Growth Without Referrals

About Growth Without Referrals

Growth Without Referrals is a podcast where leaders talk honestly about what’s actually working to win new clients today – beyond referrals. Hosted by Mark Ferguson, each episode breaks down real strategies, real struggles, and real growth stories from the people in the trenches doing it.

Publisher

Mark Ferguson

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Feb 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

54 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Episode 58 - From Starting Over at 49 to Building a Thriving CPA Firm | Gary Cooper

   What does it take to walk away from a successful corporate career, start your own business, and then rebuild it all over again at age 49? In this episode of Growth Without Referrals, host Mark Ferguson sits down with Gary Newton Cooper, founder and owner of Cooper CPA Group in Houston, Texas, for an engaging conversation about entrepreneurship, business growth, leadership, succession planning, and the future of accounting. Gary's journey is anything but ordinary. From becoming the first person in his family to earn a college degree to serving as a CFO, taking a company public, earning eight patents, and building successful accounting practices, Gary has experienced the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship firsthand. When he relocated from Dallas to Houston at age 49, Gary had to rebuild his CPA practice from scratch. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional referrals, he created his own networking organization and embraced digital marketing and SEO to generate new business. Today, Gary shares the lessons he's learned and why he's passionate about helping the next generation of entrepreneurs succeed. In this episode, you'll discover: Starting over at 49: How Gary rebuilt his CPA practice in a new market without an established client base. Growth beyond referrals: How networking, SEO, content marketing, and digital visibility helped build a sustainable pipeline. The entrepreneurial mindset: Why calculated risk-taking, focus, determination, and hiring the right people are essential for growth. Building a business worth buying: How clean financial records, documented processes, and reduced owner dependency can increase business value. Succession and exit planning: Why entrepreneurs should prepare years in advance before selling their companies. AI and the future of accounting: How automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping professional services and creating new opportunities. Mentoring the next generation: Why Gary believes sharing knowledge and helping entrepreneurs succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of business. A key takeaway: Successful entrepreneurship isn't about avoiding failure. It's about learning from experience, staying focused, taking calculated risks, and building systems that allow a business to grow beyond its founder. Whether you're launching your first business, scaling an established company, or preparing for an eventual exit, Gary's experiences offer valuable lessons you can apply to your own entrepreneurial journey. Connect with Gary Cooper Founder & Owner, Cooper CPA Group Website: https://coopercpagroup.com (https://coopercpagroup.com) Email: gcooper@coopercpagroup.com (mailto:gcooper@coopercpagroup.com) Phone: 713-243-8590 About Growth Without Referrals Hosted by Mark Ferguson of Prestige Services Group, Growth Without Referrals features authentic conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders about building predictable growth, overcoming challenges, and creating sustainable businesses that don't depend exclusively on word-of-mouth referrals. Email: mark.ferguson@prestige-services-group.com Subscribe to Growth Without Referrals for more conversations about entrepreneurship, business strategy, leadership, technology, and scalable growth.

2. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Episode 57 - Leadership, Trust & AI: Building Stronger Organizations with Trish Higgins

