The $100 MBA Show

The new year can bring more than one kind of hangover.So many businesses see a huge bump in sales around the holidays, only to suffer a serious dry spell right after. In some cases, the post-holiday drought can almost cancel out the gains that preceded it. The worst part? For many businesses, it doesn’t have to happen. Today, we offer a few ways to avoid that first-quarter slump.The beginning of the year offers unique opportunities to make serious strides. If you prepare in advance, you can pluck the fruit that most businesses miss. Hear our strategies, and choose the ones that will work best for you. Make your 2022 less of a rollercoaster, and more of an acceleration lane. 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’re making a huge change to our business — and you’re invited to witness.As many listeners know, we run a SaaS business. Our webinar software has been on the market since 2014, and growing steadily. This week, we’re taking a big leap: ditching our free trial, and moving to a completely free plan with no expiration.In other words, we’ve decided to give our product away.…well, a version of it, anyway. The “freemium” model is all the rage, and likely to continue. So after consulting with friends and experts, we’ve decided to let our product do the marketing for us.Today, we discuss how we arrived at this decision, what we hope to get out of it, and how we’re executing the big transition. It’s a scary, exciting time — join us for the ride, and see if a freemium approach can work 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.

Most service-based businesses (web design, copywriting, photography, etc) charge in a way that’s…well, limited.Usually it’s by the hour, or some other fixed unit that helps the client predict what they’ll spend. But there’s another way to charge. It’s a little different. It requires some risk on your part. But if you and the client are willing to try it, you can both make (much) more money.It can also help you land clients that are on the fence.You might not use this trick for every job. But when you do, it has the potential to create serious revenue — and best of all, much of that revenue is passive. If it seems like it’s a little out of left field, it is. But it’s definitely worth a try.Find out what this radically different strategy is, and see if it can work 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.

What is Facebook about to do?Everyone’s talking about Meta and the Metaverse, but not everyone knows exactly what they’re talking about. Part rebrand, part new platform, part complete overhaul of the entire Internet — whatever it is, it’s potentially huge.Today, we clear up the confusion.More importantly, we’ll discuss what potential opportunities and/or problems Meta might create for your business. If this ambitious plan actually comes to fruition the way Mr. Zuckerberg intends, it will be a game changer, for better or worse.Whether you love Facebook or hate it, we can’t ignore its still-evolving impact on how we do business. Get a crash course in what might be the next big phase of social media and digital marketing. 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 brain is your most important tool. And tools need maintenance.Taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is not indulgence — it’s business. Investing time and effort into brain health is what a responsible leader does. But sometimes, we need a little guidance. That’s where Tanessa Shears comes in.Tanessa is a biohacking expert and health consultant for entrepreneurs. Today, she shares a few tips that can improve your sleep, boost your focus, and keep you at the top of your game. The best part? You can start doing all of it immediately.The hard-hustling culture of entrepreneurship can backfire. Sacrificing health for work is always counterproductive, especially when it’s your own business at stake. Take these tips, and establish a healthier routine. Click Play!12 Ways to Biohack Your Energybrain.fmSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Need a boost to get through tough times, or just meet a short-term goal?We’ve got you covered.Today, we share 5 specific ways you can inject some black ink into the ol’ profit and loss sheet — quickly, and at very little cost. These are all tactics we’ve used in our businesses, which you can use alone or in combinations.Best of all? None of them are very difficult to pull off.No matter what kind of business you run, one or more of these moves will work for you. We’ll explain why they work, and offer details on how to execute. Get over that last-quarter goal line — 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 have to go the other way.Black Friday & Cyber Monday have become almost like holidays unto themselves. The only problem? The “tradition” of trampling each other for discount blenders or sending Amazon fulfillment centers into apocalypse mode isn’t right for every business.Not to mention, it has some serious drawbacks.Today, we explain why our company decided to skip Black Friday this year, and institute a new tradition. The reasons are both practical and moral, which pretty much sums up the best thing about being an entrepreneur: the freedom to choose what your business stands for.Tune in, see why we’re bucking the trend, and consider the possibility of doing something different — just because you can. 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 toughest thing about entrepreneurship is putting faith in other people. That’s especially true when you need to hire someone. None of us know how to do everything — creatives might not know how engineering works, graphic designers might not know SEO; the list goes on. So how can you build the best team when you haven’t played all the positions yourself?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener in exactly that pickle.This listener is a founder and engineer, who needs a copywriter. But as an engineer, how on Earth can they recognize the talent and disposition that makes an ace writer? The short answer is…they can’t. So what’s an entrepreneur to do?Today, we explain how to make sure your hires are solid, by getting a little help from outside the company. 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.

