Ep 285 Right People, Right Seats: The Hidden Profit Killer in Your Business with Pam Meissner
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Release Date: 09/03/2025
Ep 305 Mid 8-Figure Exit Lessons: How to Avoid Millions in Taxes and Regret After the Sale with Nathan Collins
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Mid 8-Figure Exit Lessons: How to Avoid Millions in Taxes and Regret After the Sale with Nathan Collins Find Rocky Lalvani @ or email him at Most business owners think the hardest part of selling a business is the deal. But the real danger often shows up after the sale: the taxes you didn’t plan for and the identity shift you didn’t expect In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Rocky Lalvani sits down with , a former CEO who sold his business for a mid-eight-figure exit—and then realized he wasn’t personally...
info_outline
Ep 304 From Bankruptcy at 24 to $35M: Building Profitable Business Through Discipline and Purpose with Mike Chaput
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Find Rocky Lalvani @ or email him at From Bankruptcy at 24 to $35M: Building Profitable Business Through Discipline and Purpose with Mike Chaput What if the worst business failure of your life became the foundation for 26 years of unbroken profitability? At 24, Michael Chaput bought a business that went bankrupt. At 50, he runs a $35 million company that hasn't had a single unprofitable month in 26 years—not through 2008, not through COVID, not ever. In this episode, Michael shares the hard-won lessons from hitting rock bottom and how financial discipline, tough...
info_outline
Ep 303 How to Legally Pay Less Tax as a Business Owner with Former IRS Agent Carlotta Thompson
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How to Legally Pay Less Tax as a Business Owner with Former IRS Agent Carlotta Thompson With Former IRS Agent Carlotta Thompson Most business owners believe high taxes are just the price of success. They’re wrong. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Rocky sits down with former IRS agent turned tax strategist Carlotta Thompson to reveal how the tax system really works, what actually triggers audits, and how profitable business owners legally keep more of what they earn. This is not about loopholes or risky moves. It’s about understanding the rules well enough to play the...
info_outline
Ep 302 The Financial Model Every 7–8 Figure Business Needs for Predictable Profit with Salvatore Tirabassi
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
The Financial Model Every 7–8 Figure Business Needs for Predictable Profit with Salvatore Tirabassi Most business owners don’t lack data. They lack clarity. They have a P&L, a balance sheet, maybe even a dashboard. But when a real decision shows up—Can I afford this hire? Should I scale marketing? Why did margins drop again?—the numbers don’t give a clear answer. That’s where growth starts to feel chaotic. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Rocky Lalvani sits down with fractional CFO and former private equity investor Salvatore Tirabassi to unpack...
info_outline
Ep 301 How to Build a Business Fortress: Liquidity, Cash Flow, and Exit Readiness with David Barnett
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How to Build a Business Fortress: Liquidity, Cash Flow, and Exit Readiness with David Barnett Build a Business Fortress: Why Liquidity Beats Leverage and Most Businesses Never Sell Most owners assume the big payoff will come when they finally sell the business. The hard truth is that roughly 80 percent of small businesses listed for sale never actually sell as going concerns. The real payoff is in the years of ownership: the cash flow you extract, the wealth you build outside the business, and the resilience you create so you can survive the next punch in the face. In this...
info_outline
Ep 300 The Referable Client Experience with Stacey Brown Randall
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
The Referable Client Experience with Stacey Brown Randall Most business owners say they want more referrals. Very few are actually drowning in them. The default strategy is to do good work, hope people notice, and maybe ask for introductions when things get slow. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, I sit down again with referral expert and author Stacey Brown Randall to talk about why that approach does not work and how to build a truly referrable client experience. Stacey has spent years helping small business owners generate referrals without asking, without incentives, and...
info_outline
Ep 299 How to Build a Business You Can Actually Sell with Saul Cohen
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
How to Build a Business You Can Actually Sell with Saul Cohen Most business owners say the same thing: “I want to grow as big as I can.” But when you press them on what they really want—time freedom, a great income, flexibility with their family—they’re actually describing a lifestyle business, not a high-growth scale-up destined for a huge exit. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Rocky Lalvani talks with Saul Cohen, an accountant and advisor who helps ambitious entrepreneurs grow through acquisition and prepare for a successful exit. Together, they unpack the...
info_outline
Ep 298 From Chaos to Cash Flow: How Business Owners Can Scale with Less Stress with David Forster
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
From Chaos to Cash Flow: How Business Owners Can Scale with Less Stress with David Forster “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” If you’re stuck reacting all day, this episode with David Forster hands you the blueprint: clarify roles, codify the 80%, install scorecards that measure what matters, and make Profit First automatic so cash is where you need it—when you need it. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why “boring, repeatable systems” beat heroics—and how to build them for people who crave structure. The clarity–consistency–accountability trio: what...
info_outline
Ep 297 Profit First with Megan Schwan
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Profit First with Megan Schwan Most owners chase revenue and wonder why cash keeps disappearing. In this episode, Rocky sits down with Megan Schwan—CEO of Sidekick Accounting and a certified Profit First Professional—to unpack the simple systems that turn chaos into cash: clean books, pricing discipline, expense sweeps, and a short list of actionable KPIs. If you want fewer surprises and fatter reserves, start here. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why “good books” are your #1 tax saver—and the foundation for pricing and fraud control. How Profit First creates...
