Profits With Purpose That Scale!

December 15, 2025•4 min read

R. Kenner French sits down with business strategist and LPBC Services founder Laurel Pendle to talk about what really makes small businesses thrive—especially solopreneurs, real estate investors, and service-based owners. Right away, Laurel emphasizes that before any big leap, you need a clear strategy and the right leadership mindset. She shares a case study about a healthcare company that was scaling too fast without structure; by helping them clarify their internal systems, focus on the right clients, and implement relationship marketing, she helped them stop chasing the wrong accounts and double down on the ones that truly drove profit.

Laurel explains that her work spans the full business life cycle: from executives leaving the W-2 world and turning passion projects into real businesses, to growth-stage companies trying to scale, all the way to owners planning their exit or legacy handoff. At every stage, her central theme is aligning “profits with purpose.” She pushes owners to define their goals, understand their competitors, and build a real business and marketing plan before chasing investors or throwing money at ads. For her, success isn’t just about revenue—it’s about building a sustainable, values-driven company that serves clients, employees, and community.

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A big part of the conversation zeroes in on marketing, digital presence, and social media. Laurel points out that most owners work “in” their business, not “on” it—they’re buried in operations while neglecting visibility, branding, and message. She stresses that you don’t need to be on every platform; you need to be on the right one, consistently. For B2B, LinkedIn is her primary arena, where she runs her “Entrepreneurial Edge” newsletter focused on tactics, leadership, and even mental health for entrepreneurs. She also warns against the “quick-fix” mindset—viral TikToks, random posts, and scattered ad spend—without a marketing plan, social plan, or a clear understanding of your target audience and their buying habits.

They also dive into relationship-based marketing and the power of genuine connection. Laurel and Kenner agree that too many people treat prospects like numbers and push a pitch in the first five seconds after connecting online. Laurel’s approach is the opposite: build trust, study what others are doing, look for collaboration, and let relationships drive business—not cold selling. She describes how her own website is intentionally designed and constantly evolving, with clear values, mission, and story baked into the content so that the right clients self-select in—and the wrong ones filter out. She underscores that a website without SEO, content, and cross-promotion is just an expensive ghost town.

Finally, the two talk about AI, business automation, and Laurel’s work as a contributing author in The Art of Connection book series. She considers herself an early adopter of technology and uses AI heavily for efficiency, analysis, and admin, but insists it can’t replace human leadership, strategy, or authentic voice—especially for things like book writing. Her contributions to The Art of Connection focus on abundance, gratitude, and heart-centered leadership, and the project itself has become both an international bestseller and a curated community of like-minded business owners. Laurel closes by circling back to her core message: when you align profit with purpose, prioritize human connection, and pair that with solid strategy and smart use of tools like AI, you don’t just grow a business—you build a legacy.

Takeaways

• Having a strategy before you leap is essential in business.

• Mindset for leadership is crucial for business success.

• Outsourcing can help small business owners focus on growth.

• Aligning profits with purpose is key to sustainable success.

• Marketing should be consistent and targeted to the right audience.

• Human connection is vital for retaining employees and clients.

• Technology and AI can enhance business operations but should not replace human interaction.

• A compelling online presence is necessary for attracting clients.

• Creating a legacy through business is important for long-term impact.

• Leadership skills are essential for guiding teams and fostering collaboration.

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