The $100 MBA Show

Starting a business while holding down a 9-to-5? It’s one of the smartest ways to get started. That said, it’s not the easiest. To actually make progress, you’ll need to give up significant amounts of free time. How significant? Well, that’s what this episode is all about.It’s one thing to “start a business.” It’s quite another to start and grow a business until it reaches true escape velocity (that’s the part where you can quit your day job). Until then, it’s not just about how much time you put in, but how frequently and efficiently you use that time.Today, we share how many hours you’ll have to set aside, how often, and how to make that time count for all it’s worth. Omar would know — he side-hustled for years while working full-time as a teacher. Get your battle plan for taking a serious run at entrepreneurship. 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.

Ready to find your crowd on Twitter? Take it slow.Too many new entrepreneurs put too much focus on social media. And of course, that’s exactly how social media platforms like it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use Facebook, Insta, Twitter, and the rest to your advantage.Today, we explore how.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners is an experienced entrepreneur who’s never played the social game. However, they’ve decided it’s time to finally dive and start building a following. The platform of choice? Good ol’ Twitter.So how long does it take until a Twitter feed becomes a true marketing asset?Today, we discuss the (realistic) benefits of Twitter, and all the ways it can truly help your business. But at the same time, this episode is all about managing expectations, and putting quality over quantity when it comes to your following. Get a handle on how Twitter can help, and how it can’t. 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.

Luck doesn’t happen by accident.No, this episode is not about witchcraft or “manifesting” success. It’s a simple lesson on how the things you can control put you in a better position re: things you can’t control.Fate can’t be controlled, but odds can be raised or lowered. Today, we share a few key things that — no matter what kind of business you’re in — help expand the zone of what’s within your control, and make better outcomes more likely. It’s all about creating the right conditions for “good luck” to find you!From conceiving of your business to managing your team, these key principles can’t give you control over major market downturns, pandemics, or natural disasters. But they can minimize risk, open the door to opportunities, and essentially make your business bad-luck-proof. Hear how we improve our luck, and how you can too — no rabbits’ feet required. 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 do you really need to start and grow a business?Today’s marketplace has lowered the barrier to entry for entrepreneurship. Given the tools available, the average person can start a profitable, scalable business with way less capital — and less experience — than ever before.Today’s Must-Read explains how.The Minimalist Entrepreneur is a roadmap for creating low-stress, low-investment businesses that put your profitability (and your sanity) first. The author, Sahil Lavingia, was employee #2 at Pinterest, and is the founder of Gumroad, which helps people start businesses with almost nothing.Learn how to start a business without going into debt. Start a business that works for you, rather than indenturing you to it. Hear out takeaways, and why this book resonates so strongly with us. Click Play!The Minimalist Entrepreneur by Sahil LavingiaDiscover 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.

The “freemium” model is everywhere now. And it makes sense! Consumers are picky, more wary than ever, and in need of more proof before opening their wallets.But what if freemium isn’t feasible for you?Giving away your product or service is pretty costly, after all (we know — our software platform offers a free plan). If you’re not yet at a point where you can absorb the cost of even a basic version of what you’re selling, there’s another way. It’s called the faux free plan.What is it? Well, it’s basically an almost free plan. It still lowers the barrier to entry, makes signing up a no-brainer for your leads, and gets people using your product. But it doesn’t strain your company’s resources the way a truly free plan does.Today, we explain the faux free model in detail, share why it works (with real-world examples), and help you decide if it’s the right move for your business. 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 can all agree that networking is vital to getting anywhere in business. But you might be surprised to learn that networking is something you can outsource.Wait, what?How can you outsource building relationships with people? With a little ingenuity, that’s how. From helpful tech to helpful employees, you can develop systems to initiate and maintain connections with the right people.Tune in, and hear how Omar takes significant amounts of the work of networking off his plate — without sacrificing relationships or detracting from their mutual beneficialness. In fact, by systematizing and optimizing your approach to networking, you can become an even more reliable, considerate colleague and friend to the people in your circle.Hear Omar’s hacks, and see if they can work for you. As Porter Gale said, your network is your net worth! 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 have an awesome idea for an app. You’re sure it would address a real need in the marketplace. You’re ready to do the work of marketing and selling it.…but you couldn’t code your way out of a wet paper bag.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a fairly common question: to engineer or not to engineer? Theoretically, anyone can learn to develop software. That said, theoretically anyone can learn how to fix their own car; that doesn’t mean it’s the right move.Fortunately, Omar definitely has some experience in this arena, having initially developed the software for our SaaS product. Spoiler alert, though: eventually we hired a real-deal software engineer because…well, because they’re really good at that kind of thing.Today, we discuss the factors to consider when you’re deciding between a pro and a DIY approach. Is the time and effort required to learn an entire new skill set worth it? That all depends — 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.

