March 10, 2025 • 36 mins
Tom Altman shares his transformative career journey from radio DJ to tech entrepreneur and fractional executive, reflecting on life lessons learned along the way.
• Started as a radio DJ before transitioning to web development in the late 1990s
• Witnessed the evolution of radio from manual operations to fully automated systems
• Built early e-commerce platforms and shopping carts when online purchasing was just emerging
• Worked with newspaper and TV station managing technical aspects during weather emergencies
• Transitioned to e-commerce and ERP implementation for 10-12 years
• After being let go from corporate positions twice, found greater happiness in the fractional executive space
• Helps businesses access C-suite expertise without full-time executive costs
• Discusses the challenge of balancing client work with networking and business development
• Uses time-blocking and AI tools to maintain productivity and organization
• Emphasizes that family should never be sacrificed for work
• Believes authentic connections and relationships matter more than digital distractions
Connect with Tom on LinkedIn to learn more about fractional executive services or just to chat about technology, AI, and motorcycles.
This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we'll receive a small commission if you buy something.
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This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we'll receive a small commission if you buy something.
===========================
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⚡️Need post-recording video production help? Let's chat ➡ https://calendly.com/elevate-media-group/application
⚡️For Support inquires or Business inquiries, please email us at ➡︎ support@elevate-media-group.com
Our mission here at Elevate Media is to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs elevate their brands and make an impact through the power of video podcasting.
Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all our episodes or videos on the Elevate Media and Elevate Media Podcast YouTube channels. https://elevatemediastudios.com/disclaimer
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Elevate Media Podcast with your
host, chris Anderson.
In this show, chris and hisguests will share their
knowledge and experience on howto go from zero to successful
entrepreneur.
They have built theirbusinesses from scratch and are
now ready to give back to thosewho are just starting.
Let's get ready to learn, growand elevate our businesses.
And now your host, chrisAnderson.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome back to another recording of the Elevate
Media Podcast.
I'm Chris Anderson, your host,and today we're going to get
into a real-life journey of anindividual who is now a
successful tech entrepreneurhelping others lay the
foundations for their business.
But didn't it start there?
And so I'm excited to talkabout his journey from radio DJ
to to what he does now.
(00:46):
Uh so, tom Altman, welcome tothe Elevate Media Podcast today.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Thank you very much.
Glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Absolutely Super excited to chat about your
journey, uh, and you know whereyou started, how and how you got
to where you are sort of likein a deeper sense of it.
So you know, start out right,radio DJ.
You deeper sense of it.
So you know, start out right,radio dj.
You know what?
What got you into wanting to bea dj?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
you know, first of all, I think that's that's a
cool kind of dumbest choice Iever made.
I think okay I think I did itbecause a buddy of mine was like
hey, let's go look at this djprogram, you know, and I don't
think he ever actually did it,uh, you know.
So I think I went through and,um, you know, I don't know that
it was the best choice of mylife, but it's fun being a radio
DJ is a blast.
(01:31):
There's nothing more excitingthan talking to people and
you're always interacting andthen you're out and about in the
community.
It's a lot of fun.
And then I always say the onething that doesn't mix with
radio DJing is being marriedthat is a recipe for a disaster,
almost.
So it was kind of making thatchoice.
So then I kind of went to thewoodshed and I'm like, hey, you
(01:54):
know what should I do?
What should I do?
and I'm like I'm gonna get intotechnology, you know and so I
told all the people I know I'mlike this is gonna be a shock to
you, but I'm gonna get intechnology're all like, yeah,
that's what you should havestarted with, right?
So so that's kind of what itwas, you know, and even when I
was in radio you know that was acool time to actually be in
radio there was a lot ofconsolidation happening.
(02:17):
And also the technology wasstarting to really come into
play, I mean, from when Istarted kind of basically using
eight track tapes as well, kindof were, um, they call them
carts back then, um, to then,you know, really fully
automating, um, you know, radiostations, um, you know, when I
had, right before the end, I wasreally working in promotions
(02:40):
but then I was recording two orthree different, uh, overnight
broadcasts, uh, you know, like amonth, a month ahead you know
like.
I could record.
So they knew what was going tobe playing one month from now.
You know, because it was allcomputerized, so I would go in
and cut it all and yeah so youknow it's kind of good, bad yeah
(03:01):
.
The magic of radio.
I think people think it wassome know.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Really just, I mean, it's so programmed, it's not
even funny I was gonna ask youso like you can like do all your
recording of the program, theshow, like all the inner or all
the articles you you hear peopleon radio like talk about, could
all be pre-done, and then kindof so like what we can do with
this program.
We're using streamer streamerright now to this.
(03:24):
We could record this episodeand then take this recording and
schedule it to go as a quoteunquote live stream and
basically it's a live stream ofwhat we've already recorded.
So it's kind of the same thing.
I always thought they were inthere like pressing buttons and
like switching immediately asthey're talking and things like
that.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
That is how it started when I was in.
You know you were running andmultitasking and doing all these
things and then by the timethat I was kind of done, which
would have been the late, late90s, okay, you know, I would go
in, I would steal a bunch ofcontent from I don't remember
that old comedian, stephen right, he was like the most dry
comedian guy you know, so Iwould just cut tons of those and
(04:01):
then you just put it in thecomputer, you'd upload it and
then it would just literallylike, just, it would fire that
off and it'd fire the jingle offand it'd fire the song off.
You know, it took nobody.
I think by law they had to havesomeone in the building.
So that would have you know.
By then there was three, four,five radio stations in a
building and so you know the oneperson would be running a real
(04:25):
live overnight show and thenthey would be checking on all
the other ones that were notlive at all.
So, yeah, it's kind of sad andyou know the magic a little bit
same thing.
You know, when you just meet allthese, you know I think in the
four or five years that I was,that I was in radio, you know we
probably went to 200 concerts,you know, and it's unfortunately
(04:49):
so much a business for them,for the artist as well, and it
just kind of took the magic outof it.
So I think that's probably why Ikind of find myself really
enjoying podcasting, because Ithink it's a little more
authentic, maybe still than it,than it has been, and uh, you
know know so yeah, I like thoselive conversations, Like you
hear.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I mean, I'm trying to think, like you know Howard
Stern show, you know Bob and Tomshow, Like, are those live
still or are those pre-recorded?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Bob and Tom man.
I mean like that's like thebane of my frustrations,
honestly, like it's like, graball the seventh grade dumb
seventh grade jokes you told,record them, record, laugh
tracks you know, like HowardStern and Don.
Imus, I mean Don Imus.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Howard.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Stern kings of it right.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Like I mean really great.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
You know Bob and Tom and you know good for them.
I mean, they made a ton ofmoney.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
But boy, is it just cheese.
I mean it's, you know, it's,you know it's like, so you know.
I think the cool thing aboutpodcasting is people started to
figure out that everything'sbeen controlled by these
commercials, that everything putin you know, and you look at a
joe rogan now and it's yeah it'dbe a two-hour interview, could
be a three-hour interview.
Um, you know, it's just, peoplewill listen to it, but you know
(05:59):
, no one would think that theywould have now.
So I, I love it.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yeah, I, I'd really like it.
I really like the.
So we do video productions,video podcast productions, like
the live streaming of events.
Now we're trying to look moreinto and like I I try to like
let the team do what they'regood at.
Um, when it comes to the liveproduction, like I love being
there in the head like and likemanaging the pieces and hey,
(06:25):
we're going to camera one orgoing camera yes like that's
just fun and I think we'reseeing more of that like with
brands and businesses now kindof coming back to that, that
connection, that realness, thatlive kind of unedited portion to
things.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I think when I was I went to school at a small
community college in iowa andyou know that was one of the
things part of the degree of megetting a quote-unquote radio
degree.
I don't know what that meant,but we would do the basketball
games for that college, you know, and that was a really great
time.
You know, like you're right.
I mean it's like get the camera.
You know, you know I was neverproducing I don't at that time I
(07:02):
don't think I could think thatfast, but um, it was cool.
I mean it was fun to do thatand man, I mean a couple of guys
I know are still in that tradeand yeah it's pretty amazing, I
mean, and you're right, it's,it's interesting, right?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I mean, yeah, so, yeah, so yeah that's cool
because when I used to be anathletic trainer too like I'd be
sitting there just watching thegames, and basketball
specifically comes to mind.
When I'm sitting there in thehigh school covering both things
, I'm like, okay, I'm in here,how can I make this more
enjoyable?
And like whatever.
And so I actually ended uprunning doing announcements like
(07:35):
the team intros for the highschool and running music and
like stuff, and it was awesome.
