Paul Higgins Podcast

Why you should listenRob Fegan shares the exact 4-phase framework he used to transform his Microsoft partner business from zero to millions in annual revenue—and how SMB partners can replicate this success even as "small fish" in a 30,000-person sales ecosystem.Learn how to leverage Microsoft's Commerce Incentives Fund to access thousands in funded engagements per customer, essentially getting Microsoft to pay you to deploy their solutions while you focus on high-margin services.Discover why connecting with AI specialists (not just AEs) is the key to unlocking Microsoft's FY26 priorities, and how to position your messaging so Microsoft's field teams become your biggest sales asset instead of just another vendor relationship.You're running a solid Microsoft partner business, delivering real results for clients, but you feel completely invisible to Microsoft's massive sales organization. You watch bigger partners effortlessly access pipeline opportunities, co-sell motions, and vendor support while you're stuck fighting for scraps. You know the opportunity is there—Microsoft has 30,000 salespeople who could be feeding you qualified leads—but you have no idea how to cut through the noise when you're just a 1-10 person shop.In this episode, I sit down with Rob Fegan from RYZE Partners who spent 15 years building and scaling Microsoft partner businesses before a successful exit. Rob breaks down his proven 4-phase framework that turns Microsoft's field teams into your biggest sales asset, even as a small partner. We dive into the four critical areas most partners get wrong, why SMB partners are suddenly Microsoft's top priority after years of enterprise focus, and the specific funded programs that can inject thousands of dollars per engagement into your business. If you're tired of being stuck, overlooked, and sidelined while bigger partners dominate the conversation, this episode gives you the exact playbook to change that.About Rob FeganRob Fegan is the founder of Venvito and co-founder of RYZE Partners, where he helps Microsoft SMB partners go from invisible to in-demand. After 15+ years in the Microsoft ecosystem, Rob built his own Microsoft practice from zero to millions in annual revenue before a successful exit. Now he's on a mission to help 10,000 Microsoft partners escape what he calls "SOS Mode" - being Stuck, Overlooked, and Sidelined - through his proven frameworks for demystifying selling WITH Microsoft. Rob's approach has helped partners transform from vendor status to becoming Microsoft's go-to referral sources, turning field teams into their biggest sales asset.Resources and LinksRyze-partners.comVenvito.netRob's LinkedIn profilePrevious episode: 639 - How to Stop ChatGPT from Lying to You (AI PhD Reveals the Fix) with Garima AgrawalCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested...

Why you should listenGarima Agrawal bridges the gap between PhD-level AI research and practical consulting applications—she understands both the Formula One engine and how to help you drive the car better.Learn the layered prompting technique that eliminates most hallucinations and turns ChatGPT into a thinking partner rather than a content generator you can't trust.Discover which LLM to use for specific tasks—ChatGPT for analysis, Claude for coding, Gemini for technical research, and Perplexity for citations—so you stop wasting time with the wrong tool.You're using ChatGPT every day, but deep down you don't fully trust it. You've been burned by hallucinations. You watch it confidently give you wrong information, and you're left wondering which parts are reliable and which parts are fiction. You know AI should be making you more productive, but instead you're second-guessing every output and spending more time fact-checking than creating. Meanwhile, you see other consultants talking about Claude, Gemini, Perplexity—and you're not sure if you should be using those instead or if ChatGPT is fine. You're stuck in this loop of knowing AI is powerful but not knowing how to harness it properly. This week, I sat down with Garima Agrawal, who brings a rare combination: PhD-level AI research expertise and real-world consulting experience running her own firm. She breaks down the exact framework that eliminates most hallucinations, reveals which LLM actually performs best for specific consulting tasks, and shares the prompting mistakes that sabotage your results before you even start. If you're ready to stop fighting with AI and start using it as the leverage tool it should be, this conversation gives you the practical roadmap you need.About Garima AgrawalGarima Agrawal is the founder of HumaConn LLC, a consulting firm focused on empowering businesses and investors with tailored AI solutions. At HumaConn, she specializes in designing strategies for effective AI integration—helping clients enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and