Ready to dive into video marketing? Here’s what you need.Video is second only to the written word when it comes to online marketing. It’s personal, involves more senses, and is proven to elicit more engagement. But many entrepreneurs — especially newer ones — are intimidated by the idea of creating videos. In truth, it’s never been easier for a non-professional to produce high-quality videos, as long as you use the right tools.Today, we share the tools behind our own video marketing (and we do a ton of it). From editing software to soundtrack samples to actual people who can help put it all together, these resources are the reason our videos are so successful — and so much easier to make.Discover the best tools to add video to your content arsenal. 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 just send a message. Send a video.Consumers are hit with about a bazillion marketing and sales messages each day. Most of them are emails that go straight to ‘Promo,’ and other text-based messages we simply ignore or delete. But video is different.Video has a better chance of being consumed, and scoring you a conversion. Plus, they’re easier than ever to create!Mike Moll is a marketing coach who helps small businesses find innovative ways to grow sustainably — like video-based marketing and sales. Today, Mike shares his exact method for video messaging, from choosing the right platform to the format of your actual ‘pitch.’While personalized video messages may not scale or be appropriate for big companies, they can work wonders for independent marketers…and no, they’re not only for sales.Whether you’re trying to connect with a potential customer, business partner, or even a potential mentor, a message straight from your face has a bigger impact than one from your keyboard. Learn the basics of a proven, effective way to reach out — Click Play!Lead Generation Mini-CourseSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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, “the money’s in the list.” But more list does not mean more money.Like so much in business, it’s more complicated than a simple equation. To get the most out of any email list requires way more than just gathering new addresses. If you’re throwing lead magnets around the whole wide Internet, you’re probably raking in contacts — and they’re probably not becoming customers. If that syndrome sounds familiar, this is the episode for you. Today, we explain how to build an email list that works.There are 3 mistakes that are almost guaranteed to ensure your email list doesn’t actually produce real leads. Sadly, these 3 mistakes are super common — heck, we used to make them ourselves, until we learned better (the hard way).Tune in, and see if you’ve fallen victim to any of these 3 big ‘Do Nots.’ Once you learn what really makes an email list valuable, you can take a more targeted, more effective approach. 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.

More people will sign up for your course if they can sign up whenever they want…right?Not necessarily.It might seem logical to let people enroll in your course whenever. But basic consumer psychology tells a different story; when there’s no urgency, there’s less chance someone will make a commitment. Most people will put off ‘till tomorrow what they can do today.…and that’s only one of the reasons you should periodically close your course enrollment.Not only are people more likely to sign up when the window isn’t open forever, it’s actually easier to market close-able courses. Today, we explain why the open/close model is better for business, and how to set it up for the best results.With examples from some of the most successful course-based businesses around, this episode is your guide to getting more students. 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 a brand-new business, is a VA (virtual assistant) worth it?When you’re starting out, staying lean is a top priority. Which is why it struck one of our listeners as a little counterintuitive that we’re so bullish on hiring VAs. It’s Q&A Wednesday! This listener is only weeks into a new business, and wants to know if a VA is really, truly a wise investment at this stage. We understand; a hire is a significant expense. But it might not be as significant as you think — and it might be more valuable than you imagine.Today, we’ll explain how to decide exactly what your hypothetical VA would do with their time, where to find VA candidates, and how to choose the right one. Plus, we’ll discuss how to evaluate whether you’re really getting your budget’s worth.Get an accurate sense of what you’re paying for when you hire a VA. 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.

Are paid ads a money pit?Small businesses need to stay lean. That means not throwing money away on expensive marketing and sales tactics that don’t produce a solid return. From print to radio to Google and Facebook, is the money you spend on paid advertising worth it?More importantly, can your business thrive without it?Lots of businesses do just fine without spending a dime on ads. Today, we share several examples, and explain exactly why the ad-less strategy can work. Of course, it won’t work for every business — but yours could be one of them.We’ll share our own experience as well, and how we arrived at our own balanced mix of paid advertising and content marketing. Learn how to determine the best approach for your business, and get the most out of every marketing dollar. 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.

