The $100 MBA Show

Your “to do” list is out of control. That’s entrepreneurship for you. Sometimes, just getting started is the biggest challenge of every day. With so many potential tasks and projects on the horizon, you need a way to prioritize. It has to be efficient, fast, and (most importantly) it has to guarantee the best return on the investment of your precious time. Fortunately, we’ve got the perfect system. Today, we’ll explain the exact procedure we use, with examples from our own businesses. You can attack your list with calm, confidence, and the knowledge that you’ll get the right things done in the right amount of time. We also discuss how to limit the number of projects you’re working on, and how to “score” each for prioritization. Take a load off your mind, and start checking “done” boxes. Click Play! WebinarNinja EasyCourse SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you in a position to transition? Many of us entrepreneurs started out side-hustling, building our little businesses while holding down a 9-to-5. But at some point, you have to decide if and when it’s time to ditch the day job and invest fully into your independent creation. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wonders how to know when it’s time to take that leap. What level of success should you have reached before you go full-time? How can you know your chances of full-time success are reasonable? Where on the highway of side-hustling is the off-ramp to independence? Today, we explore various scenarios and timelines for making the big move. We discuss what to consider before you commit, the bare-minimum profit margins, and how to position yourself to have the best chance. The goal is in sight — let us help you with the timing. Click Play! To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 barrier between your customers and your product is an opportunity for lost business. One of the easiest ways to remove those barriers? Integration. Whether you’re selling a course, software, or even a physical product, integrations are and important key to closing, onboarding, and retaining customers. The more apps your products work with, the bigger your customer base — and the easier it is for customers to stick around. Today, we discuss how to use integrations to make your business “sticky.” Not only will you integrate your product with popular common apps, you’ll integrate your product into the normal daily lives of your customers. By tying your product to “household name” applications, you give it a seamless place in the consumers’ day-to-day. Find out how to look for integration opportunities, and tie your business to the applications your audience is already comfortable with. Click Play! ShareThis Sumo EasyCourse SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Leadership can be tough, and so can the conversations. When it comes to criticism, course correction, and other awkward talks, only the leader can (and must) buck up and say what has to be said. It has to be done smoothly, professionally, and in a way that creates change without creating resentment. It’s not easy. It’s a skill, one that every entrepreneur needs to practice. Fortunately, we’ve found someone to help. Martin Moore is the founder of yourceomentor.com and the host of the No Bullshit Leadership podcast. As you can see, he doesn’t mince words when there’s an important conversation to be had. Today, Martin is here to show us how to get comfortable with the hard talks, so that your own fear and avoidance impulses don’t hurt your business. The good news? Both Martin and our beloved host Omar were terrible at these tough conversations early on. But both of them learned how to see these talks as an essential, positive part of entrepreneurship — and so can you. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Rise and shine, entrepreneurs. The early bird gets the profit. Or does it? Expert after expert, guru after guru, claims that jumping out of bed at the you-know-what-crack of dawn is the key to productivity and efficacy. But does that hold true for everyone? Can’t a night owl be successful? Can’t you make strides after 12pm? Is the snooze button so bad for business? Today, we discuss whether the early risers really do have a competitive edge, and whether it’s necessary to beat the sun to work. With job-juggling, personal life, and (in many cases) multiple time zones to deal with, early mornings just aren’t possible for everyone. And while the science generally backs nighttime sleep, there’s no one-size-fits-all in life or business. See where you fall on the early bird/night owl spectrum, and how it can affect your business. Click Play! WebinarNinja EasyCourse The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 entrepreneurs focus way too much on: customer acquisition. What entrepreneurs focus way too little on: customer retention. Onboarding and retention are key to long-term sustainability. The first step? The initial welcome email your new customers receive when they purchase your product. That email is the start of something big, and it needs to be more than just a few hastily typed lines with a generic message. The first email needs to be a love letter, the start of a long-term relationship. Today, we discuss how to capitalize on the excitement of new purchase by establishing that relationship. We share our strategy for crafting genuine, engaging, effective welcome emails that turn a simple purchase into something more meaningful. With some of our favorite examples from other companies, we’ll show you how to get the most out of this little interaction. Increase your open rates, improve your sender reputation, and keep your customers. Click Play! WebinarNinja Anything You Want by Derek Sivers SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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, public speaking is a must, even if it’s only occasionally. Communication is everything. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is ready to make a conscious effort to become a better public speaker. As it turns out, our host Omar wasn’t always the comfortable, confident maestro of the mic he is today. In fact, as a young educator, Omar realized quickly that he needed help talking to a crowd. Since then, he’s developed a voice that works. From the classroom to the podcast to the stage, Omar’s public speaking is the result of years of effort and training. Today, we share the techniques, resources, and services that work best. Learn how to invest your time and money for the maximum improvement in your public speaking game. Click Play! Steal the Show by Michael Port Heroic Public Speaking To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When a customer taps out, it’s generally a sad, defeated moment. But not all is lost. Cancellations and refunds are going to happen, period. But each one is an opportunity to learn something that will improve customer retention going forward. There is great value in every loss, value you can reinvest into your business for a better long-term trend. The canceller can be your greatest teacher, if you’re willing to learn. Today, we discuss how to use your former customers to help your business evolve, grow, and improve. Whether you sell a physical product, service, or SaaS, every entrepreneur can use cancellations to shine a light on the product’s flaws. Then, it’s simply a matter of taking action. See every cancellation and refund as a bit of market research, not a defeat. Click Play! Sumo SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Stories have power. Stories are the way human beings fundamentally comprehend everything, from their history to their personal trajectory. When you want people to understand something, the best thing to do is tell a story. Especially if you want them to believe in your business. Entrepreneur and author Paul Smith’s Lead With a Story explains exactly how to bring storytelling into your business leadership. By harnessing the power of narrative, you can motivate your team, inspire your audience, and make your message hit home. By putting their role in a greater narrative context, your employees and customers become characters in a story that matters far more than a simple exchange of money for products. See how this book can help you master the art of messaging via story. Click Play! Dan Martell Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Travel is possibly the best fringe benefit of the entrepreneur’s lifestyle. But when you’re on the road, the emails can pile up fast. No one likes coming home to a crammed inbox. So how can you keep the backlog low? Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, there are ways to make sure those “unreads” are kept to a bare minimum — without missing anything important. Today, we discuss the tips and tricks we’ve picked up from years of entrepreneuring around the globe. Our own experience, combined with tips from business efficiency experts, have given us an arsenal of tools that keep our email accounts from getting out of control whenever we step away from the laptops for a week or two. See what options for inbox control work for you. Click Play! EasyCourse SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

No matter how long you’re in business, there are still incredible, game-changing strategies to be learned. We just found a new one. For the past few weeks, we’ve been using a technique suggested by a keen business mind to increase our productivity. And boy howdy, does it do the trick. “Theming” our work days has made us more productive, more efficient, and better at everything we do. We just couldn’t wait to share this incredible “hack” with you, our beloved listeners. You honestly can’t fully imagine the full benefits of this system until you try it. Tune in as we discuss how to implement this scheduling strategy, and how its success is rooted in the actual physiology of the human brain. We discuss the number of “themes” you should include, and how to lay out your personal plan. This one’s a keeper. Click Play! Dan Martell EasyCourse SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 big world, and there’s talent all over it. So how can you attract the right employees for your team? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener’s expanding business is ready to take on new blood. But with so many options for posting job openings, what’s the best move? Today, we discuss our favorite job boards and recruiting services. With a remote team of dozens spread across the globe, we’ve had to learn how and where to find the best, quickly. We’ve also learned how to save time and effort by posting positions in a way that automatically weeds out the duds and brings in the real keepers. On this episode, we’ll show you how to write the job descriptions, and put them in the right places. With a little strategy, the right fits for your business will be knocking at your door in no time. Click Play! LinkedIn Ziprecruiter We Work Remotely To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 in a name? If it’s a domain name, quite a bit. As entrepreneurs, we often impulse-buy domains, hoping to lock them down for our next great business idea. But all too often, we end up with nothing more than a pile of unused domains draining our resources. Our host Omar is a classic domain addict. Today, he’ll explain how he finally got his extensive collection organized and under control. With a simple system he shares in this episode, Omar describes how to stop paying for what you’re not using, and start using what’s worth paying for. There’s nothing wrong with a little investment in what could be a valuable domain. But as domain prices rise, it’s time to make cuts. We’ll discuss what kinds of domains are must-keeps, even if you’re not using them yet, as well as how to keep track of all your pending renewals. It’s just a little bit of necessary housekeeping that can save you a significant chunk of change — Click Play! WebinarNinja omarzenhom.com Sumo SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

