Ep 278 How Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Release Date: 07/14/2025
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Your P&L Is Lying—Here’s What to Track with Laresa McIntyre Stop Chasing Revenue: How Fractional CFOs Clear the Financial Fog Most business owners measure success by one thing: revenue growth. The problem? Revenue isn’t cash—and it doesn’t always translate into profit. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Laresa McIntyre, founder of Rockbridge CFO, to uncover the blind spots that keep owners stuck in financial fog. Laresa brings over 15 years of CFO experience and now helps service-based businesses scale smarter with fractional CFO...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
The Profit Pitfalls Most Business Owners Miss with Lisa Hennigar Most business owners don’t lose profit because of one big mistake — it’s usually a thousand tiny leaks. From not knowing your why, to ignoring customer service, to failing to track the right numbers, the truth is this: profit slips away quietly while you’re busy working hard. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sit down with Lisa Hennigar, Vice President of Franchise Development at ERA Group and a nationally recognized franchise strategist with over 22 years in the industry. Lisa has worked with everyone...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner When profit is slipping, most businsess owners look to cut costs or push sales harder. But what if your biggest drain isn’t on the P&L at all—it’s in your people? In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Pam Meissner—COO and CFO at CathCap—pulls back the curtain on why “right people, right seats” isn’t just an HR slogan. It’s one of the most powerful levers for profit growth that most companies ignore until it’s too late. The Gap: Why Profit Leaks Hide in Your...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Freedom by Design: How to Build a Profitable Business That Serves Your Life with Michael Walsh Most entrepreneurs start their journey with the dream of freedom—yet many quickly find themselves trapped by the very businesses they built. Revenue grows, responsibilities pile up, and the joy of entrepreneurship fades into overwhelm. In this Episode of the Profit Answer Man, I sat down with Michael Walsh, founder of the Walsh Business Growth Institute and author of Freedom by Design, to unpack how business owners can create companies that support—not suffocate—their lives. Michael has...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Boost Sales Without Spending a Dime with Tracy Beavers Why “More Sales” Isn’t Fixing Your Profit Problem (And What It’s Really Costing You) Ever wondered why your revenue is growing, but your bank account still feels empty? You’re not alone. Most business owners equate more sales with more profit, only to find themselves in the same cycle of financial stress. The truth? Sales without strategy create a dangerous illusion of success—and the hidden cost is your peace of mind, cash flow, and ultimately, your business’s survival. The pain goes deeper: Financial Cost:...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Profitable But Worthless? How to Build a Business Buyers Actually Want with Justin Goodbread Why High Profit ≠ High Value—And How That Mistake Could Cost You Millions Most business owners are chasing profit… But what if the very thing you’re chasing is keeping you trapped? Imagine this: You’re running a “successful” business with strong margins and great income. You’re paying yourself well, your spouse is on payroll, and life feels comfortable. Until the day you try to sell… and no one wants to buy. This episode of Profit Answer Man reveals...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Why Most Marketing Fails—And How to Make Yours Finally Pay Off with Andrew Gregory Why Most Marketing Fails to Deliver Profit—And How to Fix It Marketing agencies promise leads. But what if leads aren’t your problem? Thousands of small business owners are stuck in the same trap: they’re spending money on ads, but their bank accounts still feel tight. The real issue? Bad leads, broken follow-up systems, and a total disconnect between sales and profitability. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, marketing expert Andrew Gregory breaks down the hidden cost of poor...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How to Solve the Real Problem Killing Your Profit with Doug C. Brown Why Sales ≠ Profit—And the Blind Spots That Bleed Cash The Profit Gap: Why More Sales Might Be Making You Broke You’re pushing for more revenue. Your team is grinding. But your bank balance isn’t growing. In fact, you're more stressed, your margins are tighter, and your team is overwhelmed. Why? Because most businesses chase symptoms—like “bad sales teams” or “slow growth”—instead of finding and fixing the true root cause. Doug C. Brown, a $900M revenue growth expert, exposes...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
The Purpose of Business is to Make Money with David Schomer Why Scaling an E-Commerce Brand Can Bankrupt You (Unless You Fix This First) The Hidden Cost of Growth Nobody Talks About It’s every entrepreneur’s dream: launch a brand, grow revenue, and finally fire your boss. David Schomer lived that dream—scaling a pet supply company on Amazon before going full-time in e-commerce. But what most business owners don’t realize (until it's too late) is that scaling too fast without financial structure can choke your cash flow and starve your business of profit. You can hit record sales...