I'd get like my and now like itwas so fun.
It was uh, and it was awesome.
I'd get like my and now likeall that.
It was so fun, it was and itmade it.
It just was enjoyable and Imispronounced some names every
now and then and got some laughs.
But yeah, I think just that Idon't know the excitement it can
bring.
You know, cause it changes.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It's so much fun and I I did the same thing with my
sons were in football when theywere in high school and we, you
know, we they want to record thegames and pretty soon we had
like a three cameras running,you know, and it's that's just
exciting and fun.
So yeah.
So that kind of led me intotechnology, I guess.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, what part of tech.
Like tech, I mean, you're goingfor radio.
Um, yep, you know what tech didyou kind of, was it something
connected with radio, or wereyou?
Did you see something that wasmaybe new and upcoming, that
you're like, yeah, I want to dothat?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
yeah, so back then there was like three choices
there was hardware, there wasnot web software, and then there
was web software really aroundaround.
The 2000s is just before 2000 iswhen I kind of got into it, so
I I actually went into web webprogramming okay um, there was a
like a accelerated six monthkind of shove a bunch of stuff
in your brain and go get a joband learn how to do it, you know
(08:49):
, and so, uh, yeah, so I gotinto web development was really
it was interesting.
Um, you know, this is rightwhen people were starting to
just early e-commerce, earlypeople putting their first
websites up, just in general.
So, um, I worked with someconsulting firms, with some
advertising agencies, and did alot of uh websites, just generic
(09:12):
brochure websites or banks, alot of banks was nice.
And then we did do some earlye-commerce, I mean, and that was
when you're building theshopping cart yourself.
I mean, we wrote the shoppingcart, you know, to get a credit
card online.
Back then, I mean, seriously, itwas like it was hard.
You had to, like, call the um,you know, the bank that owned
(09:33):
the credit card.
And then there was, you knowyou had to do all this work, so
everything was manual.
And now you know you just pluga stripe in and everything goes
right.
Yeah so, yeah, so I was doingthat and then you know, it was
kind of getting evolving andthen it was like you know,
you're it's thanks for being aweb developer, tom, but you're
not really that good, so whydon't you just manage people?
So that's kind of how I tookthe next steps into management
(09:57):
and that would have been thefirst.
About 15 years working hard onthat, worked at a newspaper,
which was kind of fun.
There was just a lot going on.
It was fun to like the numberof traffic.
At that time I mean this isearly 2000s there was a
newspaper and a TV station thatwas together, so like you'd get
(10:18):
some weather events and backthen I mean nine you'd get nine
million hits on the weather pageon the day.
So you're trying to figure outhow to stand that up and not
just have it crash, you know,and so that was kind of fun.
And then I kind of got intoe-commerce for like the next 10
or 12 years and so learned a lotabout e-commerce doing a lot of
ERP conversions into thedifferent shopping platforms at
(10:42):
the time and what is ERP?
Sorry, that would be likeenterprise resource planners, so
kind of like your finances, youknow, like a NetSuite.
There's a lot of NetSuiteadvertising on podcasts these
days.
So basically it runs, all yourfinances and everything come
into there and then you try toyou run your business off that
software.
So sometimes people run that.
(11:04):
You know, I mean it's like aglorified QuickBooks, right,
like that's what it is.
I mean a lot of people aremoving from QuickBooks to a ERP
like a NetSuite SAP, microsoftDynamics.
It's just a little moresophisticated.
When you start to get so manytransactions, so many records,
things flying around, you kindof need more firepower and so
(11:25):
those are kind of at the baseand the back end of most of
these companies.
And then we were connectingthose to front-end e-commerce
websites.
So yeah, so that was kind of myevolution there, nice.
And then in the last few yearsyou get kicked out and told you
know, kind of bumped out of thejob, and so that's kind of led
me to this fractional space,which has been wonderful, you
(11:47):
know, it's just kind of a newarea Fractional executives, more
or less part time, c-suite work.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, c-suite work.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, um, and I, you know it's funny because I talked
to people that have been in,kind of retired from their
businesses and they're like, man, I wish I really could have,
like, had a frat, if that wouldhave been a thing, that would
have been awesome because, youknow, growing businesses, small
businesses, they don't reallyneed to spend huge dollars on,
say, a cfo right, you got goodpeople in their finance
department but they need someonewith some experience to come in
(12:16):
.
You know, know kind of set thestage, guide them, come back out
for a while, come back, and soI think that's where people are
finding this fractional space tobe really, really good for them
.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, can you dive in for those who don't know what
that fractional space means,that fractional CFO kind of
thing?
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So two or three different things.
Of course I'm working on thetechnical side, but the CFO is
an easy one to talk aboutbecause you know everyone has
finances in their business andyou know most people have
someone doing the bookkeepingwork.
Maybe they have a controllerthat's taking care of all that
stuff.
But you know the CFO's job isreally a strategic right.
We need to make sure we haveenough money for the next, you
(12:52):
know, 18 to 24 months.
How do we manage the bankrelationships?
And those are things that youknow your controller that maybe
worked their way up through hasnever really talked to a bank or
never had to negotiate thesethings.
So that's where you seesometimes a fractional CFO come
in, or because you know theydon't need to come to your
(13:12):
business and work 40 hours aweek because, generally speaking
, you know if they're there for40 hours a week, because
generally speaking, you know ifthey're there for 40 hours a
week they're probably doing 15to 20 hours of cfoing and then
they do bookkeeping for the restof the time and it's like you
don't want to pay someone thatmuch to do bookkeeping.
Yeah right, it's, it's notefficient.
So that's that was kind of.
Cfos came into the fractionalspace probably 10 years ago, and
(13:35):
now you're really starting tosee all the other disciplines
find their way through.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So it's basically like hiring someone in the
C-suite level like a CEO, cmo,cfo, for like almost quote
unquote, like gig work, sort oflike, for like a project on a
reoccurring base.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yep, it can be like project based, it can be interim
based.
You know, if tomorrow your cfodecides to take a job or you
know would have anotherunfortunate accident or
something where you're just outof a cfo.
You know what do you do, you,you know you kind of get by, but
you need that, that expertguidance at times.
Yeah, um, or you know sometimeswhat we find is, you know, a
(14:19):
CHRO.
So in the HR space, like youknow there's, you don't
necessarily always need thatperson there.
Maybe you just need to get theprocesses in place and kind of
make sure everything's working,working fine.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Right.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Client that I worked for in the past had a security
breach.
You know compromise, so I wouldgo in and work for them for a
little bit of time to make surewe get all the you know, get
them in person, you know, getget them back on track.
They were understaffed.
So we get like hooked up with acompany that can help them kind
of be their people, set uptheir policies, get all that
(14:51):
stuff structured, and then youcan kind of step back.
Now you might stay there forfour or five hours a week.
Maybe that's good for them oryou just be done.
And so I think that's the thingwhere, um, it's just kind of
need-based.
But and I think the biggestdifference between a fractional
executive and a um like aconsultant would be that you
know the fractional is reallyworking for that company.
(15:13):
They'll generally have an emailat that company.
You'll really be embedded.
But yeah, you're just only youknow, maybe you're just not
doing 40 hours at a time forthem.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Sure, that makes sense and thank you for
clarifying that.
Yeah, of course you know.
You mentioned a little bit backthat you, you know, were
working and sounds like you gotlet go of your job.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Yeah, twice.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
So what is that process Like?
How do you navigate that whenyou're let go from a job for
whatever reasons?
Yeah, how did you process that?
How did you manage that to kindof keep moving forward?
Not?
Speaker 3 (15:46):
very well, the first time.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I think I panicked.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You know, called some people I knew got a second job
within a little bit of time.
And then you know nothingchanged, right, yeah.
And so you know it, it was just.
And then the second time you'relike, okay, wait a minute.
Like first time, you know,shame on you, right.
But second time it's like waita minute.
And so that's kind of when Ijust kind of relaxed, kind of
(16:09):
thought about what I wanted tobe doing and just realized that,
uh, you know, like I kind ofwanted to be more of my own boss
.
I, I guess you might say, andyou know, you get older and you
think, gosh, I just don't wantto just burn both ends of the
candle at the same time anymore.
And how can we restructure allthis?
You know, it was kind of aninteresting timing.
(16:29):
My sons were kind of leavingthe house, so we were kind of
empty nesting at the same time,which was cool and interesting.
And so you just get it, it's anopportunity to rethink what is
it that you want to do?
You know I mean yeah, so Ithink not panicking, which is
what everyone told me.
But yeah, you decide you'restill panicking, right.