How do you get on Groupon? More importantly…should you?Groupon has a thriving business with a massive global reach. The only problem for you? Their revenue comes from drastically reducing yours. Groupon became a household name by selling vastly discounted products and services from companies who partner with them.But of course, there’s a huge upside.Today, we share our own experience with Groupon, and why we…well, kinda love it. We’ll explain why it can be a great idea to sell your product on Groupon, and how to make sure you reap maximum benefits.Before you put your product on Groupon, listen to this. Click Play!GrouponSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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 can you build what you really want to build? Do you have the courage to put your vision ahead of metrics? The work ethic to give it your all? The flexibility to figure out what works for your company, even if it’s a little different?If that sounds like you, you’ll probably love Amir Salihefendic. The founder and CEO of Doist (that’s the parent company of Todoist and Twist), Amir built something that tens of millions of people love — and just might represent the future of remote work.Today, Omar sits down for an extended talk with Amir, plunging into everything from failure, the immigrant experience, working with a distributed team, and much more.This interview is an absolute must for any aspiring entrepreneur. You can build a business that suits your life, and not the other way around. You can stick to a vision that takes time and patience to bring to fruition. You can reach extreme heights of success — not just in spite of, but because of modest origins. Hear how Amir did it, and be inspired. Click Play!Anything You Want by Derek SiversSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Most service-based businesses (web design, copywriting, photography, etc) charge in a way that’s…well, limited.Usually it’s by the hour, or some other fixed unit that helps the client predict what they’ll spend. But there’s another way to charge. It’s a little different. It requires some risk on your part. But if you and the client are willing to try it, you can both make (much) more money.It can also help you land clients that are on the fence.You might not use this trick for every job. But when you do, it has the potential to create serious revenue — and best of all, much of that revenue is passive. If it seems like it’s a little out of left field, it is. But it’s definitely worth a try.Find out what this radically different strategy is, and see if it can work 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.

Tired of staring at that blank word doc?Writing can be hard. It can be intimidating. But you’ve got knowledge to share, and potential customers to bring to your website. So how can you pump out great content, reliably? All you need is a system.Today, we show you how to get the good stuff out of your head and onto the page. With a relatively simple template, you can break the entire writing process down into a few bite-sized steps — and turn yourself into a quality-content machine.The written word is still the most powerful asset a website can have. Even with video and other media, search engines are still driven largely by words. Learn how to write content that’s valuable to readers, but also tailored for great SEO.Share your insight, drive traffic, and end the anxiety of blogger’s block. 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 an age-old e-commerce debate: should you offer free shipping?There is a firm answer, but it’s not as simple as ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Like so many things in business, it depends.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener decide whether to ship their high-end iPhone accessories at their own expense, or make the customer cover it. Is shipping a deal-breaker? Can covering shipping increase sales to the point where it’s worth the cost?Like we said — it depends.Today, we draw on our own experience in e-commerce to help you figure out which kind of business you’re running. Is it the kind where customers are won or lost based on perks like free shipping? Or is it the kind where the cost of shipping is more than worth it to get your product?By putting some time into analyzing your customers and their buying journey, you can find the answer. 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.

Is your business healthy? How do you know?For a small business, it can be hard to tell which metrics really matter. You can lose yourself down endless rabbit holes of analytics — without really gaining any useful insight. And as your business grows, the complexity of data grows too. Maybe the most useful question is: what metrics can you afford to ignore?Today, we discuss which stats you should spend your time and effort on. By ignoring the numbers that don’t speak directly to the health of your business, you free yourself up to focus on what actually, truly makes a difference. Call it “analytical minimalism.” Keeping track of too many metrics can leave you more overwhelmed than informed. Get a better picture of your business, by simply looking at less. 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.

