South Cobb Live + Gary Hill Network

Download the Smyrna Guide: https://link.southcobbmedia.com/widget/form/r1AtN4fdWWv4vETVAxXa

Episode Overview

Host Elise White interviews Gary Hill, founder of the Gary Hill Network and owner of the Smyrna Guide. Discussion focuses on proactive sales approaches, community building, and forging authentic connections for local business success.

Guest Profile

Gary Hill has anchored Smyrna, Georgia's business community since 1982. Through the Gary Hill Network and Smyrna Guide, he's built extensive local business networks via print advertising and personal relationship building, emphasizing community engagement and mutual support.

Key Topics

Sales Initiation: Success requires proactive engagement rather than waiting for opportunities.

Print Advertising Value: Despite digital dominance, print materials, business cards, and tangible marketing remain essential for visibility and community presence.

Spiritual Foundation: Gary's spiritual experiences guide his business philosophy, viewing his work as a calling rather than just career.

Community-Centered Networking: Building genuine friendships within business networks, focusing on mutual support over self-interest.

Life Integration: Seamless integration of business and personal life, with networking central to identity and purpose.

Notable Quotes

"Sales is about initiation. It's not about sitting around waiting on something to happen."

"Networking is about promoting each other. It's about getting people focused on somebody besides themselves."

"My life is the Smyrna Guide one. They're all the same thing."

Actionable Takeaways

New Businesses: Start with door-to-door networking and one-to-one relationship building. Focus on initiating conversations rather than waiting.

Established Businesses: Maintain consistent visibility through print and personal presence. Actively promote network partners for reciprocal relationships.

Community Building: Create mutual support systems among local businesses. Use print advertising for lasting presence and show up consistently.

Key Insights

Gary's decades-long business relationships demonstrate networking's long-term value. Traditional methods like print advertising and face-to-face interactions remain effective in our digital age. Integrating spiritual principles into business practices can positively influence success, while supporting community members ultimately benefits everyone.

Episode Highlights

• Gary's origin story collecting business cards at Dunkin' Donuts
• Spiritual calling's role in business decisions
• Long-standing partnership examples
• Advice for establishing local presence
• Importance of community visibility

South Cobb Live features community-focused conversations with local leaders and entrepreneurs making neighborhood differences.

"Stop hiding from that IRS letter! As an Enrolled Agent who's saved clients THOUSANDS during audits, here's why ignoring it makes everything worse..."

Tarryn Sampson, owner of TS Tax and Accounting Services in Mapleton, Georgia, shares 29 years of tax expertise and reveals how her year-round approach saves South Cobb business owners thousands.

Guest Background

Tarryn Sampson - Owner & Founder, TS Tax and Accounting Services

• 29 years in tax preparation (since 1996)
• Enrolled Agent certified (2020) - can represent clients before the IRS
• Based in Mapleton, Georgia, serving South Cobb community

Key Discussion Points

The "Ostrich Problem" with IRS Letters

"I always use the analogy of the ostrich - clients get these IRS letters and they're putting their head in the sand. I'm like, they see you. You just need to go ahead and open it. You can't hide."

Why This Matters: Avoiding IRS letters only makes problems worse and more expensive.

Beyond "Plugging in Numbers"

Tarryn explains her comprehensive approach:

"I have a client now, he used to rent a location, now he has a house outside of his property... So now I'm like, okay, so we have depreciation that we can claim."

Key Insight: Understanding the complete financial situation enables strategic tax planning.

The Round Numbers Red Flag

"People always feel like I could give estimated numbers... A lot of round numbers. And I always tell my clients those are red flags. Not everything is in a round number."

Real-Time Documentation Strategy

"I don't need the details to prepare your return, but I tell my clients you need it in the event that you get audited because trying to recreate the stuff three and four years after the fact is crazy."

The Year-Round Advantage

Unlike seasonal preparers, Tarryn operates continuously, allowing her to:

• Stay current on tax law changes
• Provide ongoing client support
• Handle IRS correspondence promptly

Key Takeaways for Business Owners

1. Don't ignore IRS letters - Address immediately with professional help
2. Avoid round numbers in documentation - they trigger audit red flags
3. Maintain real-time records - Don't wait until tax season
4. Strategic planning beats basic compliance
5. Work with year-round professionals - Seasonal preparers miss opportunities

About TS Tax and Accounting Services

Located in Mapleton, Georgia, providing comprehensive tax preparation, IRS representation, and business consulting to South Cobb area businesses and individuals.

Featured on South Cobb Live - highlighting strategic tax planning and working with experienced, credentialed tax professionals.

Join host Elise White as she sits down with Chef T and his beautiful wife Mia, the powerhouse couple behind Phenomenal Seafood in Austell, Georgia. From their humble beginnings with a franchise to building their own phenomenal brand, this is a story of love, faith, and incredible food that brings the community together.

In this episode, discover how Chef T and Mia transformed their passion for seafood into a thriving restaurant that survived COVID-19 and is now looking toward franchising. Learn about their signature dishes named after family members, their secret ingredient (spoiler: it's love!), and why people drive from as far as Columbus, Georgia just to taste their food.

🍤 What You'll Learn:

• The evolution from Smacking Good to Mighty Good to Phenomenal Seafood
• How they created a dining experience that goes beyond just takeout
• The story behind their family-named menu items
• Their business philosophy and future franchising plans
• Why consistency and love are their secret ingredients

📍 Visit Phenomenal Seafood: Address: 2495 East West Connector, Austell, Georgia Website: phenomenalseafood.com Instagram: @phenomenalseafood

🎵 Weekly Events:

• Wednesday: $2 Oysters
• Thursday: Karaoke
• Friday: Live Music
• Saturday: DJ
• Sunday: Brunch

Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit that notification bell! 🔔

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