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Articles by Ed Kless
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““Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”” — Lemony Snicket New from Ronald J. Baker! Books By Ronald J. Baker and Ed Kless What Are Ron and Ed Currently Reading?
The Fundamentals of Value Pricing
By Ed Kless Pricing for profit is critical to the health and success of your business, yet many firm owners just don’t realize the impact that pricing has. When you set your prices correctly, you gain a significant edge over your competitors. By contrast, when you set your prices incorrectly, it can be very hard to recover. So, how do you set your prices correctly?
Check out the latest episode of Sage Thought Leadership Podcast featuring…
Meta-Consultant, Business Iconoclast, Radio Talk-Show Host 2w Check out the latest episode of Sage Thought Leadership Podcast featuring Kristina McKeon on The Elephant Project! Listen to the full podcast here https://lnkd.in/gAxkagc7 2
Thought Leader - Kristina McKean on The Elephant Project and her trip to Thailand
1 The Greatness Machine 4h ago4h ago Weekly+ The Greatness Machine is on a Quest to Maximize the Human Experience! Join Award Winning CEO and Author, Darius Mirshahzadeh (pron. Mer-shaw-za-day), as he interviews some of the greatest minds in the world―turning their wisdom and experience into learnings and advice you can use in your life so that you can level up and create greatness.
Fourth interview with Joe Woodard
Ronald J. Baker started his career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute, the leading think tank dedicated to improving the professions for posterity. As a frequent speaker, writer, and educator, his work takes him around the world. He has been an instructor with the California CPA Education Foundation since 1995 and has authored fifteen courses for them.
LIVE from the Meeting of the Minds 2022
Ronald J. Baker started his career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute, the leading think tank dedicated to improving the professions for posterity. As a frequent speaker, writer, and educator, his work takes him around the world. He has been an instructor with the California CPA Education Foundation since 1995 and has authored fifteen courses for them.
ESG: We Respectfully Dissent
Ronald J. Baker started his career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute, the leading think tank dedicated to improving the professions for posterity. As a frequent speaker, writer, and educator, his work takes him around the world. He has been an instructor with the California CPA Education Foundation since 1995 and has authored fifteen courses for them.
Third interview with Dr. Jules Goddard
Third interview with Dr. Jules Goddard April 22, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome back for the third time Dr. Jules Goddard from London Business School. His new book (with David Giles Lewis and Tamryn Batcheller-Adams) entitled Mavericks guide you through the five characteristics that you can develop to become a maverick leader.
Second interview with Chris Edwards of CATO on tax policy
Second interview with Chris Edwards of CATO on tax policy April 15, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Back in January with spoke with Chris Edwards about how wealth fuels economic growth. We welcome Chris back to talk about his other area of expertise - US tax policy.
Social Entrepreneurship Summit: Kimberlee Josephson & Sam Staley
Social Entrepreneurship Summit: Kimberlee Josephson & Sam Staley April 8, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Two fan favorites from 2021 return to join Ron and Ed in what no doubt will be a spirited conversation about Social Entrepreneurship, Kimberlee Josephson (Episode 360) and Sam Staley (Episode 367).
Bric-a-brac
Bric-a-brac April 1, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed have had so many Guests in the past few months that certain housekeeping items have gone neglected. In this episode they will rectify that and answer listener email and, of course, talk about subscription stuff. If you have question or comment for them, send that email to asktsoe@verasage.com and they will work it in.
Interview with Michael Tanner on The Inclusive Economy
Interview with Michael Tanner on The Inclusive Economy March 25, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes] [Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome Michael Tanner of the CATO Institute to engage in a conversation about The Project on Poverty and Inequality in California which builds on Michael's most recent book, The Inclusive Economy: How to Bring Wealth to America’s Poor, a comprehensive look at the ways government...
Second interview with Kevin Williamson
Second interview with Kevin Williamson March 18, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description In his The Tuesday column this week, Kevin Williamson writes, "I do wonder what it would take to turn Russia around.
On David Maister's book - True Professionalism
On David Maister's book - True Professionalism March 11, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description The influence of David Maister's work on professional firms continues to this day despite the fact that he retired in 2009.
Fifth interview with Dr. Reginald Lee - Project Profitability
Fifth interview with Dr. Reginald Lee - Project Profitability March 4, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome their first five-time Guest to the show, VeraSage Fellow and Professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Dr. Reginald Lee. The conversation will surround his new book, Project Profitability: Ensuring Improvement Projects Achieve Maximum Cash ROI.
Memorable Mentors: P.J. O'Rourke, R.I.P.