Are you brave enough to admit it’s time for change?Accepting the need for change is one of the more surprising challenges in business. It requires courage, accountability, and the will to let go of what’s familiar and comfortable.Barry Moltz is a speaker, author, radio host, and SMB expert who specializes in getting business out of ruts. For a small business, a plateau can become a graveyard. Being agile and embracing change is one of the most important abilities an entrepreneur can develop.Today, Barry explains why that’s easier said than done, and how to get around the most common blockers.Don’t be the next Blockbuster! Learn how to recognize when you’re clinging to what doesn’t work anymore, and get comfortable pivoting. When the same-old-same-old is holding you back, it’s time to take action. Click Play!Change Masters by Barry MoltzThe Small Business Radio ShowSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Thinking about starting an e-commerce business? Listen to this first.Before he got into the podcast & SaaS game, our intrepid host Omar ran a successful e-commerce business selling custom menswear. Along the way, he learned valuable lessons about what to do, and what not to do — sometimes the hard way.Today, let Omar’s experience be your guide!From your website design to your payment processing and fulfillment, there are many ways to make e-commerce harder for yourself, and hurt your chances of success. In this episode, we tackle the top 5, the biggest absolute no-no’s that are all but guaranteed to sink your business. Learn exactly what to avoid, eliminate unnecessary friction, and give yourself the best chance to build an e-commerce business that’ll profit for years. 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 most coaches, the ultimate goal is to have fewer clients paying higher prices. But the group coaching model — whether as a stepping stone to 1:1 clients or a long-term strategy — is more than sustainable. Better yet, it’s super-scalable. But how do you get those clients in the first place?To sustain a group coaching business, you need to ensure a steady flow of leads, and a reliable funnel to convert those leads. Today, we share 3 specific ways to do so, based on tried-and-true tactics employed by some of the most successful coaches online.Each of these 3 methods has its own strengths, but they all share one thing in common: no matter how you attract leads, your ability to genuinely prove how much you can help is the key to locking in clients.Learn how to get in front of the right people, and show them what you (and they) are capable of. 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.

Blogging: it’s still one of the best ways to start a business!All you really need to get started is your own experience, decent writing ability, and the time to put your insights down on (digital) paper. But of course, there are a few other costs.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a well-traveled listener who wants to start a blog, with the ultimate goal of monetizing it through affiliate commissions. Wisely, this listener wants to know how much an aspiring blogger needs to budget in order to get their website off the ground.From hosting to design and more, starting a blog is one of the cheapest ways to launch a business — but it’s not free. Today, we discuss a few ways to monetize a blog, and outline exactly what you’d have to pay for, and where you should (and shouldn’t) invest a little more to give your blog the best chance to build an audience. 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.

Never go to market without a strategy.A launch is never as simple as just putting your product or service in front of people. Before you attempt the first sale (whether it’s a new business, a pivot, or a product launch), you have to decide exactly how to make your “entrance” into the marketplace.Today, we break down exactly how to plot your debut.Based on countless hours of reading, research, and coaching, we’ve boiled the go-to-market strategy down to 6 basic steps. In this episode, we share how to define and position your brand, appeal to the right customer base, and build a solid springboard for your launch.Learn how to communicate what your business is, what it stands for, and who it serves — before you hit the market. 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 another incredible book from the 4-Hour legend. Today, we review the inimitable Tim Ferriss’ Tribe of Mentors.Ferriss is the original life-hacker, a seeker of new solutions for everything from making money to getting in shape. With Tribe, Ferriss surveyed successful innovators and game-changers to see how they managed to make waves where others couldn’t.This book is big, dense…and worth every second.Tribe is composed of 100 interviews with various experts, based on conversations from The Tim Ferriss Show podcast. By asking the same set of 11 questions to each interviewee, Ferriss condensed their unique insights and experiences into an easy-reading, inspiring resource for anyone looking to change their life.Hear our favorite takeaways, from the distilled wisdom of dozens of high achievers. Click Play!Tribe of Mentors by Tim FerrissTools of Titans by Tim FerrissDiscover 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.

