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EPISODE #483 PREVIEW: SUBSCRIPTION ECONOMY UPDATE — MARCH 2024

Join Ron and Ed as we dive deep into the dynamic world of subscription business models. With the landscape constantly evolving, we'll bring you the latest insights and happenings that are shaping the future of subscriptions. Whether it's the introduction of new technologies, shifts in consumer preferences, or innovative strategies companies are adopting to retain subscribers, we've got it covered. Stay ahead of the curve and understand what these changes mean for businesses and consumers alike. Don't miss out on this insightful update – tune in to stay informed!

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EPISODE #482: SUBSCRIPTION-BASED LEGAL SERVICES - INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT REIB

Ron and Ed are joined by Scott Reib who is known as “America’s Legal Coach.” For the last two decades, Scott is a firm believer that legal advice doesn’t have to be expensive or intimidating. His passion lies in changing the way we view legal counsel: from “emergency” situations to “primary care provider” relationships. Scott is shifting this perspective via Access Plan, his groundbreaking subscription-model legal service, where he helps clients understand their legal questions before they find themselves in a legal emergency.

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EPISODE #481: PRIVATE EQUITY IN ACCOUNTING — MICHAEL BREIT, CEO, EISNERAMPER

Join Ed and Ron for our interview with EisnerAmper’s Chairman and CEO, Michael Breit, for a discussion of private equity in accounting, including how EisnerAmper’s changed its governance structure. We'll also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these alternative structures, and how private equity will impact the future of firms.

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EPISODE #480: LEVERAGING LOGIC, UNLEASHING MAGIC — THE ART OF SUBSCRIPTION

In an engaging email exchange between Ron and Reilly Newman, a Brand Scientist, Reilly shares his insights and challenges while reading the book "Time's Up!" He is particularly interested in applying the subscription business model to his brand creation business but faces difficulties in transitioning from a consultancy approach to a subscription-based service. Through their conversation, they explore creative solutions and strategies, including the idea of offering a "brand transformation program" and incorporating ongoing value into subscription packages. Join Ed and Ron as they discuss these ideas and how they apply to professional firms.

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EPISODE #479: GROWTH GRIEF - GUARDING AGAINST THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF SCALE

Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of a cancer cell, not a sustainable business. Yet, the myth of growth and market share persists. "Grow market share! You must be scalable!" We are told over and over, and profits will follow. "Horse hockey!" as Col. Sherman T Potter would say. This week Ron and Ed will share their thoughts on why this pernicious myth does far more damage than good especially in the professional service space.

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EPISODE #478: THE FUTURE OF ERP SYSTEMS — SECOND INTERVIEW WITH AARON HARRIS

What does the future hold for accounting/ERP systems? There is no one better on the planet to answer this question than Aaron Harris, Sage's Global CTO. Aaron is responsible for Sage’s technology strategy and software architecture. He has more than 20 years of high-tech engineering experience in business applications and software development strategies. Previously a founding leader of Sage Intacct, acquired by Sage in 2017, Aaron led the company’s product vision and technology direction, establishing Sage Intacct as the innovation leader in cloud financial management solutions.

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EPISODE #477: THE TIME TAX — THE CRIME OF WASTING CUSTOMERS' TIME

Inspired by an article by former TSOE guest B. Joseph Pine II, and James H. Gilmore, Ed and Ron explored how businesses--including professional firms--can stop wasting the customer's time. Strategies for helping customers save time, and invest it well were explored.

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EPISODE #476: THE CONSERVATIVE FUTURIST — INTERVIEW WITH JIM PETHOKOUKIS

America was once the world’s dream factory. We turned imagination into reality, from curing polio to landing on the Moon to creating the internet. But as we moved into the late 20th century, we grew cautious, even cynical, about what the future held and our ability to shape it. Too many of us saw only the threats from rapid change. What caused this to happen? More importantly, what can we do to change it? Ron and Ed are thrilled have someone who has squarely addressed these questions. Jim Pethokoukis is the author of The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised.

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EPISODE #475: PUNDITRY PUNT

Unfortunately, our Guest fell ill, and could not join us, but don't worry pros play hurt, so Ron and Ed have called an audible, and will be punting to opine on some stuff in the stacks.

