Episode Details
November 5, 2025
27 minutes
Why Consultancy Fails: The three non-negotiable requirements for a successful engagement - values alignment, total commitment, and a co-creation mindset.
Documentation as a Profit Center: How clear process maps and playbooks directly combat the "soft costs" of chaos, errors, and wasted time, delivering measurable ROI.
The "Process Champion": The critical role of an internal owner for maintaining and updating systems to prevent backsliding into old, inefficient habits.
AI as the Ultimate Intern: Leveraging artificial intelligence to draft, update, and manage documentation, freeing human capital for strategic implementation and relationship-building.
Building a Business That Doesn't Need You: Moving from being the chief problem-solver to the architect of a self-sustaining operational system.
Featured Quotes
"Process documentation isn't about creating bureaucracy; it's about bottling your brilliance so your team can execute it consistently without you."
Adi Klevit
"A consultant who gives you a report failed. A consultant who gives you a playbook and shows your team how to run it has delivered real value."
Jeremy Axel
Episode Transcript And Overview
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Timeline Notes
Why People Fail with Consulting Opening question about common reasons consulting engagements fail.
Importance of Fit and Commitment Discussing the need for alignment in values, methodology, and being fully committed to consulting.
Introduction Host Jeremy Axel introduces the podcast
Why Listen to This Episode Adi Klevit explains the main takeaway: process documentation is not as hard or unnecessary as people think.
Adi’s Career and Company Origins Eddie describes her background and why she started her consulting company.
Rethinking Consulting for Modern Business Discussion on the evolution from traditional consulting to transformation and value-driven results.
Delivering Tangible Results and ROI Adi Klevit explains her approach, which involves providing playbooks and process maps and focusing on measurable ROI.
Overcoming Pushback on Soft Costs Addressing resistance from stakeholders regarding hidden or soft costs in process improvement.
Getting Buy-In and Defining Success Importance of consulting with all stakeholders to define ROI and ensure buy-in.
Collaboration vs. Surface-Level Advice Distinguishing effective consulting from superficial advice; emphasizing partnership and collaboration.
Defining the Consulting Partnership Adi Klevit's approach: co-defining goals, ensuring mutual participation, and the necessity of client engagement.
Collaboration vs. Correction Why collaboration is essential for change management and process adoption.
The Importance of “Why” in Process Documentation Starting every engagement by clarifying the client’s motivation for documenting processes.
Building Trust and Empathy The a need for trust, empathy, and careful communication when consulting with business owners.
Maintaining and Updating Processes The importance of ongoing maintenance, process champions, and keeping documentation current.
Overcoming Legacy Thinking and Burnout Challenges of changing long-standing habits and addressing employee burnout due to poor processes.
Celebrating Client Success Stories Adi Klevit shares the satisfaction of seeing clients succeed after implementing new systems.
Consulting as Leadership and Growth How effective consulting empowers leadership and enables business growth.
Returning Clients and Ongoing Relationships Adi Klevit discusses the frequency of repeat business and long-term client relationships.
Balancing Strategy and Execution How Adi Klevit balances strategic planning with hands-on execution in diverse teams.
eys to Successful Consulting Engagements Advice for clients: alignment, commitment, open communication, and defining expectations.
The Role of AI in Consulting Discussion on how AI is transforming consulting, increasing efficiency, and freeing up time for deeper work.
AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement Encouragement to embrace AI as a productivity tool, not something to fear.
Building Relationships in the AI Era AI frees up time for more meaningful human connections and networking.
Advice for Young Consultants Eddie’s tips: find your niche, get results, collect testimonials, and build credibility.
Notable Guests
Bill Fairman
Fund Manager, Private Lender
Bill Fairman
Fund Manager, Private Lender
A best-selling author, national speaker, and serial entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience in mortgage banking.
Over the years, Bill has worked closely with hundreds of high-net-worth individuals, helping them strategically grow wealth as a Fund Manager for more than 13 years.
He’s also a trusted voice in the industry, serving on the Government Relations Committee of the American Association of Private Lenders.
Nick Kiridzic
Founder and CEO
Nick Kiridzic
Founder and CEO
I'm the founder of StaffHero, where we help growing businesses scale without the chaos connecting them with skilled remote assistants and automation systems that save time and cut costs.Before this, I spent over ten years in healthcare and business development, constantly spotting the same problem: amazing teams burning out under the weight of busywork. That’s what pushed me to build StaffHero.
Now, I focus on helping business owners get their time back and build systems that let them grow with freedom and focus.
Paul Glover
The No B.S. Executive Coach
Paul Glover
The No B.S. Executive Coach
Paul Glover is No B.S. Executive Coach, whose mission is to Challenge the Best to Become Better.
He is also:
• An Ex- White-Collar Felon.
• A “Recovering” Federal Trial Lawyer.
• A Subject Mater Expert on failing and recovery.
• Who is a TEDx speaker, Vintage Speaker, Forbes contributor, and an author whose book, WorkQuake™, is endorsed by Marshall Goldsmith, a Top 10 Business Thinker.
• An Executive Coach With 30 years of experience who advises and coaches executives in organizations with up to $1 billion in annual revenue.
• A Starbucks addict, and
• A Chicago Bears fanatic.
Adi Klevit
Founder | CEO
Adi Klevit
Founder | CEO
Adi Klevit is the Founder of Business Success Consulting Group and the host of the Systems Simplified podcast. With nearly three decades of experience as an industrial engineer and process consultant, she has helped hundreds of growth-focused companies systematize their operations to scale successfully.
Known as “The Process Guru,” Adi specializes in designing and implementing turnkey systems that reduce dependence on the owner, empower teams, and increase profitability. Her clients range from fast-growing trades businesses to multi-location professional service firms, and she is a trusted advisor to CEOs across the U.S.
Joe Dillon
Divorce Mediator & Founder
Joe Dillon
Divorce Mediator & Founder
Joe is a pioneer in divorce mediation who has been helping couples navigate the end of their marriages with dignity and financial wisdom for over 17 years. As co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services, Joe combines his MBA in Finance with specialized training from Harvard, MIT, and Northwestern University to guide couples toward agreements that protect both their emotional wellbeing and financial futures.
Joe pioneered virtual divorce mediation in 2011, nearly a decade before others adopted online practices during the pandemic. His results speak for themselves: Equitable Mediation Services maintains a 98% case resolution rate, significantly higher than the industry average of 70%.
