In this episode of Hey Charles, Charles Ernst interviews Eric Merz of Vertua Coaching, a coach with 19 years of experience working with businesses of all sizes. Eric shares his journey from growing up on a farm to managing a farm service business and eventually transitioning into coaching. He highlights the need for adaptive strategic planning due to rapid changes in business environments and stresses the significance of leaders sharing their vision with their teams to ensure alignment and engagement. He also underscores the role of coaching in helping clients navigate challenges by asking open-ended questions and fostering self-discovery. Eric's coaching business, Vertua Coaching, focuses on helping clients find their "truth" and achieve their goals. With practical examples like strategic business planning, adaptive coaching, and changing perspectives, the episode offers actionable strategies for business owners and organizations to ask the right questions and transform their business.

💸 INSANE GAME PLAN to make you SUPER SUCCESSFUL and SKYROCKET YOUR BUSINESS! 💸

Welcome to HeyCharles, as a CEO, business owner, and entrepreneur, Charles helps create a game plan for ultimate success. 🚀

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Eric Merz

• Vertua Coaching - https://vertuacoaching.com/

Key Moments:

Coaching Philosophy Introduced (00:00:00 - 00:00:28): Charles and Eric highlight that coaching is about asking powerful questions and uncovering the client's potential, rather than providing all the answers.

Introduction to Eric Merz and His Journey (00:01:01 - 00:02:17): Eric shares how his career began in farming and evolved into a coaching practice driven by his passion for helping others.

Building a Leadership Program (00:02:38 - 00:04:33): Eric recounts creating a youth leadership program in Wasco, which sparked his interest in facilitation and mentoring.

Coaching vs. Consulting (00:04:56 - 00:07:08): The distinction between coaching, which empowers clients to discover solutions, and consulting, which prescribes solutions, is explored.

Adapting to Change in Business (00:12:06 - 00:15:15): Eric discusses the need for businesses to adapt to macroeconomic and technological changes to remain competitive.

Strategic Planning as a Fluid Process (00:19:54 - 00:21:59): The importance of constantly reassessing strategic plans in response to changing conditions is emphasized.

Empowering Teams Through Shared Vision (00:30:14 - 00:33:41): Eric emphasizes the value of involving team members in the vision-setting process to ensure alignment and motivation.

In this episode of Hey Charles, Charles Ernst reflects on the significance of analyzing past performance and setting trends for 2025. He stresses that complacency in the face of rapidly evolving technologies, such as AI, can leave businesses behind. By understanding both macroeconomic forces like inflation and internal business metrics, entrepreneurs can adapt to challenges. Charles advises leveraging data, reports, and peer conversations to stay informed and make strategic decisions. He warns against the fallacy of relying on repetitive success patterns, advocating for proactive innovation instead. Concluding with motivational advice, he urges listeners to stay focused, push their limits, and embrace growth.

💸 INSANE GAME PLAN to make you SUPER SUCCESSFUL and SKYROCKET YOUR BUSINESS! 💸

Welcome to HeyCharles, as a CEO, business owner, and entrepreneur, Charles helps create a game plan for ultimate success. 🚀

🔥 FOLLOW ON ALL PLATFORMS 🔥

• Instagram - @heycharles77

• TikTok - @heycharles77

• Twitter - @heycharles77

• Youtube - @HeyCharlesBiz

Key Moments

Introduction to the Podcast and Mission (00:00:09): Charles introduces his podcast, explaining how he opens his personal conversations about business, entrepreneurship, and life advice to a broader audience.

Reflecting on the Past Year (00:00:54): Charles discusses the importance of analyzing the previous year’s successes and failures as a foundation for setting new goals.

Adapting to Change (00:03:14): He emphasizes the challenge of embracing new trends and technologies like AI, stressing that complacency can lead to obsolescence.

Macro vs. Micro Trends (00:04:09): Charles explores the impact of external (macro) factors, such as inflation, and internal (micro) adjustments within a business.

Learning from Data and Conversations (00:06:33): He highlights the importance of leveraging data, reports, and peer discussions to understand trends and make informed decisions.

The “Rinse and Repeat” Fallacy (00:11:12): Charles critiques the idea of sticking to successful habits without planning for inevitable changes, urging proactive innovation.

Final Motivational Call (00:13:30): He encourages listeners to remain hungry, focused, and adaptable while continuously pushing their limits to grow and succeed.

In the latest episode of Hey Charles, Charles Ernst unpacks the common misconceptions about shopping for business insurance and provides actionable advice to help business owners secure the best coverage. He addresses false narratives, like keeping your cards close to your chest or believing bundling is the only way to save money, and explains how transparency and preparation are key to getting competitive quotes. Charles emphasizes the importance of starting the insurance shopping process well in advance and building trust with brokers to ensure they can present your business in the best light. This episode encourages business owners to approach insurance as a strategic investment that protects against unforeseen risks while minimizing unnecessary costs.

💸 INSANE GAME PLAN to make you SUPER SUCCESSFUL and SKYROCKET YOUR BUSINESS! 💸

Welcome to HeyCharles, as a CEO, business owner, and entrepreneur, Charles helps create a game plan for ultimate success. 🚀

🔥 FOLLOW ON ALL PLATFORMS 🔥

• Instagram - @heycharles77

• TikTok - @heycharles77

• Twitter - @heycharles77

• Youtube - @HeyCharlesBiz

Key Moments:

The Biggest Misconception About Shopping for Insurance (00:00:45 - 00:01:15): Charles explains why the idea of withholding information from brokers is counterproductive and how transparency leads to better quotes.

Why Bundling Isn’t Always the Best Option (00:02:10 - 00:02:40): He highlights that while bundling can save money, it’s not always the best solution for every business’s unique needs.

The Importance of Starting Early (00:03:00 - 00:03:45): Charles stresses the need to begin the insurance shopping process months in advance to avoid last-minute decisions and missed opportunities.

Building Trust with Your Insurance Broker (00:04:15 - 00:05:00): He shares how fostering a transparent relationship with your broker can help them present your business in the best light to underwriters.

Understanding Coverage Gaps (00:06:20 - 00:07:00): Charles discusses how many business owners unknowingly leave themselves exposed by not addressing specific coverage gaps.

How to Compare Insurance Quotes Effectively (00:07:30 - 00:08:15): He provides tips on comparing quotes beyond price, focusing on policy details and exclusions to find the best value.

Insurance as a Strategic Investment (00:09:00 - 00:09:45): Charles reframes insurance as a proactive business strategy to protect against risks and reduce long-term costs.