“Fire and adjust.” It’s a military metaphor that works wonders in business; you put something out there, watch it miss, and use that information to hit the target the next time. Or 3 times later. Or 10 times. Whatever it takes. The point is, experimentation is key to creating the “perfect” product, or at least one people will buy. The best entrepreneurs don’t perfect an idea and release it — they release ideas and perfect them based on feedback. Steve Glaveski is an accomplished entrepreneur who knows how to try, try again until you hit the mark. Today, he’s here to show us how. Glaveski has a system for creating and conducting product experiments rapidly, kicking your market research into overdrive with fast, real-world, actionable results. By failing as many times as possible as quickly as possible, you engage in a collaborative effort with your audience to discover exactly what they need — and what they’re willing to pay for. Learn how experiments can tell you things you never would have thought of. Click Play! MixMax Linked Helper Traction by Gabriel Weinberg SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 your team grows, it becomes tougher to manage. Keeping everyone on task, and getting the results you’re paying them for, gets a little more complicated with each new hire. We’ve got a strategy that keeps everyone on point by keeping everyone accountable. With a far-flung remote team of dozens, our system makes it clear exactly what’s expected when, with full buy-in from all our employees. Best of all, this system involves little to no whip-cracking, instead focusing on a shared agreement between everyone on the team. Tune in, and learn how specific communication and planning techniques create a well-oiled machine in which all team members are on the same page. By getting employees to take ownership of their roles, you can manage with a lighter, more collaborative touch — which makes life easier for everyone. Find out how it works. Click Play! WebinarNinja EasyCourse Basecamp Trello SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 used to think time is money. Since then, we’ve come to realize that time is way, way more valuable. Every way to save time is worth more than its weight in gold, and we recently stumbled on something that takes hours — yes, hours — out of our workweek. While writing can be painstaking (especially for those of us who aren’t great at it), talking is the simplest, fastest way to answer questions for team members and customers alike. That’s why we use video messaging to do most of our communicating. While filming videos — even short ones — may seem more complicated and time-consuming than writing emails, trust us: it’s not. Today, we discuss how we use video messaging to shave massive amounts of time from our schedule. We talk about the process, the tools you’ll need, and how much easier team management and customer service can be once you’ve got it down to a science. This will save you time. Lots of it. What could be better? Click Play! CloudApp Dan Martell SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 toughest part about content marketing? All that content doesn’t create itself. To keep your audience engaged, you have to produce consistent, quality content. And if you’re truly committed to producing podcasts, blogs, pics, and videos week after week, you can run out of ideas fast. Every content marketer needs a system to keep the topics coming, even when inspiration isn’t exactly striking. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener with exactly that problem. Today, we discuss how to systematize your content creation so that you never run out of creative juice, separating your topic creation from your content execution. Plus, we describe how to identify topics in your own niche, breaking down each aspect of your industry into perfect content fodder. It can be done, with the right procedures in place. Click Play! To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Business is failure, and failure is business. Knowing when you’ve lost — and how to move on — is an absolute requirement of entrepreneurship. No matter how much success you create, you will also create flat-out duds, products that miss the mark and just plain don’t sell. No big deal. Today, we discuss how to know when it’s time to admit defeat. And just to prove it happens to the best of us, we’re using our own company as an example. We recently launched a product that did not perform as expected, forcing us to pull the plug. We put in time, effort, and resources — and it flopped. Fortunately, product fails are never a total loss. Knowing how to retire a product skillfully will ensure that you get something out of it, even though it didn’t sell. The information and lessons revealed by a flop can be the key to your next, much better idea. Find out how to cut your losses and create new wins. Click Play! WebinarNinja SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 bad news: you’re on your own. The good news? That’s not such a bad thing after all. Since the 2008 financial crisis, what’s been called the “American Dream” (along with similar dreams globally) has collapsed. The days of just getting a job and supporting a middle-class lifestyle are, for most, over. To thrive in today’s world, you’ve gotta take the reins of your own financial future. This week’s Must-Read for entrepreneurs explains exactly how to do that. James Altucher hosted one of our favorite podcasts, and his book Choose Yourself has made a dramatic impact on the lives of readers. After some very fervent recommendations, we gave this book a shot — and it did not disappoint. Today, we discuss the big-picture outlook and day-to-day habits that foster independence, success, and self-reliance in a broken economy. Shaking free of poor influences and unshackling yourself from the external opinions that hold you back is the only way to find your path forward. This book is a good place to start. Click Play! Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 entrepreneurs, it can be hard to define our goals for our business. Do we prioritize growth? Revenue? Reach? What is success, anyway? Today, we offer one possible answer: longevity. Every business, big and small, has competition. Companies rise and fall all around us, while a select few just keep trucking along through all the ups and downs. How can you make sure you’re the last man standing? We’ve got a specific formula for longevity that we’ve honed over years in business, from observation and experience. Competition can drive us, but it can also drain our resources. By avoiding the temptation to compete in a superficial way, we can build the core of our business to last through all the twists and turns the market throws at us. Be the tortoise, not the hare — Click Play! WebinarNinja EasyCourse Basecamp SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Let’s shake things up. If you’ve been in business for a while, you may have experienced a good ol’ fashioned rut. You’re stagnant. You’ve plateaued. You need a major boost to your biz, but you’re not sure what you can do to relight the fire and make a drastic, sweeping improvement that’ll move all the right needles. This is the episode for you. Today, we discuss how to go big, and make game-changing upgrades to your business. Fortunately, we’ve got experience in this department. We’ve been forced to make huge, bold moves that put us back into forward momentum more than once. If you’re ready to leave the rut behind, Click Play! SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 today, we don’t just sell our product. We sell ourselves. Personal branding, authentic connection with our audience, and sharing the journey is de rigueur for aspiring entrepreneurs. But where do we draw the line? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a doozy of a question from a listener who’s not sure whether to wear their faith on their sleeve, or keep it behind closed doors. It’s a challenging topic, and one of the most difficult questions we’ve had to answer. That said, it’s crucial to figure out exactly where your values fit into your business and public persona. As a founder, you’re a crucial part of your own marketing infrastructure. What parts of yourself you share will depend on the value these details add for your audience. Today, we discuss how to decide if your faith (or lack thereof) is something your customers will appreciate, or if it’s best to keep it between you and the almighty. Click Play! To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do your customers want? If you don’t have the answer to that question, you don’t have a business. It may sound obvious, but entrepreneurs overlook this question way too often. When creating our products and building our businesses, it’s strangely easy to forget about being customer-centered. We fall in love with our own ideas, our own visions, and we forget that success means discovering, defining, and fulfilling customers’ wishes. Today, we discuss how to keep your eye on the ball of customer desire. By focusing on their problems (instead of your ideas), you can build a foundation of sustainability for your business. We’ll show you how to assess your business for customer-centeredness, and help you figure out exactly what you need to promise (and deliver) to win your audience over. Remember: it’s not about you. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Too much growth can kill your business. That might sound a little crazy to many entrepreneurs, but catastrophic success is a real and dangerous problem. Business after business has shot into the stratosphere, taking in investment and expanding their operations, only to crash and burn — hard. If you’re not careful, your business can literally grow to death. Take it from today’s special guest, Paul Jarvis. One of our first guest teachers ever, Jarvis is a best-selling author and entrepreneur who focuses on profitability and longevity. His deep analysis of startup success rates has revealed a stunning conclusion: that growth is far too valued among independent business people. Tune in, and hear how growth for growth’s sake isn’t just pointless — it’s bad for business. Click Play! Company of One by Paul Jarvis SUBSCRIBE YouTube |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.

Business is global, and that comes with incredible advantages. Today’s entrepreneurs can draw talent from all over the world, finding skilled, affordable remote team members wherever they are. But all that far-flung talent comes with one little drawback: time zones. Today, we discuss how to navigate the problem of the clock. With employees in Australia, Eastern Europe, Asia, and America, we know how tricky it can be to align everyone’s schedules. Making sure that distant team members can collaborate across time zones is crucial to reaping the benefits of global business. Fortunately, there are tools, tricks, and strategies for keeping everyone on the same page, even when they’re not in the same part of the world. Managed properly, your business can be a 24-hour machine, running smoothly as your trusted team handles business whatever time of day (or night) it is for you. Click Play! EasyCourse WebinarNinja Slack Basecamp Twist World Time Buddy SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Refunds: they’re gonna happen. More importantly, offering the option of a refund is critical to earning your audience’s trust. With an entire Internet’s worth of competitors to choose from, today’s customers demand more information — and more guarantees — than ever before. As a business owner, you’ve got to create a refund policy that makes your customers feel valued and respected. With a strong, customer-friendly refund policy, you put your money where your mouth is, guaranteeing by your actions that the product is one you stand behind. Remember: offering to take your product back is one of the most powerful ways to sell it! Today, we discuss 3 key factors a good refund policy should include, with specific details on how to make the policy work. You’ll learn how to craft and (more importantly) communicate your policy to create maximum trust. Click Play! Thrive