Why do some entrepreneurs win, while others…just don’t?If you ask reality TV star and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, the short answer is hustle — even though so many other factors are outside your control.Today, we review Cuban’s book, How to Win at the Sport of Business. Packed with actionable, down-to-Earth advice, this book leaves no doubt as to how Cuban rose from modest means to serious wealth: through sheer hustle, and never letting go of a small business owner’s mindset.Even as a multi-billionaire, Cuban plays exactly the same game we all play — just at a bigger scale. The book’s lessons apply just as well to a Mom & Pop store or software startup as they would to a global conglomerate. Adapted from a series of blog posts, this book is straightforward, personal, and (most importantly) useful. Hear our takeaways: Click Play!How to Win at the Sport of Business by Mark CubanDiscover 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.

What is your business worst at?No one can be the best at everything. But to survive and thrive in business, we have to make a conscious effort to address our weak points. Whether it’s marketing, sales, support, or any other aspect of your business, you can always improve.Today, we explain how.With a shift in mindset, you can become the kind of entrepreneur who leaves no aspect of their game stuck in a rut. The ability to take ownership of your weaknesses and do something about them is a must-have skill. Learn how to reflect on your business, see where you can do better, and make a demonstrable change. It can be done effectively, and without slowing down the progress you’re making in stronger areas. Get the details — 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.

Workers have more options — which means small businesses have more opportunities.If the COVID-19 pandemic has a silver lining, it’s the “Great Resignation.” Across the globe, people are quitting jobs that aren’t fulfilling, challenging, or lucrative enough. Part of that has to do with an expanded social safety net, but there’s more to it than that.More importantly, the Great Resignation is changing how founders need to manage their teams.Today, we’ll discuss the mindset of the Great Resigners, and what all businesses (big and small) can do to attract and retain the best talent. We’ll explore what aspects of this transition to a “new normal” in the workplace can be tough for employers — and how they can get over it. The empowerment of workers is not a disadvantage to business owners, if they’re ready and willing to adapt. In fact, the businesses who get with the times will thrive! 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.

Paid advertising can supercharge your growth — or just drain your budget.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners has a problem. They’ve spent $20k on paid advertising, and gotten squat as a result. Facebook, Insta, YouTube, and more have produced nothing in terms of conversions, despite their dumping a used car’s worth of money into ads.What’s going on here?Today, we explore what could be causing this problem, and how to improve the ROI on paid ads. More importantly, we discuss why small business owners should not jump into spending too much too soon on paid ads.Before you start throwing money down the well, listen to this lesson, and reevaluate how to make paid ads a part of your overall strategy. 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.

You wouldn’t pay millions of dollars for a screenshot of the Mona Lisa from Google Images. But the original hanging in the Louvre is priceless, because there’s only one of those.Now apply that logic to digital files, and you can understand NFTs.Yes, people are spending millions of dollars for images of things you can see for free. That’s because blockchain technology has made it possible to identify digital originals called NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens. They’re not made of earthly material like canvas and paint, but they’re unique — and therefore valuable.NFTs are a booming (if hard to understand) business. But like any collectible — think baseball cards, action figures, comic books — the value of an NFT isn’t inherent. It’s perceived. Today, we discuss what NFTs are, and whether you should invest in them. And, we warn you about the inevitable NFT scams that are all too easy to fall prey to. 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.

She’s the best-selling author, thought leader, and all-around veteran of entrepreneurship whose advice helps and inspires millions. The one and only Dorie Clark is here to share some business wisdom!In this extended interview, Omar sits down with Dorie to discuss long-term strategic thinking, and Dorie’s new book on the topic: The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World. Trends and “next big things” can keep our minds stuck in the present, and distract us from building the right future — especially since that whole Internet thing came along. Today, Omar and Dorie explore what it looks like when people and companies fail to keep the future in mind, and how it ultimately robs them of success. No one can predict the next ten, twenty, or thirty years and beyond. Having a long-term mindset isn’t about perseverating on any particular goal. Rather, it’s about including the next several decades in your day-to-day outlook. Learn how it’s done, from one of the most sought-after experts in business — Click Play!The Long Game by Dorie ClarkSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Marketing starts with a name.Every product needs a name that doesn’t just express your company’s personality, but actively begins the marketing process. The name has to occupy a space in consumers’ minds, quickly, and create associations conducive to purchasing.After all, there’s no word-of-mouth without the right word.Today, we share a few “rules” to follow when choosing a product name. By following these few basic principles, you can avoid choosing names that hurt your marketing down the road. You might be surprised to hear how much trouble you can avoid, with just a little forethought.Start your marketing off on the right foot — 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.