Don’t let holidays sneak up on you!Having SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for holiday breaks is a crucial part of managing your team — and your customers’ expectations.From communicating with customers to giving your employees time off (while still keeping the business running), holiday management takes a little preparation. It gets even more complex when you consider remote teams and global marketplaces, since folks in different areas may celebrate different holidays.Fortunately, we have some experience with this.Our SaaS business has customers and employees all over the world. It took some trial and error, but we have a system that allows everyone to celebrate the holidays that matter to them, while keeping the lights on for customers almost the entire year.Get our best tips on ensuring truly happy holidays — for everyone. 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’s (way) more money in people than in products.One of the hardest early lessons new entrepreneurs have to learn is to stop chasing the best product idea. Almost all of us start with some version of the thought: “If I come up with the right product or service, I can build a business.” Or, we build a business because we thought of a product or service. But that’s getting it backwards. To build a business, you don’t start by building a product. You start by building an audience.Today, we outline all the reasons the audience-first approach gives you far higher odds of success. When you serve the right crowd — and serve them well — coming up with the product is actually the easy part. 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 a startup, paid ads can be a game-changer…or a complete bust.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who runs a small SaaS business in need of more traffic. Our listener has been sinking money into paid digital advertising for months — and has exactly $0 to show for it.So how long should you lose profit on paid ads, before finally tapping out?Today, we discuss why paid ads work better for some businesses than others, why paid advertising is deceptively complex, and how to know if you’re likely to see an ROI. Depending on a few factors, it might be smarter to spend your marketing money elsewhere.We’ll cover the numbers you should consider, different models of paid advertising, and our favorite alternative to paid ads. Figure out what kind of marketing and advertising makes the most sense for you — 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.

Redefine your “why.”Most of us get into business hoping to make a certain amount of money. But a radically different approach is gaining steam, helping entrepreneurs totally rethink what they’re really working towards.Spoiler alert: it’s not money.Today, we explore the concept of a “time billionaire.” That’s a specific term for a specific reason; it represents a measurable portion of your finite term on Earth, providing a concrete — if unconventional — way to define true wealth.Learn about the “time billionaire” philosophy, hear how it changed the way we look at entrepreneurship, and see why obtaining the time you want might not take as much money as you 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’s the point of starting a business? Is it to earn money, or what money buys? Probably the latter. And the most important, valuable thing money can buy isn’t real estate or caviar — it’s time.Free Time by Jenny Blake takes a different approach to entrepreneurship. Rather than trying to win the game of Who Can Make the Most Money, Blake decided to prioritize the creation of time for herself. And she couldn’t be happier with the results.Today, we review Free Time, and share why this book is such a life-altering shift of perspective for anyone who takes its lessons to heart.Hear how Blake created the kind of business that rewards her with the ultimate prize of entrepreneurship: freedom. By carefully creating a team and systems that make her presence less necessary, she won the only game that matters. Click Play!Pivot by Jenny BlakeDiscover 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.

How many company newsletter emails do you really read?The email newsletter goes all the way back to the beginning of the Internet. But needless to say, times have changed. With stuffed inboxes and the invention of the ‘Promo’ tab, does anyone give a hoot about your newsletter now?Well, that depends on you.Today, we share 3 strategic approaches to newsletters. From marketing your products to actually charging for the newsletter itself, these emails can truly support your business — if you include truly valuable content.With consumer email habits today, your newsletter needs a little something extra to be effective. Learn how it’s done — 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.

Creating a course? Listen to this first.Our intrepid host Omar wasn’t always a SaaS entrepreneur. Before that, he was a professional educator for over a dozen years. And since then, he’s created (and taken) dozens of online courses. In other words, we know what makes a good course…and what makes a bad one.Today, we share 5 essential elements every course needs. These aren’t suggestions or options; these are the 5 musts. If your course is going to produce results for your students, certain things absolutely have to be in place.Give your course the best chance to deliver for your customers. 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 risky are money-back guarantees? Can they hurt your business more than they help it?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a coach whose potential clients want some reassurance, in the form of a guaranteed refund if they don’t get results. But quite reasonably, our listener is hesitant to commit to not being paid for their time and effort. So what’s the right move? To guarantee or not?Today, we explain why risk reversal is a sales and marketing must. Yes, in our experience, a money-back guarantee is indispensable if you want people to believe in your product or service. And yes, you can offer a guarantee that mitigates the risk of losing money.Learn how to create a clear-cut, reasonable refund policy that protects you and customers, so you can put your money where your marketing’s mouth is — with confidence. 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.

