If you’re looking for a fresh take on business growth—one that ditches the old chase for vanity metrics and instead focuses on sustainability, purpose, and real impact—then this episode of the Business Acceleration Playbook is for YOU. Host Maria Daniels sits down with her long-time friend Pat Frew, Executive Director of the Covington Business Council and host of Inside Covington, for a powerful conversation about what truly makes a business community thrive.

What makes this episode unmissable?

• Hear how Covington, Kentucky transformed from skepticism to becoming a model city for intentional, community-focused growth.
• Get the inside scoop on why Covington says NO to bland big-box brands and YES to authenticity and local flavor. (Think “unapologetically Covington” and Authenticity Awards!)
• Discover how the Covington Business Council cracked the code for building deep, genuine connections—not just between businesses, but across civic and entrepreneurial lines.
• Learn why “growth for growth’s sake” isn’t the answer, and how focusing on connection and meaning can set both businesses and communities apart.

Plus, Maria and Pat get real about their own journeys—why finding your “superpower” matters, the lessons of authentic leadership, and practical advice you can use to build a business (or city) that people actually love.

Whether you’re a founder, leader, or just passionate about doing work that makes a difference, this episode will recharge your thinking—and maybe even change the way you look at growth forever.

Ready to be inspired? Click the link in the show notes to listen, and don’t forget to check out Pat’s new podcast Inside Covington for even more behind-the-scenes insight!

It’s time to build something better. Tune in now!

1. Prioritize Authenticity Over Size Whether you’re growing a city, a business organization, or your own company, focus on staying true to your unique identity. Don’t try to copy what works elsewhere—build on what makes you different.

2. Put Community at the Center Real, lasting growth happens when you connect with and uplift everyone in your area—not just the big players, but startups, small businesses, and creatives too.

3. Foster Intentional Connections Networking isn’t just about numbers. Build genuine relationships and focus on being a resource for others. The value you give will come back in powerful ways.

4. Engagement Matters More Than Headcount Bring people in who truly want to participate. It’s better to have fewer, deeply engaged members than a large roster of disconnected ones.

5. Leverage Your Local Strengths Don’t be afraid to “keep it local” and emphasize what sets your community apart—from unique attractions to values to creative culture. That’s what draws others in.

6. Learn, Adapt & Celebrate Your Own Path Get inspired by others but don’t replicate blindly. Observe, learn, but create your own playbook that fits your ecosystem and long-term vision.

Want to Learn More?

• Explore the Covington Business Council and listen to Inside Covington at www.cbcky.com.
• New to the podcast? Catch up on the “Build Better, Not Bigger” series for more insights on sustainable growth.

Subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more actionable strategies from Business Acceleration Playbook. Your victory is our mission!

Find out more at https://business-acceleration-playbook.pinecast.co

Welcome back to another season of the Business Acceleration Playbook!

In our kickoff episode for Season 3, we’re flipping the script on traditional business and educational growth with our new series, “Build Better, Not Bigger.” Your host Maria Daniels is joined by Dr. Rich Melheim, a visionary educator and founder of Rich Learning, who’s challenging everything we know about how people—and especially kids—learn, innovate, and thrive.

Maria Daniels and Dr. Melheim dive deep into the failures of the “scale for the sake of scale” mentality, exploring instead how to build organizations and systems that are truly sustainable from the ground up. You’ll hear Dr. Melheim share his personal journey—as a dyslexic, creative learner struggling in traditional classrooms—to developing new, neuroscience-backed approaches that blend music, movement, play, and technology into powerful learning experiences.

From reinventing education for the digital age, to the entrepreneurial lessons of scaling with purpose and vision, this episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, business owners, and change-makers. Whether you’re reimagining classrooms or boardrooms, get ready for practical strategies on building resilient foundations, embracing innovation, making smart mistakes, and leading with both passion and heart.

This isn’t just about disrupting education—it’s about the future of building better businesses, teams, and organizations that can last. So, if you’re ready to learn, grow, and future-proof your approach, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in!

In this episode of Business Acceleration Playbook, the Maria and Tim address the burning questions entrepreneurs have about scaling their businesses.