Can you find customers on Quora?It’s one of the top Q&A-based sites, right up there with Reddit. Quora pages often rank high in search engine results for certain topics, which begs the question: should your business have a presence there? Quora allows you to post sponsored answers to questions in your niche. It’s also much more competitively priced than other online ad platforms, like Google and Facebook — which means it might be the smartest place to spend some of your ad budget. Today, we help you decide.In this episode, we discuss how it works, and how to decide if it’s a good fit for you. We explain how to decide whether to give it a try, then outline a way to experiment with the platform to see if an even bigger investment makes sense. 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 a $100 MBA Show first — Omar refuses to answer a listener’s question!You read that right. It’s Q&A Wednesday, but our intrepid host has finally found a question he just can’t bring himself to tackle. It’s not because he doesn’t know the answer. Rather, it’s because the question itself begs an even better one: Why would you ask family and friends to invest in your business?Today, Omar helps our listener by explaining why taking money from folks in your personal life is not the best strategy. There’s an alternative — a way, way better alternative — and about a thousand reasons to consider it.Learn why investments from friends & fam can cost more than they’re worth, and what to do instead. 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.

What’s price anchoring? We’re so glad you asked.You’re probably doing it already — but maybe not as effectively as you could be. It’s an old-school sales move that can work for any business. It uses basic psychology to make the best case for buying your product or service. And best of all, it’s pretty easy to do!By creating the right mental context for a purchase, you help potential customers make the right choice. It’s the basis of every sale, discount, and tiered pricing structure in the world. By understanding price anchoring more thoroughly, you can execute it more effectively.Tune in, and learn how to make price anchoring work for your business. Then, watch the sales roll in. 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.

Not in the real estate game? Maybe you should be.Real estate isn’t just for realtors, or full-time home-flippers. It’s a smart place to send cash you’ve earmarked for reinvestment. ‘Reinvestment’ can mean many things — including moves that don’t put cash directly into your business, but create overall stability.So how can you get started?Real estate investment expert James Knull is here with the most important tips. Today, James explores why real estate is a perfect way to diversify your passive income streams, and why property is particularly clutch as you approach retirement. Learn what to look for in an investment properly, and how to make sure the math works in your favor — no matter what business you’re in. Click Play!Mogul Realty GroupSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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 odds of success are low.It’s a little uncomfortable to admit, but it’s too true to ignore. According to a recent study, about 80% of businesses fail within the first 2 years. Which begs the question: why?Today, we share what kills most new businesses. Having started businesses that crashed and burned before we “made it,” we know what it takes to fail! And in our experience, it usually comes down to one of a few reasons. If you can avoid these, your odds can improve — by a mile.Hear how to avoid the fate of most new businesses, by avoiding the mistakes we just don’t talk about enough. Learn from our experience and others’, so you can succeed where we didn’t! Get realistic, and confront the realities of entrepreneurship, so you can be one of the 20%. 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 one of the best ways to become an entrepreneur: start with a side hustle. But how do you turn a side gig into the real thing? How do you scale up and achieve “escape velocity” when you’ve only got so much time and money? You do it the same way we did!Today, Omar explains how to stop trading time for money, and start helping your business grow into full maturity. You can’t keep doing it all on your own — not if you want the business to give you a sustainable full-time income. To scale up, you’ll have to let go.Learn what you’ll have to do — and accept — in order to help your business reach that next level. It may be a little difficult at first, but once you get out of “worker bee” mode and into entrepreneur mode, you’ll be glad you did. 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.

Decisions can be like quicksand. If you’re not careful, you can get stuck in a place where the more you do, the more trapped you become.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners has a classic problem: they’re a big-time second guesser, never quite comfortable with their own decisions — even long after the fact. And as their business grows, so do the potential consequences of “analysis paralysis.”Is second-guessing a habit that can be broken? If so, how?Today, we share the one key to getting over this syndrome. We’ll discuss why self-doubt happens, and how to get over it. With examples from our own experience, we’ll present a different way of looking at decision-making — one that changes your relationship to it.Get more comfortable with your own decisions, permanently. 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.

