Why Burt Steingraeber is the Business Consultant You Need

In a business world that’s constantly evolving, finding the right partner for public relations and business consulting is crucial. Burt Steingraeber is the clear choice for companies in the Midwest and beyond, looking for a reliable, cost-effective partner. With over 24 years of experience in business accounting, branding, and general marketing, Burt offers a unique perspective on achieving success in today’s fast-paced marketplace.

The Burt Steingraeber Difference

Burt’s wealth of experience spans multiple industries, which equips him with a broad skill set that can benefit any business, whether you're focused on financial analysis, brand strategy, or growing your market presence. As a strategic business consultant, Burt leverages his battle-tested knowledge to help his clients achieve their business goals. He is dedicated to offering personalized, actionable strategies that drive results.

How Burt Works

It all starts with a complimentary 30-minute strategy session. This is an opportunity for you to discuss your public relations or business challenges and goals. Burt uses this time to assess what’s affecting your company’s growth, offering a high-level evaluation of your current strategies. From there, Burt will recommend the best next steps to help your business or personal brand reach its full potential. His recommendations are rooted in over two decades of firsthand business experience and strategic insight.

What Makes Burt Steingraeber Stand Out

When you work with Burt, you’re getting more than just advice — you’re receiving one-on-one service directly from him. Unlike larger consulting firms, where your file may be passed along to an associate or third party, Burt ensures you get his personal attention and expertise. With over 21 years of experience as a CFO, Controller, Realtor, and private business owner, Burt has the hands-on knowledge to deliver the results you need.

Ready to Talk?

Whether you're looking to solve specific business challenges or simply need guidance on your next steps, Burt Steingraeber is the consultant who can take your business to the next level. Schedule your complimentary business strategy session today to start turning your challenges into opportunities.

Burt Steingraeber -Global Business Operator

I pay attention to what business owners talk about publicly.

Feeling overlooked.
Needing exposure.
Uncertainty about next steps.

Those aren’t complaints — they’re signals of someone ready for clarity.

Burt Steingraeber

You built the expertise. I’ll build the audience. | Making executives impossible to ignore | Owner of @DirectSourceAI | Top 4% on LI

I’ve noticed something consistent over the years.

Most business owners who feel “stuck” aren’t failing — they’re unclear.
Their work is solid.
Their message isn’t.
That gap is where progress usually begins.

By 2026, AI stops being the headline…
and starts being the infrastructure.

The quiet advantage belongs to leaders who prepare now.

I don’t believe in hard selling.

The best professional relationships start with understanding.
When the fit is right, the conversation moves naturally.
No pressure. No hype

Scaling a business globally isn’t about chasing every new shiny tactic: it’s about doubling down on what translates everywhere: a system for repeatable wins.

The one constant I see: across all 50 states and every market, from Toronto to London to Auckland: is this: The businesses that grow consistently have a scalable process for identifying and acting on their edge. Not just what makes them different, but how they communicate, test, and refine that with every new client, culture, and channel.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not a hack. But it’s replicable. And it’s why my best clients outperform even when trends shift or markets cool.

Curious how others are building systems that scale in wildly different regions? Drop your hard-earned lessons or biggest questions below. Let’s start a real conversation about strategy, not theory.

#ConsultantsCorner #GlobalScaling #BusinessStrategy

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AI is changing the PR game, from media monitoring to smarter messaging. But the real magic happens when you make AI part of your everyday PR processes, not just a bolt-on tool.

Imagine: Real-time sentiment analysis, instant risk alerts, and tailored outreach: all faster and more accurately.

Ready to future-proof your brand’s communications? I’ve helped businesses blend AI with PR for impact (not overwhelm). DM me to discuss your next step toward AI-powered success.

Well thats not a good sign.. Sounds like UPS who's even worse at 30K..

The company mistakenly alerted some employees to the imminent layoffs after sending a "commiseration note" and calendar invites several hours in advance, Reuters reports.

What to do when you’re not sure what to do:
Get disciplined.