Memorable Mentors: P.J. O'Rourke, R.I.P. February 25, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Join Ed and Ron for a tribute to one of the greatest satirist and humor writer, P.J. O'Rourke. We will explore P.J.'s books, and other stories from all the tributes that have been written about him recently. P.J. was one of a kind. Would it be possible to have another P.J. in today's woke society?
Subscription Economy Update - February 2022
Subscription Economy Update - February 2022 February 18, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description From time to time, Ron and Ed like to review the state of the subscription economy especially as it pertains to professional firms, but they will weave in some other stories as well. Have you heard that Ed subscribed to a vacuum cleaner and salami?
Interview with Meriel Schindler - The Lost Schindler Cafe
Interview with Meriel Schindler - The Lost Schindler Cafe February 11, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome author Meriel Schindler whose book The Lost Cafe Schindler they both highly recommends.
Fourth interview with Dr. Paul Thomas
Fourth interview with Dr. Paul Thomas February 5, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Making his fourth appearance on The Soul of Enterprise is Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Health DPC. Ron and Ed ask him how he scaled his practice from one to know three offices and what the implications are for his subscription model.
Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam
Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam January 28, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description One of Ron's number one books of 2021 was Vivek Ramaswamy's Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam. An incredible read, with some very innovative ideas for how to push back on the wokeism that is infiltrating corporations.
Interview with Chris Edwards - How Wealth Fuels Growth
Interview with Chris Edwards - How Wealth Fuels Growth January 21, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome Chris Edwards to the show to talk about two recent reports he has authored for The CATO Institute. In How Wealth Fuels Grown, the role of wealth in the economy is the focus.
Best Books of 2021
Best Books of 2021 January 14, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description “You don’t have to get people to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” (Ray Bradbury, Sci-fi Writer). Join Ed and Ron as they discuss the best books they read in 2021.
2021 - The Year in Review
2021 - The Year in Review January 7, 2022 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Our annual tradition continues! Ron and Ed will look back and talk about their top stories, including their favorite and most popular episodes of 2021. They'll pay homage (or not) for some who have passed on. Maybe even set their sights on what they think 2022 will bring.
Auditing Santa Claus
Auditing Santa Claus December 24, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description It is December 24th, the busiest day for the North Pole and wouldn't you know it but a worldwide taxing authority has decided that today is the day to conduct Santa's Audit. For Peter Jackson's Get Back! We snuck our TSOE microphones in on the conversation between the auditor and Santa's head accounting elf.
Third Interview with Economist Michael Munger
Third Interview with Economist Michael Munger December 17, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description We are honored to welcome back, for the third time, economist Michael Munger. He's the author of many great books, including Tomorrow 3.0; Is Capitalism Sustainable?; and The Sharing Economy.
Interview with Colin Rule, President and CEO of mediate.com
Interview with Colin Rule, President and CEO of mediate.com December 10, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed first encountered Colin Rule's work when reading Richard and Daniel Susskind's book, The Future of the Professions (Episode 74) in which the online dispute resolution system used by eBay was touted as handling more cases per year than the entire US court system.
Encore: Interview with Virgina Postrel
Encore: Interview with Virgina Postrel December 31, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed are honored to welcome Virginia Postrel, author of The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World.
Economic Lessons from Literature-The Verger and Harrison Bergeron
Economic Lessons from Literature-The Verger and Harrison Bergeron December 3, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description In the past year, two short stories have come to Ron and Ed's attention that provide some economic insights: Somerset Maugham's The Verger and Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron.
Interview with Samuel R Staley, The Beatles and Economics
Interview with Samuel R Staley, The Beatles and Economics November 19, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description The Beatles are considered the most influential popular music act of the twentieth century, widely recognized for their influence on popular culture.
Encore: Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays
Encore: Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays November 26, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description On Black Friday, the biggest Holiday shopping day of the year, Ed and I thought it would be fun to review the book, Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn’t Buy Presents for the Holidays, by Joel Waldfogel, published in 2009.
Interview with Matthew Feeney - Eye to the Sky
Interview with Matthew Feeney - Eye to the Sky November 12, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Drones are among the most exciting and promising new technologies to emerge in the last few decades. Photographers, firefighters, filmmakers, engineers, and retailers have all used drones to improve public safety, innovate, and enhance creativity.
Second interview with Baruch Lev
Second interview with Baruch Lev November 5, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome back Professor Baruch Lev from NYU Stern Business School. He was last on back in July 2016 and we discussed his book, The End of Accounting and the Path Forward for Investors and Managers.
Interview with Marco Bertini - The Ends Game
Interview with Marco Bertini - The Ends Game October 29, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Would you rather pay for healthcare or for better health? For school or education? For groceries or nutrition? A car or transportation? A theater performance or entertainment?