When software tools pile up, they’re no longer solving problems — they’re creating one.Every business picks up excess tools along the way. Software for marketing, project management, analytics, design, and more come and go. But inevitably, too many come and not enough go! Today, we explore how to give your business a little tool audit.We did our own audit recently, and found we were able to get rid of about 50% of our tools (and the costs associated with them). By defining our priorities and making a few strategic tradeoffs, we were able to make our startup even more lean.Are your software tools easing friction, or creating it? Saving money, or draining it? Learn how to boost efficiency with a little tech housekeeping. 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.

Stage fright? Get nervous before a big talk, meeting, or pitch?We’ve got you covered.Caroline Goyder is a celebrated author and presenter who knows exactly how to approach speaking with cool, calm, and confidence. Today, she’s here with 5 specific exercises you can use as often as you need to develop the kind of poise that makes speaking a breeze.Fair warning though: maybe listen to this episode (and do these exercises) in private.Follow along as Caroline guides you through a few key movies that bring stability to your mind, largely by manipulating the body. They may seem a bit odd at first, but once you experience their effects, you’ll see why Caroline’s training is so powerful.Get ready to speak with ease — 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, the best way to push forward is to simplify.For a new business, a million shiny objects can become distractions disguised as goals. As legitimate as these goals may be, you can’t take your eyes off the most important prize of all — the one that’ll ensure your business’s long-term future.Today, we explore exactly what that goal is (and how to achieve it).No matter the industry, no matter the type of business, no matter the product or service, every new business needs to get to this special place before they can go anywhere else. Too many new businesses lose sight of this goal, to their peril.Learn what you absolutely have to achieve, above all else, in order to make it as an 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.

Looking for traction on social media? Need to work the ol’ algorithms a bit? We’ve got a strategy for you. Actually, we’ve got 3 strategies. Today, Omar shares the “3 S’s,” a simple framework for creating social posts specifically to drive engagement. Whether you’re looking for likes, shares, or comments, the 3 S’s have you covered.Remember: marketing works best when it’s simple!The strategy we discuss today utilizes the most fundamental aspects of human psychology and social behavior. With a basic sense of what triggers action, you can rewire your social strategy for maximum engagement. 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 have a great idea for an app. That doesn’t mean you have a business.So how can you possibly tell if your idea has legs?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a banger of an idea for a business app, but who isn’t willing to start throwing money around to develop it just yet. Wise decision! Today, we explain how to get some reliable market research, so you can make the best bet.Hint: you don’t have to build it to sell it.Using our own SaaS product as an example, Omar shares how you can create a product or service in stages, with each stage giving you a little more intel (and a little more cash) to work with. Before you launch your next product, give this episode a listen. 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.

That’s not hyperbole. If you run a business, the most important thing you can do is figure out how to get back some of your most precious, irreplaceable resource: time.As we like to say, time is infinitely more valuable than money. One of the biggest obstacles to taking time back is insisting on doing everything yourself. Just as dangerous (but a little more subtle) is insisting that other people do things exactly as you would — or even just as well as you would.It’s time to let go.Today, we break down a rule that’s a little hard to live by at first, but will absolutely improve everything from the quality of your business to the quality of your life. Learn what the 80% rule is, how to apply it, and why it can be the best gift you ever give yourself.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.

Forget the Oscars thing for a second.Before the…incident, we planned to review Will, the powerful autobiography Will Smith co-authored with Mark Manson (the guy behind The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck). And we couldn’t be happier we decided to stick with that decision.This book is penetrating, insightful, and valuable — recent drama aside.Today, Omar shares some of the incredible lessons this book offers on work, success, and happiness itself. These lessons are more than applicable to business (after all, music and entertainment are businesses in which Smith has inarguably thrived). Hear why this book is so great, and why its lessons speak louder than any single incident. Click Play!Will by Will Smith and Mark MansonDiscover 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.

Act now!As consumers, we’re told this all the time by people trying to get sales. If you don’t buy ASAP, you’ll miss out on a great deal, or even the chance to buy altogether.But is it…bull? Is scarcity just another manipulative tool used by unscrupulous salespeople? More importantly, is scarcity a tool you should use? FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can be a powerful motivator. But is it effective — and ethical?Today, we explore the concept, and how to execute it without feeling gross.Scarcity, when genuine, is not a trick. It’s a reality you’re letting your customers in on, potentially to their genuine advantage. By dropping the games and offering people a truly win-win scenario, you can use the scarcity principle to boost sales in an honest way.Find out how — 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.