Make your bed when everything feels out of control
Hit the gym when motivation is missing
Follow up with leads when sales are slow:

Save cash when the economy feels uncertain
Build relationships when you don’t “need” anything yet
The world is full of talented people.
But talent without discipline becomes frustration.
Discipline turns small actions into a strong foundation.
And foundations are what hold you up when pressure hits.

So don’t wait for the perfect plan.
Stack disciplined days.
                  That’s how you become dangerous.

What to do when you’re not sure what to do:
Raise your standards.

                  Examples: 
Eat clean when your energy is crashing
Practice your pitch when you’re not closing deals
Write content when nobody is watching
Fix your finances when you’re “too busy”
Build your network before you need a favor

Confidence is nice.

If you’re great at what you do but prospects still “go with someone else,” it’s rarely a competence problem.

It’s a recognition problem.

I call it the competence–recognition gap:
You’re delivering real results… but the market can’t *see* it fast enough to choose you.

A simple framework to close it:
1) PROOF: Turn outcomes into receipts (numbers, before/after, named problems solved).
2) POSITION: Pick one lane you want to be known for (not 6).
3) PRESENCE: Show up consistently where decisions get made (content, podcasts, partnerships, earned media).
4) PATH: Make it easy to say yes (clear offer, clear next step, clear expectation).

After 30+ years in strategy + PR, I’ve seen this repeatedly: visibility isn’t ego: it’s leverage. And it compounds when you systematize it.

If you had to tighten your focus to ONE “lane” you want to be chosen for this year, what would it be?

No business is immune to crisis: product failures, viral complaints, or data breaches can strike any time. How you respond determines whether you strengthen or damage your reputation. Yet, while 54% of small businesses have faced major crises, just 23% had a formal communication plan. The difference between lasting damage and resilience is preparation. 

Crisis communications is more than reacting; it’s about strategic planning, decisive action, and consistent messaging. Build your plan: list top crisis scenarios, pre-approve messaging, assign one spokesperson, keep contacts current, clarify communication channels, and review with legal. Select key staff to fill crisis roles and empower them with training.

Your team must always be informed first; employees are your best advocates. Respond fast, be transparent, own your actions, and document everything for ongoing improvement.

Review your plan quarterly. Consult with  legal council before releasing statements. Delays and mixed messages are the quickest way to lose trust.

Leverage has evolved.

30+ years ago, most “growth” looked like brute force:
More calls.
More hours.
More hustle.

Today, the advantage goes to the businesses that build leverage on purpose.

Strategic automation isn’t about replacing the human element.
It’s about amplifying it.

When the repetitive work gets systemized:
• Your team spends more time on judgment and relationships
• Your marketing becomes consistent (not random)
• Your follow-up stops depending on memory and mood
• Your results compound instead of reset every week

The real question isn’t “What can I automate?”
It’s “What strategy is worth automating?”

Thoughts?

Efficiency is a trap if you’re moving in the wrong direction.

I see it often. Entrepreneurs installing powerful engines: AI, automation, complex systems: but forgetting to check the map.

Automation is the engine. Strategy is the steering wheel.

Without a hand on the wheel, you’re just accelerating toward a cliff.

After 30 years in PR and consulting, I’ve learned that speed without direction is just a faster way to fail. You can automate your outreach, but if the message doesn't land, you’re just scaling noise.

The real leverage is the "Trust Layer."

It’s the intersection of decades of strategic wisdom and modern efficiency. It’s the ability to land on FOX News or MarketWatch while keeping your back-end operations lean and automated.

I’m looking to connect with innovators building practical solutions in the automation space. If you’re creating tools that help businesses scale with precision, I’d love to explore potential synergies.

Complexity doesn’t scale.
It compounds.

And it’s quietly draining your profitability.

Not because your team isn’t smart.
But because every “custom exception” becomes:
- another SOP
- another approval step
- another tool
- another handoff
- another meeting

That’s not growth.
That’s overhead.

If you want to scale (without burning margin), simplify what you sell and how you deliver.

3 filters I use with clients:
1) If you can’t explain it in 10 seconds, it’s too complex.
2) If it needs a hero to run, it’s not a system.
3) If it can’t be repeated weekly, it’s not scalable.

