The $100 MBA Show

The business meal: effective relationship builder, or Mad Men throwback?While the 3-martini lunches of the past may no longer be in vogue, buying someone a meal can be an incredibly good investment. A meal can add a layer of personal connection that’s often missing from today’s mostly virtual business relationships. It can open doors. It can even be the start of a long-term partnership.Of course, you have to do it right.Today, we’ll discuss how the modern business lunch or dinner works. From choosing the restaurant to setting your expectations, the casual bite requires thought and planning. It’s warm, it’s personal, and it’s even a little old-fashioned. But it’s a strategy, one with serious business potential. With a little forethought, you might be one falafel away from moving your business forward. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1337 Do Business Lunches & Dinners Still Work? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We usually think of content as something we give away. But should you be getting something in return, besides exposure? Today, we discuss whether to build the wall — the paywall, that is. Or at the very least, whether you should require an email address or other opt-in to access your premium content. Does it deter people from accessing your content, and possibly being converted? Or does a gate have the opposite effect, signifying value and moving visitors closer to becoming customers? Whether you host a podcast, create videos, or write guides and e-books, a solid gate may be ironic; rather than separating you from your audience, this barrier might actually bring people closer. When someone chooses to exchange something for content, they’ve bought more than access — they’ve bought in. Tune in, and decide if some of your content would be more effective if it wasn’t just given away. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Kronos Kronos is workforce innovation that works. Kronos puts HR, payroll, talent, and timekeeping on a single, cloud-based platform specially designed to give HR professionals supporting a blended workforce a whole new level of confidence. Learn more at kronos.com/hrswagger Show Links WebinarNinja The post MBA1336 Is Gated Content a Good Idea? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Success requires the right tools. For entrepreneurs, tool #1 is usually the laptop. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener decide which laptop is best for her business. She’s an online coach, so her window to the online world will have a major effect on her business. With so many options and so many features available, the mind can boggle at the sheer variety of computers out there. Fortunately, we know a thing or two about online business, and the tech available. Today, we’ll explain what really matters when it comes to laptops. From screen size to RAM to storage space, your choice has to fit your needs. Whatever your budget, there’s a laptop out there can help you reach your goals. You just have to distinguish it from the other (approximately) billion laptops on the market. Tune in, and hear what specs actually make a difference. Plus, we’ll share our favorite laptops at various price points — and don’t worry, these recommendations are sponsorship-free. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Bank of America Feeling stuck in your job? Bank of America’s Academy for Consumers and Small Business can help. Bank of America can help you start on a long term career path through peer mentoring, immersive programs, and a variety of clear and distinct paths. Take the first step towards your long term career at careers.bankofamerica.com now! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Logitech C920 Webcam WebinarNinja MacBook Pro Surface Book 2 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Lenovo Yoga The post MBA1335 Q&A Wednesday: I am a business coach. What is the best laptop to buy? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We work from home. Why? More importantly, should you? Some of the reasons are obvious, like the convenience of having no commute and the money saved on renting a space. But those aren’t the only reasons we’ve chosen to run our entire business — remote team included — from the same building in which we sleep and eat. There’s a lot more to it. We’ve been doing it this way for about 6 years. We’ve also tried the alternatives: coworking spaces, cafes, and even a full-on office. After all our experimenting, we don’t only know that working from home is our best option. We know why it’s our best option. Today, we’ll discuss how working from home affects our productivity, sanity, and success. We’ll also be clear about what can go wrong with a home office, and why this one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. Listen in, and decide where your business should call home. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies Work got you bogged down? Treat yourself to new M&M’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies. They’re an instant classic, guaranteed to deliver a delicious combo of hazelnut spread and milk chocolate in every bite-sized piece. Add a little luxury to your workday — go Hazel-nutty and try the new MM’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies today! Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth The post MBA1334 Why We Decided Against Renting an Office appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How long will this take? It’s a question we have to ask about every task, big or small. One of the toughest parts of managing a team is coordinating a long-term project with some sense of timeliness. Multiple people, multiple agendas, all adding up to one result. It can’t take too long, but it can’t be rushed, either. You need some idea of how long a project should take, but everyone has to be on board. That’s where this week’s special guest teacher comes in. Laura B. Janusek is a project management expert, and founding member of Modern Teacher. She knows that accurate timelines can empower a team, especially if everyone buys into the target completion date. She also knows that “deadline” can be a scary concept, especially with a complex goal. Today, Janusek lays out a specific technique she uses to bring the team together and decide on a realistic timeline. By making the estimate a shared task, the team takes ownership of the company’s time, and avoids feeling either rushed or complacent. Before you tackle your next big project, tune in. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! HoneyBook HoneyBook is an all-in-one business management platform for creative small businesses. They make it easy to streamline your process with client and calendar management tools, plus custom branded proposals and contracts. Save hundreds or thousands of hours a year. Get 50% off your first year by using promo code MBA at honeybook.com Show Links WebinarNinja The post MBA1333 Guest Teacher: Laura B. Janusek- How to Estimate How Long a Group Project Will Take appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Social media can be hard to keep up with. But for entrepreneurs, every marketing opportunity counts. So what’s up with TikTok? There’s always a “next big thing” in social media, and many platforms are more hype than usefulness. But TikTok is making waves, and its success has reached a point where ignoring it is no longer the wisest option. It’s currently the 4th largest platform online — bigger (we kid you not) than Twitter. With hundreds of millions of active users, it’s pretty inconceivable that none of them are potential customers. TikTok’s explosive growth in the last few years indicates that spending a little time exploring the potential of this video sharing platform may be in your company’s best interest. See if TikTok can make a difference for your business — Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links EasyCourse TikTok The post MBA1332 What is TikTok and Do You Need To Start Using It? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get better at what you do. Get faster. Get more efficient. Get things done. Today, we’re highlighting the 5 best productivity tools an entrepreneur could ask for — when the budget is $0. It’s almost shocking that these tools are free, because the value they add is incalculable. At zero cost to you, you can organize your life and work in ways that maximize your output. If you’re putting the “lean” in lean startup, these tools are musts. Some you’ve heard of, some maybe not. But all of them help you get more out of every minute you work, and help you reach your goals that much sooner. Boost your productivity, and hasten your growth, without spending a dime. We use each and every one of these tools ourselves, and we almost feel guilty for not paying…almost. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth Show Links Trello LastPass EverNote Bonus Tool: MarkUp Hero: Screenshot and Annotation Tool The post MBA1331 My Top 5 Free Productivity Tools appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Entrepreneurship is challenging. But the biggest challenge is the mental challenge to leave guaranteed outcomes behind, and strike out on your own. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a risk-averse listener who’s terrified of failing in business. He needs to know how to bridge the emotional gap between a comfortable day job and the wild ride of independence. Getting started means taking a leap, a brave, scary, momentous leap into a world of total freedom — and undeniable uncertainty. We can’t blame our listener for being a little hesitant. Today, we’ll discuss how to overcome the mental barrier between you and entrepreneurship. We’ve got specific strategies for confronting the dark unknown, and getting comfortable enough with the prospect of failure to beat your fear. Being afraid is normal. Being afraid is healthy. But being afraid should never hold you back. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies Work got you bogged down? Treat yourself to new M&M’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies. They’re an instant classic, guaranteed to deliver a delicious combo of hazelnut spread and milk chocolate in every bite-sized piece. Add a little luxury to your workday — go Hazel-nutty and try the new MM’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies today! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Shoe Dog by Phil Knight The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz Elon Musk by Ashley Vance Born Standing Up by Steve Martin I Can’t Make This Up by Kevin Hart MBA1323: How to Build a 7-Figure Business Without Quitting Your Full-Time Day Job with Shaan Patel The post MBA1330 Q&A Wednesday: How do I get ready to take the leap into business? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You busted your butt. You worked the long hours. You poured yourself into your business. Now, it’s going well.Time to take some of that time back.It may take some serious effort to get a startup started, but once that business is off the ground, you deserve to refocus on your own life and happiness. It’s way, way too easy to get stuck in the habit of overworking. Hell, it’s necessary at first. But you have to know when it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your (extraordinary) labor. Easier said than done, of course.Today, we discuss how to gradually, safely, confidently take your hands off the wheel a bit, at least on the weekends. Pumping the brakes and slowing down the pace for yourself doesn’t mean slowing the pace of your growth or your business’ success. It means taking care of yourself, so that you’re in a condition to be a great long-term leader.Learn how to make a smart, intentional transition into a semi-normal schedule that won’t disrupt you or your business. Reward yourself with the knowledge that you can kick back, relax, and take your mind off business for a bit, every week. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSStitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewThe post MBA1329 How to Reclaim Your Weekends appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don’t need to start a business to be an entrepreneur. You just need to find one.Sometimes, there’s an alternative path we just don’t see. Jaryd Krause saw one, as a working plumber who wanted to get into business for himself. Instead of creating a whole new operation from scratch, he got into the business of businesses — buying existing companies and turning them into largely passive income streams.Today, Jaryd stops by to show us exactly how to hunt for that perfect pre-fab company.The statistics make a compelling case for Jaryd’s approach; with most startups failing, acquiring something with a proven track record is a pretty intelligent strategy. Jaryd’s experience has shown him exactly what to look for in a pre-existing business, and how to find it. Tune in, and learn how to research, what to spend, and what questions to ask. This lesson is a perfect beginner’s guide to buying online businesses, for those who want to split the difference between the security of conventional employment and the risk of entrepreneurship. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBuying Online Businesses PodcastDue Diligence FrameworkFlipperExchange MarketplaceEmpire FlippersThe post MBA1328 Guest Teacher: Jaryd Krause-How To Buy Website Businesses Instead Of Building Them appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apple does not sell the most devices. Apple does not bring in the most revenue. Apple does not dominate the market. But Apple makes more money than literally every other company.Today, we discuss how, and what it can mean for you. Your business isn’t the size of Apple’s, but the profit strategy Apple uses can work just as well at any scale. It’s about putting profit first, and making sure the margins reflect a strategy that means every dime you spend is returned to the maximum.In short, it means competing for value — not price, revenue, size, or anything else.With a profit-first mindset, you can create incredible stability for your business. It’s what allows Apple to completely outperform the competition, without bothering to offer sales or discounts. It’s what allows them to rake in the profits, without breaking a sweat over what percentage of the market they control. For Apple, it’s all about profitability, and it shows. Take a page from the Book of Jobs: Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1327 Why Apple Is Still The Most Profitable Company In the World + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It might’ve taken months, or more, to earn a customer’s business — but you don’t have that long to make sure you keep it.The first phase after the initial transaction is where the most important impressions are made. Before the purchase, the customer’s excitement about your product is theoretical. Once money has changed hands, though, it’s reality time. Either this customer will get the most out of your product and trust you for the long haul, or not.If not, you’re wasting some of your investment in sales and marketing. Churn kills. The customers you have are a far greater source of revenue than the customers you don’t have yet. Treat them right from the jump, and you invest in something that will sustain your business for years. Today, we’ll discuss how to give your new customers the early wins and immediate satisfaction that kicks off a long, mutually beneficial relationship.When the cash register rings, you’ve got one more sale to make: the one you just made. Tune in, and learn how. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaAnything You Want by Derek Sivers“The most successful email I ever wrote”The post MBA1326 How to Please Your Customers in Their First 5 Minutes appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A big project is like a big meal: you can’t swallow it all at once. When the task before you is huge, where do you start?It’s Q&A Wednesday! We’ve got a question from a listener with a conventional job, but a problem that’s very common in entrepreneurship. Our listener’s new boss wants her to implement a comprehensive new approach office-wide, but has left it completely up to her to decide how. When all you have is an endgame, finding the beginning can be tough.Today, we explain how to turn a general goal into an actionable plan. From defining the goal more precisely, to establishing milestones, to measuring success, you can turn vague hopes into winning realities. We’ll discuss our listener’s specific task, and how to extrapolate her example to apply to any large undertaking — including starting a new business. You’ve got big ideas. Let’s turn them into results. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1325 Q&A Wednesday: HELP! I have a huge project with no framework or instructions. Where do I start? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Staying focused and motivated over the course of long projects is one of those skills an entrepreneur simply has to have. It’s one of the key differences between entrepreneurship and conventional work — you’re responsible for the long term, not just the day’s or week’s to-do list. That said, we understand how tough it can be to sustain morale over months and months, especially when the endgame seems so far away.Fear not! Today, we explain exactly how to keep your eye on the prize, however long it takes. We’re at the tail end of our own project, one that’s currently in its 18th month. When we started a year and a half ago, the finish line was well over the horizon. Now, our consistency and patience is paying off. We’ll discuss the organizational and management strategies you can use to make every day of your project feel like Day One, all the way through. From writing a book to launching a product, you can handle shifting timelines, hard-to-envision outcomes, and the sheer unknown. You know what the say about a journey of a thousand miles. Take the first step today — Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaTrelloThe post MBA1324 How to Stay Motivated with Large Projects appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Interested in entrepreneurship, but afraid to quit your day job? We’ve got incredible news: you don’t have to. This week’s special guest, Shaan Patel, built a multimillion-dollar business on the side, while working full-time as a doctor. He’s the cofounder of ClearHat digital marketing, a best-selling author, and a successful Shark Tank contestant — and he did it all without giving up his 9-to-5.Today, Patel explains exactly what it takes to build a viable, profitable business in your spare time. From finding your niche, to marketing efficiently, to taking your first steps, Patel’s got the strategies that work. And yes, he also explains how to find the time!You don’t have to risk it all to start your own business. With a little discipline, a little creativity, and a smart approach, you can venture into entrepreneurship without losing your stable income. Patel did it; others have done it. How about you? Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksSelf-Made Success by Shaan PatelClearHat Marketing 0 To $10 Million Digital Marketing CourseThinkificCreateSpaceThe post MBA1323 Guest Teacher: Shaan Patel- How To Build A 7-Figure Side Hustle Without Quitting Your Full-Time Day Job appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In many ways, the earliest phase of starting a new business is the most fun. The possibilities are endless. The sky’s the limit. The only boundaries are imagination. But eventually, you have to make a decision.Today, we discuss some general, universal truths we’ve discovered in the course of founding multiple businesses. We’ll share what we’ve learned to best determine what’ll work and what won’t, from idea validation to business modeling. Whether you’re starting your first business, or moving on to your next, these tips are timeless.We’ll explore some atypical options that you may not have considered, even if it’s not your first rodeo. From the philosophical to the practical, these tips can improve your chances of picking the right business to get into next. Every journey starts with Step One. Make sure yours is in the right direction: Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseEmpire FlippersWebinarNinjaSuperhumanThe post MBA1322 Where to Find Your Next Business + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Finding great employees takes time and money. But are you getting the most from your hiring budget?No entrepreneur should be afraid of investing in great team members. That said, there are smarter, less costly ways to find the right fit. With a little knowledge, you can save thousands that would otherwise be wasted on redundant efforts. We would know — we’ve found employees the wrong way ourselves, only to find out we could’ve discovered the same talent without all the expense..Today, we share 5 specific strategies we use to find, attract, and hire the right person for the job. Without recruiters or agencies, you can widen the search field while narrowing down to the best prospects. We’ll detail each strategy, and explain why the best hire isn’t always the cheapest. Plus, we’ll share the best websites to post for your open positions. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksZipRecruiterUpWorkWe Work RemotelyThe post MBA1321 5 Ways To Save When Hiring appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your workspace matters. Efficiency, productivity, and overall well-being are greatly influenced by the feng shui of your office. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is curious about our own setup, specifically the workspace of our intrepid host, Omar. Over the years, Omar’s tried different arrangements to facilitate writing, podcasting, video recording, and everything else. His current setup gives him the minimalist, all-business access to his daily tools that makes for maximum efficiency.In other words, Omar’s workspace works for him. Depending on your needs, it might work for you, too.Omar will discuss how he keeps clutter down and productivity up, by removing the distractions and disruptions that plague many a desk. With a podcast to record and a million other multimedia tasks to perform, integrating the right tech into the space took some trial and error. Not only should your office setup promote productivity, it should promote posture, energy, and overall good health. Compare notes with Omar, and see what you can do to make your space a business advantage. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksIKEA SkarstaATR2100 by AudioTechnicalogitech webcamsWebinarNinja WorkshopsGoogle Home MiniIKEA AlexThe post MBA1320 Q&A Wednesday: Hey Omar! What’s your office setup look like? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEO means traffic, and traffic means sales. If you’ve hit an SEO plateau, we can help.Today, we offer a few simple fixes that can really move the needle on your website. Search Engine Optimization is a cottage industry, with loads of experts claiming to have the “secret” to getting your site noticed by Google, et al. But sometimes, the simplest tricks are the most effective.We’ve got some easy-to-apply strategies that, with a few hours’ work, can boost your traffic in a matter of weeks. We’ve tried them (among many others) for ourselves, and found that these are the simplest, best bang-for-your-buck tricks in the bag.Take a smarter approach than stuffing keywords, or shelling out cash. Make your content as SEO-fficient as possible, with a few tactics you may not’ve thought of. Keep driving traffic, keep growing your audience, and keep moving forward. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBacklinkoGTMetrixThe post MBA1319 How to Give Your Site a Quick SEO Boost appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you getting the most from your customers? Don’t be shy: when your product delivers, customers have no problem rewarding you. If they can invest in even more value from your business, that’s a win-win. But as the business owner, you can’t just expect customers to offer you more revenue. You’ve got to make a proposition.Today, special guest Mark Thompson stops by to explain exactly how to get more overall CLTV (Customer Lifetime Value) from each and every customer. With a few smart pitches or pricing structure changes, you can maximize the ROI on every conversion, while delighting your customers even more.We met Thompson at a recent conference, and his expertise left us no choice but to ask him on the show. He’s the co-founder of PayKickstart, and a revenue expert who’s helped scores of entrepreneurs get the most out of every happy customer. Along with his lesson, Thompson has a revenue-accelerating gift for our listeners!Your existing customers have just as much (or much more) potential to increase your revenue than newly acquired customers. Don’t leave money on the table — Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe Revenue Accelerator from PayKickstartThe post MBA1318 Guest Teacher: Mark Thompson- 8 Ways to Increase Your Customer Lifetime Value appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every entrepreneur knows you gotta keep the marketing content coming. But life being life, everyone needs a break sometimes. So how can you pump the brakes without losing momentum — and disappointing your audience?There is a way.Whether you host a podcast, write a blog, or run a YouTube channel, a little planning can give you the space you need to take a pause. With relatively small adjustments to your content creation schedule, you can invest in a “savings account” of content to deploy whenever you need a break.Alternatively, entrepreneurs with an established audience and a solid backlog of content can take a true break: not releasing any new content at all for a while. With some specific examples, we’ll discuss how to prepare your audience for such a hiatus in a way that doesn’t damage the long-term following you’ve built.You work hard to produce great content, and your audience looks forward to it. Give yourself the time you need and deserve, so that you can continue to delight your fans. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseCompany of One by Paul JarvisMBA1183: Guest Teacher – Paul JarvisThe post MBA1317 How to Take a Content Creation Break + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You have too much website traffic. What a great problem to have!As your business grows, so will your site hosting needs. You can’t afford to have a slow website that loses all the traffic you’ve worked so hard to gain. This is one of those crucial conversion turning points, when the fruits of your marketing can become the next crop of leads — or not. A bad user experience on your site will turn people off, and hurt your credibility. It’s time to upgrade.Don’t worry — we’ve been through many hosting upgrades. Today we’ll explain (in plain layman’s terms) how to scale up at different price ranges and levels of technical expertise. Whether you’re a knowledgeable techie who just needs the tools, or a technophobe who just wants it taken care of, there are options for you.Congratulations on winning an audience. Now, let’s serve them. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWP EngineAmazon Web ServicesDigital OceanMBA297: Crash Course in Google AnalyticsThe post MBA1316 Upgrading Your Website Hosting When You Grow appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Writing ain’t easy, but it’s necessary.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wants to know if it’s ok to farm out the blogging. The written word is irreplaceable as a form of marketing content, especially when it comes to SEO. People love blogs — and so does Google. But if you’re not a natural wordsmith, should you just delegate to one of the many talented full-time writers out there? Yes, and no.Today, we explain how you can cultivate your own writing craft while trusting a pro for the day-to-day content. We discuss how to find a great writer, what to look for, and how we utilize our own go-to Word Guy. We’ll also explore how becoming a better writer makes you a better overall communicator, marketer, and entrepreneur. Words market, words sell. Words matter! Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1315 Q&A Wednesday: I don’t enjoy writing. Can I hire out a writer for my blog? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Motivation: it’s not all about the money.When you’re running a lean startup, every cent counts — and there often aren’t that many of them. Plugging away day after day for a long-term result can get tiring, even demotivating for your staff. So how can you keep your team genuinely excited about what they do, and wanting to do their best?Today, we’ve got 5 answers to that question.We’ve built our own businesses from the ground up, and couldn’t always afford big trips or fancy dinners. We’ve learned from experience that (besides money) appreciation is the most valuable thing you can offer a dedicated employee. By going out of your way to show someone how much they’re valued, you invest in a productive relationship.Money buys their work. But appreciation buys their best work.Check out our creative, low-cost ways to show the love, and see how they work for your team. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaThe post MBA1314 5 Low Cost Ways to Boost Team Morale appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Office drama is unavoidable. But how you respond to it is your choice.Today, we have a ridiculously qualified guest teacher, Anne Grady. She’s a speaker, consultant, and academic with more expertise on the psychology of intra-office relations than just about anyone. Grady is here to explain how to proactively head off the drama, and keep your workplace as low-stress as possible.We don’t always think of it, but a leader’s first job is navigating human nature — especially in business.If you consider drama-quashing just another part of your job, it becomes much easier to manage conflicting personalities. Grady will discuss some of the science behind our emotional reactions to disagreement, and how to manage, rather than avoid, natural human tendencies towards drama.Keep it real, not reality TV. Learn how to cultivate harmony and be a balanced, emotionally intelligent leader. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksAnne Grady GroupText “Strength” to 555888 for Resilience Self-AssessmentThe post MBA1313 Guest Teacher: Anne Grady- Stop Reacting to Office Drama appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you ready for this. Really ready?Here at The $100MBA Show, we don’t sell “the dream.” We want our audience to go into business for themselves armed with the knowledge they need. Sometimes, that means asking extremely tough questions, and accepting the honest answers for better or worse. If you don’t go in confident and sure, things can end badly.Today, we discuss 3 specific questions that must be asked and answered before you actually try to launch a business. With these questions, you can get a definitive answer as to your true readiness. Entrepreneurship is a massive, life-altering decision. Rather than encouraging every listener to jump in, we prefer to separate people into two categories: people who would like to run a business, and people who are ready to. Which are you?Even if you’re not ready, you’ll have a better idea of what to do next. Maybe you’ll stick with a rewarding conventional job. Maybe you’ll take a few steps to get truly ready for entrepreneurship. Maybe you’re actually ready to go, and all you need is to know for sure. Either way, let’s find out! Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1312 Are You Ready To Start a Business? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Which Spice Girl are you? Which Skittles color matches your personality? Take our quiz and find out!Many, many companies and websites use quizzes to capture email addresses. But for all their silliness, is there a serious lead generation strategy here? We’ve been researching this method in-depth recently, and we thought we’d share our findings. Today, we discuss how quizzes work, how well they work, and whether they’re appropriate for your business. The key, as always, is tying in genuine value for the audience.We’ve found that quizzes offer a potential gold mine of data for business owners — data that can help you make better decisions and meet the specific needs of your subscribers. A great quiz doesn’t just produce a laugh; it helps you segment your audience in a way that brings them one step closer to buying.Learn how to target potential customers with a better, smarter information-gathering strategy. See how to keep the process streamlined and easy for you, with some of the best and easiest-to-use tools available now. See if you can design a quiz that’s relevant, valuable and useful. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBucket.ioLeadshookRightmessageWistiaThe post MBA1311 Should You Start Using Quizzes for Lead Generation? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nobody likes a huckster.There’s an unfortunate trend in the online course business: hype-heavy “personalities” trying to seduce their audience with flair instead of substance. In this week’s Q&A, one listener wants to know how to sell a course on its merits, with a marketing strategy that’s more genuine, more serious, and more respectable.We agree with our listener. If you want to project value, be real.Today, we discuss four specific examples you can model your sales approach on. These course creators educate, rather than “sell.” They make reasonable claims, and back them up. They don’t “sell the dream.” They make a value proposition, and invite their audience to see for themselves.Learn how to sell like you’re serious, at any price point. Build a relationship with customers, rather than trying to seduce them. Create trust, not hype. Earn long-term customers instead of short-term targets. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBacklinkoRamit SethiDiscover Double Basswatchandride.comThe post MBA1310 Q&A Wednesday: Can I sell my course without being an overhyped sales personality? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All things come to an end, including employment. When the inevitable parting of ways occurs, you shouldn’t just wing it. For the sake of your team, you need a plan.Today, we discuss what procedures your business should have in place when someone moves on, retires, or has to be let go. Intentionally managing the effects of a departure on your team is smart business, and reinforces the kind of thoughtful, respectful company culture you want to instill.We’ll explain how to handle the practical and emotional aspects of losing a team member — from changing passwords and managing access to protecting the feelings of all concerned. Having exit plans built into your company from the start will serve your business as it grows, but it’s just as important when your team is small and relationships are closer. Plan for amicable goodbyes. You won’t regret it. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1309 Your Procedure When Someone Leaves Your Company appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every entrepreneur tries to validate their product idea before they try to sell it. But what about validating your potential business model?Today’s special guest teacher, Justin Lokitz, believes that business model validation is just as important as product idea validation. And just as the idea validation process can reveal tweaks or alternatives that improve your initial idea, your business plan should be flexible and open to improvement, too.By arming yourself with a toolkit of different business model options, you can quickly adapt your marketing strategy to whatever works best. Lokitz is an author, speaker, and consultant with a flexible approach to business. He sees different marketing components as moveable pieces that can adapt to the market itself, as you test and validate strategies along the way. Today, he’ll explain (in great detail), how to create your own multi-optional framework.Get the notepad out, friends. Today’s episode is a crash course, an in-depth lesson from a deeply knowledgeable expert. Plus, Lokitz has a special discount on his business model workshop for our listeners. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBMI (Business Models Inc.)BMI Masterclass 30% DiscountBusiness Model GenerationDesign a Better BusinessThe post MBA1308 Guest Teacher: Justin Lokitz- How to Create a Go-To Market Strategy by Developing Multiple Business Model Options appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If there’s one quality every entrepreneur needs, it’s decisiveness.Going into business for yourself is a bold decision, the first of many. As an entrepreneur, you’ll have so many important decisions to make — and you don’t have time to mull them over for too long. For every huge call you have to make, there’s another one coming just around the corner, so confidence is key.With the stakes high, doubt can creep in. That leaves all of us at risk for a common entrepreneurial ailment: Analysis Paralysis.We can help. Today, we’ll help you learn the difference between healthy self-questioning and harmful self-doubting. We’ll discuss specific, strategic ways to deal with Analysis Paralysis, and where to reach out for support. This episode will help you win the psychological battle that every entrepreneur has to fight sometimes.As independent business people, we don’t have someone making decisions for us. Learn how to focus on decision-making as a skill, rather than obsessing over individual decisions. Learn what it takes to make the call, every time, with confidence. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1307 How To Stop Second Guessing Yourself + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sales is changing. As business models evolve, and lean startups do more with fewer people, is the dedicated sales team a thing of the past?It depends.Today, we discuss when businesses need a full-time sales team, regardless of the product. In some cases, the ROI simply isn’t there. In others, it’s well worth the investment. We’ll help you decide whether your business would thrive best in a traditional sales team structure, or whether integrating sales into other job descriptions makes more sense.It may be smarter and more efficient to let sales be an aspect of everything from product development to marketing. It might not take much “selling,” in the traditional sense, to move your product. Either way, the first step in ensuring great sales is figuring out which approach fits your market. Learn how to gauge where your business is on the “low touch” to “high touch” sales spectrum, and decide what resources to apply. Plus, we’ll offer tips on building your sales team efficiently, from the ground up. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWP EngineDan Martell (YouTube Channel)Product-Led GrowthThe post MBA1306 Does Your Business Need a Sales Team? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mastermind groups are all the rage, but are they worth the (sometimes hefty) price tags?This week’s Q&A comes from a listener who has an opportunity to attend a pretty exclusive Mastermind, at a pretty substantial cost. At $5,000, it’s worth taking a moment to make sure it’s a good investment. Fortunately, our intrepid host Omar has participated in enough Masterminds to develop a way to gauge the ROI.Today, we’ll share our framework for assessing the cost/benefit ratio of a Mastermind group, at any price. We’ll describe the number one factor that truly determines the value of a Mastermind, and how to assess that value in the context of your own business.With your own budget and business experience in mind, you can evaluate each Mastermind for what it’s really worth to you. Learn how to make the call with confidence, plus hear about alternatives, for when the price isn’t right. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1305 Q&A Wednesday: Should I attend a mastermind retreat that costs $5K? appeared first on The $100 MBA. 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 leaking?We’re gonna say it: Customer retention is just as important as customer acquisition. If you’ve got a churn problem, the time, money, and effort you put into attracting and converting is being wasted. Let’s put a stop to that, now!Whether you run a subscription or service-based business that depends on monthly revenue, or you just want to keep your customers coming back, the churn has got to go. Customer retention protects the investment you make in your business, and acts as a hedge against slow growth periods. Today, we discuss how to make sure your customer turnover isn’t outpacing your growth. We share our system for identifying and plugging any “leaks” that hurt your stability. Create a stable basis for long-term growth by creating lifetime customers. Make all that marketing worth it. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1304 How to Improve Customer Retention Quickly appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your product might be the most important employee.There’s a new approach to product development and marketing. Rather than focus on features, or even benefits, this new outlook takes it a step further. Your product has a job. The customer is the employer. Your success will depend on what kind of “employee” your product is.If it sounds outside the box, it is. The approach is all laid out in a deeply detailed, paradigm-shifting book called Jobs to Be Done by Anthony W. Ulwick. It’s based on decades of research — and despite how academic it is, this book has serious practical implications. This Must-Read book offers an alternative (or supplement to) the “pain points” approach of solving customer problems. Today, we discuss the philosophy behind the book, and offer the best examples of this theory in practice. Bottom line: this book will help you focus on what matters most to customers, by seeing your product from the most customer-centric perspective. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksJobs to Be Done by Anthony W. UlwickWebinarNinjaThe post MBA1303 Must Read: Jobs to Be Done by Anthony W. Ulwick appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At this point in the content marketing game, video isn’t an option: it’s a requirement.Video content works to help you build an audience. As we like to point out, YouTube is technically the world’s second-largest search engine after Google. But we also know how difficult, intimidating, and time-consuming video production can be. We’ve struggled with equipment, software, and all the rest.So we decided to make it simple.Today, we’ll explain how to streamline your video content production. By making some key choices and focusing on the basic essentials, you can take the hassle out of filming videos. The result? Consistent, effective content that does what it’s meant to: drive traffic.Tune in, and hear how we learned the hard way that trying to do too much is counter-productive. You don’t have to be Spielberg to produce quality, engaging content that’ll boost your business. You just have to know some key basics. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaCamtasiaScreenflowSony VegasEasyCourseThe post MBA1302 How to Make Video Creation Easier + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For entrepreneurs, time is the single most valuable resource. So how can you get more of it?Executive assistants are not just for Fortune 500 CEOs. Any time you can get work off your plate, it’s an opportunity to spend more time doing more important things. To hire an assistant is to buy time — and that’s always a fantastic investment.Today, we’ll explain how to go about finding the right assistant for you. Whether it’s local or digital, full-time or part-time, there’s probably someone who can free you from some menial tasks. As you focus on what matters most, your business thrives — thanks in part to your assistant.We’ll discuss how and where to find your EA, just as our intrepid host Omar is doing now. Since he’s in the market, we figured sharing our experience would be helpful to those listeners who are also considering bringing an assistant on board. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksDan MartellLastPassWe Work RemotelyThe post MBA1301 How to Hire a Great Executive Assistant appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Go it alone, or get some help? Every entrepreneur has to ask this question, and the answer isn’t always obvious.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is weighing the ups and downs of full independence. When you “bootstrap” your business (as we did), you have total freedom, and total control. No investors, no loans, nada. You answer to no one, and can take your business in any direction you wish. You also accept all of the risk.Is there a time when it’s best to get outside investment? We’ve found that for some businesses, the freedom is worth the risk. But for others, the loss of equity is well worth the stability that comes with external help. Today, we’ll explain when it’s smartest to accept a helping hand, and when it’s best to go it alone. Then, you can make the best decision for yourself and your company. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1300 Q&A Wednesday: What are the pros and cons of bootstrapping my business? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If a question seems scary, it’s probably worth asking. So be honest — are you really happy?This deep, fundamental question is a must-ask every so often. When you first get into independent business, the initial excitement is great. But that early buzz fades, and as the long-term reality of entrepreneurship sets in, you have to self-examine.The good news? If the answer is no, you can fix it. Maybe there are certain aspects of entrepreneurship you don’t enjoy, even if you love running your own business. Maybe the right hire, or the right change in protocol, will make you fall in love with your biz all over again.Then again, maybe not. Either way, it’s best to know. Today, we’ll discuss exactly how to get an honest answer from yourself, and what to do if you’re no longer on Cloud 9. The greatest benefit of entrepreneurship is the freedom to make your own choices — even the hard ones. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow Links The post MBA1299 Are You Happy with Your Business? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your team won’t improve on its own.That’s the task of leadership: to get the best from your team by helping them grow. Sarah Wirth is a professional development expert with extensive coaching and corporate experience. Today, she’s here to show us how to deliver the kind of feedback that gets results — but doesn’t alienate your employees.It takes some skill to be supportive and critical at the same time. To protect the investment you make in your employees, that skill is worth developing. By perfecting your feedback game, you can cut down on costly, wasteful employee turnover. You can create a work environment where your team feels challenged, but respected. With Wirth’s data-driven advice and specific action steps, you can keep it cool personally and professionally. Take Wirth’s tips, and watch your team thrive. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEcSell InstituteThe Coaching EffectThe post MBA1298 Guest Teacher: Sarah Wirth- How to Use Feedback to Drive Improvement appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When you’re starting a business, there’s a big, fundamental question you have to ask before you do anything else: build the audience first, or the product?There are advantages to both options. In fact, we’ve built businesses both ways, and seen all the ways each approach can go right and wrong. In the end, we learned that it all depends on the kind of business and the circumstances in which you’re building it.Either way, it’s a choice you have to make carefully.Today, we explain exactly how to figure out which way will work for you. We’ll discuss what exactly an “audience” is in terms of a business asset, and how to assess its value relative to the investment you make in it. Then, you can decide whether to build that audience first or second.Both your product and your audience can be built around each other, like a binary star system. Tune in, and take the first step toward answering what might be the most important question for a new entrepreneur. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1297 Build an Audience First or Product First? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Considering a team retreat? We just got back from our first, and we learned a ton.We took the whole team to Bali, Indonesia for some work, play, and all-around bonding. From all over the globe, our remote employees flew in and met face-to-face for the first time ever. Organizing the trip was no small feat, but it was worth every minute of planning and every company dime we spent.Today, we discuss the things that went great, and the things we’ll do differently next time. We review the logistics, and explain how we kept the trip mission-focused, positive, and productive. Hear what we did right and wrong, so you can have as great a time as our team did — and meet your business goals while you’re there.Before you start packing for your team’s big getaway, tune in to this episode. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1296 4 Takeaways From Our First Team Retreat appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Webinars work!When it comes to connecting with an audience, converting them into customers, and keeping them around, you can’t beat the personal touch of a webinar. But if you’re new to the webinar game, should you jump right into live webinars? Or is it safer and smarter to use the pre-recorded version at first?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wonders if automated webinars are better for a first-timer.We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both options, so you can decide how to approach webinar-ing yourself. While some projects are definitely better tackled with an automated webinar, there are some situations where you have to go live — even at the beginning.Learn how to balance your approach, and why one option is definitely better when you’re establishing yourself. Plus, take advantage of some free webinar training resources we offer through WebinarNinja. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaYour Webinar Blueprint Video Training CourseWebinarNinja Webinar WorkshopWebinarNinja BlogThe post MBA1295 Q&A Wednesday: Should I start with live or automated webinars? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you missing out on millions of potential customers because you don’t speak their language?Whether you sell books, courses, or even services, translating your content could open doors. But the time and effort required might not make sense, depending on the business. Today, we discuss when investing in translation can net serious returns.It’s a big world out there, and you may be able to serve more of it.We’ll explain how to implement a multilingual approach for maximum ROI. Choosing the right languages to work in, finding the right translators, and creating a long-term strategy all take some support and know-how. Fortunately, there are resources available.Get ready to branch out to new, untapped markets. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaUpWorkThe post MBA1294 Should You Offer Your Product in Different Languages? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your product could do the sales and marketing for you?That’s the premise of this week’s Must-Read book for entrepreneurs, Product-Led Growth by Wes Bush. It ranks pretty high on our all-time list of great business books, because it explains a breakthrough marketing strategy in a way that’s highly readable, fun, and immediately applicable.As captivating as a good novel, this absolute must for SaaS business owners shows how putting the product first can make marketing a breeze. Full of examples and clear instructions, the book explains how to get the product into your audience’s hands as quickly as possible — making the product itself its own advertisement.Learn why some “freemium” models fail, while others work like a charm. Before you start your next campaign, listen to this episode. You may need far less marketing than you think. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaProduct Led Growth – the bookThe post MBA1293 Must Read: Product-Led Growth by Wes Bush appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The toughest part of being a leader? Leading.It’s one thing to have a vision, and the ability to pay people to carry out tasks. Anyone can do that. But truly building a motivated team that can sustain a business long-term takes something more. It takes genuine, emotional buy-in from the employees.So how do you make that happen?Today, we explain how your job as a leader is to make every person feel like part of a shared mission. We start by exploring how to articulate that mission in a way that’s understandable, so that your employees know exactly what the endgame is. From there, we discuss how to reinforce that mission, every single day.Your team can’t keep their eyes on the prize until they know what it is. Teach them to see the job beyond the job. Inspire them to have a real stake in your success, beyond simple compensation. The results are astounding. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1292 Getting Your Team On Board with Your Vision + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As we like to preach, exchanging time for money is just about the worst deal in business.No other kind of entrepreneur understands that better than the celebrity chef. From Ramsay to Oliver to Ray, these entrepreneurs used their talent to generate passive income, rather than just punching the clock in a restaurant forever. They stopped selling their time, and started selling their knowledge, experience, and personalities.No matter what business you’re in, you can take a page from their (cook)book.Today, we explain how cooking is the best example of a skill that’s better monetized through adjacent products. Whatever you’re good at, get paid to do it — but don’t stop there. As long as you’re exchanging labor for cash, you’re always dependent on someone else.Learn from the Emerils of the world, and start formulating your strategy for independent success. You are more valuable than just your time and labor! Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksPodiaProduct-Led GrowthThe post MBA1291 What Celebrity Chefs Can Teach Us About Making More Revenue appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hate public speaking? You’re not the only one.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener who’s got a perfect opportunity to raise brand awareness, gain credibility, and get that all-important exposure. Thing is, it means talking in front of people. For many of us, there’s nothing more intimidating.Is there any way out of it that doesn’t hurt the business?Public speaking is neither natural nor comfortable for most people. If you’re not into it, don’t see it as a flaw or a weakness in yourself. Instead, see it as an opportunity: to grow professionally and/or to find creative alternatives. That’s exactly what we’re discussing today.On this episode, we approach the problem from two perspectives. First, we explain how to improve your public speaking and grow more comfortable. But also, we explore other options, ways to get that exposure from somewhere closer to your own comfort zone.Don’t let fear of public speaking hold you or your business back. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksHeroic Public SpeakingThe post MBA1290 Q&A Wednesday: I get asked to speak on stage but I hate it. What should I do? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The key to sustainable small business: minimum profitability.The $5k per month mark is a crucial one, known as the “escape velocity” at which revenue generation is strong enough to actually, truly sustain a company. If your business can make it to $5k quickly, you’ll know for sure whether it’s a winner, or if it’s time to pull the plug and move on.The faster you get there, the sooner you’ll reach your ultimate business goals.So, how can we fast-track this all-important metric? How can we move as quickly as possible out of the experimental phase and into real-world business-building? With some strong tactics (and a few sacrifices), you can get there sooner — whether “there” is investing full-time into a proven idea, or moving on to the next one.Reach that moment of truth ASAP. Your time is precious, and you deserve a strategy that doesn’t waste any. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow Links$100 MBA Idea Validation CourseMBA1281: Nail Your Value Metric and Make More RevenueThe post MBA1289 How to Get to $5K a Month as Fast as Possible appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Social media marketing: we all have a vague idea that it can work. But without a good strategy, it can be a massive waste of time and resources.Today, we’ve got a guest teacher who can help. Nancy Gathecha is a Germany-based consultant and author who knows how to get the most out of social media, without investing too much. She’s here to share 5 simple practices that’ll help you get results without devouring precious time.Hint: the best strategy is the one you can be consistent with.Gathecha’s social media philosophy holds that the easier your plan is to follow, the more effective it will be. There’s simply too much noise on social media to dive down the rabbit hole.Instead, she argues, you can focus on a pared-down plan that’ll maximize your return on investment.Learn how to turn people’s social media habits into your company’s growth opportunities. Let go of the intimidation factor, and find an attack plan you can stick with. Plus, get Nancy’s free gift to help you get started. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksDesign Your Success Podcast with Nancy GathechaNagasocial 30 Day Content Creation TemplateThe post MBA1288 Guest Teacher: Nancy Gathecha- 5 Best Practices to Simplify Social Media For Business appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.