They provide a concise overview of the key topics covered in previous episodes and offer a FAQ-style approach to help listeners navigate the process of scaling their business effectively.

Whether you're considering scaling or unsure if it's the right move for you, this episode serves as a valuable resource to gain insights and make informed decisions.

Tune in to get the cliff notes version of scaling your business.

Timestamps:

00:05:17 Know where your feet are. 00:12:19 Leadership is crucial for scaling. 00:18:30 Maintain quality through uncompromising values. 00:23:39 Evaluate current state, consider personal life. 00:24:13 Consider personal life when scaling. 00:29:01 Importance of self-awareness in business.

Visit www.businessaccelerationplaybook.com

In this episode of Business Acceleration Playbook, Maria and Tim discuss how to identify and manage risks associated with scaling a business.

They emphasize the importance of categorizing risks into capacity, relationship, and process, and provide examples such as competition, financial issues, and staffing.

The hosts also highlight the tendency to overlook certain risks when scaling a business.

Tune in to gain valuable insights on mitigating risks and ensuring successful business growth.

00:00:19 Identify and manage business risks. 00:06:34 Importance of balancing risk analysis 00:09:40 Mitigate risk through strategic planning. 00:15:12 Assess risk before taking action. 00:19:13 Operational risk and supply scarcity. 00:28:14 Assess risk before scaling. 00:29:39 Communication is key in risk management.

For blogs, business tips and to contact Tim and Maria:

Visit: businessaccelerationplaybook.com

In this episode of Business Acceleration Playbook, the Maria and Tim discuss the importance of leveraging technology in streamlining business operations and boosting efficiency.

They caution against being overwhelmed by the abundance of technology options and emphasize the need to assess the specific needs of one's company.

They share personal experiences of being easily swayed by marketing promises and purchasing software that didn't effectively improve their businesses.

The hosts suggest thinking about technology tools as a means of delegation and determining if they are necessary and manageable for individual use.

Looking for tools and information to aid your business?

Visit www.businessaccelerationplaybook.com

In this episode of Business Acceleration Playbook, Maria Daniels and Tim Croll discuss the importance of building strategic partnerships to grow a business.

They define strategic partnerships as formal agreements characterized by shared vision, goals, complementary compatibility, mutual trust and commitment, clear roles and responsibilities, risk sharing and management, and a long-term orientation.

Tune in to learn more about how strategic partnerships can provide access to new customers, expertise, resources, and collaboration opportunities.

Timestamps:

[00:01:11] Characteristics of Strategic Partnerships. [00:04:03] Different perspectives in partnerships. [00:07:11] Developing trust in partnerships. [00:11:45] Collaboration and communication in business. [00:15:02] Roles and expectations in partnerships. [00:17:08] Church split over carpet color. [00:20:09] Challenges in business partnerships. [00:23:45] Identifying growth opportunities. [00:27:30] Delegating in strategic partnerships.

Find business tips, tools and more online: https://www.businessaccelerationplaybook.com/

In this episode of Business Acceleration Playbook, the Maria Daniels and Tim Croll discuss the importance of expanding product or service offerings to attract new customers and increase revenue.

They emphasize the need for businesses to adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of their target market. The hosts also explore the concept of thinking outside the box and finding innovative ways to make more money from existing products or services.

They challenge the mindset of sticking to traditional approaches and encourage listeners to explore new possibilities.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights on expanding offerings and staying competitive in a challenging economy.

Looking for tools for your business and insights?

Need help and want to book a call with Tim Croll and Maria Daniels?

Visit: https://www.businessaccelerationplaybook.com/

In this episode of Business Acceleration Playbook, Maria and Tim discuss the importance of effective delegation to free up time and focus on growing your business.

They explore the benefits of delegating tasks and address common concerns about doing it yourself.

With a focus on the "do, delegate, delete" approach, they provide insights on how to make decisions about what to delegate and the impact it can have on efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Tune in to learn how delegation can help entrepreneurs achieve greater success in their businesses.

For information, free downloads and consultation from Maria and Time visit:

www.businessaccelerationplaybook.com