Simplicity isn’t “less.”
It’s leverage.

Thoughts?

Most talented people are invisible.

It’s a hard truth. You can be the best in your field, but if nobody knows you exist, your impact is zero.

The numbers on the are staggering:

- Only 1% of users post weekly.
- That 1% captures 9 billion impressions.
- Posts with images get 94% more views.

The math is simple. By showing up consistently, you aren't just joining a platform: you're claiming a massive share of attention that others are leaving on the table.

Visibility isn't about vanity. It’s about leverage. 

Conversation-driven posts stay in the feed for 2-3 weeks. One good thought can compound for half a month.

Are you ready to stop being your industry’s best-kept secret? Then lets talk....

Wife & Mother of 7 | Venture Capital | Scientist | TOP 30 Patent Drafters | United States Patent Examiner | Violinist | Polyglot | STEM Children's Author | #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law

Kathryn Vatt is a scientist, former USPTO Examiner, and devoted wife and mother of seven, with over 25 years shaping the future of innovation. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Patent Drafters and Prosecutors and the #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law, Kathryn has built a career at the intersection of science, law, and business—helping inventors, startups, and global companies turn creativity into competitive advantage.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Biology) and Johns Hopkins University (M.S. Biotechnology), Kathryn is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor in Patent Law at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, one of the world’s leading IP programs. Her rare cross-disciplinary background gives her both the scientific insight and the legal strategy to protect ideas at the highest level.

At the USPTO, Kathryn examined thousands of patent applications, conducted exhaustive prior art searches, and made determinations that shaped industries and influenced global innovation. After leaving the Patent Office, she founded Vatt IP Management, where she develops bulletproof IP strategies, drafts airtight applications, and supports litigation teams in defending patents. She also mentors engineering and life science students through Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and judges international startup competitions, nurturing the next generation of innovators.

Her entrepreneurial vision extends to her ventures:

My Startup Shield™, a founder-focused program that helps startups secure their innovations before they pitch. It protects ideas at the earliest, most vulnerable stage and positions founders to raise capital with confidence

My AI Examiner™, the world’s first proprietary patent search platform that combines examiner-trained AI Patent Examiners with Kathryn’s own human review. Unlike conventional tools, it doesn’t just search faster—it “thinks like an examiner,” offering inventors and startups clarity, precision, and strategy.

MyKidVentors™, a STEM-inspired children’s book series born from her seven children’s real “What if?” questions. Through these imaginative stories, she nurtures curiosity in the next generation, showing that every big invention begins with a single question.

For Kathryn, the same motherly instinct that guides her family fuels her professional mission: to protect, guide, and nurture startups with care, strategy, foresight, and integrity. She believes innovation doesn’t just start in labs or boardrooms—it starts in the curious minds of those brave enough to ask, “What if?”

Kathryn V.

FALL IN LOVE...

with the process.

If you’re building something right now,
here’s the shift that changes everything:
Fall in love with the process, not the results.

Results are unpredictable.
They’re delayed.
They show up on their own timeline.

The process is what you live in every day.
Consistency isn’t about intensity.
It’s about showing up when it’s boring.
When it’s quiet.
When no one is watching or applauding.

Founders don’t burn out because they’re doing too much.
They burn out when all their hope is tied to an outcome
instead of the work itself.

When you love the process,
progress stops feeling fragile.
Missing a day doesn’t feel like failure...
it feels like life.
And you simply come back the next day.

Consistency compounds.
Small steps add up.
And over time, the work begins to shape you
as much as you shape it.

So if today feels slow,
if momentum feels distant,
if the results aren’t there yet...
stay.

Keep building.
Keep learning.
Keep becoming.

Fall in love with the process.
The results will meet you there. 💛

Founder Friday 💫

Some founders build with brilliance.
Some build with courage.
And every once in a while, you meet someone who builds with both brilliance and heart.

Rachel Buchanan is one of those people.

Rachel has been working in blockchain since 2017...long before trust, verification, and integrity became buzzwords or regulatory requirements. 