identify high-potential AI-driven opportunities that bridge innovation with real-world impact.She also serves as Head of AI Models and Services at Minerva CQ, where she leads the development and deployment of real-time, goal-oriented AI systems that power agentic, human-in-the-loop assistance in customer contact centers—boosting engagement and operational performance.Garima holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Arizona State University, where her research focused on making AI knowledge-aware—enabling large language models to reason reliably in specialized domains. Her core expertise includes reducing hallucinations, optimizing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and building cost-effective, trustworthy AI pipelines.With over a decade of experience spanning software engineering, data science, and AI leadership, Garima bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world application—helping organizations build AI that delivers meaningful, measurable results.Resources and LinksHumaconn.comGarima's LinkedIn profileGarima’s Google Scholar profileChatGPTClaudeGemini

Ever freeze up when a perfect prospect asks, "What makes you different from the other consultants we're considering?" You know you deliver incredible results, but when it comes to explaining your approach, you sound just like everyone else. I struggled with this exact problem until I discovered the game-changer: mapping your scattered expertise into a clear proprietary methodology. In this episode, I share exactly how one client went from competing on price to commanding premium rates by packaging his hidden IP into a systematic approach that differentiated him completely.Resources and LinksPaulhigginsmentoring.comBook a call herePrevious episode: 637 - The Full-Cycle Advantage: Refusing to Be Just Another Zoho Consultant with George EastonCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resourcesBONUS: Email me at paul@paulhigginsmentoring.com to get the IP Mapping and Methodology Multiplier Playbook. (subject: IP mapping)

Why you should listenGeorge Easton shares his journey from executive recruiter to building North America's largest Zoho partner by headcount (60 team members), offering invaluable lessons for scaling service-based businesses.Learn his "full-cycle business management consultancy" model that serves manufacturing, legal, healthcare, and home services - and why being the "chocolate wheel" beats being a specialist.Discover how to transition from subcontractor-heavy operations to employee-focused teams, and why George wishes he'd made this switch earlier for better consistency and work quality.You're trapped between two impossible choices: stay laser-focused on one niche and miss opportunities, or spread yourself thin trying to serve everyone. You watch competitors win deals because they can handle the client's entire tech ecosystem while you're stuck explaining why they need multiple vendors. In this episode, I talk with George Easton from Ion8, who solved this dilemma by creating a "full-cycle business management consultancy" model. We discuss how he built North America's largest Zoho partner team, his middleware-first approach to connecting systems, and why he pivoted from subcontractors to employees for better client outcomes. Join us to learn how to build a scalable consultancy that serves clients across their entire technology ecosystem without becoming a jack-of-all-trades.About George EastonGeorge Easton is the CEO and Founder of ion8.net, North America's largest Zoho partner with nearly 60 staff operating virtually across seven countries. He's transformed what began as a marketing firm into a global "full-cycle business management consultancy" that serves as a comprehensive external operations partner for SMEs with 500 or fewer employees. George identified a critical market gap: businesses prefer one accountable partner over multiple specialized vendors.His entrepreneurial journey spans over two decades, from achieving top performer status at IBM Canada (exceeding quota by 100%+) to pioneering sports analytics at SportRFID with patented technology deployed across North American and European ski resorts. George is the product visionary behind ion8's proprietary middleware portfolio, including AI-powered call management and CRM integration tools. With credentials from Stanford University's Venture Lab, he's built his reputation on a proven methodology: implement scalable systems first, then apply targeted growth strategies to transform vendor relationships into strategic partnerships.Resources and Linksion8.netGeorge’s LinkedIn profileN8nManusPrevious episode: 636 - The Systematic Approach to Building Bigger AI Consulting Deals with Taireez NiswanderCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenTaireez reveals how AI consultants can identify specific automation opportunities worth significant annual