And so that's when I found afirm that was kind of just
(16:51):
starting up in this fractionalspace.
This was back in April of 24.
And just I'm trying to learnmyself as we go.
You know, the hardest part is Inever really had to sell
anything.
You know, and so you become.
You know part of you have.
There's a lot going on there.
So it's been fun to build thecompany together with with
others and we're growing.
But you know it's you want tohelp companies be successful.
(17:13):
I think that's for me, what I,what I want, is you know you
want to help other companiestake advantage of things that
you've learned over time and youknow, and and and get them to
the next spot.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
So Absolutely Now.
So with this you know, cominginto this new firm that you're
helping and being a part of,like what has been some big
challenges for you in growingthat, this new business that you
maybe didn't realize or didn'tthink about, yeah, I think one
of the toughest parts is youknow you've got to balance all
the things right.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
You've got, you need to get some work done, because
if you don't do any work thenyou don't get paid, and then you
know.
But at the same time you got tobe networking and talking to
people and you know, finding outwhat's happening in companies
and people's lives.
So I think, just finding thatright balance and yet you know,
at the same time not trying tokill yourself like maybe you did
(18:03):
before in other positions.
So I think that's probably thehardest part.
And then you know you're kind oflearning to work with people,
but you know we're structuredmuch like a law firm.
So you know you're working foryourself but you're also working
for the company.
So it's been fun to try to growthat cool.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
You know embed a culture, but at the same time
you're kind of you knowindependent uh, you know
operators at the same time yeah,and that's I mean such a shift
too, because, like you realreally will see where your
discipline lacks, right whenyou're having to work for
yourself and grow something onyour own, and it can show you
kind of your shortcomings oryour blind spots that you didn't
have to worry about as in a job.
And, um, you know, it's funnyyou mentioned the balance, or
(18:45):
what I like to call harmony,cause everything going on, like
you just have to have to kind ofmake it all work and mesh well
for your life and what you want,cause I mean I quit my job just
cold Turkey to try to figurethings out and and then you know
I was married and now we havetwo little kids and and we I
have my hobbies and I'mnetworking, like you said.
So it's like how do I like Ifeel like if I give balance,
(19:06):
like something gets more weightthan the other, like trying to
find that harmony.
I think is is super critical.
So how have you went?
How have you went about findingthat harmony within this
process with you, your wife andeverything?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, well, the first thing that was good within like
the first three months my wifehad said hey, you're happier
than you ever been for likeprobably 20 years, and I'm like
I didn't really think about that, so like, so that's kind of the
maybe a little reward that cameearly, right, and then, you.
Then you know, I mean, you justthink, what is it that I really
want to do?
Because, like you know you,every meme that exists in the
(19:42):
world right is monday.
Nobody wants to go to work,right, we don't even take, we
don't even take heathens to thatright.
It's like why are we allowingthis to happen, like you know.
And then you know, I think you,you gut check and you look at,
like what are all these thingsthat I'm buying that I maybe
don't need to?
Why am I doing all this?
You know, for me I thinksometimes it was just therapy,
right, like buy stuff to feelbetter, even though, you know,
(20:04):
inside I probably wasn't feelinggood at all.
And so I think it's just anopportunity to kind of
reevaluate everything.
And then you start to realizethat if we have to sell this
house, would that be better, orshould I go get a job Like let's
(20:26):
weigh those two things and see.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
We decided it would be okay to sell our house, you
know, and so like I think thatwas when it's like okay, well
then I'm all in, you know, andwe'll see what happens and and
whatever you know if we have todo that, I mean in like what
people think, it's not much, youknow.
I like the stuff but like do Ineed all this stuff?
(20:49):
So I think it's having agrounded conversation with
yourself to say what exactly isit that I need?
And then from there, I thinkthings start to kind of shape
themselves a little bit.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah, I like that a lot, themselves a little bit.
Yeah, I like that a lot.
And and just that truth ofconversation, because are we
doing it just because weactually need it or are we
trying to, you know, appeaseother people's opinions or, uh,
you know, are we caring too muchabout what other people think
if we're not in the bigger houseor whatever?
Like what are they going tothink if I, if we sell house to
downside, you know right, caringtoo much about that, which I
mean, everyone's guilty of it,myself included.
(21:23):
So, again, I think I like to tohave that real conversation
with yourself and getting deep.
And yeah, I think that's agreat way to kind of go about it
.
And you mentioned too, like wekind of brought up like this one
side of things.
How did you shift from thatLike going from a structured
kind of job to now it's kind ofreally weighs all on your side
(21:49):
of getting things done?
How did you find thatdiscipline or what did you do to
create that discipline?
Speaker 3 (21:54):
I'll let you know when I find it.
That's probably the worst part,I think you know I call it my
to-do list and CRM problem,right, Like I don't have a good
one of either one of those twothings, and I think I you know,
I think if I could solvedo listand CRM problem right, like I
don't have a good one of eitherone of those two things, and I
think I, you know, I think if Icould solve that I would feel
better.
But you know cause I'm, I'mpretty, I mean I feel like I'm
ADHD or whatever you want to say.
(22:15):
I mean I'd love to kind of findthe next new thing, but you got
to just buckle down at times.
So you know, I was findingmyself just bringing more things
together, doing more.
You know lists, I guess youmight say, and I think if you're
a disciplined person, you'reprobably already doing better
things than I was doing, andmaybe that was what I mean.
I think some of it is what'scaused my demise.
You know, in the past and youknow you reflect a lot right.
(22:37):
You don't want to kind of goback into the same thing.
So you try hard to, you know,to do.
You got to find out what worksfor you, you know like I think
for me, I just found myself needto be quite a bit more
forcefully organized.
You know, blocking more time onthe calendar, um, which is a
little bit scary because youdon't want to block your life
away, but at times I think if Idon't do that then I seem to
(22:59):
wander.
Yeah, for me, um, that would beideal.
So yeah so yeah, I mean, andthen I mean I'm a big tech guy,
so I love all this AI stuffthat's coming out.
So you know, I like to leveragethat too.
Like you know, you ask mequestions.
I mean it does work as a fairlygood therapist for you.
I don't know if you've used itin that way, but it's pretty
(23:21):
cool.
I mean I find that it bringslogic to some things that are
less logical.
You know, like I think thisworld has gone illogical at
times.
I mean we just don't stop andthink about the just basics.
And it doesn't mean that, youknow, you can't have your values
, but I mean sometimes, likesome of the decisions we make,
you think why did I do that?
You know, and it doesn't seemlike it fits sometimes, you know
(23:46):
, and it doesn't seem like itfits sometimes.
So I like to use AI to help meprocess through things and make
lists and it helps me organize.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Yeah, definitely a great tool.
I mean, it's crazy how we'reseeing it advance just within
this last year and kind of scaryhow fast it's going to continue
to evolve and grow and whatit's going to, you know,
continue to to be able to do inthe future.
But, um, I think, yeah, whatyou mentioned there, though,
going back to the discipline andtime blocking, it kind of
(24:13):
reminds me of and I'm probablybutchered the quote.
But, like um, if you don't, ifyou don't know where your money
is or where your money's going,it'll leave you, like, if you
don't know, you don't keep aneye on it.
It'll leave you, like if youdon't know, you don't keep an
eye on it, it'll leave you andit's kind of like so like you
just kind of spin it withoutknowing what your budget and
everything is.
It's kind of like your timebudget, like if you're not um
scheduling laid out and knowwhat you're giving it to, it'll
(24:34):
just kind of vanish right um.
And and I have another, amentor of mine, who talks about
doing time audits, so like, forI think it's like 16 days, every
15 minutes you stop and youwrite down what you're doing in
that last 15 minutes and at theend of the 16 days or 14 days,
you'll see just how much timeyou're wasting yes um, because
(24:58):
you're you're taking note andyou're writing it down and
you'll see, like, oh, I spendway too much time on tikt,
tiktok or whatever it might be.
you know, or maybe it's, I'vespent way too much time
responding to emails and somaybe if we can exchange that
task for a virtual assistant soyou can focus on what you can do
best, like, things like that iscrazy.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Talking about that is just efficiency with email.
Like you know there's a greatbook out there that's called the
come up for air by nicksonnenberg, and he just talks
about no one ever taught us howto use email.
You know like, yeah, just kindof you just had it right, like
and you know there's ways to.
You know you don't need torespond to every email right
(25:42):
away and like you know, like Idon't know, I think people talk
about that as just block timefor responding email.
I mean, most emails are notgoing to be immediate need right
, and if they do, you should,people shouldn't be doing that
anyway.
Like, if you need immediatehelp, don't email like that's
not it.