She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t chase what was fashionable. She stayed true to what she knew mattered.

That clarity is why she’s now building IntegraLayer, focused on certificate integrity, verification, and trust. Not because it’s trendy. But because it’s necessary.

But here’s what I want people to really know about Rachel.
She is not just thoughtful and brilliant...she is kind.
She is steady.
She leads with integrity in how she builds and how she shows up for others.

That’s why it meant so much that she entrusted the protection of her intellectual property to me. That kind of trust is never taken lightly. 

I’m truly honored and so happy to welcome her as part of the moatly Crew™ 😊 .

And this moment is also a reminder of how meaningful real connections are.
Thank you to my beautiful friend, Bettina Briz, for introducing us, and to founders Kevin Jurovich and Timo Gehrke of Hubble, for introducing Bettina to me in the first place. 

The ripple effect Hubble creates through authentic human connection is genuinely life-changing. One introduction can change the entire trajectory of a founder’s journey.

Rachel, I’m cheering you on!! Not just as a founder, but as a human.
The world needs more builders like you.

#founderfriday #womenfounders #kindnessinleadership #trustbydesign #moatlycrew™ #moatly™ #hubble #buildingwithheart

One of the things I respect most about thoughtful investors
is when they’re honest about what they’re really looking for.
David Y.’s post is spot on.

At the very earliest stages, investors aren’t betting on a polished product.
They’re not betting on traction, revenue, or perfect data.
They’re betting on the person.

Because at pre-seed, almost everything is unfinished.
The product will change.
The strategy will evolve.
The plan will break...more than once.

What doesn’t change as easily is the founder’s ability to keep going
when nothing is guaranteed.

And here’s the part I love most:
The kind of “swagger” that actually matters isn’t loud.
It isn’t hype.
It isn’t performative confidence.

It’s quieter than that.
It’s the steadiness of someone who is aligned with a purpose bigger than their pitch deck.

Someone who, “treats the company as a vehicle, not an identity.”
Someone who keeps building when no one is clapping yet.

As a former patent examiner and now someone who works closely with founders, I see this same pattern over and over again.

The founders who endure aren’t the ones chasing validation.
They’re the ones making progress in silence.
Learning.
Adapting.
Following up with substance.
Showing up again after the fifth setback.

So if you’re a founder feeling discouraged by a slow response, a long diligence cycle, or a quiet room...
this may not be rejection.
It may be observation.

And sometimes, the most important thing you can do
is exactly what you’re already doing:
keep going.

That kind of inevitability?
It can’t be faked.
And the right people notice.

I’m a VC who hates most VCs. I live to help people identify and scale their gifts.

A pre-seed truth most founders miss:
Investors aren’t betting on your product or idea.

Our firm spoke with 10,000+ founders over the last 3 years.
We invested in 25 of them.

That’s <0.2%.

We’re not unique.
That ratio is normal at the pre-seed stage.

At pre-seed:
- The product is usually incomplete
- Revenue is often $0
- Data is thin or non-existent

So what are investors actually evaluating?
The founder.

More specifically?
Swagger.

Not pitch polish.
Not hype.
Not “founder energy.”

Pre-seed swagger is quieter.

It’s the strength that shows up when a founder is aligned with something bigger than the company...and treats the company as a vehicle, not an identity. 

At pre-seed, investors aren’t really asking:
- “Is this the best idea?”

They’re asking:
- “Is this person inevitable?”

Inevitable doesn’t mean certain.
It means disciplined enough to survive uncertainty.

BUT swagger doesn’t replace execution.
It signals who will still be executing after the first five failures.

And that's why good pre-seed investors take their time.

The delay isn’t always disinterest.
It’s often a test.

At pre-seed, we’re watching:
- Do you keep building without validation?
- Do you follow up with substance, not pressure?
- Do you show progress when no one is watching?
- Do you adapt… or just re-pitch?

What founders experience as “foot-dragging” is often pre-seed diligence in motion.

Early investing isn’t about moving fast.
It’s about identifying who keeps moving when nothing is guaranteed.

