• Roderick Jefferson—How to Integrate AI, Eliminate Leadership Bottlenecks, and Build a Business That Survives Even When You Don't
    Mar 19 2026

    In this episode of the Business Builder's Playbook, host David Bush sits down with Roderick Jefferson — the man who literally coined the term "sales enablement" — to unpack what it truly takes to build scalable, predictable revenue in an AI-driven world... and what it costs when you build success at the expense of everything else that matters.

    Roderick doesn't just bring two decades of enterprise sales and enablement expertise to the table. He brings something far more rare — the perspective of a man who flat-lined in a hospital, was brought back to life, and used that second chance to completely rebuild the way he leads, communicates, and operates.

    Host David Bush guides the conversation with precision, drawing out the frameworks, philosophies, and hard-won lessons that have made Roderick one of the most sought-after voices in modern go-to-market strategy.

    Here's what you'll learn by watching or listening to this full episode:

    How to integrate AI into your business as a true growth partner — not just a research tool — using Roderick's three-pillar framework of Communication, Collaboration, and Orchestration

    How to stop being the bottleneck in your own company and build the kind of trust that actually empowers your team to execute without you hovering

    Why leading with "I think" and "I feel" is silently killing your credibility — and how to let data and insights speak on your behalf instead

    The one question most salespeople and executives never think to ask their prospects — and how asking it immediately accelerates trust and closes more deals

    How to identify when your professional network has quietly turned into an echo chamber — and what to do about it

    The daily whiteboard habit and weekly reflection practice Roderick uses to stay productive, grounded, and clear on what actually matters

    How to stop chasing shiny AI tools and instead find the two or three that actually fit your company's maturity level — and master them

    Why "good enough" is often the enemy of analysis paralysis — and how letting go of perfection actually accelerates growth

    The personal transformation behind Roderick's new book Stroke of Success — including the raw story of his near-death experience, the corporate mask he wore for years, and the four F's framework (Faith, Family, Friends, and Fun) that gave him a completely new definition of winning

    David also breaks down how BDR.ai is helping owner-founders and executive sales leaders automate the grind of outbound prospecting — so they can stop being their company's highest-paid prospector and start spending their time where it actually moves the needle.

    If you're an owner, founder, or C-suite leader who's tired of grinding harder without getting further — this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, technology, success, and what you're actually building it all for.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Roderick-Jefferson


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    43 mins
  • Derek Morgan—Stop Relying on Word-of-Mouth: How to Build a Referral System That Generates Predictable Revenue
    Mar 10 2026

    Try ReferU2 here: https://www.referu2.com/s/user_38as1DVADuKfWccL26yttOt9yVM


    In this episode of Business Builders Playbook, host David Bush sits down with referral marketing strategist Derek Morgan — founder of Referral Marketing Ideas and the Referral Marketing Formula — to expose why most professionals are quietly bleeding referral opportunities without ever knowing it, and exactly what to do about it.

    Drawing from over 30 years of business development experience across financial services, startups, and enterprise technology, Derek lays out a systematic, repeatable approach to turning professional relationships into a scalable referral engine. Meanwhile, David brings the operator's perspective, sharing hard-won lessons from building BDR.ai and his own journey from treating referrals as an afterthought to building them as a core growth strategy.

    Here is what viewers and listeners will learn by watching or listening to the full episode:

    How to identify your ideal referral partner — and why targeting the wrong ones is quietly wasting your most valuable resource: time

    The critical difference between referral marketing and word-of-mouth, and why only one of them can be systemized, measured, and scaled

    How to use Derek's LASER Framework — Leads, Acceleration, Sales, Expansion, Retention, and Re-engagement — to craft a value proposition that makes referral partners eager to work with you

    Why commissions and reciprocal lead-swapping are actually the weakest foundation for a referral partnership, and what to offer instead that makes your program infinitely scalable

    The biggest mistake professionals make when asking for referrals, and the simple language shift that removes awkwardness, lowers resistance, and dramatically increases response

    How David and Derek break down the concept of a referability score, what internally needs to be fixed before asking for a single referral, and what it truly means to create a wow moment for clients and partners

    The one-to-many referral partnership strategy that outperforms the traditional one-to-one word-of-mouth approach every single time

    The real story of how one unsystematized referral sitting untouched in a CRM cost a company an estimated forty-four million dollars in missed revenue over two years

    Derek's nine-step Referral Marketing Formula, a complete roadmap for building a referral program that is consistent, measurable, and fully duplicatable across an entire sales team

    How two or three complementary professionals can combine resources, share audiences, and run collaborative events as a joint lead generation strategy that benefits everyone