You know, yeah, I got a phone.
I like to use the scheduling ofthe sending of emails too,
(26:03):
because I figure, you know likelet's just use the scheduling of
the sending of emails too,because I figure you know like
let's just use the block of time, like I don't want to bug
people in the middle of thenight yeah, just because it
happens to work good for meright that day to work, you know
, to work late or whatever,because maybe during the day I
was doing something fun, becauseI like to ride motorcycles and
do things like that.
(26:23):
so so, yeah, so like it, so likeit's like, like I don't know,
like I think we're getting it'sgoing to be really interesting.
I think what I tell businessesand I think it applies to people
too is like you know, writedown what you do, write your
processes down, because in acouple of years from now, these
AI agents can probably help youwith these processes.
I mean, I think you knowthey're going to become our
(26:44):
virtual assistants, right?
I mean I think they're going tobecome our virtual assistants.
They're going to be helping usa lot the more you can write
your process down.
If you don't know what yourprocess is, you'll never be able
to automate it, because youdon't even know if it's
scattered and all this other.
I'm sure it's the same way withyour podcast.
(27:05):
There's a process, right?
I mean, a buddy of mine have a.
I love podcasts so much, I'vebeen listening for so, so long.
But we do a motorcycle podcast.
It's the same thing.
It's like trying to learn onthe what.
What are the people like?
You know, how do you make itmore conversational?
I, when we first started, andyes, your stories.
(27:28):
I mean, yeah, you started outthat way.
Yeah, like let's, why did youmake these decisions?
Speaker 2 (27:30):
or what happened here .
Speaker 3 (27:30):
You know, yeah, the more we've done that, you can
definitely see more interactionwith people, which is which is
nice.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I mean people need that connection right yep, yeah,
and I think it goes back tokind of what we discussed a
little bit earlier of like thelive stream, the live production
you know radio was is now kindof shifted to pre-recorded and
yeah, um, and going now to and Istill think it's true, I think
it's going to happen is more,more and more small businesses,
(27:56):
um, and that's up to like 50employees I think it's the
definition of small and I couldbe off on that number but like
they're going to start utilizingvideo content or live streams
to again build that bridge ofconnection.
Because we're going to startutilizing video content or live
streams to again build thatbridge of connection, because
we're going to see so much AIgenerated content.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
So much stuff like that, because I think we're
going to start yearning more andmore for connection, uh,
community, and you know, justupfront, you know being able to
interact and live streams are agreat way to do that.
So I still foresee, you know,businesses really to interact
and live streams are a great wayto do that.
So I still foresee, you knowbusinesses really hopping on
that live streaming events fornot only more revenue, but just
to make a bigger difference andimpact with the events too.
(28:34):
So, yeah, I think that that can.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
I think it's like Seth Godin that talks about,
isn't that in his book tribes,isn't that a thousand fans?
Is that part of that sameconcept?
I think it is.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
I think so I'd have to revisit that one.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Yeah, but it's around that, right, you need a
thousand, you know.
And that's where I think, whenyou're getting into podcasts or
you're getting into some ofthese things, you start to see
this niches of niches, right, Imean like, because it doesn't
really take that many people tosupport a podcast running, you
know.
I mean, and you know, like, Idon't know, I've listened, I
love your podcast, it's great.
(29:09):
Well, and it's just what I likeabout it is the variety.
Sometimes you get some podcastsare centered around a topic,
which is which is interesting.
You know, it's like a deep dive, but I think yours is
interestingly, kind of just likehey, these are good things for
just life, right.
I mean that's what I've pickedup, you know.
So it's so interesting.
(29:29):
I mean, I think in that sametime, like I mean we've had
audio books for years and yearson cassettes and CDs- and now
you can just load it on yourphone.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
And.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I mean I find myself doing a lot more.
You know, I was so into likenonfiction learning all the time
, and now I find reallyinteresting to just let your
mind explore.
I mean I kind of likepost-apocalyptic type stuff, but
yeah, yeah, so uh, I don't know, it's just so easy to get to
this content now oh yeah,there's so much, we have so much
more access to, to knowledge,to entertainment, to everything.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
We have so much, and it almost like drowns it out,
like we have so much option, somuch, that we can look and that
we almost forget to take actionand like focus on what matters.
You know, kind of it's a crazything where we're at, really.
Yeah, um tom, this has been agreat conversation.
I'm super, super excited andgrateful that you shared your
(30:25):
story and just your journey andyou know the realness of it and
how you're still growing, butyou're still, you know, not
where you used to be and and youknow you're working and
improving on things and I thinkthat that's a testament to like
everyone, like no matter whatlevel you're at, no matter where
you're at in life, like we canalways improve and always be,
you know, at least 1% bettereach day.
(30:46):
You got can always improve andalways be, you know, at least
one percent better each day.
You gotta keep adapting, yeah.
So if you were to talk tosomeone maybe they're 10, 10
years younger than you right nowyeah, trying to figure out next
steps, don't know, with so manyoptions nowadays they're kind
of just like you know they'retaking that inner look, kind of
like you did after you kind ofgot let go.
What would be one thing youwould tell them?
Uh, to kind of maybe point themin the right direction or give
(31:09):
them a little guidance.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, I would definitely never sacrifice like
work for family.
You know that's just a limitedresource, right.
I mean, you know I I read aquote and you know, again, we're
getting close but like whenyour kids turn 18, you've
already spent spent like 90 ofthe time with them that you're
going to spend in your life, yep, um.
So I remember it wasn't toolong ago one of my son's car
(31:32):
broke down and I took the dayoff and people like why are you
taking the day off?
You know to bring it, you couldjust get it fixed up where he's
at.
I'm like, yeah, but like we'regonna spend two hours together,
right, and like that might bethe last block of two hours that
him and I spent together aloneever again.
And you're like it seems silly.
You know he was like 20 maybe,or 21.
(31:52):
You know you're thinking mygosh.
I mean like I think theresources that's so precious and
I love tiktok just as much aseverybody else but you know I
think we're replacing thatTikTok, you know quick hit stuff
for maybe some actual, you knowinteractions and you know you
have to wonder if that's notpart of kind of our mental
(32:15):
health crisis that you see.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
They're replacing this in inorganic objects with
these, and they do.
I mean I love TikTok.
There's funny things on there,you know these new.
I mean I cannot stop watchingthese babies like karate in
these chickens oh, the ai videosit's not man, it's so great,
but like, but also, you know, Idon't know, we tend to like.
(32:39):
I mean I think there's abalance of that um with people,
right?
I mean, I think and I'm not ahuge bunch of people, person, I
don't have a huge circle ofpeople- yeah man.
I mean I love conversations likethis.
I mean I like authentic, goodconversations.
My wife used to get mad at me.
She's like why'd you bring yourphone out when we're eating
dinner with these girls?
Like I was bored, like theweather was more impressive than
(33:01):
this conversation, so you knowyeah, I don't know, get
intentional, be real and, like Idon't know, like you start to
get to know people.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Then, like you know, yeah, I think that's so huge.
And jesse itzler, uh, he saidthis one time.
I was listening to him and hesaid think, if your parents are
60 years old right now and youknow they live to, we'll say 80,
for, for the sake of numbers,yeah that's and people are like
oh yeah, I got 20, 20 more years.
(33:30):
My parents.
He's like, well, how often doyou see your parents?
I might see them once a year.
So he's like you don't have 20years, you have 20 more
opportunities, 20, 20 moremoments with your parents.
Like that is crazy right likebecause, and so that again, if
you think of things like that,you shift your perspective.
(33:52):
Like I think my kids the samething like I, you know you only
have.
You know if I might, if I'm got50 more years, you know, 50
more summers with them, you'relike like under a hundred, like
not very much.
Like you start.
We have to shift.
What really matters in life, Ithink, and that's relationships,
I think that's community, Ithink that's trying to.
(34:15):
You know, use our gifts andtalents to to make a difference.
I think everyone's created fora purpose to to make a
difference.
Yeah, it's just such a.
It's just such a.
I love that guidance thatyou're giving people because I
think it's spot on with justseeing the big picture and
losing your job, or maybe thattask at work or the grand scheme
of things, it don't matter,it'll pass.
(34:38):
And so, tom, again, great,great words of wisdom there and
I would love for you to share.
You know, if people areinterested in getting connected
with you, find out more aboutall the fractional things and
what you're doing, where's thebest place that they can go and
connect with you?
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah, easiest place is LinkedIn.
Just look up Tom Altman.
You know I'd be happy to talkabout what is fractional.
I'd love to geek out about AIor just anything.
Just connect.