Themes SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 do this? Are you entrepreneur material? You’re not the only one asking. In fact, it’s the “Q” in this week’s Q&A! It’s a big, scary question mark for those who want to break out on their own, but haven’t taken the leap just yet. So what makes someone suited for the entrepreneurial life? What skill sets, talents, and dispositions raise the odds of success? With 17 years of entrepreneurship behind him, Omar knows a thing or two about what it takes. Having known and helped guide countless independent business people, he’s identified a few key traits (and understandings) that almost every solid entrepreneur has in common. Best of all, these traits aren’t genetic or gifted by fate. They’re learned habits, tendencies, and abilities that you can choose to cultivate. Whether you’re running a restaurant, a coaching course, a SaaS, or anything else, these are the basic tools that’ll take you wherever you need to go. Click Play! To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yes, we’re recommending Facebook as a business tool. That may come as a shock to longtime listeners, who know what we think of the overrated, underperforming so-called “power” of social media marketing. Bear with us. Facebook Groups offer a wonderful opportunity for growth. Not revenue growth, not traffic growth, but the most important growth of all: your growth as an entrepreneur. By leveraging this useful little tool, you can become the entrepreneur you need to be. It’s more than worth your time to devote some effort each week to using social media this way. With Groups, you can validate ideas, find support, network, and forge seriously valuable relationships with other business people. Today, we discuss what groups to look for, how to get into them, and how to participate in a way that gets you a big ROI. Learn how Facebook can build your credibility in the market. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Where is your small business going? More importantly, how is it getting there? The author of this week’s Must-Read for entrepreneurs, Gino Wickman, has an answer. Traction: How to Get a Grip on Your Business is far more than its title lets on. It’s not just advice. It’s not just inspiration. It’s an instruction manual with detailed, specific steps any entrepreneur can take to get their business moving. Whether you’re a solopreneur or helming a large team, this incredibly practical book can teach you how to structure your business and its processes for maximum effect. Even better, Wickman teaches a values-centered approach to business, one that ties your core beliefs and mission to your success. Anyone starting or running their own business can learn something from Traction. Best of all, it’ll be something concrete. Click Play! Traction: Get A Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Online courses are one of the most lucrative products you can sell on the Internet. With price tags in the thousands, selling your expertise to knowledge-hungry customers is a proven business model, one that’s worked well for many an entrepreneur. But how do you know if there’s really an audience for what you’re teaching? Before you pour time and resources into an expensive product, how can you be sure people will want in? After all, there’s no shortage of how-to blogs, YouTube videos, books, and other resources to learn how to do something. Today, we discuss how to test the waters, and get genuine proof of concept before moving forward. We’ve got a step-by-step plan to find out if people will see your course as a wise investment. Follow these steps to find your niche, craft your course, and generate the kind of excitement that makes your fee pale in comparison to the value your course offers. Before you launch your course, listen to this. Click Play! EasyCourse WebinarNinja SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Here’s a golden rule of business, one we can’t stop repeating: people buy a product when — according to their own internal math — its value exceeds its price. That means the only way to move your product is to increase the only kind of value that really matters: perceived value. Adding features and investing in expensive updates is all well and good, but sub-par sales are more often caused by a failure to communicate. Are you communicating effectively? Does your audience understand your product’s value? Today, we discuss the difference between features and value, and how emphasizing the latter can drastically improve your sales. With examples from various industries, we explain how to sell the results your products bring (rather than the product itself) in order to raise the product’s value. Best of all, this approach doesn’t cost a dime. Click Play! WebinarNinja SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 website secure? As more and more business is done online, cyber security is beyond important. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wants to know if it’s possible to run a successful business with an “http” address, rather than a full on “https.” That little letter makes all the difference, especially in the way potential customers view your business. Before you start to worry, don’t. This episode isn’t overly technical, and it won’t go over the heads of even the most tech-unsavvy entrepreneurs. But it is crucial to understand the purpose of https URL’s, and what to do if your website doesn’t have one. Visitors to your site need to be able to trust you with their most sensitive information. This goes beyond security, affecting your payment processing, your SEO and traffic, and ultimately, your sales. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources out there to secure your site and keep your business running smoothly. Find out how it all works — Click Play! Let’s Encrypt ssls.com Stripe Braintree To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Social media is like fire. It can be incredibly useful and beneficial, but once it gets out of control, it can consume everything. That’s why Omar quit. Our beloved host made a decision, over a year ago, to take an extended break from all things social media. No Twitter, no Facebook, no ‘gram, nothing. For about 15 months, Omar didn’t make a single update, comment, or even take a peek at the platforms that dominate so many lives. Today, we discuss what he learned. On this episode, we unpack the pros and cons of being off social media, and the apprehensions Omar has about going back. The effects of a social-free life on business and personal relationships were surprising. Even more surprising was the addictive pull of social media, and the level of discipline required to break free, even temporarily. Our outlook on social media has changed drastically. As an entrepreneur (and a human being), should you take a new approach? One way to find out — Click Play! WebinarNinja Deep Work by Cal Newport matthewkimberly.com News Feed Eradicator Time Doctor SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 does a millionaire look like? A trust-fund baby? A hedge-fund bro? Nope. As it turns out, millionaires aren’t the exotic species we think they are. Overwhelmingly, they’re not born into privilege. And shockingly, they don’t tend to have high-powered jobs. Often, millionaires are regular people. So how does Average Joe hit 7 figures? That’s what this week’s special guest teacher is here to tell us. Chris Hogan is a best-selling author and podcast host who specializes in debunking the myths around wealth. He has a practical, realistic approach to crushing debt and making the wise investments that turn regular people into “everyday millionaires.” Hear Hogan’s down-to-Earth approach, and see how significant wealth is more attainable — and less exotic — than you might think. Click Play! chrishogan360.com SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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 built it. It succeeded. Now, it’s time to cash in. Maybe you want to retire, or devote yourself to a whole new project. Whatever the reason, saying goodbye to your successful independent business is no easy decision. It’s important to end this chapter on the best terms, with an exit you can be proud of. So what comes next? You’ve got to find a buyer, one that’s willing to do right by your business. You’ve got to sell it for what it’s worth, getting a worthy return on your massive investment of time and sweat. You’ve got to leave knowing your baby is in good hands, and that you’ve gotten what you deserve for creating it. Today, we discuss how to set your business up for sale. Whether you’re ready to put it on the market now, or just thinking of your long-term future, you can do things for your business that give it more curb appeal. We explain what buyers look for, and how to make the transition as logistically smooth as possible. Bid your business a fond farewell — Click Play! EasyCourse Empire Flippers SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A product launch doesn’t always go the way you want, or expect. Despite your best-laid plans and highest hopes, sometimes the market takes a look at what you’re offering and gives a resounding “meh.” Now what? In business — especially independent business — flexibility and adaptability are crucial survival skills. When your product doesn’t hit the mark, you need to change course quickly, smoothly, and effectively. Pivoting is an art and a skill, and every entrepreneur needs to know how it’s done. Today, we discuss how you can move in a new direction while maintaining the core of your business and mission. With examples from all over the business world, we’ve seen how a good hard pivot can save a company, and bring its vision forward despite a major stumble. Remember, it’s not a failure if you recover and learn. Click Play! WebinarNinja SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We’ve devoted many an episode to the ups and downs of affiliate marketing. Usually, we’re discussing the merits and drawbacks of affiliate marketing for those wondering whether they should get into it. But today, we’ve got a question from a listener who’s already in the affiliate game, and wants to know one thing: whether it’s time to move on. Is affiliate marketing something you “graduate” from before launching your own product? If so, how do you know when it’s time? Affiliate marketing is often sold as easy income — all you have to do is promote someone else’s product, and let the commissions roll in. Easy, right? But experience tells us that affiliate marketing is much more involved, and not nearly as passive as people think. So it’s no small decision to choose whether to invest more fully into it, or to debut your own product. Today, we discuss how you can simultaneously affiliate market while promoting your own product. Whether it’s a transition to an affiliation-free life, or a balancing act to maintain indefinitely, you can affiliate market while growing your own brand. See how it’s done: Click Play! The Smart Passive Income To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q. SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Happy New Year! It’s officially 2019, and we’re ready to hit the ground running with all new lesson to help you make this the best year ever for your business. Speaking of which, what are your goals for the year? More importantly, do goals matter? What’s the value of a goal? Is it just an arbitrary milestone, or does it have true motivational value? Many modern experts are abandoning the goal-driven approach, arguing instead that habits and intrinsic motivation do more for your success than trying to hit a given target. Are we living in a post-goal business era? We don’t think so. Rather than abandoning goals altogether, we think a new understanding of goals is in order. Tune in, and learn how to define your goals, and craft goals that have meaning beyond simple numbers. Learn how to establish goals that produce true growth, and how to meet them. Let’s get this year started! Click Play! SUBSCRIBE YouTube | 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.