    The role AI plays in accelerating referral systems, and why human consistency and follow-through remain the single biggest make-or-break factor in the entire process

    Whether you're a business owner, sales professional, or service provider ready to stop leaving referrals on the table, this episode delivers a clear, actionable blueprint for turning relationships into a reliable and growing revenue stream.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Derek-Morgan


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    53 mins
  • Cruz Gamboa—The Hidden $150K in Your Business (And Why Your Financials Are Lying to You)
    Mar 2 2026

    In this eye-opening episode of Business Builder's Playbook, host David Bush sits down with ex-GE executive turned scaling expert Cruz Gamboa to expose the financial blind spots quietly killing your profits...

    And the simple shifts that unlock $50K-$150K in hidden cash.

    Cruz breaks down his "Profit Leak Process" – showing you exactly which numbers actually matter (hint: it's NOT the 50 metrics you're tracking now)...

    How to build a CEO dashboard that gives you clarity in under 10 minutes a week...

    And why "not being a numbers person" is costing you millions in enterprise value.

    You'll learn:

    • The 10-15 metrics world-class CEOs obsess over (and which ones are just noise)

    • How 2% tweaks in pricing and costs can boost profits by 18%

    • Why messy financials destroy your valuation – even if you're profitable

    • The "Operator to CEO" identity shift that separates stuck businesses from scalable ones

    • How AI is changing the game for financial clarity and decision-making

    Whether you're grinding toward your first million or stuck between $3-10M... this episode gives you the playbook to stop leaving money on the table.

    David and Cruz don't hold back – this is raw, actionable insight from two builders who've been in the trenches.

    Hit play. Take notes. Then go find YOUR hidden $150K.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Cruz-Gamboa

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    42 mins
  • 2026 Virtual Planning Workshop Session 3
    Feb 24 2026

    In part three of their 2026 Planning Workshop series, co-owner David Bush and Director of Client Success Jenelle Friday walk entrepreneurs through building a complete sales, leadership, and operations plan from scratch.

    This is where everything comes together.

    Learn how to master the sales fundamentals that actually move the needle…

    Develop leadership habits that compound over time...

    And create operational systems that scale without adding headcount.

    David breaks down his proven ROPE method for lead management (Reply, Organize, Prioritize, Engage)...

    Shares the real success formula behind consistent revenue growth (motivation + mindset + skill sets + action)...

    And reveals how AI-powered outreach can 10X your prospecting without burning out.

    Jenelle keeps it practical with neuroscience-backed micro habits, Elon Musk's 90/10 time allocation rule, and tactical tips for entrepreneurs wearing every hat in their business.

    Whether you're a one-person show or building a team, this episode gives you the exact roadmap to turn your 2026 goals into executable 90-day sprints.

    You'll walk away knowing what to prioritize first, which systems to automate, and how to stay consistent when motivation fades.

    Stop spinning your wheels. Start building the business you actually want.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Planning-Session-3

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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • 2026 Virtual Planning Workshop Session 2
    Feb 24 2026

    In part two of this high-impact workshop session, David Bush and Jenelle Friday break down the exact framework business owners need to create a marketing plan that drives predictable revenue in 2026.

    David walks participants through the critical elements of strategic marketing planning—including how to define your ideal customer profile, conduct a SWOT analysis that reveals hidden opportunities, and craft irresistible offers using the CURSORS framework. He reveals the three core marketing phases (acquisition, retention, expansion) and shows how to allocate budget and effort across the "Core Four" marketing quadrants to maximize ROI without burning out.

    Jenelle guides the conversation through practical implementation... asking the tough questions about mindset, budget constraints, and overcoming the fear of cold outreach. Together, they demonstrate how to use AI tools to compress time, create content calendars, and optimize your LinkedIn presence to build trust and authority fast.

    Viewers will learn how to escape "random acts of marketing" and build a playbook that works—even if they're a one-person operation with limited resources. David also shares his proven seven-step system for building a referral partner network that generates consistent leads without chasing prospects.

    Whether you're struggling with lead generation, stuck in shiny object syndrome, or simply don't have a documented marketing strategy... this episode gives you the frameworks, templates, and mindset shifts to take control of your business growth heading into the new year.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Planning-Session-2

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    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • 2026 Virtual Planning Workshop Session 1
    Feb 9 2026

    In this value-packed workshop, David and Jeff Bush reveal the planning systems that separate winning businesses from failing ones.

    David walks through his proven framework for life planning, time management, and business goal-setting—showing you how to create a calendar that actually matches your desired outcome.