I can send some virtual coffeethings and yeah, it's just fun
to get to know people.
You know motorcycle riding,whatever works right there you
go.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
I'm in Awesome, yeah.
So everyone make sure, I meanget connected with them, learn
from them, reach out to them.
But again, tom, thanks so muchfor being on the Elevate Media
Podcast today.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Yeah, thank you, it's been a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Absolutely, and if you're listening to this,
remember that you help us reachmore ears by going and
subscribing and leaving a review.
That way we can make a biggerimpact together and make sure
you go full-time Again, getconnected with them.
But until next time, go outthere and continue to elevate
your life, elevate your brand,and we'll talk to you again soon
(35:48):
.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Thank you for listening to the Elevate Media
podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave a review.
See you in the next episode.
Welcome to the Elevate Media Podcast with your
host, chris Anderson.
In this show, chris and hisguests will share their
knowledge and experience on howto go from zero to successful
entrepreneur.
They have built theirbusinesses from scratch and are
now ready to give back to thosewho are just starting.
Let's get ready to learn, growand elevate our businesses.
And now your host, chrisAnderson.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Welcome back to another recording of the Elevate
Media Podcast.
I'm Chris Anderson, your host,and today we're going to get
into a real-life journey of anindividual who is now a
successful tech entrepreneurhelping others lay the
foundations for their business.
But didn't it start there?
And so I'm excited to talkabout his journey from radio DJ
to to what he does now.
(00:46):
Uh so, tom Altman, welcome tothe Elevate Media Podcast today.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Thank you very much.
Glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Absolutely Super excited to chat about your
journey, uh, and you know whereyou started, how and how you got
to where you are sort of likein a deeper sense of it.
So you know, start out right,radio DJ.
You deeper sense of it.
So you know, start out right,radio dj.
You know what?
What got you into wanting to bea dj?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
you know, first of all, I think that's that's a
cool kind of dumbest choice Iever made.
I think okay I think I did itbecause a buddy of mine was like
hey, let's go look at this djprogram, you know, and I don't
think he ever actually did it,uh, you know.
So I think I went through and,um, you know, I don't know that
it was the best choice of mylife, but it's fun being a radio
DJ is a blast.
(01:31):
There's nothing more excitingthan talking to people and
you're always interacting andthen you're out and about in the
community.
It's a lot of fun.
And then I always say the onething that doesn't mix with
radio DJing is being marriedthat is a recipe for a disaster,
almost.
So it was kind of making thatchoice.
So then I kind of went to thewoodshed and I'm like, hey, you
(01:54):
know what should I do?
What should I do?
and I'm like I'm gonna get intotechnology, you know and so I
told all the people I know I'mlike this is gonna be a shock to
you, but I'm gonna get intechnology're all like, yeah,
that's what you should havestarted with, right?
So so that's kind of what itwas, you know, and even when I
was in radio you know that was acool time to actually be in
radio there was a lot ofconsolidation happening.
(02:17):
And also the technology wasstarting to really come into
play, I mean, from when Istarted kind of basically using
eight track tapes as well, kindof were, um, they call them
carts back then, um, to then,you know, really fully
automating, um, you know, radiostations, um, you know, when I
had, right before the end, I wasreally working in promotions
(02:40):
but then I was recording two orthree different, uh, overnight
broadcasts, uh, you know, like amonth, a month ahead you know
like.
I could record.
So they knew what was going tobe playing one month from now.
You know, because it was allcomputerized, so I would go in
and cut it all and yeah so youknow it's kind of good, bad yeah
(03:01):
.
The magic of radio.
I think people think it wassome know.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Really just, I mean, it's so programmed, it's not
even funny I was gonna ask youso like you can like do all your
recording of the program, theshow, like all the inner or all
the articles you you hear peopleon radio like talk about, could
all be pre-done, and then kindof so like what we can do with
this program.
We're using streamer streamerright now to this.
(03:24):
We could record this episodeand then take this recording and
schedule it to go as a quoteunquote live stream and
basically it's a live stream ofwhat we've already recorded.
So it's kind of the same thing.
I always thought they were inthere like pressing buttons and
like switching immediately asthey're talking and things like
that.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
That is how it started when I was in.
You know you were running andmultitasking and doing all these
things and then by the timethat I was kind of done, which
would have been the late, late90s, okay, you know, I would go
in, I would steal a bunch ofcontent from I don't remember
that old comedian, stephen right, he was like the most dry
comedian guy you know, so Iwould just cut tons of those and
(04:01):
then you just put it in thecomputer, you'd upload it and
then it would just literallylike, just, it would fire that
off and it'd fire the jingle offand it'd fire the song off.
You know, it took nobody.
I think by law they had to havesomeone in the building.
So that would have you know.
By then there was three, four,five radio stations in a
building and so you know the oneperson would be running a real
(04:25):
live overnight show and thenthey would be checking on all
the other ones that were notlive at all.
So, yeah, it's kind of sad andyou know the magic a little bit
same thing.
You know, when you just meet allthese, you know I think in the
four or five years that I was,that I was in radio, you know we
probably went to 200 concerts,you know, and it's unfortunately
(04:49):
so much a business for them,for the artist as well, and it
just kind of took the magic outof it.
So I think that's probably why Ikind of find myself really
enjoying podcasting, because Ithink it's a little more
authentic, maybe still than it,than it has been, and uh, you
know know so yeah, I like thoselive conversations, Like you
hear.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I mean, I'm trying to think, like you know Howard
Stern show, you know Bob and Tomshow, Like, are those live
still or are those pre-recorded?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Bob and Tom man.
I mean like that's like thebane of my frustrations,
honestly, like it's like, graball the seventh grade dumb
seventh grade jokes you told,record them, record, laugh
tracks you know, like HowardStern and Don.
Imus, I mean Don Imus.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Howard.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Stern kings of it right.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Like I mean really great.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
You know Bob and Tom and you know good for them.
I mean, they made a ton ofmoney.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
But boy, is it just cheese.
I mean it's, you know, it's,you know it's like, so you know.
I think the cool thing aboutpodcasting is people started to
figure out that everything'sbeen controlled by these
commercials, that everything putin you know, and you look at a
joe rogan now and it's yeah it'dbe a two-hour interview, could
be a three-hour interview.
Um, you know, it's just, peoplewill listen to it, but you know
(05:59):
, no one would think that theywould have now.
So I, I love it.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yeah, I, I'd really like it.
I really like the.
So we do video productions,video podcast productions, like
the live streaming of events.
Now we're trying to look moreinto and like I I try to like
let the team do what they'regood at.
Um, when it comes to the liveproduction, like I love being
there in the head like and likemanaging the pieces and hey,
(06:25):
we're going to camera one orgoing camera yes like that's
just fun and I think we'reseeing more of that like with
brands and businesses now kindof coming back to that, that
connection, that realness, thatlive kind of unedited portion to
things.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I think when I was I went to school at a small
community college in iowa andyou know that was one of the
things part of the degree of megetting a quote-unquote radio
degree.
I don't know what that meant,but we would do the basketball
games for that college, you know, and that was a really great
time.
You know, like you're right.
I mean it's like get the camera.
You know, you know I was neverproducing I don't at that time I
(07:02):
don't think I could think thatfast, but um, it was cool.
I mean it was fun to do thatand man, I mean a couple of guys
I know are still in that tradeand yeah it's pretty amazing, I
mean, and you're right, it's,it's interesting, right?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I mean, yeah, so, yeah, so yeah that's cool
because when I used to be anathletic trainer too like I'd be
sitting there just watching thegames, and basketball
specifically comes to mind.
When I'm sitting there in thehigh school covering both things
, I'm like, okay, I'm in here,how can I make this more
enjoyable?
And like whatever.
And so I actually ended uprunning doing announcements like
(07:35):
the team intros for the highschool and running music and
like stuff, and it was awesome.
I'd get like my and now like itwas so fun.
It was uh, and it was awesome.
I'd get like my and now likeall that.
It was so fun, it was and itmade it.
It just was enjoyable and Imispronounced some names every
now and then and got some laughs.
But yeah, I think just that Idon't know the excitement it can
bring.
You know, cause it changes.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
It's so much fun and I I did the same thing with my
sons were in football when theywere in high school and we, you
know, we they want to record thegames and pretty soon we had
like a three cameras running,you know, and it's that's just
exciting and fun.
So yeah.
So that kind of led me intotechnology, I guess.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, what part of tech.
Like tech, I mean, you're goingfor radio.
Um, yep, you know what tech didyou kind of, was it something
connected with radio, or wereyou?