Business doesn’t get any bigger than Disney. How did a patch of swampland in central Florida become one of the biggest revenue-generators in the history of American industry?It all starts with the employees, and how they’re motivated.This week’s Must-Read for entrepreneurs is Doug Lipp’s Disney U, a book that details the strategy behind the theme park’s success. Disney park employees — ahem, “cast members” — are trained and continually encouraged to keep the magic flowing.Importantly, it’s not just about procedures. It’s about mindset.Learn how company culture and values form the bedrock of any business’ success. See the inner workings of Disney employee training, and get a textbook example of how the team’s happiness is the best predictor of its productivity. Apply the Disney U strategy to your company, and see how much more fruitful your employees can be. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1168 Must Read- Disney U by Doug Lipp 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’s a question many would-be entrepreneurs are asking themselves: can you still make a living with a blog?About 10 years ago, people started earning serious money just by blogging. Has the business model survived? Can you still earn enough to live the life you want? The short answer is yes, you can still blog your way to success. The blog is in the middle of a sort of rebirth, with a new generation of writers cashing in.However, the rules have changed.Gone are the days of easy keyword-stuffing and low competition. A crowded marketplace, sophisticated search engine algorithms, and a higher standard for writing have changed the game drastically. Even still, there are hugely profitable businesses centered around quality blogs.Today, we discuss how to blog your way to profit. We explain how to find your subject niche, promote your blog, and stand out from the (very big) crowd by speaking directly to a well-defined audience. The business is different. The readers are different. But the profit is there, if you’re willing to learn where the revenue streams are. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseNerd FitnessBacklinkoThe post MBA1167 Is It Too Late To Start a Blogging 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.

Wish you were making sales? Well it may sound painfully obvious, but…you’re not selling enough.That’s not to say you’re not trying to close. It’s to say you’re not “selling” in the ultimate sense — the 24/7, all-encompassing sense that goes way beyond trying to get a specific person to make a specific purchase. Everything you do — everything — has to be an act of salesmanship, even the things that don’t seem sales-related.Are you persuading, all the time? Are you promoting your business’ core mission and ideas, with every word? Most new entrepreneurs aren’t selling enough, and it’s holding them back. Today, we discuss the (sometimes surprising) ways businesses sell, so you can learn how to make an argument for your product — all the time. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThis Book Will Teach You to Write Better by Neville MedhoraExactly What to Say by Phil M. JonesThe post MBA1166 Are You Selling Enough? 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 can’t judge a podcast by its cover. But your visual branding needs to reflect what your business is offering.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener noticed something different about our little old business podcast. We updated our cover art, changing the visuals around our show and updating its “look” online. Why? What’s the point?Today, we discuss why — and when — a a visual refresh is sometimes in order. We’ve had the same cover art since we started in 2014, and frankly, it’s just not as relevant anymore. The show has changed. We’ve changed. And the way we present ourselves has to change, too.Don’t let your own look stagnate. Stay fresh, and show the market what you really look like. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaPortrait StoreThe post MBA1165 Q&A Wednesday: Love the show’s new cover art. Why did you change it? 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.

Getting ready to start a new business? If so, you probably know that every cent counts.Having started quite a few businesses ourselves over the years, we’ve learned what skills and abilities can save you the most. If you learn them, you’ll not only have an edge over your competitors — you’ll have a lot more in the bank by this time next year.Specifically, there are 3 skills every new entrepreneur needs. These are things that can cost quite a bit to hire out for, but require minimal investment to learn yourself. In your crucial first years, learning these skills can save you hundreds or thousands. They’ll also be the skills you fall back on in the future, even as your team grows.Keep your business lean, and your skill set broad. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThis Book Will Teach You to Write Better by Neville MedhoraExactly What to Say by Phil M. JonesThe Boron Letters by Gary C. HalbertKopywriting KourseCanvaLynda.comThe post MBA1164 3 Skills That Will Save You Money When Getting Started 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.

No matter what your independent business is, you have to be a sales person.E-commerce, SaaS, freelancing, artisan pretzel-making; whatever the business, you can’t escape the need for salesmanship. It is everything, even if you don’t consider yourself a “sales person” in the conventional sense. Articulating your idea and persuading others to buy in is the essence of business itself, big or small.Fortunately, this week’s Must-Read for entrepreneurs can show you how.To Sell Is Human rejects the stigma of salesmanship as scammy or used-car-dealer-y, instead explaining the inherent dignity and necessity of the art. It’s not just customers you sell to — it’s your network, your team, even your family and friends. If you can’t sell your vision, you simply can’t do business.Learn how necessary selling is, even if you don’t have a sales team. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksTo Sell Is Human by Daniel PinkThe post MBA1163 Must Read: To Sell Is Human by Daniel Pink 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.

