Every business owner knows that the real goal isn’t just to get through another quarter; it’s about creating a company that’s resilient, growth-focused, and built to thrive through challenges and opportunities alike.

In recent episodes of the Entrepreneur Intel podcast, three industry leaders share insights on critical questions every business owner should be asking: How can we use our finances strategically? Are we prepared to manage unexpected crises? And what does it take to build a self-sustaining, growth-driven team? Below, we explore practical takeaways from each episode—ideas you can start implementing today to strengthen your business for the future.

Making Every Dollar Count: How Financial Focus Drives Long-Term Success

A top priority for any business owner is knowing how to allocate resources effectively. Every dollar should contribute to growth, but getting there takes intentionality. Patrick McCarthy, a seasoned fractional CFO, explains that financial clarity is the foundation of every solid business decision. His episode highlights that if you’re not tracking and understanding where your money is going, you’re missing a critical opportunity for stability and growth.

Actionable Tips:

• Trust, but Verify: Patrick McCarthy advises founders to secure finances by limiting access permissions and adopting a proactive cash flow model—moving beyond ‘bank balance’ management to truly understand where every dollar goes. Listen here

• Set Financial Benchmarks: Identify key metrics, like profit margins and ROI on marketing spend, that directly support your growth goals. Use these as benchmarks to gauge if your investments are working. Listen here

• Measure What Matters: To drive informed financial decisions, start by understanding key data points across your business, especially in finance. Patrick McCarthy emphasizes that data, from financial metrics to customer feedback, should guide business adjustments. Listen here

Want to dive deeper? Patrick’s episode offers practical steps for building a financial system that aligns with your goals and sets you up for long-term growth.

Preparing for the Unexpected: Building Crisis Readiness into Your Business

It’s easy to put off crisis planning until ‘someday,’ but ‘someday’ can arrive when you least expect it. Steve H., CEO of The North Group, emphasizes that preparing for unexpected disruptions is crucial for protecting your business. Whether it’s a cybersecurity threat, a supply chain disruption, or a PR challenge, crises can strike at any moment. Steve’s approach is about creating a crisis plan before you need it so that you’re ready when it matters.

Actionable Tips:

• Identify Your Top Risks: Steve Hernandez recommends that every business should understand their top risks and be aware of what to do. He goes into details about crisis’s that business don't often prepare for like what to do the incase of an ex-employee threatening the office. Listen here

• Don’t View Risks as One-Dimensional: Risk is a multi-step process that requires thorough understanding. Steve Hernandez explains it with a simple analogy: The risk might start with getting hit in the face, but the second risk is falling, and the third is hitting your head on the ground. Businesses need to evaluate risks in layers, considering not just the immediate impact but also the cascading effects that follow especially with the current geopolitical environment. Listen here

Steve’s episode dives deep into how to proactively assess risks and build protective measures, so you’re not left scrambling when the unexpected happens. 

Building Success Through Leadership and Empowerment

Jennifer Moss, founder and owner of IXL Learning Center, transformed a small in-home childcare business into nine thriving locations serving thousands of children in metro Detroit. With 20 years of experience, Jennifer shares lessons on leadership, resilience, and empowering others to grow alongside her.

Actionable Tips:

• Change The Narrative On Your Mistakes: Mistakes, big or small, are inevitable—but they don’t have to be seen as purely good or bad. Instead, view them as valuable learning experiences that shape your next steps. Self-reflection and adaptability are essential for achieving long-term success. Listen here

• Empower Your Team: Jennifer firmly believes that no one can do it all alone. Your greatest asset is your team, so hire a phenomenal group of people, trust them, and allow them to fill the gaps. This frees you to focus on working on your business, not in it. Listen here

Jennifer’s story highlights the importance of trusting others and empowering them to take on challenges, allowing you to grow both your team and your business. 

Ready to Strengthen Your Business?

These insights from the Entrepreneur Intel podcast highlight the core pillars of a resilient, growth-oriented business: financial clarity, proactive crisis planning, and self-managed teams. Whether you’re aiming to make smarter financial decisions, prepare for the unexpected, or empower your team to drive growth, these episodes offer actionable steps to strengthen your business foundation.

What’s the biggest challenge your business is facing right now?

If one of those challenges is getting marketing off your plate and into expert hands schedule a discovery call with Stealth. Let’s talk about how our Fractional CMO Program can help you focus on growing your business.