Did you see something that wasmaybe new and upcoming, that
you're like, yeah, I want to dothat?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
yeah, so back then there was like three choices
there was hardware, there wasnot web software, and then there
was web software really aroundaround.
The 2000s is just before 2000 iswhen I kind of got into it, so
I I actually went into web webprogramming okay um, there was a
like a accelerated six monthkind of shove a bunch of stuff
in your brain and go get a joband learn how to do it, you know
(08:49):
, and so, uh, yeah, so I gotinto web development was really
it was interesting.
Um, you know, this is rightwhen people were starting to
just early e-commerce, earlypeople putting their first
websites up, just in general.
So, um, I worked with someconsulting firms, with some
advertising agencies, and did alot of uh websites, just generic
(09:12):
brochure websites or banks, alot of banks was nice.
And then we did do some earlye-commerce, I mean, and that was
when you're building theshopping cart yourself.
I mean, we wrote the shoppingcart, you know, to get a credit
card online.
Back then, I mean, seriously, itwas like it was hard.
You had to, like, call the um,you know, the bank that owned
(09:33):
the credit card.
And then there was, you knowyou had to do all this work, so
everything was manual.
And now you know you just pluga stripe in and everything goes
right.
Yeah so, yeah, so I was doingthat and then you know, it was
kind of getting evolving andthen it was like you know,
you're it's thanks for being aweb developer, tom, but you're
not really that good, so whydon't you just manage people?
So that's kind of how I tookthe next steps into management
(09:57):
and that would have been thefirst.
About 15 years working hard onthat, worked at a newspaper,
which was kind of fun.
There was just a lot going on.
It was fun to like the numberof traffic.
At that time I mean this isearly 2000s there was a
newspaper and a TV station thatwas together, so like you'd get
(10:18):
some weather events and backthen I mean nine you'd get nine
million hits on the weather pageon the day.
So you're trying to figure outhow to stand that up and not
just have it crash, you know,and so that was kind of fun.
And then I kind of got intoe-commerce for like the next 10
or 12 years and so learned a lotabout e-commerce doing a lot of
ERP conversions into thedifferent shopping platforms at
(10:42):
the time and what is ERP?
Sorry, that would be likeenterprise resource planners, so
kind of like your finances, youknow, like a NetSuite.
There's a lot of NetSuiteadvertising on podcasts these
days.
So basically it runs, all yourfinances and everything come
into there and then you try toyou run your business off that
software.
So sometimes people run that.
(11:04):
You know, I mean it's like aglorified QuickBooks, right,
like that's what it is.
I mean a lot of people aremoving from QuickBooks to a ERP
like a NetSuite SAP, microsoftDynamics.
It's just a little moresophisticated.
When you start to get so manytransactions, so many records,
things flying around, you kindof need more firepower and so
(11:25):
those are kind of at the baseand the back end of most of
these companies.
And then we were connectingthose to front-end e-commerce
websites.
So yeah, so that was kind of myevolution there, nice.
And then in the last few yearsyou get kicked out and told you
know, kind of bumped out of thejob, and so that's kind of led
me to this fractional space,which has been wonderful, you
(11:47):
know, it's just kind of a newarea Fractional executives, more
or less part time, c-suite work.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, c-suite work.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Yeah, um, and I, you know it's funny because I talked
to people that have been in,kind of retired from their
businesses and they're like, man, I wish I really could have,
like, had a frat, if that wouldhave been a thing, that would
have been awesome because, youknow, growing businesses, small
businesses, they don't reallyneed to spend huge dollars on,
say, a cfo right, you got goodpeople in their finance
department but they need someonewith some experience to come in
(12:16):
.
You know, know kind of set thestage, guide them, come back out
for a while, come back, and soI think that's where people are
finding this fractional space tobe really, really good for them
.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, can you dive in for those who don't know what
that fractional space means,that fractional CFO kind of
thing?
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So two or three different things.
Of course I'm working on thetechnical side, but the CFO is
an easy one to talk aboutbecause you know everyone has
finances in their business andyou know most people have
someone doing the bookkeepingwork.
Maybe they have a controllerthat's taking care of all that
stuff.
But you know the CFO's job isreally a strategic right.
We need to make sure we haveenough money for the next, you
(12:52):
know, 18 to 24 months.
How do we manage the bankrelationships?
And those are things that youknow your controller that maybe
worked their way up through hasnever really talked to a bank or
never had to negotiate thesethings.
So that's where you seesometimes a fractional CFO come
in, or because you know theydon't need to come to your
(13:12):
business and work 40 hours aweek because, generally speaking
, you know if they're there for40 hours a week, because
generally speaking, you know ifthey're there for 40 hours a
week they're probably doing 15to 20 hours of cfoing and then
they do bookkeeping for the restof the time and it's like you
don't want to pay someone thatmuch to do bookkeeping.
Yeah right, it's, it's notefficient.
So that's that was kind of.
Cfos came into the fractionalspace probably 10 years ago, and
(13:35):
now you're really starting tosee all the other disciplines
find their way through.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So it's basically like hiring someone in the
C-suite level like a CEO, cmo,cfo, for like almost quote
unquote, like gig work, sort oflike, for like a project on a
reoccurring base.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yep, it can be like project based, it can be interim
based.
You know, if tomorrow your cfodecides to take a job or you
know would have anotherunfortunate accident or
something where you're just outof a cfo.
You know what do you do, you,you know you kind of get by, but
you need that, that expertguidance at times.
Yeah, um, or you know sometimeswhat we find is, you know, a
(14:19):
CHRO.
So in the HR space, like youknow there's, you don't
necessarily always need thatperson there.
Maybe you just need to get theprocesses in place and kind of
make sure everything's working,working fine.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Right.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Client that I worked for in the past had a security
breach.
You know compromise, so I wouldgo in and work for them for a
little bit of time to make surewe get all the you know, get
them in person, you know, getget them back on track.
They were understaffed.
So we get like hooked up with acompany that can help them kind
of be their people, set uptheir policies, get all that
(14:51):
stuff structured, and then youcan kind of step back.
Now you might stay there forfour or five hours a week.
Maybe that's good for them oryou just be done.
And so I think that's the thingwhere, um, it's just kind of
need-based.
But and I think the biggestdifference between a fractional
executive and a um like aconsultant would be that you
know the fractional is reallyworking for that company.
(15:13):
They'll generally have an emailat that company.
You'll really be embedded.
But yeah, you're just only youknow, maybe you're just not
doing 40 hours at a time forthem.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Sure, that makes sense and thank you for
clarifying that.
Yeah, of course you know.
You mentioned a little bit backthat you, you know, were
working and sounds like you gotlet go of your job.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Yeah, twice.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
So what is that process Like?
How do you navigate that whenyou're let go from a job for
whatever reasons?
Yeah, how did you process that?
How did you manage that to kindof keep moving forward?
Not?
Speaker 3 (15:46):
very well, the first time.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I think I panicked.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You know, called some people I knew got a second job
within a little bit of time.
And then you know nothingchanged, right, yeah.
And so you know it, it was just.
And then the second time you'relike, okay, wait a minute.
Like first time, you know,shame on you, right.
But second time it's like waita minute.
And so that's kind of when Ijust kind of relaxed, kind of
(16:09):
thought about what I wanted tobe doing and just realized that,
uh, you know, like I kind ofwanted to be more of my own boss
.
I, I guess you might say, andyou know, you get older and you
think, gosh, I just don't wantto just burn both ends of the
candle at the same time anymore.
And how can we restructure allthis?
You know, it was kind of aninteresting timing.
(16:29):
My sons were kind of leavingthe house, so we were kind of
empty nesting at the same time,which was cool and interesting.
And so you just get it, it's anopportunity to rethink what is
it that you want to do?
You know I mean yeah, so Ithink not panicking, which is
what everyone told me.
But yeah, you decide you'restill panicking, right.
And so that's when I found afirm that was kind of just
(16:51):
starting up in this fractionalspace.
This was back in April of 24.
And just I'm trying to learnmyself as we go.
You know, the hardest part is Inever really had to sell
anything.
You know, and so you become.
You know part of you have.
There's a lot going on there.
So it's been fun to build thecompany together with with
others and we're growing.
But you know it's you want tohelp companies be successful.
(17:13):
I think that's for me, what I,what I want, is you know you
want to help other companiestake advantage of things that
you've learned over time and youknow, and and and get them to
the next spot.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
So Absolutely Now.
So with this you know, cominginto this new firm that you're
helping and being a part of,like what has been some big
challenges for you in growingthat, this new business that you
maybe didn't realize or didn'tthink about, yeah, I think one
of the toughest parts is youknow you've got to balance all
the things right.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
You've got, you need to get some work done, because
if you don't do any work thenyou don't get paid, and then you
know.