info_outline
Ep 296 Simple Numbers, Big Profits with Greg Crabtree: How to Scale Without Debt or Chaos
Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond
Simple Numbers, Big Profits with Greg Crabtree: How to Scale Without Debt or Chaos Most business owners chase revenue—and lose sight of profit. In this episode of Profit Answer Man, Rocky Lalvani sits down with Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits, to cut through the noise and talk about what really drives a successful business. A self-described “recovering accountant,” Greg shares how data—not opinions—can transform how entrepreneurs see their numbers, make decisions, and grow sustainably. If you’ve ever felt like your financial reports...
info_outlineRight 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 People:
You can have a stellar product, growing sales, and tight cost controls—and still lose money. The reason? People issues that don’t show up as a neat line item on your P&L.
Pam sees it all the time: companies hanging on to team members who no longer fit, tolerating culture-killers because they perform well in one area, or promoting loyal employees into roles they can’t succeed in.
The Four Quadrants Every Leader Needs to Know:
Pam breaks down the four categories of employees, based on competency and alignment with core values:
- Stars – High performers who live your values.
- Puppies – Aligned with values but lack skill; worth investing in if trainable.
- Rats – Low competency, no values alignment; they have to go—fast.
- Gremlins – Highly competent but toxic to your culture; they hold you hostage and quietly drain profit.
Ignoring the “rats” and “gremlins” doesn’t just hurt morale—it actively drives away your stars.
Why Core Values Aren’t Just a Poster on the Wall:
Most companies have core values, but few hire, fire, and promote based on them.
Pam’s advice:
- Define your values clearly.
- Interview with them in mind (AI tools like ChatGPT can help craft questions).
- Involve peers in hiring to assess fit.
- Hold quarterly conversations so performance and alignment are never a surprise.
The Real Cost of a Bad Hire:
Replacing someone can cost multiple times their salary—especially if you use recruiters. But the hidden costs of keeping the wrong person are even higher:
- Lost productivity
- Star employee turnover
- Extra resources to “work around” problem employees
Pam stresses: The cheapest solution is to hire right the first time—and act quickly when you don’t.
The Profit Plan: Align People, Process, and Purpose:
- To plug these hidden leaks:
- Audit your team using the four quadrants.
- Invest in “puppies” with clear timelines and training plans.
- Remove “rats” immediately and plan a strategic exit for “gremlins.”
- Keep your stars engaged and appreciated.
💡Bonus Listening: For a real-world example of how to build and keep an all-star team, check out Episode 141 with Emily Cole, co-founder of the Savannah Bananas. Her approach to hiring for culture fit will inspire you to rethink how you find your next great hire.
Key Takeaway:
Profit isn’t just about cutting costs or selling more—it’s about aligning the right people in the right seats. When you protect your culture and your core values, profit follows.
Ready to uncover your hidden profit leaks? Let’s talk. Book a time at ProfitComesFirst.com
and start building a team that fuels—not drains—your bottom line.
About Pam Meissner:
Pam Meissner is a powerhouse in the world of finance and leadership, with a career that spans CFO, COO, and CEO roles across industries. Known for her ability to drive business growth, she has helped companies scale while navigating the complexities of financial strategy and operations. Her expertise lies in turning numbers into narratives—helping business leaders make informed, confident decisions that fuel long-term success.
Beyond her financial acumen, Pam brings a global perspective to her work. She has lived and worked across multiple countries, experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy and reinforced the importance of adaptability and innovation.
Pam’s journey is also one of resilience. Recently widowed after 30 years of marriage, she continues to lead with strength and purpose. Her son, who has autism, recently graduated from college, and her daughter, a marathon runner, raises funds for autism research—both reflecting the family’s spirit of perseverance and impact.
When she’s not advising business leaders, Pam is an award-winning baker, avid reader, and self-taught fashion designer. Whether she’s strategizing financial turnarounds, perfecting the art of the cake, or learning a new skill, she brings the same passion, precision, and problem-solving mindset to everything she does.
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-meissner/
Website: https://cathcap.com/
Cathcap LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cathcap/
Conclusion:
Profit isn’t just about financial spreadsheets—it’s about people. As Pam Meissner shared, the wrong person in the wrong seat can quietly drain resources, culture, and profit. The real path to sustainable growth is aligning your team with your core values, investing in potential where it exists, and having the courage to let go when it doesn’t.
Remember: profit follows people. When you get the right people in the right seats, you unlock not just financial performance, but a business that truly thrives.
Episode 141- Profit First Success with Savanah Bananas and Emily Cole-
https://profitcomesfirst.com/ep-141-profit-first-success-with-the-savanah-bananas-and-emily-cole/
#ProfitFirst #BusinessClarity #ProfitLeaks #TeamPerformance #CultureFit #SmartScaling #OwnerPay #LeadershipMatters #BusinessGrowth #CoreValues
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.