savings for any client role, transforming vague "AI implementation" conversations into concrete ROI discussions.Learn the systematic approach to expand your share of client value beyond single platform implementations, positioning yourself as a strategic advisor rather than a technical order-taker.Discover a practical tool that helps consultants confidently sell AI automation by providing hard evidence of savings and implementation roadmaps for any job description.As a SaaS or AI consultant, I know you've been in client meetings where you see massive automation opportunities but struggle to articulate the specific value and ROI. In this episode, I talk with Taireez Niswander, Chief AI Officer and creator of the Automation Goldmine platform, who has solved this exact problem. We dive into how you can identify automation opportunities worth tens of thousands in annual savings for any role, transform your positioning from technical implementer to strategic advisor, and systematically expand your client relationships beyond one-off platform implementations. Join us to discover the tool that's helping consultants prove AI value before the sale.About Taireez NiswanderTaireez Niswander is the creator of Automation Goldmine and PerfectFit apps. She is a Chief AI Officer and one of the first 100 people globally to earn the International Chief AI Officer Certification. With over four years of hands-on AI experience and two decades of operations expertise, she has demonstrated remarkable business impact—including scaling business operations by 233% and serving as Vice Chair of CHIFOO's Board of Directors.After being laid off in February 2024, she became a Chief AI Officer by September—proving the power of practical AI implementation.Her work focuses on helping businesses identify and automate high-impact operational processes. Through her Automation Goldmine framework, she’s developed a systematic approach to spotting automation opportunities that deliver measurable ROI. Her solutions help consultants and business leaders transform manual workflows into automated systems without the typical tech complexity.Resources and LinksAutomationgoldmine.comTaireez’s LinkedIn profile589 – AI 1st business with John MunsellSonger.co Previous episode: 635 - Why Your Sales Problem Isn't Actually a Sales ProblemCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resourcesBONUS:Walk into any meeting, paste a job description and salary, and immediately demonstrate $50K+ in hidden value per role. Start with low-hanging fruit to build trust, then...

You're working 60+ hours a week, racking up business debt from marketing that isn't working, and you haven't even put yourself on payroll. Every time you try to scale, you hit the same ceiling—more clients means more personal delivery time, which means less time for marketing, which means your pipeline dries up. In this episode, I walk you through a real case study of Jay, a Zoho consultant who thought he had a sales problem but was actually trapped in what I call a "capacity spiral." I'll show you the exact diagnostic process that revealed his true bottleneck and how we restructured his business to increase revenue while working with clients he actually enjoys. You'll learn why you can't hustle your way past structural constraints and discover the three-step framework that transforms overwhelmed consultants into profitable business owners.Resources and LinksPaulhigginsmentoring.comPrevious episode: 634 - Stop Being the Bottleneck and Build Leaders Instead with Rachel PlowmanCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenRachel Plowman shares her authentic 9-month journey transitioning from project manager to COO at radianHub, offering real-world insights for anyone considering or navigating a leadership promotion in their consulting business.Learn practical strategies for managing P&L responsibility, project profitability analysis, and time tracking systems that actually work without crushing team morale.Discover how to successfully delegate while maintaining quality standards, plus proven approaches for client relationship transitions during organizational changes.You might be wondering how to develop leadership within your team or whether your current team members can handle bigger responsibilities. In this episode, I talk with Rachel Plowman, COO of radianHub, who shares her transition from project manager to COO over 9 months. We dive into the real challenges of taking on P&L responsibility, managing project profitability, and building systems that support growth. Rachel provides concrete examples of how they improved margins, implemented effective time tracking, and navigated client relationship transitions during her promotion.About Rachel PlowmanRachel has been in information technology for much of her career, with 5 SFDC certifications. After beginning her career in financial services, she quickly transitioned into