But at the same time you got tobe networking and talking to
people and you know, finding outwhat's happening in companies
and people's lives.
So I think, just finding thatright balance and yet you know,
at the same time not trying tokill yourself like maybe you did
(18:03):
before in other positions.
So I think that's probably thehardest part.
And then you know you're kind oflearning to work with people,
but you know we're structuredmuch like a law firm.
So you know you're working foryourself but you're also working
for the company.
So it's been fun to try to growthat cool.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
You know embed a culture, but at the same time
you're kind of you knowindependent uh, you know
operators at the same time yeah,and that's I mean such a shift
too, because, like you realreally will see where your
discipline lacks, right whenyou're having to work for
yourself and grow something onyour own, and it can show you
kind of your shortcomings oryour blind spots that you didn't
have to worry about as in a job.
And, um, you know, it's funnyyou mentioned the balance, or
(18:45):
what I like to call harmony,cause everything going on, like
you just have to have to kind ofmake it all work and mesh well
for your life and what you want,cause I mean I quit my job just
cold Turkey to try to figurethings out and and then you know
I was married and now we havetwo little kids and and we I
have my hobbies and I'mnetworking, like you said.
So it's like how do I like Ifeel like if I give balance,
(19:06):
like something gets more weightthan the other, like trying to
find that harmony.
I think is is super critical.
So how have you went?
How have you went about findingthat harmony within this
process with you, your wife andeverything?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, well, the first thing that was good within like
the first three months my wifehad said hey, you're happier
than you ever been for likeprobably 20 years, and I'm like
I didn't really think about that, so like, so that's kind of the
maybe a little reward that cameearly, right, and then, you.
Then you know, I mean, you justthink, what is it that I really
want to do?
Because, like you know you,every meme that exists in the
(19:42):
world right is monday.
Nobody wants to go to work,right, we don't even take, we
don't even take heathens to thatright.
It's like why are we allowingthis to happen, like you know.
And then you know, I think you,you gut check and you look at,
like what are all these thingsthat I'm buying that I maybe
don't need to?
Why am I doing all this?
You know, for me I thinksometimes it was just therapy,
right, like buy stuff to feelbetter, even though, you know,
(20:04):
inside I probably wasn't feelinggood at all.
And so I think it's just anopportunity to kind of
reevaluate everything.
And then you start to realizethat if we have to sell this
house, would that be better, orshould I go get a job Like let's
(20:26):
weigh those two things and see.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
We decided it would be okay to sell our house, you
know, and so like I think thatwas when it's like okay, well
then I'm all in, you know, andwe'll see what happens and and
whatever you know if we have todo that, I mean in like what
people think, it's not much, youknow.
I like the stuff but like do Ineed all this stuff?
(20:49):
So I think it's having agrounded conversation with
yourself to say what exactly isit that I need?
And then from there, I thinkthings start to kind of shape
themselves a little bit.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah, I like that a lot, themselves a little bit.
Yeah, I like that a lot.
And and just that truth ofconversation, because are we
doing it just because weactually need it or are we
trying to, you know, appeaseother people's opinions or, uh,
you know, are we caring too muchabout what other people think
if we're not in the bigger houseor whatever?
Like what are they going tothink if I, if we sell house to
downside, you know right, caringtoo much about that, which I
mean, everyone's guilty of it,myself included.
(21:23):
So, again, I think I like to tohave that real conversation
with yourself and getting deep.
And yeah, I think that's agreat way to kind of go about it
.
And you mentioned too, like wekind of brought up like this one
side of things.
How did you shift from thatLike going from a structured
kind of job to now it's kind ofreally weighs all on your side
(21:49):
of getting things done?
How did you find thatdiscipline or what did you do to
create that discipline?
Speaker 3 (21:54):
I'll let you know when I find it.
That's probably the worst part,I think you know I call it my
to-do list and CRM problem,right, Like I don't have a good
one of either one of those twothings, and I think I you know,
I think if I could solvedo listand CRM problem right, like I
don't have a good one of eitherone of those two things, and I
think I, you know, I think if Icould solve that I would feel
better.
But you know cause I'm, I'mpretty, I mean I feel like I'm
ADHD or whatever you want to say.
(22:15):
I mean I'd love to kind of findthe next new thing, but you got
to just buckle down at times.
So you know, I was findingmyself just bringing more things
together, doing more.
You know lists, I guess youmight say, and I think if you're
a disciplined person, you'reprobably already doing better
things than I was doing, andmaybe that was what I mean.
I think some of it is what'scaused my demise.
You know, in the past and youknow you reflect a lot right.
(22:37):
You don't want to kind of goback into the same thing.
So you try hard to, you know,to do.
You got to find out what worksfor you, you know like I think
for me, I just found myself needto be quite a bit more
forcefully organized.
You know, blocking more time onthe calendar, um, which is a
little bit scary because youdon't want to block your life
away, but at times I think if Idon't do that then I seem to
(22:59):
wander.
Yeah, for me, um, that would beideal.
So yeah so yeah, I mean, andthen I mean I'm a big tech guy,
so I love all this AI stuffthat's coming out.
So you know, I like to leveragethat too.
Like you know, you ask mequestions.
I mean it does work as a fairlygood therapist for you.
I don't know if you've used itin that way, but it's pretty
(23:21):
cool.
I mean I find that it bringslogic to some things that are
less logical.
You know, like I think thisworld has gone illogical at
times.
I mean we just don't stop andthink about the just basics.
And it doesn't mean that, youknow, you can't have your values
, but I mean sometimes, likesome of the decisions we make,
you think why did I do that?
You know, and it doesn't seemlike it fits sometimes, you know
(23:46):
, and it doesn't seem like itfits sometimes.
So I like to use AI to help meprocess through things and make
lists and it helps me organize.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Yeah, definitely a great tool.
I mean, it's crazy how we'reseeing it advance just within
this last year and kind of scaryhow fast it's going to continue
to evolve and grow and whatit's going to, you know,
continue to to be able to do inthe future.
But, um, I think, yeah, whatyou mentioned there, though,
going back to the discipline andtime blocking, it kind of
(24:13):
reminds me of and I'm probablybutchered the quote.
But, like um, if you don't, ifyou don't know where your money
is or where your money's going,it'll leave you, like, if you
don't know, you don't keep aneye on it.
It'll leave you, like if youdon't know, you don't keep an
eye on it, it'll leave you andit's kind of like so like you
just kind of spin it withoutknowing what your budget and
everything is.
It's kind of like your timebudget, like if you're not um
scheduling laid out and knowwhat you're giving it to, it'll
(24:34):
just kind of vanish right um.
And and I have another, amentor of mine, who talks about
doing time audits, so like, forI think it's like 16 days, every
15 minutes you stop and youwrite down what you're doing in
that last 15 minutes and at theend of the 16 days or 14 days,
you'll see just how much timeyou're wasting yes um, because
(24:58):
you're you're taking note andyou're writing it down and
you'll see, like, oh, I spendway too much time on tikt,
tiktok or whatever it might be.
you know, or maybe it's, I'vespent way too much time
responding to emails and somaybe if we can exchange that
task for a virtual assistant soyou can focus on what you can do
best, like, things like that iscrazy.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Talking about that is just efficiency with email.
Like you know there's a greatbook out there that's called the
come up for air by nicksonnenberg, and he just talks
about no one ever taught us howto use email.
You know like, yeah, just kindof you just had it right, like
and you know there's ways to.
You know you don't need torespond to every email right
(25:42):
away and like you know, like Idon't know, I think people talk
about that as just block timefor responding email.
I mean, most emails are notgoing to be immediate need right
, and if they do, you should,people shouldn't be doing that
anyway.
Like, if you need immediatehelp, don't email like that's
not it.
You know, yeah, I got a phone.
I like to use the scheduling ofthe sending of emails too,
(26:03):
because I figure, you know likelet's just use the scheduling of
the sending of emails too,because I figure you know like
let's just use the block of time, like I don't want to bug
people in the middle of thenight yeah, just because it
happens to work good for meright that day to work, you know
, to work late or whatever,because maybe during the day I
was doing something fun, becauseI like to ride motorcycles and
do things like that.
(26:23):
so so, yeah, so like it, so likeit's like, like I don't know,
like I think we're getting it'sgoing to be really interesting.
I think what I tell businessesand I think it applies to people
too is like you know, writedown what you do, write your
processes down, because in acouple of years from now, these
AI agents can probably help youwith these processes.
I mean, I think you knowthey're going to become our
(26:44):
virtual assistants, right?