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EPISODE #474: THE JONES ACT - INTERVIEW WITH COLIN GRABOW

On this episode Ron and Ed welcomed Colin Grabow of the CATO Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies to talk about the Jones Act (aka Merchant Marine Act of 1920) which regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports, oh, and, makes stuff more expensive for all of us while benefitting a select few. You will learn the main reason why food and other sundry items are more expensive in Hawaii and Puerto Rico; why the Northeast US imports natural gas from Russia instead of getting it from the US; and many more insanities.

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Ron Baker

Ronald J. Baker started his CPA career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute—the leading think tank dedicated to educating professionals internationally—and a radio talk-show host on the www.VoiceAmerica.com show: The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Knowledge Economy, and the Chief Value Officer at Armanino LLP.

As a frequent speaker, writer, and educator, his work takes him around the world. He has been an instructor with the California CPA Education Foundation since 1995 and has authored over twenty courses for them, including: You Are What You Charge For: Success in Today’s Emerging Experience Economy (with Daniel Morris); Alternatives to the Federal Income Tax; Trashing the Timesheet: A Declaration of Independence; Everyday Economics; Everyday Ethics: Doing Well by Doing Good; and The Best Business Books You Should Read.

He is the author of seven best-selling books, including: Professional’s Guide to Value Pricing; The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional Services, co-authored with Paul Dunn; Pricing on Purpose: Creating and Capturing Value; Measure What Matters to Customers: Using Key Predictive Indicators; Mind Over Matter: Why Intellectual Capital is the Chief Source of Wealth; Implementing Value Pricing: A Radical Business Model for Professional Firms; and his latest book The Soul of Enterprise: Dialogues on Business in the Knowledge Economy, co-authored with Ed Kless.

Ron has toured the world, spreading his value-pricing message to over 220,000 professionals. He has been appointed to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s Group of One Hundred, a think tank of leaders to address the future of the profession; named on Accounting Today’s 2001 to 2007, and 2011 to 2019, Top 100 Most Influential People in the profession; voted among the Top Ten Most Influential People in the profession in 2012—2019; selected as one of LinkedIn’s Influencer Bloggers; inducted into the CPA Practice Advisor Hall of Fame in 2018; and received the 2003 Award for Instructor Excellence from the California CPA Education Foundation. He graduated in 1984 from San Francisco State University, with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a minor in economics. He is a graduate of Disney University and Cato University, and is a faculty member of the Professional Pricing Society. He presently resides in Petaluma, California.

 

Ed Kless

Ed Kless joined Sage in July of 2003 and is currently the senior director of partner development and strategy. He develops and delivers curriculum for Sage business partners on the art and practice of small business consulting including the Sage Consulting Academy, Business Strategy and Customer Experience Workshops.

Ed hosts the Sage Advice Podcast and co-hosts the VoiceAmerica TalkShow Network’s The Soul of Enterprise with Ron Baker, founder of the VeraSage Institute where Ed is also a senior fellow. They coauthored The Soul of Enterprise: Dialogues on Business in the Knowledge Economy, a compendium of a few of the episodes.

Prior to joining Sage, Ed worked with Tipping Point Advisors, an organization dedicated to the growth and development of software implementation partners. In 1996, he co- founded Third Wave Business Systems, a Microsoft Dynamics GP partner that grew to 20 team members and $5 million in revenue. At Third Wave, Ed developed the implementation methodology and led the CRM and ERP consulting teams.

Ed is a contributor to industry publications and has spoken at many conferences worldwide on project management, pricing, and knowledge workers. He is also active in the Information Technology Alliance (ITA) and has been named to Accounting Today’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Accounting numerous times including 2019. Additionally, Ed is a faculty member of the Professional Pricing Society.

He lives north of Dallas with his wife and two children and ran for Texas State Senate in 2010 and 2012 as a Libertarian.

Follow him on his blog at www.edkless.com or on Twitter @edkless.

ed kless.png

 

 

Time’s Up NOW AVAILABLE

We have some great news!

In 2003, Ron Baker and Paul Dunn published The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional which revolutionized the business model of professional firms worldwide.

Now they are back with Time’s Up: The Subscription Business Model for Professional Firms which once again upends the business model.