product ownership and project management with an emphasis on business analysis and software consulting. She has been in the Salesforce ecosystem as a consultative project manager and business analyst, while raising her family and enjoying life beyond software development.Resources and LinksRadianhub.comRachel's LinkedIn profile531 – Gearing Up for a Sale with Russell BadgettRight Click PromptPrevious episode: 633 - From 10% to 50% LinkedIn Acceptance Rates with Oleg SobolevCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenOleg Sobolev reveals his proven warmup formula that increased LinkedIn connection acceptance rates from 10% to 50% in a controlled test of 1000 prospects, with 15-20% of warmed prospects reaching out first via DM.Learn how to build a systematic approach to social selling that scales for your team without relying on generic "just be genuine" advice—turning it from art into science.Discover the strategic differences between commenting on mega-influencers versus niche creators and why targeting smaller accounts with 20-50 comments delivers exponentially better pipeline results.Are you tired of sending perfectly crafted LinkedIn messages that get completely ignored? As a consultant, you're likely experiencing the same frustration—low acceptance rates while decision makers are overwhelmed by generic outreach attempts. In this episode, I talk with Oleg Sobolev from Extrovert about a different approach entirely. Instead of working harder on your messaging, we explore how strategic social engagement before any outreach can transform your results. Oleg walks through his systematic method for building genuine visibility and trust, turning social media from a time sink into a predictable revenue engine for consultants who want to stop chasing prospects and start attracting them.About Oleg SobolevOleg Sobolev is a former strategy consultant turned SaaS founder, best known for rethinking how B2B sales teams build relationships. After years advising companies on growth, he saw firsthand how traditional outreach—cold emails, mass DMs—was burning trust instead of building it. That insight led him to create Extrovert, a platform that helps reps drive pipeline by showing up consistently and authentically on LinkedIn. Oleg’s mission is simple: make relationship-driven selling easier to do—and harder to ignore.Resources and LinksGoextrovert.comOleg's LinkedIn profileGet Extrovert at 50% off the first month!Previous episode: 632 - From Podcast Listener to Client: The Journey That Changed EverythingCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resource

Have you been consuming business content for months, picking up tips here and there, but still feeling like there's something crucial you're missing to break through to the next level? In this episode, I share the story of Jay, who went from being a podcast listener just like you to becoming a client, and what made all the difference in that pivotal conversation. I walk through the exact moment when someone transitions from curious listener to ready-to-transform client, using my Framework to diagnose where the biggest opportunities are hiding in your consulting business.Resources and LinksWatch the FREE TrainingTake the assessment629 - Why I Still Have a Coach - Lessons from the InsidePrevious episode: 631 - From Scattered Docs to AI-Powered Knowledge with Aaron EdwardsCheck out more episodes of The Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenAaron Edwards reveals how to create custom AI agents for customer support that achieve 60-70% resolution rates out of the box, dramatically reducing support team workload and costs.Learn how DocsBot provides a flexible, cost-effective alternative to expensive enterprise solutions like Salesforce's AgentForce.Discover innovative lead generation strategies using intent-based SEO and free AI tools that can capture high-quality leads in today's challenging SEO landscape.Are you tired of watching your support team drown in tickets while your knowledge gets scattered across different systems and people's heads? I keep hearing the same frustration - enterprise AI solutions promise everything but cost more than most SMBs can justify. In this episode, I talk with Aaron Edwards, founder of DocsBot, who shares exactly how to create powerful custom AI agents for both customer support and internal knowledge access at a fraction of the cost. We dive into real-world use cases, discuss why flexibility matters more than fancy features, and explore marketing strategies that actually work in today's crowded AI landscape. This conversation will show you how to make AI work for your business without the enterprise price tag.About Aaron EdwardsAaron Edwards is Building & growing DocsBot and Imajinn.ai to $1m ARR. He is also the Co-founder Infinite Uploads (acquired). Previously CTO of WPMU DEV. Sharing his soloprenuer journey building and marketing an AI SaaS.Resources and LinksDocsbot.aiUglyrobot.devAaron's LinkedIn profileAaron on X: @UglyRobotDevGet DocsBot FREE for 1 month hereReplicateN8nLovablePrevious episode: 630 - The Death of Hourly Consulting: From Time-Selling to Value-Selling in the AI Age with Isar MeitisCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resource

