership, culture, and decision-making. Why most companies celebrate problem-solving instead of problem prevention. How fear shows up in organizations and quietly blocks improvement. The role of purpose and mission in breaking down silos and aligning teams. Why continuous improvement is a force multiplier when it's done right. How slowing down actually leads to faster, more sustainable results.

In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler welcomes Sean Stormes, founder of the Demand Creation Institute and creator of a proven growth advisory framework that helps B2B companies achieve profitable, sustainable growth. Sean shares insights from decades of leading and advising organizations on how to eliminate randomness in results, uncover root causes of underperformance, and build systems that compound value over time. What You'll Discover: Why most leaders mistake random variation for real growth, and how to fix it. What Deming's principles reveal about the forces behind performance swings. How to identify and apply force multipliers that drive profitable demand. Why chasing tactics widens variation instead of reducing it. How operational precision, organizational fitness, and customer value work together as an ecosystem. The importance of defining purpose, mission, and core behaviors that customers can feel. Real-world stories of companies that achieved growth by simplifying systems and aligning around purpose.

In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down one of the most common mistakes leaders make, tracking the wrong metrics. He explains why most KPI reports simply "tell the news" instead of helping teams act, and how shifting focus to leading indicators creates real visibility, accountability, and proactive decision-making. What You'll Discover: The difference between leading and lagging indicators, and why it matters. Why "more data" isn't better if it's not actionable. A simple example of how leading indicators can predict outcomes and improve profitability. How to move from reactionary reporting to proactive management. Why manual tracking can be more powerful than a fancy dashboard, at least at first. How to test and validate new KPIs before automating them. The mindset shift that turns metrics into meaningful action.

In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler tackles a question every leader should be asking, are you building real systems or just layering new tools and workarounds on top of old problems? Drawing from client stories and his own experience leading operational transformations, Dave breaks down why technology alone doesn't fix process issues, how poor change management drives inefficiency, and what it really takes to create smoother, more scalable systems. What You'll Discover: Why tools aren't systems, and what's missing when you treat them that way. How to recognize when you're solving symptoms instead of root causes. The difference between workarounds and true process improvement. Why most tool issues come down to configuration and implementation, not functionality. How avoiding tough conversations leads to costly inefficiencies. Why systems that integrate planning, people, process, and technology always outperform software swaps. What it means to lead with ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.

In this episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler sits down with Josh Notes, serial entrepreneur, CFO, and dealmaker, to unpack how financial storytelling connects the dots between operations, cash flow, and sustainable growth. Together, they explore how leaders can use numbers to forecast what comes next, make smarter decisions, and unlock opportunities hiding in plain sight. What You'll Discover: What financial storytelling really means and how it ties operations to financial health. Why so many growing businesses struggle with cash flow visibility, and how to fix it. The difference between a bookkeeper, controller, and CFO, and when you need each one. Why neglecting finance limits your creativity and flexibility as an entrepreneur. How forecasting tools and rolling projections help you make confident, informed decisions. Why collaboration between operations, finance, and sales creates real momentum. The truth about scaling, leveraging debt, and knowing when it's time to bring in help.