The Platinum Business Break

Hosted by Dan Owens

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Sep 2025

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About the show

The Platinum Business Break is the no-fluff, straight-talk podcast for people who actually work for a living. Hosted by business strategist Dan P. Owens, this show dives headfirst into the modern workplace — calling out the corporate nonsense, challenging conventional wisdom, and giving voice to the average employee, entrepreneur, and small business leader. No interviews. No sugarcoating. Just bold, real-world commentary on leadership, culture, communication, productivity, and the future of work — with a heavy dose of common sense. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes in a meeting, questioned the latest corporate trend, or just wanted someone to say what you were thinking… you’re in the right place. Subscribe for weekly episodes that cut through the noise and tell it like it is. Visit us at: https://www.platinumtrainingtechnologies.com/ https://www.platinumbusinessconsulting.com/ https://www.45pluslifecoach.com/ https://platinumbusinessevents.com/

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25 recent

September 23, 202511 min

The 2-Minute Warning: How to Finish 2025 Strong & Prep for a Big 2026

2025 is almost over — and in building materials and construction, the 4th quarter is the 2-minute warning. In this episode of The Platinum Business Break, Dan Owens (aka The Fixer) breaks down: ✅ Where the industry scoreboard really stands (housing starts down 11% YoY, permits down 11%, spending down 2.2% YTD) ✅ The impact of tariffs, rising input costs, and possible interest rate cuts ✅ What companies can do in Q4 to close strong (pipeline audits, smart discounts, CRM adoption, sales training) ✅ Why 2026 could be your best year yet — if you start preparing now Housing starts down. Material costs up. ️ The question is — will you wait, or will you move? Do not let 2026 sneak up on you. The time to set the stage is right now.

August 25, 20257 min

How to Lose Your Brand Value Without Even Trying!

Brand erosion isn’t always a headline-grabbing disaster like Bud Light or Cracker Barrel’s recent rebrand flop. In the building products industry, it’s usually a slow leak: quality issues, broken processes, untrained people, and tone-deaf leadership. In this episode, Dan P. Owens—The Fixer—breaks down:✅ Why brand value is more than logos and taglines—it’s your trust equity✅ The hidden ways building products companies lose brand equity every day✅ Hard stats on what happens when reputation slips (lost market share, profit, and people)✅ The Brand Maintenance 101 checklist to stop erosion before it costs you millions If you’re in the building products space, this episode will hit home—and give you tools to make sure your brand doesn’t become “just another commodity.” Learn more at www.platinumbusinessconsulting.com Or reach out directly: info@platinumbusinessconsulting.com

August 25, 20258 min

Stop Wasting $ At Trade Shows!

Trade show season is here — but are you ready, or are you about to light $30,000 - $80,000 on fire for badge scans, swag, and sore feet? In this episode of The Platinum Business Break, Dan Owens (aka The Fixer) breaks down why most building products pros fail to get ROI from trade shows — and how you can flip the script. For exhibitors: stop clogging the booth with untrained staff, ditch the “one shared scanner” look, and build a real CRM follow-up plan. For attendees: no more wandering aimlessly or collecting stress balls — show up with a hit list, a story, and a 48-hour follow-up plan. Because at the end of the day, the only trade show metric that matters is sales. Reach out at info@platinumbusinessconsulting.com. or www.platinumbusinessconsulting.com

August 11, 2025Episode 8719 min

Your Marketing Probably Sucks!

