Talk to Th3 Doc with Steve Meek

Talk to Th3 Doc with Steve Meek is designed for executives seeking to learn from a balance of business and technology experts, focused on helping SMBs through practical, high-level insights. Hosted by Steve 'The Doctor' Meek, an experienced business owner and technology strategist, episodes break down complex topics in General Business, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Technical Support, into clear, actionable conversations tailored for leadership decision-making. These include topics as varied as HR, the economy, leadership, culture and executive health. With a focus on real-world applications, business outcomes and real life, the show helps executives stay ahead of leadership challenges without needing to dive deep into the technical weeds. While we navigate the latest cybersecurity threats and strive to understand how AI can transform operations, Talk to Th3 Doc also delivers general business expert perspectives. Steve brings clarity to th

Talk to Th3 Doc with Steve Meek is a business podcast hosted by Steve "The Doctor" Meek, with 47 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Steve "The Doctor" Meek hosts Talk to Th3 Doc with Steve Meek, a business show with 47 episodes published.

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  Episode #148

  Is Your Business Ready for the Next Economic Shift? | Bill Conerly Ep. 148

  Sep 2, 202655 min

  ️ Is your business prepared for the next economic shift, or are today's headlines driving tomorrow's decisions? In Episode 148 of Talk To Th3 Doc, Steve “The Doctor” Meek talks with Dr. Bill Conerly, President of Conerly Consulting LLC, about how SMB leaders can prepare for economic uncertainty without trying to predict every twist and turn. TOP TAKEAWAY: “Be ready for that occasional downpour.” Bill's message is practical: the economy is usually more stable than the headlines suggest, but smart leaders prepare for the times when conditions change. You'll learn how to think about inflation, interest rates, AI productivity, employee retention, capital investment, pricing, cash flow, and both upside and downside contingency planning. IN THIS APPOINTMENT 00:00 Meet business economist Dr. Bill Conerly 02:57 Which economic indicators should leaders actually watch? 07:13 Could 2% economic growth become normal? 10:14 Where AI may create real productivity 14:15 Could AI adopters actually create more jobs? 16:24 AI, technology and customer experience 21:40 Business metrics SMB leaders should monitor 22:42 Why every company needs a contingency plan 26:23 Inflation and locking in vendor pricing 30:05 Can your business raise prices? 32:31 Finding productivity beyond AI 37:01 Employee retention in a tight labor market 40:10 Are managers focused on the wrong employees? 42:41 Trends leaders should watch beyond next quarter 45:21 When to invest versus preserve cash 46:13 Why rapid growth can create a cash crisis 49:18 Interest rates and business investment 51:36 Why housing matters to business leaders 53:14 Bill's One Big Takeaway THE PRESCRIPTION Don't build your organization around one economic prediction. Build it to handle multiple futures. That means knowing what you'll do if sales slow, but also what happens if demand suddenly takes off. For DFW SMBs, that same thinking should extend to technology: align AI, automation, cybersecurity, productivity, and technology investments with where the organization is going. At The Fulcrum Group, that's why our STARpower™ strategic alignment process goes beyond fixing today's IT problems. We help leaders continually connect technology investments with business priorities, risk, innovation, and future growth. ‍⚕️ ABOUT DR. BILL CONERLY Dr. Bill Conerly is a business economist and President of Conerly Consulting LLC. A Duke University Ph.D., Bill has worked in economics and corporate planning for Fortune 500 companies and as a bank senior vice president. He has spoken to more than 1,400 business audiences and is the author of The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy. Conerly Consulting Businomics Newsletter Bill Conerly on LinkedIn ▶️ Bill Conerly on YouTube TALK TO TH3 DOC Enjoyed the appointment? Subscribe, like, comment, and share this episode with another business leader. Listen on Apple, Spotify and other podcast platforms Watch Episode 148 on YouTube Explore Talk To Th3 Doc Connect with Steve Meek on LinkedIn Need help aligning technology with where your organization is headed? Use the Initial Consultation form on our podcast page to start a conversation with The Fulcrum Group. HASHTAGS #TalkToTh3Doc #BillConerly #EconomicOutlook #EconomicUncertainty #BusinessLeadership #BusinessStrategy #BusinessPlanning #SMBStrategy #SmallBusiness #BusinessResilience #ContingencyPlanning #AIProductivity #AIForBusiness #BusinessAutomation #StrategicPlanning #TechnologyStrategy #EmployeeRetention #CashFlow #DFWBusiness #ManagedITServices

