Insights

Steve Hopper spent years climbing the corporate ladder before a toxic work environment - and a nudge from his wife - pushed him to bet on himself. In 2004, he founded Inviscid Consulting, a supply chain and warehouse operations firm that has since worked with clients ranging from $80B corporations to PE-backed startups. What started as turning over rocks with a small network has grown into 21 years of steady upward trajectory, a thriving expert witness practice across 65-plus legal cases, and a side life as the drummer for the Falls Brothers Band. Steve breaks down exactly how to think about consulting ROI (a client once passed on a 200% return because of the wrong budget bucket), why the mid-market is where the real opportunity lives, and the difference between being accountable and being set up to fail. How a Ben Franklin pros/cons list convinced Steve to turn down a corporate offer and start his own firm in 2004 The "authority and accountability relationship" framework Steve teaches every client - and lived through himself Breaking down the market pyramid: why Steve ignores the top and bottom and focuses everything on the $200M-$2B middle Why Inviscid has been on 65-plus expert witness cases - and what it actually means to "advocate for the truth" on the stand The $31M jury verdict, 1,000+ documents, and why this work is nothing like the TV version How to calculate real consulting ROI - and the auto parts company that wouldn't act on a 6-month payback Lightning round: timewithsteve.com, 4-5 phone numbers (one for band bookings), 100+ unread emails, and Googling someone mid-meeting Chapters: 0:00 - Intro and Fun Fact: Ducks Have Regional Accents 1:44 - Growing Up in Charlotte and Atlanta 3:40 - The Entrepreneurial Bug and Cub Scout Sales 5:23 - Turning Down the Corporate Offer and Taking the Leap 7:57 - The Early Days of Inviscid: Turning Over Rocks 11:44 - Stability vs. Control: The Real Trade-off of Entrepreneurship 14:30 - Authority, Accountability, and Driving Your Own Destiny 19:13 - KPIs in Warehousing: From DC-Level to Individual Workers 21:08 - The Market Pyramid: Why Steve Focuses on the Mid-Market 27:03 - Consulting ROI: The Auto Parts Company That Passed on 200% 32:59 - The Expert Witness Practice: 65+ Cases, $31M Verdicts, Advocating for Truth 40:14 - Lightning Round: timewithsteve.com, Band Bookings, and Googling Mid-Meeting Guest: Steve Hopper - Founder, Inviscid Consulting Website: https://inviscidconsulting.com Host: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-tompkins/ Company: https://www.pineapplecf.com Speaking: https://www.pineapplejacktompkins.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCalnj5yLU0ZH9y_tVl1J4ng

Are you tracking the right KPIs to know when it's time to slow down and scale smart? La Tonya Roberts breaks down the key metrics every business owner should watch - from average monthly sales to MRR - and why niching down your service offerings is the move. Scrappy but Successful podcast: https://www.pineapplecf.com/scrappy-but-successful 🎯 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/-IA0Se8PFcE #BusinessGrowth #KPIs #MRR #NicheDown #ScaleYourBusiness #EntrepreneurTips #SmallBusinessOwner #YouTubeShorts

Most people think success = hitting your numbers. But what if that's only half the story? In this clip, we break down what actually drives sustainable success - the activities, behaviors, and team dynamics that lead to results before the scoreboard ever changes. Whether you're a business owner, team leader, or working with a coach, this is the mindset shift that changes everything. 🎙️ This is a clip from the Scrappy but Successful podcast - where we have real, unfiltered conversations about building and growing a business without overcomplicating it. 🎬 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/QH25E02kkCw?si=__Sbt0M_yqADYZcU 🎯 Topics covered: Why outcome-only thinking holds people back The role of daily activities in achieving your goals How accountability coaching changes the game Building a team culture around the right success metrics 📌 Subscribe for more conversations on business growth, coaching, and building a scrappy but successful mindset.

La Tonya Roberts has always had a plan - and the grit to execute it. From running a lemonade stand outside a military base in Alaska at age 7 to pitching her parents with formal PowerPoint presentations for Christmas gifts, La Tonya's scrappiness has always been strategic. Today she's the founder of Harmony Consulting Group, a fractional COO, AI strategist, and host of the podcast Systems That Set You Free - and in this episode she walks us through every pivot that got her there. What we cover: Growing up as an Army Brat across Alaska, Germany, Maryland, and beyond Running childhood businesses with military-grade market research (seriously) From cosmetologist to Booz Allen to Deloitte - and knowing when to leave Going all-in on entrepreneurship in 2020 and hitting $1M in a year What fractional COO work actually looks like and who it's for Helping visionary founders slow down, build systems, and scale Why AI isn't the enemy - it's just a tool that still needs a human "Chatasia" and why naming your AI makes all the difference The lightning round: calendar links, color-coded inboxes, and docking stations Chapters: 0:00 - Welcome & Fun Fact: Crows Hold Grudges 0:53 - Scrappy or Sophisticated? La Tonya Answers 1:00 - Army Brat Upbringing & Entrepreneur Roots 2:31 - Lemonade Stands, Chocolate Bars & Military Market Research 4:35 - PowerPoint Pitches to Parents (and Winning) 7:10 - Raising Negotiators: La Tonya's Kids Turn the Tables 10:04 - Single Mom, Grad School & Building Systems at Home 13:30 - Academic Scholarships, Side Hustles & Cosmetology 19:02 - How La Tonya Found Consulting (Thanks, Dad) 22:07 - Leaving Deloitte, Moving to Atlanta & Going Full-Time in 2021 29:03 - Fractional COO Work: Slowing Down Visionaries 34:46 - Strategy, AI Integration & Operational Excellence 39:14 - Lightning Round: Calendly, ClickUp & Chatasia 47:47 - Where to Find La Tonya & Final Thoughts Connect with La Tonya Roberts: Podcast: Systems That Set You Free (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube) Discover more about La Tonya's fractional COO services and other offerings at https://www.harmonyconsultinggroup.org Follow her on social media for daily inspiration and actionable tips: LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/La-Tonya-roberts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelatonyaroberts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelatonyaroberts TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelatonyaroberts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLaTonyaRoberts Connect with Jack Tompkins: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-tompkins/ Pineapple Consulting Firm: https://www.pineapplecf.com Speaking: https://www.pineapplejacktompkins.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCalnj5yLU0ZH9y_tVl1J4ng