The Ultimate Dragon Slayer, Daniel D. Morris
The Ultimate Dragon Slayer, Daniel D. Morris October 22, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ed and Ron are honored to welcome back Dan Morris, CPA, to the show. He's a master at the value conversation, and implemented Value Pricing back in his firm in 1996.
Interview with Kimberlee Josephson
Interview with Kimberlee Josephson October 1, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description In Episode 349, Ron and Ed shared their thoughts and concerns about "Woke Capitalism." In an email, Dr. Kimberlee Josephson wrote them saying, "I just began listening to your podcast and I’m glad to have stumbled upon it! I wanted to reach out about your Woke Capitalism/ESG segment since this is an...
One Thing!
One Thing! October 15, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Inspired by A. J. Jacobs when he appeared on Russ Robert's great podcast EconTalk, Ron and Ed have each been keeping a "One Thing" journal for the last few years.
Free-Rider Friday!
Free-Rider Friday! October 8, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description We miss Free-Rider Friday's, so were it bringing it back, but just this once. We used to do this on the last Friday of every month. Most of our shows are “topic” driven, where we dive deep into one subject. Free-Rider Fridays were designed to be “event” driven, whatever issues are in the news that we (or you) find worthy of commentary.
Third interview with Joe Woodard
Third interview with Joe Woodard September 24, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Joining Ron and Ed this week is two-time Guest Joe Woodard.
Subscription Economy Update
Subscription Economy Update September 17, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description In addition to a general Subscription Economy update, Ed and Ron will discuss what happens when the subscription model collides with a legacy model. There are essentially three ways to a launch a subscription model. What does the empirical report so far on the most optimal approach?
Behavioral Biases
Behavioral Biases September 10, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Over 90% of decision-making is supposedly unconscious and automatic. Behavioral Economics has sought to understand human behavior. It has identified many human biases. It has also come under recent indictment because of fraud in its data reporting and the non-replication of its findings by other academics.
Interview with David C. Baker
Interview with David C. Baker September 3, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed welcome David C Baker, the leading authority on positioning, reinventing, and selling firms in the creative and digital space, to the show.
Who Protects the Consumer More: Regulation or Reputation?
Who Protects the Consumer More: Regulation or Reputation? August 27, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description How do we protect the consumer from shoddy, fraudulent, or dangerous products and services? There's a long tradition that government "must do something," which has led to a proverbial alphabet soup of regulatory bodies: the FDA, CPSC, USDA, and many more.
Interview with James R. Harrigan
Interview with James R. Harrigan August 20, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Three weeks ago, Ron and Ed interviewed Antony Davies co-host of the Word and Numbers podcast. This week they welcome Antony's co-host, political scientist James R. Harrigan. James is the F. A.
Left to Right: Why the Traditional Political Spectrum is Wrong
Left to Right: Why the Traditional Political Spectrum is Wrong August 13, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description In government and political science courses, students are taught the traditional “political/economic spectrum.” It shows Communism on the far left end of the spectrum; moving to the right, then Socialism; then Capitalism; and Fascism is at the far right end of the spectrum.
Reginald Lee on Cost Accounting and The Subscription Model
Reginald Lee on Cost Accounting and The Subscription Model August 6, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Join Ed, Ron, and VeraSage Senior Fellow, and recidivist guest, Dr. Reginald Lee, as they engage in a round-table discussion about value, pricing, cost accounting, project management, and capacity; and how they all change, and don’t change, in the subscription business model.
Interview with Professor Antony Davies
Interview with Professor Antony Davies July 30, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Ron and Ed will be joined by Professor Antony Davies, associate professor of economics at Duquesne University. He is co-host of the podcast, Words & Numbers with Professor James Harrigan.
Ken Teasdale, Armanino Audit Partner, Cannabis Group
Ken Teasdale, Armanino Audit Partner, Cannabis Group July 23, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Even though forty-five states permit marijuana, and one-third of Americans live in a location where recreational marijuana use is legal, it is still a controlled substance as a matter of federal law.
Woke Capitalism: Virtuous or Virtue-Signaling?
Woke Capitalism: Virtuous or Virtue-Signaling? July 16, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description Should sustainability be our new standard for investing? According to Larry Fink of BlackRock (more than $7 trillion in assets) the answer is yes. The ESG movement is an investment trend focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance matters in assessing a company’s long-term value.
Second interview with Mark Stiving
Second interview with Mark Stiving July 9, 2021 Hosted by Ron Baker and Ed Kless [Download MP3]
[itunes]
[Bookmark Episode] Guest Information Note:Scroll left for more guests Episode Description "Your market cares about how much value they will get from your product. Purchase decisions are driven almost entirely by the perceived value of the alternatives." This is just some of the wisdom from our Guest, Mark Stiving.
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