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PODCAST

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co

CEO Podcasts consists of CEO Chat (CC), I AM CEO (IAM) & CBNation.TV (TV) podcast episodes. Value-packed episode including interviews & resources for CEOs, entrepreneurs, startups founders & business owners. The CEO Chat episodes are our long-form episodes w/ interviews and digital marketing resources. The I AM CEO episodes are laser focused (about 16 min.) w/ interviews & a discussion about what it means to be a CEO. Powered by Blue16 Media & CBNation.co. Hosted by Gresham W. Harkless Jr.

business

All Episodes

07:04

IAM2484 - Unlock Collaboration Opportunities with...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/06/01

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless addresses the challenges in the franchise consulting industry, such as lengthy sales cycles, difficulties with lead qualification, and the emotional strain of slow progress, especially after learning that it often takes brokers over a year to close their first deal. Gresham shares his experience with shifting lead generation strategies, the decline of organic outreach on Facebook, and the need to refine his sales approach, particularly in understanding a

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07:16

IAM2483 - Mastering the Art of Polite Urgency

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/31

In this episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on reaching day 159 of his journey as a Franchise Broker, sharing powerful insights about growth, discipline, and staying committed through the long game. He introduces the concept of "polite urgency"—a balanced approach to driving action by being assertive without being aggressive. Gresham discusses how many people lose momentum by being passive or indecisive, and how simply following through, communicating promptly, and honoring commitments can set you

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07:18

IAM2482 - Unmasking Day 175: The Franchise Broker...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/30

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on the challenges, setbacks, and learning curves he’s faced at the 175-day mark of his franchise broker journey. Gresham aims to close two deals within that time frame, but he's only seen limited movement with one candidate whose financial readiness is uncertain. He shares how the process has proven far more difficult than anticipated, with many candidates dropping off at various stages and deals taking much longer than expected, often four to

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16:55

IAM2481 - Founder Helps Business Owners Get the Right...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/29

Jeff Holman is the founder of Intellectual Strategies, a groundbreaking legal services firm changing how startups and scaling companies access legal support. With a background in engineering, law, and business, Jeff combines technical know-how with strategic legal insight to support entrepreneurs navigating growth and complexity. Jeff emphasizes the critical but often overlooked concept of "freedom to operate," helping businesses avoid legal landmines that can stall growth. Jeff discusses the

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16:53

IAM2480 - Founder and Best Selling Author Helps...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/28

Neha Gupta is the founder of College Shortcuts, a TEDx speaker, and bestselling author who has helped thousands of students gain college admission by aligning their passions with their academic goals.Neha shares her deeply personal journey of navigating the college admissions process as the daughter of immigrant parents, which led her to create a mentorship-driven platform that supports students from middle school onward. She discusses how College Shortcuts empowers students to uncover their

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16:59

IAM2479 - Founding Partner Helps Baby Boomers...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/27

Danielle Roberts is a founding partner of Boomer Benefits, a national top-producing agency specializing in Medicare-related insurance products across 47 states. She's a member of the Forbes Finance Council, where she writes about Medicare Retirement and Personal Finance, and is also a past president of the Fort Worth chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters. Danielle discusses her pivot from journalism to business, sparked by financial necessity and nurtured through hands-on

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07:07

IAM2478 - Navigating Life's Challenges with Clients

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/26

In this reflective episode, Gresham Harkless emphasizes the importance of staying attuned to the human side of business, especially during unpredictable and challenging times. Gresham shares real-life examples, such as a candidate needing to postpone meetings due to a family emergency, to highlight how “life-lifes” often disrupts even the best-laid plans. Gresham recommends embracing these moments with empathy and flexibility, reminding listeners that business isn’t just a mechanical process

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05:41

IAM2477 - Day 157 Insights: Unlocking Franchise Success

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/25

On day 157 of his franchise broker journey, Gresham Harkless reflects on the challenges and lessons of staying focused while managing both personal and professional responsibilities.Gresham discusses the importance of blocking out distractions and leveraging early morning routines to lock in on key goals. His current focus is on building a lead generation system that supports his ventures like Blue Star, Blue 16, and CB Nation. Although he didn't make significant progress during the first week

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06:57

IAM2476 - Day 156: Starting Anew: Embrace Change

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/24

Gresham Harkless reflects on the challenges he's facing as a new franchise broker, particularly when candidates encounter unexpected financing obstacles. Gresham shares that one of the toughest but most important parts of the process is recognizing when a candidate may be heading in the wrong direction and making the pivot early, even if it sets the timeline back by several weeks. He emphasizes how financing plays a central role in determining what brands are accessible, with more established

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07:23

IAM2475 - The Art of Setting Expectations

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/23

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless reflects on the often underestimated challenge of managing the human side of business relationships, especially in roles involving sales or brokering. Gresham explains that while processes and logistics matter, it’s the emotional and interpersonal dynamics that are hardest to navigate. Through his experiences, Gresham realizes that success hinges less on leads or inventory and more on understanding each individual’s personal journey and emotional