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  Episode #146

  Is AI Marketing Helping or Hurting Growth? With Sheila Rondeau Ep. 146

  Aug 5, 202651 min

  Is AI marketing helping your business grow, or just helping you create more noise faster? In Episode 146 of Talk To Th3 Doc, Steve “The Doctor” Meek sits down with Sheila Rondeau, CEO / CMO of MOGXP, to talk about AI marketing, business strategy, customer trust, and the real risk of letting tools outrun leadership. Sheila’s core message is simple: AI can amplify your message, your mess, or your momentum. The difference is strategy. For DFW SMB leaders, nonprofits, healthcare practices, professional services firms, manufacturers, and local organizations, this episode explains why AI marketing should start with goals, customer understanding, brand voice, clean data, and measurable outcomes before adding more tools. At The Fulcrum Group, Inc., we see the same pattern in managed IT, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, compliance, cloud, co-managed IT, and AI readiness. Technology works best when it is aligned to the business, secured properly, and reviewed through a practical roadmap. That is why our SPOT Managed IT Services, SPOT Managed Security Services, STARPower Framework, and “No IT Jerks” philosophy all start with listening, clarity, and smarter execution. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • Why AI marketing still needs human judgment • How SMBs can avoid creating generic AI content • Why “read it out loud” is a useful brand voice test • How AI can speed up either growth or confusion • Why marketing strategy and IT governance now overlap • How to start small with AI and measure what matters FEATURED QUOTE: “AI does not have judgment.” CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Sheila Rondeau’s background 02:48 Why marketing dollars need math 04:11 AI marketing needs judgment 05:48 Building authentic brand voice 07:12 Customer language, SEO, AEO, and GEO 08:38 Strategy before AI amplification 10:11 The “read it out loud” test 17:12 Marketing metrics that matter 26:40 Automation vs. AI 42:54 Scorecards and strategy metrics 51:35 Sheila’s one big takeaway 52:04 Practical AI prescriptions 52:41 How to connect with Sheila CONNECT WITH SHEILA RONDEAU: MOGXP: https://mogxp.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilarondeau/ Email: sheila@mogxp.com CONNECT WITH THE FULCRUM GROUP: Podcast: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/ Website: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/ Email Steve: thedoctor@fulcrumgroup.net Sales: sales@fulcrumgroup.net Phone: 817-337-0300 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fulcrum-group-inc-/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFulcrumGroup ABOUT TALK TO TH3 DOC: Talk To Th3 Doc helps SMB owners, executives, and civic leaders think more clearly about leadership, cybersecurity, AI, managed IT services, compliance, and smarter technology decisions. Subscribe, like, comment, and share this episode with a business leader who is wondering whether AI marketing is helping or hurting growth. #TalkToTh3Doc #AIMarketing #AIStrategy #SMBGrowth #DFWBusiness #ManagedITServices #DFWManagedITServices #TheFulcrumGroup #SPOTManagedITServices #SPOTManagedSecurityServices #STARPowerFramework #NoITJerks #Microsoft365 #Cybersecurity #AIReadiness #MarketingStrategy #BusinessGrowth #GEO #AEO #KellerTX

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  Episode #145

  Is Your Security Culture Putting Your Business at Risk? | Anthony Davis | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 145

