The $100 MBA Show

It's tough to give your business your all. We're always juggling multiple projects, sometimes a day job, hobbies, and personal commitments. But if you're serious about your business, it's time to focus.So why do we struggle to go all-in? Most of us think it’s due to fear of risk, of putting all the eggs of our time and energy into the basket of one mission. But that’s not really it. The truth is, we’re not afraid, we’re just a little delusional. We think we can succeed at everything, all at once. But the truth is, we can't. It takes laser-sharp focus to make real progress in your own business.When we don't commit fully, we limit our potential for success. Fear and lack of confidence aren't the real culprits here. It's the misconception that we can do it all.Today, we explain why going all-in is essential, and share strategies to help you get there. Give your business the singular focus it deserves.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If nothing else, an entrepreneur needs to be a fighter. And who better to learn fighting from than Iron Mike himself, whose rise and fall (and rise again) is the perfect lesson in resilience and adaptability. No matter what business you’re in, this book is a knockout.Entrepreneurship is much like boxing; you have to fight through challenges, adapt to changing situations, be disciplined, and learn from potentially costly mistakes.Mike Tyson started with nothing, but invested in his abilities, trusted the right coaches, and took a few strategic risks. And it paid off huge! However, his downfall came when he lost humility, and — worse — stopped evolving. This is exactly how business works!Fortunately, Tyson ultimately bounced back through patience, work, and a willingness to start learning again. If Tyson can go from poverty to success, fail, and still find a way back, then your business plans aren't so far-fetched. Hear our review and takeaways from this super-inspiring autobiography. Then get back in the ring yourself.Undisputed Truth by Mike TysonDiscover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You’re in profit. Congrats! To keep it that way, you have to reinvest. But where? How much? Where you put your money will determine if your business grows or stagnates.Let’s approach this strategically.Today, we take a detailed look at how to evaluate your business’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. By doing a little homework, you can get a clear picture of where reinvestment is likely to have the biggest impact. Hint: it’s all about tracking data.Whether you use a sophisticated metrics tool (we recommend one in particular), or a simpler, high-level approach to gauging how effective your various assets and campaigns are, you need to measure. In this episode, we’ll show you how. Compound your success. Make moves based on actionable insights. Multiply your profit. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stress doesn’t just hurt you (although that’s reason enough to address it). It also hurts your business. Understanding this is the best way to stop thinking of stress management as an afterthought or a luxury.You can’t avoid stress, but you have to mitigate it. Once you see what stress costs, you’ll do something about it. If you don’t take action, the costs aren’t just emotional — they’re tangible. Today, we’ll explain several specific things stress takes away from your business, and how to treat stress like any other business challenge.And yes, that includes an action plan.Learn the real-world consequences of unmanaged stress, and how to treat the issue like any other threat to your profitability. If you’re not taking care of you, you’re not taking care of business. Learn how to approach stress like an entrepreneur: strategically and effectively. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Remote work isn’t going anywhere, especially for lean startups who want a big talent pool and low overhead. But for new entrepreneurs, it can be hard to know if you’re in touch with the team enough.Also, let’s admit it: most people hate meetings. Including the boss.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a small remote team who isn’t sure how often to bring the crew together (virtually, of course). As the CEO of a company with employees all over the world, Omar can relate. Talking in real time matters.Spoiler alert: there’s probably no such thing as meeting too often.That doesn’t mean you should waste your team’s time. It means that when in doubt, you should always communicate more, not less. And there’s a way to do it that won’t test your team’s patience, or rob them of autonomy and trust. Hear our approach to remote meeting cadence, and learn how to keep your team on the same page. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There’s one skill that differentiates people who can make it in business (or anything really) in the long term: a comfortable relationship with disappointment. Including the kind that comes from your own failure.Don’t worry, this episode won’t bum you out. It’ll empower you!Long understood in the sports world, the ability to shake off a bad outcome is the key to survival in business. If you don’t allow your motivation, confidence, and belief to be derailed by losses, you will get to the wins — even if it takes a few more losses.Call it “grit.” Call it perseverance. But whatever you do, develop this skill now.Learn how important it is to be ok with getting knocked down, and hear a few strategies that’ll help you do just that. Embrace disappointment as a fact, so you can let it go as an anchor. The sooner you cultivate this very healthy skill, the less disappointment you’ll have to discipline. SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’ll never stop saying it: the easiest people to sell to are the people you already sold to. But too many of us focus almost exclusively on new customer acquisition, instead of going back to a perfectly good well.This is especially important when it comes to eCommerce.Today, special guest Jessica Totillo Coster shares a detailed, step-by-step plan for making sure that those who buy, buy again. And keep buying. Once you’ve established a good customer base, you can’t just assume they’ll want more — you have to make sure of it.Bonus: you won’t believe how much easier this makes your marketing.By utilizing Jessica’s STAR framework, you can virtually guarantee that happy customers will keep coming back for more. For eCommerce, maybe more than any other kind of business, keeping the inventory moving is critical. Repeat business is the best way to ensure that. Learn how to turn customers into lifers. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You might think “If only I had a coach…” And you’d be right — a good business coach can make a world of difference. But that’s only true if you hire the right coach for the moment you’re currently in.What do we mean by that?Well, different kinds of coaches can help you in different stages of your business. The person who gets you from A to B may not be the person who gets you from B to C. It all depends on where you and your business are in their development, growth, and potential.Get the wrong coach at the wrong time, and you’ll end up losing faith in coaching altogether. But nail the timing, and you’ll accelerate your growth.Today, Omar shares his view of the best time to get started with a coach, plus a few other key milestones on the journey where a coach can help you move to the next plateau. He would know — he’s been both coach and coach-ee more than once. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Habits are the key to achieving anything. So which habit brings about growth for your business? It’s not meditation or drinking enough water (though those things don’t hurt). It’s something…unexpected.Except it’s totally expected. But not in the way you might think.It takes some explaining, ok? And this episode description isn’t the place to do it, for one because we don’t like these to be too long, and also because we really, really want you to listen to the episode. After all, Omar explains this stuff best. It’s his whole thing.All we can tell you here is that it works.People with consistent business growth month over month, year over year, do this every day. But too many people don’t do it — because it falls through the crack between habits that are too obvious, yet not obvious enough in how to implement. Does that make sense? If not, it will after you hear the episode. It’s a forehead-smacking, light-bulb realization that’s taken many a business to its next level. Why are you still reading this? Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sometimes, you just need revenue. For small businesses, cash is oxygen — and when the waters rise, you need to make sure you can breathe for as long as it takes to get to dry land. That’s when it’s time for a sales push.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who ran into some unexpected expenses outside their control (that’s gonna happen, entrepreneurs). Now, the business needs a lil’ extra somethin’ to stay in the black in the short to medium term. This is not the time to panic or make bad offers. It’s time to get creative.In this episode, we share a few quick sales-boosters that’ve worked for us. They don’t involve being pushy or manipulative. They’re just about leveraging your assets (and also, other people’s assets) to temporarily rev the ol’ sales needle. Dig yourself out of a hole when you need to — just follow the steps in this ep! Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Motivation is easy when things are awesome. But how do you stay on top of your game when the game isn’t going your way? If you can answer that question, you can make it through anything.Today, we offer several answers.Omar’s been there — frustrations, failures, plans that go sideways when you least expect it. And here he is, still running a successful independent business with a global team that needs steady leadership. How does he get out of bed when the skies are gray? The key is to have a few go-to practices in your pocket.Learn a few ways to keep your motivation right where it should be, by putting things in perspective. Do what it takes to see clearly, and you’ll always know — and feel — exactly what you need to in order to do your best work. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s never the best idea that wins. It’s the best execution. In the history of business, the most successful entrepreneurs were the ones who adapted existing ideas better than anyone else (including whoever had the idea first). Now it’s your turn.Today, special guest Derek Lidow explains how building on pre-existing concepts is the all-time best way to pursue success. With real-world experience as a successful entrepreneur — and deep academic knowledge of business as a Princeton University teacher — the man knows what he’s talking about. This episode will shift your mindset about what it means to create the next great thing.Take the examples Lidow shares today, and apply them to your own space. By developing an eye for ideas and concepts that could be better-executed, you can make your mark. Take someone else’s first steps the rest of the way. Awaken your inner copycat, and see how far you can go. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Despite what you might’ve heard, ChatGPT isn’t here to end careers. Quite the opposite, really — it can help you start a whole new business, with less time and effort on your part.Today, we discuss how. We’re sharing five different ways you can fire up the AI and set it to work on services people need. You might ask yourself: why don’t these potential customers just use ChatGPT for themselves, instead of paying someone else? But that ignores a crucial fact: AI doesn’t work alone. Like any other piece of software, ChatGPT only works well if the person using it knows what they’re doing.Yes, a car can get you places faster than a horse. But cars need drivers! That’s how AI works, and ChatGPT is no exception. If you can master the skills necessary to get ChatGPT to take care of people’s needs, you become valuable. Learn what ChatGPT can do in the right hands, and how it can be the start of a whole new venture for you. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are lots of ways to make money on your own. But one of the most reliable (and least risky) is the agency business. Today, we discuss what that is, and why it’s such a great option.Long story short, it’s about as low-risk, high-reward as independent businesses get.By providing a service like design or copy or multimedia, you can almost guarantee that if your work is up to snuff, you’ll always be able to find clients. Even if you start as a solopreneur with just a single client, you can leverage every successful project into future work. Best of all, you can keep yourself in profit the whole time, by taking things one project at a time.Today, we dive into the ins and outs of agency work, with examples that show just how smart this path to independent success is. We’ll explore different types of agencies, recommend the best and most cost-efficient tools you’ll need, and discuss what kinds of clients offer the most dependable recurring revenue.If you have talent, but aren’t quite sure how to turn it into a business, consider an agency — and start by listening to this episode. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So you’re starting a business, and you’ll need some outside investment to really make it work. Where to seek funding is one problem — but just as important is when to seek funding.Timing is everything when you’re asking for money!No matter who the funding source is, you’ll have to convince them that you’re a good investment. And you can’t do that until you’ve gathered enough hard evidence that your product, systems, and team are viable. And that takes time.But how much?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener figure out when to start shopping for funding. By getting the timing right, you can not only increase your odds of hearing a “yes,” you can actually create more favorable terms. Learn what you should have in place before you seek funding, and why a little patience can pay off in a very big way. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yes, even startups and small businesses can have incredible team retreats. In fact, it’s more fun with a smaller, tight-knit team — especially when that team is remote and doesn’t get much face-time.Of course, not everything will go perfectly.Today, we share lessons learned from our most recent team getaway. We invited our engineering, marketing, design, and other pros from around the globe to finally see each other in person, having lost that opportunity to COVID for so many years.And it was awesome…except when it wasn’t.If you’re considering bringing your team on a retreat (and you should), listen to this episode first. You’ll learn what can go sideways, as well as what makes a retreat a truly memorable bonding experience. Whether you’re looking to give your team some R&R, accomplish some work goals that are better achieved in person, or some combination of both, a great retreat can’t be beat. Take a lesson or two from our experience — Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How much time do you really have? It’s easy to say “life is short.” But if you really look closely at the numbers, it’s shorter than you might realize. And all the “productivity” in the world can’t change that.That’s the premise of today’s Must-Read book for entrepreneurs: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.Yep, that’s about how many weeks most people (in industrialized nations) get before they kick the bucket. Much of it is already gone by the time most of us decide to start a business!Mountains of advice and products are designed to increase productivity, and promise a way to get more out of every precious week. But what if this approach is all wrong? What if the key isn’t trying to do more, but in embracing mortality and focusing on what matters?How much do you really need to “get done”...before life is done?It’s a challenging, scary fact to confront. But it’s a fact nonetheless, and being mindful of it can change the way you approach building your business. It’s too easy to get lost in the “to do’s,” as your 4,000 weeks slip by.Get a fresh, more brave perspective on constructing your own life and work. Hear the top takeaways from this eye-opener, and how it might apply to your entrepreneurial journey. Click Play!Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You’ve launched — but your business just can’t seem to get anywhere. Why? What makes some businesses grow steadily (or suddenly), while others just get stuck on the ol’ hamster wheel? Today, we diagnose the problem.In this episode, we’ll explore what exactly creates that all-important traction, and allows new companies to reach “escape velocity,” a.k.a. the point at which you break through the invisible barrier, and your expenditure of energy isn’t the only thing moving you forward. Y’know…like a rocketship.It’s the difference between pushing the boulder uphill, and simply guiding it while it rolls downhill. Need another analogy? No, you don’t! What you need are actionable strategies to get your new business its first few wins, so success becomes a self-perpetuating cycle.Long story short, it comes down to concentration and focus. Applied strategically and consistently for a certain amount of time, your business will develop some momentum. Then, the fun begins. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you think the sky’s the limit, you’re forgetting what’s beyond the sky. Too often, entrepreneurs are held back not by market forces or competition, but by self-limiting beliefs. So how big can you really go? And how do you define “big” anyway?This episode isn’t a hollow pep talk. It’s about realizing that when you create your own future by starting your own business, you get to decide for yourself what’s possible. With real-world examples, we’ll explain how no matter how small you start, success can compound.This applies to our own business, too.It’s not that you have to set unrealistic goals or risk losing a good thing to shoot for a great thing. But if you stay open to incredible, seriously life-changing possibilities, you’ll ensure that your business doesn’t underachieve. Learn how to think bigger, and why you should. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For new and small businesses, every cent you spend on employee compensation counts. So are you getting more bang for your buck when you hire part-time, or full-time? The answer — as is often the case in business — depends.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping a listener with a growing business spend his payroll dollars wisely. They know they need to build a team in order to reach the next level, but the budget requires some tough choices. Where’s the most value for money?Hint: it has more to do with how the employee works than how much. Learn what factors you should consider when choosing between full and part-time hires. As a company that’s hired both — and had good and bad results both ways — we know what can go right (and wrong) with each. Tune in, hear what’s worked for us, and make the choice that best serves your business. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stress is like an anchor. It weighs you down, and holds you back. It does the same to your business, as stress makes you a less effective and efficient leader. So what can you do about it?And by the way, we’re not talking about big stress, like you get in response to a rare crisis or major catastrophe. We’re talking about the basic, everyday stresses that any entrepreneur experiences, no matter how well their business does. It’s simply unavoidable: things will not always go your way. With the stakes high, that means basic stress management isn’t a luxury. It’s a priority.Today, we share the most common forms of everyday business stress — and how to deal with each.Learn what most often induces low-grade stress, and the simple practices that help you get better at navigating it. Developing resilience is like developing strength or stamina or any other ability. You have to put in a little work every day. Fortunately, everyday stress will give you that opportunity. Learn how to take advantage of it, and become a better emotionally equipped entrepreneur. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you need proof that a self-funded, bootstrapping startup can make it big — with no special advantages or even extraordinary luck — this is the episode for you. Creator-focused email marketing software ConvertKit is the company. College dropout Nathan Barry is the founder. And his story will erase any doubts you have about your own business potential. Omar and Nathan go way back, to a time before both had achieved real escape velocity with their SaaS products. In today’s extended conversation, they reflect on the journey from there to here, and what allowed Nathan to turn a side project into a multi-million dollar company.From his rural home-schooled childhood to his early exit (for good reasons) from higher education, Nathan learned very early how much our destinies are really within our control. Because of that, he was able to take his own, much shorter path to success. It’s enough to make you wonder why everyone doesn’t cut their own path — until you hear how challenging the independent road can be. Learn how the freedom of entrepreneurship is a double-edged sword, and what it takes to make it on your own. This interview is full of priceless lessons for anyone wondering what’s truly possible. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s time to start hiring. Every once in a while, the stars align to make great talent more available and accessible to small businesses. And you don’t need the world’s biggest budget to get the best hires.Sometimes, it’s all about timing.A few forces have come to bear on the jobs market. Yes, unemployment is low — but it’s not in the freefall it’s been in since 2010 or so. Yes, we just went through the “Great Resignation” — but many who resigned didn’t land the job of their dreams (or any job at all). Yes, there’s inflation — but salary really isn’t everything.Today, we explain why this year is a golden moment for picking up new team members. If your company offers the right mix of decent pay, positive culture, flexibility, and work/life balance, there are probably some ace hires out there waiting for someone like you. Whether the jobs market actually contracts in the near term isn’t clear — but there is un-and-under-employed talent out there.Learn how to seize the day, and build the team that’ll take your business to its next level. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As they say, “Success leaves clues.” And few companies have left more clues behind than Apple — even for small businesses. You don’t have to be a giant to make these moves. You just have to dare.After all, Apple was a startup once, too.Today, we break down a few key things that Apple has always done well. From the way they create their products to the way they market, Apple cut a new path through tech. Their strategies aren’t just for fancy phones, though!No matter what you sell, the bedrock principles that Apple follows apply. There’s no reason not to study what works, and modify it to suit your specific needs. Today, we aim to help you do exactly that.Learn what made Apple such a breakthrough company, and how its approach to entrepreneurship has never stopped working. Whether you’re selling t-shirts, software, or your own skills, you can be the Steve Jobs of your niche (but with your own personality, of course). Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Setting your first price for your first product can feel…scary. But most new entrepreneurs err on the wrong side of the equation, undervaluing their product or service in a way that can backfire — badly.