It’s one of the most tempting mistakes you can make: measuring yourself by someone else’s ruler.Or more accurately, measuring yourself by what you think other people are achieving. It wastes time and energy. It throws off your confidence and creativity. Through self-imposed feelings of inadequacy, FOMO, and simply falling for the Insta-version of other people’s lives and businesses, you can really wear yourself thin.It’s time to stop.Today, we explore how to measure your own progress in a healthier way. By pegging your goals and self-evaluations to more objective, realistic, and personal standards, you can let go of the endless, useless comparisons that are holding you back.Business is competitive — but that doesn’t mean you should define yourself by your competitors. 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.

Sick of online meetings? Who isn’t?Since an unprecedented number of us suddenly became remote workers, “Zoom fatigue” has set in hard. For many of us, virtual meetings are the worst part of our day. Between staring at our own webcam feeds and sneaking peeks at Facebook, we’re forced to ask: is there a better way?Turns out there is.Lauren Sergy is a speaking and communications expert. Today, she tackles what may be the biggest communications challenge of our time: making virtual meetings less godawful. She’ll discuss exactly what makes these meetings so unpleasant, and offer 3 tactics you can use to get more out of them in less time.Learn how to plan better (not more) online meetings, and get the strategies you can use on and offline to be a better communicator and leader. Click Play!Unmute! by Lauren SergySUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

In business, you have to be selective.You have to be selective in how you spend your time, money, and energy. You have to prioritize, and focus on what matters at the cost of what doesn’t. And when it comes to other people, you won’t have bandwidth for everyone — especially not jerks.That’s right, jerks. Toolbags. A-holes. People who just aren’t nice. Sometimes, they’re your customers. Other times, they’re your employees. They can even be your partners. But you have the sacred right — in fact, a duty — to cut them loose. At first, it might make you feel like the jerk, but eventually you’ll realize that protecting the environment you build means excluding those who bring a bad vibe.We learned it the hard way, so you don’t have to. 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.

“Not seeing color” isn’t an option for some of us. Whether we like it or not, the experience of minority groups is different.But that’s not always a bad thing. In fact, being different can be an asset. Overcoming the challenges unique to POC can make you the kind of entrepreneur who’s uniquely qualified to navigate other challenges. Business — especially marketing — is about perception. It’s about the courage to be yourself, and the skills to communicate with people who don’t see what you see. You get a lot of practice with that, when you don’t look like the people around you.As you might know, our intrepid host Omar was born to first-generation immigrants, who instilled in him a love of Egyptian culture along with business savvy and a serious work ethic. That experience — and the experience of being misunderstood, typecast, and questioned by his peers — became the building blocks of the entrepreneur he is today.Tune in, and learn how your differences can be your greatest strength. 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 first challenge of e-commerce: keeping track of inventory.It can be a nail-biting affair to predict exactly how much product to order or create, without knowing exactly how much people will buy. Too much, and you lose money on overhead. Too little, and you lose money on lost sales and slow fulfillment. How do you strike the right balance?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener find the e-commerce Goldilocks Zone.This listener runs an auto parts business, which can be particularly tricky to predict. In this episode, we explain a simple formula for deciding how much product to keep on hand, and how to measure the success of your predictions. You can never know precisely how much product customers will ask for. But by studying industry patterns, you can make a very educated guess. 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.

Company policies: do they uphold your principles and offer a guidepost for how your team conducts business? Or are they just fluff?We all know that the only real rules are the ones that actually get enforced. Is it realistic — or even necessary — to have hard-and-fast policies? Do your policies keep your team grounded and in line with company values, or are they just words?Is it professionalism, or pantomime?Today, we discuss how to have real policies that genuinely guide your team. In fact, your team should play a key role in creating those policies, to ensure they’re a compact, an agreement, rather than a set of top-down mandates. Put your values into action, and get your entire team on board. 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.

Every business owner has to deal with forces beyond their control. But handling what you can control is usually enough to guarantee that you can navigate whatever happens.That’s the basic premise of Great by Choice, Jim Collins’ study of businesses that thrive in unpredictable, even hostile conditions. Researched like a thorough work of academia, but written like an accessible guide for real-world entrepreneurs, Great by Choice makes one thing clear: you can succeed, come what may.You just have to stick to certain principles.With a conscious strategic approach, you can organize your business around big-picture ideas that equip you to weather the storms. Just as good nutrition and fitness can preclude all kinds of threats to your health, certain key principles of business “wellness” can make you resilient. Click Play!Great by Choice by Jim CollinsBuilt to Last by Jim CollinsGood to Great by Jim CollinsDiscover 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.