info_outlineProfit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin Why Visibility ≠ Growth—And How It’s Quietly Costing You Profits Most business owners think the next breakthrough in revenue will come from ads, funnels, or more hustle. But what if the real opportunity is getting in front of someone else’s audience—without spending a dollar on ads? In this episode of Profit Answer Man, we expose the costly visibility gap most owners don’t realize is bleeding their business. Seth Donlin shares why chasing attention isn't enough—and how strategic podcast guesting can...
info_outlineHow Storytelling Can Drive Your Profits with Seth Donlin
Why Visibility ≠ Growth—And How It’s Quietly Costing You Profits
Most business owners think the next breakthrough in revenue will come from ads, funnels, or more hustle.
But what if the real opportunity is getting in front of someone else’s audience—without spending a dollar on ads?
In this episode of Profit Answer Man, we expose the costly visibility gap most owners don’t realize is bleeding their business. Seth Donlin shares why chasing attention isn't enough—and how strategic podcast guesting can generate inbound leads, higher trust, and profit-rich conversations.
The GAP Framework:
GAP – Business owners invest heavily in visibility, but not all attention converts. They spray money across ads, content, and social without ever becoming trusted in a specific space. This “spray and pray” method burns cash and time.
ALTERNATIVE – Many default to building their audience one follower at a time, ignoring the leverage of podcast guesting—a proven method to build instant credibility with zero ad spend.
PROFIT PLAN – Use Seth’s approach to land curated podcast appearances where your audience already exists. Create content that scales your voice, authority, and cash flow—while fixing your visibility-to-revenue bottleneck.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
- How podcast guesting builds trust faster than any cold pitch or paid ad ever could.
- The three types of audiences—and how to find the ones that convert.
- Why owning your message (through storytelling) is the most profitable marketing move.
- How to get in front of thousands without building your own audience.
- The silent sales advantage of “borrowed trust” from podcast hosts.
Key Takeaways:
- Marketing ≠ Monetization – Many owners show up everywhere but never become memorable anywhere.
- You Can’t Afford to Be a Commodity – Without a unique story, you’re just noise.
- Podcast Guesting Isn’t PR—It’s Pipeline – Done right, it’s one of the highest-ROI lead sources for service businesses.
- You're Missing Buyer-Ready Audiences – The average podcast listener is a high-intent decision-maker. You just need the right pitch and positioning to reach them.
Guest Bio: Seth Donlin
Seth Donlin is a marketing and communications coach with over 20 years of expertise in storytelling and strategic brand-building. He’s the founder of Awen A/F, a boutique agency helping coaches, consultants, and fractional executives grow their authority and client base by tapping into borrowed audiences—primarily through podcast guesting tours.
He’s helped clients leverage this “earned stage” to generate demand, build trust, and grow without the grind of ads or algorithm-chasing.
Links:
Website: sethdonlin.com/rocky
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethdonlin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seth.donlin/?hl=enm
Ready to Fix Your Profit Leaks?
If your sales are up but your calendar’s still empty… if you’ve been seen but not sought out… it’s time to explore your visibility-to-profit gap.
#ProfitFirst #BusinessGrowth #CashFlowFix #SmartScaling #RevenueLeaks #ProfitClarity #OwnerPay #StrategicFinance
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman
Sign up to be notified when the next cohort of the Profit First Experience Course is available!
Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page
Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst
Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/
My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/
Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast
Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.
#profitfirst