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a new software product. But what should it cost?A common misconception is that the lowest price will attract the most customers. However, this strategy isn’t sustainable in the long run, because it limits the revenue you can invest in making your product even more awesome.The question isn’t “What are consumers willing to part with?” It’s “How valuable are the benefits my product provides?” Put a number on that, and don’t sell yourself (or your company) short!Ultimately, setting the right price requires some research and analysis of how much money, time, and effort you’re saving the customer. But just as importantly, it requires the right attitude. Don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth! Hear our advice, and consider it next time you look at your own price tags. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A personal touch can set your business apart — even when there’s no chance you’ll be able to do it for everyone. So why do new businesses avoid strategies that don’t scale…even while they’re still small?Sometimes, there’s a such thing as being too efficient, even in business.It’s the inverse of the old saying, “What got you here won’t get you there.” Of course you’ll have to evolve your strategies when your business gets bigger — but while it’s still young, you can afford to go above and beyond, even if it’s just for a few people. …and the results are worth it.Today, we discuss a few things you can do as a small business that don’t multiply well. However, the impact of these meaningful (but highly inefficient) moves can be monumental, and position your company to grow. Worry about scaling when it’s time to scale. While you’re still making a name for yourself, go the extra mile. It’ll pay off, and set you up to worry about how to get “there” when the time is right. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sometimes, it’s not the brand that’s the star of the show — it’s the community. As today’s special guest explains, an intentionally fostered community can be as valuable an asset as your product!Yes, you read that right.When it comes to everything from marketing to your company’s valuation, a well-planned and managed community can be worth its weight in gold. But too many entrepreneurs simply open an online space and then…hope people engage on their own. That won’t do the trick.In this special extended conversation with Tom Ross (founder of DesignCuts and learn.community), learn how to actively cultivate the kind of community that can turbocharge growth, and sustain your business for years to come.Create and protect the space for your audience to truly, collaboratively engage, and they’ll reward you over and over. Click Play!The Community Manual by Tom RossSUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever wonder how we make your favorite bite-sized business podcast? Wonder no more! Today, we share the exact setup in our home “studio” where we record almost every episode.That’s right — we record this professional-quality podcast at home. And so can you.We’ll share the tools we use to get consistent quality of sound, including how the setup of the room itself affects the recording. You don’t need a full-blown professional studio, or even expensive equipment, to produce a podcast. But you do need to sound professional enough to be taken seriously.Seriously, anyone can copy our setup.We’re asked this question so often, we felt compelled to share the details. Hear what we do to make sure this and every episode sounds crisp, clear, and worth listening to. Then, set up your own recording space for top-notch podcasting. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Firing people is never fun, unless you’re the kind of boss who someone is better off not working for. But firing people is almost inevitable, especially as your team and business grows. Better to be prepared!Today, we take a hard look at this hard — but necessary — task.Besides the obvious cringe-worthiness of taking someone’s living away, firing people is uncomfortable because it’s not just about their failure. If you hired this person, it means you messed up too, miscalculating whether they’d be a good fit. Plus, people tend not to take getting fired very well.That said, you can prepare. You can take an approach to parting ways that’s healthy, respectful, and defensible — even to yourself. It’s your job to put the business first, even over an individual employee who’s not working out. And it’s your right to say goodbye when the time is right.Learn a few strategies for making a difficult conversation a little easier, and a lot more constructive. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To borrow a quote from a book title, “What got you here won’t get you there.” It’s normal for new businesses to hit a plateau after a period of initial growth. But how do you…y’know, move past it?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with exactly that problem.Plateaus can happen for any number of reasons. Market saturation, changing consumer preferences, economic downturns, competition — the list goes on. When it happens, get your lab coat on! Because the best thing you can do is experiment.Think of it like starting your business all over again, but with more knowledge.To keep growing and stay competitive, businesses have to be ready to pivot to new ways of earning customers. This means being open to new marketing techniques, exploring new sales channels, and even rethinking products or services. As the business scales, you might have to redesign all kinds of processes or look at new tools.Again, you have to experiment.Ultimately, the key to (continued) success is to be flexible and adaptable. Learn more about all that, and hear our advice — Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yikes. The collapse of SVB is one of the biggest stories in business, as depositors, investors, and investees react to what can only be described as a full-blown disaster. But what can you learn from it?You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to take a lesson from all this.We won’t be analyzing the specific causes of SVB’s faceplant. But we will explore how SVB broke some of the most basic rules of business, with predictable results. The same thing can happen to any business that doesn’t actively safeguard their assets — and their market’s trust. Silver lining: SVB gave us a dramatic lesson in what not to do.Learn how to put guardrails in place so that your business (even if it’s much, much smaller than SVB) can avoid stepping on a rake. Take care of the key pillars of your business, but most of all, take care of your reputation as a business that delivers what it promises.Mistakes happen. Failures happen. But they’re only really disasters when we fail to learn from them. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today we’re sharing an episode of The Hustle Daily Show — a daily dose of irreverent, offbeat, and informative takes on business & tech news. In this episode, they take a look at how getting stuff for “free” affects consumer behavior.Why do we care so much when a crummy t-shirt gets shot out of a cannon at a sporting event? It's all about the power of "free," a price point that makes us feel high and act so irrationally that we forget that even free stuff comes with a cost.And to really get at the heart of the story here, Hustle writers Zachary Crockett and Mark Dent focus on 3 wildly different areas: free grocery store samples, free shipping, and free online content.If you like what you hear, search for The Hustle Daily Show in your favorite podcast app. Like the one you’re using right now ;)SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’ve learned a ton about business in Japan, and how the country offers incredible opportunities for small business (including Western ones). Now, it’s time to take the first concrete steps. So what do we do?Today, we put our Ja-plan into action. We’re making a few small — but important — moves to introduce ourselves and our company to the country. You won’t see a new $100 MBA Show or WebinarNinja headquarters in Tokyo, but we’re making connections and developing ways to offer our content and services to this under-tapped market.We don’t know exactly where this will lead. But in business, the most important part is getting started!Of course, we’ll share how you can take the same steps in your business. Learn how to introduce yourself and your company to a vibrant, potentially underserved market. It’s easier than you might think — Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“What got you here won’t get you there,” as the saying goes. And while a good blog is still a powerful marketing tool, one thing we can finally put to bed forever is the Comments section. Today, we explain why — and what you can do instead.We all remember the early days of blogging, when a lively Comments section could breed an active, engaged community of potential followers or customers. Comments sections were like a million little niche town squares, and helped launch more than a few businesses. Those days are over. Now, the comments section isn’t just useless. It’s downright predatory.In this episode, we’ll explore the downfall of the Comments section, and share how you can leverage great blog content more constructively. Your blog can still be the gateway to a strong, monetizable community. You just have to harness that energy in better ways. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When you buy someone a gift, what does that buy you? Do customers, partners, and others see it as an investment in your relationship, or an unasked-for transaction? Or worse, an attempted bribe?It all depends on how you give.Today, we discuss the art of the business gift. If it’s overly transactional, or impersonal, or simply has the wrong objective behind it, a gift can backfire. But if you do it the right way — which is also the way with the least predictable results — it can lead to incredible things.So how should you give?Based on conversations with an expert in business gift-giving, we’ll explore the “do’s” and “don’ts” of dropping presents on people. Learn how to give tactfully, and what to realistically expect as a result. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Times are tough. Inflation, continuing supply chain issues, and price gouging are on the rise. Recessions are natural and inevitable — but should you wait them out before starting your own business?Spoiler alert: no.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a great business idea. But they’re worried about the timing. Is it smart to get into business when businesses (and consumers) are struggling? Is it better to wait a year or more and get started when people are spending more?Again…no.Today, we explain why it’s not only ok to start a business in a recession, it’s smart! Recessions aren’t pretty. But like every crisis, they present unique opportunities. And the longer you wait to start a business, the more time you’ve lost to develop it.We’ll explain in detail in the episode. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The customer is always right — except when they’re not. It’s time to stop clinging to customers who aren’t serving your business, just like they’d quit your business if it wasn’t working for them.Seriously.As providers of products and services, we’re often primed to bend over backwards for our customers. But when a customer starts costing you more than they’re making you, a line’s been crossed. Today, we explore what that looks like, and how to know when it’s time to say goodbye.At some point in your business, you will have a customer like this.It’s a simple matter of defining the limits of customer satisfaction. And there are limits! You have to protect your business, your team, and yourself from the kinds of customers that deplete rather than energize you, and who derail your overall mission.Learn how to figure out which customers need “firing,” and don’t lose a second’s sleep over it. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’ve been hanging out in Japan, learning a whole new perspective on business. Now, it’s time to explore how you can get in on the action — by actually doing business with or inside Japan.Yes, this is possible. And it’s a very good idea.Today, we explore various ways non-Japanese businesses have forged ties with Japanese entities and professionals. We’ll also get into digital nomad options in Japan, which has become much more outsider-friendly in the last few years.From infrastructure to supplies to labor to the place itself, Japan is rich with assets you can take advantage of!When the deeply rooted, time-honored cultural and business practices of Japan merge with the Western entrepreneurial spirit, the result can be successful on a global scale. Learn what possibilities Japan might offer you, and how to get started.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The wrong approach: “I should do my best to make sure there’s always enough of my product/service for everyone who wants to buy it.” The right approach: “I should run out of stuff. Often.”Yes, this is tough to wrap your head around, especially if you’re new to business.But remember that value is defined by one thing: scarcity. That’s why people line up for new Jordans — because there will never be that many of them. Creating scarcity is a tried-and-true way to increase the value of whatever you sell, and the urgency to make a purchase.That said, you should never create scarcity at the expense of trust.In other words, you have to sell out genuinely, not in some falsified or contrived way. Today, we explain how the selling out approach works, why it’s so effective, and how to execute it honestly and ethically. Less is more! Learn how losing a few sales is the best way to gain more sales down the road. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Let’s cut to the chase: what’s the best way to get people to buy your thing? Today, we offer 3 answers, based on our experience. These funnels work best for us — and they might for you, too.We’ll lay out exactly how to build and manage each of these funnels, with our own products as an example. There’s no single “best” funnel for every business. But by studying the way various funnels work — and trying them out for yourself — you can find the one that moves the most of your product or service. It takes a little time, but it’s an investment worth making.Plus, you may not have considered one or more of our “Top 3” before. Learn how these powerful funnels work, and decide which ones are worth experimenting with. Let our experience be your guide — Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You can’t sell your product or service if you can’t sell yourself. Confidence in branding is everything. But does that mean you have to be…full of yourself? Can you persuade without playing the peacock?After all, in a noisy market, the loudest voice often wins.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener learn how to market without being a total tool. There is a way to showcase everything that makes you awesome in a way that doesn’t seem egocentric or irritating. In fact, the best marketers do it every day.It’s all about focusing on the audience and what they need, rather than yourself and why you’re a big deal.Learn how to stay on the right side of the line between flexing and inspiring trust and confidence. Let the world see what you have to offer, without offering everyone a heaping helping of your own thirstiness. It can be done — Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Goals are hard. A goal, however, is more attainable. So how can you narrow your focus to something big and all-encompassing that’ll have the greatest impact on your business? And should you?It all comes down to a single number.There’s no shortage of business metrics you can track (and no shortage of products and services designed to help you track them). If you’re not careful, you can get lost in a sea of analytics — without actually accomplishing anything meaningful.That’s why it’s critical to pick one, just one, metric that makes the biggest difference.So which number are we talking about? Well, that’s the tricky part. Today, we share examples of the single-number strategy, including from our own business. Once you hear a few real-life cases, you’ll have a better idea of what number you should put your chips on. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So how exactly did a cartoon kitten take over the world? And why does Japan consistently produce products that are almost dangerously cute? It’s no accident — it’s a business strategy.Kawaii is a catch-all term for a specific aesthetic, something Japanese businesses purposely cultivate. Loosely translated, it means “cuteness.” But kawaii is no child’s play. It’s a cultural vein that Japanese companies tap into in order to reach their target markets. By understanding what makes people go gaga for Pikachu and Hello Kitty, these businesses give themselves a serious edge — nothing “cute” about it.So what can Western entrepreneurs learn from the kawaii principle?In a word, presentation. Today, we explore the concept of kawaii, how it’s applied in Japanese business, and why the way your product looks and feels can be your greatest marketing asset. That’s not to say you abandon substance!Instead, you learn to embrace the feelings you can induce by presenting your products in certain ways. When you put care, thought, and a deep understanding of your audience into the aesthetic, it speaks louder than any ad can. Learn how to inject a little kawaii into your strategy. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Don’t leave home without these — and we’re not talking about hardware. You can’t put these items in your bag, but if you’re working on the road, each and every one is a potential lifesaver.Not to mention…a trip-saver.Wherever you go, you can’t predict exactly what the situation will be re: Internet, security, and your ability to communicate with the rest of your team. For that reason, it’s important to build in some fail-safes so that whatever happens, you can get the job done from wherever you are.Today, we share the 4 most critical “things,” so to speak, that come on the road with us.This isn’t only applicable to working trips. If you’re a full-time digital nomad, or even if you have a global remote team, this stuff makes your business truly location independent. Find out what we use and why, and start “packing” (again, so to speak) for your next adventure.Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s not as simple as “make stuff, sell stuff.” Of course it can be, but there are other ways to make money on your own. Before you start your first (or next) business, listen to this episode.Our intrepid host Omar has started several businesses in his day. And he’s learned how critical it is to choose the right model — regardless of the industry or niche.These days it’s SaaS (Software as a Service), as in our webinar platform. It’s also course creation and coaching, aka selling content and services. But Omar’s also done everything from affiliate marketing to arbitrage to e-commerce. Along the way, he learned which models are a good fit — and which are not. So which model is right for you?Today, we explore the concept of business models, run through a few examples, and outline a strategy for picking the model that you’ll excel with. You may know what business you want to be in, but it’s crucial to think about how you want to be in it, and where you expect your money to come from.Get into a business that suits your talents and preferences. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Writers rule the Internet, but videographers are the gatekeepers. So what’s the best way to use video to support a blog? Today, we weigh the two biggest options: YouTube and the ‘Gram.If you could only focus on one, which is the most effective?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a travel blog. The good stuff is in the articles, but this savvy blogger knows that people find their way into content via visual media these days. The plan: dump some time and resources into YouTube or Instagram, and funnel the followers to the blog.Each platform has its ups and downs, of course.Today, we break down what you can expect to gain from a following on both of these platforms, and examine which one is most likely to support a blog-based business best. Each platform is built for a certain kind of video content, so it’s best to choose a focus and stick with it.Get the details on what each platform wants from you, and what each can do for you — with a special focus on converting watchers to readers. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When we think coaching, we think live calls. But it’s not the only way. Yes, you can coach via email (you heard that right). Today, we explore why you should, and how it works.It’s really pretty ingenious.Because it’s asynchronous, you can coach people whose schedules don’t align with yours. Because it’s written, you can reach people who aren’t comfortable with live video. Because it’s email, you can keep the whole program focused only on what matters most with greater efficiency. In fact, good ol’ Omar runs an email-based coaching program himself.In this episode, Omar shares what he’s learned as an email coach, and why it’s something every coach should consider. It doesn’t have to replace other kinds of coaching; it can simply be a powerful supplement. But the bang for your buck (in both directions) is undeniable. Learn what the advantages of email coaching are, and how to build your own program. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Japan does business differently. Today kicks off a 4-part series on the Japanese approach to everything from product development to customer service — and why it all just…works.We begin with Part 1, an exploration of the cultural attitudes and values that position Japanese entrepreneurs to succeed wildly.…and no, you don’t have to be Japanese to do some of this yourself.It’s all rooted in a different notion of what “success” actually means. For Westerners, the endgame is the primary focus, and everything you do on your way is a means to an end. But in Japan, the means is just as important — perhaps more so — than the end.How does that translate into better business? Because consistency in your day-to-day efforts adds up over time, to something more than the sum of its parts.Join us as Omar travels the Land of the Rising Sun, and shares the lessons he’s picking up along the way. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The best email campaign in the world won’t help your business if no one reads it. So how can you make sure people actually see what you’re saying (without misleading subject lines, that is)?Today, we offer a few very specific answers.In both of our businesses, we’ve had ups and downs in our open rates. Along the way, we’ve discovered some moves that work. In this episode, we’ll share 4 things that reliably moved the needle for us. The best part? It’s not the elaborate or overly technical stuff that does the trick. It’s the simple, best-practice, tried-and-true methods that get results. From copywriting without sounding like a copywriter, to basic list hygiene, to storytelling, you don’t need a PhD in email to be heard.Learn what you can do to get real, useful engagement with your emails — and watch your leads and sales grow as a result. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

YouTube: it’s one heckuva revenue-generator for anyone making video content. But how much can you really expect to bring in? And how can you optimize your approach to earn the most?Today, we unpack how to monetize your YouTube channel.Yes, we’ll discuss the ad revenue model — but it’s not the only way to get paid for YouTubing. In this episode, we’ll explore a few ways to turn videos into profit, and how some of the best YouTubers out there make their living.We’ll dive deep into exactly how popular your videos need to be before they can really generate income, and why YouTube is such a gold mine, especially compared to other content platforms like blogs and social media. …assuming, of course, that you’re doing it right.We did the research, you get the strategies. Learn how to approach YouTube with profit in mind, and get the most out of the content you put so much work into. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.