Most building products companies are stuck in the past — pouring 30–40% of their marketing budget into trade shows, swag, and print while starving the digital channels that actually generate sales-ready leads. In this no-holds-barred kickoff to the Platinum Business Media podcast, Dan Owens delivers an indictment of outdated marketing practices in the building products and materials industry — and hands both C-suite leaders and marketing pros a 5-step playbook for making marketing a true revenue driver. You’ll learn:• Why 5–7.5% of revenue spent on marketing is often wasted in the wrong places• The budget trap: trade shows vs. digital ROI• Why measurement gets only 2–6% of spend (and why that’s a disaster)• How to shift from vanity metrics to real sales attribution• The exact strategies to go from invisible to industry authority If your marketing still looks like it did in 2003, this episode is your wake-up call. https://platinumbusinessconsulting.com/https://platinumbusinessconsulting.com/fix-my-business #BuildingProducts #BuildingMaterials #ConstructionMarketing #B2BMarketing #MarketingStrategy #ConstructionIndustry #ManufacturingMarketing #DigitalMarketing #LeadGeneration #TradeShowROI #ContentMarketing #MarketingTips #PlatinumBusinessMedia #MarketingPodcast #BusinessPodcast #YouTubePodcast #GaryV

August 1, 202511 min

How to Fix What’s Broken In Your Business - Fast!

Are you a manufacturer, distributor, contractor, or rep group drowning in operational chaos, losing leads, invisible online, or frustrated by a lack of team training? In this episode of The Platinum Business Break, Dan Owens—author of The Way Business Should Be and founder of Platinum Business Consulting—shares hard-hitting insights into what’s actually holding building products businesses back... and how to fix it, fast. You’ll hear: - The five silent killers of growth in the construction and building products industry - Eye-opening stats on poor CRM use, lack of training, and online invisibility - Why old systems are no longer working—and what modern businesses are doing instead - The real ROI of a strong operating system, structured training, and being best known in your market - A personal story of transformation from outdated to optimized SPECIAL OFFER: Book a no-pressure discovery call and receive a free signed copy of Dan’s book, The Way Business Should Be. This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a chance to start fixing what’s broken and build the business you’ve always wanted. Claim your free book and consultation at: https://platinumbusinessconsulting.com/fix-my-business Ideal For: - Building products manufacturers - Distributors and reps - Contractors and specialty trades - Business owners, VP-level leaders, and directors who are ready for change #buildingproducts #buildingmaterials #buildingmaterialsupplier

July 10, 2025Episode 8411 min

Financial Engineering Is Killing Your Business | Why Steve Jobs Was Right

Are you managing your business by spreadsheet—or by vision? In this episode of The Platinum Business Break, Dan Owens tackles the seductive trap of financial engineering—the dangerous obsession with EBITDA, short-term profits, stock prices, and quarterly shareholder appeasement. While these financial metrics are important, making them your top priority is often fatal to your company's long-term success. Drawing on over 35 years of business experience and timeless wisdom from Steve Jobs, Dan explores: ✅ Why financial engineering hurts long-term business health✅ Real-life traps: EBITDA obsession, stock price chasing, shareholder and PE pressures✅ Powerful quotes from Steve Jobs about the dangers of running your company by spreadsheets alone✅ The proven formula Jobs used to build Apple into the most valuable brand on the planet✅ Practical ways to refocus your business strategy on what truly drives lasting growth: products, people, marketing, and customer experience Steve Jobs famously said: "If you keep your eye on the profit, you're going to skimp on the product. But if you focus on making really great products, then the profits will follow." It's time to rethink how you measure success—and rebuild your strategy around what truly matters. Ready to refocus your business? Visit:https://platinumbusinessconsulting.com/fix-my-business Or if you're ready to act immediately, hit our emergency call button in the link to talk directly with Dan.

June 26, 202513 min

Leadership Lessons from WWII - Band of Brothers

This special Independence Day episode of The Platinum Business Break is a tribute to authentic American leadership—the kind forged in adversity, grounded in humility, and defined by service. Dan P. Owens takes you inside the battlefield-tested principles of Major Dick Winters and Sgt. Carwood Lipton, the real-life heroes of Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne—immortalized in Band of Brothers. Learn why Winters' legendary mantra “Follow Me” still matters in business and life. Discover how Lipton held a company together through sheer consistency and care. And hear how even Captain Sobel—though reviled by his men—played a vital role in preparing them for war, proving that success depends on the right person in the right seat. This episode delivers:✅ Timeless leadership principles from the front lines✅ Business takeaways on humility, delegation, and team development✅ A practical call to lead with character, courage, and clarity Whether you run a company or lead a family, these lessons will inspire you to lead from the front and build something that lasts. www.platinumtrainingtechnologies.cominfo@platinumtrainingtechnologies.com

June 18, 202516 min

Why You Need A Training Program!

