Millennials have officially overtaken baby boomers as the largest generation in the U.S. at 22% of the population. In this episode, Kim Clark and Alan Beaulieu break down what this generational shift means for the economy, why the U.S. has a major advantage over China, Germany, Japan, and Russia (all in population decline), and why the next generation of leaders gives them real optimism about the future. Plus: the top 10 cities where millennials are finding the best opportunities.

Key topics:

• Millennials at 22% vs. boomers at 19%
• Millennials + Gen Z combined = 43% of the population
• U.S. population growth vs. global competitors in decline
• Top 10 millennial-friendly cities (Austin, Phoenix, Raleigh, Charlotte, Boise, Jacksonville, Nashville, Denver, Sacramento)
• The rising work ethic in younger generations

The Growth Playbook is hosted by Kim Clark and economist Alan Beaulieu.

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April's CPI came in at 3.8%. The highest since May 2023. But it's not just a gasoline story. In this episode, Kim and Alan break down the layers beneath the headline: real wages that haven't kept pace since COVID, lower-income families running out of cash before month's end, consumer sentiment at its lowest since 1952, and why the incoming Fed chair likely can't cut rates. They explore the K economy — where the top half thrives while the bottom half falls further behind — and what business leaders can do right now: lead with ROI, lock in fixed costs before rates climb higher, and find creative compensation solutions that don't sink the ship.

www.v2amarketing.com

AI is transforming business faster than most organizations are prepared for, but the real challenge may not be the technology itself.

It may be trust.

In this episode of the Growth Playbook, Kim Clark and Alan Beaulieu explore the growing backlash against AI adoption in the workplace and what leaders are missing as they rush to implement new tools and automation strategies.

The conversation covers:
• Why some employees are actively resisting AI initiatives
• The leadership mistakes creating fear and distrust
• How poorly communicated AI rollouts damage productivity
• The hidden cultural and economic risks businesses aren’t discussing
• Why trust, transparency, and integrity matter more than ever

This is not an anti-AI conversation. It’s a leadership conversation.

As AI adoption accelerates, the companies that succeed won’t just be the most technologically advanced. They’ll be the ones that lead people through change effectively.

If you’re implementing AI inside your business, this episode is essential listening.

What are rare earth minerals, and why are they becoming a growing concern for the global economy?

In this episode, Kim Clark and Alan Beaulieu break down the role rare earth minerals play in everyday life and why their supply is a critical issue for businesses, inflation, and national security.

A significant portion of global rare earth reserves is controlled by China, while the United States relies heavily on imports. These materials are essential for electronics, renewable energy, defense systems, and medical technology.

So what happens if supply is disrupted?

This episode explores:
• Why rare earth minerals are so important
• How supply concentration creates economic risk
• What it could mean for inflation and global stability
• How businesses can begin thinking about mitigation and opportunity

If you’re asking how supply chains, geopolitics, and economic risk intersect, this is a conversation worth understanding.

Small business confidence is stagnating. Investment is slowing. Leaders are hesitating.

But the issue isn’t just the economy. It’s decision paralysis.

In this episode, Alan Beaulieu and Kimberly Clark unpack what leading indicators are really showing, with a focus on the small business index and what it reveals about leadership behavior right now.

Key themes include:

• Why many leaders are “treading water” instead of moving forward
• How fear and uncertainty are impacting decision-making
• A structured way to assess your business across finance, operations, and revenue
• How to regain momentum with clear goals tied to time, cash, and wealth

The message is direct: the environment is complex, but there is a method to move forward.

Inflation is sitting at levels that are quietly reshaping how businesses operate. Costs are rising, wages are barely keeping pace, and many leaders are still treating inflation like a temporary disruption.

That’s a mistake.

In this episode, Alan Beaulieu and Kimberly Clark break down what inflation actually means for your business and why it demands action, not avoidance.

They go beyond the headlines to focus on what leaders should be doing right now:

• Building scenario-based “battle plans”
• Rethinking pricing strategy and customer segments
• Using data, not fear, to drive decisions
• Turning complexity into structured action

The takeaway is simple: inflation isn’t going away. The businesses that win will be the ones that plan for it.

www.v2amarketing.com

Entrepreneurship has long been one of the defining characteristics of the United States. But how does the country actually rank compared to the rest of the world?In this episode of The GrowthPlaybook, Alan Beaulieu and Kim Clark explore the global rankings of entrepreneurship and what the data reveals about innovation, business formation, and economic opportunity across different countries.Global rankings evaluate entrepreneurship using several key factors, including:• the ease of starting and scaling a business• access to capital and investment• regulatory environment• innovation and startup activity• economic incentives for risk-takingThese rankings provide a clearer picture of which countries are creating the most supportive environments for entrepreneurs and which ones are falling behind.Alan explains how entrepreneurship rankings tie directly into long-term economic growth and why they matter for business leaders, investors, and policymakers alike. Countries that foster strong entrepreneurial ecosystems often experience faster innovation cycles, stronger job creation, and greater economic resilience.This discussion builds on a previous episode examining global reputation rankings, where the United States saw a significant drop in how it is perceived internationally. Understanding both reputation and entrepreneurship together helps explain where the U.S. stands in the broader global economic landscape.For anyone building a company or planning long-term investments, these rankings provide valuable insight into how the global business environment is evolving.

www.v2amarketing.com

In this episode of The GrowthPlaybook, Kim Clark and Alan Beaulieu explore a surprising shift in global perception of the United States.New global research measuring reputation across 60 countries shows the U.S. dropping from #30 in 2024 to #48 in 2025, the largest decline among the nations studied. The rankings are based on surveys of citizens across G7 countries and measure factors such as trust, respect, admiration, and overall national image. But reputation is not just about image. It has real economic consequences.Alan explains how global sentiment influences:• demand for U.S. dollars• international investment flows• foreign purchases of U.S. government debt• inflation and interest rate pressureWhen confidence shifts, markets respond. In the past year alone, the U.S. dollar declined about 7%, while the euro strengthened. These shifts reflect how international investors hedge against uncertainty in policy direction and fiscal stability. The discussion also highlights the countries currently leading the reputation rankings, including Switzerland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and what their stability signals to global markets. For business leaders, investors, and anyone planning for the future, understanding global sentiment is critical. Reputation influences currency strength, borrowing costs, and ultimately purchasing power.As Alan emphasizes, the world economy is interconnected. What other countries think about the U.S. matters more than many people realize.