No entrepreneur is truly independent. We all need guidance, support, and help. One of the most important relationships you can cultivate in business is a mentorship.The most successful entrepreneurs, big and small, have always had at least one mentor. With less structure and precedent than the conventional job market, entrepreneurship is uniquely suited to the mentor-mentee dynamic. But where do you start? How do you find your business sensei?It might be easier than you thinkYour mentor doesn’t have to be an old legend, or even a well-established success. He or she just needs to be someone who knows more than you, and can help you a little further down the path. It may take some time, effort, and resources, but the investment you make in finding a mentor (or several) will be well worth it. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksHELP NOAHEasyCourseThe post MBA1162 How To Find a Mentor + 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 will fail.If you’re an entrepreneur, you won’t always hit the mark. It’s part and parcel of independent business to establish a goal, strive for it, and come up short. As the year winds down and we evaluate our performance, we should take stock of how we’ve failed, and whether we let those failures drag us down or power us forward.For new entrepreneurs, every missed goal can seem like a crisis. With so much riding on your business, it can be tough to get back in the saddle, emotionally. Today, we discuss how to maintain your enthusiasm no matter what happens. More importantly, we explain how to pull something positive from the experience of losing.Whatever metric you’re chasing — sales, traffic, conversions, whatever — you can always turn a swing-and-a-miss into your next victory. Find out how: Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaThe post MBA1161 How to Deal With Not Reaching Your Goals 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 page by any other name is just as sweet. Whether you call it a squeeze page or a landing page, conversions are the name of the game. A well-constructed squeeze page shouldn’t take too much time or effort — if you have the right tools.Today, we tell one listener what those tools are, and where to find them.It’s a follow up from last week’s episode on maximizing your conversion rates via squeeze page. In that episode, we explained how squeeze pages are the key to sales, and how you can make sure they’re working effectively. Now, we point you to the specific software you can use, tailored to your budget and technical expertise.Find out what to look for in squeeze page software, how to use it, and why you might already have exactly what you need in your existing CMS. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksMBA1151: How to Use Squeeze Pages to Maximize ConversionsElementorLeadpagesThrivethemesThe post MBA1160 Q&A Wednesday: What tools do you recommend to create Squeeze Pages? 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.

They say to dress for the job you want. But if you’re already an entrepreneur, you can dress for the job you created! Our host Omar almost always rocks a branded t-shirt featuring our software company, WebinarNinja.The reasons for doing so, however, go way beyond the urge to sneak in some extra advertising.Whether he’s speaking at a conference, on a webinar, or just hitting the gym, Omar’s gear is a reflection of who he is, and what he wants. Wearing the WebinarNinja logo doesn’t just remind others what he does — it helps him stay focused, motivated, and productive.It all goes back to Omar’s conventional job as an educator, and how the transition from tie to tee was (and remains) symbolic of his hard-earned independence. Find out how much a shirt can mean, plus get our tips on how to create your own company-branded gear. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaCustom InkUpWorkfreelancer.comThe post MBA1159 Why I Wear My Own T-Shirts 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 can we learn from failure? And not just any failure — total, massive, beyond-epic, multi-billion-dollar failure?In this week’s Must-Read book for entrepreneurs, we find out.Bad Blood by John Carreyrou is many things: an engrossing page-turner, an exemplary piece of investigative journalism, and a huge, devastating lesson in how not to launch a product. It’s the true story of Theranos, a startup with a one-time valuation of 9 billion-with-a-”b” dollars that ultimately crashed, burned, and left all involved reeling (and some facing prison time).Theranos executives claimed that their technology could run hundreds of medical tests with a single drop of blood. The only problem? It didn’t work. At all. But the pressure to succeed and produce a return on some massive investments overcame any sense of responsible R&D —- or common business sense.Find out what lessons we small business people can take from the missteps of the big boys. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaBad Blood by John CarreyrouThe post MBA1158 Must Read: Bad Blood by John Carreyrou 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.

Sometimes, you just have to bang it out.Whether you’ve got a webinar, pitch, or demo, a quality slide deck is a must. Despite how daunting it can seem, putting one together doesn’t have to be a nightmare or a monumental task. It can be a simple, straightforward, one-hour process.It can take less time than an episode of Game of Thrones to get ready for your next big moment — if you have the right system.Today, we explain exactly how to outline and craft your presentation in record time. It’ll be professional, good-looking, and best of all, done. By prioritizing what matters most about the presentation — and learning how to stop fussing over details — you can bring the goods without breaking a sweat. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaEasyCourseUnSplashThe post MBA1157 How To Create a Presentation Deck in 1 Hour + 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.