  Jul 15, 202658 min

  What if your people are not the weakest link in cybersecurity, but your greatest defense? In Episode 145 of Talk To Th3 Doc, Steve “The Doctor” Meek sits down with Anthony Davis, Founder of Risky Creative and host of The Awareness Angle, to talk about cybersecurity culture, human risk, security awareness, and why leadership matters more than another tool. Anthony brings more than 15 years of cybersecurity experience focused on the human side of security. Together, Steve and Anthony discuss why growing organizations, SMB owners, city managers, nonprofit leaders, and IT decision-makers need to stop treating employees as the problem and start building a culture where people feel safe, informed, and empowered to report risks. Top takeaway: “People are the solution, not the problem.” In this episode, we cover: Why growth can create bigger cybersecurity problems Why security awareness often fails How leaders can build a positive security culture Why compliance is only a baseline How Shadow AI creates new business risk Why phishing click rates do not tell the whole story How executive sponsorship changes security behavior Why trust and psychological safety matter How SMBs can reduce human cyber risk Time-Stamps / Chapters 00:00 – The myth that growth fixes business problems 02:30 – The human side of cybersecurity 04:41 – Why people are not just the weakest link 06:41 – Making cybersecurity relatable 10:42 – Hidden risks in systems and patching 16:37 – Understanding user risk profiles 20:01 – Building relationships for security awareness 23:48 – Measuring security engagement 26:19 – Early warning signs of security issues 28:44 – Executive sponsorship and security culture 33:03 – Avoiding fear-based cybersecurity leadership 38:04 – Building a positive security culture 45:32 – Measuring security awareness effectiveness 50:21 – Psychological safety in cybersecurity 54:12 – People are the solution, not the problem Guest Anthony Davis Founder, Risky Creative Host, The Awareness Angle Website: https://www.antdavis.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@riskycreative Instagram: https://instagram.com/riskycreative TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@infosecant About Talk To Th3 Doc Talk To Th3 Doc is hosted by Steve “The Doctor” Meek, CISSP, CEO and Co-Founder of The Fulcrum Group, Inc. in Keller, Texas. Each episode helps SMB owners, executives, local government leaders, and IT decision-makers think more clearly about business growth, cybersecurity, managed IT services, AI readiness, leadership, and technology strategy. The Fulcrum Group provides DFW Managed IT Services, SPOT Managed IT Services, SPOT Managed Security Services, cybersecurity leadership, compliance support, and STARPower strategic technology alignment for organizations across North Texas. Call To Action 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1807560282 🌐 Explore more episodes or request a consultation: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/ 📩 Email Steve: thedoctor@fulcrumgroup.net 🔗 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemeekcissp/ 📞 Contact The Fulcrum Group: 817-337-0300 https://www.fulcrumgroup.net Suggested Lead Magnet / CTA Want to know whether your organization has a security culture gap? Ask The Fulcrum Group about a cybersecurity and technology alignment conversation through our STARPower Framework. YouTube Hashtags #TalkToTh3Doc #CybersecurityCulture #HumanRiskManagement #SecurityAwareness #CybersecurityLeadership #ManagedITServices #ManagedSecurity #DFWBusiness #DFWManagedIT #STARPower

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  Talk to Th3 Doc with Steve Meek

  Is Your Back Office Ready for Growth? | Walt Lotspeich | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 144

  Jul 1, 202652 min

  Are your back-office systems helping your business grow—or quietly holding it back? In this episode of Talk To Th3 Doc, Steve "The Doctor" Meek sits down with Walt Lotspeich, President of OG Trust Services, to explore why operational excellence is about much more than software. Together they discuss how clean data, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, vendor management, business processes, and leadership all contribute to building organizations that scale with confidence. Although Walt's company specializes in mineral interest management and trust operations, the lessons in this conversation apply to every growing business, nonprofit, municipality, financial institution, and professional services firm. 💡 In this episode you'll learn: ✅ Why bad data leads to bad business decisions ✅ How operational excellence creates a competitive advantage ✅ Practical ways AI is improving business productivity ✅ Why cybersecurity is now a leadership responsibility ✅ How vendor management reduces organizational risk ✅ Why continuous improvement never ends ✅ Leadership lessons from growing a successful business If you're an SMB owner, executive, operations leader, nonprofit director, or local government official looking to improve your organization, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 05:04 – Cybersecurity and Leadership 10:10 – Building Specialized Business Software 14:55 – Why Continuous Improvement Never Ends 19:49 – Practical AI for Business 28:00 – Measuring Business Performance 31:55 – Growth Signals Every Leader Should Watch 33:58 – Managing Operational Bottlenecks 36:10 – Industry Trends & Technology 40:57 – Strategic Partnerships That Scale 46:58 – Leadership Lessons & Final Prescription 🎯 Top Takeaway "Check your ego at the door." Great organizations aren't built by leaders who try to do everything themselves. They're built by leaders who surround themselves with talented people, trust experts, and continually improve the systems that support growth. 👤 About Our Guest Walt Lotspeich is President of OG Trust Services, where he helps financial institutions, trust companies, and family offices manage complex mineral interests through specialized software and operational expertise. Learn more: 🌐 https://ogtrustservices.com/ 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltlotspeich/ 🎧 Listen Everywhere Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeartRadio Pocket Casts 🎧 https://pod.link/1807560282 🌐 More Talk To Th3 Doc Podcast Home https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/ 👨‍⚕️ Connect with Steve "The Doctor" Meek 📧 thedoctor@fulcrumgroup.net 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemeekcissp/ 🏢 Connect with The Fulcrum Group 🌐 https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/ 📞 817-337-0300 📧 sales@fulcrumgroup.net LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fulcrum-group-inc/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheFulcrumGroup Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheFulcrumGroup X https://x.com/TheFulcrumGroup Instagram https://www.instagram.com/TheFulcrumGroupInc 🔖 Keywords back office operations, business growth, operational excellence, leadership, cybersecurity, business systems, managed IT services, data governance, AI for business, Microsoft Copilot, vendor management, technology strategy, business operations, cloud computing, operational efficiency, digital transformation, business leadership, executive leadership, SMB technology, Talk To Th3 Doc

