In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Logbook Podcast, Zachary Bernard speaks with Ashley Brown and Brianna Watson, co-founders of Impressions Visionary Solutions. From the outset, Ashley and Brianna emphasize the importance of “building the system, not the service.” Rather than diving headfirst into client work, they recommend first mapping a clear, intentional client journey, from inquiry and onboarding through delivery, using simple tools and workflows. As entrepreneurs test their offerings with early clients, patterns emerge. Those insights then inform the refinement of processes, creating space for creativity and minimizing the chaos of firefighting.

The conversation turns next to how AI and automation can amplify rather than erase the human element. Ashley and Brianna make a passionate case for preserving empathy at every step: pinpointing where clients need to feel seen and heard, then designing automations that support those moments without sacrificing genuine connection. They walk us through their approach, istening for each customer’s friction points, mapping the story of a purchase path, and automating repetitive tasks so teams can focus on high-value, human-driven work.

Finally, Ashley and Brianna tackle one of the biggest pitfalls in scaling service-based businesses: platform overload. They caution against chasing every shiny new tool and urge leaders to audit needs by department, choosing fewer, well-integrated solutions rather than a thousand half-used apps. Above all, Impressions Visionary Solutions stands out by leading with depth and authenticity, blending strategy with soul to help small and mid-sized businesses scale intelligently, efficiently, and empathetically.

Contact Information

Ashley Brown and Brianna Watson • Impressions Visionary Solutions

Website: https://www.impressionsvs.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-l-watson/ + https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleybrowncreative/

Zachary Bernard • We Feature You PR

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itszachb/

Websites:

https://www.wefeatureyou.com/

https://zacharybernard.com/

Want press, podcast or TV features? Visit wefeatureyou.com!

• (00:00:00) - The Entrepreneur's Lockbook Podcast
• (00:00:55) - How to Build a Beautiful Business With AI & Intelligent Automation
• (00:01:50) - What Would You Do To Build a Startup From Day 1?
• (00:04:53) - Ashley and Brian on Their Split
• (00:05:40) - How To Automate Processes With Human Touch
• (00:10:01) - Will AI Amplify Human Touch in Design?
• (00:15:12) - Tech Stack Confusion
• (00:20:43) - How To Market Your AI-based Sales & Marketing

In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Logbook Podcast, host Zachary Bernard speaks with Rachel Phillips, founder and CEO of Fully Accountable. Rachel shares her journey from intern to CEO of one of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing finance firms, serving over 600 clients and managing more than $7 billion in revenue. Together, they dive into why digital-first businesses—from e-commerce shops to SaaS providers—benefit from a fractional CFO model that combines hands-on bookkeeping with proactive financial strategy. Rachel explains how having an outsider’s perspective helps benchmark performance, optimize cash flow, and turn data into growth opportunities.

Throughout the conversation, Rachel underscores the power of granular analysis. She recounts a case where a client ran 25 ad campaigns but was only profitable on seven—redistributing budgets increased their margin from 10% to 38%. They also discuss the idea of a “living” operational budget that pivots with daily ad costs and seasonality, and pinpoint the revenue thresholds (around $3.5 – $5 million) when bringing on a CFO really pays off. Rachel’s parting advice: ditch the Excel-only approach in favor of a proper general ledger system and invest in the right financial talent before accounting tasks eat up more of your time than growing the business.

❇️ Key Topics with Timestamps

1. Rachel’s Career Path & Fully Accountable Overview – 00:02:00

2. Benefits of Fractional CFO Services – 00:03:00

3. Granular, Data-Driven Marketing Profitability (Case Study) – 00:06:00

4. When to Bring on a Fractional CFO – 00:13:00

5. Financial Management Tips for Business Owners – 00:19:00

Contact Information

Rachel Phillips - Fully Accountable

Website: https://fullyaccountable.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-phillips-ohio

CFO Toolkit: https://fullyaccountable.com/cfo-toolkit/

Zachary Bernard - We Feature You PR

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itszachb/

Websites: https://www.wefeatureyou.com/ + https://zacharybernard.com/

Want press/podcast/TV features? Visit wefeatureyou.com

• (00:00:00) - Getting a granular view of a company's revenue
• (00:00:40) - Rachel Phillips on The Entrepreneurs Logbook
• (00:02:32) - Does a Fractional CFO Matter?
• (00:04:37) - How To Make Money on a Digital Business
• (00:07:19) - What's The Unique Challenges That E-Commerce and Digital Businesses
• (00:15:02) - How to Get a CFO on Your Team
• (00:17:46) - Taking Control of Your Business's Financials
• (00:19:51) - CFO on CFO Network

In this episode of The Entrepreneur's Logbook Podcast, host Zachary Bernard sits down with Matthew Uber, founder and CEO of Spinwheel BDC, a strategic consulting firm specializing in sales development, business development, and management solutions.

Matthew shares his unconventional journey from high school dropout to sales leader, building remote sales teams before COVID made it mainstream, and scaling Spinwheel to over 75 employees. With 15+ years in sales, Matthew reveals why mindset trumps skillset, how he proved SDR teams work in "impossible" industries, and his surprising take on AI's role in the future of sales.

Sales Success Formula

• Success comes from three pillars: pitch, pace, or attitude
• Mindset management is harder to teach than sales skills
• Rejection resilience matters more than smooth talking

Remote Sales Revolution

• Matthew built virtual sales teams in automotive (traditionally face-to-face) starting in 2018
• COVID gave his already-remote team an "unfair advantage" over competitors
• Virtual selling opened access to hungry talent nationwide and internationally

Spinwheel BDC's Hiring Philosophy

• Look for personality traits over resume credentials: hunger, student mentality, thick skin, self-awareness
• Everyone starts at ground level (SDR) regardless of experience
• Promote based on merit: appointment setting → presenting/closing → leadership

Business Agility

• Never get too married to your original idea
• Matthew's business has "changed 100+ times" since 2020
• Fast, intuitive decisions combined with a willingness to adjust

AI's Future in Sales

• AI will inevitably affect sales, but won't completely replace human connection
• Consumers may resist AI interactions due to trust/negotiation concerns
• AI calling costs currently prohibitive, but technology advancing rapidly
• Quality of AI sales depends on quality of human training it receives

Proven Growth Strategy

• Start with one SDR to prove concept, then scale
• Homegrown talent often outperforms expensive hires (100% quota achievement rate)
• SDR-to-AE promotion path reduces costs while improving results

• (00:00:00) - Entrepreneurs Logbook
• (00:01:13) - How to Get Out of Debt in Sales
• (00:03:44) - The Shift from Office to Remote Sales
• (00:06:54) - Virtual Sales: The Challenges
• (00:09:53) - How To Develop the Future of Sales
• (00:13:14) - How To Hire the Right Salesperson
• (00:16:41) - Building a Sales Development Team
• (00:19:43) - How to Manage the Mindset of a Salesperson
• (00:21:26) - How to Get Out of Rut
• (00:24:05) - Salespeople: How AI Will Affect Us
• (00:29:32) - Matt Spinwell on How to Reach Out to People