Is your team coasting, disengaged, or turning over too fast? The numbers don’t lie—and neither does your gut. In this episode, Dan P. Owens (aka The Fixer) breaks down exactly why training and development is no longer optional in 2025—especially in the building products industry. ✅ Learn the latest Gallup stats on employee engagement✅ Understand the 4 types of learning styles (and why one-size-fits-all fails)✅ Discover the 7 most common mistakes companies make when trying to train their team✅ Get a clear strategy to build a training culture that retains talent and drives profits✅ BONUS: Why your business MUST start capturing “tribal knowledge” before your veterans retire Dan has over 30 years of experience building training programs in the building materials space—from manufacturers to reps to contractors—and now helps businesses create custom LMS platforms and blended learning systems that actually stick. Want to build a training culture your competitors can’t touch?Schedule a discovery call: info@platinumbusinessconsulting.comor visit our website at: www.platinumtrainingtechnologies.com Subscribe for more weekly content on leadership, business growth, and team performance. #TrainingAndDevelopment #LMS #BuildingProducts #WorkforceDevelopment #LeadershipTraining #EmployeeEngagement #CustomLMS #PlatinumTraining #TheFixer #DanPOwens

June 12, 20258 min

AI, Milli Vanilli, and Why Face-to-Face Is the New Superpower in Building Products

What do AI, Mark Cuban, and Milli Vanilli have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode of The Platinum Business Break, host Dan P. Owens unpacks Cuban’s bold prediction that face-to-face communication will become a premium skill in the age of AI—and connects it directly to what’s happening in the building products industry. Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, contractor, rep group, or architect, this episode gives you a fresh way to think about AI and your competitive edge. ✅ Why AI is helpful—but not enough✅ What Milli Vanilli taught us about authenticity✅ How in-person connection will outperform automated interaction✅ 5 actionable ways to stand out as a real human in an AI-driven world Don’t lip-sync your customer experience. Be the real deal. Learn more at: https://www.platinumbusinessconsulting.com Connect with Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpowens Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more episodes of The Platinum Business Break #AI #BuildingProducts #SalesTraining #Leadership #MilliVanilli #BusinessPodcast #FaceToFaceWins #PlatinumBusinessBreak

June 12, 20258 min

Fix the Second Half: Why Q3 Is the Real Game—and How to Win It

We’re halfway through 2025—and whether your year’s off to a strong start or stuck in neutral, Q3 is your moment to fix what matters. In this episode of The Platinum Business Break, Dan P. Owens (aka “The Fixer”) breaks down: ✅ What’s really going on in the building products industry right now✅ Why your chaos isn’t a failure—it’s a signal✅ How your second half of the year can be stronger, more profitable, and more focused✅ The 3 Core Offers that help manufacturers, contractors, distributors, and rep groups fix what’s broken and finish 2025 strong Dan shares exactly how he helps companies regain control through: A visibility boost (Website + Social + Reputation) A system overhaul (Platinum Performance Operating System) Sales transformation (DISC Behavior-Based Sales Training) Ready to get unstuck? Start here: https://www.callmethefixer.com Like, share, and subscribe for weekly episodes focused on real-world strategies for the building products space. #Q3Fix #CallMeTheFixer #BuildingProducts #ConstructionSales #BusinessPodcast #SalesTraining #PlatinumBusinessBreak #Leadership #ProcessImprovement #FinishStrong2025