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17:00

IAM2474 - CEO Helps Sales Agents Boost their Sales...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/22

Kash Fadaie is the founder of Fadaie Insurance, an $11 million revenue agency he built from the ground up. His early life was marked by political upheaval and multiple cultural transitions, which he credits as foundational to his resilience and personal growth. Kash believes success stems not from chasing outcomes, but from authenticity, alignment, and high-frequency living rooted in service and presence. Kash emphasizes building strong daily routines—especially morning rituals—as key to

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13:51

IAM2473 - Virtual Assistant Supports Small Business...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/21

Melissa St. Clair is a seasoned virtual business support expert and the founder of Paper Chaser, a company she launched in 2006 to help small business owners streamline operations, communications, and administrative tasks.As a military spouse, Melissa built a portable career that allowed her to thrive professionally while relocating frequently with her active-duty husband. She shares how technology enabled her early adoption of virtual services and highlights the importance of supporting

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17:00

IAM2472 - Motivational Speaker and Best-selling...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/20

Amberly Lago is a former professional dancer and athlete and a leading expert in the field of resilience, transformation, and health and wellness. She's a motivational speaker and the best-selling author of True Grit and Grace. Amberly empowers people around the world by sharing her story of how she turned a tragedy into triumph. Amberly has recently been featured on NBC's The Today Show and contributed to magazines such as Shape, Fit Pregnancy, and Health and Disability Magazine. After

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07:17

IAM2471 - The Rollercoaster Ride of a Franchise...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/19

On day 154 of his franchise broker journey, Gresham Harkless reflects on the emotional and strategic challenges of building momentum without having closed a traditional deal. While others in his cohort have closed deals—mostly through personal connections—he’s navigating the harder road of building a system that doesn’t rely on warm leads. Gresham acknowledges the temptation to press clients when deals lag, especially with long lead times, like one prospect who keeps pushing meetings back months

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07:11

IAM2470 - Mastering Decision-Making: From Fear to Action

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/18

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless shares a transparent and introspective update on his franchise broker journey, now over 150 days in, noting the emotional weight of not yet closing a deal. He expresses a mix of hope and frustration, acknowledging his strengths in lead generation but recognizing a gap in nurturing leads through the lengthy sales cycle. Gresham identifies a key mistake in not qualifying candidates financially early enough, realizing that without proper funding, even

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07:16

IAM2469 - Overcome the Feeling of Being Behind

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/17

In this special episode, Gresham Harkless offers a thoughtful and vulnerable update on the emotional and practical challenges he's facing. He reflects on the frustration of feeling like he should be further ahead, despite putting in consistent effort, and how that mindset can cloud the real progress being made. Gresham emphasizes the importance of the three core elements in the franchise process—mindset, money, and motivation— in evaluating candidates and maintaining his momentum. He shares

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05:33

IAM2468 - Embracing a Fresh Mindset: Day 151

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/16

On day 151 of the Franchise Broker journey, Gresham Harkless kicks off the second day of a new 12-week year, using it as a chance to step back and re-evaluate his systems, especially around lead generation. Gresham emphasizes that most of his successful connections reaching the "Zore" stage came organically through Facebook outreach, highlighting the strategic value of personalized direct messaging. In contrast, leads from Google Ads have been less fruitful, producing a few quality leads but

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16:59

IAM2467 - Sales Strategist Helps Business Owners...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/15

Justine Beauregard is a seasoned sales strategist and People Over Profit podcast host. Justine’s entrepreneurial spark began at just 6 years old, and her passion evolved into a career focused on helping business owners grow their income in authentic, feel-good ways. She shares the powerful story of leaving her corporate job after becoming a mom, navigating early struggles in business, and landing a breakthrough $3,000 client through her talent in cold calling. Justine introduces her Close

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16:34

IAM2466 - Business Consultant Focuses on Leading...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/14

Kevin Wilhelm, CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting, shares his journey from being a “reluctant entrepreneur” to one of the leading voices in sustainability consulting. Kevin started his firm after realizing that no one was effectively making the business case for sustainability, and he stepped up to fill that gap. His firm helps companies integrate sustainable practices by showing how they align with core business goals, like improving efficiency, saving money, and enhancing employee

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16:57

IAM2465 - Founder Helps Clients Gain Exposure in...

CEO Podcasts: CEO Chat Podcast + I AM CEO Podcast... ·

2025/05/13

Justin Breen is the founder and CEO of BrEpic, a PR firm specializing in crafting compelling, newsworthy stories for clients and pitching them to media nationwide. Justin explains that his business was born out of frustration with traditional PR methods that he found ineffective during his 20-year journalism career. Justin highlights the importance of building genuine relationships with media contacts and only pitching stories that are newsworthy and relevant. He emphasizes that his success

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