    Jeff shares hard-earned wisdom from building multiple 8-figure companies, breaking down the financial disciplines every business owner needs to scale beyond themselves.

    You'll learn how to eliminate time-wasting activities, delegate your way to freedom, and build a scorecard that tracks what actually matters.

    Plus, they share AI-powered shortcuts for crafting mission statements, vision plans, and execution roadmaps in minutes instead of hours.

    Jenelle Friday moderates and keeps the conversation focused on practical, tactical steps you can implement immediately.

    If you're tired of winging it and ready to build a real playbook for 2026, this session gives you the exact framework to make it happen.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Planning-Session-1

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    1 hr and 59 mins
  • Paul Kirch—The Askology Method: How to Win Bigger Deals by Asking Better Questions
    Feb 5 2026

    In this episode of the Business Builder's Playbook, host David Bush sits down with Paul Kirch—a former Gallup researcher turned sales leader and creator of the Askology Method—to reveal how asking the right questions can transform your sales conversations and close bigger deals faster.

    David and Paul break down why most sales professionals struggle with questioning... and how to fix it. Paul shares his powerful framework of four question types (guiding, investigative, empathy, and instigating) that help you control conversations without being pushy. You'll learn how to avoid deal-killing questions, build trust at lightning speed, and make prospects sell themselves on your solution.

    David contributes his own proven questioning strategies—including the "one thing" framework and the "if I could show you a way" technique—that consistently move prospects from curiosity to commitment.

    By watching this full episode, you'll discover:

    • How to ask questions that accelerate trust instead of sounding like a salesperson

    • The four question types that drive bigger deals (and when to use each one)

    • How to turn "I'm happy with my current supplier" into your biggest client

    • Why being willing to walk away is the secret to winning more business

    • How to become a valuable resource instead of just another vendor

    • The role-playing strategies that make questioning feel natural and genuine

    • How to read body language and emotional cues to know when you're winning

    Whether you're a business owner, sales professional, coach, or consultant, this episode gives you a complete playbook for consultative selling that feels authentic, builds relationships, and closes deals.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Paul-Kirch


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    56 mins
  • Tony Rubleski - From Rock Bottom to 10 Bestsellers: A Brutally Honest Blueprint for NOT Quitting
    Jan 28 2026

    In this raw and revealing episode of the Business Builder's Playbook, host David Bush sits down with his friend of 20+ years, Tony Rubleski - professional speaker, 10-time bestselling author, and the creator of the Mind Capture framework.

    Tony's launching his most personal book yet: a collection of 50 brutally honest lessons from two decades in the trenches as an entrepreneur, speaker, and author. But this isn't a highlight reel. It's the real story - including the parts most successful people won't admit.

    David masterfully guides Tony through the hard questions... drawing out stories and strategies that most hosts would never touch. The result? A conversation that's equal parts inspiration and implementation.

    Here's what viewers will learn:

    How to overcome the fear of starting something new - Tony breaks down the "Epiphany Threshold" (the emotional G-spot of scroll-stopping hooks) and why most copy fails to hit it

    How to identify what's REALLY holding you back - David pushes Tony to reveal his "Pain Matrix" framework for understanding the 10 dimensions of your market's (and your own) deepest struggles

    How to break out when you're stuck or overwhelmed - Tony shares his "removal strategy" for getting unstuck, plus the weird grocery store trick he uses to shift his mindset in minutes

    How to build resilience after major setbacks - Tony opens up about his gambling addiction, a stalking situation, and how he transformed rock bottom moments into fuel for growth

    How to ask for what you want (without being a jerk) - real examples of how Tony's "ask for more" philosophy landed him everything from Chamber ribbon cuttings to Fleetwood Mac autographs to blue chip clients

    How language patterns kill your momentum - the one word Tony eliminated from his vocabulary (after a "borderline cult" training) that completely changed his copywriting and communication

    How to know when to get help - David and Tony discuss the power of coaches, mentors, and getting out of your own way (even when you think you've got it figured out)

    David brings his signature coaching insight to the conversation... challenging Tony's assumptions, reframing his struggles, and pulling wisdom out of stories that could easily stay surface-level. He doesn't just let Tony talk - he digs deeper, asks "why," and connects the dots between Tony's journey and the practical lessons entrepreneurs can use today.

    Whether you're stuck in your business, scared to launch something new, or wondering if you should quit... this episode delivers the blueprint for getting back up and winning the race.

    No fluff. No fake positivity. Just two decades of hard-won wisdom from someone who's been there... and the coach who knows how to extract the gold.

    Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.businessbuildersplaybook.com/Tony-Rubleski

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    48 mins