   What separates great leaders from those who simply hold leadership titles? And how can organizations grow without sacrificing trust, communication, and culture? In this episode of Growth Without Referrals, host Mark Ferguson sits down with Trish Higgins, founder of Mountain Leadership Advisory & Consulting, to explore what it really takes to develop effective leaders, build stronger organizations, and navigate change in an increasingly AI-driven world. Drawing on her extensive corporate leadership experience, including serving as both a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Trish shares lessons from her career and why she transitioned into leadership advisory and executive coaching. In this episode, you'll discover: Why leadership development matters: How talented professionals are often promoted into leadership roles without the training needed to succeed. The power of relationships: Why trust, meaningful conversations, and consistent follow-up are essential to building lasting business relationships. Communication as a leadership skill: How ineffective communication, poor listening, and a lack of collaboration undermine organizational performance. Culture and accountability: Why hiring decisions, ethical leadership, and organizational values matter as businesses grow. Navigating difficult conversations: Trish's approach to giving feedback and making sure people are ready to receive it. Leadership across generations: Why effective communication requires understanding how different generations prefer to work and collaborate. AI and the future of leadership: How tools like Claude can automate work, improve efficiency, and free leaders to focus on higher-value activities. Avoiding burnout: The importance of setting boundaries, protecting personal time, and working intentionally. A key takeaway: Technology can help us work faster, but trust, communication, and genuine human relationships remain essential to effective leadership. Whether you're a CEO, business owner, executive, consultant, or emerging leader, this conversation offers practical insights into becoming a more effective leader while adapting to a changing business environment. About Trish Higgins Trish Higgins is the founder of Mountain Leadership Advisory & Consulting. With extensive experience in corporate leadership, operations, human resources, and organizational transformation, she helps executives and emerging leaders develop the skills, confidence, and communication capabilities needed to advance their careers and lead effectively. Her work includes executive coaching, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and helping leaders navigate change. Connect with Trish Higgins Website: https://mtnlac.com (https://mtnlac.com) Email: trish.higgins@mtnlac.com (mailto:trish.higgins@mtnlac.com) About Growth Without Referrals Hosted by Mark Ferguson of Prestige Services Group, Growth Without Referrals features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders about building sustainable businesses, creating predictable growth, leveraging technology, and developing strategies that reduce dependence on traditional referral-driven business development. Connect with Mark Ferguson Prestige Services Group Website: https://www.prestige-services-group.com (https://prestige-services-group.com) Email: mark.ferguson@prestige-services-group.com Subscribe to Growth Without Referrals for more conversations about leadership, AI, business growth, and entrepreneurship.

3. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Episode 56 - Multiple Lines in the Water: Business Value, Trust & the Future of Wealth Management with Andrew Cremé

   What happens when referrals slow down—and what should business owners and advisors be doing before that happens? In this episode of Growth Without Referrals, Mark Ferguson sits down with Andrew Cremé of Creme Wealth to discuss business valuation, preparing for an eventual business transition, building multiple channels for growth, earning trust in a digital world, and how AI may reshape wealth management. Full Episode Description / Show Notes Andrew Cremé didn’t take the traditional path into wealth management. His journey has included theater, work in a psychiatric facility, healthcare, and eventually a career helping clients think differently about wealth, business value, and long-term financial decisions. Those early experiences also shaped how Andrew approaches client conversations today—by looking beyond the numbers and trying to understand what money actually represents in someone’s life. In this episode of Growth Without Referrals, Mark Ferguson talks with Andrew about what business owners often misunderstand about the value of their companies, why preparing for a transition should begin years before a sale, and why sustainable growth requires more than one source of new business. Andrew shares his philosophy of keeping “multiple lines in the water” rather than depending entirely on referrals. He discusses seminars, networking, online marketing, reviews, social media, and other ways businesses can build a more predictable pipeline. Mark and Andrew also explore how trust is changing. Buyers increasingly research professionals online before ever making contact, and Andrew has already seen prospective clients discover his firm through tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. They also discuss what AI could mean for wealth management, why the human element will continue to matter, and why tomorrow’s strongest advisors will be the ones who continue learning, adapting, and finding new ways to create value for their clients. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why business owners often misunderstand what their companies are actually worth Why preparing for a sale or transition should ideally begin 5–10 years in advance The importance of recurring revenue, leadership depth, and reducing owner dependence Andrew’s “multiple lines in the water” philosophy for business development Why relying solely on referrals can create unpredictable growth How online reviews and visibility influence trust How AI is changing the way prospective clients find professional advisors The potential impact of AI on wealth management Why adaptability and continuous learning will separate great advisors from average ones Why listening for the emotion behind a client’s financial concerns matters Andrew emphasizes that great financial conversations often go deeper than money itself—because the real issue is frequently what that money represents: security, family, freedom, or peace of mind. Connect with Andrew Cremé: Creme Wealth Website: https://www.cremewealth.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcreme/ Andrew specifically invited listeners to connect through his website or LinkedIn. Important Disclosure Andrew Cremé is an Investment Advisor Representative with Victory Financial Group, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Victory Financial Group, LLC. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Victory Financial Group, LLC does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.

Who has been a guest on Growth Without Referrals

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mark Elder
• Rebecca Irey
• Salisa Roberts
• Diane Lauer
• Alina Rivera

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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