Business on the Edge, Silicon Valley

Today’s guest, Sperling Services, joins us to discuss why mobile notary, I-9 verification, loan signing, and apostille services are more important than ever in a world of remote work, global mobility, and high-stakes paperwork.

Today we’re talking about a man who didn’t just build a company… he built a movement. A system that has helped everyday entrepreneurs go from idea… to income… to impact. I’m talking about Russell Brunson, cofounder of ClickFunnels alongside Todd Dickerson.

 

Here’s the truth—success in today’s economy isn’t about who has the best product… it’s about who has the best system to sell it.

Today on the show, we’re going to talk about why LinkedIn cold messaging, especially from the free version, is one of the worst marketing strategies in business today.

Not only does it rarely produce deals…It actually damages your brand and destroys trust before the conversation even begins. But here’s the crazy twist…

 

LinkedIn is still one of the most powerful platforms in the world for landing high-value clients.

If you’re using grants just to survive, you’re thinking too small. Grants are leverage. And leverage gets you approved.

 Today, we are wrapping up our Grant Readiness Series with one of the most important conversations nonprofit leaders must understand if they want to survive the next decade — revenue diversification.

 

Today’s conversation is one that most grant seekers wish they could be a fly on the wall for.

Because we’re not just talking about grants…
We’re talking about what actually happens inside the room—
where funding decisions are debated, defended, and decided.

My guest today brings a rare and powerful perspective. She’s spent decades serving at the highest levels of the arts and cultural ecosystem—working with institutions like the Sacramento Symphony, the San Jose Symphony, and the Monterey Symphony—and beyond that, she has dedicated her career to giving back.

Katrena Friel is an author, business mentor, expert, speaker, trainer, executive, and more…she is making her introduction to the Silicon Valley/ Bay Area and sharing her genius with you. Go on this wild ride show kicking off the New Yea, it is a no-holds bar kind a show! Check out the rebroadcast on our podcast channels. (iTune, Podbean, and iHeartradio)

How AI can help small businesses build credibility, readiness, and leverage grants to power up their next loan approval.

 

Most small businesses don’t get denied for bad ideas—they get denied because they’re unprepared. Today, we’re diving into how Artificial Intelligence can help small business owners get loan ready—from cleaning up financials to generating professional loan packages that impress lenders. We’ll talk about how to prompt AI the right way, sanitize your data, and even blend small business grants to strengthen your loan submission.

 

And joining me today is our guest Underwriter, CHATGPT who’s going to tell you exactly what a loan officer looks for when AI gets involved in your loan application.

Don’t miss your opportunity to join Coach and Radio Personality Margaret Jackson – anywhere in the country – to attend the 1^st SBDC California North Bay AI Summit for Small Businesses. Tune in on this week episode of AM 1220. 

We’re in the final quarter of the year—the season when smart businesses and nonprofits get serious about positioning themselves for new funding opportunities. Grants are not just about writing a proposal; they’re about being ready—financially, organizationally, and strategically. Today, I’m going to walk you through my Grant Readiness Framework in 5 power-packed segments, so you can finish this year strong and enter the new year prepared to win.