Which software is best?Whether it’s for web design, CRM, payment processing, fulfillment — you name it — every new business eventually runs into the question above. And yes, you can sift through company websites, review forums, and more as you search for The One. But listen to this episode first!Today, we’re not reviewing software. Instead, we offer a matrix, a list of questions you should ask yourself before considering any of your options. By nailing down exactly what you and your business need, you can do better than searching for the “best” tool. You can search for the best tool for you. If you’re not careful, software (and its costs) can pile up. Stay lean, and take a strategic approach to your choices. We’ll show you 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.

One of the biggest reasons for unsubscribes: too many emails.Of course, one of the biggest reasons for slow sales is not enough emails. So how many is enough? What’s the Goldilocks Zone for email frequency? Healthy open and click rates are the key to online marketing. Even in the age of social, email is still the highest-converting way to reach out to your audience. But inboxes are becoming harder and harder to get into — and stay in for the long haul.Today, we discuss how to know if you’re under-or-over-communicating, and how to establish an email frequency that works for you and your audience. With a little research, strategy, and communication, you can get it just right.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 written word: it’s still your most powerful tool for creating online traffic. But sometimes, you have to stimulate that traffic by getting your thoughts onto someone else’s site.The question is, why would anyone let you?Guest posting was huge for our business in its early days. By posting on more popular sites, Omar was able to build a foundation that made everything else possible. In fact, we still get traffic from years-old guest posts that continue to resonate — and generate leads.But first, Omar had to convince these other bloggers to host his posts. Today, Omar shares how. With a creative (if somewhat more labor-intensive) method, he went from being ignored to hearing a big loud “yes” from other blogs. This trick can work for you — if you’re willing to put the effort in. 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.

In business, you have to play the hand you’re dealt. In the age of COVID, that means moving traditionally IRL activities online.Sometimes that works out. Sometimes…not as much.Following up on our episode about why we chose to hold a virtual retreat, today we discuss the results. Our online “retreat week” just ended, and we learned a few things. Some aspects of it worked well — really well. But some in-person experiences are just irreplaceable.With dozens of employees on four continents, we had some fears and apprehensions about organizing this event. Hear how we decided to navigate the whole thing, and how it went. You might just get some great ideas for building camaraderie virtually, when there’s no other way. 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.

Think of yourself as a coach, and watch your team win.Too many team leaders act as “managers.” But think about how we use that term outside of business. We “manage” problems, difficulties. Our employees are neither. Instead, our employees are investments — and they can only deliver returns when we bring out the best in them.Ruchira Chaudhary is a renowned consultant who teaches leaders how to lead, rather than manage. The best way to do that? Be your team’s coach. Today, Ruchira explains exactly what she means by “coaching” in this context, and lays out a complete framework for bringing this approach to your business.Help your team — and yourself — to grow. Learn how to lead by coaching, and the results will speak for themselves. Click Play!Coaching: The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership by Ruchira ChaudharySUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Apple knows what they’re doing.Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the world’s leading tech company has a unique ability to excite their own market. Each year, Apple’s fall announcement of new products and updates causes a stir — and offers incredibly valuable lessons for entrepreneurs.Today, we share 4 of those lessons.Apple events are worth watching for any business founder. When this company puts what they have on the table, you can glean crucial insights into their mission and strategy. Then, you can apply those broad lessons to your own operation. Hear what we got from this year’s event, and how you can use it too. 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.

Marketing isn’t just about what brings customers to your door. It’s what brings customers together that counts. When your business model includes some element of a movement, you do better than creating leads and sales. You create a sense of community that drives long-term brand loyalty, and full-blown evangelism for your brand.In other words, your customers become your greatest marketing asset — without you even asking them to.Today, we explain how and why movement-based businesses succeed. With examples from small businesses and household names, we explore how engaging people in a philosophy creates a business that thrives and endures. 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 a symbol worth?When you start a business, you start lean. That means making careful choices about where to spend your marketing dollars. When it comes to branding, how important is the company logo? How much is really worth investing when you have plenty of other costs?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a brand-new business who needs to know.Some schools of thought say that any logo will do at first, and to wait for momentum before you go paying graphic designers. Others say a high-quality pro logo goes a long way towards creating that momentum. What’s the right approach?Today, we discuss what kind of a priority your logo really is, and the best ways to go about creating it. 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.