TikTok: it’s all the rage. But does it matter to your business?In our case…no.So why don’t we use this powerful platform, where millions of potential customers are engaged? It all comes down to time, priorities, and defining your goals. When you know what kind of company you are, you can be comfortable with “opportunity costs” — the things you have to say “no” to in order to say “yes” to something more important.Today, we explain why TikTok hasn’t made our list.It’s not because it’s a “bad” platform (though there are several valid criticisms of it). It’s because it’s not the best use of our team’s time and resources. More importantly, like any social media platform, it’s under someone else’s control.Hear our thought process, and decide if TikTok is worth your time. It might be! But if you’re like us, it might not. 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.

Your business is profiting. You’re making a living. But what’s in store for the long term?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who’s seen what can happen when you only give yourself a paycheck, and nothing more. Even long-standing businesses can fall — and when they do, the founders can walk away with next to nothing.Which raises the question: should you be taking dividends? And if so, how much?Balancing the need for a personal safety net with the needs of your business can be tricky. If you don’t take dividends, you can end up no more or less successful than if you stuck with a regular job. Take too much by way of dividends, and you risk slowing growth.There are many factors at play, including the tax situation. Today, Omar shares the must-knows when it comes to dividends and entrepreneurship. 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.

Who are these coaches charging thousands — or tens of thousands — for their services?More importantly, who are their clients, and how are they getting them?No matter what kind of service you offer, working your way up to massive rates is the best way to get the biggest ROI. Making more money from fewer clients is always the smart move. But as you can probably guess, it doesn’t happen overnight.Today, Omar shares what he’s learned about exactly how some people claw their way up to premium pricing.Are there any shortcuts? Not really. But there are ways to get there faster, smarter, and with less wasted effort. Become an expert at showing people just how valuable you really are, then work your way up to the big leagues. 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.

Are you thinking like a customer?If you don’t understand your customers’ perspective, there’s a ceiling on how effective your marketing can be. But if you drop the “hacks” and influencer strategies, you can master the fundamentals that create long-term growth.And of course, we have an expert to explain how.Matt Edmundson is an ecommerce mastermind who knows how to achieve growth. But in any type of business, the basic principles remain the same: not to pander to customers or pretend you think they’re “always right,” but to simply adopt their outlook.In this episode, Matt shares a few specific ways to do that, based on a lesson he learned from a guy who cleans toilets. It’ll make sense, we promise — Click Play!The eCommerce Podcast with Matt EdumundsonSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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’ve ever been asked to like, share, or comment, you know what we’re talking about. But does it work?Business owners constantly ask for engagement on Facebook, Insta, Twitter and the rest. But does this strategy actually pay off? When you’re blatantly asking your audience to help you game social media algorithms, does it seem savvy, or thirsty?It depends on how you go about it.Today, we discuss the ins and outs of this social media strategy, and why so many entrepreneurs try it. More importantly, we’ll share how to do it in a way that gets the job done, but doesn’t make you look desperate. 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.

Is your sales page…selling?Whether it’s your homepage, your pricing page, or a product-specific landing page, it has a job. And if your copy, design, and more aren’t right, the job won’t get done.Today, we share 7 specific items — some big, some small — that every sales page needs to nail.The problem with many sales pages is that they try to do too many things. Instead, by checking off these 7 items, you can make sure your page is a streamlined, focused, sales-producing machine that works efficiently. Make the necessary changes, and track the results!Designate your sales page(s), if you haven’t already, then apply these must-haves. Get ready for more sales — 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 a long-running business has lost its mojo, should you fight for it? Or is cashing out the smart move?As always, it depends.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is in a pickle. Their decade-old business has done well overall, but over the last year it’s been stuck in a rut. This e-commerce operation has gone from growing to slowing, from expansion to stasis. Worst of all, it’s just not…motivating anymore.This listener could sell the business and move on. But is that really the answer in this case? We have a way to find out: a series of thought experiments, a few questions anyone in a similar situation should ask themselves before leaving a business behind.Hear our advice, what this listener’s options are, and how this situation may present unexpected opportunities. 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.