That’s who gets funded at pre-seed.
And that’s where real swagger comes from. 

---

If this resonates, Founder Chapel is where we unpack this kind of founder formation.

Link in the comments.

SKATEBOARDING THE WEEKEND AWAY

I hope you’re finding a little time this weekend to do something you love…
something that makes you smile, laugh, or feel a bit more you.

This video made me smile. 
Pure joy. Zero fear. Just going for it. 

And today, I’m dedicating it to Bettina Briz,
who has officially started learning how to skateboard.
New wheels. New courage. New joy.
And the most stylish fits, thanks to her personal stylist and amazing husband, Peter Himes.

There’s something really beautiful about trying something new...
not to be perfect at it,
not to impress anyone,
but simply because it feels fun and alive.

May this weekend bring you that same energy:
a little play, a little courage,
and the freedom to roll forward just because it makes your heart happy.

Happy Saturday, friends. Enjoy every moment. 💛

31-27 🐻 

"Good, better, best!
Never let it rest!
Till your good gets better,
And your better gets best!"

Not as pressure.
Not as perfection.
But as a reminder.

This isn’t just a post-game locker room chant. 
It’s something all of us can carry…whether we’re riding a wave of success or sitting quietly in a lull.

Because becoming doesn’t stop when things are going well.
And it doesn’t end when momentum slows.

Good means you’re here.
Better means you’re willing to grow.
Best isn’t a finish line…it’s a direction.

Some seasons are loud with wins.
Others are quiet with reflection.
Both matter.

And in both, the invitation is the same:
keep becoming.

Not by rushing.
Not by burning yourself out.
But by staying open.
By learning.
By choosing to show up again, exactly as you are…still caring, still trying.

Wherever you are right now…
celebrating or recalibrating…
this motto holds true.

Good. Better. Best.
A reminder that growth is ongoing,
and that we are never done becoming. 💛

DON'T WALK THE DESERT ALONE

I am resharing my friend Kevin Jurovich’s post because what he is building is truly invaluable for founders.

What he shares about those early days, learning on the go and wondering whether the struggle meant failure or growth, is a season so many founders live through quietly. It takes courage to speak about that part of the journey with honesty.

What stands out most to me is how he turned that experience into something generous. Instead of keeping those lessons to himself, he is creating space for founders to hear the truth behind building a company. The uncertainty. The doubt. The moments where continuing feels hard.

Founders Uncovered feels like an offering to the people still in it. A reminder that difficulty does not mean you are doing it wrong. Often it means you are doing something that matters.

By sharing real stories from people who have built before us, Kevin is helping founders feel less alone and more capable of staying in the work. That kind of encouragement can change everything.

So proud of you, Kevin. This is going to help a lot of people. Cannot wait for Season 1.

👉 Join the list for Episode 1. https://lnkd.in/gi2NaDMf

Co-founder, CEO at Hubble | Lifelong optimist

Back in 2019, I used to walk around SoMa in San Francisco listening to founder podcasts, trying to figure out if what I was feeling was failure…or just the process.

How I Built This, Masters of Scale, then later Lenny’s Podcast and My First Million. That was my founder education.

I was obsessed with learning from people who came before me.

Because when you’re in the desert as a founder...trying everything, hitting dead end after dead end, it helps to hear that the people you admire went through the exact same thing.

Behind every “overnight success” are years of doubt, false starts, and almost quitting.

That’s why I’m excited to announce the launch of Founders Uncovered.

I’ve teamed up with Drew Glover and Nick Madrid, CFA at Uncovered Media to host a podcast focused on the real stories behind building companies...the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable parts we usually skip.

There are so many incredible founders out there quietly changing the world. Their stories deserve to be told.

Season 1 drops next month. Our hope is that you walk away feeling educated, inspired, and a little more optimistic that you can get it done too.

One conversation can change everything.

👉 Join the list for Episode 1. I’ll send it the moment it drops.
https://lnkd.in/gi2NaDMf

Can’t wait to see more founders win. 🚀

#startups #entrepreneurship

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