Why you should listenIsar Meitis reveals why small businesses are actually falling behind enterprises in AI adoption—despite predictions they'd run circles around big companies.Learn the critical difference between tactical AI (saving 2 hours on marketing) and strategic AI (transforming your entire business model) and why leadership buy-in determines everything.Discover how the MCP protocol is creating "USB-like" connections between AI and your existing tech stack, eliminating the need for massive development teams and opening game-changing possibilities for consultants.As consultants struggle to stay ahead of the AI revolution while clients realize that 37-hour project now takes 37 minutes, many are feeling the pressure of hourly billing becoming obsolete. In this episode, I talk with Isar Meitis from multiplai.ai, who provides a reality check on what's actually happening in the AI consulting space. We discuss why small businesses are falling behind despite their supposed agility, the shift from cost-saving to revenue-generating AI strategy, and how new protocols are making enterprise-level AI integration accessible to any consultant. This conversation cuts through the hype to show you exactly where the consulting industry is headed and how to position yourself to thrive, not just survive.About Isar MeitisIsar Meitis is a 4 time CEO with a passion for teaching and mentoring, who drinks and eats AI tech. Isar has always been a mentor by heart, from his early days as an F16 pilot and a flight instructor at the Air Force Academy, all the way to his current days where he mentors CEOs, and other business leaders.As an experienced CEO, investor, and board member, Isar has a holistic approach to business. He helps businesses implement AI  using a strategic approach. Isar aims to empower businesses and individuals to maximize their potential through AI-infused strategies, systems, and processes, and produce a positive business impact.Isar has built and implemented technology, systems, processes, and teams in a wide variety of organizations, from small tech startups all the way to multi-billion dollar corporations.The unique combination of Isar's business leadership experience, his fun and outgoing personality, and his passion for tech and mentoring makes him a highly sought-after speaker, instructor, and consultant.Isar is a successful podcaster for over 4 years (Leveraging AI, Business Growth Accelerator), he loves traveling with his family and playing soccer and pickleball.Resources and LinksMultiplai.aiIsar's LinkedIn profileReach out to Isar via email at isar@multiplai.ai Subscribe to Leveraging AI PodcastJoin the next cohort of AI Business Transformation CourseThe AI Daily Brief (Formerly The AI Breakdown)Marketing AI Institute’s The Artificial Intelligence ShowChatGPT

As a consultant who's been mentoring others for years, I caught myself in the same trap I help my clients escape—overcomplicated everything. Despite helping hundreds of consultants build profitable businesses, I found myself spending more time on tactics than strategy, chasing clients instead of having them come to me. In this episode, I share why I still work with a coach after 28 years in business, the 9 transformative principles I'm implementing, and how you can apply these immediately to simplify and scale your consultancy. Sometimes we need that outside perspective to see what we can't see ourselves.Resources and LinksWatch the FREE Training: The 3P System for Profitable ConsultingHow to build your AI coachPrevious episode: 628 - From SI to CX Advisor Building a Profitable Salesforce Practice Without Competing on Price with Cyril LouisCheck out more episodes of The Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenCyril Louis shares how Mavericx transformed from a typical Salesforce implementation partner into a trusted CX advisor, offering a proven blueprint for boutique firms looking to escape the commodity trap.Learn how building and leading local communities for 10+ years became a powerful lead generation and recruitment strategy that costs nothing but delivers exponentially.Discover practical AI implementation strategies across retail and financial services, including the step-by-step maturity model that prevents costly AI pilot failures.If you're tired of competing on price with every other Salesforce partner and watching the big SIs walk away with the strategic work while you get stuck doing configurations, this episode will change how you think about positioning. Boutique after boutique races to the bottom, begging for leads from AEs who now expect