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What happens when a near-death experience on a Manhattan construction site becomes the catalyst for a career in sales — and eventually a global consulting company? Stephen Steers, founder of Steers Consulting Group, comedian, keynote speaker, and author of Superpower Storytelling, joins Jack to trace the scrappy origins of an unlikely entrepreneur. From flipping yard sale finds on Craigslist to advising Google, Nike, and over a thousand companies across 40+ countries, Stephen's story is equal parts hustle and hard-won wisdom. In this episode: Growing up in NYC with Jamaican roots — and why "a man can't leave without keys and money" was Stephen's motto at age six Uncle Willie, $20 Saturdays, and the first real lesson in work ethic Selling popsicles from Costco in high school (300 pack, a quarter a piece — do the math) Construction work, a near-death moment on 6th Ave, and the walk that changed everything Launching a consulting company in 2019 and watching COVID nearly take it all away The Mexico beach reset — and what slowing down actually taught him Context Selling: why what the customer says is truth, and what you say, you must defend Ernest Shackleton, Antarctica, and why this is the book Stephen just finished this week The lightning round: inbox zero, no TSA PreCheck, work clothes at home, and two phone numbers Chapters: 00:03 – Welcome & Fun Fact: Squirrels and Entrepreneur ADD 01:05 – Scrappy or Sophisticated? Stephen's Verdict 02:14 – Growing Up in NYC with Jamaican Roots 04:20 – Uncle Willie, Two Hands & the First $20 05:37 – Selling Popsicles & Flipping Craigslist Finds 09:28 – Construction Work and Almost Dying 11:49 – The Walk That Changed Everything 16:33 – Ernest Shackleton, Antarctica & the Scrappy Mindset 21:17 – Working with Google, Nike & Founders Who Can't Sell 23:03 – Context Selling Explained 28:50 – Starting the Company & Getting Hit by COVID 33:02 – The Mexico Beach Reset 36:26 – High School Stephen & Boarding School 41:43 – Coaching Sales Teams & Measuring Success 44:21 – Lightning Round 52:24 – Where to Find Stephen Steers Connect with Stephen Steers: https://www.stephensteers.com/podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-steers/ Connect with Jack Tompkins: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-tompkins/ Company: https://www.pineapplecf.com Speaking: https://www.pineapplejacktompkins.com/

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Finance pros are notorious for hiding behind spreadsheets — but what happens when one of their own decides to call that out? John Sanchez went from military kid moving 12 times before graduation, to doing M&A deals at Blockbuster, to accidentally stumbling into entrepreneurship, to becoming one of the go-to communication trainers in accounting and finance. Turns out the bar is low — and he's made a career out of raising it. **In this episode:** - How growing up as a military brat (12 moves, one tiny kid) forged a scrappy, adaptable mindset — and an eclectic group of friends - The ROTC hallway protection racket that Jack called out as a "higher-level bartering system" - Why John bought Tony Robbins cassette tapes in high school and why he was simultaneously afraid they *wouldn't* work — and that they *would* - From Big Six accounting to M&A at Blockbuster — including a private jet trip to evaluate Aaron Spelling's entertainment empire at age 23 - The accidental entrepreneur moment at a Chamber of Commerce meeting that changed everything - Why the communication bar in accounting and finance is surprisingly low — and the simple frameworks that can get you most of the way there - Chris Voss, rejection words, labeling emotions, and why "is now a bad time?" is better than "do you have a minute?" - Lightning round: no TSA Pre-Check, skeptical of airport breakfast, and strong opinions on pre-flight cocktails **Chapters:** - 00:00 – Intro & Fun Fact - 02:46 – Growing Up Military: 12 Moves & a Roach Coach - 05:10 – ROTC, Eclectic Friends & the Hallway Deal - 10:44 – Tony Robbins Tapes & the Psychology Bug - 15:53 – Six Majors, FSU & Landing on Accounting - 20:33 – The Vouching Moment That Changed Everything - 23:13 – M&A at Blockbuster & a Private Jet to 90210 - 30:06 – The Accidental Entrepreneur - 34:44 – Communication Training for Finance Pros - 38:09 – Rejection Words, Chris Voss & Labeling Emotions - 46:26 – Lightning Round & Networking Tips - 50:51 – Where to Find John **Connect with John Sanchez:** - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fpajohn/ - FP&A LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2223974/ **Connect with Jack Tompkins:** - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-tompkins/ - Company: https://www.pineapplecf.com - Speaking: https://www.pineapplejacktompkins.com/