Your FAQs page can do more than just inform — it can boost sales.When you understand how consumers actually use FAQs pages (and it’s not the way you might think), you can see there are serious opportunities for conversions. Too many businesses neglect their site’s FAQs page, either by not having one, or simply…answering frequently asked questions. This un-strategic approach leaves money on the table! With a few simple moves, the FAQs page can create opportunities to lead your visitor down the sales funnel. Today, we share 5 of those moves, which you can implement with relative ease. Learn some buyer psychology, and turn your FAQs page into a conversion machine. 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 do better than just survival.When you’re under intense pressure or facing a crisis, it can be easy to focus on nothing more than “getting through it.” But you’d be shortchanging your business, and cheating your team out of their full potential.There are ways to ensure that there’s always time and space for creativity, and not just in traditionally “creative” fields like content or design. According to today’s guest teacher, it’s actually crucial to make sure challenging times don’t close the valve on your team’s creative juices.And today, he’ll explain exactly how to protect that creativity through thick and thin.Jarod will discuss what threatens and holds back creativity, and how to establish environments and policies that encourage it — no matter what. Keep your business at its best: Click Play!Spiracle MediaSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Inflation starting to sting yet?Nations like the USA are facing serious drops in the buying power of their currency. Experts don’t predict the situation will improve significantly, at least not anytime soon.So what’s an independent business owner to do?At some point, rising inflation will start to eat away at your profit margins. And if those margins are thin, inflation will soon overwhelm your profit & loss sheet. Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take to mitigate the effects in the short and long term.Today, we share our best moves for rolling with the inevitable punch of inflation. Some of these tactics can be used to help your bottom line right now; others are investments in future stability. Learn how to weather the storm, and make it through to a better phase of the cycle. 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.

“Start small” should be the mantra every new and aspiring entrepreneur lives by. …and when we say “small,” we mean small.Before you try to tackle any huge or long-term business goals, it’s crucial to start developing the skill of producing something valuable, and selling it for a profit. It’s exactly like lifting weights — you don’t try to put up big numbers in the first week. Instead, you start light, learn the form, and progressively build on your strength. Getting good at business requires lots of light reps, too!Today, we discuss a few examples of how your first “business” doesn’t need to be a business per se. From Omar’s childhood Halloween candy arbitrage model to freelancing on the side, making money on your own is something you do one dollar at a time — at first. 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.

Is a dot-com better than a dot-co or dot-anything else?The right .com domain name — as in the one that best matches your brand name — can be hard to come by. But with so many other options, what’s the big deal about .coms anyway?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a content business (a blog and paid newsletter) who can’t get their hands on the perfect .com domain. Should they suck it up and pay whatever it costs, or accept a .whatever? Will an alternative suffix hurt traffic or SEO?In this episode, we dissect the difference between the dots, and share our advice on what to do when the dot com of your dreams is a little out of reach. 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.

When entrepreneurs think of Twitter, they usually think of marketing.But they should also think about product development.Why? Because people love to complain, especially on social media. And when they complain about certain challenges — and certain products — you get free insight into how your business can solve the problems no one else is solving! In other words, Twitter is 100% free market research.It’s simply too easy (and too valuable) to pass up. Today, Omar shares real-world examples of how a little Twitter research can help position your company to be a hero to consumers. Learn how to use Twitter to rethink your product, and how to sell 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.

Maybe you haven’t started your business yet. Maybe it’s brand-new. Maybe it’s established and producing results.Whatever the case, the question is the same: what’s your next move?For an answer (well, 5 answers actually), we turn to Patrick Bet-David’s Your Next Five Moves, an eye-opening business strategy book that takes a unique approach to the entrepreneur’s journey — and definitely belongs on your Must-Read list.David was a refugee who, after fleeing from abject chaos, founded a massively successful company on a national scale. Now, he interviews other moguls and celebrities, and offers incredibly valuable insights into the nature of success itself. This book distills David’s hard-earned wisdom into a set of 5 “moves” that every business person has to master in order to reach the next plateau. Today, we explain what those moves are, why they’re so crucial, and share the best takeaways from this incredible book. Click Play!Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-DavidDiscover 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.

Everything starts in your mind.Have you ever heard advice that sounds generally true, but too broad, obvious, or simple to actually take action on? Does the above seem like that kind of advice?Often, the problem isn’t with the advice. It’s that we’re not really putting it into practice.Today, Omar shares what might be the single most important principle he lives by — one to which he credits his success in business and other pursuits. It might sound a little woo-woo, or too simple to actually make a huge impact. But it’s worked wonders.Spoiler alert: it’s not a finance strategy or a workout regimen. It’s something you do to make sure your mind is where it needs to be, to make everything possible.Learn this keystone strategy, one that’s been passed down through multiple generations of entrepreneurs. Hear how you can apply it to your own goals. And see what happens when you really, truly, live by 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.