Peloton is one of the most successful fitness business models ever. How did they pull it off?Exercise equipment comes and goes. Most of the time, companies that sell in-home workout machines have terrible churn, as New Years’ resolutions become next year’s regrets and laundry starts to pile up on the treadmill. What makes Peloton different?Peloton didn’t invent the stationary bike. What they created was a community.In this episode, we unpack the recipe for success behind Peloton. Focusing on a few key things Peloton did right, we explore how this company went from Kickstarter to kicking butts across the US and the globe.See what Peloton did right — so you can do it in your 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.

Hi [First Name],Do your cold emails…work?Most people’s don’t. That’s because writing cold emails is different from any other kind of copywriting. If you want results, you have to craft emails in a way that strikes the right tone — and doesn’t come off as a phony attempt to be personal.Fortunately, we have an expert on that.Laura Lopuch is a copywriting expert who teaches people how to turn words into wins. Having built her own business largely on the strength of her emails, Laura is here with a quick lesson on how it’s done. Tune in, and learn how to nail the tone and content of your most important cold messages. Learn Laura’s guiding philosophy, and why “personalization” might be hurting more than it’s helping. Click Play!Cold Email TemplateSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.

Take a cue from the tortoise. Slow & steady is the way forward.Entrepreneurship is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. In fact, it’s not even a race — it’s a lifestyle! And slower growth is the most stable kind of growth. Instead of fretting that you’re not an overnight (or over-week, or over-year) success, take a breath, and realize that’s probably a good thing.We’ve seen businesses collapse under “catastrophic success,” where the business grows too fast to keep up with!Today, we’ll provide concrete examples of why pacing yourself is the best way to ensure the future. Plus, we’ll discuss how to gauge the speed of your growth, and determine if it’s too fast, too slow, or just 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.

As anyone in business can tell you, all tragedies contain opportunities. Today, we discuss how in certain situations, it’s never been easier to start a business (or expand one) — because of the pandemic. Savvy entrepreneurs can identify the gaps in the market the disaster left behind. If you’re able, the chance to fill one of those gaps could be a once-in-a-lifetime shot.For every door that COVID has closed, it’s also opened up new paths forward for those who are willing and able to start the journey.The pre-pandemic world can’t really ever come back. But with an entrepreneurial spirit, we can build a future from what this world-altering crisis left behind. Let’s get that future going, starting right now — 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 is still one of the most effective (and cost-effective) kinds of content marketing.But does frequency matter? If so, how often should you post?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping a relatively new blogger figure out how much content to pump out. In 6 months, this blogger hasn’t seen the needle move much. Does it make a difference if you publish every day, week, or month? The short answer is yes — but there are other, bigger factors.Everything from SEO to reader habits have changed since the dawn of the Internet. Today, we discuss what really drives blog readership and helps market your business. Learn how the blogging landscape has evolved, and what you can do to keep your audience engaged. 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.

If you don’t listen to your customers, you’ll lose them.Just as true: if you listen too much to your customers…you’ll lose them.Feedback matters. What your customers say should help guide your product development, or you won’t be competitive for long. But you can’t please everybody — and you can’t let yourself be blown around like a leaf in the wind by a thousand different opinions.So what should you do?Today, we nail down an organized, scientific approach to gathering and utilizing customer feedback. We’ll discuss how to ask customers what they think, when to ask them, and what tools to use to keep all that feedback organized.Most importantly, we’ll explain how to know which feedback is high-priority and actionable.Learn how to strike the balance between being tone-deaf and being too eager to please. Hear your customers out in a meaningful 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.

“Marketing.” The term is vague. New entrepreneurs don’t always know exactly what it means — let alone how to do it effectively.That’s why we’re so happy to have John Jantsch.A best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and founder of Duct Tape Marketing, John specializes in helping small businesses market effectively. In today’s extended conversation, John and Omar discuss what marketing is really for — and how to know you’re doing it right.In other words, we’re cutting through the “hacks” to discover what really, truly works.By focusing on what’s proven over time for countless companies, you can bypass the forest of trends and create a real marketing “engine,” a system that delivers consistent results. In this full-length interview, we get deep into the details. Click Play!The Ultimate Marketing Engine by John JantschSpokeSUBSCRIBEYouTube | 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.