I mean I think they're going tobecome our virtual assistants.
They're going to be helping usa lot the more you can write
your process down.
If you don't know what yourprocess is, you'll never be able
to automate it, because youdon't even know if it's
scattered and all this other.
I'm sure it's the same way withyour podcast.
(27:05):
There's a process, right?
I mean, a buddy of mine have a.
I love podcasts so much, I'vebeen listening for so, so long.
But we do a motorcycle podcast.
It's the same thing.
It's like trying to learn onthe what.
What are the people like?
You know, how do you make itmore conversational?
I, when we first started, andyes, your stories.
(27:28):
I mean, yeah, you started outthat way.
Yeah, like let's, why did youmake these decisions?
Speaker 2 (27:30):
or what happened here .
Speaker 3 (27:30):
You know, yeah, the more we've done that, you can
definitely see more interactionwith people, which is which is
nice.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
I mean people need that connection right yep, yeah,
and I think it goes back tokind of what we discussed a
little bit earlier of like thelive stream, the live production
you know radio was is now kindof shifted to pre-recorded and
yeah, um, and going now to and Istill think it's true, I think
it's going to happen is more,more and more small businesses,
(27:56):
um, and that's up to like 50employees I think it's the
definition of small and I couldbe off on that number but like
they're going to start utilizingvideo content or live streams
to again build that bridge ofconnection.
Because we're going to startutilizing video content or live
streams to again build thatbridge of connection, because
we're going to see so much AIgenerated content.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
So much stuff like that, because I think we're
going to start yearning more andmore for connection, uh,
community, and you know, justupfront, you know being able to
interact and live streams are agreat way to do that.
So I still foresee, you know,businesses really to interact
and live streams are a great wayto do that.
So I still foresee, you knowbusinesses really hopping on
that live streaming events fornot only more revenue, but just
to make a bigger difference andimpact with the events too.
(28:34):
So, yeah, I think that that can.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
I think it's like Seth Godin that talks about,
isn't that in his book tribes,isn't that a thousand fans?
Is that part of that sameconcept?
I think it is.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
I think so I'd have to revisit that one.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Yeah, but it's around that, right, you need a
thousand, you know.
And that's where I think, whenyou're getting into podcasts or
you're getting into some ofthese things, you start to see
this niches of niches, right, Imean like, because it doesn't
really take that many people tosupport a podcast running, you
know.
I mean, and you know, like, Idon't know, I've listened, I
love your podcast, it's great.
(29:09):
Well, and it's just what I likeabout it is the variety.
Sometimes you get some podcastsare centered around a topic,
which is which is interesting.
You know, it's like a deep dive, but I think yours is
interestingly, kind of just likehey, these are good things for
just life, right.
I mean that's what I've pickedup, you know.
So it's so interesting.
(29:29):
I mean, I think in that sametime, like I mean we've had
audio books for years and yearson cassettes and CDs- and now
you can just load it on yourphone.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
And.
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I mean I find myself doing a lot more.
You know, I was so into likenonfiction learning all the time
, and now I find reallyinteresting to just let your
mind explore.
I mean I kind of likepost-apocalyptic type stuff, but
yeah, yeah, so uh, I don't know, it's just so easy to get to
this content now oh yeah,there's so much, we have so much
more access to, to knowledge,to entertainment, to everything.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
We have so much, and it almost like drowns it out,
like we have so much option, somuch, that we can look and that
we almost forget to take actionand like focus on what matters.
You know, kind of it's a crazything where we're at, really.
Yeah, um tom, this has been agreat conversation.
I'm super, super excited andgrateful that you shared your
(30:25):
story and just your journey andyou know the realness of it and
how you're still growing, butyou're still, you know, not
where you used to be and and youknow you're working and
improving on things and I thinkthat that's a testament to like
everyone, like no matter whatlevel you're at, no matter where
you're at in life, like we canalways improve and always be,
you know, at least 1% bettereach day.
(30:46):
You got can always improve andalways be, you know, at least
one percent better each day.
You gotta keep adapting, yeah.
So if you were to talk tosomeone maybe they're 10, 10
years younger than you right nowyeah, trying to figure out next
steps, don't know, with so manyoptions nowadays they're kind
of just like you know they'retaking that inner look, kind of
like you did after you kind ofgot let go.
What would be one thing youwould tell them?
Uh, to kind of maybe point themin the right direction or give
(31:09):
them a little guidance.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, I would definitely never sacrifice like
work for family.
You know that's just a limitedresource, right.
I mean, you know I I read aquote and you know, again, we're
getting close but like whenyour kids turn 18, you've
already spent spent like 90 ofthe time with them that you're
going to spend in your life, yep, um.
So I remember it wasn't toolong ago one of my son's car
(31:32):
broke down and I took the dayoff and people like why are you
taking the day off?
You know to bring it, you couldjust get it fixed up where he's
at.
I'm like, yeah, but like we'regonna spend two hours together,
right, and like that might bethe last block of two hours that
him and I spent together aloneever again.
And you're like it seems silly.
You know he was like 20 maybe,or 21.
(31:52):
You know you're thinking mygosh.
I mean like I think theresources that's so precious and
I love tiktok just as much aseverybody else but you know I
think we're replacing thatTikTok, you know quick hit stuff
for maybe some actual, you knowinteractions and you know you
have to wonder if that's notpart of kind of our mental
(32:15):
health crisis that you see.
Speaker 2 (32:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
They're replacing this in inorganic objects with
these, and they do.
I mean I love TikTok.
There's funny things on there,you know these new.
I mean I cannot stop watchingthese babies like karate in
these chickens oh, the ai videosit's not man, it's so great,
but like, but also, you know, Idon't know, we tend to like.
(32:39):
I mean I think there's abalance of that um with people,
right?
I mean, I think and I'm not ahuge bunch of people, person, I
don't have a huge circle ofpeople- yeah man.
I mean I love conversations likethis.
I mean I like authentic, goodconversations.
My wife used to get mad at me.
She's like why'd you bring yourphone out when we're eating
dinner with these girls?
Like I was bored, like theweather was more impressive than
(33:01):
this conversation, so you knowyeah, I don't know, get
intentional, be real and, like Idon't know, like you start to
get to know people.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Then, like you know, yeah, I think that's so huge.
And jesse itzler, uh, he saidthis one time.
I was listening to him and hesaid think, if your parents are
60 years old right now and youknow they live to, we'll say 80,
for, for the sake of numbers,yeah that's and people are like
oh yeah, I got 20, 20 more years.
(33:30):
My parents.
He's like, well, how often doyou see your parents?
I might see them once a year.
So he's like you don't have 20years, you have 20 more
opportunities, 20, 20 moremoments with your parents.
Like that is crazy right likebecause, and so that again, if
you think of things like that,you shift your perspective.
(33:52):
Like I think my kids the samething like I, you know you only
have.
You know if I might, if I'm got50 more years, you know, 50
more summers with them, you'relike like under a hundred, like
not very much.
Like you start.
We have to shift.
What really matters in life, Ithink, and that's relationships,
I think that's community, Ithink that's trying to.
(34:15):
You know, use our gifts andtalents to to make a difference.
I think everyone's created fora purpose to to make a
difference.
Yeah, it's just such a.
It's just such a.
I love that guidance thatyou're giving people because I
think it's spot on with justseeing the big picture and
losing your job, or maybe thattask at work or the grand scheme
of things, it don't matter,it'll pass.
(34:38):
And so, tom, again, great,great words of wisdom there and
I would love for you to share.
You know, if people areinterested in getting connected
with you, find out more aboutall the fractional things and
what you're doing, where's thebest place that they can go and
connect with you?
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Yeah, easiest place is LinkedIn.
Just look up Tom Altman.
You know I'd be happy to talkabout what is fractional.
I'd love to geek out about AIor just anything.
Just connect.
I can send some virtual coffeethings and yeah, it's just fun
to get to know people.
You know motorcycle riding,whatever works right there you
go.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
I'm in Awesome, yeah.
So everyone make sure, I meanget connected with them, learn
from them, reach out to them.
But again, tom, thanks so muchfor being on the Elevate Media
Podcast today.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Yeah, thank you, it's been a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Absolutely, and if you're listening to this,
remember that you help us reachmore ears by going and
subscribing and leaving a review.
That way we can make a biggerimpact together and make sure
you go full-time Again, getconnected with them.
But until next time, go outthere and continue to elevate
your life, elevate your brand,and we'll talk to you again soon
(35:48):
.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Thank you for listening to the Elevate Media
podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe andleave a review.
See you in the next episode.
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