In this episode, Rob Levin sits down with Andrew Schenkel, founder of Double Play Marketing and Sales, to explore what it really takes to scale a marketing agency through intentional team design, systems, and leadership. Andrew shares how his approach to talent has evolved since launching the business in 2020, why EOS and DISC became foundational tools, and how nearshore talent and AI are shaping the future of his company. This conversation is a practical look at how great talent decisions drive great business outcomes.

About the Guest

Andrew Schenkel is an entrepreneur with a strong background in marketing and sales. He founded Double Play Marketing and Sales in 2020 as an outsourced marketing department and lead generation partner for growth-oriented companies. His agency takes a data-driven approach to building brand awareness, generating qualified leads, and delivering measurable ROI.

Episode Highlight

"In the beginning, it's who can we afford. As you grow, it becomes about having the right people in the right seats."

Actionable Insights

• Hire for clarity, not convenience: Early-stage teams often wear many hats. As companies mature, clearly defined roles and expectations become critical to sustainable growth. [01:55]
• Treat nearshore talent as true team members: Integrating nearshore professionals into meetings, PTO policies, and professional development strengthens performance and culture. [11:41]
• AI works best as an assistant, not a replacement: From process automation to content support, AI enhances efficiency—but still requires human judgment and creativity. [14:01]

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More About Andrew Schenkel

Check out Double Play Agency
Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn.

Other Resources

Check out EOS and DISC Personality Assessment

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

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Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

In this episode, Rob sits down with Jonathan B. Smith, Expert EOS Implementer® and negotiation strategist with The Black Swan Group, to explore how Tactical Empathy® can transform leadership, communication, and team health. Jonathan breaks down why self-awareness is a leader's greatest advantage, how every conversation is a negotiation, and why great systems (like EOS) reduce emotional fires so teams can focus on meaningful work.

About the Guest

Jonathan B. Smith has led more than 1,500 EOS® sessions with 150+ high-growth companies, helping leadership teams improve communication, execution, and results. He's also a negotiation strategist with The Black Swan Group, co-author of Fight Less, Win More, and a longtime collaborator of Chris Voss. Jonathan specializes in helping leaders communicate more effectively, navigate conflict with confidence, and remove themselves as the threat inside conversations that matter.

Episode Highlight

"People are dying to feel heard. If you can remove yourself as a threat and make your counterpart feel understood, 93% of the time you'll create a better outcome."

Actionable Insights

• Treat Every Conversation as a Negotiation: Any time a leader wants or needs something, they're negotiating. Tactical Empathy helps remove fear, create cooperation, and keep employees in a positive state—where they think 31% more clearly. (06:10)
• Systems Reduce Emotional Fires: EOS gives teams clarity and alignment, allowing leaders to spend less time putting out fires and more time having the conversations that move the business forward. (10:19)
• Human Skills Matter More in a Remote + AI World: AI can support thinking, but not connection. Tactical Empathy becomes even more essential as teams become more distributed. (12:46)

Ready to apply these insights to your own business?

Download the free workbook to get started.

More About Jonathan B. Smith

Check out Stay Curious JB
Your next read: Fight Less, Win More
Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn.

Other Resources

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Traction and What the Heck is EOS? by Gino Wickman

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Follow Rob Levin on Substack.
Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

In this episode, Rob talks with Joe Romano, founder of Romano & Associates, a tax planning and preparation firm with 19 full-time employees and more than 1,500 clients. Joe shares how his team stays sane during tax season, the deliberate choices he's made to reduce burnout, and why offshore talent has become essential to both client satisfaction and employee wellbeing. He also breaks down the ROI of administrative support, the importance of professional development in a rapidly changing tax landscape, and the culture practices that have allowed his firm to maintain less than 1% client attrition and almost zero accountant turnover in nine years.

About the Guest

Joe Romano is the founder of Romano & Associates, a fully remote tax planning and preparation firm he launched nine years ago. The firm now serves over 1,500 clients with a blended team of U.S.-based accountants and WorkBetterNow offshore administrative professionals. Joe is known for his intentional leadership, strong firm culture, and commitment to investing in both client experience and team wellbeing.

Episode Highlight

"The big ROI is making sure nobody cries. Keeping everybody happy and keeping everybody sane."

Actionable Insights

• Flexibility beats rigidity during high-pressure seasons: Joe doesn't enforce strict 9–5 schedules during tax season. Instead, he focuses on outcomes and client happiness, allowing people to choose the hours that help them stay productive and sane. [04:10]
• Administrative offshore talent boosts both capacity and morale: WorkBetterNow assistants help managers and tax preparers stay focused on high-value work. This has reduced turnaround times (from 7 days down to 1–2), improved client satisfaction, and kept the team under 60-hour workweeks, even at peak season. [05:20]
• Invest heavily in professional development, especially when regulations change: Every employee clocks ~40 hours of CPE annually, even if they're not CPAs. Joe believes education and upskilling are non-negotiable for quality, confidence, and protecting the firm from risk. [15:09]

Download This Episode's Workbook
Ready to apply these insights to your own business? Download the free workbook to get started.

More About Joe Romano

Check out Romano & Associates
Connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Follow Rob Levin on Substack.
Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.