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  Episode #143

  Are Your Hiring Gaps Hurting Growth? Mark Mitford | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 143

  Jun 17, 20261 hour

  Are hiring gaps quietly slowing your growth? In Episode 143 of Talk To Th3 Doc, Steve “The Doctor” Meek talks with Mark Mitford, Founder and Fractional HR Executive at HR Catalyst, about recruiting, onboarding, retention, leadership development, and why people problems are often growth problems in disguise. Mark explains why SMB leaders should always be building a talent pipeline, why a job posting is not the same as a job description, and how better onboarding and manager check-ins can help retain good people. For business owners, nonprofit leaders, municipal leaders, and DFW executives, this episode connects HR discipline with the same leadership habits that make technology, cybersecurity, and managed IT services work better: clarity, structure, communication, and trust. At The Fulcrum Group, Inc., we see the same pattern in IT. Whether through SPOT Managed IT Services, SPOT Managed Security Services, the STARPower Framework, or our No IT Jerks philosophy, healthy systems help good people do better work. Top Takeaway Equip leaders to lead effectively. Hiring gaps, onboarding gaps, and IT maturity gaps all point back to one leadership question: do we have a repeatable system, or are we relying on heroics? What We Cover • Why leaders should always be recruiting • The difference between job postings and job descriptions • How poor candidate communication hurts hiring • Why outdated job descriptions create bad outcomes • How AI and automation can help, but also miss good candidates • Why time-to-fill matters as an HR metric • How structured onboarding reduces turnover risk • Why leaders should re-recruit existing employees • Simple recognition habits that improve retention • Why promoted managers need leadership training • How trust grows through regular check-ins Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to HR insights 03:06 – Current state of the job market 06:01 – Recruiting strategies in uncertain times 08:59 – Always be recruiting 11:30 – Job posting vs. job description 12:07 – Candidate communication matters 14:56 – Structured interviews and scalable hiring 19:59 – Automation and AI in recruiting 22:28 – Keep job descriptions current 24:05 – Time to fill as a key HR metric 29:03 – Onboarding and productivity metrics 31:39 – The cost of high turnover 33:50 – Key elements of effective onboarding 36:36 – Re-recruiting existing employees 39:48 – Recognition and reward systems 43:07 – Leadership development and engagement 48:27 – Building trust in leadership 54:05 – Balancing remote work and engagement 58:32 – Final takeaways and resources Guest Mark Mitford Founder and Fractional HR Executive, HR Catalyst Website: https://hrcatalystconsulting.com LinkedIn: Search “Mark Mitford” Book mentioned: People Are Your Profit Resources Mentioned • HR Catalyst: https://hrcatalystconsulting.com • People Are Your Profit by Mark Mitford • Radical Candor by Kim Scott • Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group podcasts • HR Problem Solver Podcast Connect With The Fulcrum Group The Fulcrum Group, Inc. is a Keller, TX based provider of DFW Managed IT Services for SMBs, local governments, nonprofits, professional services firms, manufacturers, and growing organizations. Explore more episodes or schedule an initial consultation: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/ Main website: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/ Phone: 817-337-0300 Email: sales@fulcrumgroup.net Podcast link: https://pod.link/1807560282 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fulcrum-group-inc. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFulcrumGroupInc Subscribe, like, comment, and share this episode with another leader who wants stronger people systems, better technology alignment, and less business friction. #TalkToTh3Doc #HiringGaps #SMBLeadership #EmployeeRetention #EmployeeOnboarding #RecruitingStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #HRCatalyst #MarkMitford #SteveMeek #TheFulcrumGroup #DFWBusiness #KellerTX #DFWManagedITServices #ManagedITServices #NoITJerks

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