Construct and Generate Podcast

Are you ready for some serious inspiration? In this episode of Construct & Generate, I sat down with special guest Charles Alexiou to talk about how he created a home design business that makes good design accessible and affordable to everyone. Charles has had several previous lives; having been born and bred in Darwin in the Northern Territory (Crocodile Dundee country), he trained originally in Nuclear Physics and Applied Mathematics, and he has had a long and distinguished former career in investment banking and software design and marketing; however, his passion has always been design and real estate.From a young child, he spent many school holidays on construction sites in his father's construction business. That's where he got the taste of design & architecture. Now on projects, the numerate side watches the budget with care, keeping costs to a minimum and reducing risk, adding value to the project, and maximizing the client's return on investment; while the creative side focuses on the detail of the finished product, serving clients and ensuring that their project is one that will be enjoyed for years. Delivery and quality control are just as important as design.Charles doesn’t believe that you have to be wealthy in order to have a house that is well designed. With a little bit of design, you can truly turn a house into a home. Tune in to hear more about how Charles does it! All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Check out Charles’ website: https://pappasalexiou.comFollow Charles on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pappasalexiou/Follow Charles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pappasalexiou/Follow Charles on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pappasalexiou/Follow MCM Homes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcmhomesau/Follow MCM Homes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcmhomesauFollow Jetset Homes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jetsethomesauLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

Do you understand how to manage the finances in your business? Many people assume that being successful in business automatically means that you know how to handle all of the financial aspects of your business and you know everything there is to know about managing money and budgets. However, that’s not always the case. In this episode of Construct & Generate, I sat down with Brandon Clark to talk about ways that businesses can get themselves set up for success financially. Brandon Clark is the founder of Reexamine Wealth. He is a financial planner and coach who helps people align their money and their lives and reach Financial Independence.Prior to Reexamine Wealth, Brandon owned the accounting firm Balanced Financial Solutions (BFS) which served Individuals and Small Businesses. Brandon built BFS from a solo practice into a firm with a team of 4 employees and multiple subcontractors and partners. It was in this role that Brandon cemented his passion for financial planning and helping clients connect the various areas of their finances. Brandon exited the firm through an acquisition.If you feel lost when it comes to your business numbers, you aren’t alone. Tune into this episode to learn some steps you can start taking today to get your business on track financially so that you can continue to grow while staying within budget. All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Check out Brandon’s website: https://reexaminewealth.com/Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reexaminewealth/Connect with Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReexamineWealthConnect with Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/76617992Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

How do you feel about networking? Love it or hate it, networking is a huge piece of running a business. Networking can open up so many doors for you that you may not have even anticipated before. In fact, many business owners find that referrals, or word-of-mouth marketing, are their biggest source of business. Needless to say, it’s pretty important! In this episode of Construct & Generate, I sat down with Brian Loebig to talk more about how leveraging the power of networking can have a massive impact on your business. Brian Loebig is the founder of Loebig Ink, LLC and an award-winning technology blog, TheInkBlog.net. Brian has over 15 years of experience working as a practitioner and administrator in the small business, non-profit, human service, and technology fields with a special emphasis on SEO, web design, and social media.Brian has also been recognized as a master networker through his involvement with Business Networking International (BNI), multiple chambers of commerce, online meetups, Linkedin Local events, and more. He serves on the BNI International Board of Advisors and is one of the few "Platinum Level" BNI members in the country—having sponsored over 30 members in BNI and having invited hundreds of visitors over the course of his 8 years of participation.Many people shy away from local or in-person networking groups but joining one can be a gamechanger! You can meet people that you never would have had the chance to connect with before and grow your business consistently. Tune in to learn more!All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Check out Brian’s website: https://www.loebigink.com/services/Follow Brian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loebigink/Follow Brian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianloebig/Follow Brian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brianloebigConnect with Loebig Ink on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/loebigink/Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianloebig/Join the Facebook Group: https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

As business owners, most of us have a love/hate relationship with email. Usually, people don’t love getting bombarded with emails in their personal life and that can spill over into their business.In this episode of Construct & Generate, I am going to be sharing the importance of email marketing, how to optimize it, and why it is a must-have in your business.  Despite what you might think, email isn’t dead! Just because you may not like getting promotional emails doesn’t mean that everyone feels that way. Email is something that every generation uses, so no matter who your audience is, they are checking their email and you can reach them directly by making email marketing a priority in your business. Trust me, if you aren’t using email marketing, you are missing out! You don’t want to get left behind, so start sending those emails. This will help you generate more customers and grow your business. It can also help you come across as an expert in your field.Email is one of the best ways to get in front of your audience and build relationships, so what do you have to lose? Tune in to this episode to hear more about why email marketing should be at the top of your priority list and how to utilize it effectively for massive business growth.All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Join the Construct & Generate Facebook group: https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

The housing market has been crazy the last couple of years. With the pandemic, interest rates, and housing prices, it has been difficult for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents alike. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find a good deal though! In this episode of Construct & Generate, I sat down with Eris Norman to talk about the housing market, current trends, and tips for finding the best deal for everyone involved. Eris Norman, a native of Potomac, Maryland, is a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty and a partner of the Adam Isaacson Team, focused on the markets of Montgomery County, MD. Eris has experienced the region as a homeowner, a working professional, a business owner, and an active member of the community. Eris’ extensive knowledge of the DC Metro area comes firsthand.With all of the unpredictability within the housing market, Eris knows that you can still find business success as a real estate agent if you properly build relationships. Creating good, lasting relationships with the people you work with is the cornerstone of any successful business. Tune in to learn more about what Eris thinks will happen with the housing market, why the supply is going to start increasing, tips for staging homes so that you can get top dollar, and how to build strong relationships with clients. All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Visit the website: https://adamisaacson.com/Connect with Eris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eris-norman-011673161/Follow Eris on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eris.normanFollow Eris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erisnorman_realtor/Join the Construct and GenerateFacebook group: https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