you to bring them business instead of partnering with you. That's exactly where Cyril Louis from Mavericx was heading until his clients started asking him a different question: "What's next after Salesforce?" Instead of just implementing CRM, Cyril repositioned his firm as the CX strategy partner who happens to know Salesforce inside out. We break down his 10-year community play that's generated more qualified leads than any marketing campaign, his three-stage AI framework that prevents those expensive pilot disasters, and the hard lesson about saying no to bad-fit clients earlier.About Cyril LouisCyril has 17 years of experience in digital and cultivates a dual skill by focusing on CRM topics & customer knowledge as well as on engagement & digital marketing aspects.He worked on numerous missions aimed at defining new strategies as ‘Customer Centric Company‘ and ‘Data Driven Company‘ via customer journeys for a better engagement. These new customer journeys involve many reflections on organization, methodologies, data urbanization and IT architecture. Cyril regularly shares thoughts and best practices on topics around the omni-channel customer experience, whether in publications or at diverse conferences.His expertise has been recognized by Salesforce with his awards as Salesforce MVP, Salesforce Lightning Champion and Salesforce User Group Leader.Resources and LinksMavericx.chCyril's LinkedIn profileChatGPTClaude.aiCursorOnyxPrevious episode: 627 - SMS Isn’t Spam: It’s Your 98% Open Rate Gold Mine with Chris BrissonCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringFree Training for AI & Tech Consultants Ready to Stop Trading Time for MoneyJoin our newsletter

Why you should listenChris Brisson reveals how SMS achieves 98% deliverability rates compared to declining email open rates, giving tech consultants an unfair advantage in client communication.Learn the "Textize Your Business" framework that turns every touchpoint in your client journey into a conversation starter, from lead generation to getting reviews and referrals.Discover real case studies including how one speaker converted 150 event attendees into $25,000+ of lead value using simple QR codes and SMS automation.You're probably still over-relying on email and LinkedIn to reach prospects and clients - and missing out on the channel with the highest engagement rates. As a tech consultant, this could be costing you deals and dragging out your sales cycles. In this episode, I talk with Chris Brisson, who's been in SMS marketing since 2009 and built SalesMessage to help businesses "textize" their operations. We dive deep into how SMS integrates with platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive, plus the AI-powered agents that can handle responses 24/7. Chris shares the exact frameworks for turning cold leads into warm conversations, reducing no-shows, and scaling client communication without adding overhead.About Chris BrissonChris Brisson is the founder and CEO of Salesmsg (read as “sales message”), a leading AI-powered SMS platform designed to help businesses engage, qualify, and convert leads at scale through two-way text messaging. A serial entrepreneur and seasoned SaaS operator, Chris has bootstrapped Salesmsg into an 8-figure ARR business while maintaining strong profitability and a high-performing team culture.Previously, Chris founded Call Loop, one of the earliest voice and text broadcasting platforms, and has spent over 15 years building direct response marketing systems and SaaS products. Today, he’s at the forefront of AI-driven customer engagement, leading the charge to “Textize Your Business”—a methodology that empowers companies to turn messaging into their most effective conversion channel.Chris is also an EOS-driven founder, speaker, and growth strategist who’s passionate about helping fellow entrepreneurs unlock scalable systems, dominate niche markets, and design companies that are both profitable and purposeful.Resources and LinksSalesmessage.comChris' LinkedIn profileClaude.aiPrevious episode: 626 - Are You Building a Business or Just Buying Yourself a Job?Check out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringFree Training for AI & Tech Consultants Ready to Stop Trading Time for MoneyJoin our newsletterSuggested resource