Make sure you have your pen and paper ready because, in this episode of Construct & Generate, I am sharing all of my top tips for SEO in the home service industry. If you don’t already know, SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to your website using search engines. It’s all about unpaid traffic instead of paid traffic. Essentially, it’s how you can get your business found on major search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. As you likely know, this is how most people find anything they’re looking for, so it is crucial for business growth that you are showing up there. SEO is one of the most important and highly effective tools you can use for your business. It takes a little time to establish good SEO, but it pays off big time when you do. In this episode, I am sharing my top 3 tips for optimizing your business so you can show up in search engines. I am going over why blogging is important, how to use keywords in your posts, why your website needs service and location pages, and the importance of getting links to your business from other websites. There’s a lot to cover, but it is so worth it! Make sure to tune in! All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Join the Construct & Generate Facebook Group:https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

What do you know about cybersecurity? In an age of technology, everyone is online. We bank online, store information online, use multiple accounts, and some even completely run their businesses online. Threats are on the rise and it is more important than ever that we are fully protected in the online world. Think about it, you wouldn’t live in a house that doesn’t have locks, right? For the same reason you protect yourself and your home, you should also be protecting yourself and your business online.  In today’s episode of Construct & Generate, I sat down with Brian Guenther to talk about cybersecurity and the importance of protecting your business online. Brian is the owner of Exceed Cybersecurity & IT services. He is passionate about helping protect businesses and ensuring they have the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for their companies. It’s not possible to be 100% secure. There will always be some exposure or threat that you may not know about. It is important that you stay on top of it and keep it as secure as possible. Tune in to learn more about the importance of staying educated when it comes to cybersecurity, risk assessment and penetration tests, the difference between a breach and a compromise, and helpful tools for protecting your business online. All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Visit the Exceed website: http://www.exceeditmd.comConnect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwguentherTake the cybersecurity risk quiz: https://wcrm.exceeditmd.com/cybersecurity-risk-quizLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

It can be pretty scary to start a business. There are so many things that could potentially go wrong, it’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis, but it is so important to persevere and just start anyway!In this episode of Construct & Generate, I am joined by Lance Cayko and Alex Gore of F9 Productions, Inc. to hear more about their journey to building a thriving business. F9 Productions, Inc. has grown to include courses and even a podcast where they share their tips. Lance and Alex started their architectural design business right after the economic recession ended in 2009. Despite the uncertainty and challenges of the time, they took a leap of faith and created a thriving business where they get to do what they love every day. Tune in to hear more about their inspiring story including their favorite software and systems, why you should make yourself a W2 employee in your business, architecture, and their take on current inflation rates. These guys are experts at what they do and they are sharing a lot of valuable tips with us so make sure to tune in! All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Check out the F9 Productions website: https://www.f9productions.com/Follow F9 Productions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F9ProductionsIncFollow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/insidethefirmFollow F9 Productions on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f9productions/Check out Architect to Builders: http://architectsguideto.comCheck out Revit Rocketship: https://revitrocketship.teachable.com/p/revitrocketshipListen to Inside The Firm Podcast: https://www.insidethefirmpodcast.comJoin the Construct & Generate Facebook group: https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast

We can all agree that the pandemic increased the demand for online and digital services. Unfortunately, businesses everywhere found themselves scrambling to adapt, and this has been particularly challenging for people in the home service industry. How do you adapt when your business relies so heavily on in-person services? My guest in this episode of Construct & Generate, Brittany Zimmerman, is a shining example of thinking outside the box to make it happen. Brittany is an interior designer that found a way, despite not being able to go into homes, to help clients from a purely digital standpoint. Brittany has a unique love for blending antiques and new items in a classic yet fun and refreshing way that has become her signature style—one in which can be seen in her own home as well as clients who enjoy a layered and collected style. Brittany collaborates closely with each client to pair décor with their lifestyles and personalities, as well as designing spaces that function to the ideal purpose of their owner.Brittany came up with multiple tools to help her clients do things themselves and utilized video calls to help clients style their pieces in a way that represents their unique taste in interior design. Tune in to hear more about how she structured her business to be profitable online and her tips for you to get your business online too.All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Check out Brittany's blog: https://bleubeedesigns.me/the-hive/Follow Brittany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bleubeedesigns_/Connect with Brittany on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bleubeedesignsVisit Brittany’s website: https://bleubeedesigns.me/Join the Construct & Generate Facebook group: https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildyourbrandagencyLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/blueprint.digitalmarketing

Welcome to the first episode of Construct & Generate! To kick off this podcast, I am sharing my top 3 tools to ensure that your social media presence is established and working for your business! These days, it is extremely important to have a social media presence for your business. Most people search for social media accounts for businesses before deciding to work with them. Whether you are an interior designer, handyman,  or plumber, your business can absolutely benefit from an active online presence. But there are multiple social media platforms out there, so how do you know which one is right for you? You may be surprised to hear that they can all benefit your business and bring in customers for you, no matter your industry.Tune in to the very first episode of Construct & Generate to learn more about the social media tools you should be using for your business, why they are beneficial to you, who you can connect with on each platform, and tips for how to optimize each one to reach the largest audience!If you’re new to social media for business or are wondering how you can increase your success with social media, tune in to learn everything you need to know!All show notes are available at constructandgenerate.com!Resources Mentioned:Join the Construct & Generate Facebook group: https://www.constructandgenerate.com/facebookLet’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/constructandgenerateLet’s connect on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/constructandgeneratepodcast