As a tech or AI consultant who's built your business to mid-six figures, you might think you're sitting on a valuable asset. But here's the brutal reality: if your business wouldn't survive without you, you don't have a business—you've bought yourself the world's most expensive, stressful job.In this episode, I share the exact framework buyers use to value tech consultancies and reveal why most smart, passionate founders are unknowingly destroying their business value every single day. You'll discover the three strategic shifts that transformed one of my clients from a 60-hour-week bottleneck to building a systemized, scalable business that gave him his life back—whether he ever sells it or not.This isn't about preparing to sell your business. It's about escaping the owner dependency trap that's keeping you trapped at the center of everything, working harder instead of building something truly valuable.Resources and LinksWatch the FREE Training: The 3P System for Profitable ConsultingPrevious episode: 625 - The Salesforce Partner's AI Dilemma with Sanjeet MahajanCheck out more episodes of The Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenSanjeet Mahajan shares his journey building AgentForce agents and custom AI solutions, revealing the critical prompt engineering techniques that eliminate hallucinations and deliver real ROI.Learn the decision framework for when to use AgentForce versus building custom agents with LangChain and CrewAI, plus real case studies from hospitality and real estate showing measurable results.Discover how to create your own "Content Crafter" AI agent that generates marketing ideas in 10 minutes instead of 3-4 weeks, based on your unique business journey and client data.As a Salesforce consultant, you're watching competitors struggle with AgentForce implementation while others race ahead with custom AI agents. The hallucinations, pricing concerns, and lack of clear guidance on when to build versus buy has left many of you spinning your wheels. I see this frustration constantly - talented consultants who know their platforms inside-out but feel lost in the AI maze. In this episode, I talk with Sanjeet Mahajan from Kizzy Consulting, who's spent months in the trenches building both AgentForce and custom agents. We dive deep into the prompt engineering techniques that actually work, the decision framework for choosing platforms, and proven case studies that show real ROI. If you're tired of AI hype and want practical implementation strategies that work, this conversation will give you the roadmap you need.About Sanjeet MahajanSanjeet Mahajan is the Founder & CEO of Kizzy Consulting, a Salesforce Ridge and ISV Partner helping nonprofits, real estate, and homecare teams grow with clean data, smart automation, and human-first design. A seasoned Technical Architect with a deep curiosity for AI, Sanjeet is building intelligent systems that think, act, and adapt—so businesses don’t just keep up, they leap ahead.Resources and LinksKizzyconsulting.comSanjeet's LinkedIn profileLangChainCrewAIN8NNotebookLMNapkin.aiPrevious episode: 624 - How to Turn Client Cloud Platform Pain Into Profitable Migration Projects with Jon TopperCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringFree Training for AI & Tech Consultants Ready to Stop Trading Time for MoneyJoin our newsletterSuggested resource

Why you should listenJon Topper reveals how to transform client cloud platform complaints into profitable migration projects, including access to substantial AWS funding programs most consultants don't know exist.Learn the real truth about AWS partnerships - why they don't deliver leads as promised and the relationship strategy that actually works to generate opportunities.Discover how to build authority in the cloud space that gets you noticed by platform sales teams, using the same approach that led to Jon's acquisition by a 400-person company.As a tech consultant, you've probably heard clients complaining about their current cloud platform costs, performance issues, or vendor lock-in nightmares. What if I told you there's a way to turn those complaints into profitable migration projects - and there's significant funding available to help them migrate? In this episode, I talk with Jon Topper from The Scale Factory, who shares exactly how to position yourself as the hero who solves their biggest cloud headaches. We dive into the real economics of cloud migration, when to recommend the move, and how to build the authority that gets platform sales teams to notice you.About Jon TopperJon Topper is the founder of The Scale Factory, an award-winning AWS partner, now part of Ten10. His team helps SaaS companies and other businesses get more from their cloud platforms by providing consulting, engineering, and support services to design, build, operate, and scale their infrastructure. In his career spanning two decades, Jon has worked on infrastructure problems for both Fortune 500 companies and startups across various market sectors.Resources and LinksScalefactory.comJon's LinkedIn profileJon on Bluesky: ‪@topper.me.uk‬Amazon BedrockClaude.aiIncident.ioCTO Craft CommunityRANDS Leadership Slack communityPrevious episode: 623 - Struggling to Pick a Niche?Check out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringFree Training for AI & Tech Consultants Ready to Stop Trading Time for MoneyJoin our newsletterSuggested resourceIf you think Jon and his team could help with your AWS platform, visit scalefactory.com and book a call with one of their experts!

As a tech consultant, you're probably exhausted from chasing every opportunity that comes your way - bouncing between industries whenever a referral pops up. You know you need to specialize, but choosing a niche feels risky when you're already pulling in decent revenue and worried about leaving money on the table. The truth is, staying a generalist is what's keeping you stuck doing $15K implementations instead of leading $50K+ transformations. In this episode, I share the exact 4-filter system that separates profitable niches from time-wasters. You'll learn how to identify niches with urgent problems, real budgets, and scalable potential - the same approach my clients use to stop competing on price and start commanding premium rates for their expertise.Resources and LinksWatch the FREE Training: The 3P System for Profitable Consulting605 - You Can't Own a Niche You Don't Understand420 - The Riches Are in the Niches with Alison Strickland388 - Super Niche to Scale FasterPrevious episode: 622 - Why Your Clients are Still Stuck in CRM Hell at 10PM (And How AI Fixes It) with Gaurav BhattacharyaCheck out more episodes of The Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources

Why you should listenGaurav shares how Jeeva.ai is revolutionizing sales automation by making AI-powered outreach as simple as ChatGPT, without the complexity of tools like Clay.Learn how to cut through the noise of generic AI outreach with personalized, multi-channel strategies that actually improve deliverability and response rates.Discover the future of sales technology and why natural language interfaces will replace complex CRM workflows - plus get insights from a Forbes 30 Under 30 founder backed by Mark Benioff.Your clients' sales teams are drowning in CRM busywork, spending hours on data entry and lead research instead of actually selling. Meanwhile, their cold outreach campaigns are getting lost in the noise of AI-generated spam, delivering terrible conversion rates despite all the time invested. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone - and there's finally a solution. In this episode, I sit down with Gaurav Bhattacharya, CEO of Jeeva.ai, who's built the AI sales automation platform that's changing everything. Gaurav is a repeat B2B SaaS founder who went from creating a radiology tool adopted by the Indian government at age 17 to raising over $20M and hitting $7M revenue in just 12 months with his latest venture. We dive deep into how Jeeva.ai eliminates the biggest pain points in modern sales - from automated lead research and data enrichment to personalized outreach across multiple channels. You'll discover why most outbound tools are actually making the spam problem worse, how to improve email deliverability in an AI-saturated market, and why the future belongs to natural language interfaces that work where sales teams actually spend their time.About Gaurav BhattacharyaGaurav Bhattacharya is a repeat B2B SaaS founder and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who’s built, scaled, and exited startups before most founders finish their MVP. Currently the CEO of Jeeva.ai, he’s leading the charge in automating outbound AI-powered SDR agents — helping B2B teams 2x their pipeline in half the time (and cost).Before Jeeva, he co-founded involve.ai, a customer intelligence platform that grew to 500+ companies and 1.1M users globally. He raised over $20M from top investors like Sapphire Ventures, Stanford University, and Gokul Rajaram — and hit $5M ARR in under 9 months with just 11 people.But Gaurav’s story starts even earlier — at 17, he co-built a radiology tool that the Indian government adopted nationwide to fight sex-selective abortions. He’s been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, LA Business Journal, and top startup podcasts — and he’s not here to preach theory. Gaurav brings real-world operator lessons, raw founder stories, and tactical GTM frameworks that listeners can steal and ship the same day.When he’s not building, he’s probably over-caffeinating, mentoring founders, or geeking out on outbound psychology.Resources and LinksJeeva.aiGaurav's LinkedIn profileGet Jeeva at 90% off on your first yearElevenlabs.ioCaptions.aiHeygen.comChatgpt.com593

Why you should listenAndré van Kampen reveals how his 9-year hospitality background became his secret weapon for delivering exceptional client care in Salesforce consulting, going the extra mile that sets him apart from competitors.Discover how building and nurturing the ISV community in Europe created multiple revenue streams while establishing André as a thought leader in the Salesforce ecosystem.Learn practical strategies for leveraging networking and community involvement to build a sustainable consulting business without relying on paid advertising or traditional marketing tactics.Differentiating yourself in an increasingly crowded consulting market while building genuine client relationships feels nearly impossible. In this episode, I sit down with André van Kampen, a Salesforce consultant from the Netherlands who has built his business through exceptional client care and community leadership. We explore how his hospitality background shaped his consulting approach, why he focuses on the most challenging manufacturing projects, and how he's created multiple revenue streams through ISV partnerships and event organization. André shares insights on navigating AI adoption challenges, the importance of data quality, and why networking remains the most underrated lead generation channel for consultants.About André van KampenAndre van Kampen is a seasoned Salesforce consultant and founder of KampKonsult, ISV Forum, and YeurDreamin’. He specializes in Service Cloud and Community Cloud, holds multiple Salesforce certifications, and has been recognized as a Salesforce MVP (2021–2024). Andre is active in the Salesforce community as an Amsterdam User Group co-leader and is fluent in Dutch and English.Resources and LinksKampkonsult.comAndré's LinkedIn profilePrevious episode: 620 - The Death of Billable HoursCheck out more episodes of the Paul Higgins PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: @PaulHigginsMentoringJoin our newsletterSuggested resources